GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WORK IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006 INCREASES BY 41.1% ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The total amount of geological
surveys conducted in Armenia in January-March 2006 made 28.8 mln
drams (about 64 thousand USD) or by 41.1% more than in the same
period of 2005. According to the RA National Statistical Service,
the amount of geological survey work in January-March 2006 exceeded
36fold the respective index of 2003. In the first quarter of 2006,
2.6 mln drams was collected in VAT for the geoligical survey work,
or by 8.3% more than in the same period of 2005, 26 times as much as
during the first three months of 2003.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO IRAN, A NEW CHAPTER IN RELATIONS
Fars News Agency, Iran
May 17 2006
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenian Energy Minister Tuesday met
with Iranian Foreign Minister and discussed avenues available for
consolidation of the two countries’ ties.
A statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and
Press Bureau said that during the meeting, Mottaki noted the common
interests shared by the two states and their profound relations and
stated that the visit to Iran by the Armenian Energy Minister could
pave the way for future agreements in the two countries’ 6th joint
commission meeting.
Noting the necessity for promoting the two countries’ relations,
the Iranian Minister underlined that the two sides should study new
ideas and grounds of cooperation very actively.
He also stated that the two countries should prepare the grounds
required for the promotion of relations through cooperation in areas
of road communication, tunnel excavation, railroad, activation of
private companies, providing more business facilities, reducing trade
risks and facilitating of exchanges.
Mottaki said that the two states’ cooperation could reach a desirable
level through upgrading of the existing trade balance, adding that
Iran and Armenia should build more and more capacities.
For his part, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Mousisian expressed
pleasure with the performance of the two countries’ joint commissions
and welcomed the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s taking up of the
responsibility of the said commissions.
“In light of the two countries’ profound ties, we have succeeded in
implementing all the approvals of the joint commission,” he said.
Viewing exchange of visits by the two countries’ officials significant,
he said that the upcoming visit to Tehran by the Armenian president
could open a new chapter in the two states’ interactions.
Mousisian further stated that talks by the two countries about
construction of the gas pipeline project, exchange of electricity and
construction of new link roads could serve to be a turning point in
mutual cooperation.

IT IS ENVISAGED TO OPERATE UPON 8 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THIS YEAR IN ARMENIA WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF WORLD VISION’S PROGRAM OF CHILDREN’S PROTECTION
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to operate upon 8
children with special needs this year within the framework of the World
Vision charity organization’s Children’s Protection program. Marina
Hovhannisian, Head of the program, informed about it at the May
17 official reception organized for the purpose of getting funds
necessary for the operation and treatment. She mentioned that about
26 thousand dollars is necessary for these operations.
According to M.Hovhannisian, the program has been implemented since
2002 with the resources received from Great Britain. 9 children with
serious facial and bearing-moving problems were operated on during
that year, another 4 were operated on in 2005 and 3 will be operated
on during the coming month. A videotape presenting the stage preceding
the operation of children with special needs was shown during the
event under the title “Giving Heartly You Give the World”, after which
pupils of Foundation after Spivakov came up with a musical performance.

“YOUTH, REALITY, PROSPECTS” YOUTH CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON JUNE 13-15
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. By financing of the RA Ministry of
Culture and Youth Issues, the Center on Organizing Youth Issues
will hold a youth conference entitled “Youth, Reality, Prospects”
on June 13-15 in Yerevan. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Center
on Organizing Youth Events,” the goal of the conference is to arise
problems relating to youth and discuss ways of their solution. During
the conference a number of discussions as well as an exhibition
entitled “Fair of Opinions” will be organized in which Armenian, NKR
and Javakhk youth NGOs, international organizations will participate.

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED INVOLVED IN “PAID PUBLIC WORKS” PROGRAM TO INCREASE IN SYUNIK
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
KAPAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. By the decision of RA Government, 85.6 mln
drams has been allocated to Syunik region this year for implementing
the “Paid Public Works” program. The resources allocated this year
exceed by 15.6 mln drams (about 35 thousand dollars) the sum allocated
in 2005 for these works. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
from the regional structure on program’s implementation, this will
enable to increase not only the programs to be implemented in the
region, but also the number of the unemployed involved in them. The
Syunik Regional Commission on Assistance to Employment has already
distributed these resources according to the unemployment level in
the regions of Syunik. Thus, 35.5 mln drams will be given to Kapan
region, 25.7 mln drams to Goris region, 18.3 mln drams to Sisian
region, 6.1 mln drams to Meghri region. It is envisaged to give more
than 57 mln drams to rural communities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SYUNIK PSYCHONEUROLOGIC DESPENSARY IN URGENT NEED OF SPECIALISTS
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
KAPAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Most of the 2,182 patients registered
at the Syunik regional psychoneurologic dispensary are from
Kapan region. Director of the dispensary Ararat Vardanian told
NT correspondent that about 20 patients a day on average undergo
out-patient treatment at the dispensary. The inpatient unit has 80
beds, 10 of which are envisaged for narcological medical services. The
unit receives about 58 visiting patients daily, about 30 patients
are under constant care. According to A. Vardanian, the hospital is
in urgent need of qualified doctors: instead of the required six,
only two doctors are currently working here, one of whom is the
dispensary director himself.

PROTEST TARGETS PROPOSED FRENCH LAW ON ALLEGED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
May 17 2006
France prepared draft legislation making it a crime to deny the
so-called Armenian genocide.
NTV-MSNBC
Guncelleme: 10:50 TSÝ 17 Mayýs 2006 CarþambaANKARA – The French
embassy in Ankara was the target of a group protesting against a
proposal before the French parliament to make it a criminal offence
to deny the Ottoman Empire committed an act of genocide against its
Armenian citizens during the years of the First World War.
A group calling itself the “Great Project 2006” kicked off the first of
what are intended to be a series of protests described as a “warning
on duty” by closing the road to the French Embassy on Monday.
The protestors included some parliamentary deputies of the opposition
Republican People’s party (CHP), the Turk-Is trade union, the Ataturk
Thought Association and the Workers Party (IP).
Ferit Ilsever, the Secretary General of the IP, called on France to
immediately withdraw the proposed legislation. Ilsever said that if
the law was passed Ankara should consider boycotting French goods,
downgrade its diplomatic relations with Paris and withdraw from its
negotiation process for European Union membership.
French parliament is expected to debate the draft on May 18.
–Boundary_(ID_/1SFP7aqDxsNH8457Zwcyg)–

UN REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH STUDENTS OF GYUMRI PEDAGOGICAL INSTITUTE
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
GYUMRI, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the “Civil
Dialogue and Practical Steps” program, Valeri Tkachuk, a representative
of the UN Public Information Department had a meeting on May 16 with
students of the Gyumri State Pedagugical Institute after Mikayel
Nalbandian. V.Tkachuk presented students the UN and Public Information
Department activity, problems put in front of the UN at present. It
is already for a year, that the “Civil Dialogue and Practical Steps”
program has been implemented at the Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute
and Gavar State University. Numerous discussions on themes interesting
for students and meetings with representatives of different spheres
were organized within the framework of the program. According to
those responsible for the program, similar meetings has a goal to
make students active members of the society.

US APPRAISES ACHIEVEMENT OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAN OVER AGREEMENT ON NK
Author: A.Mammadov
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 17 2006
The United States with optimism estimates the achievements of
Azerbaijan and Armenia on the agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Matthew Bryza, US Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Eurasia,
states to the Congress. “Both countries are closer to agreement than
earlier,” the US diplomat urged.
“The governments of the two countries are to demonstrate political
courage to remove the disagreements, he said. The months to come open
real opportunities,” he added.
Earlier Anne Derse, President’s Bush’s nominee for the post of
US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, also stated that Washington hopes on
achievement of mutually acceptable [peace] agreement by the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents in the weeks to come. “We are in the importance
phase of negotiations process, the diplomat underlined. This year
opens important window for the achievement of an agreement through
talks… Return to violence would tragedy,” ITAR-TASS reports.

PACE RAPPORTEUR ON MONITORING OF CULTURE MONUMENTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS EXPECTED
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 17 2006
PACE rapporteur on monitoring of the state of culture monuments in
South Caucasus, British MP Edward O’hara will visit Baku on 28 May,
the CE information office in Baku told Trend.
During the visit to last by 31 May as part of his tour of the region
O’Hara will also visit Armenian and the occupied Azerbaijani territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Earlier, MP Rafael Huseynov, the Azerbaijani parliamentary
representative to the PACE, told Trend that that the first part of
the visit will be dedicated to study of the state of Azerbaijani
culture monuments in Armenian territory.