US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA HOLDS ON AUGUST 15-17 TRAINING SEMINAR ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The US embassy in Armenia organized
on August 15-17 a training seminar on weapons of mass destruction
and related goods. The purpose of the seminar conducted by a group of
experts from the US Department of Energy was to introduce the employees
of the RA State Customs Service and the RA National Security Service
with the methods for controlling the export of substances related
to the weapons of mass destruction. According to the US embassy in
Armenia, following the seminar, the experts from the US Department
of Energy will spend two days exchanging experience about technical
issues of export control with representatives of the organizations
ensuring the application of the laws and regulations on export control
in Armenia and dealing with licensing issues. These measures are
being taken within the framework of the Export Control and Related
Border Security Program (US), which has been implemented in Armenia
for the last five years.

MEMBERS OF DISTRICT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS DEFINED
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Headed by Article 36.1 of the RA
Electoral Code and taking as a basis proposals of bodies forming
district electoral commissions, by RA President Robert Kocharian’s
August 16 decree, members of all the 41 district electoral commissions
were defined. Each commission consists of 9 members. According to
the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press
Office, the decree will come into force starting with August 18, 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CRIMINAL CASE OPENED IN CONNECTION WITH FACT OF ILLEGAL TREE FELLING IN FORESTRY OF STEPANAVAN
STEPANAVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The prosecutor’s office of Lori
marz opened a criminal case against Varaz Dokholian, a forestry head,
and Martun Vardanian, a forest-keeper, in connection with the fact of
illegal tree felling in the forest of Gyulagarak. Deputy Prosecutor
of the marz Misak Aroyan told reporters in Stepananvan on August
17 that the fact of illegal tree cuttings was revealed on August 5,
and the case was opened on August 16 – under the RA Criminal Code’s
Article 296 Part 2 Points 1 and 2. It was noted that the indicated
points envisage a fine in the amount of 300-500 minimal salaries, 1-2
years’ corrective labor or up to 2 years’ imprisonment. According to
M. Aroyan, the forestry head and the forest-keeper cut down 84 pines,
beeches and trees of other types, causing damage of 800,000 drams
(about 1.8 thousand USD) to the state. The trees were sold to the
community head of the Gyulagarak village Alexandr Grigorian who owns
a sawmill.

FRIENDLY MEETING OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS OF JORDAN AND ARMENIA TO
TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 17
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A friendly meeting of the national
football teams of Jordan and Armenia will take place on August 17,
in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Noyan Tapan was informed about
this by the Press Secretariate of the Football Federation of
Armenia. Henk Visman, the chief trainer of the national team of
Armenia, invited Edel Apula Edima Bette, Gevorg Kasparov, Sargis
Hovsepian, Alexander Tadevosian, Yeghishe Melikian, Robert Arzumanian,
Rafael Nazarian, Karen Alexanian, Hamlet Mkhitarian, Romik Khachatrian,
Aram Voskanian, Aghvan Mkrtchian, Ararat Arakelian, Valeri Alexanian,
Armen Shahgeldian, Arman Karamian, Galust Petrosian, Ara Hakobian,
Aram Hakobian, Nshan Erzrumian into the team to participate in this
friendly meeting.

I AM VISITING THE SOUTH CAUCASUS BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE REGIONS OF EUROPE, PACE PRESIDENT SAYS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. “I am visiting the South Caucasus
because it is one of the most sensitive regions of Europe, and the
countries of this region are members of the Council of Europe.” The
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President Rene van der
Linden stated this in an exclusive interview to Radio Liberty on the
eve of his visit to the South Caucasian region – August 17. According
to him, some important events will soon take place in the region,
particularly the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan in
November. He expressed a desire to have an open talk about the Council
of Europe memeber states’ obligations and commitments towards the
CE. In connection with Armenia, PACE President underlined the necessity
for achieving a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, holding
only free and fair elections in Armenia in the future, and having a
well-organized opposition in the country. In Rene van der Linden’s
words, it is also necessary that all the proposals and requirements
of the Council of Europe be accepted and fulfiled, since in this way
Armenia will show to the international community that it belongs to
modern Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USSTATE.INFO.GOV
17 August 2005
United States Outlines Assistance to Armenia — Fiscal Year 2005
Fact sheet covers aid from October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005
The following State Department fact sheet outlines U.S. assistance to
Armenia for fiscal year 2005 (October 1, 2004-September 30, 2005):
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
Washington, D.C.
August 15, 2005
FACT SHEET
U.S. ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA — FISCAL YEAR 2005
Armenia has made significant progress in political and economic reform, as
evidenced by its eligibility in FY 2005 to receive grants from the
Millennium Challenge Account. While economic growth has been strong in
certain sectors, it has yet to provide significant benefit to the vast
majority of the population. As such, U.S. assistance focuses on assisting
small- and medium-scale enterprise sector growth that will involve more
Armenians in the country’s expanding economy. Democracy, economic, and law
enforcement programs are targeted towards strengthening democratic
structures and foundations in Armenia and supporting regional stability and
security. All U.S. Government assistance programs include anti-corruption
components designed to strengthen local capacity for combating this pressing
global problem. In addition, U.S. Government assistance programs support
interaction between Armenia and its neighbors in an effort to increase
regional stability and encourage resolution to ongoing conflicts.
The estimated $84.4 million budgeted by all U.S. Government agencies for
assistance programs in Armenia in FY 2005 is allocated roughly as follows
(based on information available as of the date of this fact sheet):
Democracy Programs
$11.4 million
Economic & Social Reform
$43.5 million
Security & Law Enforcement
$19.1 million
Humanitarian Assistance
$1.5 million
Cross Sectoral Initiatives
$8.9 million
Democracy programs in Armenia aim to increase citizen participation in
public affairs, strengthen the rule of law, build the capacity of the
National Assembly, improve local and state governance, and support
independent media. U.S. assistance programs continue to support grassroots
advocacy groups and initiatives that bring together local government
officials and citizens to solve community problems; develop civic education
materials and curricula; strengthen the work of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs); and educate citizens about their rights.
Small grant-making programs support the work of NGOs to foster civil
society, enhance local government accountability, and support local media.
Journalists, editors, and managers of media outlets are trained in business
management, fact-based journalism, and investigative journalism. Training
and exchange programs reach out to the next generation of Armenian leaders
and give them first-hand experience with the day-to-day functioning of a
market-based democracy. In 2005, the U.S. Government sent 186 Armenian
citizens to the United States on academic and professional exchange
programs. Since 1993, the U.S. has funded the travel of approximately 4,550
Armenian citizens to the U.S. on these programs in fields such as
management, democratic strengthening, social service provision, and NGO
development.
Broadening the base of economic growth through job creation and labor market
development is the primary goal of our economic assistance programs. U.S.
programs seek to increase access to credit for entrepreneurs, develop
markets for agribusinesses, improve tax and customs performance, improve
budget management, strengthen central bank supervision, enhance the
legislative framework for businesses, and boost progress in promising
sectors, such as information technology, tourism, and agriculture. U.S.
advisors support a budget training center for government employees with
equipment, training materials, and technical advice.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Development
Initiative in Armenia provides targeted and sustained technical, financial,
and marketing assistance to small- and medium-sized agribusinesses and
farmer-marketing associations. Increased production and improved marketing
have resulted in thousands of jobs in the agribusiness sector benefiting
farmers throughout Armenia. In 2005, USDA has extended its program to
working with the Government of Armenia to improve data collection in
agriculture, adopt international sanitary standards, and to develop policies
that promote increased trade in agricultural products.
U.S.-funded social reform programs provide technical support to a
centralized data administration center to improve the administration and
tracking of family benefits for Armenia’s poor while decreasing the
population’s dependency on government assistance. U.S. Government technical
assistance helps the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues design, administer,
and distribute a new social security card to ensure that benefits flow to
the unemployed and the needy. U.S.-supported health programs work to
strengthen national institutional capacity for primary health care reform
and to reinvigorate the provision of primary health care services at the
facility level in order to meet immediate needs of Armenia’s population
Security and law enforcement assistance programs aim to improve stability in
Armenia and in the region, as well as to enhance Armenia’s current support
of the Global War on Terrorism. To promote interoperability with U.S. and
other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces, the Foreign Military
Financing, International Military Education and Training, Joint Contact
Team, and State Partnership programs provide professional military education
and exchange opportunities, enhance peacekeeping capabilities, and modernize
military communications. The U.S. Government also provides nonproliferation
assistance for Armenia, including funding peaceful research activities with
biological and chemical scientists. The U.S. is funding science centers,
bio-chem redirect, and bio-industry initiative programs and is working
through the multilateral International Science and Technology Center in
Moscow to engage scientists from the former Soviet Union in transparent,
sustainable, and cooperative civilian research projects. U.S. funding also
provides nonproliferation assistance to the Civilian Research and
Development Foundation (CRDF). The U.S. continues to fund safety
improvements at the Metsamor nuclear reactor and support Armenia’s nuclear
regulator.
Our Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) program
continues to work with Armenian export control officials, customs, and
border guards to improve their prevention capabilities against weapons
proliferation and other illicit trafficking.
A variety of U.S. programs provide assistance to reform Armenia’s law
enforcement and judicial sectors. These programs have helped to establish
computer classrooms for law enforcement training, provide expertise for
modern curricula at law enforcement academies, and provide technical
assistance to judges and lawyers to help establish an independent judiciary.
The U.S. is also providing upgrades to the law enforcement computer
infrastructure in order to connect regional police precincts with central
offices. In addition, assistance programs support the government and NGOs in
Armenia to help address trafficking in persons.
Donated humanitarian commodities valued at approximately $10 million —
including medicines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, school
equipment and supplies, clothing, and food — are shipped and distributed to
the most needy Armenians in the country’s rural towns and villages. The U.S.
has supported a medical outpatient clinic in the city of Alaverdi since
October 2001. In addition, the U.S. Government will provide additional
food-aid commodities to be distributed to vulnerable groups through the
World Food Program’s relief operations. USDA executes a program to install
or repair village water wells in selected villages with drinking water for
domestic and livestock use and for crop irrigation. One hundred communities
benefited from this program through FY 2005.
U.S. Government support for humanitarian demining programs helps communities
in border regions by recovering valuable lands that can now be used for
agricultural development and public use. The Earthquake Zone Recovery
Program provides assistance for housing compensation/rehabilitation and
other economic and social programs in the Shirak and Lori regions and the
surrounding areas. This program will house roughly 6,500 people through the
use of vouchers and housing grants by the end of 2005, when the project will
be completed.
Currently, the Peace Corps has more than 80 volunteers who teach English and
conduct seminars in business and community development and environmental
education.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

ARMENIAN SIDE DENIES REPORTS ABOUT TAKING AZERI SERVICEMAN PRISONER
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Defence Ministry spokesman
Seyran Shahsuvarian dispelled the rumors that an Azeri sergeant
was taken prisoner by the Armenian armed forces. The Azerbaijani
television company ATV reported that Ramil Khudaverdiev, a sergeant
of the Azerbaijani army was recently taken prisoner by the Armenian
armed forces.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: “UN PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA STRIKING WITH
THIER EFFICIENCY”
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. UN programs implemented in Armenia
are striking both with their volume and efficiency. RA President Robert
Kocharian stated this receiving Consuelo Vidal, the newly appointed UN
Coordinator, the Permanent Representative of the UN Development Program
in Armenia, on August 17. The President expressed a hope that the
bilateral cooperation will go on with the same efficiency. According
to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, the newly appointed UN Coordinator in Armenia also
appriciated the productivity of implemented programs and active
assistance of the authorities of Armenia in that direction.

PACE CHAIRMAN RENE VAN DER LINDEN TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON AUGUST 18
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. By RA NA Chairman Artur Baghdasarian’s
invitation, Rene van der Linden, the Chairman of Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe will be on an official visit to Armenia on
August 18-20. Noyan Tapan was informed about this by the RA NA Public
Relations Department. The PACE Chairman’s meetings with ambassadors
of the member countries of the Council of Europe, representatives
of public organizations are scheduled for August 18. Rene van der
Linden will lay a wreath to the Tsitsernakabert Memorial Complex in
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Karekin II, Catholicos of
All Armenians will receive him the same day. Meetings with the NA
delegation to the PACE, members of the RA NA Interim Committee on
Foreign Relations, with the NA political forces are scheduled for
August 19. Rene van der Linden will have a private conversation with
Artur Baghdasarian, the RA NA Chairman. Meetings with Vardan Oskanian,
the Foreign Minister; David Haroutiunian, the Minister of Justice;
RA President Robert Kocharian are scheduled for the same day.

Embassy of The United States
Yerevan, Armenia
August 17, 2005
Sw earing-In Ceremony Held for Peace Corps Armenia Volunteers
On August 15 the thirteenth group of Peace Corps Armenia volunteers was
sworn-in at the Armenia Marriott Hotel. The ceremony, which has become an
annual event, was opened by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans. The 43
volunteers who were sworn-in have completed three months of language,
cultural, technical, and safety and security training to prepare them for
two years of service in towns and villages throughout Armenia. Volunteers
will collaborate with Armenian counterpart organizations in the areas of
English language education, business and community development, and health
and environmental education.
Armenian ministry representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Ministry of Education and
Science, Ministry of Health Care and Ministry of Nature Protection were
invited to address the volunteers.
Peace Corps Armenia was established in 1992 at the invitation of the
Government of Armenia. Since that time, 500 Peace Corps volunteers have
served in Armenia. With the addition of this new group, 90 volunteers will
work in schools, universities, NGOs, and health facilities throughout
Armenia. The U. S. Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by United States
President John F. Kennedy. The organization has three goals: to provide
trained assistance to people of other countries as requested, to promote a
better understanding of Americans by the people of the countries in which
they serve, and to promote a better understanding of other cultures by
Americans.
A group of new Peace Corps volunteers following their swearing-in.
Peace Corps Armenia Director Patrick Hart is greeting the guests and the volunteers
U.S. Ambassador John M. Evans is opening the swearing in ceremony of the
13th group of Peace Corps Armenian volunteers.
U.S. Ambassador John M. Evans is leading the swearing-in ceremony.
Peace Corps volunteers perform an Armenia song