TILL AUGUST 14, 3438 ENTRANTS FROM 28131 ONES TAKING ENTRANCE EXAMS GET BAD MARKS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Entrance exams to the institutions
of higher education of Armenia finished on August 16. On the whole,
32 thousand entrants were to participate in them. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the Republican Commission on entrance examinations
to institutions of higher education, till August 14, 28131 entrants
took exams, 7649 of whom got 18-20 points, and 3438 ones got bad
marks. Marks of 1435 examination works were appealed till now, as
a result of what marks of 1195 from them remained unchanged, and
9 of them were made lower. Marks of 15 written works from 113 ones
presented to double appeal were raised, and 4 were made lower.

NO 19-20 POINTS ON SUBJECT “CREATIVE COMPETITION,” ONLY 3 ENTRANTS GET 18 POINTS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The entrance examinations on the
subject “Creative Competition” finished on August 13. 108 entrants
from 137 ones took the entrance exams on that subject. 14 ones from
them got “Bad” marks, and 3 entrants got 18 points. No 19 and 20
points were fixed. As Mushegh Hovsepian, the Chairman of the subject
examination commission informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, during
the last years, lack of a creative mind, bright imagination is noticed
among entrants having chosen the faculty of journalism. According to
M.Hovsepian’s estimation, works of entrants are incomplete in the sense
of the national thinking, presentation of national values as well. So,
one of the themes was dedicated to the Artsakh heroic battle: but no
one from 12 entrants mentioned any date. It was also mentioned that,
in total, 5 entrants appealed their marks on this subject whose marks
left unchanched.

FUNDS OF NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARMENIA PERIODICALLY REPLENISHED WITH BOOKS PUBLISHED IN RUSSIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the
Year of Russia held in Armenia, an exihibition under the title
“Armenian-Russian Literary Cultural Ties” opened at the National
Library of Armenia (NLA) on August 16. According to Rafik Ghazarian,
the NLA Deputy Director, the Armenian-Russian friendship has a
history of centuries, an important part of which is the cultural
cooperation. It was mentioned that today that cooperation is diplayed
in the way of closer and more ungenious ties. According to R.Ghazarian,
Russian literature, music and theater had their influence on the
development of the Armenian culture. Particularly, influence of
Pushkin’s, Lermontov’s, Gogol’s Turgenev’s, Chekhov’s and many others’
works is felt in Armenian writers’ works. It was also mentioned that
first Armenian translations of writings of Pushkin, Russian poet of
genius were still published in 1840. R.Ghazarian informed that 70% of
the literature kept at the NLA funds is in Russian. Even at present,
the NLA is in close ties with state libraries of Saint Petersburg
and Moscow. Due to that cooperation, the NLA funds are replenished
with hundreds of books being published in Russia every year.

ARAYIK PETROSIAN APPOINTED FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL ISSUES
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the decision of the RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian, Ashot Esayan was releived of his post as
First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Issues of the RA. Arayik
Petrosian was relieved of his post as Deputy Minister of Labor and
Social Issues and appointed as First Deputy Minister of Labor and
Social Issues of the RA. According to the RA Government Information and
PR Department, under another decision of the Armenian Prime Minister,
Arstvik Minasian was appointed Deputy Minister of Labor and Social
Issues of the RA. A. Minasian was born on January 1, 1972, in the
village of Vosketas (Talin region). In 1995, A. Minasian graduated
from the department of economics of Yerevan State University (YSU)
receiving the qualification of an economist-mathematician, and
in 2001 – from the law department of ESU as a lawyer. Since 1997,
A. Minasian has attended the courses of the International Institute
of the US Securities Commission, Moscow State University and the
United Institute of Vienna. Since 1999, A. Minasian has worked as a
lecturer at the department of economics of YSU, since 2004 – at Yerevan
State Economic Institute. In 1996-1998, A. Minasian worked at the RA
Ministry of Finance and Economy: as an expert of the Securities Market
Regulation Inspection, as the head of the Securities Market Regulation
and Methodology Department, as the head of the Inspection of Securities
and Exchanges. In 1999-2000, held the post of Deputy Head of the RA
Securities Market’s Inspection. Since 2000 until the abovementioned
appointment, A. Minasian has been a member of the RA Securities
Commission, participated in a number of internatinal conferences,
is the author of over ten scientific publications. A. Minasian is a
Candidate of Economics. Nonpartisan. Married, has three

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS A NUMBER OF LAWS PASSED BY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Presidential press
service, the Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed the following
laws passed by the RA National Assembly: a) on making amedments and
additions to the RA Law on Urban Development, b) om making amendments
and an addition to the RA Law on Local Self-Government, c) on making
an addition to the RA Code on Administrative Infractions, d) on making
amendments and additions to the RA Law on Local Duties and Payments, e)
the RA Law on Road Traffic Safety, f) the RA Law on the Rescue Service
of Armenia, g) on making an amendment to the RA Law on Social Security
of Servicemen and their Family Members, h) on making an amendment to
the RA Law on Military Service, i) on making amendments to the RA Law
on Rescue Forces and Status of Rescuer, j) on making an addition to
the RA Law on Income Tax, k) the RA Law on Electronic Communication,
l) the RA Law on Vocational and Secondary Professional Education, m)
on making amendments and additions to the RA Law on Education.

3 OF 10 GRAVES DESECRATED IN SOCHI TURN OUT TO BE ARMENIAN ONES
SOCHI, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On August 13,
some unknown persons destroyed 10 tombstones and monuments in the
cemetery of the village Razdolnoye (Sochi, Khosta region). According
to the newspaper “Erkramas” published by Russian Armenians, the word
“schizophrenia” was written on each of the destroyed graves, on several
of the tombstones – in chalk. It was found out that three Armenian
graves and seven Russian ones were destroyed. Police said that this
crime resembles the one committed in the cemetery of Verkhni Yuyt
village on July 29 when 29 tombstones (28 Armenian and a Russian)
were broken.

YOUNG FOOTBALL-PLAYERS FROM ARTASHAT WIN HOPE CUP
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Hope Cup finals were held in
Yerevan, during which the winners of the youth football championships
of the Armenian marzes played with each other. The team of the city
of Artashat (Artashat marz) became the Armenian champion. The teams
of the Koghb village (Tavush marz) and Martuni city (Gegharkunik
marz) took 2nd and 3rd places. The organizers also awarded prizes to
the best players: Armen Karapetian (Martuni) was announced the best
goalkeeper, while Harutyun Fahradian (Artik), Artur Nasibian (Koghb)
and Hovik Harutyunian (Artashat) – the best full-back, half-back and
forward respectively.

CITIZEN OF TURKEY INSISTS ON FINDING HIMSELF GUILTY ONLY OF ATTEMPT
OF SMUGGLING
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Ektan Turkylmaz, a citizen of Turkey
charged with having made an attempt of smuggling, gave evidences
at the Court of First Instance of the Malatia-Sebastia community,
Yerevan, on August 15. The defendant stated that, on the whole, he
bought 109 or 110 books in Armenia. 4 of them are books published
before 1750, others are ones published from 1850 to 2004, about
50 books from which are of the publications of 1900-1924. He again
stated that he finds himself guilty only of an attempt of smuggling,
what, according to him, is a result of his not knowing laws of
Armenia. But, prosecutor Koryun Piloyan quoted a statement made by
witness Armen Khorenian during the later’s confrontation-examination
with Y.Turkeylmaz during the preliminary investigation. According
to the statement he forewarned of the spetial order on export of
incunabular books from Armenia. The defendant flatly disproved the
accusation of smuggling, according to which, with the help of his
sister, Y.Turkylmaz exported from Armenia Ghevond Alishan’s book
“Sisvan and Cilicia: Levon Metsagorts.” According to the defendant,
this book and, in general, any other has not been exported from
Armenia. And Y.Turkylmaz presented the above-mentioned book to a
person living in Armenia, whose name he did not want to mention. The
hearing on the case continues on August 16.

TWO CHESS PLAYERS LEAD VETERANS’ COMPETITION
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. 6 rouds have been held at the
veteran chess players’ championship in Armenia. 2 participants lead
the competition: international master Eduard Mnatsakanian and master
of sport Gagik Hakobian who have 5 points each. Adolf Demirkhanian,
Albert Haroutiunov and Murad Varzhapetian, candidates for mastery,
share the 3rd-5th places with 4.5 points each. There are 3 rounds left
before the end of the championship being held with the participation
of 32 chess players. The meetings of the regular, 7th round takes
place on August 16.

INDIAN VICE-PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO ARMENIA TO GIVE FURTHER STIMULUS TO
BILATERAL COOPERATION, DEEPAK VOHRA MENTIONS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Indian Vice-President’s visit to
Armenia is expected in September. That will pass further stimulus to
bilateral cooperation. Deepak Vohra, the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of India, finishing his diplomatic mission to Armenia,
mentioned about this at the August 16 meeting with RA President Robert
Kocharian. He thanked the authorities of Armenia for the assistance
shown during his officiating. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
President’s Press Office, stating with satisfaction about the high
level of the Armenian-Indian cooperation, R.Kocharian thanked the
Ambassador for the active and effective work.