Author: Basmajian Ani

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADS

Armenia Water and Sewage CJSC – World Bank-funded
tender for Procurement of Water Treatment Equipment
ead.cfm?3002
***

Armenian Water and Sewage CJSC (World Bank funded) –
Armenia: Tender for Procurement of Pipes, Pipe
Fittings, Water Meters and Pumps
cfm?3004
***

Armenian Water and Sewage CJSC (World Bank funded) –
Armenia: Tender for Procurement of Pipes, Pipe
Fittings, Water Meters and Pumps
cfm?3005
***

Armenian Water and Sewage CJSC (World Bank funded) –
Armenia: Tender for Procurement of Pumps
cfm?3007

For more information on the Environmental Sector in
the NIS, please contact Chris Christov at BISNIS at
[email protected]

================

MEDICAL SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT LEADS

Armenian Ministry of Health – World Bank-funded tender
for procurement of medical equipment
ead.cfm?3001
***

Armenian Ministry of Health (World Bank funded) –
Armenia: Tender for Procurement of Medical Furniture
ead.cfm?3006

For more information on the Medical Services And
Equipment Sector in the NIS, please contact Desi
Jordanoff at BISNIS at [email protected]

72 PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am
03 April 06

Such a figure exceeding far beyond the number of state universities
suggests that quantity is not necessarily quality. Five out of these
72 are branches of foreign universities, 28 have state accreditation.

Only 7 out of the 72 have state-accredited specialties. According to
Mher Makichyan, the head of the Agency for Licensing of the Service
of Accreditation of the Ministry of Education and Science, there are
over ten universities, which got state accreditation via courts. The
head of the agency declined to say how the courts reached such a
deal. Maybe the answer is apparent.

The accreditation of private universities by the Ministry of Education
and Science began in 2001. From February 7 to March 14 of 2006 the
Ministry started qualification of 20 private educational institutions
with 24 higher educational and 19 vocational specialties. In the final
stage of qualification tests in 70 subjects were held, 6 educational
institutions and 11 specialties failed.

These educational institutions were rejected the right to participate
in the next stage of qualification.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is going to extend the improved
plan of accreditation to the government of Armenia. The unlimited
accreditation will be replaced by a 5-8 year accreditation.

Armenian Organizations Initiated “Light the Night” Worldwide Campaign

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2006 01:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The organizations Armenia Diaspora and Armenica
informed you about the worldwide campaign of “Light the Night”. The
content of the campaign is stated below and further information can
be viewed at “On the eve
of April 24th, we encourage all to “Light the Night” by lighting
a candle through the night of the 23rd and into the morning of the
24th, in remembrance of the 1.5 million souls that fell victim to the
annihilation machine of the Ottoman Empire. Each lit candle placed on
the windowsill will represent a soul lost throughout the years of 1915
and 1923. Together, let’s “Light the Night”; let’s vow to remember,
to never forget, and to pursue justice and peace for all humanity. The
“Light the Night” campaign started last year in connection to the 90th
remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide and we wish to continue this
campaign hoping that it will be a permanent tradition. Last year the
campaign received wide TV and radio coverage in Armenia and this year
Printinfo has volunteered to contribute to the campaign by printing
flyers free of charge for distribution within Armenia. We hope that
you also could join us in this tradition,” the statement says.

WB YEREVAN OFFICE DIRECTOR: RISING GAS TARIFF IN ARMENIA WILL LEAD TO A RISE OF THE PRICES FOR SEVERAL GOODS

YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. The rise of the gas tariff in Armenia
will lead to a rise of the prices for several goods, Director of WB
Yerevan Office Roger J.Robinson said at a press-conference, Thursday.

He believes gas of special importance of Armenia’s economy.

Therefore, the rise of the tariff will have a negative impact on the
production and especially on the poor sections of the population. It
will also automatically lead to an increase of the electricity tariff,
R. Robinson said. At the same time, he thinks the new tariff will
not be disastrous for Armenia as some people believe.

POLISH DELEGATION TO PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
31.03.2006 13:13

On April 3-4 the delegation headed by Marshall of the Senate of the
Republic of Poland Bogdan Borusevich will arrive in Armenia on an
official visit. The delegation will comprise members of the Senate,
government officials and businessmen.

Public Relations Office of the National Assembly informs that on April
3 the delegation will be received by RA President Robert Kocharyan and
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. The Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II will receive the Polish delegation at the Mother See of
Holy Echmiadzin.

The same day members of the delegation will lay a wreath of flowers
at the memorial to the victims of the 1915 Genocide. They will visit
Matenadaran and will meet the representatives of the Polish community.

April 4 the delegation will have meetings with NA Chairman Arthur
Baghdasaryan, NA Vice-Chairmen, heads of Parliamentary Committees
and leaders of groups and factions. A meeting with representatives
of business circles is also expected.

JOBS PROGRAM GETS BIG PIECE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR GLENDALE
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
March 29 2006

GLENDALE – The City Council on Tuesday split up more than $510,000
in federal funds, with a youth employment program and an organization
that helps Armenians ending atop the recipient list.

The social services money was only part of the $6.1 million the city
is getting from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to
run housing, community development and homeless programs in the city.

But much of the rest of the funding was already divided up between
different programs and projects. On Tuesday, it fell to the council
to divide the social service money, after hearing pleas from
representatives of various charities wanting their share.

“There just isn’t enough money,” City Councilman Bob Yousefian said
in the middle of calculations to divide up the funds.

With HUD programs suffering cutbacks, the council will see its social
service money cut by $60,000 next fiscal year.

The council gave the biggest chunk of money – $100,000 – to the
Glendale Youth Alliance Inc. to run an employment program. The GYA
has given jobs and training to more than 1,000 teens and young adults
since its inception in 1993.

The council gave $50,000 to the Armenian Relief Society of Western
U.S.A. Inc. to bolster its programs, including English courses for
new immigrants.

Formerly homeless resident Lea Halberson, 36, pleaded with the council
to put money in Project Achieve, a 40-bed homeless shelter.

Halberson and her son now have a place of their own, and she is about
to start paying all her rent.

“I would never have thought 14 months ago when I walked in that door
(at the shelter) I would be where I am now,” she said.

Project Achieve, which receives other funding from the city, got
$30,000 Tuesday. Other recipients included New Horizons Family Center’s
after-school program ($45,000); the city-run graffiti removal program
($35,000); and a homeless program run by Catholic Charities ($30,000).

There were more than 20 recipients in all, including several city
departments that run social service programs.

City Councilman Frank Quintero abstained from the vote, citing
opposition to a committee’s recommendations for splitting the money,
and the other council members all voted for the funding break-down.

NATIONAL UNITY PARTY TO CONTINUE PUBLISHING FACTS OF LARGE-SCALE CORRUPTION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Unity Party will soon
publish many facts of large-scale corruption and bribery. Alexan
Karapetian, Vice Chairman of the National Unity (NU) Party, Secretary
of the NA NU faction, stated this during a meeting held at the Pakagits
Club. According to A. Karapetian, he already mentioned three such
cases in the parliament. As a result of one – nonfulfilment by the
Mika Limited company of its obligations stipulated in the contract on
supply of aviation fuel to Zvartniots Airport, the state suffered a
loss of 2.9 mln USD. The vice chairman of NU referred to the act of
a check-up of financial liabilities, which was conducted in February
2002 at Zvartnots Airport by the Main Financial Department of the
RA Ministry of Finance and Economy. According to the document, the
airport signed a contract on aviation fuel supply with Mika Limited in
September 1999. Mika Limited was obliged to supply 10 thousand tons of
aviation fuel at the price of 208 USD for a ton until December of the
same year. The transportation to the Ayrum railway station was to be
done by the supplier. However, Mika Limited broke this agreement. In
order to avoid the fines envisaged by a contract signed with Armenian
Airways, the airport imported the fuel itself, as a result of which
a ton of fuel cost Zvartnots Airport 320 USD. Mika Limited did not
pay the fine for breaking the contract. The fine made 2.9 mln USD as
of January 1, 2002, and by the current exchange rate of the Armeian
dram against the US dollar – 3.8 mln USD. However, in the words
of A. Karapetian, after compiling the above mentioned act, in 2002
Zvartnot’s director informed the ministry in writing that two years
before – in 2000, the 1999 contract was cancelled by mutual consent
by Zvartnots Airport and Mika Limited. The document confirming this
consent, which at the time was at Aviation Fuel Filling CJSC, was
not presented during the check-up. Thus, according to A. Karapetian,
the management of the state enterprise and M. Baghdasarov came to an
agreement on the sum to be paid to the state. The vice chairman of the
National Unity Party noted that in recent years the authorities have
spoken a great deal about the necessity to fight against corruption,
whereas some persons close to the authorities are themselves engaged
in corruption and bribery.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006

One killed, another wounded in Armenian truce violations

Baku, March 23, AssA-Irada

An Azerbaijani army soldier was killed on Wednesday afternoon in
another ceasefire violation by Armenia.
The Armenian armed forces in the occupied Cherabert village of the
western Terter District fired on Azerbaijani positions located on the
opposite, killing 20-year-old Azeri military man Safar Mokhurov, said
the acting Defense Ministry spokesman Ilgar Verdiyev.
In another ceasefire breach, an Azeri civilian Anar Huseynov, 23, was
severely wounded after Armenians opened fire in the central Aghdam
District. He was hit while working on arable land in the area during
the incident.*

Department of Legal and Structural Reforms opened at Chief
Prosecutor’s Office

ArmRadio
23.03.2006 11:32

Department of Legal and Structural Reforms has been opened at RA Chief
Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan issued the decree on March 21,
considering the necessity of rearranging the activity of the
Prosecutor’s Office directed at legal and structural reforms. 10 days
after his appointment Head of the Department on Legal and Structural
Reforms will have to present projects of arrangements of organizing
and raising the efficiency of the Office’s activity in the sphere of
legal and structural reforms.

NKR President will have meetings with the leadership of Armenia

ArmRadio
23.03.2006 12:34

Starting March 22 President of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkadi Ghukasyan has
been in Armenia on a working visit.

NKR Presidnet’s Press Service informs that during his visit Arkadi
Ghukasyan will have meetings with the leadership of Armenia.