Author: Felekian Ara

LOMAIA IS SATISFIED WITH AKHALKALAKI SCHOOL UPGRADES

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug. 17, 2006

Akhali Taoba reports that Minister of Education and Science Kakha
Lomaia positively assessed the current rehabilitation works in
Akhalkalaki schools, part of a national programme.

The paper writes that during the meeting with teachers and entrants,
Lomaia confirmed that students from Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda
[districts predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians] have achieved
much better results in the national exams than last year. While
visiting Akhalkalaki, Lomaia also visited the Javakheti branch of
the Tbilisi State University, acquainting local government with the
prospects for further development of this branch.

The minister also visited the Akhalkalaki resource centre, where
immediately after the completion of the rehabilitation works a new
resource centre will start functioning. Lomaia also met with Father
Nikolozi of Akhalkalaki and promised to support cultural and spiritual
development of the local youth.

SCOT PORTERFIELD NAMED NEW ARMENIA COACH

Reuters, UK
Aug. 16, 2006

YEREVAN (Reuters) – Britain’s Ian Porterfield has been named new
Armenia coach, the country’s football federation said on Wednesday.

The 60-year-old Scotsman replaces Dutchman Henk Wisman, who was fired
four months ago following a string of poor results.

Porterfield, who played for Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Raith
Rovers, has extensive coaching experience at club and international
level.

He coached various English and Scottish clubs, including Sheffield
Wednesday, Aberdeen and Chelsea as well as the national teams of
Zambia, Zimbabwe and Trinidad & Tobago.

Armenia begin their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign at home to Belgium
on September 6.

Porterfield, who arrived in Armenia on Tuesday, said that though
there was little time before their first match all Armenia’s top
players had been called up.

"There is never enough time in football. The work will start
immediately. I hope it will be successful," Porterfield told a news
conference.

AZERBAIJAN APPEALED TO UNESCO FOR PROTECTION OF HISTORIC MONUMENTS IN ITS ARMENIAN-OCCUPIED TERRITORY
Author: A.Ismayilova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 16, 2006

Azerbaijan has appealed to UNESCO for the protection of its historic
monuments in its Armenian-occupied territory and the areas destroyed
in fires by the Armenians, Azerbaijani Ambassador at UNESCO Elionora
Huseynova told Trend.

Huseynova stated that the issue of inclusion of Hirkan and Gobustan
reserves to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage was delayed due to
technical reasons.

She noted that in future other monuments of the Azerbaijani culture
would be included in this list. The issue will be considered in the
next Committees Meeting.

IN THE WORLD OF ‘RADIANT’ NOVELS
By Anzhela Amirkhanian

AZG Armenian Daily
17/08/2006

Exhibition at National Gallery

"In my creations, using paints and brushes, I try to manifest the inner
beauty of the human soul. The main theme in my works is theatre and
music, art within art, reflection within reflection. I try to convey
the permanent movement present in these art forms and their monumental
significance in the interpretation of the world. The combined use of
bright colors and dark hues shows the fortes and the pianos of this
intertwined art world. The aesthetics of music, literature, theatre and
fine arts coexist with the beauty, present within each of us, input by
Mother Nature, is present in all my generes of painting. This beauty I
express through the female figures and the playful harlequins in their
bright outfits and costumes, gracefully interacting and playing out
scenes from my imagination," painter Laura Avetisian describes her art.

Mrs. Avetisian thinks painting is the expression of a painter’s
soul. Her colorful paintings seem to full of music allowing composer
Konstantin Orbelian to say, "As a musician, I especially valued in her
works the richness and brightness of the palette, the inner pulsation,
the dramatic effects."

Laura Avetisian was born in Yerevan. At the age of 5 she moved to
Moscow where she graduated from Art School for exceptionally gifted
children. Upon her return to Armenia, she continued her studies at
the College of Fine Arts in Yerevan, then at the Institute of Fine
Arts and Drama.

As a talented student, Laura was invited to participate in exhibitions
in different countries in Europe. During her student years her works
went as far as North America when she displayed them at the Art EXPO
in Montreal.

Currently Laura resides in Los Angeles, California.

Within the last few years Laura has had numerous solo exhibitions
in many cities of the US, such as New York, Detroit, Boston, San
Francisco and Los Angeles.

Her works are on display at prestigious galleries in Carmel and Palm
Springs, California. Several American collectors are proud owners of
Laura Avetisan’s exquisite art works.

303,000 CARS IN ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 14, 2006

YEREVAN, August 14. /ARKA/. There are 303,000 cars in Armenia, RA
First Deputy Minister of Transport Hrant Beglaryan told reporters.

He pointed out the necessity of legislative regulation of the transport
sphere. Beglaryan reported that the sphere has so far been regulated
by the outdated Law "On motor transport communication".

New laws will give an impetus to the sphere’s development, he said.

Beglaryan pointed out that necessary conditions are currently being
created for the submission of bills "On motor transport" and "On
motor inspection" to the Armenian Parliament.

Beglaryan reported that the development of 57 conveyer lines for
licensing motor transport vehicles is under way. He said that 20 of
the conveyers will be in Yerevan.

The Armenian Government approved a number of bills regulating the
motor transport sphere, particularly bills "On motor transport" and
"On motor inspection" as well as introduced amendments into the Laws
"On licensing" and "On state duty".

ROADWORKS STARTED ON DRMBON-MARTAKERT

Armenpress
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
10 Aug 2006

Armenia Foundation’s tenders for public contracts took place in Armenia
and Artsakh. Namely, the repair of the hospital of the city of Sissian
will be carried out by the company Surham. The work is to finish by the
beginning of 2007. This project, which was funded by the affiliate of
the foundation in France, will create appropriate conditions for about
40 thousand people of Sissian and the adjacent villages. The price
bids of five companies, which passed the pre-qualification test for
the public contract for the hospital of Artik, will be studied on the
upcoming days. This hospital provides medical services to 60 thousand
people from the city of Artik and the adjacent villages. The project
is funded by the affiliate of the foundation in Great Britain. The
Armenpress has learned from the department of public relations
of Armenia Foundation that in the framework of the project of
reconstruction of Martakert, construction of water pipelines started
in the town of Martakert, and the adjacent villages of Mets Shen and
Maghavuz. Roadworks started on the Drmbon-Martakert 4.865 km section
of the North-South highway. In August Armenia Foundation put out the
project of gasification of the villages of Cheldran and Arajadzor to
tender. There will be other tenders, namely for the schools of the
villages of Nerkin Horatagh and Kochoghut, as well as the bridge on
the Kichan-Drmbon section of the North-South highway.

Georgia not informed of Armenia’s Internet problems – minister

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
11 Aug 06

Presenter] Our correspondent now joins us live from the State
Chancellery. [Passage omitted]

[Correspondent] At the government meeting they also discussed
Armenia’s Internet problem. As you know, the Armenians have accused
Georgia of sabotage, although Economic Development Minister Irakli
Chogovadze stated that he had not received any official notification
about the problem. [Passage omitted]

[Chogovadze] I have a very good, friendly relationship with Armenia’s
transport and communications minister. We have not received any kind
of official or unofficial statement from Armenia so I think that
whatever website is reporting this is exaggerating.

Therefore, until we have an official, or even unofficial, inquiry from
Armenia about this issue I cannot respond in any detail.

Stands Devoted to Khojalu to Be Set at Holocaust Museums

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.08.2006 18:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stands devoted to the so-called "Azeri genocide"
in Khojalu will be established worldwide, Head of the Department of
Propaganda, Information and Analysis of the State Committee for Work
with Azeris Living Abroad Javanshir Veliyev said.

In his words, certain work is done to that end. "After working out the
final project of actions of Azeri and Jewish Diaspora, the process of
establishment of stands will begin. This meets the interests of not
only Azeri, but also Jewish Diaspora organizations," Veliyev stated,
reports Trend.

NUMBER OF CRIMES INCREASES 9.9% IN ARMENIA DURING ONE YEAR

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of crimes fixed in Armenia
during the first half year of 2006 increased 9.9% or by 434 cases
compared with the same period of time of the previous year: 4823 cases
of crime were fixed this year instead of 4389 cases of the same period
of time of the previous year.

As Hovhannes Hunanian, the Deputy Chief of the RA Police informed at
the August 5 press-conference, the increase of cases is mainly provided
by the increase of property crimes, especially of robberies. But he
mentioned, that the level of crimes in Armenia is, nevertheless,
significantly low: 15 crimes fall to lot of every 10 thousand
inhabitants. According to H.Hunanian, this index is 9 times higher
in Russia, 16 times higher in Latvia, 7 times higher in Moldova. The
Deputy Chief of the Police mentioned that according to types of
crime, particularly, cases of crimes connected with murders and
attempts of murders, robberies, burglary, stealing transport means
have increased. Cases of damaging health with a criminal intent,
of banditry, rape and attemps of rape have reduced. Cases of crimes
committed by juveniles reduced by 30.

H.Hunanian mentioned 65 of people committed crimes during 6 months of
the current year were foreigners (instead of 53 of 2005), including
19 citizens of Georgia, 14 of Iran, 11 citizens of Russia. Increase
of cases of crimes committed towards foreigners was fixed during the
same period of time. 64 similar cases were fixed, including 15 ones
against citizens of Iran, 11 against ones of the U.S., 7 against
citizens of India, 6 ones against citizens of Russia.

H.Hunanian mentioned that 2745 ones of the crimes fixed in the first
half year of 2006 were revealed, what is more by 263 compared with
the previous year.

According to him, the number of revealing of cases of crime connected
with property burglary, robbery, fraud, stealing of transport means has
reduced at some extent. According to the Deputy Chief of the Police, a
positive move was fixed in the direction of revealing crimes committed
during the previous years.

According to him, 7 cases of murder and attempt of murder, 8 cases of
damaging health with a criminal intent, 10 cases of robber attacks,
3 cases of burglary, 62 cases of robbery committed during the previous
years were revealed in the period of time under review. During the same
period of time, 152 cases of crime directed to the economic activity
(149 cases in 2004) were revealed, including 11 cases of corruption,
23 cases of counterfeit, 46 cases of appropriation. It was also
mentioned that 13901 criminals were searched by the police bodies,
903 of which were revealed. Besides, 76 criminals in search by other
states were also arrested.

ON THE WAY OF BUILDING ‘GLOBAL VILLAGE’

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 08/08/2006

Exhibition

On August 4, the Center for Contemporary Experimental Art hosted a
unique exhibition of modern art. Works of artist from Iran, Georgia
and Turkey were displayed at "Art Without Borders" exhibition.

The organizers, founder and art director of CCEA Sonia Palasanian and
co-directors of the Department of Fine Arts Davit Kareyan and Yeva
Khachatrian, say that participation of Azerbaijani artists failed
despite the many tries for the last 3 years.

The exhibition features the works of 25 artists, 6 of whom are from
Armenia, 5 from Georgia and 7 from Iran and Turkey. The range of
exhibits included canvases, videotapes, photographs and installation.

The lavish opening ceremony was hosted by functionaries and foreign
guests. From exhibited artists only a Georgian was present. A
separate room at the CCEA exhibited art works that were that could
not be watched by children and sensitive people. It’s impossible to
put all manifestations of contemporary art into the frames of one
exhibition. The meeting of the Caucasian artists and their neighbors
was a belated but a unique occasion. This was a good place for
the artists to rediscover and understand each other. Diverse and
creative peoples of the region are obliged to live and create by
each other’s side. Though a small step, this exhibition is at the
same time big step to peaceful coexistence on the way of building out
"global village"

Ani Baghdasarian