As many as 309 illegal constructions were destroyed in Armenia’s capital in 2004, Yerevan mayor’s adviser Hrachya Muradyan said at a news conference held Monday.{BR} He said only 100 unauthorised constructions were destroyed in Yerevan for previous years. The municipality intends to decide other illegal constructions fate by Feb 1, 2005 taking onto account whether they correspond to...

A five-day training course on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has started today in the resort town of Tsakhkadzor (60 km north of Yerevan) for 12 officers from the Ministry of Defense’s Combat Training, Missile Troops and Artillery Departments, Military Institute and Institute of Military Aviation, as well as Army corps and units. The course, designed for future IHL instructors is organized...

If Armenian-Greek “ArmenTel” enterprise were set up at the present time, the legal bases for it would be different. Armenian Justice Minister as well announces it: “If a new licence were worked out now, believe me, it wouldn’t be the same”. {BR} As to the license in force, it turns the quarrel between “ArmenTel”, Justice Ministry and organizations rendering...

Today Parliament Commission on State and Legal Issues has initiated parliamentary hearings on “ArmenTel” issue and changes made to N 60 licence. Representatives of about 17 organizations from President Staff, Commission of Economic Competition, Armenian Justice Ministry, organizations rendering IP services etc had come to Parliament to partake in the discussions. {BR} The hearings didn’t...

In 2005 “Eurasia Fund” will finance programs in Armenia costing $ 2 million. During 2004 70 projects making $ 1,5 million were implemented by financing of the fund. 25 programs of $ 600.000 were approved for financing. “Eurasia Fund” representatives have today introduced the data in “ArmenPress” Press Hall. {BR} According to Ara Nazinyan, Director of Fund Representatives...

General Office of Prosecutor released a statement, under which a criminal case was instituted over burning “Niva” car belonging to “The Armenian Times” Daily. Let’s remind that the car was burnt down on November 22, at 8:40 PM near the editorial office. {BR} The release explains instituting the criminal case only 10 days after the incident the following way: “After...

”AIDS is an epidemic, which reaches huge volumes year by year”, Lars Olof Kallings, UN Secretary General’s Commissioner on AIDS/HIV in Eastern Europe said a press conference. 30 million people in the world have already died of AIDS/HIV, 40 million ones are virus-carriers and it’s just the beginning of the epidemic, Commissioner says. {BR} Under his forecasts, there will be...

”There is no medicine to completely treat AIDS”, Norayr Davidyan, Armenian Health Care Minister answered the question about “Armenikum” at a press conference in National Press Club. According to him, “Armenikum” is a remedy for prolonging life and it is still under registration. {BR} Lars Olof Kallings, UN Secretary General’s Commissioner on AIDS/HIV in Eastern...

During 2004 about 4,9 million people became infected with HIV. 210.000 of them are in our region. This exceeds the figure in Western Europe in 10 times and the one in Northern America in 5 times. {BR} ”The epidemic in Armenia is now in the 2nd phase of growth”, Samvel Grigoryan, Director of Republican Centre of AIDS Prophylaxis said at the press conference on AIDS Combating Day held...

In the context of “Strategic Programs on Poverty Reduction” and “Millennium Development Goals” a support program was signed between UNDP and Armenian Government. Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan and UNDP Coordinator Liz Grande have ratified it today. {BR} This project was worked out for the first time for Armenia. According to PM, it opens new horizons for a close cooperation...

Nazeli Vardanyan, the attorney to heir of Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan, who has been murdered by Azeri officer Ramil Safarov during NATO-led training held in Budapest in February, said at a news conference in Yerevan that she has a judge assistance status in Budapest court while a Hungarian counsel is set to present the heir’s interests.{BR} Nazeli Vardanyan said Armenian side intended...

Two powerful explosions were heard near Yerevan’s Nor Nork hospital a few minutes ago. Vehicle with oxygen has thought blown up while loading oxygen-baggs. The explosion affected the hospital building partly.{BR} Firefighters are now trying to stop fire. No casualties are reported so far.

The first HIV-positive was discovered in Armenia in 1988. Today the number of HIV-affected people has climbed to 3,000.{BR} AIDS is a sexual-transmitted disease. Very often it transmitted through infected syringe, especially in the event of intravenous injection. 52,8% of these 3,000 HIV-positives have been infected through injection. The most vulnerable age is from 20 to 35. Although majority...

On Monday, Gurgen Musheghyan, director of Yerevan Project urban planning institute, speaking at a briefing in Yerevan City Hall, said the coming year will be a year of wide discussions over General Project of Armenia’s capital.{BR} The General Project is the 5th main document for Yerevan planning. The number of the city residents will make 1 million 200 thousand by 2020. Green spaces are planned...

Valery Gabrielyan, former chief architect of Vanadzor, Armenia, was found dead Sunday morning in his apartment.{BR} He was found hanged and reportedly killed in an apparent suicide. It isn’t clear yet if the police will open investigation into the matter. A few months ago he was dismissed as head of Vanadzor municipality’s urban planning and architecture unit.

In Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the court verdict for the persons charged with an attempt for making a coup d'etat against the country was read out. 6 Armenian pilots are among the accused. {BR} Court sentenced Armenian pilot-in-command to 24-year-long imprisonment, and 14 years to each Armenian pilot. Advocate of the Armenian pilots is going to appeal against the unjust verdict to Supreme Court...

“Contrary to rumour, there are no plans to change the application fee”, U.S. Consul Mary Stickles announced today. The Consulate will continue to charge $ 100 U.S. for each visa application, but there are no plans for an increase. {BR} In fact, visa fees have been lowered for some visa types. The fee for a multiple-entry visa to visit the U.S. has been lowered to $ 50 U.S., effective...

Yerevan Municipality building has been inaugurated today. Robert Kocharyan and Ervand Zakharyan were granted “pleasure” of cutting the red ribbon. {BR} Architect Jim Torosyan is the author of the building. The five-storeyed erection covers about 13.500 square meters. It has a tower 47 meters in height taking an area of 1226 square meters. A museum building is located in a part of the building,...

Today’s press conference of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union has been over the seminar on “Corruption in State Colleges of Armenia” they held on November 16, 2004. {BR} Let’s remind that during September-October, 2004, they conducted experimental surveys among 1100 students of state colleges in Armenia to find the ideas of students on corruption in institutes...

More than 200 people remain trapped by snow avalanche in Georgia-belonging section of Voeno-Georgian road. Children and an elder man with serious health problems are among the buses passengers that are running out of petrol, food and water.{BR} North Ossetian emergency ministry's source says rescue crews from the republic are ready to help people right now, but formal permission from Georgian authorities...

Consumers National Academy celebrated its first anniversary Thursday in the Armenian National Academy of Science.{BR} The Academy members spoke on harm inflicted by imported foods and the threat genetically modified food posed to Armenian customers. They said that juices in the CIS all member countries are being produced of the row materials received from Germany. “Natural” juices,...

On Thursday, Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Armenia, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, said the organization and she personally are deeply concerned about facts of domestic violence against women in Armenia.{BR} Ms. Lise Grande noted, as a rule, the problem is never being discussed openly. Those committing violence against...

An Aparani resident has just phoned us and told that electric power supply has been ceased in the city for the 4th day. Electricity supply pole fell down because of snowstorm. Even bake-house doesn’t work. Telephone communication is out of order, too. {BR} We were informed by Department of State of Emergency that electricity had been cut off not only in Aparan City but also in 34 villages....

The trial of the Azeri officer having axed the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan started yesterday in Budapest and was postponed till February 5, 2005. {BR} Today more than 5.000 students and schoolchildren have held a protest action on the initiative of “Gurgen Margaryan” charitable social organization in Yerevan, which ended in a march in Tsitsernakaberd. ”Beginning from 5:00...