Changes expected to be implemented in Georgia’s education system can have negative impact on ethnic minorities’ secondary schools, A-Info news agency reports.{BR} All subjects but national language will be taught in Georgian in these schools. Armenians living in Georgia are unhappy about that. They say 99% of teachers are thought to lost\e their jobs in Armenian schools.

2 of 4 prisoners in Nubarashen jail who went on a hunger strike 18 days ago and sewed their mouths, have sewed up their eyes, too. Under the information we possess, the representative of Ombudsman Office has visited them. The strikers aren’t going to stop the action. {BR}

Today the First Instance Court of Armavir City has continued hearing of the criminal case for Lavrenti Kirakosyan, Qarakert villager of Armavir District. {BR} Let’s remind that the trial started yesterday. All the 8 witnesses testified, 6 of them were the police employees of Baghramyan Region. Today’s session started with the speech of Kirakosyan. He produced some facts that his...

The protest action held for defense of the political prisoners near the General Office of Prosecutor has today ended in the unique awards. Eleonora Manandyan, Chair of “New Armenia” social organization introduced 3 statues of monkeys – the prizes set for attitude towards the political prisoners. {BR} The statue of the monkey closing its eyes with own hands, “I see nothing”,...

Computer will put questions to applicants instead of the commission, as it was before, to prevent the leak of information through commission members ahead of candidate-testing procedure, Manvel Badalyan said. Besides, voting won’t be secret and anonymous: each commission member will sign up his/her mark, he said. In 2004, the Council announced tender for more than 450 vacancies and received more than 2,000 applications.

Our www.a1plus.am site hasn’t been updated today for technical reasons. We apologize for it. Now all the bugs are settled. In such cases please visit our home.a1plus.am version. {BR}

The fact that Russian “Kultura” TV Channel will rebroadcast instead of the programs of Russian “NTV” TV Company in Armenia, caused various conversations. {BR} One of the versions is that under all over control the Armenian Authorities don’t need information out of control, /“NTV” TV Company was the source of it/. At that matter the Armenian Authorities may...

From October 18-21, 2004, the ordinary summit of Asian Seismology Commission will take place in Yerevan. Sergey Balasanyan, Chair of the Armenian Association of Seismology and Geophysics, informed during the conference today that the key task of the summit is to raise information distribution about seismic security among the population. {BR} The best experts from 43 states, including Azerbaijan and...

According to “A-INFO” Agency, bread went up in price in Akhalqalaq – 1 kg of bread costs 1 laari. The fact is conditioned by exacerbation of Georgian- Ossetian conflict and closing the roads connecting with Southern Ossetia. {BR} Flour in Akhalqalaq is mainly imported from Russia through the territory of Southern Ossetia. Because of road closing flour rose in price resulting in bread...

Grikor Amalyan, the head of the Radio and Television National Commission, said Monday that there are no vacant broadcasting frequencies in Yerevan while they are abundant in provinces. The commission decided to provide Cable Television Systems Center company with license.

Fire broke out Monday in Hrazdan gorge bordering to Yerevan’s district Aigedzor.{BR} Cause of fire is still unknown. Six fire-fighting vehicles are sent to the site. The situation is under control.

NTV, Russian TV channel, no longer will be retransmitted in Armenia. Radio and Television National Commission decided Monday to give 23 UHF, on which NTV were retransmitted once, to Armenian government for retransmission of Russian Culture channel’s programs.{BR} No tender has been announced for the frequency. It was given to the government under an intergovernmental agreement made between...

Three inmates of Nubarashen jail continue their hunger strike lasting for already 15 days. The forth ceased starving two days ago. The prisoners sewed their mouths up.{BR} Justice Ministry Press Secretary Ara Saghatelyan said Monday the hunger strikers had been moved to a special cell and were being treated properly. They demand to reconsider their sentences and mitigate punishment. All the prisoners...

Poster competition organized by Center for Regional Development and Armenian office of Transparency International with financial assistance of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation ended Monday with Art against Corruption exhibition.{BR} 117 works were exhibited. The winner was Hasmik Manukyan. She was awarded a 300-USD prize. Victor Dishchegenyan won the second award of 200$. Narine Gharibyan...

Today is the 100th day of establishment of Ombudsman’ Institution. In that connection Armenian Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan held a press conference. {BR} Mrs. Alaverdyan announced the process of restoration of violated rights in Armenia passes slowly. Ombudsman does hope people treat the newly-set up institution more seriously. She in details introduced how many applications she had received...

”Association of Investigating Journalists” has today appeared with a statement condemning the trial of the young men with shaved heads who beat people during rallies. {BR} Citing the impudence of the young men during the legal proceedings, the fact they threatened “Noyan Tapan” Agency correspondent Sona Mashuryan to break her head, “Association of Investigating Journalists”...

At the present moment Vardan Babayan, one of 4 prisoners who went on hunger-strike and sewed up their mouths in Nubarashen jail, stopped striking and ripped up the thread. Justice Minister Press Secretary Ara Saghatelyan informed this. {BR}

”There is no culture of healthy mode of living in Armenia. One of health enemies, the cigarette, has delved into our society causing grave consequences. It is necessary to have a well-worked out legislation to prevent the evil”, Alexander Bazarjyan, Coordinator of Anti-Tobacco Program of Armenian Health Care Ministry, said during the conference on “Role of Civil Society in the Anti-Tobacco...

”Media Group” informational social organization held a round table discussion on “Volunteer Activity in Social Organizations”. {BR} ”Media Group” Chair Gor Ilbekyantc states there are volunteer problems in 6 social organizations of 3 districts. 200 social organizations registered and running in Armenia were surveyed by telephone on “Volunteer Activity in...

On June 12, at 4:00 PM a photo exposition on “What is Freedom? or Against Violence” will stage near Komitas monument. {BR} Under the Municipality decision, the exhibition must not take place. “We don’t find it expedient to hold such an exposition”, Municipality response says. ”But we find it expedient”, one of organizers, Gayane Markosyan, Chair of “Free...

During a month the participants of the action for “Freedom for Political Prisoners!” gathered 7777 signatures and introduced them to General Prosecutor attached with a proper application. General Office of Prosecutor responded that the application had been discussed. {BR} The letter by Samvel Manukyan, head of Department for Control over Legality of Investigation of Office of Prosecutor,...

The first instance court of Center, Nork-Marash began considering case on assault on journalists on Thursday. The case has been instigated into the incident occurred at the rally staged by National Unity leader Artashes Geghamyan on April 2, when skinheads beat media representatives and broke their cameras.{BR} As many as 50 skinheads were present at Thursday’s court session. About 20...

On June 11 at 11:00 AM Hovanes Loloyan, Chair of “Will” Union of invalids will move from Gyumri Square to Olympia in a carriage for opening of Greek games of invalids. {BR} He will light the torch of Invalids’ Olympic Games. Loloyan will pass 2300 kilometers in 55 days. A car with the Armenian flag will follow him. Hovanes Loloyan will address a peace message to all the nations.

Money is collected from schoolchildren for handing the leaving certificates and commendable diplomas. The parents of excellent pupils have to buy commendable diplomas from bookshops. {BR} The leaving certificates of 8th and 10th grades are sold, too. Recently form-masters have announced in schools that they hand the certificates but it is necessary to pay 1000 drams to fill up them. Those executive...