Gayane Markosyan, Chair of ”Free Rostrum of Civil Initiatives” social organization thinks separation historically rose between a state and statehood. {BR} ”We have always accepted statehood as a high idea and channeled all the actions to formation of it. But the idea is still abstract and our attempts to establish statehood can’t be considered...

New outlet is to appear on media field. Erkir Media TV channel will start broadcasting in May 28. This day broadcasting duration will be only four hours. In ten days broadcasting time will be extended.{BR} The TV company director Rubina Ghazaryan says there are some technical problems. She says the channel won’t be politically-oriented. The company's executive director said the channel would try to be objective.

”Hayotc Ashkharh” Daily informs, at May 25 night an attempt was made upon life of Rafael Shahmuradyan, businessman, Chair of “Armenia-Lada” Company. {BR} A burst from a driving “Niva” car was fired at “Nissan-Patrol” of Shahmuradyan who was driving. Those attacking hided themselves, Rafael Shahmuradyan is in hospital with severe injuries. ”Armenia-Lada”...

The First Instance Court of Center and Nork-Marash Communes brought in a verdict to sentence Edgar Araqelyan, who hit a plastic bottle on the head of a policeman during April 12 rally, to 1,6 year-long imprisonment. {BR} During the trial Edgar’s Advocate Tadevos Alexanyan made a speech. According to him, the preliminary investigation group intended to aggravate purposely the accusation whereas...

”Armenia intends implementing the goals of Millennium development by 2015”, Gagik Vardanyan, Trade and Economic Development Deputy Minister announced during the round table discussion on “Millennium Development Goals in Armenia”. This date was fixed a deadline in the Millennium Summit in New York in 2000. {BR} The participating states, including Armenia, undertook to fulfill...

Yerevan Mayor Ervand Zakharyan and Center Commune head Gagik Beglaryan visited Yerevan State University in connection with the 85th anniversary of YSU establishment. {BR} YSU Rector Radik Martirosyan said YSU had numerous unsettled problems, major repairs in particular. According to him, the sport complex especially swimming-pool of YSU are in a bad state. “Large investments are necessary for...

-Recently a few citizens have applied to the Armenian Ombudsman complaining of the fact they are imposed to obtain social cards. Can people refuse the social cards within their rights? -What does it mean to defend oneself from a social card? We don’t consider imposing the social cards as infringement of rights since there is a Law obliging everyone. The Law provides that implementation of...

The staff of the Armenian Ombudsman informs it receives numerous applications saying citizens aren’t accepted in due course in some state instances, Ministries and Super Departments in particular, there aren’t reception days, the officials receiving are absent, those executive for reception don’t properly inform citizens about the order or hamper meetings. {BR} Ombudsman Larissa...

”2004 academic year was tense. But it was also efficient since 2004 was the year of improving the education quality”, Onik Vatyan, head of Municipality Education Department, announced during the press conference. {BR} According to him, the schools progress thanks to optimization process. Mr. Vatyan assures there are computers in 206 schools of general education and computer classes in...

Social organizations have today held a picket supporting Suren Surenyantc near General Office of Prosecutor. {BR} Surenyantc was arrested on April 4. He was accused of “calls for power seizure”. Later Surenyantc’s advocate informed of what “call” exactly Surenyantc had been charged. During the rally in Shengavit Commune in February he addressed the Authorities: “The...

Chair of Public Utility’s Coordinating Commission Robert Nazaryan said Friday consumer prices for power would be kept pegged at least till the end of this year.{BR} To make any decision the commission has to hear reports of utility-supplying companies and discuss all issues related to investment programs. Robert Nazaryan said independent and reliable alternative energy system must be created...

Governor of Armenian quake-stricken province of Shirak Romik Manukyan thinks the of apartment distribution process in Gyumri, the province’s capital town, is already over.{BR} However, many disputable issues connecting with illegal occupancy of some apartments still remain. The local authorities have appealed to the court to settle the matter. Eighteen cases have already been heard and the...

National Civil Initiative headed by Raffi K. Hovannisian has today held a seminar on “Army and Society”. {BR} Representatives of social and legal organizations, ex Defense Minister Vazgen Manukyan, ex Deputy Minister Gegham Harutyunyan, party chairs, Army officers, Defense Ministry department heads were present. Colonel Vardan Avetisyan, Head of Training Department of Defense Ministry...

European Integration organization chair Karen Bekaryan said Wednesday the organization would implement a number of democracy-promoting programs with German Friedrich Ebert Foundation assistance.{BR} He said the organization intended to conduct surveys to know public opinion about struggle against corruption. “We will keep Armenia’s population in touch with 20 European media outlets’...

Representatives of EU-financed micro-programs gathered Wednesday in Yerevan office of the European Commission.{BR} Tender for participation in the programs was announced on July 18, 2003. European Commission official Alexis Lober said the European Union had accepted Armenian businessmen proposal to activate ties with press and Armenia’s population and promote independent legal system building...

A real battle for land has broken out in Armenian capital’s Zeytun district. The district residents are trying to prevent construction of apartment blocks in the district’s green area.{BR} Many trees have been recently cut here. Coalition for Preservation of Green Plantations, Armenian environmental union, intends to stage a protest action on coming Saturday.

”How do you treat elimination of green territories in Yerevan?”, a participant of a seminar on “Coverage of Ecology Problems” addressed to the Armenian Ecology Minister. {BR} ”Very badly”, Minister answered. According to Vardan Ayvazyan, Ministry is unable to fight against destruction of the green zones since it has no key factors. Mr. Ayvazyan said there aren’t...

Armenian Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan avoids using “political prisoner” word. “I always say there are cases with political components. You know, it is easy to call those arrested as political prisoners. But in fact the cases consist of political elements”, Larissa Alaverdyan said at the talk with us. {BR} ”We have addressed to the General Prosecutor in written and expressed...

”No policy is worked out for rural manpower in “Poverty Reduction in Armenia” strategic program”, Hranush Kharatyan, head of Governmental Department on National Minorities and Religion, announces. {BR} Mrs. Kharatyan was instructed to make an analysis on occupation and unemployment of villagers in particular, the reasons and volumes in Armenia. Hranush Kharatyan has today...

At 10:00 PM yesterday a corpse was found near “Zigzag” shop in Sayat-Nova Street. Under the preliminary information by Police, the killed man is a USA citizen, Joshua Haglund. {BR} There were violence signs on the corpse. Policemen informed the dead man was brutally beaten then was stabbed into resulting in death.

A five-day practical seminar for 12 journalists started Monday in Caucasus Media Institute. The seminar is focused on covering environmental problems.{BR} Karine Danelyan, the chair of For the Sake of Stable Development association, finds Armenian laws not so bad saying it would be very well if we can observe the existing laws. Armenia’s top environmental concern is Sevan Lake and the country’s...

As it was reported earlier, an investigation was launched into the clashes broken out on May 9 between Armenian and Adzharian residents of Georgian town of Tsalka.{BR} A-Info news agency reports Prosecutor Office’s officials said the wrongdoers must be tracked down and prosecuted. The agency says the situation in Tsalka is calm, but Adzharians are persistent in demanding Armenians to be disarmed...

A concert will be staged on May 25 at the Republic Square in Yerevan to celebrate the Final Bell, school graduates’ holiday.{BR} 11, 800 students will be graduated from Yerevan schools this year, the Armenian capital’s Vice-Mayor KamoAreyan says

The members of ”Civil Will For and Against” social organizations informed during a press conference as a result of the forum of 80 social organizations on May 11 working groups were set, which will work in legislative sphere, civil society, and information and distribution. {BR} Forum participants have decided to hold pickets every morning near the building of General Office of Prosecutor...