Dear readers Flu epidemic rages across the country. Our site’s staff came down with flu. That’s why our news not to be updated today. We apologize for that.

Tender proposals of the companies aspiring to 56 UHF were opened today. Three of four contesting companies – A1+, Noyan Tapan and Avetis – were stripped of broadcasting license as a result of a tender held on April 2, 2002. Presenting their proposal, “Avetis” company’s representatives promised 83 of which will make its own production. “Avetis” intends to spend 6 million USD for 7-year period. “Erkir-Media” company’s representatives...

”Our main aim is to work out a law, pass it and influent on the policy by law means”, - stated the head of the parliamentary commission on science, education, culture and youth Hranush Hakoyan. She informed that the 2004 state budget provides 7,5 billion drams for the education sphere, 2 billions for the culture and 120 millions for the science. "Those TV channels which broadcast erotic or...

Retired militaries organized a protest action by the Presidential residence today. They demand payment of their pensions and appropriate using of the Law on the social security of militaries and their families. Retired militaries say they repeatedly applied to both the Government of Armenia and the Ministry of finance and economy, but all in vain.

Tomorrow the license tender announced for the 56th frequency will take place. In the morning 4 companies, including “A1+” will present their tender proposals to the National commission on radio and television. This time the tender participants are “Noyan Tapan”, “Avetis”, “Husaber” companies. Nowadays the 56th frequency is occupied by “Art 13” TV Company, which refused to participate. The tender final results will be published...

On August 1, 2003 6 Armenian public organizations founded Coalition to agitate for interests of the mentally retarded. Today the presentation of three-month program accomplished by the Coalition took place. According to data of the Ministry of Health there are 115 000 disabled people in Armenia, 20% of them suffer mental problems. As a result of agitation it was concluded that the main...

“When Armenian National Assembly just embarked on adopting Civil Service Law, I publicly warned all parties they not to try to play the role of employment agency in civil service sphere. However, some political parties are now trying to do that”, the head of Civil Service Council Manvel Badalyan said at the seminar held by the council on Monday. Badalyan said all problems the council faces derivate from civil servants’ negligence. In his...

On Monday, Armenian capital’s mayor Yervand Zakharyan summed up his six-month activity in office. In his words, very much has been done for six months. Rest work, such as building and reconstruction as well as the crack-down on illegal street trade, is planned to be carried out, as it is scheduled in the 2004-2017program. Mayor mentioned heating of Yerevan and repairing of dilapidated buildings...

In 2002, UNO declared a period from 2005 to 2014 Decade of Education in the Name of Stable Development. A two-day regional seminar started Monday in the UN Yerevan office as a part of that international initiative. Representatives of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia took part in the event. The seminar aim is to work out a program of joint activity throughout the decade. Coordinator...

“In our country must be common education system and the preference should be given to the quality of education, in other case, on graduating the university the student will simply become an ordinary unemployed”,- said speaker of National Assembly Artur Baghdasaryan during a meeting with the heads and students of private universities. Artur Baghdasaryan promised that new law on education will soon be adopted. In Artur Baghdasaryan’s words,...

At the full session of the International Summit on Information Society the speech of Robert Kocharyan was rather impressive for the rest of the guests, especially the part, saying ”the computer programs and the services of information technologies make 1.7. At the summit the financial problems were referred to for the first time. During works agreements were reached at in all the villages, establishments....

”I reject all the testimonies given during the preliminary inquest and before Court since Office of Prosecutor haven’t yet introduced any proof on my guilt. I am guilty just for loving my wife. If there is punishment on that I am ready to bear it”, Edgar Filkov accused of spying announced at the First Instance Court of Kentron, Nork-Marash Communes. The defense speeches of the defendants were read out in the Court. It is to remind that...

The trial on Tigran Naghdalyan’s murder case restarted and was again postponed in the Review Court. H. Hakobyan, the new advocate of defendant Gegham Shahbazyan appeared to the Court. It is to remind that Shahbazyan had rejected his former attorney Lusntag Badalyan. Zaruhi Postanjyan, having resumed defense for Felix Arustamyan, come to Court, too. The defendants represented the contents of their...

October 27 case defendants Ashot Knyazyan, Hamlet Stepanyan and Edward Grigoryan have appealed to the Review Court. Defendants Nairi Hunanyan and Karen Hunanyan didn’t appeal. They either didn’t write or weren’t allowed because no one knows how they are now. One thing is clear: defendants Nairi and Karen Hunanyans, who are of potential danger for the masterminds won’t be brought to Court. Court will set the trial day within a month.

The population of Armenia /as prostitutes, inexpensive man power/ mainly leave for Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Greece and Germany. This was found as a result of studies. But the studies didn’t disclose how many people annually suffer violence in Armenia. Trafficking was first seriously studied in Armenia in 2000. In 2002 a short film was shot about the “victims” of trafficking in...

At Armenian Health Ministry request, Yerevan Municipality has today closed all the schools and kindergartens of Yerevan. As Taguhi Hakobyan, epidemiologist of Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Department of Health Ministry assures, number of those ill with influenza and respiratory disease in the country makes 5000. 3000 of them are children. Hakobyan says lessons in district schools may be stopped, too....

”The reason for numerous unsettled problems in the education sphere of Armenia is the unregulated legislative field. Our schools have problems over building, finance, etc, which weren’t solved even after implementation of educational reform project by Armenian Government”, Susanna Engibaryan, head of the department for projects of general education of Education and Science Ministry’ “Licensing and Accreditation Service” agency, announced...

Armenia demands for time to join the Ottawa Convention on Prohibition of Antipersonnel Mines. Jemma Hasratyan, coordinator of Armenian National Committee of the international movement for prohibition of antipersonnel mines, told this at the conference in UNO’ Armenian Office. Mrs Hasratyan phrased the reason for not joining the convention this way: ”No one in the region has joined it”. According to her, only Turkey in the region has joined...

”Forests of Armenia” social organization addressed an open letter to Yerevan Mayor Ervand Zakharyan. Ecologists voice concerns that 1200 alive pine-trees and branches have been cut for the main fir-tree on the Republic Square. They think that there was much time to find an alternative for alive trees- the ban has been valid since last year.

”We can support “A1+” to regain the broadcasting chance. But what is the guarantee that the one losing the tender won’t again ask us to protect its rights?”, Vladimir Pryakhin, OSCE Yerevan Office head announced. Mr Pryakhin assures that they keep an eye on “A1+” fate and have negotiated over it for many times, even with the Armenian president. By his words, president in person told him that he likes “A1+”. ”Yes, he said that....

Armenia fulfilled one more European commitment on Wednesday. Armenian National Assembly adopted the Alternative Service Law. Under the law, young men are given an option: to carry out their compulsory national service duties in army or fulfill public work.

Not only women but also men can become human trafficking victims, Tigran Janoyan, a member of International Union of Lawyers, said at round table held Wednesday to discuss human trafficking problem. The round table participants are convinced that joint efforts are needed to combat this vicious phenomenon. Punishment for human trafficking is specified in new Criminal Code. However, the lawyers think the code should undergo some alterations.

Despite the fact that it has been said by the government that no enterprises are to be given tax franchise, before embarking on the 2004 budget discussion the parliament discussed the proposal to give tax franchise to some enterprises such as Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. The plant’s franchise is proposed to make up to dozens of milliard drams. Energy Minister Armen Movsessyan insisted that the...

Young men serving in Armenian Armed Forces undergo violence and harassment by officers, said parents of the servicemen killed while fulfilling national military service today at Azdak Club. Commanders treat soldiers in brutal way: beat and kill them with impunity, they said. They also said those committed murder remained unpunished because corruption and bribery flourished in the republic’s justice...