20% of the doctors at the “Berd Medical Center” located in Tavoush Marz have reached retirement age. Some of them have reached an age where they suffer from certain physical disabilities. The problem is that there is no one to replace them. Medical Center Director Aram Harutyunyan told “Hetq” there is no permanent anesthesiologist on staff at the hospital. “We hire an anesthesiologist from the outside. »»»»»

There’s been a shake-up at Armenia’s prisons…well sort of. After the escape last week of two convicts from the Nubarashen Penitentiary, Warden Arsen Afrikyan handed in his resignation. His superior, Chief of the Criminal Correctional Service Ashot Giziryan, hasn’t made a similar face saving move and nor is the Minister of Justice preparing to step down. This is what I was told by Lana Mshecyan, Minister Gevorg Danielyan’s Press Secretary.

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The yearly reports of the Global Economic Forum, that refer to the network readiness of nations or, which is the same, the level of distribution and utilization of IT (Information Technologies), show that Armenia has experienced a drastic and steady downturn in its position.

In the Global Economic Forum’s 2008-2009 IT ratings, Armenia, coming in at the 114th spot, lags well behind all its neighbors. Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia came in at the 60th, 61st and 88th spots respectively. »»»»»

As of 2007, residents of the border village of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Tavush Marz, have been living in fear and dread. The Azerbaijani villages of Albalu and Hajalu lie only 700 meters away. During the past two years, there have been eight incidents of cattle rustling registered and the villagers are at their wits end. »»»»»

The Ministry of Urban Construction is planning to build a neighborhood in the Shirak town of Maralik that will house senior citizens left homeless due to the 1988 earthquake that ravaged the provinces of both Shirak and Lori.

The beneficiaries will be those elderly with no family to take care of them. Building #1 in the neighborhood is already built and will probably start to house the destitute individuals sometime this month.

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Politics is practically unheard of in the town of Berd. Topics like the state of Armenian-Turkish relations, the Karabakh conflict and ruling regime, pro or con, seem to be of little concern for the residents of Shamshadin.

Most residents have enough on their plate just trying to get by; trying to make ends meet. No wonder that there is precious little going on in the local offices of various political parties.

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