41 residents of the village of Artavaz, in Kotayk Marz, say they are sticking to their guns in the class action lawsuit they have brought against the Armenian government.

On February 25, 2010, the government declared 96 hectares of village land as “eminent domain” and to be turned over to the A&M Rare Company to build a bottling facility for local spring water. The company’s director is Muhammed Mousallam, a Saudi Arabian sheikh. »»»»»

Anahit Ghazaryan, a representative of the All Armenia Fund’s Great Britain affiliate was in Armenia from August 24-26, to take part in ceremonies marking the distribution of 2.5 million AMD in school supplies to pupils in the country’s outlying rural districts.

Mrs. Ghazaryan visited the the Talin Children’s Art School and the schools in the villages of Dzoramout and Artzni, Lori Marz, where 180 pupils received their gifts. During the past ten years, the Great Britain branch of the Fund has distributed school supplies to over 1,800 pupils in Shirak, Lori, Tavoush, Vayots Dzor and Aragatzotn. »»»»»

Gayaneh Sayadyan, who heads the Department of Education in Armavir Marz, has stated that the region will be hosting 3,331 new pupils entering the first grade come September. This is an increase of 150 pupils over 2009.

Mrs. Sayadyan stated that preliminary estimates are for 32,409 pupils in the lower grades and for 3,613 pupils in the region’s senior schools.

Police reports summing up crime figures in Aragatzotn Marz don’t paint an encouraging picture. During the first six months of 2010, 235 crimes have been registered as compared with last year.

While serious crimes have dropped by some 25% over last year, the number of medium crimes has risen to 45 this year during the period in question. Last year, the figure was 45. The theft of livestock has also risen and three gangs of rustlers have been brought to justice. The gangs not only operated in Aragatzotn but in neighboring regions as well. »»»»»

There is no water in the community of Hayanist, located in Ararat Marz. This is the warning issued by the NGO, Armenian Women for Health and a Healthy Environment. The problem is so serious that community Mayor Babken Sargsyan is drafting a letter to send to the president and prime minister.

Mayor Sargsyan says irrigation water from Geghanist never makes it to his community sinec the system is clogs and that water pumped from local artesian wells has been squandered by several residents who have erected fish raising tanks. »»»»»

Elderly residents had just moved into new Gyumri home

For the Melikyan family in Gyumri, the events of last night rekindled horrific memories of the 1988 earthquake. The ceiling of their apartment, in a newly constructed building, collapsed last night at around 1 am, rattling the elderly couple out of bed. »»»»»

Yesterday, former RoA Central Bank President Bagrat Asatryan described to reporters his recent visit to two villages in the country. His observations weren’t too encouraging.

“I visited Darpas village, where my grandfathers were born in Sisian, and Ahnidzor, the village of the writer Hrant Matevosyan. The conditions, nature and people are different. But they share a common calamity. People are leaving the villages,” commented Mr. Asatryan. »»»»»

With no rainfall in Armenia last week and none expected in the next five days, the preconditions for a drought exist in certain areas of the country, especially those not supplied with irrigation water.

Zaruhi Petrosyan, who heads the weather forecasting division at the Ministry of Emergency Situations, told Hetq that while predicting a drought was impossible, certain regions of Armenia, especially Tavush and Syunik, could see such a situation given the continued lack of rain. »»»»»

The Armenian government has sent out notices to all Regional Administrations, directing them to cut their staffs by 10%. The directives were sent by Davit Sargsyan, the government’s Chief of Staff.

Hetq received a call from the Aragatzotn Regional Administration, saying that the directive mentioned that ten employees had to be let go, a number more than the 10% figure. The Administration claims that only ten employees should be getting yellow slips. »»»»»

16 schools classified as structurally unstable

The start of the new school year is just one month away, but pupils in 16 schools in Aragatzotn Marz will be returning to classes in substandard conditions. All the schools have been classified as structurally unstable. »»»»»

A minivan carrying dancers home from an event in Vanadzor collided with a passenger car on the Yerevan-Aparan stretch of highway near the village of Artashavan yesterday evening around 8. »»»»»

At today’s session of the Armenian government it was decided to prematurely annul the powers of the village leaders of Nor Artik (Aragatzotn Marz) and Sarnaghbyur (Shirak Marz). No reason was given for the move.

The government also called for new elections and for the financing of the electoral process in the two rural communities.

RoA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today appointed Edik Barseghyan to replace outgoing Ararat Regional Governor Vardges Hovakimyan.

Mr. Hovakimyan had tendered his resignation from the post for reasons yet unknown.

Vahan Tumanyan, President of the “Shirak Center” NGO, has sent a letter to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and the Minister of Urban Development, requesting their assistance regarding utility services of and the relocation of vulnerable individuals to the new apartment blocks built by Glendale Hills in the Moush #2 neighbourhood of Gyumri.

Mr. Tumanyan notes that gas and water meters have still not been installed in the apartments and thus residents have gone without these necessary utilities. Residents have not signed any utility contracts with the companies. »»»»»

The building has not been repaired since it opened some thirty years ago. Its foundations were shaken by the 1988 earthquake that jolted this section of northern Armenia. Seismic specialist examined the building only after Hetq wrote about the situation in an article entitled “Vardenis Diary: Structurally Unsound School Not Slated for Renovation“, back in February. Government officials from the Social Investment Fund now say a new school must be built since it is pointless to repair the existing building. »»»»»