MosJan

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH MESROP RECEIVES US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY MR.PEARSON ISTANBUL, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian is reported to have received last Friday US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson. According to Patriarchy press-office in Istanbul, Mr. Pearson was interested in the present conditions of Armenian community in Istanbul and informed the Patriarch about US government efforts towards establishment of mutual-understanding between Turkey and Armenia. Armenian Patriarch expressed gratitude to the ambassador for a visit of courtesy and pointed out the heavy economic conditions the Turkish public, including the Armenian community were facing. Armenian Patriarch added that the Patriarchy chair, as a spiritual establishment, will support every effort and initiative aimed at reconciling Turks and Armenians.

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AFTER ILLEGAL WATER USERS FROM LAKE SEVAN YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS: The newly appointed environment minister Vartan Ayvazian has appealed to private Armenian businessmen and international organization with a request to help obtain new and more advanced water meters which are supposed to be installed at points from where water is pumped out from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes. The move is reportedly came after the minister received several warnings that water is illegally pumped out from the lake at night time. The minister is also going to hold an urgent consultation to make an in-depth look into the lake's water balance. Lake Sevan, the biggest reservoir of fresh water in Armenia, has decreased by some 14 centimeters from the beginning of the irrigation season against last year's level. The minister also has ordered to suspend leasing of new lake-side territories, after he personally revealed that leasing was granted with gross violation of nature protection requirements. The ministry has said to Armenpress that in line with the law on Lake Sevan a group of experts has been set up by the National Academy of Sciences which is supposed in concert with the ministry to prepare a set of austerity measures to improve the lake's condition. They will be submitted to parliament's consideration before the latter embarks on next year's budget discussions.

POLAND IS INTERESTED IN STABILITY IN THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS 14.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Poland highly appreciates external political achievements of Armenia, meaning its membership in the Council of Europe and intention to enter the World Trade Organization. Temporary Attorney of Poland in Armenia Peter Ivashkevich stated this in an interview to "Arka" agency. In his words, Poland is interested in common security in the Southern Caucasian region as the conflicts hinder making big capital investments by external investors, including Polish ones. "Armenia is a very important factor for us in this concern," - P.Ivashkevich stated. He noted that the relations between the two countries are at the initial stage of forming the dialogue. "I hope that the visit of the President of Poland to Armenia in November, 2000 will become a huge stimulus for beginning close cooperation," - P.Ivashkevich said. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA WILL SIGN A CONCEPT OF COMMERCIAL-ECONOMIC COOPERATION 14.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ In course of Vladimir Putin's visit to Yerevan in September 2001, the concept of commercial-economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia for the forthcoming ten years will be signed. This document will form the basis for the program of long-term partnership. Temporary Attorney of Russia in Armenia Sergey Kapinos stated this in an interview to "Golos Armenii" newspaper. In his words, a number of conventions, particularly "On encouragement and mutual protection of investments", "On cooperation in the field of tourism", "On cooperation between the subjects of the Russian Federation and the regions of Armenia", will be signed. S.Kapinos noted that the project of creating a joint enterprise envisaged using the state debt of Armenia to Russia for forming the collective investment fund. Let us remind that in May 2001 the debt of Armenia to Russia made 114 million dollars. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

RESEARCHES IN THE FIELD OF HIGH TECHNOLOGIES CONDUCTED IN ARMENIA 13.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the second session of the Council on promotion of information technology development, the results of researches conducted in Armenia by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) were presented. The data on information technologies will be published in the near future. The Council made a decision on creation of working groups, the program of activity of which will be presented at the next meeting. The working groups will be engaged in matters of "Initiative of Information Technologies of the Caucasus" regional conference and other actual problems of this sphere. Let us remind that more than 38% of Armenian enterprises, working in the field of information technologies, are involved in producing software, and export of production of the sphere made 20 million dollars in 2000. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM ORGANIZED EXHIBITION ON ARMENIAN ARCHITECTURE, DEDICATED TO 1700TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIANITY IN ARMENIA All phases of development of Armenian architecture since the 4th century have been presented. The exhibition includes monuments from Persian Armenia, Western Armenia, Armenian Cilicia and Artsakh, as well as some examples of Armenian architecture in main Diaspora centers. This original exhibition will move to Moscow Architecture Museum after Shlyusel in January. The exhibition comprised with the materials of the Moscow Architecture Museum will open to the Russian public as well. Most of the items of the exhibition are being publicly displayed for the first time. < 10.08.2001 00.34

SECOND PAN-ARMENIAN GAMES WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 18TH OF AUGUST TILL 26TH It is expected that the number of participants will be much greater this year, compared to the First Games. About 5 thousand athletes from 95 cities in 32 countries are expected to arrive in Armenia. Rehearsals of the opening ceremony at the Vazgen Sargsian Republican Stadium are underway. The symbolic fire of the games will be lighted at the Garni pagan temple by this year’s Miss Student. Then, athletes will bring the fire to the Stadium in Yerevan. After a parade of athletes at the Stadium, the Armenian President, the organizing committee and the Mayor of Yerevan will welcome the participants of the Second Pan-Armenian games. The artistic part, created by Hrachia Ashughian, will present the story of the Noah’s Arc. The field in the stadium will represent the Ararat Valley covered with apricot trees. Many pigeons will then be released through the branches of apricot trees, symbolizing the pigeon released by Noah. The symbol of the Second Pan-Armenian Games is a pigeon with an olive branch. Then the opening ceremony will continue with a theatrical performance dedicated to Gregory the Illuminator, who spread Christianity in Armenia, and Kind Trdat, who supported him. It is expected that more than 1500 people will take part in the opening ceremony. The closing ceremony of the Games will be somewhat smaller and will be held at the Karen Demirchian Sports and Concert Complex. The Closing ceremony will end in a youth show program. < 10.08.2001 00.34 >

FROM 7TH OF AUGUST TILL 10TH ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES TOOK PLACE Exercises took place with participation of one unit of the Armenian army and the units of the Russian military base number 102. The exercises were held in accordance with the program of joint operative measures by Armenian and Russian armed forces, which was signed last year. About 1000 military servicemen took part in these exercises. More than half of them were officers and generals. The main purpose of the exercises was to check the ability of heads of headquarters to command the troops and to develop and implement defense actions. According to Head of the Main Headquarters of the Armenian Armed Forces, Mikael Harutyunian, and the Head of the Headquarters of the Russian Military Group in the Transcaucasus, Arkadi Bakhin, the objectives of the exercise have been achieved brilliantly. < 10.08.2001 00.35 >

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MOnte Melkonyan web page Monte (Avo) Melkonian was born near Fresno, California, on November 25, 1957. He graduated with honors from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in archaeology and Asian history. Turning down scholarships for graduate study at prestigious universities, he devoted the rest of his life to defending the underprivileged and voiceless. He taught at Armenian schools in Iran and Lebanon and helped defend local Armenian communities. Monte stated many times that those who genuinely want lasting peace should be prepared to work and fight for justice.... stop by at the web page for mor info. Movses

http://davidashen.aua.am/ATG/field4.jpg http://davidashen.aua.am/ATG/index.html http://davidashen.aua.am/ATG/rog.jpg The Armenian Technology Group (ATG) focuses on providing new private Armenian farmers with the benefits of improved agricultural techniques and innovations, to enable the farmers to enhance the yield and quality of the republic's cereal and legume crops. At the same time, in the belief that a strong private sector is the foundation for a healthy free-market economy, ATG cultivates the business and management skills necessary for success in modern agriculture. ATG began its activities in Armenia in 1989. Since then, ATG has implemented programs including wheat barley seed distribution and multiplication, inputs, corn, alfalfa and vegetable seed distribution, farm machinery manufacturing and distribution, honey bee medication, training and demonstration of farming practices, greenhouse repair, and distribution of hospital equipment and high value bull semen for artificial insemination. ATG has worked independently and in cooperation with Republic of Armenia Ministries, United Nations agencies, and many international and local NGOs. In December 1998, The Armenian Technology Group (ATG) began to implement a new honey production program in Nagorno Karabagh. The program is part-funded by USAID in response to the U.S. Congress's interest in providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Nagorno-Artsax conflict. Other projects in NK under the USAID program include primary health care services, mother and child care, mental health improvement, shelter and sanitation programs, and micro-credit assistance for women. The honey production program, which will run from December 1998 until March 2000, aims to generate income in NK. It is designed to improve the agricultural knowledge of beekeepers and to standardise approaches on beehive management practices. By several means, the project will increase the output of honey by 75% to 100% from present levels. Improved yields will cause incomes to rise and increase supplies for domestic consumption. It is also expected that income will also be generated by the construction of bee hives and from selling beeswax, and making candles and from honeycomb crafts. Three hundred farm households and craftsmen are directly targeted, for an estimated total of 1,256 direct beneficiaries. An indirect impact will be achieved by donating 10% of the packaged honey to charitable organizations, hospitals and the needy. In the first year, this would be approximately 3,000 one-kilogram containers that will benefit 3,000 families (or 12,000 individuals). Along with beekeepers and other private farmers, the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabagh have welcomed the project. One goal of the project is to form a Honey Producers Association. Association by-laws have already been drafted and translated to Armenian. A draft agreement has also been prepared for the 300 individuals who will be members of the Association and participate in the program. In January, ATG's NK office identified three local companies in the regions of Askeran, Stepanakert and Martakert that will each construct 1,000 hives by the end of March. The craftsmen who will do this work were eager to start the procurement of the lumber and the construction of the hives. ATG also started the process for purchasing the necessary equipment and parts to extract honey. One technical advisors from the US has come to NK to share his experience in beekeeping and honey production. In addition, local field technical advisers and monitors are used to properly implement and report the project goals. ATG's Staff ATG headquarters is located in Fresno, California, with an implementing office in Yerevan. ATG board members and technical advisors serve as unpaid volunteers. Since 1989, board members have visited Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh (NK) on numerous occasions to meet with officials and assess the agricultural situation in the area. Head office, USA Arthur O. Hazarabedian Chairman Ronald Khachigian President Varoujan Der Simonian Executive Director 1322 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 255, Fresno, CA 93710 Tel: (559) 224 1000, Fax: (559) 224 1002 E-mail: atgusa@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yerevan Office Roger N. Culver In-Country Director Roger W. Benton Chief Agronomist, ATG Fresno Narine Koloyan Secretary/Interpreter Gagik Mkrtchian Project Coordinator Mkhitar Grigorian Senior Agronomist Arkady Markarian Agronomist Vaghinak Kamrastian Agronomist Vahe Grigorian Cheif Monitor Misak Gharagiozyan Finance Officer Areg Azoyan Accountant/Cashier Raphael Sahakov Inventory Manager Siranoush Torossian Data Specialist Edik Sarkissian Driver Manouk Manoukian Driver Souren Petrossian Guard Rouben Ghandiljian Guard Anahit Assatrian Cook Sousanna Nahapetian Kitchen worker Nina Danielian Cleaner Noune Shamakhian Information Specialist In addition to its permanent Yerevan office staff, ATG has 15 agronomists in different regions of Armenia.

Artur Sarkissian He has produced Rush Hour / Rush Hour 2 / : Last Man Standing , http://www.dem.de/entertainment/kino/109/109560bc.jpg http://www.rushhour2.com/yacht/images/CandJ.jpg i like to get some more info on him . MOvses [ August 13, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

By Ryan Carter BURBANK -- Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana has filed suit against a Burbank high school student who allegedly sold ****ographic images from a web site devoted to the four-time National Football League champion. "The guy's using his name to sell ****ography," said Montana's attorney, Robert Mezzetti II, in a phone interview. "That's a no-no." The suit, which claims 18-year-old Emil Lazarian of Burbank damaged Montana's reputation, was filed Aug. 6 in Santa Clara Superior Court. Montana is asking for more than $5 million in damages. But Lazarian, an 18-year-old Armenian exchange student, said he innocently bought the Web site for $10 on Bulkregister.com, a site which sells domain names, not knowing even who Joe Montana -- the football star -- is. "It's just a funny story," he said. "I had no idea who Joe Montana was." The site cannot be found now, but it linked to a ****ographic site, where browsers could by the domain name. It was just a way of making money, Lazarian said. When the family realized Montana's lawyers were suing, they returned the site, Lazarian said. Lazarian said there were links to ****ography on the site, but no graphic illustrations on the home page. "In my country, when we say football, we mean soccer.In this country, Montana is a popular last name and I'm sure Joseph is a popular first name," he said, adding he didn't think this was a big issue. Mezzetti declined to comment further on the case, but he said Montana himself would probably make a public statement soon. For information about reprinting this article, go to http://www.lats.com/rights/register.htm

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SECOND IN RUSSIAN SOCHI YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: More than 120,000 Armenians reside in the area of the so-called Great Sochi, the most famous Russian resort city on the Black Sea cost, which also involves some other smaller towns, such as Adler, Dagomis and Lazarevskoye. The Armenian community comes next after the Russians. The share of Armenians in Adler's population makes 37 percent, in Sochi proper-25 percent and 20 percent in the overall population of Lazarevskoye

ARMENIAN SOCCER TEAM LEAVES FOR ROMANIA YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian soccer team Mika from the town of Ashtarak left on Thursday for Romanian Brasov to compete with the local Rapid in the first UEFA Cup qualifying game. Rapid is now at the forefront of the Romanian football, but Mika coach said they have reinforced the team by several players from other teams.

PRESENTATION OF ARMION ARMENIAN-FRENCH MAGAZINE HELD YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS: After the publication of its 4th issue the Armenian-French Armion magazine was officially presented in Yerevan August 7. "The magazine still needs to be firmly established in Armenia and acquire stable and regular readers," the magazine's editor-in-chief Hovhannes Yeranian and publisher Hovsep Khurshudian told a press-conference. Talking to reporters they also presented the magazine's main areas of interests. According to the editor-in-chief, an impetus for the creation of the magazine became the informational lack in Armenian-French relations, as well as the recent strengthening of relations, after the French parliament recognized officially the Armenian Genocide. By the foreign ministry's assistance, 2,000 samples of the Armion are being spread in 5 French-language countries, such as France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and Lebanon.

PROCEEDS FROM SAN FRANCISCO OPERA TO HELP RESTORE SCHOOL IN ARMENIAN VANADZOR YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Part of proceeds from Arshak II opera to be staged in September in San Francisco, USA, will go for reconstruction of a musical school in Armenian town of Vanadzor that was hit by 1988 earthquake. The musical school, once the biggest in the region of Lori, (it had some 500 students), was almost completely destroyed in 1998. A senior official of the governor's office in charge of cultural and science issues, said to Armenpress that some $195,000 would be required for the school's foundation's reinforcement and reconstruction

THE HEAD OF "ARMENTEL" CLAIMS THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF PER MINUTE PAYMENT FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE IS UNAVOIDABLE 08.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The introduction of per minute payment for phone service in September is unavoidable. That has been stated by executive director of "ArmenTel" Nikos Georgulas at his interview to the Armenian national television. He has pointed out that the reduction of tariffs for international calls and cellular phone calls is expected. "The cell phone communication will function in 90% of the territory of Armenia by the end of this year", has stated Georgulas. According to him, low tariffs for international calls and cell phone calls will be introduced from September at the same time as the per minute payment will be introduced for phone service. As he has pointed out, per minute payment will start with 1 dram and achieve 8 drams per minute. It should be reminded that as "ARKA", with the reference to the public relation department of the ministry of transport and communication of Armenia, stated earlier, the executive director general of "ArmenTel" Nikos Georgulas has agreed to postpone the introduction of the per minute payment system for phone calls in Armenia. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED THE OFFERS OF THE GREEK COMPANY OTE 09.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The "ArmenTel" terms of the per minute payment introduction for phone calls are not acceptable. As "Arka" agency informs, Minister of Justice of RA David Arutyunyan has stated that in his interview to journalists. He has pointed out that " the problem is more serious and is connected with the assurance of license terms. Arutyunyan has pointed out Armenia's government and Greek company OTE, owning 90% of shares of "ArmenTel" signed a memorandum for understanding, stipulating mutual concessions, " which however was not realized". The Minister has pointed out that according to the memorandum Armenia's government must re-examine the program of investments, taking into consideration financial claims, but ATE in his turn must restrain from the communication monopoly and define its tariff policy. As Arutyunyan has pointed out, the suggestions made after memorandum signing are not acceptable for the government. The minister also pointed out that" no exact figures of investment were indicated in the memorandum'. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

THE PENTAGONE EXPERTS HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT INTERESTS OF THE US REQUIRE Artsax INDEPENDENCE 09.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish magazine "Aksion" has published130-page research devoted to the problems of the Caucasus countries, Central Asia and their neighbor countries prepared according to the US defense ministry order. The Analytic council and institutes, studying problems of Asia and Caucasus developed this document. Diplomats, generals, specialists of this region participated in its preparation. The White House has paid attention to this work. Analysts took into consideration the problem of Nagorno-Artsax. In the document is said "25-thousand army of Artsax is the second strongest in the region after the Uzbek army. Three marshals, four admirals and thirty generals were born in Armenia. The Artsax Army has divided Azerbaijan in two parts through Yevlakh-Mingechaur. If they continue to move in this direction, the pipeline Baku-Supsa will be threatened…The interests of the US regarding the Caucasus require the peaceful unification of Georgia, and Artsax independence but formally included in Azerbaijan… If Armenia and Azerbaijan's presidents do not come to an agreement, and then the reality of new war in the region is big. In the case if Azerbaijan succeeds in the Artsax conflict, Armenia can make attempts to occupy Nakhichevan. If the events progress in this way, Turkey, as it is stipulated according to Kars agreement, 1921, will begin battle activities against Armenia. In this case Russia will not remain aloof". Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

PROJECT OF CREATION OF ARMENIAN-CHINESE JOINT ENTERPRISE PRODUCING CHLOROPRENE CAOUTCHOUC IS DEVELOPED 10.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ A project of creation of a joint enterprise producing chloroprene cauotchouc in China is under consideration in the Ministry of Industry of Armenia. In the words of the Minister of Industry and Trade of RA Karen Chshmaritian, the Armenian side will introduce technologies and a part of the equipment, which is not in use in "Nairit" Armenian enterprise. As it is known, Armenia and China are negotiating on joint production of chloroprene cauotchouc on the basis of one of Chinese chemical enterprises. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

PRESS SECRETARY OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF RA DOUBTS BELORUSSIAN PREMIER STATED HE SUPPORTED AZERBAIJAN IN THE Artsax SETTLEMENT 10.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I am not sure that Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Yermoshin stated about unambiguous support of the position of Azerbaijan in the Artsax settlement," – Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia Dzyunik Aghajian stated to "Arka" agency as a response to the request to comment the information provided by CNA agency yesterday that "in course of the talk with President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliev, V. Yermoshin in the name of his country expressed unambiguous support of the position of Azerbaijan in the settlement of the Artsax conflict". "I consider that when the source is not reliable, we should not comment any information," - she said. At the same time D.Aghajian emphasized that "information from Azerbaijan are frequently of provocation nature".

TEN PEOPLE KILLED IN A CRASH OF YEREVAN-STEPANAVAN SCHEDULED BUS 10.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ten people were killed in a crash of Yerevan-Stepanavan scheduled bus. As chief of the press-office of Department of extraordinary situations of RA Nikolay Grigorian reported to "Arka" agency, the bus, which was going on Yerevan-Stepanavan rote, fell into a chasm, as a result seven people were killed, two died on the way to the hospital and one died in the hospital from the wounds. A six-month old child is among those killed. Four persons including the driver are in Stepanavan hospital, six – in Spitak clinic and eight – in Vanadzor. The condition of seven people, who were seriously injured, is still severe. The driver of the bus, who broke his backbone, is among them. N.Grigorian informed that a criminal suit is filed on the incident, the causes of the catastrophe are being ascertained. He noted that there had been 34 people in the bus. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

A WORKING GROUP CREATED FOR INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES OF THE CRASH 10.08.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prime Minister Andranik Markarian has formed a working group for investigating the causes of yesterday's crash on Yerevan-Stepanavan route. Minister on coordination of the activity of industrial infrastructures David Zadoyan is committed to head it. Minister of Health Ararat Mkrtchian, first Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Pavel Safarian, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication Hrant Beglarian, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Ararat Maghtesian are included in the group. According to preliminary information, the underlying cause of the accident was that the engine of the bus was shut off. The driver of the bus could not brake while it was idling. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

BUS CRASH IN LORY MARZ Director of Spitak’s Central Hospital Robert Dilbarian told us today that, according to preliminary data, 9 people have been killed when a bus with 35 passengers crashed near the village of Jrashen, on the way to Spitak. The bus was going from Yerevan to Stepanavan. All other passengers have received injuries. The cause of the crash is still unclear. There is a preliminary assumption that the bus was going with its engine turned off. < 09.08.2001 00.41 >