MosJan

THE HEADS OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRIES OF THE NOT ADMITTED COUNTRIES WILL MEET IN STEPANAKERT 30.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. The conference of the ministers of foreign affairs of Nagorni Artsax, Abkhazia, South Osetia and Prednistrovie will start its work on July 2. According to "Mediamax" the decision to have this meeting was made at last conference of the foreign affairs heads of the not admitted countries taken place last year, November in Tiraspole. At the conference that will last two days it is planned to discuss the negotiation process of conflict settlements, in which four not admitted countries are engaged. At the completion of the work of the Stepanakert meeting it will be signed summarized official report.

THE GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA HAS PROVIDED HUMANITARIAN AID TO AZERBAIJAN 30.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. The Government of the Russian Federation made a decision to provide Azerbaijan with means for rendering humanitarian aid to the residents of the regions of the Republic, who had suffered the earthquake of October 25, 2000. "Snark" agency informs that 9 million one hundred thousand rubles (approximately 300 thousand dollars) were allotted for these purposes from the Government's reserve fund.

THE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN WILL ARRIVE IN STEPANAKERT ON JULY 10 30.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. On July 10 the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will arrive in Stepanakert. Their meetings with President of NKR Arkady Ghukasian, Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanian, Foreign Minister Naira Melkumian are envisaged. According to the information given by "Mediamax" agency, on July 11 the Co-Chairmen will take part in monitoring the contiguity line between the armed forces of the parties. The office of the personal representative of the acting OSCE President will conduct the monitoring. After its completion, the Co-Chairmen will cross the contiguity line in a zone arranged in advance and will set out for Baku.

i dont know, let me go home and see i do have the video, just never hed a time for it.. MOvses

THE OFFICIAL WASHINGTON IS FOR DRAWING IRAN INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS ON Artsax 27.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Ambassador of USA to Azerbaijan Ross Wilson has declared that participation of the representatives of Iran in the negotiations on the Artsax problem settlement is "urgent". The Ambassador has expressed hope that the Artsax crisis will be settled before the end of the year. This information was given by Iranian "IRNA" agency with reference to a newspaper being published in Baku. The article says that the American Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk group Kerry Kovano was confident that the participation of Iran in the negotiations would promote the peaceful resolution of the Artsax conflict. The diplomat has noted that cool relations between Iran and USA will not tell on the negotiation process.

AZERBAIJAN HAS INTRODUSED TWO ANTIARMENIAN DOCUMENTS TO ECPA 27.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Azerbaijani delegation has introduced two antiarmenian documents for Europe Council Parliament assembly examining. In the first it is stated as if in Nagorni Artsax and bordering to it territories Azerbaijani historical monuments are destroyed. The other document is related to the ecological situation in Artsax and territories around it. The authors of the documents claim that Armenian forces controlling the Artsax low-lying territories are guilty in "catastrophic ecological situation". At the bottom of both documents are the signatures of the representatives of eight countries. [ October 03, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

THE PRIME MINISTER OF NAGORNI Artsax HAS LEFT FOR AMERICA 27.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Today Anushavan Danielyan, the Prime Minister of Nagorni Artsax, has left for the USA with a business visit, after that he intends to go to Canada. The meetings of the Nagorni Artsax government head and a number of politicians and businessmen of two northamerican countries are planned. The Prime Minister will discuss the possibility of investments into republic economy with the business world representatives. Danielyan will also meet the Armenian community representatives. The prime-minister will negotiate with the local department leadership of Panarmenian fund "Hayastan" on organization of the next telemarathon, intended to gather capital for completion of the "North-South" highway constructing that has strategic importance.

THE WATER LEVEL IN SEVAN HAS NOTICEABLY DECLINED 27.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. According to the data of the Ministry of Ecology, from the beginning of the year till now 129 million cubic meters of water has streamed into the lake by "Arpa-Sevan" tunnel. 207 million cubic meters of water flowed into Sevan during the first six months of the previous year. The chief of the Department of water infrastructure of the Ministry of Ecology Razmik Grigorian attributes such a significant difference to the consequences of the drought last year. The repair works of the tunnel are not being performed because of absence of funds. According to the information given by "Armenpress" agency, on the decision of the Government, this month the discharge of water from Sevan for irrigation purposes has reached 38 million cubic meters, which is over twice more than in June last year. The water level in the lake is 1896 meters 77 centimeters at present, which is 19 centimeters lower than a year ago.

THE SESSION OF THE ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION HAS BEGUN IN YEREVAN 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Today the second session of the Armenian-Georgian inter-Governmental commission on economic cooperation has begun in Yerevan. The parties are going to discuss the matters of cooperation in the fields of energetics, transportation and also the financial aspects of the relations between the countries. "We intend to come to an agreement that the Ministries of Finance will consider the matter of the Georgian debt for the electric power provided by Armenia. We suppose that the schedule of liquidation will be ready in a month, " - Co-Chairman of the commission, Minister of transportation and communication of RA Yervand Zakharian said. According to the information given by "Arka" agency, the state dept of Georgia to Armenia makes nearly 16 million dollars. During the session it is also planned to discuss the items of bilateral cooperation in the areas of ecology, tourism and others. In the end of the session the protocol on economic cooperation between Armenia and Georgia will be signed.

SERGH SARKISYAN HAS DISCUSSED THE PERSPECTIVES OF ARMENIA AND CHINA PARTNERSHIP IN MILITARY SPHERE WITH CHINESE GENERAL 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. The delegation of the representatives of China defense ministry has arrived in Yerevan with a three-day business visit. The minister of defense, Sergh Sarkisyan, has received today the delegation members headed by major general Iyu Iyan Khan. At the meeting the perspectives of the possible cooperation of two countries in military sphere and the processes taking place in the region were discussed.

THE IRAN RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS HAS DISCUSSED THE PROCESS OF Artsax PROBLEM SETTLMENT 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. The first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Russia and the Iran ambassador in RF, V. Safari has discussed the process of negotiations on Artsax problem settlement today in Moscow. Iran, as it known, is not an OBSE Minsk group member within the framework of which it is taking place the peaceful process. But official Teheran has recently made a statement for having more active role at the negotiation process. Experts suppose that the meeting of the deputy minister of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia and Iran high-ranking diplomat related the identification of the possible ways of Iran participation in the Armenia-Azerbaijan opposition settlement.

THE US CONGRESS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF AID FOR ARMENIA 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Foreign financial operations subcommittee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress has approved of the bill on rendering financial aid to Armenia in amount of 82,5 million dollars this year. Compared with the previous year's the amount of aid was curtailed by 7,5 million. At the same time the amount approved by the subcommittee is by 12,5 million more than the one recommended by Bush's Administration. The final voting on the bill will take place in Senate after the end of the Parliamentary recess. The Armenian national committee of America has expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision made. ANCA has called upon the Armenians living in USA to address the subcommittee a request on not reducing the amount of financial aid to Armenia. According to the information given by "Mediamax" agency, the committee has kept the validity of the 907-th amendment to the "Freedom support Act", which outlaws the Administration to render economic aid to Azerbaijan until it continues blocking Armenia and Nagorny Artsax.

THE ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR WAS RECEIVED BY THE QWEEN OF BRITANIA 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Vahram Abajyan, recently appointed Armenia Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in London, presented intrusting charter to the queen of the UK in Buckingham palace yesterday. The Armenian Embassy also organized a reception dedicated to the new ambassador accreditation. All the diplomatic mission heads of other countries, British government representatives, the representatives of academic and business spheres and prominent representatives of Armenian community were invited.

AN AGREEMENT ON RESTRUCTURING THE DEBT FOR THE NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLIED BY RUSSIA HAS BEEN REACHED 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. During Minister of Energy Karen Galustian's visit to Moscow, an agreement on restructuring the debt for the nuclear fuel supplied by Russia to Armenia was reached. The liquidation of 17 million-dollar debt is determined to begin in October this year. According to the Minister's words, the mechanisms of redamption are not clearly defined yet. During the talks held in Moscow, an agreement on acquisition of a new consignment of nuclear fuel for 14 million total was achieved. The Government intends to take this sum on credit in a commercial bank.

THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF ELECTRIC POWER IN ARMENIA 28.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Before finishing the planned preventive works at the nuclear power station, the amount of gas, being supplied into the Republic by "ITERA" Energy Corporation, will increase twice. This will allow ensuring the required volume of energy production by thermoelectric power stations. 2.5 million cubic meters of gas enters Armenia at present. As it was informed before, the power station will stop producing electric power on June 7. The preventive works will last a month and a half.

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AMERICAN CONGRESSMAN HAS CALLED UPON ALIEV TO AGREE TO PATICIPATION OF Artsax IN THE NEGOTIATIONS 25.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. Member of US Congress Frank Paloun has addressed the President of Azerbaijan a letter, in which he expresses his concern on the declaration of Heydar Aliev that "Azerbaijan is prepared to war every minute". "I do not understand how such a provocative statement can promote preparing the people to peace?" – the Congressman writes in the message. By his words, the best way to peace is not preparation to war, but economic cooperation. Paloun has called upon Aliev to end the blockade of Armenia. He emphasized that raising the blockade is beneficial to the official Baku, as it will let renounce the 907-th amendment, banning the US Administration to render aid to Azerbaijan. Frank Paloun has also called "to agree to direct participation of the legally chosen authority representatives of Nagorny Artsax in the negotiations".

IN YEREVAN THE AMERICAN FILM WEEK WILL BE HELD 25.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. June 1-7 the American film week will take place at the "Moscow" cinema. The showing, held with the American Embassy initiative, is dedicated to the USA Independence day, which is celebrated on 4, July. During the American film week seven films will be presented.

THE CLOTHES MADE IN ARMENIA WILL BE EXPORTED TO BRITAIN 25.06.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/. "Garun" factory and British company "Suzanne Martin" has contracted for "Garun" outer clothes export. According to "Arka" agency information, the contract has been signed for a year and it stipulates the 50 thousand unit production. 28-29 June it is expected the material export from Britain.

ARF Exhibition Opens at Sardarabad Museum ARMAVIR--An exhibition entitled "The ARF and the Armenian Cause," opened on June 20 at the Sardarabad Ethnographic Museum, located at the Sardarabad Memorial-Complex in Armavir, Armenia. This will be the first of a series of exhibitions dedicated to the national liberation struggle of the Armenian people. The opening ceremony was attended by numerous guests, including members of the Armenian Parliament. Armen Roustamian of the ARF Armenia Executive Council noted the significance of the exhibit opening in Sardarabad. Roustamian spoke briefly of the ARF's role in the liberation struggle, which took shape in the beginning of the previous century and continues today in Artsakh. Roustamian presented the museum with a copy of the recently published second volume of the ARF Album/Atlas-Houshamadyan. In his remarks, ARF Bureau member Albert Ajemian spoke of the intentional efforts to diminish the role of the ARF in the liberation struggle, which was prevalent during the Soviet era and during the first years of Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union. On display at the exhibition are materials, pictures, documents, and publications depicting heroes, martyrs and memorable events of the ARF since 1890. One of the items on display is the coat of arms of the Armenian Republic hand-made by Raffi Titizian during his imprisonment in Canada. Also on display are issues of the underground "Baykar" publication of the ARF, which was in circulation in Artsakh in 1990. Other displays deal with Khanasor and Bank Ottoman and the decades-long efforts of the ARF at the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. A separate display is devoted to the struggle in Artsakh and its martyrs, including the hundreds who were members of the ARF. The exhibition will run for two months and expects a huge number of visitors, who will be vacationing in Armenia this summer.

Armenia Denies Shelling Nakhijevan YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--The Armenian Ministry of Defense has denied reports alleging the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire on border villages in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhijevan. Azerbaijan accused Armenia of shelling Nakhijevan throughout Wednesday, from Armenian posts in the vicinity of Vayk. The allegations were made by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense and later spread by the MPA news agency on Thursday.

S.F. Teachers Praise Genocide Curriculum At Bay Area ANC Education Workshop SAN FRANCISCO--San Francisco 10th grade public school teachers expressed praise and excitement for the just-completed Armenian Genocide lesson plans created by teachers Nancy Kaufman and Anna Slavicek. The lesson plans were presented at a workshop organized by the SFUSD Curriculum Improvement and Professional Development office and the Bay Area Armenian National Committee at San Francisco's Vaspouragan Hall. "I think the whole thing was wonderful and I encourage people to use the whole curriculum," said one teacher, echoing the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of the 14 teachers in attendance. Although the Armenian Genocide is included in both California and San Francisco Unified School District standards for Modern World History, many teachers are not familiar enough with the events to teach them well. Culminating more than two years of work with the San Francisco school district, the Bay Area ANC unveiled its Armenian Genocide lesson plans at a workshop designed to provide a historical context, discuss themes that connect the Armenian Genocide to other events in world history, and to provide teachers new curriculum on the topic written by SFUSD teachers. The flexible lesson plans include three interlocking parts, designed to allow teachers the possibility of using the short first section (1-2 days), or combine the first two sections (5 days), or use the entire course (10 days). The unit is aligned with the History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools, meeting many of the standards set forth in the Framework. The lessons also specifically deal with the section of the Framework stating, "...students should learn of the Ottoman government's planned mass deportation and systematic annihilation of Armenian citizens in 1915. Students should also examine the reactions of other governments and world opinion during and after this genocide and the effects on the remaining Armenian population." The unit also lays a foundation which will help students understand subsequent lessons about Nazi Germany and the causes and consequences of World War II. Pete Hammer, who leads SFUSD's history curriculum development department, led the workshop, describing how the Bay Area ANC initiated a relationship with his department, which eventually led to the formulation of the lesson plans. Jack Weinstein, Bay Area Director of Facing History and Ourselves, also addressed teachers with an overview of the educational context in which study of the Armenian Genocide is important and effective for students. He played a news story about the Armenian Genocide which aired last year on World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and led a discussion with the teachers about their knowledge of the Genocide. Teachers attending the workshop were enthusiastic about the large visual "timeline" Kaufman and Slavicek presented, which enabled students to grasp the historical context in which the Armenian Genocide occurred and the parallel economic and political developments occurring at that time. Teachers also highly praised the "simulation" students conduct in Part III of the lessons, during which, under close supervision by teachers, they take on the roles of various groups in society involved in the Armenian Genocide. Yeran Garabedian, principal at Krouzian, Zekarian Vaspouragan Armenian School said she was impressed with the level of depth covered in the curriculum, and hoped this kind of Armenian Genocide curriculum could also be carried out in Armenian schools across the country. Teachers spoke highly of the impact of the final phase of the presentation, during which Kaufman read moving excerpts from Ambassador Henry Morganthau's Story, while burning a candle and playing traditional Armenian duduk music in the background.

Alex Pilibos Student Wins Dept. of Treasury Art Contest By Jenny Kiljian Special to Asbarez MARINA DEL REY--The US Department of Treasury held a Kick-Off Luncheon on June 19 at the Marriot Beach Resort in Marina Del Rey, during which they honored Audrey Guedelekian, winner of the state US Savings Bond Poster Competition. Guedelekian's winning "Reach for the Stars" poster illustrates a wall in the foreground , beyond which one sees a child who has climbed to the highest rung of the ladder in order to reach for the highest star on the American Flag. For Audrey, this shows that despite constant obstacles in one's way, with the help of the US Savings Bond each child will be able to reach the highest star. Using acrylic paint and cardboard, it took one week of hard work for Audrey to complete the drawing. The original artwork, along with the 51 other state winners, is on display at the Children's Museum in Washington, D.C. All 52 posters are also currently displayed in major airports throughout the United States. Audrey will be entering the seventh grade, and, for the past three years, has been under the tutelage of Nazareth Karnikian - longtime art teacher at Rose and Alex Pilibos School in Hollywood, CA. Describing Audrey as "one of his best students," Karnikian approached her with the idea and the two worked on the poster together. "I put my hopes in her and she succeeded," says the proud teacher. Audrey immediately agreed to participate in the competition without the slightest hesitation after learning about it from her teacher. She researched previous winners and thought it would be a good forum to participate in. In the past, Audrey has also won third place in a national competition organized by the Automobile Association of America (AAA), the theme being traffic safety. The young artist currently attends the Atanian Art School and is interested in pursuing career in the arts. According to her father, Kaloust Guedelekian, Audrey's talent was apparent at a very young age. Rather than drawing abstract lines and scribbles, she would draw circles. Those circles eventually became faces, and Audrey became an artist, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Hovanes Guedelekian. The Honorable Kathleen Connell, Controller of the State of California, was they keynote speaker at the luncheon. She commended the US Treasury Department for creating more awareness about savings among Americans, and emphasized the role adults must play in teaching children to do the same. On the State Controller's website, www.sco.ca.gov, there is a link titled "Kids Sense," where children can go to learn more about the California economy, the role of the Controller, how to budget and save money, and play several economy-oriented games. Controller Connell characterized Audrey as a terrific artist, whose artwork represents a clear reflection of the future, which tends to be seen better through the eyes of children. Audrey Guedelekian is an exemplary representative of the Armenian community. Matters of finance and economy are often considered to be difficult for children to understand. Audrey's ability to engage the subject, however, and manifest it into the award-winning poster proves that children are capable of being financially responsible. Using Audrey as an example, the parents and teachers of the community now face the challenge of educating their children and students, in order for them to understand this subject as fully and expressively.

Armenia Fund Announces New Executive Board GLENDALE--Armenia Fund, Inc. (AFI) is pleased to announce the formation of its new Executive Board. Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian and Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Co-Chairs; Hayr Minassian and Reverend Ron Tovmassian as ex-officio members. The new Executive Board headed by Tomig Alexanian (President), and members Savey Tufenkian, Ara Aroyan, Harold Demirjian, Harut Der Tavitian, Hermine Janoyan, Hrair Balian, Garbis Hindoian, David Davtian, Vahe Bahadrian, Arthur Zakarian, Nune Avetissian, Arto Poladian, Khajak Sarkissian (San Francisco), Joseph Matosian (Berkeley), Yeghia Jendian and Sarkis Srabian (Fresno), will serve until February 2003. AFI expressed its sincere appreciation to the retiring executive board, headed by Zaven Khanjian, for their hard work, dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of the Fun.

Turkey Bans Main Opposition Party ANKARA (Reuters)--Turkey's Constitutional Court banned the chief opposition party on Friday but stopped short of large scale expulsions from parliament that would have triggered by-elections and thrown IMF-backed financial reforms into doubt. The court ruled that there were grounds to ban the Virtue Party, Turkey's only Islamist party of any significance, which controlled 102 out of 550 seats, as a focus of ``Islamist and anti-secular activities.'' It expelled two members from parliament and imposed political bans on five, stripping them of the right to found or join a political party for five years. ``It was decided by majority vote that the Virtue Party will be permanently closed...for activities contrary to the principle of the secular republic,'' chief justice Mustafa Bumin said. Bumin said the property of the party, whose popularity had faded dramatically in recent months, would be confiscated by the Treasury. The ban comes three years after the outlawing of another Islamist party, Welfare. Welfare led a government for almost a year until it was eased from power by pressure from a coalition of business and other groups headed by Turkey's powerful military. The armed forces, suspecting Islamist groups of planning an Islamic state, have played a strong role in a clampdown on political Islam. Virtue's expulsion seems likely to draw condemnation in the European Union, which Turkey seeks to join. Critics argue that banning parties - more than 20 have been outlawed since the 1960s - undermines democracy and fosters militancy. ``It is extremely saddening. Turkey continues to be a second-rate country,'' Nazli Ilicak, a Virtue member expelled from parliament, told Reuters. ``I was saddened by the Virtue closure,'' state-run Anatolian news agency quoted Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit as saying. ``This happened because some parts of our constitution make closure too easy...With constitutional changes in the coming days and weeks in fact closing a party will become harder.'' Turkey's chief public prosecutor, filing charges against Virtue, described Islamists as ``vampires'' roaming the land, feeding off political ignorance. Virtue denies it aims to establish religious law in Turkey and portrays itself as a center-right grouping with a religious ``inner-core'' comparable to European Christian Democrats. Some financial analysts expressed relief that there had not been enough expulsions to trigger by-elections, but said they remained concerned. ``The uncertainty has been decreased, but there are still lingering worries for the markets,'' said Hakan Avci of Global Securities in Istanbul. The lira has been trading near record lows and the stock market has come under pressure this week, and analysts said the continued uncertainty would cap any recovery. Burak Akbulut of Bayindir Securities said his biggest fear was Virtue MPs joining the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), which would establish the MHP as the biggest party in the coalition. ``That means the MHP is going to be the biggest party in parliament, and they don't like the IMF and they don't like (Economy Minister Kemal) Dervis,'' he said. Sheetal Radia, analyst at Standard and Poors in London, said the verdict was a relief, but the situation was still precarious. ``If the political pressures don't bring them down, the way they're handling their debt funding problems might. I don't think many governments can survive with this liability.'' Turkey faces a substantial domestic debt rollover in forthcoming months. It desperately needs political stability to hold down interest rates and keep on course financial reforms crucial to $15.7 billion in crisis loans from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. ``Shutting down Virtue will cause chaos in Turkish politics,'' commentator Fehmi Koru said. ``I don't believe many of the Virtue MPs will move to the other parties in parliament, because it will be difficult for them to find suitable parties. Two parties are expected to arise from the ruins of Virtue, one a ``modernist'' seeking broad support in the center-right and the other a more militant religion-based party.