MosJan

i was using a 270 & 306 Winchester for long time, i have used it for Dear, pigs, Ram, Antelope. it was a good guns. for 7 years now I’m using a Weathrby lazermark 300Wby-Mag . 26" bbl. i head muzelbracke instilled on it. this is the only rifle i need, it can be used for 90% big game. the only problem i have with this rifle is Claro walnut stock it has Ben replaced 2 times, it gets cracked. friend of mind has the same problem on 7mm mag he has changed it to a syntactic 2 years a go. next one i like to get is a lazermark or MArk V 338-378 wby mag 28" bbl. it has a OEM muzzle brake. i have used one in UTHA 6 months a go, it had a good fell to it. nice syntactic . it's "Another Weatherby wildcat, first introduced in the 1960s. This is the ultimate cartridge for long-range, big game hunting. Delivers more than 5,000 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle with a .338-sized bullet. Extremely powerful and flat-shooting. Based upon the .378 case, necked down to .338. Reintroduced as a Weatherby production cartridge in 1998. .338-378 Weatherby Magnum is available in Mark V TRM, Accumark. and Synthetic." jus the ammo is way to Expensive $80 for 20-25 cartridges. just one target practice can cost $80 maybe next year

HarutJan hear is one of the problems, the food ( CombiCerm) that chickens are faded to, it consist of not only vegetables and grains, it also has some intestines and other body parts of the animas, like, brains and tactical, extra fat that caw or the lab has in it's body that humans do not use or do not eat, you might ask whey are they doing this, will it's much easier for the chicken to gain extra weight. chicken absorbs the fat the way it is, part of the problems are diseases like med caw Disease was transfers to cows from ships or lamb, same way the same or the other diseases are transfers to chicken and pigs, since this two are eating most anything. for this reasons many are not using pig and chicken, and many of us are using "natural" food or waield meet. using natural food is not the solution to disease, your risking even more, since this "natural for" or the vegetables are grown in manure, you need to wash this sort of vegetables really good, since some of the germs and infections can become a big problem. same for the wailed game. you need to frizz the meet for atlist 10 days before consuming, you need to use Garlic, anions, and other disinfecteve ingredients wheel marinating. and most of all you need to know war to get this game meet or haw to transport. see it's not only I like to bee healthy so many thinks that will make you not to eat meet. MOvses

Outside Eye: A non-Armenian's view of life in his adopted home In the gray of morning I am at Zvartnots Airport. Lack of sleep adds a veil of sluggishness to the already gauzy drape of confusion behind which I spend much of my time in Armenia. Around me is the noise of anticipation, of over packed expectations and the sure current of anxiety stirred among a people unaccustomed to the rigors of promptness. Everybody has luggage the size of small condominiums. Mine is no exception to the bulk of bags no doubt burdened by travelers willing to become delivery persons to the known and unknown of the Inaccessible Outside. I've got 30 pounds of luggage. Only five pounds belongs to me. The rest is an amalgamation of stuff, gathered, willingly, from people who learned of my travel and took it as an opportunity for free and reliable freight haul. It is as sure a part of travel from Armenia as bad airline food and the imposition of long legs accordianed into short seating space and cheap perfume too feely applied and cigarette smoke in places forbidden by the less tolerant world. I'm carrying a jacket, two pairs of jeans, a sweater, two t-shirts, underwear, socks. Those are mine. The rest: Six letters and four large envelopes of unknown documents. Two books. A 10-pound bag of textiles. Eight small jewelry boxes. A pack of photographs. And a videotape given me at a café by a woman I'd never met who wants a producer in Glendale to see a performance by her dance troupe. The load might also have included a neighbor's gift of a quart jar of stewed tomatoes, but I had to draw the line somewhere. My load and I have reached a security point where a woman sits at a tiny metal table wrapped in fur and hugging herself against the cold. She says things I don't understand, but assume to be related to my destination, my intentions, and my adherence to rules and regulations of international flight as determined by the imprudence of panic implemented when hysteria blew up common sense last September 11. She is saying things and I am nodding and all seems like it has seemed every other time I've done this. I hear two words I understand. "Los Angeles?" says she. "Aiyo," I say. "Du zangey, im inker?" is what I think I hear. So I nod, agreeing - or so I think -- to call her friend in Los Angeles. She says some more things. I nod. And the next thing I know, she has handed me the Armenian National Luggage, a plastic bag, inside which I find an apparatus apparently used for hanging a ceiling fan or a lamp. I'm not sure what's so special about this device that makes it necessary to export from Yerevan to Glendale, but it is now my responsibility - by the contract of nodding - to deliver it to some guy named Gurgo in the 818 telephone area code. It is pointed on the end and barely fits into my backpack and I'm imagining its perceived potential as an implement of in-flight terrorism. Still: None of this is of great concern in the sleep-deprived morning, until I reach a crucial next stage of travel where an earnest attendant fulfills her requirements as an interrogator of potential evil doers. "Have any unknown persons asked you to carry anything aboard?" she asks. Well. It is a long list. From the dance instructor in the café, to the security agent in this very airport with her Gurgo-bound device that could double as a jousting rod, hauling items for the unacquainted of Armenia is less like trafficking and more like playing post office. So I lie: "No." On the other end, I deliver. But the luggage doesn't get lighter. At this moment I am three days away from leaving North America and 10 pounds of luggage heavier than when I arrived. The letters and textiles and videotape have been replaced with medicine and different books and letters of response. And four boxes of specialized flossing devices for an expatriate with impeccable oral hygiene. So far, no one has asked me to include electronic hardware. But there's still time. Time, still, to practice lying to security personnel who might not understand the unspoken bond between willing ambassadors and a country isolated. John Hughes

Fitting In: Armenians feel at home in Alma-Ata By Ara Martirosian ArmeniaWeek correspondent in Kazakhstan The community of Armenians living in Kazakhstan traces its origins to the Stalinist oppression of the 1930s. Today, the number is being swelled by new arrivals from Armenia in search of better economic prospects in the Central Asian republic, which is rich in oil and raw materials. Kazakhstan's Armenian community has grown from around 19,000 just a few years ago to 25,000 now, according to Rudik Mnatsakanian, head of the Union of Armenians in Alma-Ata. About 7,000 live in Alma-Ata itself, Kazakhstan's biggest city though no longer its capital. Armenians also congregate in three other towns - Kustana, Karaganda and Aktiubinsk. The prospect of a growing community does not necessarily please Kazakhstan's Armenians. Mnatsakanian takes the opportunity of a meeting with ArmeniaWeek to pass on good wishes, but adds that he would like to see Armenia doing well "so that Armenians do not leave their homeland". Armenians in Alma-Ata mainly live in the old city, known as Alma-Ata 1. Davit Galstian, a businessman and counsellor at the Armenian Embassy in Kazakhstan, explains that most families came from Armenia during the 1930s, when the new town (Alma-Ata-2) did not exist. Martik Arakelian, 52, lives with his family in the old town, but came later than most. He arrived from Yerevan in 1971 and works today as a chauffeur for the representative of the Korean company Daewoo. It is a good job, paying $300 a month, and allows Arakelian to support his family of four in his own home with a large garden. His wife Sima is of Greek origin. Their children Sargis, 24, and Inna, 20, were born in Alma-Ata and know about Armenia only through stories told by relatives living there. Mnatsakanian, a professor at Alma-Ata's technological university and chief executive of the city's wine factory, says Armenians suffer no discrimination in Kazakhstan. They live as Kazakhs do, he says, adding: "Taking into consideration the Armenians' entrepreneurship abilities, perhaps a little better than Kazakhs." He lists Armenians who have found success in their adopted country, such as Artur Karapetian, president of Bauman, a large local company, General Vachagan Vlasov, who set up a military officers school, Sergei Pashoyan, former chief director of the Uiguri Dramatic Theater, and Ruben Andreasian, current chief director of the Lermontov Russian Dramatic Theater. The latter was conferred Kazakhstan's highest medal, the Parasan. Mnatsakanian also represents the Armenian community at an Assembly of Kazakh Nationalities, a body set up by President Nursultan Nazerbayev. Some 120 nationalities are represented on the council. Perhaps because they feel well integrated into Kazakh life, this explains why there are no real community organizations in the republic. The Armenian Apostolic Church has no diocese in Kazakhstan and there are no public organisations. The only Armenian Sunday School operates in Alma-Ata and has just 20-25 pupils on its roll. Photo by Ara Martirosian ©Copyright ArmeniaWeek March 15, 2002. all rights reserved. WWW.ARMENIAWEEK.COM is published by the FOURTH MILLENNIUM SOCIETY, publishers of ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. Articles may not be published without prior consent

Morella, Rothman Call on Colleagues Urge Bush for Proper Characterization of Genocide More than 93 Signatories on Knollenberg-Pallone Letter WASHINGTON—Representatives Connie Morella (R-Md.) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ) are the latest Congressional Armenian Caucus members to urge their House colleagues to co-sign a letter to President Bush urging him to describe the centrally planned and systematically executed slaughter of over 1.5. million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Government as "genocide" in his annual April 24th statement, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) Ninety-three House members have already co-signed the letter, initiated by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.). In their "Dear Colleague" letter, Reps. Rothman and Morella reminded Members that in response to the Armenian Genocide, "governmental bodies throughout the world have passed resolutions and declarations affirming the Armenian Genocide including Canada, Argentina, Belgium, Lebanon, Vatican City, Uruguay, the European Parliament, the Russian Duma, the Greek Parliament, the Swedish Parliament and the French National Senate." Referring to the ongoing campaign of denial led by the Turkish government, the Representatives argued that, "If we continue to react with silence regarding these events and are unwilling to stand up and publicly condemn these atrocities, we effectively give our approval to abuses of power such as the Armenian Genocide." "We would like to thank Representatives Morella and Rothman for their efforts to educate their House Colleagues about the consequences of ignoring the truth regarding the Armenian Genocide," said ANCAExecutive Director Aram Hamparian. "The Armenian American communities in Maryland, New Jersey and across the country appreciate their principled leadership and the support of all 93 Members of Congress who have already co-signed the Knollenberg-Pallone." Last week, Representatives Joe Knollenberg, George Radanovich (R-Calif.), Connie Morella, John Sweeney (R-NY), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), and Edward Royce (R-Calif.) also circulated a "Dear Colleague" reminding Republican House members of former Senator Bob Dole's April 24, 1990, statement in the Senate. "1.5 million people killed as a result of conscious, vicious policies of authorities of the Ottoman Empire. . . History calls it genocide," said Sen. Dole. The Representatives explained that by referring to the atrocities of 1915-1923 as "genocide," President Bush "will join with other great leaders of country, including President Ronald Reagan, who in his April 22, 1981 proclamation on Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust, noted 'the genocide of the Armenians.'" Armenian Americans nationwide are participating in the campaign to enlist increased Congressional support for the Knollenberg-Pallone letter. Extensive e-mail campaigns as well as the "ANCA WebFax" system have provided community activists an opportunity to quickly voice their concerns to their Representatives regarding the Armenian Genocide as well as a host of other issues, ranging from the Administration's proposed $20 million reduction in assistance to Armenia to concerns over US military aid to Azerbaijan.

Genocide Bill Submitted To Swiss Parliament BERN, Switzerland—A fresh initiative for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is going submitted on March 20, in the large chamber of the Swiss parliament, the National Council, Association Switzerland-Armenia reported. The bill is authored by Geneva Christian Democrat Jean-Claude Vaudroz and has support from all major and most minor political parties. It is co-signed by 115 out of 201 members of the parliament, and is expected to easily pass the voting which should take place earliest during the June 2002 session. Presented under the form of a "postulate" (non binding plea of the parliament addressed to the government), it says: "The National Council recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It asks the government, to take notice of this recognition and to convey it through the regular diplomatic channels." The grounds given are that the murder of over one million Armenians during the WW I is a undeniable historical fact, which also contributed to Raphael Lemkins definition of the crime of genocide, and Switzerland can give an important sign to the survivors of the genocide and their descendants and underline its commitment to Human Rights and to international criminal law, and its respect for minorities. It is also reminded that several governments and international organizations, notably the sub commission to the UN Commission on Human Rights and the European Parliament have recognized the genocide - recently followed by the Swiss Canton of Geneva. Furthermore, the National Council has already transferred a petition of the Association of Opponents to Genocide (composed of Turks) to the government asking it to "discuss the Armenian Genocide" with its Turkish interlocutors. A formal recognition is only the next logical step. The bill concludes, "This new bill is also a contribution for durable peace between Turks and Armenians, prerequisite to which is that both peoples share a view based on historical truth." In a press conference organized jointly by Association Switzerland - Armenia and the Society for Menaced Peoples (SMP), Jean-Claude Vaudroz stressed that this is an act of rendering justice, and that denial is an insult to the memory of the victims. The bill is in line with Swiss humanitarian tradition, and he reminded that Switzerland had signed the UN convention on genocide and that it just became a member of the UN. Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold (Social Democrat, Lucerne), president of the SMP, and a long standing champion of human rights causes, said that as a member of Switzerland's delegation to the European Council, she had a focus on the transcaucasian republics. She described her many trips to Armenia, where she observed that despite the economical hardships of the population, she is regularly asked when Switzerland will finally recognize the genocide. This is an important topic; as for Armenians it is about symbolically burying their dead. Armenians also had difficulty in understanding last Septembers court decision, she added, where Turkish representatives were acquitted for their denial of the Armenian Genocide. Sarkis Shahinian from Association Switzerland Armenia commented that the judge had explicitly stated that there is overwhelming evidence of genocide but that he could not go further than parliament on this issue. It is therefore up to the parliamentarians to clarify their stance. Turkish journalist and human rights defender Yelda Ozcan said for her this recognition is important, it is a question of justice. In a written address, the president of the Federal Commission against Racism, professor of history, Georg Kreis, wrote: "This is not about whether the Armenian Genocide took place, because that's a historical fact. It is rather about how we position ourselves. "As a historian, I welcome this initiative against forgetting and repression, against ignorance and indifference. "As a citizen, I expect our parliament to make a political statement. It is not enough to condemn genocide in general. Truth is always concrete. A sincerely meantengagement requires that also in an uncomfortable reality, things are named by what they are. "As the president of the Federal Commission against Racism, it is important to me that the connections between racism and genocide are recognized. Denial of genocide is tantamount to a posthumous minimization of murderous racism. Furthermore, those who deny what happened commit just another aggression against the victims, because they call the painful memory of the victim the product of a lie."

CONSIDERATION OF ISSUE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION BY GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE POSTPONED TILL FALL, GEORGIAN DEPUTY THINKS 19.03.2002 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey by Georgia's parliament will complicate Georgian-Turkish and Georgian-Azerbaijani relations. According to Tbilisi news sources, Georgian Parliamentary deputy Tedo Paatashvili has stated this. He has stated that taking into consideration this, Georgian lawmakers have to abstain from consideration of this issue. Against the background of Georgia-USA close military cooperation, the consideration of the issue on recognition of the fact of the Armenian genocide should be postponed till fall, stated Paatashvili. At the same time, he thinks the recognition of the fact of the Armenian genocide itself will not have any special importance in the relation of Georgia and Armenia. It should be reminded that the Armenian population of Akhalkalaki city demanded the recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide by official authorities of Georgia at the meeting with chair of Georgian parliament Nino Burjanadze. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

38 THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM AZERBAIJAN AND OTHER CIS REGIONS BECOME ARMENIAN CITIZENS 19.03.2002 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ 38 thousand refugees from Azerbaijan and other regions of former USSR have become Armenian citizens for recent year and a half. Head of the administration for refugees and migration Gagik Yeganian has stated this. Since according to the regulations of the law currently in force the term to obtain citizenship by refugees is until 2001, the government has proposed to extend the terms of obtaining citizenship for two years. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

GREAT BRITAIN READY TO ASSIST IN NAGORNO Artsax CONFLICT SETTLEMENT 19.03.2002 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ If any of the parts addresses us, we are ready to assist in the settlement of Nagorno Artsax conflict settlement though the Great Britain is not an OSCE Minsk group member. The Great Britain's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Timothy Jones has stated this in his interview with «Arminfo» agency. According to him, this position has always been one of the priorities of the policy of official London in the region and the British part has always had interest regarding South Caucasus. The ambassador has explained that the British side is ready to assist in the settlement «in any way as the parties to the conflict wish». At the same time Timothy Jones has added that London does not aim to replace the OSCE Minsk group under any circumstances. The conflict must be settled by the opposition sides and the mediators can only assist in the settlement. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

He HA i can use this

Thank you

Harout jan one of the reasons that we do not hunt in Ca. much is your cousin Way to many Ppl. who has guns and thus not know what-haw-whir-when to hunt. one of the prime hunting areas in Ca. is King City pasarobles, it's ideal place to hunt for PIG-Dear-turkey-Elk, the best place for a new starter 4hunter leget military base. also you can hunt in ParkFild ( mostly privet properties) it's on top of san anndreos, Mandasino, and N-CA, exlent hunting, but you gat way to many hunters in one hunting aria. way to many accidents happen.

instead of arguing or getting frustrated, one of you might teak 2 minuets of your time and explain the rest of us, what can a vegetarian eat or what can't a vegetarian eat, lintel more dateless then all of us might understand. Movses

Congratulations to bellthecat and hagarag you get the gold medal for turning vegetarian topic to another Armenian-Turkish topic / !!! BRAVO !!!

http://www.parajanov.com/images/vard.jpg Michael VARDANOV Michael Vardanov - Master of Soviet & post-Soviet era Documentary Cinema! Michael Vardanov, also known as: Mikhail Vartanov, born on February 21st, 1937. Director, writer and cinematographer. Graduated from a prestige film school VGIK in Moscow in 1966. Remarkably, his diploma film won the Golden Antilope Award that same year. Soviet government aggressively persecuted Vardanov for his close friendship with genius director Sergei Parajanov. For several years Michael Vardanov was forbidden to make films especially as director and was forced to work frequently as cinematographer and artist to survive. Looking back many years later Vardanov said: "...basically, at the age of 50, I only managed to make a 50 minute film that was truly my own..." Many of Michael Vardanov's unique film footages were stolen from archives at ArmenFilm, some later appeared in other films without credit to Vardanov and some are still not found. http://www.parajanov.com/images/mi_vard2.jpg ( Allen Ginsberg and Michael Vardanov ) Vardanov's extraordinary documentary " Parajanov: The Last Spring " has won the Russian Academy Award 'NIKA' and GOLDEN GATE AWARD at San Francisco International Film Festival. Media and many celebrities including Tonino Guerra and Allen Ginsberg gave Michael Vardanov and "Parajanov: The Last Spring" magnificent reviews. http://www.parajanov.com/images/mi_vard4.jpg Maestro Sergei Parajanov called Vardanov "...Brother in Soil and Art..." Michael Vardanov presently lives and creates in Los Angeles, California and is now represented by Mozart Entertainment. Michael VARDANOV (Mikhail Vartanov) FILMS : " Parajanov: The Last Spring " ...the most deep & monumental documentary on Maesrto Parajanov, winner of Russian Academy Award and Golden Gate Award in US. Unique & historic film truly worthy of carring the name of Parajanov... " Color of Armenian Soil/Parajanov " 1969 ...Vardanov made the very 1st film ever about Sergei Parajanov in '69... " In Rock Is My Soul " 1989 ... ancient music, poetry and church masterpieces are interconnected ... " Minas: A Requiem " 1989 ...portrays a famous painter Minas and his assassination... " Erased Faces " 1987 ...one of 1st anti-Stalin films... " The Kite Day "1986 (cinematographer), (feature) ...a touching film about two beautiful, young girls: blond and brunette... " He Creates Homeland " 1985 ...after 50 years, a refugee returns home and creates a breathtaking botanic garden... " Our Alexan " 1985 ...a philosophical story of a machinist awarded Soviet labor medal... " Carzou " 1984 (cinematographer) ...a film about world famous French painter Carzou... " Roots " 1983 ...details ancient methods of growing certain plants... " The Mulberry Tree " (aka: "Shelkovitsa") 1979 (cinematographer), (short) ...a joyful, classic comedy about 2 families and a mulberry tree... http://www.parajanov.com/images/saroyan.jpg " Magnificent Armenia/William Saroyan " 1977 (cinematographer) ... famous American writer visits his homeland... " Seasons of the Year " 1975 (cinematographer) ...a famous b&w film about nature's powers, directed by Peleshian... " Song of Eternity " 1973 (cinematographer) ...a fascinating analysis of classic and modern architecture... " Mrs. Postman " 1972 (appx) ...a woman walks 100.000 miles by foot, during her long mail delivery career... " Brigadier " (1972) ...Brezhnev era farm with posters promising abundance and a farmer sleeping on the job... " Autumn Pastoral " 1971 ...a charming novel of life in the mountains remained unchanged throughout 1000 years... " Fugitives " 1968 (cinematographer), (short) ...victims of Armenian Genocide of 1915 escaping Turkish barbarians... " 10 Sayat Nova Blvd " 1967 ...famous classical music performed by gifted kids... " Monologue of the Mask " 1966 (cinematographer) ...diploma work of Vardanov, film won Golden Antelope Award... Copyright © http://www.Parajanov.com

If your not a HUnter or if you do not like hunting just exit this topic some say that Hunting is abnormal sport - some see hunting us Sport and many see it only us killing animals. to me it's HUNTING i have been hunting for 13 years now, start of a small game , like rabbits and quell, checkers and pheasants, but soon after i start going for wield boar, dear, moos, elk, antelope, this is what i enjoy hunting, this days i would not go in the filed just to hut a rabbit or a bard, small game is just not for me anymore even though it's a good sport, but i just cant find time for it. for almost 11 years now we have a group of 5-to-6 hunter, who join every year to go to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah or California. it's not only the kill, or shutting at something it's the company of friends who make each hunting day interesting and something to remember year after a year. hunting + friends +4will driving + ATV riding + the food + late night camp fire + the nature .... ahh i have 6 more months before i can go to Colorado. is any of you in to hunting ??? Movses

it's one of my most fevered movies. for many years I was only able to find one duplicate, but now good folks at Sharm have digitally re-mastered the film, the quantity is outstanding. it's nice to see companies like Sharm - Paradise MGN - GTAK spending money and time to preserve what we have,

http://www.narek-store.com/Assets/product/images/VD9231.gif Narek.com Length: 137 min / Color / System: NTSC Directed by Frunze Dovlatyan Based on story by Hrachia Kochar Screenplay by Rouben Hovsepyan & Henrik Malyan Music by Martin Vartazaryan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cast Rafael Atoyan, G. Novents, A. Melikjanyan, H. Kartashyan, L. Sharafyan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Review During the 1915 Genocide, many Armenian fled to Eastern Armenia looking for help and relief from Russia. Several years later the new Communist rulers "donated" a huge chunk of Armenian land to Ottoman Turkey, thus cutting any hopes for Armenians to revive their old cities and villages. Arakel Aloyan is one of the Armenians who witnessed his village burnt and women raped, fled to the East to begin a new life in Soviet Armenia... but still yearns for his home village that is now in Turkey. Nostalgia makes him to cross the Soviet border to visit the tombs of his parents, to kiss the remaining walls of the church. The Soviet government considers that as "Spying against the Nation".

get hold of Meloduduk by Albert Saro Danielian, Summer Time and one older CD- the recording is not the best but his still of playing is A+++ Eghish Manoukian. has 3 CD.s //// if you can find somthing on MArgar MArgaryan or Levon Madadyan & Chorni Khachik let me know. this staf is hard to find. MOvses [ March 16, 2002, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: MosJan ]

Judge Orders DA To Provide Witness List LOS ANGELES—During a hearing Friday on the Sassounian special circumstance retrial case, presiding judge Robert Perry ordered the prosecution to provide a list of witnesses by April 3 that could back the "national origin" claim, on which the district attorney is opting to build its case. The prosecution proposed to introduce experts who will attempt to prove that the crime for which Hampig Sassounian is serving a life sentence was prompted by the national origin of the victim. Sassounian is serving a life sentence for the alleged murder of Turkey's Consul General to Los Angeles Kemal Arikan in 1981. In 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Sassounian's special circumstance, citing irregularities with the prosecution's case at the time of the trial. This ruling provided Sassounian with the opportunity to seek parole. In September 2001, however, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley opted to retry the special circumstance portion of the case, awakening a 20-year-old case, a move that experts and critics are saying was motivated by the Sept. 11 attacks on the US. Sassounian attorney Mark Geragos told Asbarez Friday that judge Perry has given Deputy District Attorney Gregory Dohi until April 3 to file his list of "junk science" witnesses as they are called. Geragos will have an opportunity to file his own motion based on the prosecution's list by April 22. Judge Perry set a May 10 hearing date, at which time he will determine whether the witnesses on the DA's list will be called or not. "The community needs to come together with me to address the proposed testimony," said Geragos called on the community to become more actively involved in the case. On February 22, the Sassounian Defense Committee organized a successful fund-raising event, during which more than $70,000 was raised for the defense efforts. The committee, which has been working diligently since the onset of the case, commended the community for its continuous assistance and urged the community come together and ensure that this case will yield the desired outcome for Sassounian. 2. ARS Elects New Central Executive Board ATHENS—At the conclusion of its 67th International Convention, the Armenian Relief Society Inc., members elected a new Central Executive Board, which is mandated to lead the organization for the next three years. A nine-person board was elected composed of the following members: Maro Minassian (Boston), Marguerite Stepanian (Providence, RI), Mayda Garabedian (Philadelphia), Hasmig Derderian (Pasadena), Anahid Meymarian (San Fernando Valley), Houri Nadjarian (Canada), Alvart Petrossian (Armenia), Helen Merdjanian (France) and Silva Moutafyan-Kahtalian (Brazil). Per the ARS by-laws, alternates are also elected, in the event that one or more members of the elected board cannot complete their term. The following ARS members were elected as alternates: Sandra Vartanian (Eastern US), Sona Peltekian (Western US), Maro Froundjian (Canada), Karine Hovanesyan (Armenia), Lucy Shangyan (Europe) and Isabelle Atarian (South America). The four-day meeting was the venue for discussion and planning of the ARS International's upcoming programs and projects and was participated by delegates representing 23 ARS regions around the world.

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The Komitas Code: Discovery unlocks the secrets of ancient music By Mher Navoyan ArmeniaWeek correspondent A long-lost "key" to understanding thousands of pieces of medieval Armenian music has been rediscovered. http://www.armeniaweek.com/march152002/photos/komitas_1_s.jpg The notes on musical notation, or khazer, were drawn up by the composer Komitas but then lost for nearly a century. Arthur Shahnazarian (pictured bottom), a Yerevan composer, came across the work while studying Komitas' papers. The khazer, which were in use between the Ninth and 15th Centuries, are different from traditional European musical notation. Whereas the notation in modern scores uses one sign for each sound, a single khazer note can express several sounds at once. The meaning of the notes was shrouded in mystery, even among musicians of the time. Information about them was kept secret and very few musicians mastered them. After the 16th Century, the wars and invasions that Armenia suffered made it impossible to educate new specialists in the musical system. The number of people who understood the notes gradually declined over time and eventually the knowledge was lost. Komitas devoted 20 years to trying to understand the music and by the beginning of the 20th Century he had cracked the code. But he was arrested in Turkey in 1915 during the Armenian Genocide and later deported. With the support of European intellectuals, he was brought back to Istanbul from exile in the Syrian desert. But Komitas's experiences during his expulsion had left him mentally disturbed and he was unable to publish his discovery - his notes were never heard of again. [iimg]http://www.armeniaweek.com/march152002/photos/komitas_2.jpg" /> Shahnazarian wondered if the composer's notes might not be in his archive and began to research them in 1984. Miraculously, he began to find clues. "I was very surprised to find not only the "very keys" (by Komitas's words), but also the analysis of the khazer and even the decoding of Armenian medieval church music written with those notes," says Shahnazarian. He was able to decipher the keys with the help of fragments of Komitas' research plus related manuscripts that provided details of the meaning of the musical notation. Now Shahnazarian is publishing a book on his discoveries. They open up a whole new world of old Armenian liturgical music. In Yerevan's Matenadaran manuscript museum alone, there are preserved more than 290 Pataragamatuyts, about 300 Zhamagirk, 350 Sharaknots, and numerous Tagharanner, Gandzaranner, and "Manrusman - all ritual works written in khazer. Similar manuscripts are preserved in Jerusalem, Venice, Vienna, and other centers of Armenian culture. It will be possible to read thousands of medieval spiritual songs as a result of the re-discovery of Komitas's research - expanding our understanding of Armenian medieval music. And not only Armenian music. The finding is also expected to provide insights into Byzantine, Georgian, and Slavonic music from the period, written in similar notation forms that have been only partly decoded. http://www.armeniaweek.com/march152002/photos/komitas_3.jpg Shahnazarian emphasises that Komitas deserve the credit for the work - he simply found and interpreted composer's research. "Those valuable manuscripts exist and so now it is possible to read national church songs," he says. Photos by Karen Minasian

Dangerous Devotion: Builders risk safety to finish church at speed By Marianna Grigorian ArmeniaWeek reporter An elderly woman, her head covered by a shawl, enters a large building site every day and sings as she walks around. http://www.armeniaweek.com/march152002/photos/church_1.jpg Some of the bemused workers who watch her think she is mentally ill, others consider her a very religious person brought by her faith to the place where they are building the new St Trinity Church. The church, which will stand 56 meters high when it is completed in the next few months, is being built to serve the growing population of the Malatia-Sebastia district of Yerevan, more commonly known by residents as Bangladesh because of its distance from the rest of the capital. The project, whose cost has not been disclosed, is an initiative of the Catholicos Karekin II and is being sponsored by Louise Manoogian Simone. Designed by architect Baghdik Arzumanian, it will have a distinctive appearance. "The new church will be light violet," says Albert Eghekian, director of Yerevanshin and Bazmashin companies, which are carrying out the construction. "The violet tufa stone from Harij village in Artik region was chosen to give the church a nice outer appearance and for its durability." http://www.armeniaweek.com/march152002/photos/church_3.jpg The church at Harijavank, built of the same stone, has stood for 800 years. The builders shaping the stones and arches of St Trinity hope their work will prove just as durable. However, the work is hard and dangerous. The stonemasons and builders work up to 10 hours a day, without holidays or days off, in rain, snow, and sun. Stonecutters were even working in January when the freezing cold makes it impossible to lay walls. They work because they have no choice. One builder, who asked not to be identfied, says: "The work is very complicated, it requires high accuracy, and is dangerous. But it is not valued. "Sometimes we are treated very badly by our supervisors - we are often threatened with being fired and cannot protect our rights. We continue to work for our families, without paying attention to our own conditions." Hamlet Poghosian, chief superintendent of the project, admits the men are not particularly well paid, earning on average $100 to $150 per month. During construction of the new St Gregory the Illuminator cathedral, by comparison, workers were paid $200 to $250 per month. Eghekian says the company takes good care of its workers and helps them when they need treatment. Many of the builders have long years of experience but few can match Enok Gazazian (pictured), a stonecutter whose gray hairs peep from under his worn hat. He will soon celebrate his 80th birthday and continues working because he is the only provider for his family of six. He can take a stone weighing 50kg and gradually gives it shape and character with his hands. Gazazian has worked in construction since 1950. For the past several months he has worked with an injured right hand after falling from the church in an accident that also left three others injured. "God saved me at that moment, and I am very grateful. Church building is my entire life for me and also the only way my family can survive - I will work as long as God gives me the ability," Gazazian says. Onik Galstian has not been so fortunate. He is the only working person in his family of five and his wife is handicapped. A piece of iron damaged his eye last August as he was working. He underwent surgery - paid for by his employer as part of his employment contract - but there was no improvement in his vision. Now he waits for a second operation - until it happens, all he can see through his damaged eye are vague outlines. Harutiun Hovsepian, a carpenter, says: "Every morning, before starting work I light two candles in the half-built church - one for my unborn child, the other asking God to let me see my child. "Because there are so many accidents in this kind of work, one cannot make a single mistake." Hovsepian admits that a lack of caution and a failure to observe safety measures could be reasons why people are injured during the construction of the church. But he believes the pressure to complete the construction quickly is also a factor. "A church like this should take seven years but we do it in tow years," he says. "People do it that fast in order to finish the construction sooner and be paid. "That's why there are accidents. People ignore safety so that they can work faster." Photos by Mkhitar Khachatrian

Jehovah Trial: Believer cleared for a second time of allegations that he recruited children By Nara Markossian ArmeniaWeek reporter Amid extraordinary scenes, a court has cleared a leading Jehovah's Witness of allegations that he recruited children into the religious organization. http://www.armeniaweek.com/march152002/photos/jehovah_1.jpg Lyova Margarian (pictured center) faced up to five years in prison if the Court of Appeal in Metsamor City had found him guilty. A lower court had already cleared him of the same charge. Margarian, regarded as the principal organizer of the Jehovah's Witnesses in the city, was also cleared of allegations that he encouraged a fellow believer Aram Shahverdian to refuse to serve in the military. Prosecutors had claimed Margarian recruited 12 children into the sect. He denied this, saying children only attended meetings of the Jehovah's Witnesses with their parents. On the day the verdict was read out, the chief judge Suren Ghazarian appeared nervous and irritated. Both the defendant and his attorneys were absent. The courtroom was also empty of his supporters - normally, up to 150 Jehovah's Witnesses crowded the public gallery. They had been well disciplined at previous hearings, arriving on time and following the lead of their spiritual leaders in entering or leaving the court, staying silent or speaking up. It was obvious their absence at the verdict was deliberate. Ghazarian and his two fellow judges appeared surprised by the absence of the defense. Only two prosecutors and followers of the Armenian Apostolic were present for the verdict, which was due to be read at 11am. He began to read the court's decision but paused at the crucial moment and clutched at his heart, saying: "I feel bad, please bring me a cup of water. The judges are moving to the discussion room." Armenian law does not permit judges to return to the discussion chamber once a verdict is being read out. Prosecutors were outraged. "This is a very serious violation of the court's procedure. I don't remember such a case in my experience when a judge interrupts himself while reading a verdict and returns to a discussion room," said prosecutor Koriun Piloyan. The judge's assistant told those waiting that the verdict would resume at 3pm. Ghazarian was occasionally seen during this time, looking out of the discussion room to see who was in court. At one point, chairs were left outside the room for the judges to take in. Ghazarian emerged and began to swear loudly before astonishing onlookers by kicking the chairs across the room. Margarian and his attorneys finally arrived at the court at 3:30pm, accompanied by a large group of Jehovah's Witnesses in support. The judges then returned and Ghazarian continued with the verdict, declaring that the Court of Appeal found insufficient evidence to support the allegation against Margarian. Prosecutors immediately declared that they would appeal once more, to the Court of Cassation, the highest available. "The Court of Appeal in its verdict did not analyze the amount of evidence that absolutely demonstrates the guilt of the defendant. This is another serious violation of the law - the judge should consider all the evidence, not throw part of it away," said Avag Avagian, one of the prosecutors. The proceedings of the trial had been monitored by representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses abroad, officials from the diplomatic corps, and human rights activists from the Helsinki Association. Hostility to the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses in the country has run high among some Armenians. They were angry at the court's decision. Khachik Stamboltsian, a former government minister, claimed afterwards that the court had bowed to the Council of Europe in finding Margarian not guilty. Armenia is committed to respecting religious minorities and creating alternatives to military service under the terms of its membership of the Council. But Stamboltsian said: "This trial has shown that the Armenian court operated against its homeland. It was sold for dollars and was ready to subordinate to the Council of Europe on any appropriate and inappropriate matter, neglecting the interests and rights of its own citizens and even the safety of its country. "The Jehovah's Witnesses is not a registered organization in our country, thus any of its activities are considered illegal. Today, more than 100 members are punished with imprisonment in Armenia for refusing to do national service because of their faith." Photos by Karen Minasian & Mkrtich Malkhasian

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