MosJan

http://www.armeniaweek.com/jan042002/photos/drivers_1.jpg Wheel Power: Increase in women drivers changes streetlife and homelife By Julia Hakobian ArmeniaWeek reporter Like the Western influences of fast-food, cell phones and MTV, a cultural shift is taking place noticeably on Armenian roadways: women drivers. A decade ago there were fewer than 100 female drivers in Armenia. Today, according to the Armenian Motorists Federation, the number of women at the wheel is 5,000. The Federation says the number of women drivers increases yearly by 10 percent. The Federation has been around since 1957 and in 1995 started a driving club for women. Women's Club director, Mkrtich Pilotian says that driving makes women more self-confident, more independent and, even, more attractive. The club has about 50 members. "It is not necessary to be an excellent driver to become a member of the club," Pilotian says."This is just a little support to those women that have other interests except housekeeping and business." Members of the club pay 3,500 Drams (about $7) for an hour of driving instruction. "It is well-known all over the world that women are more careful drivers." Pilotian says. "Armenian women are not an exception. Women are more attentive and accurate drivers." The women members of the Federation test their skills against the men, in periodic figure-driving competitions. At last year's contest, the battle of the sexes ended in a tie with each team earning three points over a course of various skills tests. A pioneer among Armenian women drivers is Marina Shaginian, who has been driving since 1988. It is not an unusual sight to see her maneuvering through Yerevan traffic in her Lada 06. But when she first started driving: "Pedestrians looked out for me, and men drivers tried to stay far from me. They thought that a woman at the wheel was a sign of a coming accident." Whereas her presence on the roads is still met with some skepticism, Shaginian says women drivers do have one major advantage over men. "Police officers stop women less often," Shaginian says. And when cops seeking bribes do stop women drivers "it is enough to apologize with a sincerely guilty face." There are, of course, sociological implications behind the trend in women drivers. The initiative to learn driving is symbolic of a minor, but significant trend, among Armenian women who wish to assert themselves in non-traditional roles. Such change is not always greeted happily by men. Ura Sogomonian has been a Yerevan taxi driver for 30 years. At his corner of Kievian and Orbeli streets every morning at about 8:30, he says he watches a woman driver in a white Niva use her rear-view mirror to apply her make-up while waiting for the traffic signal to change. "I can hardly resist stopping her to ask if she can't do that at home," Sogomonian says. "It used to be that women wanted to have nice dresses and nice decorations. Today, they want to have a nice car." The balance between liberation and tradition is delicate. "I was 23 when I got married," says a woman named Alla who is now 31. "I had a job and was driving for four years. "But my husband was against me working and driving. And I was forced to quit my job and stop driving." Alla's husband decided that their children should attend a certain English-language school, but it was far from their home. "I told him that I would not take the children that far by bus and said 'let them go to a regular school nearby'," Alla says. Finally, her husband himself suggested that Alla take the children to school by car. Now Alla drives them to school in the morning then returns home so that her husband can take the car to work. When her husband comes home for lunch, Alla takes the car to bring the children back from school. "My husband likes this state of affairs, because while driving a car I am still a housekeeper," Alla says. "But most of all my husband likes when we go out and he can drink as much as he wants. And I drive him home afterwards." Photos by Vahram Mkhitarian ©Copyright ArmeniaWeek Jan. 04, 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. http://www.armeniaweek.com/jan042002/photos/drivers_2.jpg

Joining the Club: Six-year application to global trading network nears its climax By Ashot Gareginian ArmeniaWeek reporter In the next few months Armenia expects to complete its application for membership of the World Trade Organization. The negotiating process, which started in 1995, is expected to be complete by April or May 2002, opening the way for Armenia to the 144 countries that are already part of the global trading agreement. The final stage of preparation began in October involving multilateral talks with working groups on legislative reforms. They are approaching an end - bilateral negotiations with the 15 biggest member countries are already finished. Experts from the WTO are conducting a last "dress rehearsal" by carrying out detailed research into the Armenian economy. "More than 90 percent of current questions are settled already," says Tigran Davtian, Armenia's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, who co-ordinates negotiations with the WTO (pictured). He is hopeful of prompt completion of the final details of membership, but adds: "Everything is far from depending only on us." Armenia recently presented a 100-page "Draft Report" containing a general profile of the current state of the republic's economy. Most of its legislation has already been brought into line with the international standards required for WTO membership. Laws to speed up the licensing and registration of companies through a "one-stop" regime, as well as strengthened anti-monopoly powers were passed this year. The Customs Code has also been revised. Only a law against "dumping" of products to drive down prices and eliminate competition remains to be passed. A draft is currently before the Armenian National Assembly. "But we by no means carry out unquestioningly every demand and observation made by member countries of the WTO," Davtian says. "In the first place, we proceed from our national interests." At present, 144 countries are members of the World Trade Organization. They include the former Soviet republics of Moldova, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan as well as the Baltic republics. Armenia is among 28 countries now waiting for admission. "There will be almost no negative consequences. It is simply necessary to keep to certain rules if we want to integrate into the civilized world," Davtian emphasizes. The possibility of enjoying Most Favored Nation status with all other WTO members on a multilateral basis is considered the most important benefit of membership. But there are other gains. For instance, US restrictions on imports for countries outside the WTO are lifted once membership is confirmed. "In this way, new prospects will open up for our exporters," Davtian says. "We have had two meetings with manufacturers in the last two months. "We explained the benefits of WTO membership and most of them understood that there is nothing to be afraid of." Member countries are barred from so-called "strict protectionism" of their markets. But tariffs as temporary measure are permitted - it is possible to increase customs duties to a maximum of 15 percent if a country can show that its economy is being harmed by particular imports. At present, customs duties in Armenia ranges from zero to 10 percent, with an average rate of 4.1 percent. It will likely have to revise taxation of the agricultural sector after WTO experts found the disparity between taxes on imported and domestic food production was too great in favor of local goods. Photo by Karen Minasian ©Copyright ArmeniaWeek Jan. 04, 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.

Geek-Stuff ? Urish ???

images/smiles/converted/smile.gif

Chgitem te ova bayst te aseq tor shorer@ hagni amota

Sireli Members i like to ask for your opinion Do we need a [ Computers And Internet ] Forum ???

Chgitem

Hello again, Sorry for this last minute change. Unfortunately, we have been turned away from our home town Kotayk hangout. However, the Pasadna Hot Wings has been arranged as an alternative. So don't go to Glendale!! Kotayk Night will be at Hot Wings in Pasadena on Friday, Jan. 4 at 7PM. The address is 89 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91105 (cross Street: Raymond). Please inform others who do not check email regularly of the change. Oh yeah, attendance is still mandatory! The Kotayk Knight

Sip -=- Lucid_dream Welcome To HyeForum

By Boghos " You don´t need to send the money to Armenia or Karabagh. But for example an endowment to support graduate studies for Armenians from Armenia at a US university will be much more useful. Actually I can think of tens of better projects. We don´t need more churches, we need more faithful people. " Excellent points !!!

On This Day in History ... 1856 - Birth of Yervand Shahaziz in Ashtarak. He died in 1951 in Yerevan. 1858 - Mandinyan first publishes the Armenian "Bee" (periodical) in Tbilissi (Georgia). In 1862, Petros Simonyan became the editor. 1878 - The "Eastern" Association and the "Dprotsasirats" (pro-school) Association in Constantinople join as the "Dprotsasirats Eastern Association". 1879 - Mkrtich Portoogalyan opens a trade school in Van (Western Armenia). 1886 - Birth of Garegin Njdeh (prominent public figure and member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation) in Kznoot (Nakhitjevan). He died in 1955. 1887 - The Mkhitarist Congregation in Vienna publishes the first issue of its monthly "Journal" (hantess). 1890 - The "Costume" periodical is first published in Tbilissi (Georgia) by Tigran Nazarian. 1895 - Through the insistance of the ambassadors of the Allied Powers, the Turkish government's Inspection Commission arrives at Sassoon to investigate the Armenian massacres that had taken place there. 1895 - Birth of armenologist, historian, lawyer Armen Hrand (Kyootookyan). His important contributions for armenology are: "Mets Tigran" (Teegran the Great), "The Marzpan and Sparapet", "Armenian Supreme Court", "Vassak Syoonee the Accused" and others. 1899 - Completion of the Tbilissi-Alexandropol (Gyoomree) railroad. 1907 - Birth of Carzou (artist). 1916 - The "Armenian Herald" (weekly) is published in Moscow (Russia). 1917 - Turkey nullifies the Treaties of Paris (1856) and Berlin (1878), which allude to Turkey's borders. 1922 - Ceremonial opening of Yerevan's Town Council. 1924 - Birth of Parooyr Sevak (writer, political figure). He died in 1971. 1978 - Opening of the Armenian Folk Arts Museum. 1991 - As a follow up to the Yezdi people's wishes, the Armenian National Radio institutes a Yezdi editorial board for Yezdi programs.

1924 - Birth of Parooyr Sevak (writer, political figure)

it's nice that you and the rest of the Armenians like to have your own church in your community, sins 1920is you have been saving up money, over a million dollars. it is a good idea to have your own church. lets talk about this, Your community has been holding on to $$$ at times when Armenia or The Armenians needed the money most, so many projects have been unassisted, dawn sins no one was supporting it, so many projects have turn heads to Turks for financing and have become PRO-Turkish, when you have had over a million $$$ in your hands, so many kids have starved to death in Armenia and Artsax when you had $$$ to help them, So many Armenian Churches in Armenia, Artsax and Historical Armenian need work, ...... ehhh This is the reason most of us get angry on this topic. I'm not telling you to gave up your money, just spend it bit more wisely. it's your money you do what you like with it. you can get your self a new church made by today's standards that will cost you much chipper than building one using TUF, at first it will cost you way to much to import the stones. just don't tell me your getting the stones from Armenia to help the economy, sins you will spend more money on shipping than the stones are sold in Armenia. it's not only building the church, you need to pay the expenses, like property taxes an so on, so more and more $$$ will bee spend, 30 members supporting a church, which will soon or lather become the property of some Armenian political party. that's if there not supporting your idea and making you do this now. than you get A priest, oh this is the fun part, he will charge you, me and every one anytime you go to him for $500.00 for wedding, $350.00 for baptism, ... Just build something normal, again you can add Armenian Accent to it. [ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

ok i will. let me just reply to him.

DOCUMENTARY MOVIE ABOUT LIBERATION OF SHUSHI By Tsvetana Paskaleva featuring real-life heroes of Karabagh When: December 7, 2001 8:00 pm Where: at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre Donation: $20.00 Paresghian Records 323-664-3365 Sardarabad Bookstore 818-500-0790 Abril Bookstore 818-243-4112 Berj Bookstore 818-244-3830 Chaterian 818-242-6928 Arax Grocery & Deli 818-705-0395 Hye Keer 818-342-6624 Peko Records 323-664-8884 Hollywood Music Center 818-240-8888 S & J Pharmacy 818-700-2956 For more information please call 818-342-6624 Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is located at: 5230 Lankershim Blvd. N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-754-2800

Journalists, public protest over TV censorship. A protest (a one-hour strike) by Armenian journalists in support of the rights of Tsvetana Paskaleva took place outside the Armenian president’s residence on 10th December. The screening of a programme by this Bulgarian journalist, “My dear ones alive and dead,” on Armenian television was halted by a decision of the [TV] collegium on 27th October. The protest organized by Armenian journalist organizations was supported by about 100 demonstrators, mainly journalists and students. The demands of the protesters were set out on their banners: “Mr President, return Tsvetana [Russian “tsvet” means colour] to black and white Armenian television!”, “Tsvetana is not a berry from the president’s patch!”[, and] “We have anti-Tsvetanamania here. We are deprived of Tsvetana.” An appeal on behalf of the initiative group addressed to the executive staff of the president of the country was handed over. In particular, it notes that the reasons why the heads of the national television decided to stop broadcasting the programme were unfounded and unconvincing. In the view of the initiative group, the results of polls of specialists and viewers show that the programme had a high rating. Those taking part in the protest action expressed the hope that the country’s president would intervene in the conflict; that Tsvetana Paskaleva’s programme would again appear on television screens; and that measures would be taken to stop attempts to infringe on freedom of speech in Armenia. The acting press secretary of the Armenian president, Levon Zurabyan, came out to see those taking part in the protest. During a conversation with journalists, he expressed the view that none of the provisions of existing Armenian legislation had been violated by the national television management in the case of Tsvetana Paskaleva, and therefore the president will not intervene in the actions of this branch of the state media. Zurabyan stressed that Armenian national television’s management had acted within its powers. He stressed that Tsvetana Paskaleva and the director of the national television, Gamlet Gasparyan, are his friends, and therefore his personal opinion in this case is subjective. Noyan Tapan, Yerevan, December 10, 1997

Conditions for allowing Azeri TV broadcasts in Iran. The deputy chairman of Iran’s state television and radio company and adviser to Iran’s culture minister told the Azeri newspaper ‘525 Gazet’ that previous agreements between Iran and Azerbaijan on TV broadcasting had not stipulated the broadcasting of an hour of Azerbaijani television in Iran, as this violated the Iranian constitution. The head of Azerbaijani TV (AzTV) is to visit Iran in the next two months to discuss this issue in detail, but among the likely conditions for Azerbaijani TV programmes being broadcast on Iranian TV could be that they are in Persian, not Azeri, and that Iranian rules on how women presenters dress are observed. The following is an excerpt from a report headlined “There is no need for an Azeri school in Iran” by the ‘525 Gazet’ newspaper; subheadings added editorially: An adviser to Iran’s culture minister, the deputy chairman of the state television and radio company, Ali Asghar Shirdust [name as published], who is an ethnic Azeri, has said that people do not need schools teaching in Azeri. Iranian constitution does not allow foreign TV broadcasts [Q] How is the issue of broadcasting Azerbaijani and Iranian television in the two countries being dealt with? [A] In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful! I have dealt with television issues during both this visit and my last one. Under the cultural agreement between Iran and Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani state television company is to broadcast Tehran television in exchange for some cooperation. Recently broadcasts of these programmes have been cut off several times. The issue of broadcasting Azerbaijani television in Iran was one of the unresolved issues in the negotiations between former Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani and Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev which were held during Aliyev’ s visit to Iran. Because the Iranian constitution does not allow the broadcasting of foreign television in the country, this issue remained unsolved even at a presidential level. However, Heydar Aliyev promised to restore the broadcasting of Tehran television programmes in return for the Iranian president resolving a number of issues of importance to Azerbaijan. The broadcasting of Iranian programmes resumed but was later stopped. During my last visit I had meetings at the joint Azerbaijani-Iranian commission and with the chairman of the Azerbaijani state television and radio company, Nizami Khudiyev, and discussed this issue. We have decided that Khudiyev will visit Iran within two months and we will discuss this issue in more detail. [Q] Will any document be signed during the visit? [A] Yes. We have prepared a protocol. I have to say that previous protocols contained no obligation to broadcast an hour of Azerbaijani television programmes in Iran in exchange for the broadcasting of Tehran television in Azerbaijan. I said at the meeting with Khudiyev and his deputies that our documents (one of them was signed in 1991 by the chairmen of the Tabriz television company and the Azerbaijani company and the other was signed in Tehran in 1992 by the chairmen of the Iranian and Azerbaijani television companies) did not include such an obligation. Khudiyev also looked at the documents and saw that there was no such condition. However, we think that this issue is possible to resolve. We agree on the conditions envisaged in the draft protocol. For example, if a representative office of the Iranian television company opens in Baku we will also agree to the opening of an AzTV representative office in Tehran. However, there are problems in the equal broadcasting of the two television companies. First of all our constitution does not allow this. [Q] The Azerbaijani constitution also does not include the issue of broadcasting foreign television in the country? [A] Why, you broadcast foreign television programmes. [Q] They are broadcast on different channels, not on AzTV. [A] We also wanted to have our separate channel, however, we only managed to reach provisional agreement on one hour of programmes. We are not against broadcasting documentary films and Azerbaijani cultural programmes on Iranian television regularly, even though to date there has not been a single foreign TV programme broadcast on Tehran TV. Programmes for Iran should be in Persian [Q] Do you agree with the motives for stopping the broadcasting of Tehran TV programmes? Do you admit that you propagate anti-Azerbaijani views? [A] No. I do not admit that there was any such intent from the Iranian side. However, if there was such a thing we are against that. In general we do not see any evidence of this in these programmes. [Q] Do the documents which will be signed in Tehran envisage equal broadcasting? [A] The Azerbaijani side has this condition. However, the option which could make Iran agree to that will be discussed in Iran. [Q] Under what conditions does Iran consider it possible to tackle this issue? [A] We could agree that programmes for Iran would be recorded and sent to us beforehand. However, Iran would attach other conditions to this. Our programmes for Azerbaijan are in your state language. Therefore, your programmes for Iran must also be in our state language, Persian. Moreover, our rules and laws must be followed in your programmes. [Q] Speaking about your rules and laws, you probably mean, first of all, the yashmak for women appearing on TV. Then if an agreement is reached, will you agree to broadcast reports of official meetings from Baku? [A] Our condition applies to the presenter and correspondent, but not those in meetings. ‘525 Gazet,’ Baku, November 26, 1997

Tsvetana Paskaleva's "Aspect" program may be closed. In reply to the "Noyan Tapan" reporter about gossips on Tsvetana Paskaleva's "Aspect" TV program closure, National TV Executive Director Tigran Naghdalyan said, that the program isn't closed now and is on vacation. At the same time he stated, that in the new broadcasting season, which will begin on September 21st, some programs will be changed, or replaced with new ones. According to Tigran Naghdalyan, in case of "Aspect" the reason for possible closure is not the problem of the Russian but the "bad Russian" (according to Armenian laws, all Armenian programs must be broadcasted in Armenian, or must have synchronous translation; however, Tsvetana Paskaleva's program was broadcasted in Russian). He refused that the reasons of "Aspect" program closure carry political character. Living in Artsax since 1991, Tsvetana Paskaleva has shooted a few films on the Artsax war, which were presented in some countries. Paskaleva's "My dear alives and deads" was closed in November 1997 by the previous authorities. After the government replacement Paskaleva was invited to work at NTA in 1998. In October 1998 she launched "Aspect" program. On the last two issues of "Aspect" program invited Haik Babukhanyan, Vice-Head of the "Constitutional Right" Union, member of the "Right and unity" Parliament fraction and Vahan Hovannisyan, member of the Supreme Body of the ARFD, Head of the Parliament Commission on Defense, Internal Affairs and National Security sharply criticized Nagorno-Artsax authorities and representatives of the law enforceful bodies and court in relation with their actions concerning the case of Samvel Babayan, ex-Chief Commander of the NKR Defense Army, blamed in the attempt at the NKR President Arkady Gukassyan. Ms. Paskaleva herself said, that she was offered to leave to vacation immediately after the above mentioned issues; nothing was said about the program closure. More than that, NTA Administration assured her, that after September 20th program will be on air again. According to the "Noyan Tapan" agency, 06,09.2000

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER MAY 19-25, 2001 HIGHLIGHTS: THE SEMINAR FOR TWO ESTATES COMPLETED "A GIFT" FOR TSVETANA PASKALEVA? "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTYUN" WEEKLY TARGETED BY AUTHORITIES JOURNALIST'S PHOTO CAMERA BROKEN AT THE CONGRESS OF THE WRITERS PUBLICATION OF "HAIKAKAN ZHAMANAK" RESTARTED "VARKANISH" MAGAZINE PUBLISHED THE SEMINAR FOR TWO ESTATES COMPLETED On May 19-20 in Yerevan the seminar "Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Media Disputes in Judicial Practice of Armenia" was completed. The Seminar was organized by Yerevan Press Club, the Council of Europe, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with partner contribution from "Femida" NGO. In his opening speech the RA Minister of Justice David Haroutiunian emphasized the necessity for such meetings between the representatives of judicial branch and media. The European standards on relations between media and the justice were introduced to the participants by Pall Thorhallsson, the Administrative Officer of the Media Division of General Directorate II of the Council of Europe. The presentation of Henrik Danielian, the Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation was devoted to the necessity for legislative changes in Armenia after its membership in the CE. The speaker mostly lingered on the need for amendments in the RA Constitution. Thus, as the Chairman of the Court of Cassation mentioned, the Constitution declares the fundamental rights and freedoms for the citizens of Armenia only. Meanwhile, to ensure conformity with international norms, including Article 10 of the European Convention, these principles must be fixed for any individual, irrespectively from his/her citizenship. As to the media, Mr. Danielian finds that the journalists must have increased responsibility, since the power and the influence of the word on the society are great. The YPC Expert Mesrop Harutyunyan introduced the situation of the freedom of speech and media in Armenia. The presentation of the Member of the RA Justice Council Robert Avagian referred to the coverage of judicial issues by Armenian media and was built on the quotes from the newspaper publications on the case of the terrorist attack in the Armenian Parliament on October 27, 1999. The participants were particularly interested in the presentation of the Seminar expert Erno Melssen, the Vice President of the Regional Court of Zwolle, the Netherlands. His narration on how the Europe and, in particular, Holland balance the freedom of media and the right to a fair trial, how the access to information and public hearings is granted, how the legislation has stipulated the right for journalists to protect their sources caused wistful admiration among the journalistic community. Two court cases have also been studied at the Seminar: from the practice of the European Court on Human Rights and the Court of Cassation of Armenia. "A GIFT" FOR TSVETANA PASKALEVA? In the early morning of May 17 the car of the well-known Bulgarian TV journalist, the author of a series of documentaries on the Karabagh War Tsvetana Paskaleva was damaged. The unknown criminals broke the glass, tore out the walkie-talkie set and threw it on the floor of the car. Yet, neither the personal belongings of Paskaleva were touched, not the documents and videotapes. The incident took place near the building of the House of Cinema, where, during the nights, in the studio of "Sharm" company Paskaleva is editing the new documentary "The Faith and the Spirit". The film is devoted to the reminiscences of the participants of Shushi-Lachin operation and their concern over the future of Azerbaijan territories, currently controlled by the troops of Mountainous Karabagh. As Tsvetana Paskaleva told Yerevan Press Club, what happened to her is a direct forewarning, an action of threat. Paskaleva links an attempt to exercise pressure not only with the film "The Faith and the Spirit", but also to her activities in protection of Samvel Babayan (the former Minister of Defense of Mountainous Karabagh, sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for plotting the attempted assassination of MK President Arkady Ghukasian in March 2000). Tsvetana Paskaleva was shooting the war in Mountainous Karabagh since its early days. Paskaleva's documentaries received the awards of most reputable international festivals. The name of Paskaleva (author, director, camerawoman and producer all in one) was among the first in the rating of the American International Documentary Association - as a camerawoman, working at a hot spot. "I went through the whole war and one cannot intimidate me by what has happened. Those who think I will yield my positions are mistaken", said Paskaleva. "At the end of May it will be exactly 10 years since I came to work in Armenia and Karabagh. This is the "gift" I have been presented with", she added. The investigation of the attack on the car of Tsvetana Paskaleva is conducted at the Central Division of Interior Affairs of Yerevan. "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTYUN" WEEKLY TARGETED BY AUTHORITIES Recently, the authorities of Armenia have become extremely attentive towards the radically opposition weekly "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" (www.chi.am). Yerevan Press Club has already reported that in late March the newspaper was deprived of its property (see the details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 7-13, 2001). In particular, on 28 March 2001, officers of the Interior Ministry of Armenia seized the equipment of "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" weekly, founded and published by "Ogostos" independent press-distribution agency. The officials claimed that the equipment used by "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" since 1996 was a property of the Ministry. On 10 May the Editor-in-Chief of "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun", President of women 's "Shamiram" party Shogher Matevosian was summoned to the office of the Military Prosecutor. She was interrogated over several recent publications containing criticism of authorities' handling of terrorist attack on the Parliament on 27 October, 1999, which had killed the prime minister, the speaker of the Parliament and 6 other high officials. The prosecutors have demanded to reveal the authors of the publications. On 16 May at 5 p.m. the tax inspection began a check-up of "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun's" founder and publisher "Ogostos" agency's activities without a written order of the Minister of State Revenues, required by the RA Law "On the Procedure and Conductance of Auditing at the Organizations Operating in the Republic of Armenia" (Articles 2 and 3). During the check-up, the representatives of the tax inspection seized a large amount of documents of the agency. They also forced the Executive Director of the agency to sign a declaration about agency's activities, taken down from their dictation. None of the seized documents has been returned yet. The official order for the check-up, signed by the Minister of the State Revenues as required by Law, was issued only on May 18. Accordingly, the tax inspection had the right to start a check-up only on May 23. The check-ups, conducted before May 23, have been presented by the tax inspection as "visit". The Law does not provide for any "visits" or check-ups under that name. To justify their actions the Ministry of State Revenues issued a statement (published in the "Aravot" daily on May 19) saying "what concerns the fact that the Law does not provide for such visits, then what is not prohibited by law is allowed". Meanwhile, Article 5 of the Armenian Constitution stipulates that state bodies and officials are competent to perform only those activities for which they are authorized by legislation. All the facts above are cited by the statement made by "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" weekly on May 21. The statement also mentions: "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" weekly is highly critical of the President Kocharian and the government and corrupted officials." JOURNALIST'S PHOTO CAMERA BROKEN AT THE CONGRESS OF THE WRITERS The disreputable XIII Congress of the Writers Union of Armenia that took place on May 17-19 was accompanied not only by scandals, shameful statements, indecent squabbles among the opposing groups (a fact which has been covered by Armenian media), but also by an unexpected for this part of the Armenian society pressure on journalists. As Yerevan Press Club was informed by Melania Bekarian, a journalist of "Aravot" daily, who had been covering the activities of the Congress, on May 19 when the Chairman of the Writers Union was to be elected, at the suggestion of that time Secretary of the Board Abgar Apinian a demand was made that media leave the session room. The journalists inquired as to the grounds for such measures. Having not heard any weighty arguments to substantiate the demand, the journalists refused to go. Later, as the election time drew closer, the situation became especially hot, and the journalists were flooded with accusations: you are throwing dirt on us, we would have overcome our conflicts long ago if the media did not add wood into the fire, etc. These accusations were pronounced mostly by not so eminent but extremely aggressive part of the "people of letters", who started a scuffle in the session room. The more notable writers, on the contrary, took the side of media: the response of the media is adequate to the Congress itself. However, another episode became the most revolting one. When Lusineh Barseghian, a correspondent of "Haikakan Zhamanak" daily, was taking pictures of the ballot box, Abgar Apinian snatched the camera of the journalist and threw it aside. The camera was wrecked, and this was done by a person who himself used to be a journalist and now claimed the Chair of the Writers Union. As Melania Bekarian admits, this sad story has two circumstances that inspire optimism. First, the justice won and a worthy person was elected to take over the Chair of the Writers Union of Armenia: the Chief Editor of "Garoun" magazine, writer Levon Ananian. Second, the journalists of differently oriented media showed solidarity and supported each other both during the Congress itself and when covering it. PUBLICATION OF "HAIKAKAN ZHAMANAK" RESTARTED On May 19, after a two-day pause the publication of "Haikakan Zhamanak" daily restarted. The stoppage was caused by a conflict with "Gind" private publishing house (see the details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 12-18, 2001). As Nikol Pashinian, the Chief Editor of the daily informed Yerevan Press Club, this does not mean, however, that the problems with "Gind" are settled. The newspaper has merely signed a contract with another publishing house, "Noy", where "Haikakan Zhamanak" is currently published. "VARKANISH" MAGAZINE PUBLISHED On May 21 at "Tekeyan" Center the presentation of a monthly information and analytical magazine "Varkanish" ("Rating") took place. The magazine is founded and published by "Media Model" Ltd. The first issue of the edition in particular presents the ratings of the state and political figures of Armenia, local TV companies as well as the TV channels rebroadcast in Armenia. The circulation of the magazine is 1000 copies. The Chief Editor is Margarit Grigorian. When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan Press Club is required. You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to: pressclub@ypc.am Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send a message to: info@ypc.am ____________________________________________ Yerevan Press Club 39/12 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue 375009, Yerevan, Armenia Tel.: (+ 3741) 53 00 67; 53 35 41 Fax: (+3741) 151 685; 53 76 62 E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am Web Site: www.ypc.am

Paskaleva Determined To Defend Babayan YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--The Bulgarian journalist Tsvetana Paskaleva states that she is now "on the other side of the barricades", against the current authorities of Nagorno Artsax. According to her, the reason for this is her rising in defense of the former commander of the Nagorno Artsax Republic Defense Army, Samvel Babayan who is charged with plotting the attempted assassination of Artsax President Arkady Ghukassian. At her September 30 news conference, Paskaleva stated that she began experiencing pressure immediately after the assassination attempt, on March 26, when she arrived in Stepanakert with the ARF representative Kim Balayan to find out the circumstances of the case. The next step, she said, was the closure of her TV program Aspect on the Armenian National Television. Paskaleva said that after the broadcast of another program with the representative of the Right and Unity parliamentary faction Haik Babukhanian, who demanded that Samvel Babayan's trial be held in Armenia, she was invited to Director of the Armenian National Television Tigran Naghdalian, who said that the program was followed by a great scandal, and the Artsax authorities were indignant towards it. Naghdalian offered the journalist to go on holiday, saying he would try to settle the conflict. "I asked him several times: are you a man of your word, that I'll return?. He said, `Yes, you'll return on September 20'," Paskaleva said. She pointed out that previously she had not distrusted Naghdalian. However, shortly before September 20 she understood from an interview that Naghdalian had closed her program because her "bad Russian". At its sitting in Stepanakert, the court did not allow Paskaleval to act as Samvel Babayan's public defender, because she is a foreign citizen. "The most hated thing that I hear then was the word `foreigner'," Paskaleva said. Thereafter, by the order of Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian, the journalist was deprived of her flat in Stepanakert, that was provided for her by Samvel Babayan. "If all things remain as they are, I will not leave Armenia all the same. I considered it my highest responsibility and honor to defend the interests of Nagorno Artsax at all international forums. Today, I consider it my duty to defend Samvel Babayan's honor," Paskaleva said.

http://66.124.123.18/assets/product_images/karabaghswounds_150h.jpg Artsax`s Wounds (1994) Synopsis: The three films presented on this tape portray the deportation and destruction of the people of Artsax, their unrelenting struggle for the realization of their desire of independence, and their expectation of the world to understand their aspirations. Unpunished crimes captured on this tape serve as basis for understanding the escalation of war. Bulgarian by nationality, Tsvetana Paskaleva adopted Artsax as the focus of her attention - her essence as a human being and professional.

http://66.124.123.18/assets/product_images/spiritandfaith_150h.jpg Three commanders, decorated war heroes of Operation Shushi, show the importance of the operation and unimafinable difficulties they faced-the loss of thousands of lives in the pursuit of freedom. The commanders are prompt and clear, bravely refusing to return one inch of liberated land to the Azeris you can get hold of one at Armen Film [ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

Kuban People's TV is headed by an Armenian. Recently, on the constituent conference, which took place in the conference hall of the "Krasnodarskie izvestiya" concern, was established Kuban People's TV. As its co-founders appeared "YUG" State Television and Radio Company, "Krasnodar" Television and Radio Company, "Tikhoretsk-TV" independent telecompany and some other regional telecompanies. "People's TV" establishment was done within the project on the "people's" mass media creation, held by the Mass Media Association of the "Krasnodarskie izvestiya" Publishing House. As the general director of the KPTV unanimously was elected Deputy Director of the "YUG" State TV and radio company Eduard Arutyunov.

MIke jan let us know if you need ony help Bay the way happy new year and all the best To you and your Ojax. MOvses

quote:Originally posted by edward demian: Does anyone have a contact in Armenia for Tufa Stone? We are building a reproduction of the 7th Century, St Hripsime Church. haw big is Palm String Armenian Community or haw many Armenians, and haw much is it going to cost this reproduction of the 7th Century, St Hripsime Church?? - MOvses