MosJan

TURKISH WAR-PLANES LOCATION IN GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN IS THREAT FOR ARMENIA'S SECURITY 27.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The head of the chief headquarters of armed forces of Armenia, first deputy minister of defense, lieutenant-general Mikael Arutyunyan has stated today that if the information regarding the location of Turkish war-planes is true then "this will be a threat to our security". At the same time Arutyunyan has noted that Armenian part does not have any information about that. Commenting the possible location of war-planes in Apsheron, Arutyunyan has stated if the probable use of Azerbaijani airports during the antiterrorism operation turns to the location of military bases there, then Armenia will consider this as a threat for its security. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE ARMENIAN PART TO BE FINISHED BY 2002 END 27.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The building of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will have been finished by the end of 2002. The agreement on this was achieved during the official visit of Armenia's President to Iran. Besides the document regarding the gas pipeline, 11 agreements for the regulation of the cooperation in the spheres of culture, historic and architecture preservation, standatization and metrology, seismic protection were signed. The political communique was also signed. Answering the questions of journalists in the Yerevan «Zwartnots» airport, Robert Kocharyan has stated that his visit to neighbor country has reached a new stage in the history of bilateral relations of Armenia and Iran. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT VISIT TO IRAN FINISHED 27.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The official visit of Armenia's President to Iran has finished. Today morning the ceremony of the signing of twelve joint agreements including the political communique was held. The delegation leaded by Robert Kocharyan returned to Yerevan. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

GAro jan LAg ayinq anum, DSL chi asxhatum, keybordis vra conyak er tapvel, tikon heraxosi gtsi vra er kannel msg/ cher karum antsner, monitopris vra fourm@ cheyi karoranum gtnel. heto tes asum en Ush lini nusshh lini, Lav e Ush Qan Yerbeq, vrazori knik@ tra chi beri, vay es verchin@ qez cher verabervum, lav yes gnam

>> Kto vash lyubimyy literaturniy geroy? << u minya netu lyubimyy geroy - u minya lyubimaya - a - imia niskaju eta moy sicret.

GArik JAN Shnorhavorum em TAredarts@t, Tsankanum qez Ameniyn Bariq yev HAjorutyun, yev inchpes asum en Mer Glxits Anpakas mnatasats@ heto kasem... andzamb HArganqnerov MOvses

OPERA REVIEW Just a Beginning A revival of Tigran Chukhadjian's "Arshak II" spotlights the birth of Armenian opera, but hardly its pinnacle. By MARK SWED, Times Music Critic SAN FRANCISCO—There is no more curious or more obscure opera likely to be found anywhere this season than Tigran Chukhadjian's "Arshak II," which was given The state's Armenian community is helping to underwrite the San Francisco Opera staging of the 1868 work "Arshak II." Associated Press http://www.calendarlive.com/callive/images/stories/arshak_gj9xjbke.jpg its world premiere by the San Francisco Opera at the War Memorial Opera house Saturday night. Written in 1868, it was the first Armenian opera, but, for both political and economic reasons, only concert excerpts were performed during the composer's lifetime. The score was presumed lost after his death in 1898, but the manuscript was discovered three decades later in Paris, among the effects of Chukhadjian's widow, who died there. A Soviet-approved version of the opera—with the music rewritten to an entirely new libretto—was given its premiere in the Armenian capital Yerevan in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War II, and it is in that form that the opera continues to be mounted in Armenia. The inspiration for the "Arshak II" premiere, the first professional production of an Armenian opera in this country, was that of a violinist in the San Francisco Opera, Gerard Svazlian, who had once been a member of the Armenian National Opera in Yerevan. When he approached then-San Francisco Opera general director Lotfi Mansouri (who retired at the end of last season) with his dream to mount an Armenian opera, Mansouri agreed to produce "Arshak II," provided that the violinist could produce $1 million. With contributions large and small (mostly small) from the extensive California Armenian community, Svazlian raised the money. And so a proud community and the opera came together Saturday night for a gala premiere, with the proceeds to be donated to the reconstruction of the Vanatsor Armenian Music School destroyed by Armenia's 1988 earthquake. It was a noble night all around, except for one major flaw. "Arshak II" represents the birth of a national opera, not its pinnacle; it is not even a representative of its potential. Despite its subject matter and the fact that it was performed in Armenian, there is next to nothing Armenian in the art of "Arshak II." Shortly before writing his first opera, Chukhadjian studied for three years at the Milan Conservatory and came to be known as the Armenian Verdi (when he wasn't called the Armenian Offenbach). He wrote "Arshak II" in Italian as "Arsace" (it was specially translated into Armenian for the San Francisco performance, while still retaining the characters' Italianized names). It was later that Chukhadjian blended Armenian folk music into his Westernized operatic molds. "Arshak II" mimics only early and middle-period Verdi, um-pah-pahs and all. At best, there is an extra grace note here and there to add a touch of "exoticism." The libretto by Tovmas Tersian follows the Italian practice of the day, turning historical characters into melodramatic monsters. In it, Arsace (based on the 4th century Armenian king), lusting after his sister-in-law, the beautiful Paransema, imprisons his own wife Olimpia; kills his brother, Knel; and forces Paransema to marry him. Along the way, Arsace also murders his father, the old king Diran. Paransema turns nasty in her own right and slays the son of Arsace and Olimpia. Angered that Arsace has rekindled his love for the gentle Olimpia, the new queen then poisons the imprisoned one, but the plot goes and awry and both queens drink the doctored wine. The horrified Armenian people finally execute Arsace. In an attempt to extract exciting theater out of this, San Francisco Opera hired a noted director, Francesca Zambello, who seems to have simply thrown up her hands (as she also has many in the cast do). Perhaps she realized that with John Coyne's clunky Babylonian set and Anita Yavich's folksy costumes, there was little hope. But Zambello did produce one touching moment, lowering Olimpia down in her cage. The most beautiful music in the opera is also Olimpia's; her lament to her slaughtered son demonstrates the budding original talent in the young composer. That moment, however, had to compete with the likes of a tepid graveyard scene in which Arsace and Paransema are confronted by the ghosts of their victims and a kitschy ballet in the last act. Olimpia was entrusted to the most accomplished singer in the cast, Armenian soprano Hasmik Papian, who has the steely gleam and rapt lyricism of a true Verdian. The French mezzo-soprano Nora Gubisch was always loud, and occasionally exciting, as a tigerish Paransema. The bass Tigran Martirossian was the booming Catholic priest, Nerses (the real historical troublemaker but, in the opera, a mildly persuasive figure). Baritone Christopher Robertson looked more imposing than he sounded as Arsace; tenor Philip Webb was a stalwart Knel. Loris Tjeknavorian conducted the undemanding score with more purpose than nuance. The chorus has a large part and sang with spirit. In the end, the evening proved more a triumph of musicological enterprise than opera. A community had been prodded into paying for this historical resurrection in the name of national pride. Maybe it is an exaggeration to say that "Arshak II" is to Armenian opera what James Hewitt's 1794 "Tammary, or The Indian Chief" (the first American opera composed for the American stage) is to American opera. But "Arshak II" is hardly an example of the heights to which a great culture can rise. As for Mansouri, he left the whole mess of selling the stage to special interest groups in the hands of its his successor, Pamela Rosenberg, who must cool her heels for a season before she can begin providing this company with the substance it has sorely lacked in recent years. "Arshak II" continues (with some cast changes) through Sept. 30, War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, (415) 861-4008 or http://www.sfopera.org. Copyright 2001 Los Angeles Times

POP MUSIC Call It Metal Gymnastics System of a Down's furious sound is often mislabeled. When you play a heavy fusion spiced with goth and jazz, you get used to misconceptions. By NATALIE NICHOLS http://www.calendarlive.com/callive/images/stories/system_down_gj417rke.jpg Shavo Odadjian, left, Daron Malakian, John Dolmayan and Serj Tankian, who says, "I would prefer Doctors Without Borders get more hype than this band." JUANITO HOLANDEZ / For The Times System of a Down is being stalked by Marilyn Monroe's ghost. Not really, but the L.A. quartet finds it amusing to imagine she's behind the room doors that mysteriously pop open in the historic Hollywood hotel where they're hanging out. But Marilyn didn't even die here. "No," deadpans bassist Shavo Odadjian, 26, "but her ghost is here." That's a pretty weird assertion, but the band is a little punchy. Having returned from touring Europe just two days earlier, the four are doing interviews to promote their highly anticipated second album, "Toxicity." In a few hours, they're supposed to play a free concert for hometown fans in a nearby parking lot. Then they'll hit the road again, co-headlining the "Pledge of Allegiance" tour with fellow heavy-music makers Slipknot. Better they should get a good night's sleep and a week off. Singer-lyricist Serj Tankian, 33, has a sore neck. Guitarist-songwriter Daron Malakian, 24, struggles with an upset stomach. Odadjian unexpectedly had to move into a new apartment. Drummer John Dolmayan, 27, remains polite but preoccupied, or maybe just uninterested in talking to yet another reporter. After all, sometimes journalists make annoying generalizations about System and its aggressive sound. In a world where music is increasingly compartmentalized, its dense-yet-nimble songs are hard to pigeonhole: at once heavy like old-school metal, frenetic like hard-core punk and flavored with a wild variety of styles, from goth to jazz to ethnic folk. The vocals veer from keening to roaring, and, although the tunes are short, they have the feel of progressive rock in their abrupt stylistic shifts, time signature changes and sometimes mystical drama. Perhaps the music's sheer eccentricity makes people look for other ways to categorize the band. The most common tag is "political," because System often protests injustice, as in the new "Prison Song," which laments the increase in inmates in the U.S., a rise fueled by mandatory sentencing for even minor drug offenses. "That is the biggest misconception," Malakian says of this characterization. "We're just as political as maybe the Beatles were. I'm not putting us on their level. I'm just saying we can sing 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,' and we can sing 'Revolution,' you know?" Besides, musical architect Malakian doesn't consider this stuff the least bit odd. "This is pop, man," he says. "This is, like, toned down. We're signed to a corporate label." He laughs crazily. "The music could get a lot more odd." Previously, he and Tankian were in a band called Soil, which Odadjian managed. "We were [doing] lengthier songs," Malakian says. "But then I started listening to the Beatles, and I said, 'Wow, what if we had this sound, but in a song structure?' I like structuring verses, choruses, but sometimes the verses might be a tango and the choruses might be death metal." If critics are confused, listeners have definitely caught on. System's self-titled 1998 American Recordings debut has sold 750,000 copies, thanks to exposure from relentless touring plus a modern-rock radio hit, "Sugar." Fans are attracted variously to the group's raging sound, its social conscience and a theatrical live show in which the musicians are garishly dressed and streaked with paint, working the crowd into a frenzy with their visceral sonic ebb and flow. Judging from the reception for "Toxicity," which entered the national sales chart at No. 1 this month, the band will only become more popular. "They have a deep musicality that's really powerful," says American Recordings head Rick Rubin, who co-produced both System albums. He signed the group based solely on its distinctive sound, never thinking about its commercial potential. "For a band that offbeat, [the success of 'Toxicity'] is really a testament to the depth of the songs," he adds. "But also, getting a good response [from audiences] gave them the ability to open up and try different things." That System's broader popularity coincided with the recent tragic events in America seems "prophetic in some way," Rubin says, suggesting that listeners were already hungry for something more substantial than the lightweight pop dominating the charts. "It's time to take things more seriously and to look at our world in a more compassionate way. Which is a lot of what Serj sings about." An even less relevant tag than "political" is one that System got early on: "Armenian metal," based on the players' shared heritage. Malakian was born in Hollywood, but the others arrived here as children-Odadjian from Armenia, Tankian and Dolmayan from Lebanon. All but Dolmayan attended the same private Armenian school in Hollywood. They formed System of a Down in 1994, taking the name from a poem by Malakian. Among the tunes on the debut album was "P.L.U.C.K." ("Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers"), protesting Turkey's killing of up to 2 million Armenians at the turn of the 20th century. (The Turkish government does not acknowledge the episode as genocide; Armenians maintain it was.) System also staged a benefit concert last year to help further Armenians' position. "To me, the Armenian genocide is personal," Tankian says. "It's about grandparents and things like that. [being Armenian] indirectly and in a very deep way plays a part in everything we do, but it's not as big as people usually make it." Tankian acknowledges that his heritage has shaped his character, compelling him to write such tunes as the new "Deer Dance," which condemns police behavior at last year's Democratic National Convention in downtown L.A. Yet there's also "Bounce," which he cheerfully announces is "about a pogo-stick orgy," and "Psycho," which Odadjian calls a sad song about coke-addled groupies. Even more pensive is "Aerials," a hopeful-feeling number that closes the album. It's about how he Malakian envies "simple people," he says. "You know how we call disabled kids 'disabled'? I think the simplicity in their minds makes them more abled than us." He laughs softly. "The things they can appreciate, you know?" He points to a saucer on the nightstand. "I wish I could appreciate this cup of tea as much I used to when I was a child. That simplicity is gone, as you grow up. And that has nothing to do with politics." He laughs again, a little sadly. This unexpectedly poignant sentiment may in part be a byproduct of the pressures System faces right now. Although well-acquainted with the demands of rising fame and willing to take them on, the players are caught between their lives as accessible underground heroes—albeit ones linked to a major label, via American Recordings' affiliation with Sony Music—and the brave new world of mainstream popularity. Indeed, they're trying hard to balance all their professional and personal obligations. As the musicians talk, friends and entourage members flow in and out of their hotel rooms. Cell phones ring incessantly, bringing calls from yet other friends who want to make sure they can get into the show, even if it's crowded. Still, Tankian and Odadjian gamely stay on track, talking in fast, clipped sentences that mimic the cadences of their music. "We'll get the whole promotion thing done and get on the road," Tankian says. "That will at least get us back on a normal type of track, even though that's not normal in the least bit." But by day's end, things won't be even that normal. The guys won't celebrate with well-wishers following the show, but instead will be figuring out how to replace their equipment. As the anticipated crowd of 3,500 fans swells to an officially estimated 7,000 to 10,000, police, fire officials and the concert's promoter decide to cancel the gig without so much as an announcement from the stage, prompting a few hundred attendees to wreak havoc by stealing whatever of the band's stuff they can carry, breaking most of the rest and vandalizing neighboring businesses. If not even the band and its management anticipated just how many more fans System has attracted over the last three years, Tankian seems almost dismissive of the group's increasing success. "In this industry, hype can be created with a lot of money and marketing," he says. "I find hype extremely funny." He's glad System moves people, "but we're not physically saving lives," he says. "I would prefer that Doctors Without Borders get more hype than this band does. "People [ask], 'How do you feel about selling [almost a] million?' Who cares? The record company isn't gonna pay us anyway." He laughs. "Just kidding," he says, then tilts his head. "Maybe not." Malakian finds the group's path more difficult to fathom. "We should've been an indie, underground band," he says. "The fact that this is happening to us is very odd, and we try our best not to, like, make our lives change." He laughs nervously. "I think people see us a lot bigger than we see [ourselves]." Which is good, he says, but weird. "Like, my friends say, 'We hooked up with these chicks just because we said we were friends with you,'." Malakian says. "That's cheesy, first of all, but I was like, 'That actually has clout?'." He cackles, slightly amazed. "I don't go out much, so when people tell me [stuff] like that, it's funny." System of a Down, with Slipknot, Rammstein, Mudvayne and No One, plays Saturday at the Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, 6:30 p.m. $35. (310) 419-3100. _ _ _ Natalie Nichols is a regular contributor to Calendar. Copyright 2001 Los Angeles Times

RUSSIAN COMPANY PROBABLY TO PARTICIPATE IN BAKU-JEYHAN OIL PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION 25.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian «Lukoil» company will participate in the realization of the project Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan. These are sensational results of the short-term visit of company President Vagit Alekperov to Baku. According to Baku mass media, «Lukoil» considers to receive 7.5% share in the consortium. Besides the company hopes also to gain 10-15% share in the project of the development of the «Araz-Alov-Sharg» block. Alekperov has offered the leadership of Azerbaijan's State Oil Company which is the shareholder of 40% of shares to sell the third or the fourth of the share holding. Baku has not given the final answer to the suggestion yet. It is noteworthy that «Araz-Alov-Sharg» is the block because of which an armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Iran would have appeared in July this year. As it is known, Teheran has enough basis to think the «Araz-Alov-Sharg» belongs to it. It should be reminded that Russia's State Duma had an initiative to ban the Russian companies to participate in the project of the building the Baku-Jeyhan oil pipeline as it contradicts the political and economic interests of Russia. Russia's foreign minister Victor Kolujni stated about the support for the initiative. Nevertheless the official authorities have sanctioned the recommencement of the talks between Alekperov and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan. Baku political scientists consider the decision of the Russian part as a chance to have political and economic support of Moscow and they also predict political dividends. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN HAS BEGUN 25.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has left for Teheran with an official visit. The delegation accompanying the President includes the foreign minister, the ministers of energy, transport and communication, education and science, ecology, culture, sport and youth affairs, the Syunic governor and other officials. On the first day of his visit Robert Kocharyan will place a wreath at the mausoleum of the founder of Islamic Republic of Iran ayatollah Homeyni. The head of Armenia will meet with Iran's President Mohammed Khatami and the religious leader ayatollah Ali Hamenei. The Armenian-Irani talks will take place. They will result in signing of over 10 documents regarding the development of the cooperation in different spheres. The main result document will be the joint political communiqué. At the talks the issue on the building of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will be touched. The parts will also discuss the perspectives of the Kajaran tunnel building. During the three-day visit Armenia's President will meet with defense minister of Iran Shamhani, foreign minister Kharazi, secretary of the Security Council Rogani. The excursion of Robert Kocharyan to the car factory «Iran Khodro» is also planned. The President will visit the Armenia's Embassy in Iran and the residency of the head of Teheran diocese of Armenian Apostolic church. In the church St. Sargis, Robert Kocharyan will participate in ecumenical ceremony, and after that he will place a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian genocide victims. In the «Ararat» sports complex, the meeting of the President with the representatives of Iran's Armenian community will take place. Robert Kocharyan will be present at the gala concert of Armenian art figures in the «Vagdat» concert hall. The delegation headed by Robert Kocharyan will return to Yerevan December 27. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

GEORGIA INCREASED ENERGY VOLUME IMPORTED FROM ARMENIA BECAUSE OF THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATION EXPLOSION 25.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Because of the explosion of the 10 block of Gardaban thermoelectric power station that supplied Tbilisi's half with energy, Georgia's President Eduard Shevarnadze has declared a state of emergency in the country's energy system. The country's head called the plant failure a tragedy for the country. Shevardnadze considers possible that the explosion is a result of diversion though, according to his words, the experts mainly think the cause of the catastrophe was the failures of the operating practices. Due to occurrence, a decision to increase the energy import volume from Russia and Armenia has been made. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

«NAIRIT» ENTERPRISE TO BE SOLD TO UKRAINIAN AND INDIAN COMPANIES BY END OF YEAR 26.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The representatives of Ukrainian «Inter-Contact» company and Indian «Ranstat Group» firm will arrive in Yerevan to sign an agreement on privatization of «Nairit» chemical enterprise. According to «Arminfo», Ukrainians and Indians have agreed to introduce a joint project of «Nairit» recovery. The investors undertake to introduce a business-plan on development of chloroprene rubber production at the enterprise and only after its approval, the government will sign the agreement on privatization. The declared authorized capital stock of «Nairit» is 12.6 billion drams. «Inter-Contact» has promised to pay 6.6 billion drams of the sum and «Ranstat Group» has promised to pay 6 billion drams. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

NAGORNO-Artsax'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE IN ARMENIA APPOINTED 26.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the decree of President of Nagorno-Artsax Republic Arkadi Ghukasyan, Karen Mirzoyan, the extraordinary envoy and plenipotentiary minister is relieved of his post because of the transfer to a new job. According to other decree, the President appointed Arman Melikyan the new permanent representative of Nagorno-Artsax Republic in Armenia. Melikyan has a diplomatic rank of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

IN TEHERAN ROBERT KOCHARIAN PRESENTED WITH «PEUGEOT» CAR OF IRANI ASSEMBLING 26.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The official visit of Armenia's President Robert Kocharian to Iran continues. Today morning the head of the country visited «Iran-Khojdra» car factory. The leadership of the enterprise presented a gift- «Peugeot-206» car to Robert Kocharian. After that, Armenia's president accompanied with Iran's President Mohammed Khatami left for the residence of religious leader of the country ayatollah Khemenei. The meeting was held in private. Tomorrow morning the signing of a number of documents including the joint political communique will be held. Robert Kocharian and the members of the delegation accompanying the President will return to Yerevan tomorrow. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BAKU DIOCESE GIVES ITS PARISHIONERS REFERENCES CONFIRMING FACT OF OPPRESSION OF CHRISTIANS IN AZERBAIJAN 26.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the chairman of Azerbaijan's civic solidarity party, the parliament deputy Sabir Rustamkhanli, Baku diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church gives its parishioners documents confirming the fact that the rights and national dignity are hurt in Azerbaijan. According to the deputy, these references state about religious intolerance in Azerbaijan. These facts serves as a base to have a right to take a refugee status in European countries where Azerbaijan is considered as a country where there is extremely negative situation regarding human rights. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

PEOPLE IN TBILISI TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR HAVING ELECTRIC LIGHT DUE TO ARMENIAN POWER ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS 26.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Talks between power engineering ministries on additional power volume supplying to Georgia from Armenia continue. As it is known, there was a power interruption in the thermoelectric power station supplying power to almost all Tbilisi. According to «Arminfo» agency, the matter concerns the 130-mgwt rating power export to Georgia for ten days. This will let Tbilisi citizens have around-the-clock electric light for the New Year holidays. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

TURKISH BASE TO BE DEPLOYED IN GEORGIA'S REGION POPULATED BY AZERIS 26.12.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ /PanARMENIAN.Net/ As "Strana.ru" Russian Internet-portal informs Ankara and Tbilisi have signed an agreement according to which Turkish war planes will be based in Georgia in the airdrome Marneuli. This airdrome was modernized according to NATO standards by Turkey due to funds of the USA. It can receive any kinds of airplanes including fighting aircraft and the heavies. The putting into operation of the airdrome is an opportunity to locate the NATO military bases in Transcaucasia. "Strana.ru" writes, " the airdrome located very near to Armenia's boarders is a threat for the security of this country". According to the same source, Baku and Ankara plan to sign agreements similar to Georgian-Turkish ones in 2002 when the restrictions for the weapon supply to Azerbaijan and Armenia will be lifted by the USA and international community. The Russian military authorities have not reacted officially to the Turkish-Georgian agreements on the disposition of the NATO war planes in Marnueli in any way yet. Though "Strana.ru" correspondent was informed from the defense ministry not official sources, that the disposition of Turkish planes in Georgia will threaten Russia's national interests, as it is known that "Turkish nationalist organizations supported and continue to support Chechen separatists". The news portal informs that "soldiers of illegal armed groups carrying war in North Caucasus were trained in the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkey". При полном или частичном использовании материалов ссылка на "PanARMENIAN.Net" обязательна. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

karabagh.org is maintained by Azeris

quote:Originally posted by KGrigory: favorite - Tata & Artash least - Gevorg Chamichyan xi et chamich@ HAyeren yergel gity ??? chamich@ ur Rabiz@ ur, Xndrum em HAykakan mer Rabiz@ chapakanel turq/turqakan yergichnerov !!! [ December 25, 2001: Message edited by: MosJan ]

SAS jan migutse sxalvum em , mi hat videoner@ nayem tesnem. bayts te shat lav em hishum vro stadyonum er yev mejterum bem kar, ur taterakanatsvats yeluytner kayin nahapetn@ naxarar@ sparapetner@~~~~, yes nerka chem yerel, miyayn yev miyayn internetov yerevanist urrarkvats Mpeg videonerov em tesel. kich p@rptem kasem Movses

favorite - TATA - least favorite - Nazo - Uzbek - k@ku - Tula Hovik -----

Armenia To Join WTO ‘In Early 2002’ By Anush Dashnents Armenia is likely to be admitted into the World Trade Organization early next year after failing to secure the membership this year, a senior government official said on Monday. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Tigran Davtian, who had earlier predicted WTO membership by the end of 2001, told RFE/RL that Yerevan now hopes to join the Geneva-based body setting rules for global trade “in the first half of 2002.” Davtian said that bilateral trade negotiations between Armenia and WTO member countries are already complete and that talks are now continuing on a multilateral basis. He added that agreement has already been reached on most contentious issues, including a 15 percent ceiling on taxes on imported goods. The Armenian authorities have also enacted a set of economic laws required for WTO membership. With a maximum rate of import duties set at ten percent, Armenia has one of the most liberal trade regimes in the former Soviet Union. A recent joint study by The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation noted a “very low level of protectionism” in the country’s external trade. The Armenian government hopes that WTO membership will give the country better access to foreign markets and make it more attractive to foreign investors. Yerevan may also get a strong boost for its long-running efforts to end the economic blockade imposed by Turkey almost ten years ago. A WTO expert who visited the Armenian capital in June argued that WTO rules prohibit member states from imposing economic blockades on each other and require them to guarantee free transit of cargoes through their territory.

38,OOO REFUGEES GRANTED CITIZENSHIP SINCE 1999 YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS According to the 1997 statistics, out of 500,000 Armenians, who fled Azerbaijan to escape mass pogroms in 1988-1992, 311,000 lived in Armenia. At present refugees make 10% of the population. The 40,000 of them (13,000 families) don't have permanent residences. The employment level of refugees is 3.6 times less than the average level of the Armenian population. These data were presented by the territorial minister Hovik Abrahamian at the ministerial meeting in Geneva December 10-12, devoted to the 50th anniversary of signing the agreement on Refugees' Status. The Armenian delegation presented a total of 6,000 pages documents, including a collection of the programs, directed to the legislative acts and drafts, concerning the refugees issues and their regulation, as well as the report on Some Facts of the Conflict between Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan. According to the latter, no more than 510,000 Azeris left the territories, liberated by the Karabagh army, while Baku insists on about 1 mln refugees. The number of refugees in the Azerbaijani tent camps does not decrease because 92,000 flats, left by Armenians in Azerbaijan, were taken by Azeri well-off people, while these flats are enough to host the Azeri refugees. The Armenian government made recently a decision to give 2 mln Drams to each refugee family of 4 damaged blocks of flats in a Yerevan borough to buy new flats. In this case equal rights were provided to the Armenian citizens and refugees. The process of granting citizenship to the refugees is one of the most important issues for the Armenian government to solve. Since 1999, 38,000 of them received citizenship of Armenia.

SAS jan 1700 amyaki hamergi jamanak mejter@ bem kar, vro Noy naxararn er ijnum, heto bemi vra yeluytner kayin, ester bem@ chem tesnum

Will Thanks to GARO we have a new portal Armenian E-cards Thank you GAroJan www.HyeCards.com