World’s oldest sewer system found in Van
The find revealed a far more advanced understanding of architecture and
plumbing that had hitherto been known
NTVMSNBC.com
August 23, 2004
August 23 – What is believed to be the world’s oldest first toilet
and sewer system, dating to prehistoric times, has been unearthed in
the eastern Turkish province of Van.
The sewerage system was found by archaeologists working on excavations
at the site of a Urartian castle in Gurpinar region of eastern Turkey.
According to Professor Dr. Oktay Belli, the director of Istanbul
University’s Eurasian Archaeology Institute, the find was of
particular significance. The discovery of a toilet in the western
part of Cavustepe Castle built by Urartian King Sarduri II in 764 BC
pushed back the dating for such systems, he said in an interview with
the Anatolian news agency.
“We revealed that Urartian architects had formed a sewer system before
building the castle. The toilet and sewer system in the castle is
similar to today’s toilets,” the professor said.
The Urartu Kingdom gave great importance to architecture,” Belli said.
“Their architects used the most developed techniques of the prehistoric
period. They had built their castles in strategic areas after carrying
out ground studies. We believe that Urartu Kingdom was the first
civilisation to use toilet and sewer systems.”
The Urartu Kingdom was formed in eastern Anatolia at the beginning
of the first millennium BC after the fall of the Hittite empire and
survived for three centuries.

A1 Plus | 19:58:41 | 01-09-2004 | Social |
THE CASE AGAINST A PPA MEMBER SUSPENDED
Today the Prosecutor’s Office of Erebuni-Nubarashen Commune has made
a decision to suspend the criminal case instituted against PPA member
Grisha Virabyan and to stop the criminal pursuit against him.
Virabyan was accused of resorting violence to a power representative.
“Liberty” Radio Station informs this.

The Modesto Bee
State grass, yes; Redskin mascot, no
By ERIC STERN
BEE CAPITOL BUREAU
Last Updated: August 31, 2004, 06:08:38 AM PDT
SACRAMENTO — Worried about a dry lawn under the new water-meter mandate?
Try planting some drought-resistant purple needlegrass — named the official
state grass last week as lawmakers finished up their work for the year early
Saturday.
In the closing hours of the legislative session, dozens of bills that affect
San Joaquin Valley residents made their way to the governor’s desk, from tax
breaks for survivors of the Armenian genocide in 1915 to tax breaks for
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta farmers who were flooded when a levee broke in
June.
Gov. Schwarzenegger has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bills.
Here’s a look at how some local proposals fared:
Schools
Area lawmakers brought home $20 million to open the doors of the University
of California at Merced by fall 2005.
Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, carried a bill on behalf of Ceres school
officials to untangle a technicality in the school-funding formula that
restores their in-school suspension program.
Students at Gustine High and Calaveras High will have to choose a new mascot
other than Redskins, while a bill by Assemblyman Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, to
enforce dress-code policies never got out of committee, despite a push by
Stanislaus County school and law enforcement officials.
Jobs and business growth
The search for a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the valley might get tougher if
Schwarzenegger signs a bill that requires a detailed economic impact study
on how a proposed big-box retail development would affect traffic and other
businesses.
Meanwhile, a bill by Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews
D-Tracy, that would have let Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties counter
problems with Bay Area growth by creating “jobs-housing opportunity zones”
with tax incentives, has failed.
Crime
Legislators took aim at sex offenders, passing a bill to block Cary Verse
from moving to Merced. They also agreed to pay for increased police patrols
and lighting when a sexually violent predator such as Verse is released from
a state treatment facility into a community.
Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, saw legislation go to the governor
that would give law enforcement officials notice when a teenage sex offender
moves into a neighborhood group home.
But two big funding measures died on the last day of session — for the
Scott Peterson case and for the 17-day manhunt in Merced for a suspected
cop-killer.
Transportation
Money for road projects to relieve traffic congestion on Bay Area routes
such as Interstates 205 and 580 and on Highway 99 was restored in the
budget, while a statewide vote on a high-speed rail line from San Francisco
to Los Angeles that cuts through the valley was delayed until 2006.
Legislators also revived a proposal to issue driver’s licenses to illegal
immigrants, which is all-but-certain to be vetoed by Schwarzenegger.
A Westley rest stop off I-5 will be renamed for Larry Combs, a state
Department of Transportation worker, under a resolution by Denham.
Agriculture
The mad cow disease scare got lawmakers talking, and they passed a law
requiring state health officials to notify the public which retailers have
received contaminated meat that has been subject to a recall.
But a bill by Sen. Mike Machado, D-Linden, to create a broader testing
program for bad meat died in committee.
Two pesticide-related measures went to the governor. One prohibits grape
pickers from taste-testing grapes in the field; the other holds pesticide
sprayers liable for medical damages if people get sick from drifting
chemical clouds.
Legislators also agreed to raise vehicle license fees by $2 and tire
disposal fees to $1.50 to pay for more air pollution programs, including
state grants to upgrade farm and school bus engines.
Water
Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, helped get state aid for repair work on the
Middle River levee breach and tax relief to flooded farmers in the delta.
The end of flat rates for unlimited water use is coming. A
water-conservation bill on Schwarzenegger’s desk would require metered water
bills in all homes and businesses by 2025.
Machado’s bill about purple needlegrass — a tall wispy grass found in
coastal grassland and in the Sierra foothills — was signed into law Aug.
23.
Bee Capitol Bureau reporter Eric Stern can be reached at 916-326-5544 or
[email protected].

Melkonian alumni hire California lawyers to fight school’s closure
By Staff Reporter
Cyprus Mail
1 Sept 04
THE worldwide alumni of the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI)
have hired a group of California lawyers to challenge the closure of
the Nicosia-based secondary school, they said yesterday.
Under their recently established umbrella body, the Melkonian Alumni
and Friends, a non-profit US foundation, the alumni have hired legal
counsel MacCarley & Rosen of Los Angeles to oppose the planned closure
of the 78-year old Armenian school in June 2005.
This alumni is working in parallel with the local Melkonian Alumni
Associations in Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Canada, the US, Armenia,
Lebanon, Australia and elsewhere.
Similar legal actions are also expected to be filed in Cyprus, as
well as other jurisdictions, a statement issued yesterday said.
The loss making MEI, which is sitting on 40 acres of prime real estate
worth around £40 million in the capitalâ’s commercial district,
has been slated to close next year by the New York based Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU), which administers 22 Armenian
schools worldwide.
The AGBU said last November that the school was not for sale but then
changed tack and announced the closure three months later.
Teachers at the Melkonian have said that last year the school’s
population was reduced from 260 to 210 after the AGBU unilaterally
decided to reduce scholarships to underprivileged children from the
Armenian Diaspora.
By claiming that standards are not up so scratch, staff say the AGBU
is trying to use the them as a scapegoat for their decision to close
the school in order to sell the land and that they are using devious
methods to reduce the student population of the school in order to
turn it into a non-viable school and ultimately to close it.
“The MEI has educated and nurtured more than three generations
of Armenian professionals and leaders and is a unique educational
institution in the Armenian Diaspora,” said yesterday.
“It provides superior academic training with Western standards to
a diverse group of Armenian boys and girls from different countries
and social backgrounds.”

A1 Plus | 18:44:56 | 01-09-2004 | Politics |
PPA WON’T CHANGE THE WAYS OF STRUGGLE
People’s Party of Armenia will hold its 5th congress on October
23. Issues regarding party strategy were discussed and further actions
were clarified at today’s sitting of PPA political board.
By the way, Opposition stance saying it is necessary to work out new
methods of struggle was criticized at PPA sitting.
“There is no new method of struggle in the world”, Ruzan Khachatryan,
head of PPA information service said in conversation with us.
Political board thinks the rally method of struggle doesn’t serve
the purpose properly and it is necessary to activate the public with
meetings in halls first.
According to Mrs. Khachatryan, PPA has always worried about the
problems of society.
PPA political board is indignant over the disgraceful failure of
the Armenian sportsmen. “And the trouble is that the sport sphere is
always in the focus of Robert Kocharyan, he is always proud of sport
achievements, and such a failure is just a result of an inefficient
governing”, Ruzan Khachatryan says.
PPA political board has commended the Bloc decision to boycott the
Parliament activity. It also shared Bloc stance over the constitutional
reforms and the draft on Electoral Code. As known, Bloc is against
the constitutional reforms in general.
As to the Electoral Code, Bloc has its version and has introduced it
to the parliamentary majority.
A1 Plus | 14:30:36 01-09-2004 | Social |
DEAR READERS!
We are back again! 🙂
The holiday is over and we start working as before. From now on you
can find the latest Armenian news on our website anytime. Thanks for
staying with us!
A1+ Staff
—

How to make friends at Tufts: start with a smile
By Julia Lifschultz, Daily Editorial Board
The Tufts Daily, MA
Sept 1 2004
Out of all of the adjustments that come with starting college, one
of the most overwhelming is the need to meet people and forge new
relationships with them. Whether mourning the loss of a tight group of
high school friends, a significant other far away, or the comfort of
family life, every person goes through this process in their own way.
Some decide to skip the entire process and resign themselves to a
college life of studying a lot and racking up frequent flier miles
home. Others approach college with a laissez-faire attitude: everything
will work out, and they’ll meet people they mesh with.
In another approach, some people decide that they will duplicate the
security of home and forge the fastest group of best friends ever.
Unfortunately, by day eight they frequently find out that these
friends aren’t quite what they expected.
Every year, the incoming class of Tufts freshmen goes through
a similar experience, and every year they land on their feet. And
though partaking in pre-Orientation and Orientation events, joining
campus clubs, and mingling with other students in class are the
conventional means of forming freshman friendships, the quest for
meaningful college friendships is not limited to those areas.
Nor is it a solo voyage: many students even got a little help from
some pushy parents. Senior Alicia Faneuil has her mom to thank for
a friendship that has remained to this day.
“The first day moving in freshman year, my mom clicked with Liz
[Glassman]’s mom,” Faneuil said. “She saw her from afar and was like,
‘She looks nice and cute!’ They introduced themselves and realized
that their daughters were in the same suite in Haskell.”
“My mom bugged me every day after that to introduce myself to Liz:
‘Have you met that girl Liz yet? I know you girls would like each
other. I just know it. Why don’t you just go into her room and say
hello? You’re right next door!'”
Even though her mom was trying to be helpful, Faneuil was having none
of it. “I kept trying to tell my mom that I would make friends myself
and that I didn’t need her help” she said.
However, when Faneuil finally took her mom’s advice, she hit it
off with Glassman, also a senior. They have been best friends and
roommates ever since. “It’s so annoying when parents say they know
best,” Faneuil said, “but it’s even more annoying when they do.”
Other students find they have to battle preconceived notions more
often than jitters about meeting people. Senior Caitlin McGarty did
not know what to expect when she first learned that her roommate would
be coming from Turkey. “I had no idea what to expect,” she said. “I
think I learned more from living with her than I did from any of my
classes that year.”
Having a diverse group of students in her hall made the Massachusetts
native much more aware of the world around her. “It was very
interesting to listen to [my roommate], the Israeli kid, and the
Armenian kid who lived in my dorm all discuss history and politics,”
she said. “I realized how America-centric our schooling is, and how
people view things differently in other countries.”
Senior Ethan Wishnick learned that college co-eds can be more
than just objects of desire. “I had seen this hot girl around and
lived in her dorm, so one night we went up to her room to say hi,”
Wishnick said. “In the end, her roommate and I ended up hitting it
off, and three years later, we’re still close. I even still talk to
the hot girl.”
Senior Hilary Wentz also had some luck with members of the opposite
sex- with the help of her mom. “My mom forced the kid living next
door to me to build a shelf for me,” Wentz said. “[She] proceeded
to talk to him about his entire life while I rolled my eyes. We went
out together that night and later became really good friends.”
Graduate Frank Bruzese (LA ’04) was able to use his charms to win
over many of his current friends – and win an extra bed. “I was pretty
good about just introducing myself to people,” he said. “Then I just
invited myself to sleep in two of my friends’ rooms and that pretty
much cemented it.”
Students don’t shun more conventional ways of getting to know each
other, though. “One thing that really made my freshman year a great
experience socially was being part of an athletic team,” senior
Lauren Ungerleider said. “It was great to see people on a regular
basis at practice, and this obviously led to getting to know them
well. It made sense that when the weekend came and everyone had the
same restrictions in terms of weekend competitions that you did,
the people on your team were the most fun to hang out with.”
“The best way to meet people was through participating in as many
activities as you can,” senior Erin Connolly said. “Through going
out at night, to playing a sport, to joining the Greek system, to
trying out different clubs, the opportunities are endless to meet
many different unique people. It is nice to have a large group of
friends and really gives you the opportunity to be friends with many
different cliques in the end.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Yerevan Considers Meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijan Ministers Successful
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2004
The meeting of Ministers of Armenian and Azerbaijan foreign affairs
Vardan Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyarov, held 30 August in Prague was
“successful and positive”, informed press service of Armenian MFA.
TURAN-ARMINFO-BT — According to the same source, this meeting, like
previous ones had no specific agenda. The Ministers of foreign affairs
of Armenia and Azerbaijan discussed various aspects and prospects of
settlement of Karabakh conflict.
Co-chairmen of Minsk group of OSCE as well as Personal representative
of OSCE chairman were also present at the meeting. Before the meeting,
Armenian MFA head stated in interview with “Radio Liberty” that main
purpose of the meeting is putting of basement for continuation of
negotiations of peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict.
Such meetings are useful and help specifying the positions of
parties of the conflict. He also said, for achievement of progress
in settlement of conflict Karabakh party is to be included into
negotiation process, just as well.
The representatives of official Baku have not yet commented results
of Prague meeting.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 1 2004
JAPAN ALWAYS SUPPORTED FAIR POSITION OF AZERBAIJAN AND THIS POLICY
WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED
[September 01, 2004, 14:23:31]
On August 31, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov has met with the delegation headed by chairman of
Japan-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary League of Friendship Mr. Akira
Amari.
As was informed to AzreTAj from the press center of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, minister Elmar Mammadyarov, warmly having
welcomed visitors, has emphasized the high level of development of
the Azerbaijani-Japanese relations, has noted, that he supports
strengthening of links between our countries and continuation of
mutually advantageous cooperation. He has especially emphasized
exclusive merits of our national leader Heydar Aliyev in establishment
of strong relations between the two countries.
Having noted, that as a result of aggression of Armenia against
Azerbaijan, 20 percent of the Country’s territories has been occupied,
and about one million of citizens, being ousted from the native lands,
became refugees and IDPs, the Minister informed visitors on last
meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia
carried out in Prague.
Having stated to visitors the position of the Azerbaijan side, the
Minister has noted importance of settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict within the framework of territorial integrity and sovereignty
of our country and has expressed to the government of Japan gratitude
for support of the position of our state.
During the meeting, the Minister informed that last year Milli Majlis
has adopted a decision on opening of embassy of Azerbaijan in Japan,
having expressed confidence that up to the end of this year the said
question would be solved. Having noted, that between Azerbaijan and
Japan there is a wide economic potential, the Minister has expressed
hope for expansion of bilateral economic relations in this direction.
The Minister has expressed to the government of Japan gratitude
for the humanitarian help rendered to the Azerbaijan refugees both
at the state level, and within the framework of the international
organizations. Highly having estimated training of our young diplomats
in Japan, the Minister has expressed confidence of continuation of
this tradition.
Chairman of Japan-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary League of Friendship
Mr. Akira Amari has emphasized, that his country gives great value to
development of connections with our Republic, has told, that trusts
in the further expansion of these connections and continuation of
mutual cooperation in many areas.
Having touched the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict,
the visitor has noted, that the Japanese side supports territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, having emphasized, that his country is ready
to peace settlement of the mentioned problem.
At the meeting, also discussed were some other questions, representing
mutual interest.

Azeri, Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers to Meet In Ankara
AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2004
A trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian
foreign ministers will be held in Ankara this September, the Turkish
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ahmet Unal Cevikoz has told journalists.
The ambassador said that the timing and agenda of the meeting have
not been determined yet. The ministers will exchange views on easing
the tension in the region, he added.

Azerbaijani foreign minister, Turkish ambassador to discuss foreign ministers’ meeting
Interfax
Sept 1 2004
BAKU. Sept 1 (Interfax) – Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
told reporters on Wednesday he will meet with Turkish Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Unal Chevikoz to discuss the format of the trilateral
meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Turkey on the Karabakh issue.
“I have already talked to the Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan and
we have agreed to meet again to discuss the details of the trilateral
meeting,” he said.
“We will discuss the date of the trilateral meeting, which will take
place in New York,” Mamedyarov said.
“A lot will depend on the bilateral meeting of the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is to take place in Astana,” he said.