INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT TO COST $132,000

YEREVAN, September 11th. / ARKA /. The Armenian government has decided
today to release 54 million drams (about $132,000) for the organization
of Independence Day celebrations marked on September 21.

Minister of culture Hasmik Poghosyan said the allocated funds will
be used to organize a series of events that will end with a festive
concert in the main square of the country.

Twenty-three years ago on September 21 the Supreme Council of the
republic held a referendum on secession from the USSR and the creation
of an independent state.

About 99% of citizens having the right to vote backed independence.

Officially, independence was proclaimed by the Parliament on 23rd
of September. The present-day Armenia is referred to as the Third
Republic.

It was preceded by the short-lived First Republic (1918-1920) and
the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic within USSR (1920-1991). ($
1 – 411.26 drams). -0–

From: A. Papazian