Author: Zaminian Bedik

ANNUAL ARMENIAN PICNIC SHARES FOOD, FELLOWSHIP
By Phyllis Sides – Journal Times

Journal Times, WI
June 25 2007

Sunday was a day of firsts for the Very Rev. Daniel Garabedian, pastor
of St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church. St. Hagop’s is Garabedian’s
first parish – he became the church’s pastor in September. On Sunday,
Garabedian attended the first of what he hopes will be many of
St. Hagop’s annual Armenian Madagh or picnic. It also was the first
time he blessed a Madagh meal.

"Everything is new to me," said Garabedian, who is from New Jersey.

"But I’m sure they will help me. Everyone has been so good to me. I
like the friendliness of the people. It’s been like fathers, mothers,
aunts, uncles and cousins. Like family."

The tradition of Madagh has its roots in the Old Testament tradition
of offering up lambs as sacrifice, Garabedian said. "It comes through
the Jewish roots of Christianity blessing the meat. Lambs were chosen
because they were obedient. We don’t sacrifice the animal anymore.

It’s symbolic, and today the blessing is done with beef."

At an outdoor altar set up near the cooking pits where the traditional
meal of bulgur pilaf and beef stew was prepared.

Garabedian was assisted by deacons Dikran Mahdasian, Sarkis Mahdasian,
Stephan Fronjian and sibling candle bearers Arkel and Azniv Khaligian
and the choir. Garabedian offered the blessing in Armenian and
English. He also explained the blessing of the harvest and why prayers
were offered facing the four directions of the Earth.

St. Hagop’s has held the traditional Madagh picnic since 1938.

Preparing the meal is a two-day affair. The pit is dug and the
fire is started Saturday evening so cooking can start at about 5
a.m. Sunday. They have to start early so the food will be ready by
11 a.m. for the blessing of the meal. The meal is served after the
blessing, and it is shared with everyone who attends the picnic. The
public is invited to attend the picnic, said Zohrab Khaligian said,
father of Arkel and Azniv.

"There are so many people outside the Armenian community who come so
many times they are part of the extended family," Zohrab Khaligian
said.

In addition to the Madagh meal, the picnic features marinated beef
kebab and chicken dinners, sarma (stuffed grape leaves), penelee
(cheese puffs), khurabia (butter cookies) and other Armenian delicacies
and pastries. Live Armenian music and dancing, children’s entertainment
and a cash raffle also were featured.

"The word Madagh means ‘offering’ and goes back to the time of Abraham,
who was willing to offer his only son, Isaac, to God to prove his love,
faith and obedience to the Lord," Khaligian said.

"When God witnessed his testimony, he asked Abraham to spare his son
and offer a ram instead.

"Today, St. Hagop’s Madagh is an expression of that same love,
faith and gratitude to the Lord for all that He has bestowed on us,"
Khaligian said. "Armenians throughout the world have designated places
of pilgrimage where they go to worship and offer a meal of Madagh to
the community."

ARMENIAN FM WISHES BETTER TIES WITH TURKEY AT PATRIARCHATE RECEPTION

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
June 24 2007

ISTANBUL (A.A) -24.06.2007 -Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian said he wished that the relations between Turkey and
Armenia would have reached the desired point and the president would
have represented Armenia in the summit of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC).

A reception was held at Patriarchate of Armenians in Turkey in honour
of Oskanian, who is currently in Istanbul for the summit of BSEC on
its 15th anniversary.

Delivering a speech in the reception, Oskanian noted that he was glad
to be in Istanbul.

Touching on Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of Agos weekly who died in
an armed attack in January, Oskanian noted that Dink was an important
intellectual for both Turkey and Armenia.

AZG Armenian Daily #118, 23/06/2007

Power Engineering

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION DISCUSSED BY ARMENIA AND RUSSIA

On the first meeting of the Armenian-Russian Workgroup for Cooperation
in Nuclear Energy Sphere the issues of enhancing the security of the
Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and of constructing a new one.

Mass media informs that representatives of "Atomstroyexport", Russia,
took part in the meeting. The Armenian side represented to
"Atomstroyexport" the plans of nuclear power engineering development
in Armenia and the relevant legislation.

By A. Martirosian

TURKISH MINISTER VIEWS GROWTH IN FOREIGN TRADE WITH NEIGHBOURS

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
June 21 2007

Mersin, 21 June: Share of neighbouring and surrounding countries
in Turkey’s foreign trade rose from 3 per cent to 30 per cent in
the last four years, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen told Anatolia in
southern city of Mersin on Thursday [21 June].

"Turkey’s trade volume with Bulgaria, which was 300m US dollars rose
to 3bn US dollars (during Justice and Development (AK) Party rule).

Also trade volume with Greece increased from 180m US dollars to 2bn
US dollars. Trade volume with Romania exceeded 5bn US dollars, while
we have 25bn US dollars of volume with Russia. Turkey’s trade volume
with Iran is 7.7bn US dollars, with Syria – 1bn US dollars and with
Iraq – 3bn US dollars," noted Tuzmen.

Noting that commercial and investment relations with Turkish republics
increased significantly, Tuzmen also said that relations with Armenia
are in suspension. He added that Turkey is expecting a sincere
initiative from Armenia.

TAVIANI BROTHERS, AUTHORS OF FILM LARK FARM AWARDED S.PARAJANOV PRIZE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the Golden
Apricot (Voske Tsiran) international film festival, the renowned
Italian film directors the Paolo and Vittorio Taviani brothers have
been awarded the S. Parajanov prize for their great services in the
world cinema. Festival Chairman Haroutiun Khachatrian, giving the
prize to P. Taviani, expressed gratitude to the film directors for
presenting the Armenian Genocide in their film. It should be mentioned
that the Taviani brothers have also received the RA President’s prize.

Expressing satisfaction for having been awarded the S. Parajanov prize,
P. Taviani said: "S. Parajanov was one of those exclusive directors,
whose art gave something new to the sphere of cinematography. Among
European artists I have never met a director who had as much strength
and imagination as Parajanov. The Armenian director’s novelties are
considered as victories and achievements of cinematography."

The Italian film director said that the idea of shooting a film about
the Armenian Genocide emerged after had he read Antonia Arslan’s book
Lark Farm.

"During our childhood we saw Fascism, many difficulties and disasters,
which also to some extent had an impact on our decision to shoot a
film," he said.

In the director’s words, the life of an Armenian woman with the name
Melania who worked as a housemaid in their house was also a basis for
creating the film. She had told some episodes from her life mentioning
the crimes committed by the Turkish authorities.

"When we were young, we were almost unaware of the Armenian Genocide,
as not only we, but also Italian society knew nothing about it. Now
it is the opposite, they more often touch upon that subject, and
many articles and books are published in Italy on the subject of the
Genocide," P. Taviani said.

PRESS RELEASE
Cafesjian Family Foundation
15 South 5th Street, 900
Minneapolis, MN 55402

USA Contact: Mr. John Waters
612-359-8991
[email protected]

Armenia Contact: Ms. Madlene Minassian
[email protected]

Minneapolis, MN
June 19, 2007

Hope For The City Donates Another Aid Shipment to Armenia
Armenian Relief and Development Association (ARDA) Recipient of $158,745
USD Food and School Supplies

Minneapolis, MN and Yerevan, Armenia – Hope For The City, working in close
collaboration with the United Armenian Fund and the Cafesjian Family
Foundation, has donated four forty foot containers of food and supplies
with a total value of $158,745 USD to ARDA representations in both Yerevan
and Gyumri, Armenia. The last container arrived on May 30, 2007 and was
greeted by ARDA Founder and President, Mr. Steve Lazarian.
The shipment of fortified rice and soy protein meal packages, school desks
and clothes will be distributed to nineteen ARDA sponsored kindergartens
located in various regions of Armenia, as well as to eleven other
kindergartens located in Yerevan. Since 2005, six containers have already
been donated to ARDA valued at around $298,385 USD.

`Every day more than 2,500 children attending our sponsored kindergartens
receive food and medical attention and the aid donated by Hope For The
City is very vital,’ stated Mr. Lazarian. `We are very pleased with our
collaboration with Hope For The City. Today due to this collaboration more
than 6,000 people annually receive free medical care in our Health and
Resource Center in Gyumri.’

The Hope For The City delegation, including Co-Founders Dennis and Megan
Doyle, Executive Director Clare Brumback and bio-medical technician
Patrick Donahue from Universal Hospital Services (UHS), last visited
Armenia in April of 2007. They paid visits to various institutions that
have already received assistance from Hope For The City; thus fostering
cooperation and compiling assessments for further needs. New relationships
with institutions were also established for future aid. Since their
initial visit in April of 2005, Hope For The City has donated over eleven
million dollars of aid from the United States to Armenia.

Hope For The City is a humanitarian aid organization that was established
by Dennis and Megan Doyle that uses corporate surplus to fight poverty,
hunger and disease. The US/Minnesota-based, non-profit organization
collects overstock products from top retailers, medical companies, and
food distributors and donates the items to people in need through partner
non-profit organizations and foundations. Since its inception, Hope For
The City has donated over $360 million USD in wholesale value goods.

The United Armenian Fund is a collective effort of the Armenian Assembly
of America, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Relief
Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and the Lincy Foundation. Since its
inception in 1989, the United Armenian Fund has sent over $496 million USD
of humanitarian assistance to Armenia on board 143 airlifts and 1,449 sea
containers.

The Cafesjian Family Foundation, Inc., was established in 1996 by Gerard
L. Cafesjian. The US based, non-profit organization supports a variety of
Armenian causes in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and the United States. A
primary focus of the Cafesjian Family Foundation is the security of
independent Armenia and the further development of a free, democratic
society through economic development and the strengthening of the
US/Armenia relationship.

GEORGIA BENEFITS FROM DISPUTE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Lragir.am
18-06-2007 14:34:04

On June 18 the Hayeli Club hosted the leader of the Javakheti Union
of Compatriots, the deputy leader of the Hzor Hayrenik Party, Member
of Parliament Shirak Torosyan and the director of Mkhitar Sebastatsi
School Ashot Bleyan for a debate on the issues of Javakheti and the
Armenian and Georgian relations in general.

The first thinks the Georgian government is to blame for the problems
the Armenians of Javakheti are facing; the second blames the Armenian
government. Shirak Torosyan thinks the poor state of Javakheti is the
consequence of the behavior of the Georgian government; Georgia has
joined the European declaration on the rights of ethnic minorities but
with reservations. On signing the declaration the country commits to
creating conditions for preserving the language and culture of ethnic
minorities, and if the ethnic minority is from the neighboring country,
it must sign an agreement with the neighboring country. Georgia does
not honor this point of the declaration. "Roads and schools are not
repaired and are ruined," Shirak Torosyan said. According to him,
if these problems aggravate, the 150 thousand Armenians of Javakheti
will leave their homes.

"They are already leaving."

Ashot Bleyan thinks the government should attend to the problems of
the issues of Javakheti, not the unions of compatriots, we should have
the biggest embassy to Georgia, the Armenians of Javakheti must learn
Georgian fast to integrate with life in Georgia, enjoy the freedoms,
take part in solving their problems. Shirak Torosyan said it is not
their fault that the Armenians of Javakheti do not speak Georgian. The
Georgian government does not send specialists and as a result "there is
no confidence between the government and the Armenians of Javakheti,
the government reinforces the security agencies, the Armenians of
Javakheti have no anticipations from the government." Ashot Bleyan
suggests that Armenia Foundation fund classes of Georgian for the
Armenians of Javakheti.

Ashot Bleyan thinks Javakheti is part of the Armenian Diaspora. Shirak
Torosyan disagrees. Javakheti is not Diaspora, in Javakheti the
Armenians live in their historical territory. Ashot Bleyan thinks if
our government is against the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki
railroad, the implementation of this project will be the failure of
the Armenian government. But the railroad will benefit the Armenians
of Javakheti.

"They will get infrastructures, jobs." "It is good that the Russian
military bases were pulled out of Georgia, Georgia controls its
border. It is bad that Armenia does not control its border. It is
good that the Armenians of Javakheti reject the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s
or the Javakheti Armenian messages from Armenia."

Ashot Bleyan who criticizes the Armenian government for making no
efforts regarding the issue of Javakheti stated that for 15 years
the Georgian government did not have a possibility to attend to the
problems of Javakheti, and has just started to attend. Ashot Bleyan
believes that Armenia and Georgia are objectively economic rivals
like Armenia and Azerbaijan are objectively partners. "And as long
as Armenia and Azerbaijan have not settled their problems, Georgia
will benefit."

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
June 18, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES CHAIRMAN BIDEN’S CALL FOR REPEAL OF ARTICLE 301

Senator Supports Nobel Laureates Appeal

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today welcomed a
statement from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph
Biden, Jr. (D-DE), commending the 53 Nobel Laureates who signed an
appeal by the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in support of
"tolerance, contact and cooperation between Turks and Armenians."

Biden’s statement, which was submitted for the congressional record on
June 15, endorses the Laureates’ call for Turks and Armenians to take
steps to lift the blockade, generate confidence through civil society
cooperation, improve official contact and allow basic freedoms. He
also supports their call on Ankara to end all forms of discrimination
against ethnic and religious minorities and repeal of Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code. [To access the report signed by the Nobel
Laureates, go to: ].

Shortly after Hrant Dink’s murder in January, Biden introduced
legislation, condemning the assassination of the Turkish-Armenian
journalist and honoring his legacy of tolerance and peaceful
change. The resolution, known as S. Res. 65, urges Turkey to take
appropriate action to protect freedom of speech by repealing Article
301, which criminalizes public discussion on the Armenian Genocide. 
S. Res. 65 also calls on Turkey to reestablish full diplomatic,
political and economic relations with Armenia.

"There is no question that Article 301 contributed to the toxic
political environment that led up to Mr. Dink’s assassination in
January," Biden explained in his statement.

Turning to the issue of the Armenian Genocide, Biden reiterated the
need for Turks and Armenians to address the "huge gap in perceptions"
that the Laureates identified.  The Laureates called for further study
and dissemination of the International Center for Transitional Justice
(ICTJ) report which concluded that "the Events, viewed collectively,
can thus be said to include all of the elements of the crime of
genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars as well as
historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be
justified in continuing to so describe them." [To access the ICTJ
ruling, go to:
ent_category.5/affirmation_detail.html].

Biden noted that the independent legal study was corroborated by the
International Association of Genocide Scholars, which determined the
events constituted genocide and conform to the statutes of the United
Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.

"The existence of these independent evaluations of the Armenian
Genocide and relevant international law should provide an opportunity
for both countries to accept the verdict of history and move forward,"
Biden stated.

 "I hope that the words of these Nobel Laureates will encourage the
people of both nations to recognize and ultimately transcend the
legacy of the Armenian Genocide," Biden concluded.  "Once this occurs,
I have every confidence that the people of Armenia and Turkey will be
able to rebuild the ties between their countries and forge a new,
enduring peace."

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues.  It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2007-073

Below is the full text of Senator Biden’s statement, which was
submitted for the congressional record on June 15, 2007.

Statement of Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Recognizing the Statement of 53 Nobel Laureates on Turkish-Armenian
Reconciliation and Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide

Mr. President, at a time when we are witnessing the devastating
consequences of ethnic and sectarian division in places like Iraq and
Darfur, I believe it is vital to recognize the efforts of those who
work to promote peace and reconciliation.  In that spirit, I want to
commend the 53 Nobel laureates who signed an appeal by the Elie Wiesel
Foundation for Humanity in support of "tolerance, contact and
cooperation between Turks and Armenians." 

In their appeal, the laureates call on both Turks and Armenians to
take the steps necessary to open the Turkish-Armenian border, generate
confidence through civil society cooperation, improve official
contacts, and allow basic freedoms.  As part of this commitment, the
laureates call on Turkey to end all forms of discrimination against
ethnic and religious minorities and abolish Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code.  This provision has been used to take legal action against
those that speak out about the Armenian Genocide, including Nobel
laureate Orhan Pamuk and recently murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink.  There is no question that Article 301 contributed to the
toxic political environment that led up to Mr. Dink’s assassination in
January. 

The laureates also note that "Turks and Armenians have a huge gap in
perceptions over the Armenian Genocide."  To address this chasm of
understanding, they call for further study and dissemination of a
report prepared by the International Center for Transitional
Justice.  That impartial analysis of the massacres perpetrated
against Armenians in the early twentieth century concluded that the
killings "can be said to include all the elements of the crime of
genocide…"  This finding was corroborated by the International
Association of Genocide Scholars, who issued their own statement in
1997 to reaffirm "that the mass murder of Armenians in Turkey in 1915
is a case of genocide which conforms to the statutes of the United
Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide." 
The existence of these independent evaluations of the Armenian
Genocide and relevant international law should provide an opportunity
for both countries to accept the verdict of history and move forward.

Mr. President, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has unanimously
passed S. Res. 65, a resolution echoing many of the sentiments
expressed by the laureates and honoring the life of Hrant Dink, a
leading proponent of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation up until the time
of his brutal murder.  It is my hope that the full Senate will adopt
this important measure without further delay.

I congratulate the Wiesel Foundation for its work to produce this
important statement and request consent for it to be entered in the
Record.  I hope that the words of these Nobel laureates will encourage
the people of both nations to recognize and ultimately transcend the
legacy of the Armenian Genocide.  Once this occurs, I have every
confidence that the people of Armenia and Turkey will be able to
rebuild the ties between their countries and forge a new, enduring
peace.

-END-

THIS COUNTRY SHOULD PROVE THAT IT IS ABLE TO DO PRODUCTIVE WORK, RA PRIME MINISTER SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "I think that this country has at
least three peculiarities: the first is the fact that it has been
formed by those political forces that made an overwhelming majority
of the voters’ confidence; the second is the fact that after the
constitutional amendments new realities have been realised in our
country and the role and significance of the government has essentially
changed in our state; and finally, the third peculiarity is that we
do not have much time, that is to say, no more than eight months
until the presidential elections will take place, after which the
goverment should resign," said Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister
at the June 14 first session.

According to information provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Government’s
Information and Public Relations Department, Serge Sargsian believes
that during these eight months the government itself should make
sure and prove to others that it is capable of productive work. "What
will be the priorities of the government, what trends shall we have,
what new reserves shall we find and, in general, how shall we manage
to provide stable and safe development for our country? All these
questions will be answered by the government activities program
on which we are now working, which should be endorsed at the next
government sitting and which will be submitted to the RA National
Assembly by the end of the month," the RA Prime Minister said.

SEVEN REGIMENTS WITH THE LOWEST MARKS
by Victor Litovkin

Source: Nezavisimoe Voennoe Obozrenie, No. 18, June 08-14, 2007, p. 1
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 15, 2007 Friday

As in school, there are people earning excellent, good, satisfactory
and bad marks in the Russian Army

ANALYSIS OF COMBAT TRAINING RESULTS IN THE WINTER TRAINING PERIOD;
The summer training period started in units and formations of the
Russian Army and at ships of the Navy on June 1. This is the last
period when soldiers and sergeants are trained in the seasonal summer
and winter method. Starting in 2008, conscripts will serve only for
one year instead of two (in spring they were drafted for 18 months)
and it will be necessary to fit the entire training period formerly
intended for 24 months into 12 months. For this purpose, it is
necessary to change the entire methodology of both single planned
training and technology of coordination of crews, squads, platoons,
companies, batteries and battalions. The new methods will be tested
in the upcoming half of the year.

The summer training period started in units and formations of the
Russian Army and at ships of the Navy on June 1. This is the last
period when soldiers and sergeants are trained in the seasonal
summer and winter method. Starting in 2008, conscripts will serve
only for one year instead of two (in spring they were drafted for 18
months) and it will be necessary to fit the entire training period
formerly intended for 24 months into 12 months. For this purpose it
is necessary to change the entire methodology of both single planned
training and technology of coordination of crews, squads, platoons,
companies, batteries and battalions. The new methods will be tested
in the upcoming half of the year.

Lieutenant General Alexander Lukin, director of the main department
of combat training and service of troops, reports that in the summer
training period, the training of units and formations of permanent
readiness manned with contract soldiers and sergeants will be
considered a priority. The task is the achievement of the necessary
level of field skills and readiness for action.

On the eve of the summer training period, the Defense Ministry summed
up the winter’s results. It turns out that as in school, there are
people earning excellent, good, satisfactory and bad marks in the
Russian Army. Seven regiments were among those who received bad
marks. Among them were two mechanized infantry regiments – the 70th
guards regiment of the 42nd mechanized infantry division of the North
Caucasian Military District (based in Shali, Chechen Republic), the
124th regiment of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri (Armenia)
– and the 313th separate special radio technical regiment in Perm.

All of them received bad marks for the unsatisfactory maintenance
of armament and military hardware and in general, the absence of
combat readiness.

Bad marks were also given for the winter training period to four
regiments of the Air Force and one ship of the Navy. The aviation
regiments had unsatisfactory conditions of logistic service and the
ship had unsatisfactory armament and military hardware conditions.

At any rate, not everything is so bad. Among units that received
excellent marks were three nuclear cruiser submarines. According to
Lukin, these are the K-335 submarine from the Northern Fleet and the
K-150 and K-331 submarines from the Pacific Fleet. Their main crews
launched missiles and torpedoes perfectly.

Lukin said that the intensity of combat training grew to a certain
extent in the winter training period due to the allocation of more
money for driving, flights, sea voyages, firing practice and exercises.

In winter, the Ground Forces alone had more than 300
command staff exercises and tactical exercises on the level of
division-brigade-regiment, more than 1,500 company special tactical
exercises and firing practice exercises, as well as 630 training
assemblies for various categories of servicemen, mostly officers of
the company and platoon level. Among those who received good marks in
the course of inspections were 19 divisions (28% of all formations
of the Armed Forces), 19% bases for the storage of armament and
military hardware, 28% brigades, 32% regiments and 59% ships of
the first rank. Satisfactory marks were given to 72% divisions, 80%
storage bases, 65% regiments and 37% ships of the first rank.

Lukin states that in general, the condition of combat training allows
for the fulfillment of the tasks set for the troops. According
to him, the Armed Forces adopted a course at the supply of units
and formations with comprehensive systems of dynamic computerized
simulators to improve the quality and efficiency of training. These
systems allow for the conserving of resources and ammunition and
reduce the depreciation of combat vehicles dramatically along with the
fulfillment of 90% of training tasks of both individual training and
crew training. Budget allocations for this purpose in 2006, in the
framework of transferring units to the contract principle of manning
amounted to 774 million rubles. In 2007, these allocations amounted
to 980 million rubles. In 2007, the army also received 231 million
rubles from the budget, or 118 million rubles more than in 2006 for
the improvement and maintenance of the training material base of the
training ranges, tank ranges and firing ranges.

Lukin expects that these expenses will pay back in the form of growth
in the quantity of the units that receive good and excellent marks,
especially among the units and formations of permanent readiness.

Some of them will be checked in the course of large tactical exercises
planned for the summer.