ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO VISIT KHARKIV

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. An Armenian delegation is to visit
Kharkiv, Ukraine, Aug 22-25.

The delegation is led by presidential adviser Seyran Avagyan, deputy
mayor of Yerevan Vardanyan, director of Almast plant Lazarian,
director of Amistat Tour travel agency Adamyan.

The visit is to promote inter-regional ties and to further develop
Ukrainian-Armenian trade-economic, scientific and cultural relations.

The Armenian delegates are to take part in the celebrations of the
13th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, 350th birthday of Kharkiv,
unveiling of St.Haroutyun Cathedral to be blessed by Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II. They are also to meet with local businessmen,
travel agents, manufacturers, lawyers.

To remind, Kiev district of Kharkiv and Yerevan’s Zeytun-Kanaker
community have made an agreement to cooperate in commerce, economy,
science and culture.

ARARATCEMENT CONTINUES INCREASING OUTPUT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. Araratcement, the biggest cement producer
in Armenia, continues increasing its output and exports.

In Jan-July 2004 the company’s output was 3.241 bln AMd which is 48%
more than in Jan-July 2003. The sales grew by 80.3% to 3.079 bln AMD,
the exports totalled 1.430 bln AMD – 14 times as much as a year
before.

The second biggest cement producer Mika Cement produced cement for
1.988 bln AMD – 68% growth. The sales was 1.652 bln AMD (+27.8%), the
exports 429.8 mln AMD (3 times growth).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S STATE BUDGET ALLOTS 978 MLN DRAMS FOR REPAIR WORKS IN
SCHOOLS OF YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. This year the state budget of Armenia has
allotted 978 mln drams for repair works in the schools of the
capital. Last year the volume of repair works totaled approximately
570 mln drams. Head of the department of education of Yerevan’s
municipality Onik Vatian told journalists today.

According to him, capital repair has been implemented in 33 schools,
and in 19 schools the works are being continued. Speaking about the
preparation of the schools for the new school year and for winter,
Vatian mentioned that according tie the program of social development
for 2004-2007, elaborated by the municipality of Yerevan, 9 local
boiler-houses will be put into operation in Jan or Feb of the current
year. Thus, till the end of this year 27 schools will be heated by
local boiler-houses, 4 schools – by the heating system of Yerevan
thermal power station.

SCHOOL-CHILDREN OF YEREVAN WILL NOT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TEXT-BOOKS

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The school-children of Yerevan unlike the
pupils of the regions, will not have problems with text-books. Head of
the department of education of Yerevan’s municipality Onik Vatyan
informed journalists today.

According to him, except several text-books, the pupils of first form
will receive text-books free of charge. To avoid the problems
frequently arousing in connection with payment for text-books, there
will be price-lists, as well as the names of the text-books which are
given free of charge, in every school. According to Vatyan, the
municipality of Yerevan has given an opportunity the pupils to pay for
the books during the whole school year.

FORMER PILOTS DEMAND PAYMENT OF THEIR TEN MONTHS WELFARE BENEFITS

YEREVAN, August 23 (Noyan Tapan). On August 23, about 20 former pilots
gathered in front of the RA government building demanding that they be
paid their welfare benefits, which are ten months overdue. According
to the agreement signed in 1997 with the Head Department of Civil
Aviation, the pilots who are discharged in accordance with their own
application, were fixed lifelong monthly benefits in drams equivalent
to $25-105. However, since October 2002, 169 pilots have been deprived
of these benefits, about which the Head Department of Civil Aviation
made the decision in July 2003. The pilots applied with the claim to
restore their welfare benefits to the court of the first instance of
Yerevan’s Malatsia and Sebastia Communities that met their demands
only partly by making a decision that the Head Department of Civil
Aviation should pay welfare benefits for only ten months (October 2002
– July 2003).

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN ISRAEL JOIN ACTION OF SUPPORT OF PALESTINIAN
PRISONERS

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. Armenian church joined the main churches
in Israel released a statement Sunday strongly backing the hunger
strike of the Palestinian security prisoners.

The Jerusalem Inter-Church Committee – representing the heads of the
local Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran, Armenian, Anglican, and
Catholic churches – declared that Palestinian prisoners are protesting
“the inhuman treatment they are receiving in their prisons.” The
statement added that “the human dignity of the political prisoners
must be recognized and respected.”

NEXT PANARMENIAN FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD IN 2006: PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. A ceremonial closing of the First
Pan-Armenian Festival of Culture “One nation, one culture” was held at
the center of Yerevan yesterday. The festival was held in Armenia and
in Nagorny Karabakh on August 14-23.

In Abovyan street, fairs were held, where craftsmen from all Armenian
regions displayed articles of their art. Dancing and singing groups
gave performances in Charles Aznavour square. The most entertaining
event was a gala concert in Republic Square, which ended in
fireworks. Welcoming the participants, RA President Robert Kocharian
pointed out that the festival will become a tradition. The next
Pan-Armenian festival is to be held in 2006.

Over 2,000 people from Austria, France, Great Britain, USA, Syria,
Lebanon, Russia and other countries took part in the
Festival. Concerts were given by the winners of the Sayat-Nova contest
for vocalists and of the “Pomegranate seed” theatrical festival for
children and youth. The festival, which was initiated by the
Armenia-Diaspora forum, was held under RA President Robert Kocharian
patronage. The RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs and the
“Alfael” producing center carried out preparatory work. According to
official data, Armenian businessmen allocated about 100mln. AMD for
the organization of the festival. However, one of the members of the
organizing committee, Levon Abramyan, pointed out that 10 times as
much was actually spent.

Each guest will take along pleasant impressions, diplomas and
souvenirs. The images of the symbol of the festival, Nare and Narek, a
boy and a girl in national costumes of the colors of Armenia’s
national flag, (authored by the well-known cartoon-producer Robert
Sahakyants) were in the greatest demand during the festival.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 24, 2004 Tuesday 9:22 AM Eastern Time

Russian-Armenian joint military group begins exercises

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

The joint group of the Russian and Armenian Armed Forces began
exercises at the Marshal Bagramyan Training Center in Armavir, West
Armenia, on Tuesday. The joint group was formed within the framework
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Motorized infantry units, aviation and artillery will train
cooperation in a defensive operation. A reinforced motorized infantry
unit of Russia and servicemen of the Russian 102nd base in Armenia
are taking part in the drill.

“The exercises are another step towards strengthening
Russian-Armenian military cooperation,” drill commander, Armenian
Deputy Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mikhail Grigoryan said.

The exercises will start as a command-and-staff drill and end with
shooting on August 27.

The Russian 102nd base and border guards of the Russian Federal
Security Service are important components of Armenia’s security. The
5,000-strong 102nd base was opened in Armenia in line with interstate
agreements. It is subordinated to the Russian Group in Transcaucasia
of the North Caucasian Military District. The base has a MiG-29 squad
and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 24, 2004 Tuesday 8:28 AM Eastern Time

Putin, Levitin discuss development of transport in South Russia

By Mikhail Petrov

SOCHI

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Transport Minister Igor Levitin
discussed Tuesday the development of transport infrastructure in
southern Russia.

Levitin noted that one the main tasks of the ministry is to harmonise
motor, railway, sea and air transport to reduce expenses in passenger
and cargo traffic.

“Southern Russia accounts for about 30 percent of the volume of
traffic,” Levitin emphasised. Meanwhile, “the transport network is
developed irregularly, he said, noting that it is possible to get to
some cities only with changes. “Our main task is to unify transport
so that people could get to southern Russia from any part of the
country,” the minister emphasised.

Speaking on highways, Levitin stressed that their network is quite
developed, but is not always safe for passenger traffic, as roads are
going in the highlands. “We reconsidered the transport concept in
order to retarget funds and provide for safe travelling of people,”
he said, adding that the ministry is planning to implement plans for
the construction of tunnels quicker.

Among tasks of the ministry and development of seaports “we want to
restore sea shipments, particularly between Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia
and Russia as there is a need but no possibilities for this,” Levitin
pointed out.

The minister also informed the president that he would make a trip in
the Krasnodar territory with governor Alexander Tkachev on Wednesday
in order to inspect all facilities.

Associated Press Worldstream
August 24, 2004 Tuesday 8:07 AM Eastern Time

Russia planning to initiate OSCE reform

by STEVE GUTTERMAN; Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW

Russia wants reforms in a top European security and democracy
organization and will discuss the initiative with the leaders of
France and Germany when they visit President Vladimir Putin next
week, reports said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia wants changes that would
make the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe “truly
effective” and responsive to “the interests of all its participants,”
Russian news agencies reported.

Lavrov told Putin that the issue of OSCE reform would be on the
agenda of his Aug. 30-31 summit with French President Jacques Chirac
and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Russian Black Sea
resort city of Sochi, Interfax reported.

Lavrov said France and Germany expressed the willingness to discuss
the issue after Russia and eight other former Soviet republics
sharply criticized the Vienna-based organization last month.

In what they called an “unprecedented collective demarche” in early
July, Russia and the other countries accused the OSCE of double
standards, saying it unfairly criticizes governments in some
countries.

The declaration, read by Russia’s delegation, said that the 55-nation
group spends too much money on field missions to promote human rights
and democratic institutions in certain countries, while overlooking
others.

The OSCE was part of observing missions that said Russia’s
parliamentary elections last December and the presidential campaign
that led to Putin’s March re-election fell short of democratic
standards.

The OSCE’s watchdog functions in Belarus have been limited after a
confrontation with the authoritarian leadership there, and Russia has
criticized OSCE representatives in the breakaway Georgian region of
South Ossetia.

The July statement was issued by Russia, Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
At the time, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the OSCE
focused its field missions in those countries and the Balkans and
accused it of ignoring the rights of minorities in Latvia and Estonia
– Baltic states that have significant ethnic Russian populations and
strained ties with Russia.

In a statement issued in July by the Netherlands, which holds the
rotating EU presidency, the union said it would reflect on the issues
raised by Russia and the other countries but had “serious concern
about certain elements of the declaration.”