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HOLY SEE OF ECHMIADZIN PROTESTS AGAINST CONDUCTING SPANISH CORRIDA IN ARMENIA

AUGUST 29.The Holy See of Echmiadzin protests against conducting Spanish corrida in Armenia.

To recap, a Spanish corrida show is scheduled to take place at
Yerevan's Vazgen Sargsyan stadium Sept 7-9 timed to the celebrations of the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being adopted in as state religion in Armenia.

As ARMINFO learned from the press-office of Echmiadzin, the Holy See is receiving many "signals" from international NGOs, organizations protecting animals and representative of European churches who are concerned about this event.

Considering the fact that many are spreading rumors that Echmiadzin has said OK to corrida in Armenia, the Holy See deems it necessary to announce that this event has nothing to do with the festivities conducted by the church within the framework of the celebrations.

Moreover, the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) neither accepts nor supports entertainments involving blood-shed, "having a bad influence on the souls of children, teens and youths, infringing upon the key principles of the Christian morality," the statement says.

At the same time, answering ARMINFO's question if so why the AAC permits "the matakh" - sacrifice of lamb (very popular among the Armenians - press-secretary of the Holy See Gnel Nalbandyan noted that the lamb is killed "for the needs" and bulls are slaughterer for the fun of it. And this is unacceptable for the Church.

ARMENIA'S STUDENTS STRUGGLE AGAINST INTRODUCTION OF PER MINUTE PAYMENT IN COUNTRY

AUGUST 29.On Sept 5-6 pan-republican strike of students will take place if the powers of Armenia do not take any actual steps against introduction of the per minute payment for intracity telephone services by the ArmenTel company. The representatives of the youth parties of Armenia today stated during the press conference.

According to the leader of the youth wing of the "Stability" party Menua Haroutunian, this action will not limited only by a strike. A procession of the students will be organized at the building of the government. The representatives of the youth organizations has informed the mayor of Yerevan Robert Nazarian about it.

It should be noted that not only youth organizations of Armenia will struggle against introduction of the per minute payment. Thus, on Sept 7 in the Freedom square the Bloc of National Democrats, headed by the deputy of Armenia's National Assembly Arshak Sadoyan, will hold a rally of protest against the activity of the ArmenTel company.

THERE ARE NO PATIENTS IN ARMENIA'S REPUBLICAN NARCOLOGICAL CENTER, WHO RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR DRUG ADDICTION

AUGUST 29.  There are no patients in the Republican narcological center of Armenia, who receive treatment for drug addiction. Before that totally 6 patients have been passed a course treatment for drug addiction in the center.

According to the deputy director of the center Mkrtich Khachatrian,
the imperfection of the legal-normative basis, which envisions a criminal responsibility for using drugs, is the main reason, which promotes the origin of such a situation. In the result, the sick men afraid or do not realize the necessity of appealing to the center, Khachatrian mentioned. He said that it is necessary to introduce alterations in the legislation of the republic, which envisage measures of forcible treatment of sick men.

Besides, the deputy director informed that the absence of financing also has had a negative influence on the medical institution. This year the center has been financed only three months. In 2000, the volumes of financing have been fulfilled totally for 50%.

About 200 drug addicts, including 2 women are in the books of the center. Khachatrian noted that this figure does not reflect the real picture of spreading of drug addiction in the republic. At the same time he did not specify - how is the real picture of spreading of dug addiction in Armenia, mentioning that the situation analysis in the republic has never been carried out.

GERMANY IS READY TO FINANCE REGIONAL PROJECTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

AUGUST 29.  Germany is interested in strengthening of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus and is ready for financing the regional projects. The minister of economic cooperation and development of Germany, the coordinator for South Caucasus doctor Tomas Helfen, who is in Armenia, informed during the meeting with journalists.

According to him, first of all, the expansion of the cooperation may
be expected between Armenia and Georgia, and in the future - between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Answering the question of the journalists in which spheres one may expect economic cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mr.Helfen said that the states themselves must decide it.

It should be noted that Armenia submitted a number f regional
projects in the spheres of power engineering, ecology and health for consideration of Germany's government.