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AZERI JOURNALISTS ON THEIR WAY MOTHERLAND VISITED ARMENIA'S TAVOUSH REGION BORDERING ON AZERBAIJAN

OCTOBER 12. The Azeri journalists, who were in Armenia, before their leaving for their motherland, with the accompany of the regional representative of OSCE Andrzej Kazprczyk, visited Armenia's Tavoush region, bordering Azerbaijan. It should be noted that 41 villages from 51 are bordering. According to Andrzej Kasprczyk, the visit of Azeri journalist to Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh, organized by the OSCE, will allow to understand better that, what is always written about. He expressed hope that the return visit for Armenian and Karabakhian journalists to Azerbaijan, as it is necessary to expand the contacts, which promote the settlement of the conflict. In the course of meetings with the representatives of regional administration, the representatives of Azerbaijan's mass media took an interest in the periodicity of border incidents, as well as in possibility of renewal of direct contacts between the bordering districts of two states.

RESENTATION OF GOVERNMENT AWARDS TO ARMENIAN MASS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TESTIFIES TO AUTHORITIES' ATTITUDE TO FORMATION OF FREE PRESS: PRESIDENT

OCTOBER 12. "The presentation of government awards to journalists is a testimony to the authorities' attitude to the formation of free press in the country," President Robert Kocharian said at the ceremonial presentation of government awards to representatives of mass media. We would remind you that the Medal of Movses Khorenatsi was awarded to the correspondent of the Russian "ITAR-TASS" new agency Tigran Liloyan, to Editor-in-Chief of the "Golos Armenii" newspaper Flora Nakhshkarian, to Editor-in-Chief of the "Azg" daily Hakob Avetikian, to Editor of the "Vozni" monthly Aramais Sahakian and to Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the "Novoye Vremya" newspaper Valery Aidinian (posthumously). According to the president, one can state with certainty that free press has completely formed in the country, despite certain problems. Awardees are journalists who are free and responsible. No democracy is possible without free press, and the state will continue promoting the development of free and responsible press, the president said.

NEW INTERNET-PROVIDER TO START WORKING IN ARMENIA SOON

OCTOBER 12. A new Internet provider will start working in Armenia soon. The Armenian branch of the HI-TECH GATEWAY, Inc. from the USA will provide access to the "global web". Talking to ARMINFO, Project Manager of the Armenian office of the company Karen Garibian said that the company's branch will start providing access to Internet at the end of this year. The issue of "ArmenTel"'s providing multi-channel communication is currently under discussion. According to Garibian, HI-TECH GATEWAY plans to provide a wider range of Internet services rendered in Armenia. In particular, users will be able to check letters for computer viruses. Besides, the firm intends to render Internet services in the country's regions. According to Garibian, the Armenian branch of the Hi-TECH GATEWAY, Inc. is engaged in nine fields of the information technology sphere. For instance, the branch is developing software for corporative business as well as telecommunication equipment. ARMINFO has information that 19 Internet providers are currently operating in Armenia.

CENTRAL BANK APPROVED SYMBOL OF ARMENIAN DRAM

OCTOBER 12. The Central Bank of Armenia approved the symbol of Armenian dram. As ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the Central Bank, it's the capital letter "d" of Armenian alphabet with two cross hyphens. According to the press office, K.Komendaryan and R.Arutchyan became the winners of the contest for creation of the symbol of the Armenian dram. As it was earlier mentioned, the winners of the contest will get a 50,000 drams (about $90) reward. It should be noted that the well-known designer Rouben Arutchyan is also the author of the biggest Armenian denomination 50,000 drams, dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia. Reference: The National currency has been put into operation in Armenia since Nov 22, 1993. Then the international code AMD has been awarded.

PROFESSOR PETROS KOJIAN ORGANIZES CHARITY ACTION AT YEREVAN MATERNITY HOME N3

OCTOBER 12. Professor of Irwing University of California, Obstetrician-Gynecologist Petros Kojian held a charity action in Yerevan Maternity Home No. 3. During two weeks the professor rendered free medical assistance to Armenian women. During the first week about 100 patients applied to the specialist for assistance. According to the American professor, Armenian doctors showed a high professional level despite the difficult working conditions. Kojian expressed regret that under the current economic conditions in Armenia his colleagues in this country are deprived of the possibility to raise their professional level. He pointed out that most of the Armenian women apply to doctors at the last moment. "Many patients I examined had complications, two had uteral cancer. But all this can be avoided if patients apply to doctors in time," Kojian said. It is not the third time that Professor Kojian organizes such charity actions in Armenia. During his first two visits he brought to Armenia laparoscopes, which allowed the City Center of Laparoscopy to be opened on the basis of Maternity Home N3. Kojian plans to provide the clinic with equipment for artificial insemination as well as with diverse urological and surgical medical equipment. During his current visit Kojian held a similar action in the Stepanakert Maternity Home, to which he had gifted a laparoscope and other equipment.

ARMENIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS AZERBAIJAN VIOLATES ARMAMENT QUOTAS

OCTOBER 12. Azerbaijan violates its quotas for many types of armament, particularly, for aviation and armoured equipment, Armenia's defence minister and secretary of the security council Serzh Sargsyan said during a meeting with Azeri journalists. He said after the collapse of the USSR Azerbaijan received ammunition and arms 15 and 3 times as much as Armenia, because it had more hardware in its territory at that time than Armenia. Besides, while all of the Soviet equipment stationed in Azerbaijan was given to this country, Armenia shared its part of equipment with the Russian military base stationed in its territory, Sargsyan explained.

ARMENIA IS GUARANTOR OF SECURITY IN KARABAKH

OCTOBER 12. Armenia is the guarantor of security in Karabakh and in case of resumption of military actions in Karabakh Armenia's armed forces will not stand aside, Armenia' defence minister and security of the security council Serzh Sargsyan said during a meeting with Azeri media representatives in Yerevan. He said "I dream that the Karabakh conflict be settled and a peace agreement be signed." Sargsyan said he is going to engage in organizational activities after the signing of a peace agreement. At the same time, Sargsyan said the fewer people will continue considering that there is a separatist regime in Karabakh the sooner peace will be reached. Sargsyan also said he supports the principles of settlement of the Karabakh conflict worked out by the conflicting parties with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group in Paris and Key West (the United States).

ARMENIA'S MILITARY BUDGET IS TWICE AS LITTLE AS THAT OF AZERBAIJAN WHILE MILITARY MIGHT IS MUCH LARGER

OCTOBER 12. Armenia's military budget is $70 mln a year, which is nearly half of that of Azerbaijan ($130 mln). Nevertheless, Armenia's military might is higher than that of Azerbaijan, Armenia's defence minister Serzh Sargsyan said during a meeting with Azeri journalists. Besides, he said the mortality rate in the army is much lower in Armenia than in Azerbaijan. 40 servicemen died in the Armenian army during the first nine months of this year, which is 22% less than during the same period last year. Although Azerbaijan does not report officially about deaths in its army, unofficial sources say the mortality rate there is much higher. Sargsyan said he welcomes the choice of some Armenians to serve in the defence army of Karabakh. "Any Armenian citizen must serve in the army of Karabakh if he wants to," Sargsyan concluded.