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ARMENIA IS CONCERNED ABOUT FATE OF ARMENIAN POPULATION IN ABKHAZIA

OCTOBER 22. Armenia is concerned about the fate of the Armenian population in Abkhazia. The fate of our compatriots, irrespective of their residence, can't but concern our state, especially, when they find themselves in a zone of conflict, Armenia's President said in an interview to the Prime-News Agency. Kocharyan reminded that the last events in Abkhazia have brought to casualties among civilians, including among Armenians. He said he and his Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze have developed a good tradition of open-hearted discussion of problems of compatriots living in Georgia. "As a rule, we find solutions to complex and sensitive issues. We are ready to contribute to the resolution of social-economic problems in the regions with mostly Armenian population," Kocharyan said. Considering the fact that quite a large Armenian community lives in Abkhazia and that Armenia is interested in peaceful and just resolution of this conflict, Armenia may well take part constructively in one or another form in this resolution. However, Kocharyan noted that there can't be a separate mediation on the prt of Armenia and the country may take part in the resoluton of the conflict only in case of a consent of all the conflicting parties. In this connection, Kocharyan said it's hardly possible that an Armenian contingent will take part in the peace-making mission.

ARMENIA CHANGES OVER WINTER TIME OCT 28

OCTOBER 22. Armenia changes over winter time Oct 28. The clocks must be put back one hour at 2:00 a.m. by local time, the department of standardization, metrology and certification attached to the Armenian government told ARMINFO.

UNKNOWN PERSONS ROBBED APARTMENT OF FORMER ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER

OCTOBER 22. Unknown deliberate criminals robbed the apartment of the deputy chairman of the state commission on celebration of the 1700th Anniversary of Armenia's Adoption of Christianity as a State Religion, the former Armenian parliamentary speaker and former prime minister Khosrov Haroutiunyan. The burglary took place Oct 19 at 19:00-23:00 Yerevan time, the Armenian Ministry of the Interior's press-service told ARMINFO correspondent. The thefts entered Haroutiunyan's apartment through the balcony. Nobody was at home at the moment of burglary. The thefts stole a video-camera, golden decorations and cash. According to some information, the stolen things cost for a total of $4,000, although, in accordance with the other sources, the sum was ten times as much. The press-service made no comment upon the stolen sum.

CITIZEN OF AZERBAIJAN, SENT BY AZERI SPECIAL SERVICES, OFFERED HIS SERVICES TO ARMENIA

OCTOBER 22. The citizen of Azerbaijan Mohhamad Ojaverdiyev, sent by Azeri special services, offered his services to Armenia. The press office of Armenia' Ministry of national security informed ARMINFO. According to the information, Ojaverdiyev had been detained by Armenian law-enforcement bodies during the attempt to cross the border of Nakhichevan and Armenia. In the course of the investigation it became clear that he had been recruited by employees of Azeri Ministry of national security Mobil and Kuliyev during serving his sentence in Baku's 10th colony for desertion. On the instructions of special services he collected information on political prisoners. After the release Ojaverdiyev passed corresponding training and was sent to Armenia. In the event of arrest he had to state that the powers of Azerbaijan prosecuted him and to express readiness to return to Nakhichevan for committing diversions and terrorist acts, supposedly offered by Armenian special services. The Ministry of national security of Armenia states that the special services of Azerbaijan send their agents to Armenia more than once with a hope that they will be recruited by corresponding services of the country and will be given back to Azerbaijan for committing terrorist acts. It is done in order to accuse Armenia of terrorism and discredit it in the eyes of the world community. "Azerbaijan, patronized by Chechen terrorists and supporters of Osama bin Laden, continues its feeble attempts to blame Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh in the relations with terrorism, but it will not succeed to mislead the world community by false and groundless accusations", the press release of the Ministry of national security says.

DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI MONUMENTS CONNECTED WITH KARABAKH CONFLICT'S UNSETTLEMENT

OCTOBER 22. The destruction of the Armenian and Azeri monuments is connected with the Karabakh conflict's unsettlement, the member of the PACE Commission on Culture, Education and Science Affairs, Deputy of the Azeri Milly Majlis Samad Segidov made this statement talking to ARMINFO. He said the Karabakh conflict settlement is possible only proceeding from the principle of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. At the same time the Azeri parliamentarian pointed out that Karabakh's right to self-government and its demand for having borders with Armenia should be taken into account as well. He pointed out Azerbaijan is for the conflict's peaceful settlement, as it assumed relevant obligations to the Council of Europe. But if there is no compromises during the negotiation process, Azerbaijan does not rile out a force decision of the problem.

ABOLISHMENT OF SECTION 907 UNDESIRABLE FOR ARMENIA

OCTOBER 22. The issue for abolishing Section 907 of the Freedom Supporting Act prohibiting the United States to provide Azerbaijan with direct assistance was on agenda as far as last year, Armenia's defence minister Serzh Sargsyan said. He said during his last year's visit to the United States and his meeting with then state secretary Madelaine Albright he was proposed to start preparing Armenia's population for an abolishment of Section 907. "Naturally, I objected that this is beyond our competence and we had the least desire to carry out such activities," Sargsyan said. He said it is hard to predict today if the section will be abolished and what results this may have. He reminded that Pres.Kocharyan's letter to his US counterpart George Bush said the abolishment of Section 907 is undesirable for Armenia. Nevertheless, Sargsyan said the abolishment of the section will hardly have tragic consequences for Armenia. The abolishment is scarcely likely to pose any threat to either Armenia or Karabakh as neither Armenia nor Karabakh have terrorist organizations. "Should the United States decide to provide aid to Azerbaijan it may find hundreds of ways to do this, (for example, via Turkey) irrespective of the presence of such a section," Sargsyan said. Nevertheless, Washington will hardly provide Baku with one-sided assistance, especially, in the form of arms, Sargsyan concluded.

AZERBAIJANIAN AMBASSADOR'S CLAIM IS BRAGGING, ARMENIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS

OCTOBER 22. The statement of the Azerbaijanian ambassador to China that the Azerbaijanian Embassy to that country succeeded in upsetting an Armenian-Chinese deal in the military sphere is mere bragging, Armenian Minister of Defense Serge Sargssian said. According to him, nothing of the kind took place in China, and Azerbaijan may try to upset something in the Armenian-Chinese cooperation as many times as it wishes. The meeting in China testify that the Chinese regard Armenia as a friendly country and are ready to cooperate with it. As regards China's position on the Karabakh conflict, Sargssian reported that Beijing believes that any conflict must be settled in a peaceful way. China has always been neutral and never interfered in the domestic affairs of either Armenia or Azerbaijan. "Most Chinese are of negative opinion of one people having to live in two different states. In its turn, Armenia's position on Taiwan is single China'," the head of Armenia's military department said. As regards the participation of Armenia and China in the antiterrorist operation launched by the USA and its allies, the minister pointed out that Armenia's possibilities in solving international problems are more than modest. Nevertheless, Yerevan and Beijing have a common position on this problem: Armenia and China cannot assist terrorists or be passive, and both the states are harshly denouncing terrorist acts, including those committed in the USA on September 11, Sargssian said.

"HASMIK & VAHAGN HOVNANIANS" BENEVOLENT FUND INSTITUTES NEW PRIZE

OCTOBER 22. With the assistance of the Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sport, the "Hasmik & Vahagn Hovnanians" benevolent fund announces the institution of the yearly prize "Vahagn", Head of the Ministry staff Stepan Davtian told a press conference. According to him, the prize will be awarded to the best works in cinema, theater, fine arts, literature. Besides, the prize will be awarded to mass media representatives for the best journalistic investigation of last year. The prizes will be awarded in seven categories. The deadline for submission of applications is March 31, 2002. The winners will receive bonuses (5,000 USD).

ON OCT 23 THE VISIT TO ALL MUSEUMS OF ARMENIA TO BE FREE OF CHARGE

OCTOBER 22. Days of European heritage in Armenia will be started on Oct 23 in Armenia. An ARMINFO correspondent was informed in the Ministry of culture, sports and youth affairs of Armenia. In this connection, the resource, the visit of all the museums will be free of charge. The days of heritage will be continued till the end of the week.

DESIGNER OF "ATEX" FASHION CENTER MIKAEL DANIELYAN TO REPRESENT ARMENIA AT "EUROPE'S HOPE" DESIGNERS' CONTEST IN SOCHI

OCTOBER 22. The "Europe's Hope" fashion festival will open in Sochi Oct 26. The CIS countries' leading fashion centers will take part in the festival. Designer Mikael Danielyan will represent Armenia, the "Atex" state fashion center's press-service told ARMINFO. Mikael Danielyan is one of the most active young designers of the "Atex." He will present "Kilikia" collection, which had a great success at the Yerevan semi-final of "Russia - the Renaissance epoch" international contest.

UKRAINIAN TEAM WINS WORLD CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP IN YEREVAN

OCTOBER 22. The 5th world chess team championship was held at Central House of Chess-Player of Armenia October 12-20. The championship was sponsored by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, and minister Serge Sargssian is chairman of the Organizing Committee of the championship. Scoring 21.5 points, the Ukrainian team became winner of the championship. One of the strongest Grand Masters Vasily Ivanchuk was playing for the Ukrainian team. The Russian team, silver prize-winner, won the second place, and the Armenian team won the third place (the bronze medal), as at the last championship. Armenia and the USA submitted application for the organization of the championship. Preference was given to Yerevan, in which the Armenian authorities' guarantees played a key role. According to experts, the Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, Hungarian and German teams were among potential winners, but the main struggle was waged between Armenian, Russian and Ukrainian chess-players. It is to be pointed that despite the third place the Armenian team achieved great individual success. for instance, Vladimir Hakobian and the veteran Armenian chess-player Rafael Vahanian showed the best results on their boards. Besides, the game between Rafael Vahanian and the leader of the Russian team Peter Svidler, which was effectively won by the Armenian chess-player, became a real adornment of the championship. The 13th world champion Garry Kasparov was expected to participate in the championship as a member of the Russian team. He was really included in the official application of the Russian national team submitted to the organizers. But, just before the championship the Russian Chess Federation replaced Garry Kasparov by Sergey Rublevsky. the point is that Kasparov has commercial commitments in the Czech Republic, where he had to play in a tournament which coincided with the world championship in Yerevan.