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34,275 TONS OF GRAPES PURCHASED IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR AS AGAINST LAST YEAR'S 50 TONS

OCTOBER 25. 34,275 tons of grapes were purchased in Armenia this year as against last year's 50 tons, head of the main department on purchase of the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture, Mikael Grigoryan told ARMINFO. He said the processing enterprises' demand for purchase was not lower than that of the 2000, and decrease of volumes is explained only by the low yield capacity. The Yerevan Brandy Factory purchased the largest quantity of grapes (13,500 tons). The "Great Velly" company purchased 4,000 tons of grapes, the "Map" factory 2,500 tons, the "Vedi Alco" 2,000 tons. The highest purchasing price was 140 drams for a kilogram, the lowest was 50 drams. Grigoryan said the price's fluctuation depended on the sort of grapes, the level of saccharine and on other qualities.

UKRAINIAN INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMISSION DREW PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION OF UKRAINIAN AIRPLANES' CRASH MADE

OCTOBER 25. The Ukrainian inter-department commission has made some conclusions concerning results of investigation of the causes and circumstances of the death of the passengers and the crew of an airplane of the Ukrainian "Sibir" air company, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has said in a statement. The commission found out that the air-crash resulted from a tragic and fatal coincidence i.e. from unpremeditated hitting of the plane by a missile of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defence during military exercises held in the Crimea at that time. The Ukranian president apologized to the families and relatives and to all those whom befell the grief. "We realize the need to do our best to alleviate it. On behalf of Ukraine and personally I extend my deep condolences to the governments of Israel and Russia, whose citizens died in the air-crash," Kuchma said. Kuchma thanks the government of these countries as well as other statements for their understanding of the complexity of the situation. The investigation was protracted because the experts inquiring into the case had no right to make any tyniest mistake as well as because the conditions were very difficult. Kuchma has accepted the resignation of Ukraine's defence minister Kuzmuk. Other high ranking military men have also been dismissed. Kuchma has given an instruction to stop the use of anti-aircraft complexes by Ukraine's armed forces until their technical data is known. Other types of armament will also be revised to detect any non-complicity with the requirements of security. A ban has been imposed on any launching of missiles from the territory of Ukraine. The government has instructed the responsible departments to step up military reforms and to enhance the effectiveness of the civil control over the armed forces.

FATE OF SECTION 907 OF FREEDOM SUPPORTING ACT PASSED INTO HANDS OF U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGIA BUSH

OCTOBER 25. The fate of Section 907 of Freedom Supporting Act, prohibiting the United States to provide Azerbaijan with direct assistance, has been passed into the hands of U.S.President George Bush. The U.S.Senate adopted a bill today empowering Bush to abolish Section 907. As the Armenian National Committee of Armenia (ANCA) reports the Senate was pressured into taking this step by the U.S.State Department. The bill empowers Bush to abolish the section on four conditions: if the abolishment promotes the United States' efforts to fight international terrorism; if there is a need of cooperation between the U.S. Armed Force and anti-terror partners to fight terrorism; to ensure the security of Azerbaijan's frontier in case this does not hinder the Karabakh conflict's peaceful settlement; and if the abolishment does not give Azerbaijan a free hand to apply force against Armenia. ANCA representatives are very disappointed by the Senate's decision, which can harm the United States' interests in the South Caucasus.

ARMENIA'S GOVERNMENT READY TO CANCEL ARMENTEL'S LICENSE

OCTOBER 25. Armenia's government is firmly resolved to cancel the license of the ArmenTel company, the country's telecom monopolist, which has decided to impose a per-minute fee on intracity phone calls. Armenia's transport and communication minister Andranik Manoukyan said should ArmenTel happen to cut off the phone communication to any single citizen the government will initiate the procedure for canceling the company's license. To recap, the fee is 4 drams a minute and some subscribers have already received phone bills.

PHONES OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION MINISTRY WERE CUT OFF BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL HITCHES

OCTOBER 25. The phones of Armenia's transport and communication ministry were cut off because of some technical hitches. Such a conclusion has been made by a commission consisting of top officials of the ministry and the ArmenTel company, Armentel representatives have told ARMINFO. To recap, all the ministry's phones were cut off Oct 18 for one hour.

JOURNALIST VAHAGN GHOUKASYAN IS SURE THAT SOCIOLOGIST NAIRI BADALYAN MUST BE BROUGHT TO COURT AGAIN AS DEFENDANT IN OCT 27 CASE

OCTOBER 25. Journalist Vahagn Ghoukasyan is sure that sociologist Nairi Badalyan must be brought to court again as defendant in the Oct 27 case. Badalyan was arrested and then released because of lack of evidence. This statement was made by Ghoukasyan during a sitting of the special parliamentary commission probing into the Oct 27 case, during which the commission was considering his and journalist Vahan Vartanyan's statements. Ghoukasyan said there are many contradictions in Badalyan's statements. He is sure that these contradictions are premeditated and are enough to prosecute Badalyan. Chairman of the commission, MP Gagik Kostanyan said the preliminary investigation did not obtain enough evidence to prosecute Badalyan. However, Badalyan himself asked the commission to propose the prosecutor general's office to send the case for additional investigation. The commission decided to discuss Ghoukasyan's statement at the next sitting. Badalyan will again be present at it.

HOLCIM HAS BEEN PRESSURED BY EXTERNAL FORCES INTO REFUSING TO BUY ARARAT CEMENT PLANT

OCTOBER 25. The Holcim Swiss company may have been pressured into refusing to buy the Ararat Cement plant by external forces, Armenia's president Robert Kocharyan told journalists today. One has to clear up yet who has forced the company into making such a decision, as this deal was very profitable for the country, Kocharyan said. To recap, Armenia's state property management minister David Vartanyan said yesterday Holcim must have changed its strategy in the region. He also linked the refusal with the bankruptcy of the Swiss Airlines, as the company may have decided to use its funds to finance the improvement of the air-company. Meanwhile, media are spreading an opinion that circles close to incumbent manager of Ararat Cement Aram Sargsyan have pressured the investor into refusing to buy the plant as he has many a time pronounced against the deal.

COMPUTER NETWORK INSTALLED IN FOUR COLONIES OF ARMENIA TO ALLOW PRISONERS TO USE INTERNET

OCTOBER 25. Computer network installed in four colonies of Armenia to allow prisoners to use Internet, director of the TOP internet-agency Tevos Nersisyan said at a meeting of the presidential commission for human rights today. He said the implemantation of this project has become possible thanks to the assistance of the institute of open society. All computers were installed right in the zones, which was one of the requirements of the project. Besides, access to some inter resources is denied. However, Tatevosyan said as soon as the penitentiary system is transferred to the jurisdiction of the justice minister the limitations will be raised. It should be noted that works of the convicts will be features in the internet. In case of their sale 95% of the profit will be transferred to prisoners and their relatives.

US ADMINISTRATION HOPES SENATE WILL EMPOWER PRESIDENT BUSH TO SUSPEND SECTION 907 TO FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT

OCTOBER 25. The US Administration hopes that the US Senate will empower US President George bush to suspend Section 907, which forbids Washington to render direct assistance to Azerbaijan, US Vice-Secretary of State Richard Armitadge said during his telephone conversation with Azerbaijanian President Heydar Aliyev, the "AzerTag" information agency reported. during the conversation Armitadge informed the Azerbaijanian president of the Senate's bill empowering the US president to suspend Section 907. the sides exchanged views on some points of the bill. The Azeri president expressed his opinions and disagreed with individual wordings. the American diplomat informed Aliyev of the discussions of the section being held in the Senate now.

KARABAKH WILL REPULSE IN CASE OF AGGRESSION

OCTOBER 25. Azerbaijan will meet with a decisive repulse in case of aggression against Nagorny Karabakh, NKR president Arkady Ghukassian stated at his meeting with journalists in Moscow, commenting on the statement of Azerbaijanian President Heydar Aliyev, who said that if the OSCE Minsk Group does not assume a principle-based position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan will start "a war for liberating the occupied territories." According to Ghukassian, the bellicose tone on the part of Azerbaijan, which is accounted for by that country's domestic political problems. He pointed out that war will not resolve the problems between Baku and Stepanakert.