Presidential Visit: On October 17, President Robert Kocharian visited the Opera and Ballet Theater which has undergone a $2 million renovation with funds from the Lincy Foundation.

The theater's director Kamo Hovhanisyan told the President that he was happy with the work, which includes $300,000 worth of sound equipment. He said the theater will welcome visitors in December.

President Kocharian promised to petition the Government to release fresh funds for the purchase of new furnishing.

Celebrated Composer: A virtual museum was launched this week at www.khachaturian.am to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Aram Khachaturyan. Financed by the Open Society Institute, the web museum presents a detailed biography of the Armenian composer, family tree, a timeline, information about his conducting and teaching career, plus a complete list of works, extracts from letters, and information about the Khachaturyan museum.

Bank Notes: The Union of Russian Armenians has pledged to provide $100,000 in 2004 to the Union of Writers of Armenia. Its chairman Ara Abrahamian said Russian Armenians will also provide support in other spheres; the issues of "Literaturnaya Armenia" (Literary Armenia) magazine will be increased to 12 next year, the Union will sponsor publication of 14 volumes of works by Avetik Isahakian, and the condition of 40 tombs of prominent Armenian writers in Yerevan will be improved.