Author: Emil Lazarian

ArmenPress
Aug 18 2004

HAIK STUDENT CROSSROAD HOSTS 200 ARMENIAN YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Student council of Yerevan
Architectural Institute (YAI) holds Haik Student Crossroad, a big
event in Sevan, Hankavan and Meghrazor on August 19-28 with the
participation of more than 200 young Armenians from Armenia and
Diaspora as well as Youth Movement of Armenian Apostolic Church. Some
two dozens of teams will be named after different historic regions of
Armenia.
YAI student council Hayk Akarmazian said that this a
de-politicized action. During the event, discussions will be held on
statehood, religion, student self-government bodies. Pro-government,
opposition and spiritual actors will visit the students. Also sports
and intellectual competitions will be held.
The budget of the project totals 4 mln 600,000 dram, 2 mln 400,000
of which is provided by All Armenain Youth Fund and the rest by YAI
and Arartian Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church.

UEFA.com
Aug 18 2004

Stojkov shoots down Armenia

F.Y.R. Macedonia’s bid for a place in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21
Championship finals got off to a good start with a comfortable 4-0
victory against Armenia.

F.Y.R. Macedonia have made a winning start in Group 1

Took control
The home side had not won a competitive U21 match since June 2001,
but they took control in the early stages of the Group 1 tie and
never looked back after Aco Stojkov had opened the scoring on 27
minutes.

Hat-trick complete
On the half-hour Darko Tasevski set up Stojkov to double the lead and
after Goran Todorcev had struck the third from outside the area on 48
minutes, Stojkov completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with
three minutes remaining. The Macedonians now hold the early lead in a
group where Romania, their next opponents on 3 September, beat
Finland 1-0 yesterday.

Next fixture
Armenia will hope to revive their bid for one of the two play-off
places on offer when they welcome Finland on 8 September, by which
time the Czech Republic and the Netherlands will also have begun
their campaigns in the six-team group.

AZERI MINISTER TO DISCUSS RUSSIA’S KARABAKH EFFORTS IN MOSCOW

Zerkalo, Baku
14 Aug 04

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay an official
visit to Moscow on 17 August at the invitation of his Russian
counterpart. It is noteworthy that Mammadyarov will go to Moscow
immediately after visits to Azerbaijan by Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami and US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld. That is why one
can be 100-per-cent sure that the Russian capital is looking forward
to Mammadyarov’s visit because the Kremlin is hardly indifferent to
the results of these visits to Azerbaijan, especially their
confidential aspects. For example, in Baku Rumsfeld did not hide that
he had an interest in the talks between Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Khatami.

In an interview with our Zerkalo correspondent, Mammadyarov said that
this is his first official visit to Moscow after his appointment to
the post (of foreign minister). “I was appointed foreign minister on 2
April this year. But Mr (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov was
appointed several months after that.

“The main issue that will be raised by the Azerbaijani side during
this visit is Russia’s role as a mediator and co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group in settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. This is a fundamental issue for us. That is why there is no
doubt that we will hold detailed discussions of this issue. The second
package of issues which will definitely be discussed during the visit
are related to economic relations between the two countries.”

(Passage omitted: The intergovernment commission is working actively;
ties between the two ministries and international issues will be
discussed as well)

Although the current world is different from the world of the early
1990s, Mammadyarov believes that “along with the other co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia is playing a major and even a key role in
settling the conflict”. He said Azerbaijan’s position was that it
would be impossible to achieve stability in the region without
resolving this conflict: “That is why we believe that a politically
stable and economically strong Caucasus is of benefit to all the
countries that have their interests in our region.”

Mammadyarov said that Russia has “deeper relations with Armenia” and
strong interests in Azerbaijan, at least from an economical
viewpoint. “As for Russia’s position on this issue, growing numbers of
people believe that if Russia is interested in settling the conflict,
peace will be established in our region very quickly,” Mammadyarov
said.

Generally speaking, there is a strange situation in the talks
process. The declared positions of the sides, at least their official
positions, are absolutely different. In these conditions, frequent
statements are made in society, especially among the military, that
the continuation of the talks has no prospects and it is necessary to
liberate the occupied territories by force. Commenting on the
aforesaid situation, Mammadyarov said: “You and I are talking at the
Foreign Ministry, not at the Defence Ministry. As the foreign
minister, I will back the peaceful option for settling the conflict to
the bitter end. Although, if you are aware of the Foreign Ministry’s
latest statement, you know that Azerbaijan is more and more
disappointed in the destructive position of the Armenian side.

“Armenia’s actions run counter to the purposes and spirit of the talks
held with the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation. Some staff exercises and
illegal local government elections have been held on the occupied
territories. In addition, resettlement is under way on the occupied
territories. Such actions can hardly have a positive impact on the
talks, during which, as the sides maintain, they are reportedly trying
to achieve peace. It is difficult to hold peace talks in these
conditions.”

But Mammadyarov added that the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, at
least the USA, have already reacted to the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s statement. “The USA has already voiced its position on
both the military exercises and illegal elections. It said that the
USA recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The OSCE
chairman-in-office issued a similar statement. The Council of Europe
secretary-general expressed his negative attitude to the events that
have occurred in recent weeks. We, however, believe that if our
attitude to the peace talks is serious and Azerbaijan actually wants
to achieve a breakthrough during the talks, we expect the same
attitude from the opposite side as well,” he said.

3 killed, 5 injured in crash on Foothill Freeway *

Pasadena Star-News
August 13, 2004

By Marshall Allen**, Gretchen Hoffman and Gene Maddaus*, *Staff Writers* *

Thursday, August 12, 2004 – PASADENA — Three women were killed and a
young boy was thrown onto the Gold Line tracks where his foot was
severed by a train after their SUV crashed on the Foothill (210) Freeway
on Thursday.

The 8-year-old boy, who also suffered serious head and chest injuries,
was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where he underwent
surgery and was in extremely critical condition, authorities said.

Two women were pronounced dead at the scene of “major injuries,’ said
California Highway Patrol spokesman Jon Samson. One woman suffered
cardiac arrest and later died at Huntington Hospital, he said.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office identified the dead as Lena
Khodaverdian, 41, Alice Basmadjian, 82, and Hrepsimi Hadadjian, 77. All
eight occupants in the red 2003 Ford Expedition were from Pasadena.

Only two of them, including the driver, were wearing seat belts. Those
two suffered minor injuries. In all, five people were thrown from the SUV.

A 70-year-old woman suffered major injuries, including a broken leg and
head and chest trauma, and was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital. A
77-year-old woman suffered cuts and scrapes and was taken to County-USC
Medical Center.

Investigators believe the driver drifted to the right and then swerved
to the left to avoid hitting another vehicle. The SUV flipped and
crashed into the center wall just after 10 a.m., near the Madre Street
exit.

The seven women were members of a women’s group at Armenian Brotherhood
Bible Church on Washington Boulevard in Pasadena.

Church secretary Azniv Ailanjian said the phone in the church office
rang all day after the accident. Members of the 400-person congregation
were confused and uncertain as they tried to confirm the names of the
dead and injured.

“We don’t have words,’ Ailanjian said. “We are just praying, for
families, for people involved; nothing more we can do.’

Friends and relatives of the victims gathered at Huntington Hospital
Thursday afternoon, trying on cell phones to track down the passengers
scattered among the two hospitals to find out who had survived and the
extent of the injuries.

Many weren’t sure of the conditions of their loved ones at the time.

“We get our hopes up, and then they go down,’ said Pasadena resident
Lena Garabedian, whose aunt was in the SUV and later confirmed dead. “We
all believe in Jesus, and that’s basically who we’re depending on right
now.’

The church group was traveling to Sante Fe Dam recreation area for a
picnic, family members and friends said.

Luther and Tina Sevajian are the registered owners of the SUV, according
to DMV officials, but it was not clear if they were in the vehicle. CHP
officers did not identify the injured passengers.

The boy named Timothy, according to church members was thrown over a
3-foot cement barrier and onto the Gold Line tracks that divide the
eastbound and westbound freeway lanes.

Trains pass at 12-minute intervals at that time of day, according to
officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. MTA officials
said the accident was unlike anything they had seen on any of the
agency’s four light-rail lines since the system began operating in 1990.

It is also the first serious accident in the one-year history of the
Gold Line.

The eastbound train was traveling about 50 mph and carrying 10
passengers as it rounded a curve approaching the accident scene, MTA
spokesman Jose Ubaldo said. The conductor slowed the train when he
spotted “unusual activity’ on the freeway, Ubaldo said.

Debris from the crash rained down on the tracks ahead. The conductor
spotted the child lying on the tracks and immediately slammed on the
emergency brake, Ubaldo said.

The train could not stop in time and came to rest atop the boy’s right
foot.

Lisa Derderian, spokeswoman for the Pasadena Fire Department, said it
was a terrible scene.

“We have a couple of firefighters who say it is the most horrific
accident they’ve seen in their long careers with the fire department,’
she said.

It appeared no other cars were involved in the crash, Samson said.

The train conductor was interviewed and taken for routine drug and
alcohol testing. Two of the 10 passengers on the train said they had
minor injuries, but did not seek the help of paramedics.

The Gold Line passengers were transferred to another train and taken
away from the scene.

Commuters on the eastern tip of the Gold Line experienced 20- to
30-minute delays. The eastbound segment of track between Allen Avenue
and Sierra Madre Villa remained closed through the afternoon, but all
other sections of the line stayed open.

Traffic was jammed for several miles behind the crash.

Two lanes of the freeway were opened to traffic two hours after the
accident, and it was opened fully about 4:45 p.m., Derderian said.

/
/Marshall Allen can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4461, or by
e-mail at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> .
Gretchen Hoffman can be reached at Ext. 4494, or by e- mail at
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . Gene
Maddaus can be reached at Ext. 4444, or by e-mail at
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>/.//

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF “MARMARA” PAYS VISIT TO ARMENIA TO BE PRESENT AT
“ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” FESTIVAL

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). Rober Hattechian, editor-in-chief of
the Armenian “Marmara” daily newspaper of Istanbul, paid a visit to
Armenia on August 13 morning with his wife reciter Makruhi
P. Hakobian, editor of the newspaper. The purpose of their visit to
Yerevan is to be present at “One Nation, One Culture” first
Pan-Armenian cultural festival. They were invited by the RA Ministry
of Culture. This information is provided by the “Marmara” daily
newspaper.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 13, 2004 Friday 9:49 AM Eastern Time

Russia, Azerbaijan to discuss fight against terrorism

By Elvara Bakhshiyeva

MOSCOW

The fight against terrorism will be a key item on the agenda of talks
between the Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers, Sergei Lavrov
and Elmar Mamedyarov.

The Azerbaijani foreign ministers will make an official visit to
Moscow on August 17-19.

“Azerbaijan is Russia’s strategic partner in southern Caucasus,” a
Russian foreign policy expert told Itar-Tass, “our countries have the
same positions regarding the necessity to step up the fight against
international terrorism.”

The parties will pay special attention to the implementation of the
accords reached at the top level in the economic sphere, such as the
doubling of trade turnover and the development of the fuel and energy
sector, he added.

Lavrov and Mamedyarov are expected to discuss problems of working out
the legal status of the Caspian Sea and prospects of holding the
second Caspian summit.

Moscow welcomes the efforts to continue the Azerbaijani-Armenian
dialogue over the Nagorny Karabakh problem, and is ready to provide
an active contribution in the search for a mutually acceptable
settlement of the conflict, the expert said.

ArmenPress
Aug 12 2004

PAN ARMENIAN WEB PAGE DESIGNED

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS: Starting September, this year, a
pan Armenian internet page will start to function
containing information on political, cultural, scientific-educational
and business life of Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Diaspora.
Information will be posted on state structures, biography of state
officials, mass media outlets, business companies, show business,
tourism and cultural establishments.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS: According to the chairman of
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora public organization Vahe Harutunian, the
page will raise the awareness of Diaspora Armenians about pan
Armenian issues and promote closer links between Armenia and Armenian
communities worldwide. It will be bilingual – in Armenian and English
languages.

Burbank Leader , CA
LATimes.com
Aug 11 2004

Giving it all for their art

Contestants go for the gold at the World Championships of Performing
Arts this week at Hilton Burbank.
By Jackie Conley, The Leader

MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH – Scattered around the Hilton Burbank Airport
and Convention Center on Tuesday morning, vocal competitors and
aspiring actors patiently sat waiting for their turn to represent
their country and impress the judges in the second day of the
competition at the World Championships of Performing Arts.

“The primary thing to do is to develop competitive material,” said
CSM Words and Music producer Shele Sondheim, a judge for the
competition. “The highest high is to come prepared and be really on
top of your game.”

Sondheim said he hopes this competition will spark international
interest in the arts and encourage people to embrace performers like
they do the athletes in the Olympics.

“Music and art is an international language,” Sondheim said.

Ilhama Gulkiyeva has participated in more than 200 competitions
internationally and is a popular singer in her native Azerbaijan,
located between Iran and Russia. But for her, the World Championships
of Performing Arts could bring a significant change in the way the
arts are perceived in her country.

“My president said if we do well here, he will have big prizes
waiting for us when we return,” she said.

Gulkiyeva said the president of her country encourages the performing
arts, and she hopes this will reflect a positive change in the way
artists are viewed around the world.

“It seems like everything is done for athletes and not enough for
performers,” said Griff O’Neil, founder and director of the World
Championships of Performing Arts.

Gospel rap artist Emmanuel Edili, of Nigeria, said out of all the
competitions he’s been in, this one is important because it’s global.

“It helps you to appreciate different artistic styles,” he said.

Edili, 29, said the hardest thing for him in competition is the few
moments before going on stage.

“Because it’s in that moment there that you make a decision whether
or not you’re going to go out there and get through it,” he said.
“But you realize this is the opportunity to show them what you’re
made of.”

Singer Andrey Hovnanyan knows all about these types of opportunities.
At 25, he said he has already performed in several international
competitions in Germany, Japan and Belgium, and has performed in
front of crowds of 8,000 people.

This is the first time the Armenian singer will compete in the World
Championships, and he said he hopes to break into the American
market.

“There’s something special about America,” Hovnanyan said. “It has a
strong influence around the world.”

Azeri official downplays Karabakh polls, war games

Ekspress, Baku
10 Aug 04

Text of Alakbar Raufoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on
10 August headlined “The Armenians are deceiving themselves”

“By conducting the so-called local government elections and military
exercises in Nagornyy Karabakh, the Armenian separatists are trying to
comfort themselves and this cannot affect the settlement process in
any way,” the head of the foreign relations department of the
Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov, has told
Express.

“Azerbaijan’s economic and political potential is great and our army
is getting stronger. Concerned about that, the Armenians are trying to
present themselves as being powerful in order to find out what
Azerbaijan’s reaction will be. They organize such activities in order
to comfort themselves. But they are only deceiving themselves. In
other words, they are trying to say that we are there and this is what
we can do,” Mammadov said.

The official added that the OSCE and other prominent international
organizations have stated that they do not recognize the Karabakh
elections.

“Everyone knows that the separatists’ actions are illegal. As for the
military exercises, they don’t even have an army to conduct them. This
is all empty talk,” he said.

Meanwhile, a diplomatic source has told Express that more than 500
troops and retired officers from Armenia were involved in the
large-scale military exercises near Azerbaijan’s Agdam District. The
exercises are held mainly in the village of Xidirli and in Agdam
itself. The Armenians have established a firing range there and are
using anti-aircraft guns and armoured vehicles in the exercises.

RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER REPORTS TO PRESIDENT ON NEW ARMS AND RECENT
EXERCISES

MOSCOW, August 9 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Defense Ministry has
decided to provide war fighters Su-24 with a new system of high
precision weapons “shot and forgot”. Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov
said this at the president’s meeting with the government on Monday.

Late last week, the Russian defense minister said that Su-24 fighters
would be modernized and purchased for the Russian Armed Forces, at a
press conference at the Edelveis (Kyrgyzstan) testing range after the
Rubezh-2004 exercises.

“This aircraft can successfully work in the mountains. We are
beginning to modernize aircraft of the Russian Air Force and are
putting them on the production line. We are beginning to purchase this
equipment, and we have no doubt about these aircraft,” said Ivanov.

Ivanov also said that the Russian Defense Ministry would forward
proposals to the president about forming and arming two mountain
brigades.

According to the defense minister, “we are planning to complete the
formation of the two mountain brigades by next year.” Earlier, the
president instructed to form a subdivision to serve in the North
Caucasus and help border guards defend the border.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov reported to the president and
the government about the exercises on the Kola peninsula and in
Kyrgyzstan.

The minister said that the exercises were aimed to drill measures to
provide security of transporting nuclear materials and eliminating the
consequences of an attack on a convoy.

“The super tank used for transporting nuclear materials was shelled
from grenade throwers, derailed and sunk in a reservoir,” the minister
said.

In his words, the exercises involved 1,000 servicemen of the Defense
Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the FSB, the Federal Agency for
Nuclear Energy, and also 500 units of special equipment.

Ivanov also noted that the exercises were positively assessed by the
attending NATO observers.

“We expect that our experts will be able to gain an insight into the
situation in this sphere in a NATO nuclear country,” said Ivanov.

As for exercises in Kyrgyztsan, the minister noted that these were the
first serious exercises of the Collective Rapid Deployment
Forces. Participating in the exercises were Russia, Kyrgyzstan,
Belarus, and Armenia. On the Russian side, the exercises involved the
commandos of the Volga-Urals military district, and also 30 units of
combat aviation, combat helicopters, transport helicopters and the
Ka-50 helicopter Black Shark.

Ivanov said that the combat aviation used high precision weapons based
on the “shot-and-forgot” principle in Kyrgyzstan.

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told the president about the situation
around funding servicemen’s housing. Direct federal spending on the
accumulative and mortgage crediting program for servicemen will amount
to 2.5 billion rubles ($1 equals about 29 rubles) in 2005, he
said. The minister stressed that the federal budget would pay the
first contribution and interest on the mortgage.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref in turn said
that before the draft law on servicemen’s housing provision comes into
force on January 1, another three draft laws would have to be adopted
along with 20 government resolutions.