Author: Emil Lazarian

Trustee’s Travels Lead To Narrowing Of Gap Between Bitter Nations
By MICHAEL SEBASTIAN, Journal Reporter

ELK GROVE JOURNAL / Thursday, May 13, 2004
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004

Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war. The European and Asian nation,
respectively, have battled each other over territorial issues since
the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the reigning bitterness, an
elected official from Elk Grove helped, ever so slightly, mend the
gap between the nations by working closely with their youth.

In March, Elk Grove Trustee Patton Feichter traveled to the capitol of
Lithuania — Vilnius — as part of a federally funded, international
teacher exchange program titled Civitas. From March 5 to March 14,
Feichter, a trustee for seven years, worked closely with teachers,
government officials, community leaders and youth of Baltic and former
Soviet bloc countries including Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bosnia — as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.

For an entire day, Feichter and other Civitas representatives visited
the Vilnius Pedagogical University, a teacher’s college, to work with
future and current instructors. The group’s main thrust involved
bringing democracy to a classroom of citizens who view this free
world concept with excitement and uncertainty.

Feichter and others worked with teaching students from three nations
that day — Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The only common language
the students shared was Russian, a completely foreign language to
Feichter. Yet with a translator Feichter and the Civitas team brought
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to a shaky state of cohesion, despite
their reluctance, Feichter admitted.

Together, the foreign teachers learned the many ways to engage their
students in community concerns. A primary example involved flushing
out a problem, for instance, drugs or violence in elementary schools,
then researching the issue in search of an answer.

“The teachers would interview public and school officials and members
of the police department about the problem,” explained Feichter. “This
was a huge step because people from these countries never questioned
authority before.”

The day at Vilnius Pedagogical University was a success, Feichter
indicated. “The students worked well together,” he said adding,
“they were all wonderful to us — very thankful.”

Although the experience was a success, the Civitas team’s involvement
with Lithuanian government was not always light and easy. One day,
Feichter attended a session of the Lithuanian Parliament on the
nation’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union, a seemingly joyous
experience. However, once the formal celebration ceased, the political
wrangling began, according to Feichter. As he watched, members of
parliament continued with the impeachment process of their leader.

“I didn’t know the language,” Feichter commented. “But you could
definitely feel the tension in the room.”

The president was impeached after we left the country, Feichter added.

This Elk Grove trustee is no stranger to government or foreign
relations. A former high school government teacher, now comparative
government at North Park University, Feichter has traveled to Bosnia
almost annually since 1996 constantly stressing the importance of
democracy education. It’s an admittedly deep passion, according
to Feichter.

When not exporting democracy or watching anxious impeachment
proceedings, Feichter enjoyed the native life. He ate a traditional
Lithuanian dinner in a castle one evening. The festivities included
a Lithuanian Elvis Presley impersonator, Feichter chuckled.

“We were treated very well,” explained Feichter. “The only negativity
we received concerned Iraq. Many teachers polled me on our country’s
involvement in Iraq.”

The questioning didn’t faze him though. He will certainly return to
Eastern Europe next year to continue democracy education. Until then
however, Feichter plans to soak up some Lithuanian culture with the
nation’s cuisine. Chicago holds the largest Lithuanian population
outside Lithuania, which is a bonus for Feichter who has fallen in
love with one of their national delicacies — potato pancakes.

“They’ve got some of the best in the world,” he noted.

THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004

Trustee’s Travels Lead To Narrowing Of Gap Between Bitter Nations By
MICHAEL SEBASTIAN Journal Reporter

Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war. The European and Asian nation,
respectively, have battled each other over territorial issues since
the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the reigning bitterness, an
elected official from Elk Grove helped, ever so slightly, mend the
gap between the nations by working closely with their youth.

In March, Elk Grove Trustee Patton Feichter traveled to the capitol of
Lithuania — Vilnius — as part of a federally funded, international
teacher exchange program titled Civitas. From March 5 to March 14,
Feichter, a trustee for seven years, worked closely with teachers,
government officials, community leaders and youth of Baltic and former
Soviet bloc countries including Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bosnia — as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.

For an entire day, Feichter and other Civitas representatives visited
the Vilnius Pedagogical University, a teacher’s college, to work with
future and current instructors. The group’s main thrust involved
bringing democracy to a classroom of citizens who view this free
world concept with excitement and uncertainty.

Feichter and others worked with teaching students from three nations
that day — Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The only common language
the students shared was Russian, a completely foreign language to
Feichter. Yet with a translator Feichter and the Civitas team brought
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to a shaky state of cohesion, despite
their reluctance, Feichter admitted.

Together, the foreign teachers learned the many ways to engage their
students in community concerns. A primary example involved flushing
out a problem, for instance, drugs or violence in elementary schools,
then researching the issue in search of an answer.

“The teachers would interview public and school officials and members
of the police department about the problem,” explained Feichter. “This
was a huge step because people from these countries never questioned
authority before.”

The day at Vilnius Pedagogical University was a success, Feichter
indicated. “The students worked well together,” he said adding,
“they were all wonderful to us — very thankful.”

Although the experience was a success, the Civitas team’s involvement
with Lithuanian government was not always light and easy. One day,
Feichter attended a session of the Lithuanian Parliament on the
nation’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union, a seemingly joyous
experience. However, once the formal celebration ceased, the political
wrangling began, according to Feichter. As he watched, members of
parliament continued with the impeachment process of their leader.

“I didn’t know the language,” Feichter commented. “But you could
definitely feel the tension in the room.”

The president was impeached after we left the country, Feichter added.

This Elk Grove trustee is no stranger to government or foreign
relations. A former high school government teacher, now comparative
government at North Park University, Feichter has traveled to Bosnia
almost annually since 1996 constantly stressing the importance of
democracy education. It’s an admittedly deep passion, according
to Feichter.

When not exporting democracy or watching anxious impeachment
proceedings, Feichter enjoyed the native life. He ate a traditional
Lithuanian dinner in a castle one evening. The festivities included
a Lithuanian Elvis Presley impersonator, Feichter chuckled.

“We were treated very well,” explained Feichter. “The only negativity
we received concerned Iraq. Many teachers polled me on our country’s
involvement in Iraq.”

The questioning didn’t faze him though. He will certainly return to
Eastern Europe next year to continue democracy education. Until then
however, Feichter plans to soak up some Lithuanian culture with the
nation’s cuisine. Chicago holds the largest Lithuanian population
outside Lithuania, which is a bonus for Feichter who has fallen in
love with one of their national delicacies — potato pancakes.

“They’ve got some of the best in the world,” he noted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian President In Moscow For Talks With Putin

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
May 14 2004

14 May 2004 — Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian is due to meet
with Russian President Vladimir Putin today at the start of a three-day
visit to Moscow.

Kocharian, who arrived late yesterday, is also scheduled to meet
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. Talks are expected to focus on
security issues in the Caucasus region, as well as economic cooperation
between Russia and Armenia.

Kocharian is also due to meet in Moscow with top officials of companies
supplying gas to Armenia, as well as other businessmen.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Opposition Boycotts Further Talks With Coalition
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
May 14 2004

Dialogue between Armenia’s main political groups foundered before
starting in earnest on Thursday as the opposition cancelled planned
crisis talks with the governing coalition, saying that President Robert
Kocharian’s has not stopped the month-long crackdown on his opponents.

The leaders of the Artarutyun bloc and the National Unity Party
(AMK) accused the authorities of failing to comply with a Council of
Europe resolution that called for the release of arrested opposition
activists, an end to “administrative detentions” of participants
of anti-government protests and punishment of government officials
guilty of “human rights abuses.” The two groups declared on May 4 a
ten-day moratorium on unsactioned demonstrations in Yerevan to give
the authorities time to meet the demands.

Opposition representatives were scheduled to meet on Thursday with
leaders of the three pro-Kocharian parties that hold the majority of
seats in parliament and are represented in Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian’s cabinet. The meeting was supposed to be the first official
“negotiation” between the two sides that have held a series of
unofficial consultations over the past week.

According to Artarutyun’s Victor Dallakian, the opposition will
resume the contacts only after the authorities take “practical steps”
stemming from the resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE). “We have nothing to discuss with
the coalition now,” he said.

“They were obliged to immediately comply with the resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,” AMK leader Artashes
Geghamian told a separate news conference. “Namely, to immediately
release the political prisoners, to ensure people’s freedom of
movement, to put an end to the continuing repressions.”

“They are now trying to hold us as hostages so that we adopt what they
are obliged to unconditionally do as our main cause,” Geghamian added.

Parliament majority leaders said the decision to pull out of the talks
was not immediately communicated to them as they waited for opposition
representatives inside the parliament building in the evening. “It will
be unfortunate but it won’t have serious consequences for the country,”
Galust Sahakian of Markarian’s Republican Party told reporters.

“That the opposition is not prepared for a dialogue is a fact,”
Sahakian said, adding that the PACE issued “recommendations,” rather
than demands.

The boycott followed Artarutyun’s and the AMK’s decision to resume
their joint rallies in Yerevan on Friday. The opposition says it
is only prepared to discuss with the authorities ways of ensuring
Kocharian’s resignation “without upheavals,” suggesting in particular
a referendum of confidence in the Armenian leader.

However, the coalition parties remain united in their support of
Kocharian and strongly oppose regime change in the country. They say
that they can instead give the opposition more of a say in government
affairs.

The international community has strongly encouraged both sides to
try to bridge their differences through negotiations, with the PACE
resolution calling for a “dialogue without preconditions.” The head
of the Yerevan office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, Vladimir Pryakhin, echoed the calls on Wednesday.

“I encourage both sides to engage in a meaningful and genuine
dialogue in order to resolve, within the constitutional framework,
the continuing difficulties,” Pryakhin said in a statement.

Pryakhin also urged the Armenian authorities to “review the cases”
of all those detained during recent opposition demonstrations and end
the controversial “administrative detentions” repeatedly condemned
by the Council of Europe and other human rights organizations. “This
practice is incompatible with European human rights standards,”
the Russian diplomat said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PICKET WILL CONTINUE NEAR OFFICE OF PROSECUTOR

A1 Plus | 21:17:48 | 14-05-2004 | Social |

The members of “Civil Will For and Against” social organizations
informed during a press conference as a result of the forum of 80
social organizations on May 11 working groups were set, which will work
in legislative sphere, civil society, and information and distribution.

Forum participants have decided to hold pickets every morning near
the building of General Office of Prosecutor protesting against the
unfair justice system.

Isabella Sargssyan, member of Armenian Committee of “Helsinki Citizens
Assembly”, says they will keep protesting as long as there political
prisoners in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian and Armenian leaders discuss Caucuses problems

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 14 2004

RBC, 14.05.2004, Moscow 14:53:31.In the course of their meeting,
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian focused on the situation in the Caucuses and the settlement
of the Nagorny Karabakh (Azerbaijan) conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In addition, the sides considered cooperation in fighting
international terrorism and ensuring stability in the Caucuses
region. Putin and Kocharian also discussed measures to develop trade
and economic relations between the two states, Rossiya (Russia)
television reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MARDIN HOSTS ABRAHAMIC RELIGION AND PEACE SYMPOSIUM

Cumhuriyet, Turkey
May 14 2004

Mardin yesterday hosted a seminar on “Religion and Peace in Light
of the Prophet Abraham” organized by the Intercultural Dialogue
Platform. Among those attending were Interior Minister Abdulkadir
Aksu, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos, Istanbul Chief Rabbi Ishak
(Yitzhak) Haleva, Eastern Orthodox Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud,
Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II and Religious Affairs Directorate
deputy head Muhammed Sevki Aydin. The symposium started with the Muslim
call to prayer and continued with hymns sung by a chorus with Muslim,
Jewish and Christian members. /Cumhuriyet/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004

SPEECH OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AT SUPREME MAJLIS OF
NAKHCHIVAN AR
[May 14, 2004, 20:30:39]

Dear meeting participants!

Today is the second day of my staying in Nakhchivan. This is my first
visit to Nakhchivan after being elected as President, and what I have
seen today gives me a great pleasure. Great constructive work in
being carried out in Nakhchivan.

Nakhchivan is the land, which is living under very hard conditions.
The indivisible part of Azerbaijan is under blockade. Nakhchivan has
no communication with the greater part of Azerbaijan but airway.
Considering the situation, under the instruction of our esteemed
president, people’s nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, the
international airport has been built and put into operation here in
Nakhchivan.

The basis for the work done in Nakhchivan within the past years was
laid in early 90s. That was the time when Heydar Aliyev came to
Nakhchivan. The people of the Republic elected him as their leader,
and intensive activity began here. Today, Nakhchivan is experiencing
the period of his revival.

Social and economic showings are very high in Nakhchivan. The
Republic’s GDP is growing from year to year, industrial potential and
local production are also increasing, important social problems are
being solved.

Azerbaijan as a whole is now the rapidly developing country, which
are realizing world-scale economic projects, and whose international
prestige has considerably increased. In other words, Azerbaijan has
strengthened its positions in the region.

A special decree has been issued recently to intensify social and
economic development in Azerbaijan, At the same time, the state
program on development of Azerbaijan’s provinces has been adopted.
However, opening of several works here during these two days shows
that the program has been launched in the Autonomous republic much
earlier.

One of the main problems of Nakhchivan is electricity supply. In this
connection, we are going to realize new projects to fully satisfy the
Republic’s needs in electric power. Gas supply is also on the agenda.
If Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan had communicated, there
would not be a problem to supply gas to the Republic. So, we are
searching for other ways to solve the problem. I hope we will achieve
the goal.

Although our economy is built on market base, the greater part of our
budget is spent on solving social problems. It indicates that solving
these problems, in other words, showing concern about people, is a
focus of attention. However, there are still a lot of people in
Azerbaijan whose living conditions are very hard: refugees and
displaced people. Measures for improvement the situation are in
progress. You know that on the initiative of our nationwide leader
Heydar Aliyev, $70 mln were allotted from the state Oil Fund for
construction of modern houses, apartment buildings and settlements
for them. And they have already been constructed in several regions,
and this course will be continued.

However, this is not a resolution of the problem. It may be
considered as solved when Armenian armed forces are withdrawn from
our lands and the refugees and IDPs return to their native places.
Huge efforts have been taken in this sphere, and I hope it will
manage to reach fair peace treaty based on the international legal
norms.

We support peaceful settlement of the conflict, but at the same time
we must be ready to solve the problem at any moment resorting to
other methods. Economic potential of Azerbaijan is increasing from
year to year, and the country is getting stronger. I am sure the
Azerbaijani lands will be released, and its territorial integrity
restored.

Dear friends!

I know and you know how much Heydar Aliyev wanted to see the results
of the projects he once initiated here, and to attend their openings.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be impossible for him to see that.

I also know that sometimes people need consolation. He saw that his
work was continued, that his creation – independent Azerbaijan – was
living following his path. He saw his people supported his policy.
The duty of ours is to continue Heydar Aliyev’s policy, and move the
country ahead.

Accept again my greetings and best wishes for your new successes, new
victories, good health and happiness.

Thank you,

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANIAN RECEIVES MEMBERS OF GERMAN BUNDESTAG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

ArmenPress
May 14 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
received today members of the German Bundestag multi-party South
Caucasus parliamentary group- Kristoff Bergner, Jorg Tauss, Lidia
Westrich and Ulla Heller.

Foreign ministry press services reported, that Oskanian underlined
that the delegation’s visit followed a successful visit by German
foreign minister to Armenia Joschka Fischer. He voiced his hope that
German -Armenian relations will continue developing.

The sides emphasized a decision by the European Commission whereby
Armenia and South Caucasus are included in the EU Wider Europe –
New Neighborhood project.

During the talk, the Bundestag delegation members noted that their
group has contributed to the passing of this decision because they
attach importance to South Caucasus’s integration to the EU.

During the meeting, the sides referred to the present phase of Nagorno
Karabagh conflict regulation. Armenian foreign minister has presented
his impressions from his recent talks with his Azeri counterpart
Mamedyarov in Strasburg.

Avalanche tragedy on Ararat adventure
By Richard Cowper in Erzerum, Turkey

FT.com site;
May 14, 2004

“Avalanche!” The cry every mountaineer dreads and coming from right
behind my left shoulder.

No time to think. No time to waste. Just ski as fast as I can away from
the wall of wet snow sliding down the side of the mountain towards me.

We were in the wilds of eastern Turkey preparing to make one of the
first British ski ascents of Mt Ararat – at 5,137m the country’s
highest mountain and famous in legend as the place where Noah landed
with his ark after the flood.

After less than a minute, near silence.

Even the gale-force wind seemed to have stopped. Then the dawning
realisation, that even though my friend Robert Mulder and I had seen
no-one go under, any one of our three companions might have been buried
under the thousands of tonnes of heavy wet snow that had filled up
the bottom of the steep gulley along which we had been skiing.

We looked for tell-tale signs like skis, bits of clothing or abandoned
rucksacks, but nothing was visible on the surface of the great mass
of avalanche debris.

On our expedition there were 14 people, all of whom were in the
Palandoken area that day, just outside the garrison town of Erzerum,
700 miles east of Istanbul. But only five had been skiing in our
close-knit group: myself and Robert and expedition leader David
Hamilton, along with ex-soldier Alun Davies and Alpine Ski Club
secretary Alasdair Ross. We could not see any of them.

With wind speeds increasing to over 70mph, the spindrift snow blowing
in the air meant visibility was extremely poor. The only sensible
course of action was to assume that all three had been buried.

Robert and I jettisoned our skis and pulled out our avalanche
transceivers, putting them into search mode as we criss-crossed the
avalanche fallout area, the size of a football field, hunting for an
electronic signal that would indicate the position of a body.

Within two minutes Robert heard a series of bleeps and at that
point just under the surface of the snow we could see someone buried
vertically, head up, feet down. I pulled out my shovel and after a
short period of ferocious digging Alun Davies’s head was freed and
to my immense relief I could hear him breathing in fast, short gasps

“Breathe more slowly, if you can,” I suggested as David arrived from
out of the storm to help get rid of the massive weight of snow still
compressing Alun’s chest. By some miracle David had ridden the surface
of the avalanche and managed to cast off both his rucksack and skis,
preventing the snow from dragging him under.

David reckoned that a group of four other members of our expedition,
led by Dr Rodney Franklin, had successfully skied through the very
gulley which had avalanched about five minutes before we had entered
it. This meant that the only person known to be missing was our
companion Alasdair Ross.

I started a new electronic search with a sinking feeling and about
12 minutes after the avalanche had occurred I found a second signal,
coming from agonisingly deep below the surface.

Overcome by a feeling of the need for urgency I shouted: “I need
help. Time is vital. We must get him out as soon as possible”.

I knew from experience that the first 20 minutes in an avalanche
rescue often makes the difference between life and death. But the
hard-set snow was so unbelievably heavy and the angle so difficult
that it took several of us many minutes to complete the strenuous,
and heartrending task of digging Alasdair out.

When at last we managed to free his head and chest, it seemed to both
me and Dr Franklin, who had arrived from below, that Alasdair must
have died from asphyxiation almost the moment the avalanche struck.

I will never forget Alasdair’s face when at last we got him out. He
looked so tranquil and, at the same time, like a waxwork. Only the
night before I had sat next to him at dinner and we had chatted with
animation of past ski trips and adventures the evening through.

An army team arrived and took over the rescue, placing Alasdair on
a stretcher. The avalanche had occurred just over 100metres from the
safety of a military post.

At last I was able to gather my thoughts and I remember thinking:
“Pride comes before a fall!” Only the day before I had been cock-a-hoop
after a personal success on my very first mountain adventure in
Turkey. Robert Mulder and I had arrived late in the Palandoken range
and from the top of the main ski station we cast our eyes to the
horizon at the steepest and seemingly most unclimbable of mountains
and then to each other’s surprise set off at speed towards it with
unreasoned optimism.

Six hours later we were taking off our skis and the skins attached
to them, to climb the final steep summit pyramid of what the lone
Kurdish family living in its shadow had called Yavkaz Kayuz (the
Impossible Peak).

The achievement had been made doubly satisfying because of our firm
belief we would never get to the mountain at all in the time available,
let alone manage to climb the precipitous rocks to the top.

In the gathering dusk we had a sensational ski down into the main
valley. Six and a half hours to the summit. Less than twenty minutes
down.

On the way back we visited our Kurdish friends in their snug
underground farmhouse for tea, before heading back to meet our
companions in Erzerum.

The next day, the day of the avalanche, all fourteen members of the
expedition, led by the Scottish ski mountaineer David Hamilton, were
back among the peaks of Palandoken continuing the programme to get
fit for our main objective, the ascent of Mt Ararat, a giant volcano
close to the Iranian and Armenian borders.

For much of the last 35 years it has been out of bounds due to a
series of wars in the area and the claim by the Armenians that it
belonged to them and not to Turkey.

As we set off the wind was, if anything, stronger than the evening
before, constantly blowing us over on our skis. It was surprisingly
warm with worrying patches of orange in the snow, sand blown by the
hot wind all the way from the Sahara. We could see the occasional
tell-tale sloughs of snow on slopes of 30 degrees and above. Perfect
avalanche conditions.

Just before we got to the bridge close to our Kurdish friends’
farmhouse, some of us wondered aloud whether any sane ski mountaineer
would be out in such conditions. Looking back, the weather was so
wild and so warm that we should have all stayed at home. But we were
here on the trip of a lifetime, trying to cram in as much adventure
as possible and we were all so keen to get ready for the big mountain.

Now Alasdair was dead.

At 59, unmarried and with no children, he was a fanatical
skier who loved indulging his passion in the wilder parts of the
world. Unfortunately, when we got him out he had stopped breathing
and all attempts to resuscitate him failed.

By the time darkness fell and Alasdair was on his way to the mortuary
in Erzerum the wind on the mountain was gusting over 100mph, ripping
the roofs off several local buildings in one of the worst storms of
the winter.

Those of us closely involved in the rescue then made a lengthy report
to the nearby army post and it was only when showing his passport
to a friendly intelligence officer that David Hamilton realised that
the greatest tragedy ever to take place on an expedition run by him
had occurred on his own birthday.

That evening we all gathered in our hotel to decide whether to abandon
the expedition altogether or whether to continue. It was the stoic
and, perhaps wise, ex-soldier Alun Davies, who so narrowly escaped
death himself, who carried the day.

“After I was buried somehow I accepted the inevitability of death. It’s
the second time I have been avalanched in three years. But there was
still a feint hope and by some miracle I was rescued.

“Alasdair was not so lucky. But he lived for the mountains. It’s a risk
we all take. I am a soldier and I have seen death. There is nothing
to be gained by being maudlin, giving up and going home. He would not
have wanted that. Let’s all go and get drunk and tell stories about
him. Tomorrow we continue!”

The next day half of the expedition members decided their heart was
no longer in it and made arrangements to return home immediately. The
others, including myself, decided to carry on.

Everyone’s reasons for staying or going were very personal and not
easy to define.

As president of the Alpine ski club Rupert Hoare decided he had to
attend Alasdair’s funeral. Others felt there would be no joy left in
the struggle against the elements when a friend had died. Some had
felt they had to talk to Alasdair’s relations to try and ease their
grief. Some simply felt fear in the patently dangerous conditions in
the Turkish mountains.

All I can say is I would not want anyone to stop an expedition for me
and would much prefer my companions to drink large amounts of local
spirits and tell stories of my most outrageous or defining moments.

Two weeks later four of the six who continued made it to the top of
Mt Ararat after a storm had cast a blanket of snow over the great
dormant volcano, though nobody was able to ski the final 1,000metres.

No-one pretended it had been a successful expedition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA OREANDA
Economic News
May 14, 2004 Friday

Vladimir Putin Met His Armenian Counterpart Friday

Moscow. Today the RF President, Vladimir Putin, held meeting with his
Armenian counterpart, Robert Kocharyan. The Head of the Russian state
expressed confidence that the summit talks would permit to
efficiently develop Russia-Armenia cooperation, the Kremlin
press-service informed. Apart from that, the Russian President
pointed out the fact that his meetings with Robert Kocharyan for
discussion of bilateral cooperation, coordination of activity in
post-Soviet territories and international arena were rather regular
and productive.