Author: Hakobian Adrine

ARKA News Agency
Aug 30 2004

4th meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijan foreign ministers takes place
in Prague

RA NA Speaker congratulates Armenian President with 50th anniversary

Celebration of 13th anniversary of Ukrainian independence takes place
in Ukrainian Embassy to Yerevan

New mayor of Stepanakert takes the office

The Stepanakert Press-Club and Artsakh Association on Human Rights
Protection on the whole positively evaluate the second round of
elections of the Mayor of Stepanakert

Priorities of the Armenian external politics in the context of
Karabakh Conflict Settlement discussed in Stepanakert

Catholicos of All-Armenians meets Danish Foreign Minister

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4TH MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TAKES PLACE
IN PRAGUE

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. 4th meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijan
foreign ministers took place in Prague. OSCE MG Co-Chairmen and
Personal Representative of Acting OSCE Chairman Anjey Kaspshik also
took part in the meeting. This meeting as previous ones did not have
any special agenda.
According to the estimation of the participants the meeting was
`useful and positive’. L.D. –0 –

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RA NA SPEAKER CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WITH 50TH ANNIVERSARY

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian
congratulated Armenian President Robert Kocharian with 50th
anniversary.
Robert Kocharian was born on August 31, 1954 in Stepanakert. Since
February 1988 Kocharian was one of the political leaders of Artsakh
movement, in August 1992 took the chair of NKR State Defense
Committee Chairman and in November 1996 he was elected the President
of Nagorno Karabakh. On March 20, 1997 Kocharian was appointed on the
position of RA Prime Minister and on March 30, 1998 in result of
extraordinary presidential elections he was elected the President of
Armenia, then on March 5, 2003 re-elected. L.D. –0 –

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CELEBRATION OF 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE TAKES PLACE
IN UKRAINIAN EMBASSY TO YEREVAN

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Celebration of 13th anniversary of
Ukrainian independence took place in Ukrainian Embassy to Yerevan. RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian congratulated friendly Ukraine with
Independence Day and wished Ukrainian people happiness and
prosperity.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Vladimir Tyaglo expressed hope that
`relations between the countries continue develop successfully in the
future’. L.D. –0

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NEW MAYOR OF STEPANAKERT TAKES THE OFFICE

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. New mayor of Stepanakert Eduard Agabekian
and 15 members of the council of deans received certificates.
According to the final results of mayor elections, 50.5% of voters
took part in the elections. 58.7% of votes were gathered by Eduard
Agabekian, 41.3% – Pavel Nadjarian.

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THE STEPANAKERT PRESS-CLUB AND ARTSAKH ASSOCIATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
PROTECTION ON THE WHOLE POSITIVELY EVALUATE THE SECOND ROUND OF
ELECTIONS OF THE MAYOR OF STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, August 30. /ARKA/. The Stepanakert Press-Club and
Artsakh Association on Human Rights Protection on the whole
positively evaluate the second round of elections of the Mayor of
Stepanakert. As it’s stated in the document on the results of the
second round of the elections provided to ARKA, the `high
professionalism and objectivity of the Central Election Commission
and Election Committees’ are emphasized. The organizations that
conducted monitoring note the unexampled activity of local observers
and the trustees of the candidates. `This contributed to exerting
public control over the elections and created preconditions for
further development of democratic institutions’, as stated in the
document. Evaluating the second round of the elections as one more
step on the way to the democratic reforms, the representatives of the
monitoring group also mention than there were all facilities for
holding fair and transparent elections, and the organization of a
normal work of the observers and the trustees. At the same time,
according to them, some shortages registered in the first round of
the elections failed to be avoided during the second round. In
particular, using the administrative resource, which was more obvious
in the second tour, and facts of counter- propaganda were recorded.
The Stepanakert Press-Club and Artsakh Association on Human Rights
Protection express hope that there will be some progress during the
next elections.
To remind, by the results of the elections, Edward Aghabekyan, the
Chairman of NKR NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs, the Leader
of `Movement-88′ political organization was elected as a new Mayor of
Stepanakert. According to the NKR Central Election Commission, as
compared to the first round, the activity of the capital electors
increased by 10% up to 51%. A.H.-0–

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PRIORITIES OF THE ARMENIAN EXTERNAL POLITICS IN THE CONTEXT OF
KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT DISCUSSED IN STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, August 30. /ARKA/. A seminar for the representatives of
youth organizations of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh was held under
the title `Priorities of the Armenian External Politics in the
Context of Karabakh Conflict Settlement’. The seminar was organized
by the Armenian Fund `For the Development of Science’. According to
ARKA’s reporter in Stepanakert, key issues referring to the politics
of the official Yerevan and Stepanakert in the light of the Karabakh
conflict settlement were discussed during the seminar. There were two
main issues discussed during the seminar: if the societies of two
countries are ready to the reconciliation, even if the authorities
sign the agreement on peace, and whether Armenia gains from
postponing the conflict settlement process. A.H.–0–

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CATHOLICOS OF ALL-ARMENIANS MEETS DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All-Armenians met the
Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller. As St. Echimiadzin Mother
See told ARKA, the sides discussed the relations between peoples and
governments of two countries, as well as warms relations between the
churches. Touching upon the Karabakh conflict Garegin II and P.S.
Moeller mentioned spiritual mission of the religious Heads of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Catholicos thanked the Danish Minister for the
assistance of Denmark to Armenia in the last century and in recent
years.
P.S. Moeller arrived in Armenia in the frames of the regional visit
in the South Caucasus countries. T.M. –0

Armenia, Danish officials discuss expanding cooperation

Mediamax news agency
27 Aug 04

YEREVAN

The implementation of the European Neighbourhood policy will give a
new impetus to the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh and other
conflicts in the South Caucasus, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markaryan said in Yerevan today during a meeting with Danish Foreign
Minister Per Stig Moeller.

The government’s press service told Mediamax news agency that the
prime minister said during the meeting that the expansion of Armenia’s
relations with the European Union will promote the development of
Armenian-Danish relations.

Andranik Markaryan said that Armenia and Denmark could cooperate
successfully in the energy sphere, specifically, exchange experience
in creating alternative energy sources.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 27, 2004, Friday

ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT

SOURCE: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurier, No 32, August 25 – 31, 2004, p.
2

by Samvel Martirosjan (Yerevan)

ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE
DEEPENING CRISIS IN THE RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN THAT THREATENS WITH
FULL-SCALE WAR

The Russian-Armenian military cooperation develops quite dynamically.
Not long ago, Russia lent a sympathetic ear to Armenia’s request
concerning training of up to 150 officers. Complicated situation in
the Caucasus forces the authorities of Armenia to pay unfeigned
attention to national defense. According to official data alone, the
2004 Armenian state budget allocated almost $82 million for military
needs, an almost 10% rise against war spendings in 2003. Estimates of
the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London) show that
in 2002 Armenia was the CIS leader in the arms spendings to GDP ratio
– 6.4%, an equivalent of $162 million.

The CIA claims that as far as this particular parameter is concerned,
Armenia is the 11th in the world; it spent $135 million on its army
in 2001. When the closed parliamentary hearing of fulfillment of the
2003 budget was over not long ago, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh
Sarkisjan said that arms spendings would be increased next year
again. Sarkisjan refused to elaborate but said that the Armenian
national army was initiating a program of rearmament.

It should be noted that the population of Armenia, not exactly a
wealthy country, does not object to these measures taken by national
leaders. The population is perfectly aware of the undeclared war with
Azerbaijan that is under way. Serious clashes are regularly reported
in the areas where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops face each other;
shots have been fired by sharpshooters for a decade (ever since the
cease-fire on the Karabakh front was signed). Moreover, official
Yerevan positions itself as a guarantor of security of Karabakh.

Turkey is another potential enemy. Diplomatic relations with Turkey
have never been established. Ankara is still blocking the border with
Armenia and pursuing an openly anti-Armenian policy. Sociologists of
the Armenian Center of National and Strategic Studies discovered that
47.5% respondents in Armenia believe that the war with Azerbaijan may
be resumed within five years, and 7% more expect a Turkish aggression
within the same span of time.

Figures

Armenian national army is considered one of the most combat ready in
the Caucasus. These days, it is over 60,000 men strong. According to
the CIA, there are 810,000 men in Armenia aged 15 to 59 and almost
650,000 of them are fit for combat. Most experts say, however, that
mobilization resources of Armenia amount to 300,000 men, i.e. almost
10% of the total population (over 3.2 million).

Under the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe, in 2001 Armenia
declared 102 T-72 tanks and 204 armored vehicles (most of them
infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers). With the
military hardware the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe does not
apply to, Armenia has up to 700 armored vehicles. Its artillery
comprises 225 pieces of 122 mm and larger calibers including 50
multiple rocket launchers.

The Armenian Air Force includes five SU-25 ground-attack aircraft,
one MIG-25, 35 helicopters (the latter include twelve MI-24 attack
helicopters), and 3,000 servicemen. Yerevan intends to build up this
component of its Armed Forces. Not long ago, Defense Ministry of
Slovenia proclaimed the sale of ten SU-25s to Armenia (nine SU-25K
one-seaters and one SU-25UBK two-seater). The consignment will cost
Armenia $1 million. Armenia bought two IL-76 military transports from
Russia not long ago. The transports were bought at Russian domestic
prices and made it to Armenia together with Defense Minister of
Russia Sergei Ivanov.

Armenia builds up its Air Force in the hope of making it a match for
the Azerbaijani, but its antiaircraft defense is considered the best
throughout the Caucasus. Armenian antiaircraft defense comprises an
antiaircraft missile brigade and two regiments armed with almost 100
antiaircraft complexes of various models and modifications (Osa,
Krug, S-75, and S-125). Numerical strength is estimated at about
2,000 servicemen. Armenian antiaircraft defense developed in a hurry
in the war over Karabakh when Azerbaijani Air Force regularly and
energetically bombarded Armenian trenches and settlements both in
Karabakh and in Armenia’s own border districts. There was nothing
Armenia could do about it then. By 1993, however, it already had a
formidable antiaircraft defense in Armenia itself and in the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh. Its deployment cut Azerbaijani advantage in the
sky to the minimum.

These days, the Armenian skies are controlled by Armenian and Russian
antiaircraft defense units on joint combat duty since 1999. There are
at least 30 MIG-29 fighters and a regiment of S-300s quartered on the
territory of Armenia.

Allies in the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty

Armenia is a member of the Organization of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty. As such, it participates in all events organized
within its framework. In any case, Russia is Armenia’s oldest and
traditional ally. Ever since the regaining of sovereignty, the tandem
of Moscow and Yerevan has served as one of the few examples of bona
fide military-political cooperation in the Commonwealth. There is
practically no discord between Russia and Armenia in this sphere.

Russia and Armenia together defend the Armenian airspace or, rather,
the southern border of the Commonwealth. Armenian borders with Turkey
and Iran are manned by almost 2,000 Russian bodyguards who serve
shoulder to shoulder with their Armenian counterparts. Yet, it is the
102nd Military Base in Gyumri that is Russia’s major outpost in
Armenia. Unlike Tbilisi or Baku, official Yerevan never brings up the
subject of withdrawal of the Russian troops. When Sarkisjan is asked
the question, he never answers believing it a rhetoric question.
Armenian society regards the Russian troops as a covering force
defending it from the Turkish aggression.

Until recently, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 battle
infantry vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery
pieces, up to 30 MIG-23s and MIG-29s, and a regiment of S-300
antiaircraft complexes. In the last eighteen months, however, a great
deal of military hardware was moved there from Georgia. Armenia gave
the land and objects used by the 102nd Military Base over to Russia
and covers some communal services.

Officer training is another sphere of Russian-Armenian military
cooperation. In the first years of sovereignty when Armenia did not
have military educational establishments of its own, officers of its
army were trained in Russia. Even now when Armenia has a military
college on its own territory, the Armenian officer corps honors the
tradition and is trained at Russian military educational
establishments. On a visit to Armenia in late May, Ivanov said that
600 Armenian servicemen are being trained in Russia. “Armenia asks
for the permission to send 150 servicemen to Russia in 2005, and
Russia gave its consent,” Ivanov said.

It seems that Moscow and Yerevan do not plan to stop. The first
meeting of the joint Russian-Armenian government panel for
military-technical cooperation will take place this autumn. According
to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Russian factories will participate
in the Armenian program of military hardware modernization. He even
said that Russia is prepared to supply the necessary spare parts an
equipment.

Belarus is another ally of Armenia in the Organization of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty. The two countries signed a treaty in
2002. Under the document, Armenia will receive light weapons, armored
vehicles, ordnance, and optical devices in return for spare parts and
gadgets for military hardware. Armenia also intends to have its heavy
military hardware upgraded at Belarusian factories. Lieutenant
General Sergei Gurulev, Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian
Armed Forces, says that the Armenian-Belarusian military contacts
“become systematic and deliberate.”

Do not forget NATO

Greece is Armenia’s best ally in the Alliance. Greece and Armenia
share ancient ties and a common enemy – Turkey. Armenian officers are
trained in Greece. Every now and then Athens puts into motion
military aid programs. In 2003, the two countries signed another
military cooperation accord under which Greece will up the number of
Armenian servicemen trained at the military and military-medical
academies in Athens.

Armenia became a peacekeeper in February. It sent 34 servicemen to
Kosovo where they became an element of the Greek contingent. Armenian
servicemen in Kosovo are paid by the Greeks.

Yerevan has been shifting towards NATO lately, mostly within the
framework of the NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program. Cooperative
Best Effort exercise (the first one where Russia was represented) was
run on the territory of Armenia in 2003.

Armenian cooperation with NATO is mostly declarative for the time
being, but the United States – the country steadily upping its clout
with countries of the region – has far-reaching plans with regard to
Yerevan. In early 2003, the Pentagon announced several major military
programs in the Caucasus. Washington’s military aid to Armenia in
2004 will amount to $5 million even though the US Administration
intended to restrict it to $2 million at first. Armenia and the
United States signed a military-technical cooperation accord in
April. Some articles in the American media imply that the accord
specifies the use of Armenian airfields by the US AF.

Proclaiming complementariness as its foreign political doctrine,
official Yerevan never misses a chance to advance its contacts with
Washington. When the war in Iraq was under way, Armenia remained
neutral. It neither supported the war and America’s action nor
condemned them. These days, however, the parliament and government of
Armenia are working on the legislation that will enable Yerevan to
send servicemen to Iraq. The Cabinet already endorsed the decision of
the Defense Ministry to subscribe to the memorandum “On the command
and settlement of issues in connection with activities of the
international division in the forces of coalition in Iraq”. At first,
Armenia will probably send 10 de-miners and 3 doctors and some trucks
to Iraq.

Moreover, Armenia even permitted the United States to modernize its
communications, one of the most vulnerable items. Yerevan expects to
get communications means from American companies. The deliveries will
be paid for by the White House (the sum amounts to $7 million).
Commenting on it, Sarkisjan said that Russia is quite understanding.
“We are allies. It means that the strengthening of one partner will
benefit the other,” said Sarkisjan. “We initiated the process a year
ago, and I found our Russian colleagues quite understanding.” He said
that from military cooperation with the United States Armenia
expected to up combat potential of its own army.

So, Armenia ups its military might against the background of the
deepening crisis in the relations with Azerbaijan, the crisis that
threatens to deteriorate into another full-scale war. It should be
noted as well that in any conflict the Armenian national army may
count on servicemen from Karabakh. In fact, the Karabakh army even
leaves the Armenian behind in some parameters. Karabakh armed
formations cannot match the Armenian army in manpower (about 20,000
servicemen and mobilization resources at 60,000 men), but they are
certainly ahead of Armenia in heavy military hardware: 316 tanks, 324
armored vehicles, 322 artillery pieces of calibers over 122 mm, 44
multiple rocket launchers, and the antiaircraft defense system that
performed flawlessly in the hostilities in the 1990’s.

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Witnesses say Armenian pilots not involved in Equatorial Guinea coup –
spokesman

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 Aug 04

There has been an unexpected turn of events at the Equatorial Guinea
coup plot trial. Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher, has been arrested in South
Africa. [Passage omitted: known details of charges against sir Mark.]

Sixty-four expatriates were arrested in Zimbabwe airport on 7
March. After the investigation the Equatorial Guinean authorities
accused all of them of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea. Another
15 expatriates, six Armenians and nine Kazakhs, were later arrested on
the same charges. [Passage omitted: known details.]

The spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Gamlet Gasparyan, has
said that two out of seven South African citizens gave evidence today
and confirmed once again that the Armenian pilots were not involved in
the plot. It is still not known when the Armenian defendants will be
questioned.

Anadolu Agency
Aug 26 2004

Ankara To Have Busy Diplomacy Traffic In September

ANKARA – Ankara will have a busy diplomacy traffic in September,
diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

Sources said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who would come to
Turkey next week, would be the first Russian leader visiting Turkey
in the last 32 years.

Ankara would also host European Union (EU) Commissioner for
enlargement Guenter Verheugen in September, the same sources noted
and stressed the importance of this visit since it would be paid days
before the EU Commission would make public its progress report on
Turkey. The Commission is expected to publish its progress report on
October 6th.

Verheugen will visit Ankara, southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Aegean
city of Izmir, and commercial hub Istanbul between September 5th and
8th.

EU Commissioner Verheugen will meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on September 6th.

In the new EU Commission which will take over the office on November
1st and be presided by Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of Portugal,
Verheugen will be the EU Commission Vice President and the
Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry.

Another foreign high-ranking official who will visit Turkey in
September is Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Khatami is expected
to arrive in Ankara at the end of September, sources said.

-GUL’S MEETINGS-

On the other hand, Gul will visit several foreign countries in
September, it was learned.

Sources said that Gul was planning to join the informal meeting of EU
Foreign Ministers to be held in Maastricht, the Netherlands on
September 3rd and 4th.

Gul is also expected to visit Baltic countries, including Estonia,
Lithuania and Latvia between September 9th and 14th.

The same sources noted that Gul might also visit Czech Republic and
Portugal in September.

Gul will fly to the United States to join United Nations (UN) General
Assembly on September 17th. Turkish FM Gul will have a tripartite
meeting with Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan and Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov in New York, where they all participate
at the UN General Assembly.

The last meeting of the three ministers was in Istanbul during the
NATO summit held at the end of June. In this meeting, Turkey had
stated that it could play a role of a catalyst in settlement of
problems in the Caucasus.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 25 2004

PRIVATE MEETING OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV WITH PRESIDENT
OF GERMANY HORST KOEHLER
[August 25, 2004, 18:30:55]

Following the official welcoming ceremony, a private meeting between
President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev and President of the
Federative Republic of Germany Horst Koehler was held at the latter’s
residence on 25 August, AzerTAj personal correspondent reports.

During the conversation, President Horst Koehler highly valued the
Azerbaijani leader’s first official visit to Germany stressing it
would have a positive impact on the development of bilateral
relations, in particular, promote intensification of the economic
cooperation between the two countries.

Expressing deep satisfaction with the hospitality shown to him during
this visit, President Ilham Aliyev pointed out the importance of
intensifying the efforts to more expand the cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Germany.

During the meeting held in sincere and warm atmosphere, the parties
also exchange views on the Azerbaijan- Germany cooperation in the
framework of international organizations, integration of Azerbaijan
into the European structures, German investors in Azerbaijan economy
and other issues.

The two Presidents especially touched on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Mr. Horst Koehler stated in this
connection that Germany completely supports territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and will adhere to this position in the future. Germany as
the OSCE member will intensify its efforts concerning the problem, he
said.

President Ilham Aliyev highly valued Germany’s stance on the issue,
and expressed his deep gratitude to Mr. Koehler. The Head of the
Azerbaijan State invited the German President to pay an official
visit to Azerbaijan. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.

Associated Press Worldstream
August 21, 2004 Saturday 4:13 PM Eastern Time

Olympic boxing results

ATHENS, Greece

Results Saturday from the Olympic boxing competition:

48 Kg
Round of 16

Joseph Jermia, Namibia, def. Peter Wakefield, Australia, 29-20.

Sergey Kazakov, Russia, def. Raul Castaneda, Mexico, 41-16.

Alfonso Pinto, Italy, def. Carlos Jose Tamara Paternina, Colombia,
49-35.

Atagun Yalcinkaya, Turkey, def. Jeyhun Abiyev, Azerbaijan, 23-20.

Zou Shimming, China, def. Endalkachew Kebede, Ethiopia, 31-8.

Aleksan Nalbandyan, Armenia, def. Najah Ali, Iraq, 24-11.

Hong Moo-won, South Korea, def. Harry Tanamor, Philippines, 42-25.

Yan Bhartelemy Varela, Cuba, def. Suban Pannon, Thailand, 23-14.

Azg, Armenia
Aug 19 2004

ARMENIANS IN “POST-ROSE” GEORGIA

Van Baiburtian, an Armenian deputy at the parliament of Georgia, says
that the anti-Armenian atmosphere in Georgia, that was more apparent
during the 2003 parliament elections, has come to an end with Mikhail
Sahakashvili becoming the president. Armenians are hopeful about the
future.

According to the last population census, there are 250 thousand
Armenians in the country. The Armenians of Abkhazia, running to 80
thousand, are not included. The Armenians of Georgia welcomed the
rose revolution in the country and generally voted for Mikhail
Sahakashvili at 2004 polls.

What has changed in the neighboring country during the last 6 months
and what are the expectations the Armenians have? Today the euphoria
of the revolution is recessing, the roses are fading and there appear
people displeased with the new leaders. For instance, a group of
around hundred men gathered in front of the seat of the Georgian
president, when the later hosted the prime minister of Armenia,
demanding the “Judeo-Masonic” leaders to release Basil Mkalavishvili
known for his intolerance towards religious minorities.

Marina Kirakosian-Mosesova is a poetess who writes in Russian but
claims to be an Armenian poetess by her mentality. She lives in a
house built by a famous oilman Avetik Ghukasian and is very proud of
that as the Armenian Catholicos Khrimean Hayrick was once hosted
there. Marina published 2 books during the time of Eduard
Shevardnadze and now the third book is to be published.

“At present I can’t say what has changed for the Armenians with
Sahakashvili coming into power. It has been several months that he is
a president and there is no major change yet. I hope that the state
of Tbilisi Armenians will better”, she said.

The Armenians of Georgia occupy a distinct place in all Armenian
Diaspora. First of all they are poor. There is not even a single rich
Armenian in Georgia, which is a rather strange fact if we consider
the ability of the Armenians to earn money abroad.

Though most of the Armenians are optimistic about the future, Yuri
Mkrtumiants, a might-have-been president candidate at the 2004 polls,
thinks that the Armenians will not have a “rose” future. Mkrtumiants
says that Sahakashvili is the Georgian Ataturk. He thinks that the
Georgian nationalism will not be fought back by the new authorities.

He singled out two cases of nationalism. Recently a group of Georgian
journalists from Rustavi-2 TV station was in Sanahin. In the
reporting back to Georgia they declared that it’s high time that
Georgian believers return to their ancient worship places. Some
nationalistic circles in Georgia consider not only Sanahin but also
the whole marz of Lori up to the Sevan lake to be a Georgian land.

If the Rustavi-2 TV has the greatest audience then the Kviris Palitra
newspaper has the biggest circulation in Georgia. In one of its May
issues the newspaper published the map of the historical Georgia
where Armenia appeared to be a Georgian territory.

Khngianos Bazayan is one of old residents of Havlabar (Armenian
district in Tbilisi). He says that today’s Georgia is ruled by
chauvinists and fascists. They operate in conspiracy and “poison the
mind of the Georgians against Armenians”. “A man goes to ask for a
job and they ask what nationality you are and then throw at his face
that he is Armenian”, complains Bazayan and adds: “But I have little
hope as Sahakashvili is more realistic.” He tells with a deep pain
that Armenians are considered superfluous whereas they have done a
lot for Tbilisi.

Khachatur Gevorgian is another old resident of Tbilisi. He is known
as teacher and miniaturist. “Nothing has changed, everything is the
same as it was with Shevardnadze. They promised to broadcast Armenian
programs on the TV but instead the Armenian radio has stopped
working”, says Gevorgian.

He remembered the days of Russian tsar Nikolai the II when Armenian
Diaspora was flourishing in Tiflis (name of Tbilisi till 1936). “The
Armenian life here is dying away and will continue to die away. There
are a lot of things to speak out but we can’t as we live here”, he
says.

The head of the Armenian section at the Georgian radio station
Susanna Khachatrian is sure that there appeared a spark of hope for
the Armenians with the new authorities coming into power. “Today we
have hope that we will remain Armenians in this land by preserving
our cultural establishments, monuments and the Armenian spirit”, she
says.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Aug 20 2004

Putin Urges Georgia, South Ossetia To Negotiate

20 August 2004 — Russian President Vladimir Putin today urged
Georgia and its separatist region of South Ossetia to renounce
violence and settle their standoff through talks.

Addressing reporters after meeting Armenian President Robert
Kocharian in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin said only
negotiations will allow the sides to find a solution to their
sovereignty dispute.

“There can be only one way out: to sit down to the negotiation table;
secondly, to be able to reach agreements; and thirdly, to have enough
political will to implement those agreements,” Putin said.

Putin also said he hoped both parties will have enough “political
will” to implement decisions reached by the joint commission in
charge of monitoring the 1992 Georgian-South Ossetian peace
agreement.

Earlier today, Russia’s Foreign Ministry welcomed Georgia’s decision
to pull back its troops from South Ossetia after this week’s
violence.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered the pullout yesterday
after its forces took possession of strategic outposts near the
regional capital Tskhinvali.

Russia had earlier criticized Saakashvili for sending troops into
South Ossetia despite earlier pledges to peacefully reassert his
authority over the region.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
August 17, 2004, Tuesday

FEATURE: History takes centre stage at 2004 Olympics

Athens

More than 116 centuries after a Roman emperor abolished the Olympics
because of its pagan roots, ancient Olympia will once again take
centre stage with the shot put competition on Wednesday.

The same day the Panathinaiko stadium in Athens will see the medal
round in the women’s archery competition – the first Olympic final
there since the start of the modern era Games in 1896.

Nestled in a valley covered in pine trees and laurel, the venue at
Olympia will play host to around 80 shot putters from at least 47
countries. Up to 15,000 spectators will watch them, sitting on the
grassy slopes around the stadium, rather than seats, as they did in
ancient times.

The plan to hold the men’s and women’s competition at the ancient
stadium will mark the first time since the Games began in 776 BC that
female athletes will be allowed to compete there. It will also be the
first time women spectators are allowed in.

In ancient times, any woman caught watching the event, where men
competed in the nude, were punished by death.

Spectators lucky enough to attend will pass through an impressive
arch to their places around the arena of the remarkably preserved
stadium, which dates to the 4th century BC.

In its heyday, the stadium had a capacity of 40,000.

Although the shot put was not part of the ancient games, organisers
decided to hold the event at the ancient stadium because it requires
little space and can be completed in a single day before dusk.

“I believe it will be a fantastic spectacle. Just imagining that the
first Olympics were staged there is an amazing feeling,” said German
shot putter Astrid Kumbernuss.

“We will be very careful not to break anything,” she added of the
stadium, which is now a World Heritage Site.

In their infancy, the games took place in just one day, expanding
later to a five-day Olympic festival. In line with its ancient
significance, organisers have decided to keep the event simple with
no corporate banners and the bare minimum of electrical equipment.

The stadium is located next to the ancient temple of Zeus, whose
massive marble columns, crumbled in an earthquake, can still be seen
as a testament to its former glory. The temple once featured a huge
statue of the prominent Greek god, listed as one of the seven wonders
of the ancient world.

The Games were abolished in 393 AD by Roman Emperor Theodosius, who
had adopted Christianity and considered the Olympics a pagan ritual.
His decree ended an uninterrupted 1,169-year Olympic tradition.

The women’s shot put winner – likely Irina Korshanenko or Svetlana
Krivljova of Russia – will be the first Olympic champion in Olympia
since Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369 AD.

When the modern Olympics were revived in 1896 at the Panathinako
stadium or “Kalimarmaro” in central Athens, more than 17,000
spectators were on hand to witness the first Olympic victory by
American James Connolley in the triple jump.

On Wednesday, the famous stadium which is hosting an Olympic
competition for the first time in 108 years will award the first
medals in the archery event.

The marble stadium, also the finish of the marathon races later in
the 2004 Games, underwent a costly modernisation of its marble
structure as Greece welcomed the Games back home. dpa cp jb ms