Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

AzerNews
Aug 5 2004

Police thwart opposition picket

Some 30 members of the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (WAPFP)
attempted to hold an action in front of the Foreign Ministry at about
noon on Monday protesting the participation of Armenian officers in
the NATO training sessions due in Baku in September. The action was
not sanctioned by the Mayor’s Office of Baku.

40 police officers prevented the protesters holding slogans, “Death
to aggressor”, “Respect for our state and nation”, “Take Armenian
criminals to international court”, from approaching the Ministry
building. The police also prevented the protesters from reading out a
declaration they adopted but allowed them to submit it to the
ministry. WAPFP initially intended to hold similar protest actions in
front of several ministries and embassies of NATO member-states in
Baku, including the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Poland,
Italy and Greece, before August 10.

The party members also plan to hold a picket in front of the Ministry
of Justice demanding that their party be registered.

Mayor sued
However, on Tuesday WAPFP postponed the protest actions for three
days. The party has sued Mayor of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov following
the refusal of the mayor’s office to sanction the actions. According
to the WAPFP deputy chairman Elchin Mirzabayli, the lawsuit was filed
to the Sabayil district court on the grounds that the Mayor violated
the provisions of the law on freedom of gatherings. Mirzabayli added
that the court does not issue a fair ruling, the party will continue
protest actions. WAPFP, founded early this year, along with two other
entities, the Popular Front Party “reformers” and the Popular Front
Party “classics”, considers itself the legal successor of the Popular
Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), which was chaired by the
ex-president of Azerbaijan Abulfaz Elchibay prior to his demise.
WAPFP is currently chaired by parliament member Gudrat Hasanguliyev.

IT’S DANGEROUS TO SWIM IN YEREVAN POOLS

YEREVAN, August 5 (Noyan Tapan). The decorative pools and lakes of
Yerevan aren’t envisaged for swimming and can’t provide the security
of the swimmers. Nune Bakunts, the chief specialist of the
Sanitary-Hygienic Inspection of the RA Ministry of Health, declared
this at the August 5 press conference. According to her, as different
stray animals may freely enter these poools swimming in them is very
dangerous from point of view of spreading of different infectious
diseases. It was aslo mentioned that though upon the decision of
Yerevan Mayor notices prohibiting swimming will be placed in the
neighbourhood of these pools nevertheless the population’s attention
should be once more drowned to this problem. At present, according to
Nune Bakunts, there are no epidemics of acute intestinal deseases in
the capital. As to the Jrashkhar (Water World) aquapark, M.Bakunts
said that it’s controlled by their department and all the sanitary
norms are observed there. Anahit Hovhannisian, the chief specialist of
the Department on Mother’s and Child’s Healthcare of the Ministry of
Health, reported that the ultra-violet sunrays may be especially
dangerous not only in the respect of skin burns, but they may also
provoke violation of metabolism in consequence of loss of liquid and
gist by the organism, may suppress the immune system of the child,
which leads to activization of diffeent illnesses. It was mentioned
that often rise of temperature, dizziness, sickness are observed in
case of sunblows and in this case the people should apply to the
doctor.

LEVEL OF POTABLE WATER POLLUTION IN AKHALKALAK BECOMES DANGEROUS

AKHALKALAK, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). In consequence of rains in the
town of Akhalkalak the level of potable water pollution reaches the
point when its use without boiling becomes dangerous. Romik Avagian,
the chief sanitary doctor of the Akhalkalak region, expressed such
opinion. Akhalkalak receives potable water from the location of Ablar
situated 10-12 km far from the town. The reason of water pollution is
the fact that the hollows in the location of Ablar are filled with
rainwater and this rainwater is mixed with the water flowing to the
town by the waterpipe. The public organizations of the region
mentioned at the “round table” that it’s necessary to undertake urgent
measures, otherwise serious consequences are possible. The A-Info
agency mentioned that the springs in Ablar are the only ones in
Javakhk which are to a certain extent controlled by the state, water
is examined in the laboratory and if necessary population is informed
about water pollution. And the other springs of Javakhk (Bezhano,
Dilif, Ekhtila) providing villages with water almost aren’t
controlled.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Aug 4 2004

U.S.: Armenian-American Group Backs Kerry, Snubs Bush
By Andrew Tully

Washington, 4 August 2004 (RFE/RL) — Americans of Armenian descent
number only about 1 million to 1.5 million of the overall U.S.
population of about 280 million people. But Armenian-Americans are
politically active, and their political influence is stronger than
their size would suggest. One prominent group, the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) has formally endorsed Senator John
Kerry’s campaign for the presidency against President George W. Bush.

The ANCA says it doesn’t simply support Kerry. It opposes Bush,
accusing him of not honoring a promise he made when he needed votes
during his first campaign for president four years ago.

In February 2000, Bush was fighting hard for support in Michigan,
which has a small but politically active Armenian population. He
issued a statement saying his administration would recognize that
Armenians were the victims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Turks from 1915 to 1923. “On the Armenian-American issues, coming
from Massachusetts, which has a strong and active Armenian-American
community, over the years he’s [Kerry] had time to develop strong
relationships with that community.” — Chouldjian

Bush eventually won the presidency. But according to Elizabeth
Chouldjian, the ANCA’s communications director, he backed down on
that promise, refusing to endorse the bills that each year come
before Congress that would require the U.S. government to recognize
the Armenian genocide. And that wasn’t all.

“It hasn’t so much been his [Bush’s] silence in terms of not
utilizing the term [“genocide”], but at the same time his
administration’s opposition to genocide legislation, which makes
reference to the Armenian genocide in the framework of honoring the
15th anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the genocide
convention.” Chouldjian said.

Chouldjian points to that and many other actions by the Bush
administration, including a reduction in aid to Armenia, siding with
Turkey and Azerbaijan in their disputes with Armenia, and even trying
to formally designate Armenia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Kerry, on the other hand, has for decades been active on issues
important to Armenian-Americans, Chouldjian said. She points to his
sponsorship of legislation on the genocide issue, on improved U.S.
trade with Armenia. and on supporting Armenia against Turkey and
Azerbaijan.

“On the Armenian-American issues, coming from Massachusetts, which
has a strong and active Armenian-American community, over the years
he’s [Kerry] had time to develop strong relationships with that
community. And over his 20 years as senator, he has consistently been
supportive of every single Armenian-American initiative that I can
point to,” Chouldjian said.

Ross Vartian agrees that Kerry is a far more attractive candidate
than Bush to Armenian-Americans. Vartian is the executive director of
the Armenian Assembly of America, another nationwide advocacy group.
Under its nonprofit legal status, the organization cannot, by law,
formally endorse any political candidates. But Vartian said his
contacts with Armenian-Americans around the country show that they
greatly prefer Kerry to Bush, at least on issues important to
Armenian-Americans.

Vartian told RFE/RL that the ANCA’s endorsement could be a help to
Kerry. “I would say that Armenian-Americans are known to be civically
active and politically active,” he said. “It is something that we are
urged to be by our own community and by our own parents. In terms of
a voting bloc, we aren’t so numerous in any given location that we’re
going to tip the balance unless the races are extremely close, but
being involved in the political process is part of our tradition.”

But Vartian stressed that it will not ensure that every registered
Armenian-American voter will support Kerry. He said that like other
Americans, voters of Armenian descent fall into three general
categories: those who vote strictly in accordance with their party
loyalties; those whose votes are based on issues that are important
to their own community; and those who vote on more general issues.

Vartian said that because of their activism, Armenian-Americans
appear to have disproportionate political influence in that they can
persuade some members of Congress to sponsor legislation they
support. But he said their ultimate influence on elections remains
modest.

“When races are that close, there are probably a hundred different
groups who could make that claim and could make that difference,”
Vartian said. “So, yes, technically, Armenians in Michigan could make
the difference in a very close race. But if it’s true for Armenians,
it’s true for about 99 other groups as well. And that’s why I believe
that when these two major political efforts — Kerry’s and Bush’s —
concentrate on states like this, they don’t leave out anybody,
including the Armenians.”

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/03/2004
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1) Christian-Muslim Co-existence Vital to Middle East States Aram I
2) Paul Guiragosian Museum in Yerevan
3) Karabagh President and ARF Delegation Discuss Cooperation
4) BP Executive Meets Georgian President, Seeks Permission To Proceed with
Pipeline Construction
5) South Ossetia Accuses Georgia of Military Buildup

1) Christian-Muslim Co-existence Vital to Middle East States Aram I

ANTELIAS–Reacting to the recent series of coordinated explosions that rocked
five churches across Baghdad and Mosul on Sunday, including an Armenian
Apostolic Church, His Holiness Aram I released a statement condemning violence
as a means to solve problems, and emphasized solidarity, dialogue, and mutual
tolerance.
“Violence in all its forms and expressions is against human and religious
values and principles. Neither Islam nor Christianity will accept violence
as a
way to solve problems. Bombing of Christian churches in Iraq is a deep harm
against the Christian-Muslim existence. Both Christians and Muslims with their
equal obligations and rights are co-citizens of the Arab countries. It is my
firm expectation that the government of Iraq will take the necessary measures
to protect the rights and the well being of all citizens. It is also my
expectation that Christians and Muslims in Iraq and in different parts of the
Middle East will continue their dialogue and collaboration based on shared
values and aspirations, and strengthen their commitment to peace with
justice,”
stated His Holiness.
Recalling the centuries-long co-existence of Christians and Muslims in the
Middle East, His Holiness emphasized that close affinities in various societal
sectors have emerged as a result of interaction and dialogue. “The
Christian-Muslim co-existence is neither a conceptual notion nor an imposed
reality; it is an integral and inseparable part of the societies in the Middle
East,” he concluded.

2) Paul Guiragosian Museum in Yerevan

YEREVAN (Armenpress/Art-lb)–A museum permanently displaying the works of
diaspora Artist Paul Guiragosian has been established in Yerevan, Armenia’s
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Hovig Hoveyan, announced on
Tuesday, revealing that Guiragossian’s wife has donated the artwork for the
museum.
Born in Jerusalem in 1926 to survivors of the Armenian genocide, Paul
Guiragosian settled in Beirut with his family in 1939. He started to paint in
1942. In 1957, he received a scholarship to study at the Academy of Fine Arts
in Florence, and spent a year studying and painting in Paris in 1061. He lived
the rest of his life in Beirut, where he created most of his works.
Guiragosian had a foreboding sense of tragedy from his earliest years.
Some of
his early paintings were haunted by a figure that had lost one leg.
Ironically,
in the early 1970s he lost a leg in an elevator accident. Guiragosian, during
his lifetime, became Lebanon’s most celebrated painter, and remains so to this
day. Guiragosian received a state funeral in 1993.
Paul Guiragosian was consumed by his art and paid little attention to
anything
but his family and his painting. His mature works express the complexities of
the human condition through renderings of vertical, elongated, purged bodies,
both static and in motion, painted with thick layers of often luminous colors.
He also created frescoes, mosaics, stained glass windows, sculpture, and was a
book illustrator. His paintings are always serious in feeling.
In the thirty years of his professional career, Guiragosian held some forty
exhibitions in Lebanon, and throughout museums in Paris, Frankfurt, Marburg,
London, Milan, Florence, Washington, DC, New York, Ohio, Tokyo, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, and Syria. He garnered numerous prizes and was received by various
governments.
The human body is always present in Guiragosian’s work; man unchangeable over
centuries, beginning from the Stone Age: Man, the center of the cosmos, center
of nature, man the link between earth and sky, between finite and infinite
His works reveal his profound faith in man–symbolized in ethereal human
bodies–refined and unsubstantial, pressing against each other, with no
ornamental detail or embellishment.

3) Karabagh President and ARF Delegation Discuss Cooperation

STEPANAKERT (ArmenPress)–President Arkady Ghoukasian of the Mountainous
Karabagh Republic (MKR) met on Tuesday with an ARF delegation composed of
Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Vahan Hovhannisian and members of
the
ARF Artsakh (Karabagh) Central Committee.
The participants discussed the issues of democratic reforms in the MKR and
the
role of political parties in that process.
In that regard, Deputy Speaker Hovhannisian stressed the importance of
expanding the level of cooperation between the ARF and the Karabagh
authorities.
In turn, President Ghoukasian expressed his government’s eagerness to engage
in constructive collaboration with all political forces in the republic,
including the ARF.

4) BP Executive Meets Georgian President, Seeks Permission To Proceed with
Pipeline Construction

(Eurasianet.org)–A top British Petroleum (BP) executive met with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili on Tuesday, aiming to secure permission to
proceed with construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline through an
environmentally sensitive area of Georgia. Georgian officials earlier
ordered a
two-week construction halt in the Borjomi region, saying BP had not obtained
the necessary permits.
David Woodward, BP’s top executive in the Caucasus who is overseeing the BTC
project, sought to reassure the Georgian leadership that the oil giant was
committed to protecting the Borjomi region, site of a national park and
mineral
water springs. Woodward reportedly characterized his talks with the Georgian
president as successful without disclosing details. No Georgian officials gave
any immediate comment on the discussions. The day before the
Woodward-Saakashvili meeting, Azerbaijani officials raised the Borjomi-BTC
issue during talks with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.
The Borjomi controversy can be traced to July 12, when Georgia’s Environment
Ministry reportedly sent BP a formal reminder that the oil company needed
permits to begin construction on a 17-kilometer stretch of pipeline that
passes
through the Borjomi region. BP reportedly did not respond to the government
reminder, and, as photographs taken by local activists affiliated with the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showed, the company proceeded with construction in
the area. The government issued an order July 22 to suspend construction for
two weeks, giving BP time to obtain the necessary permits.
Shortly after the stoppage was announced, a BP representative in Tbilisi,
Rusudan Medzmariasvhili, indicated that a two-week halt would not cause any
change in the pipeline’s overall construction timetable, which calls for the
1,750-kilometer conduit to be completed in early 2005.
The plan to run the BTC pipeline through the Borjomi region of Georgia has
long generated controversy. Environmental groups have asserted that BP’s plans
to protect the area from spills and other pipeline-related problems are
inadequate. The US $3.6-billion project has been plagued by negative publicity
of late. In late June, a report published by the British newspaper, The
Independent, said the safety of the pipeline was being threatened by shoddy
construction practices. Contractors and sub-contractors, according to the
report, were “cutting corners” in the attempt to meet construction deadlines.

5) South Ossetia Accuses Georgia of Military Buildup

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti)–Authorities in the breakaway Georgian republic of South
Ossetia have accused Georgia of increasing its military presence in the
Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.
“According to our intelligence,” Irina Gagloyeva, chair of Georgia’s Media
Committee, told RIA in a telephone interview Tuesday, “80 Georgian interior
troops have been recently deployed in the vicinity of the Georgian village of
Nikozi, on the border with South Ossetia. A barrack is now being hastily built
for them in the village.”
According to her, Georgia has taken further provocative actions against South
Ossetia in the past 24 hours. Georgians fired small arms on South Ossetia last
night; however, no one was injured.
Georgian policemen reportedly detained and beat two South Ossetian policemen
near the village of Kekhvi. “The policemen were not released until 4 a.m.,”
she
said. “They are now in a Tskhinvali hospital and one has a concussion and the
other has broken ribs.”
She also noted that Georgia’s actions were carefully orchestrated, and aimed
at “exerting pressure on authorities in South Ossetia ahead of their planned
meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.”
“Consultations are currently underway,” she said, “and the South Ossetian
side
has no unanimous opinion yet as to the format, the time-frame or the venue of
such a meeting.” She said that the South Ossetian government would like the
meeting to involve a third party.

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ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
August 1, 2004

IRAQ: ATTACCHI A CHIESE; UNA EVACUATA PRIMA DELL’ATTENTATO ;
SECONDO LA MISNA, ALTRIMENTI SAREBBE STATA UNA STRAGE

(ANSA) – ROMA, 2 AGO – La chiesa di Sant’Elia a Gedida, nella
zona sud orientale di Baghdad, era stata “evacuata qualche
minuto prima dell’esplosione, altrimenti sarebbe stata una
strage”. La chiesa e’ una delle piu’ frequentate dalla
comunita’ cristiana di Baghdad. Al parroco erano giunte alcune
voci ed era stato avvisato che qualche automobile sospetta
girava nella zona da alcuni minuti. L’esplosione ha ucciso due
musulmani che lavoravano come guardiani nella moschea che sorge
a lato della chiesa. Lo ha detto questa mattina all’agenzia
missionaria Misna una fonte religiosa nella capitale irachena
che, a distanza di alcune ore dall’ondata di attacchi contro
alcuni dei piu’ importanti luoghi di culto cristiani, ha fornito
nuovi particolari e alcune precisazioni.

Le chiese prese di mira ieri dai terroristi iracheni nella
capitale Baghdad sono cinque: due cattedrali, quella armena
cattolica e quella siro-cattolica, e tre chiese caldee, una nel
quartiere di Gedida e due in quello di Dora.

A Dora i danni maggiori si sono registrati nella chiesa dei
Santissimi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo dove, secondo fonti
religiose, almeno 5 persone sono morte e molte altre sono
rimaste ferite. Nell’attacco contro la chiesa di San Pietro e
Paolo e’ stato colpito anche il seminario attiguo.

A Mossul, due persone sono morte e molte sono rimaste ferite
nell’esplosione della chiesa di rito caldeo di Mar Polis, nel
quartiere al-Mohandessin, nel centro della citta’. Secondo fonti
religiose attendibili, che hanno richiesto l’anonimato, tra le
vittime contro le 6 chiese irachene non vi sarebbe alcun
religioso.

Il bilancio complessivo degli attacchi resta comunque ancora
incerto. Stamani l’esercito statunitense ha fatto sapere che la
stima totale sarebbe di 10 morti e 40 feriti, ma fino a ieri
sera il bilancio oscillava dalle due alle 15 vittime.

Sulle responsabilita’, il consigliere per la sicurezza
nazionale del governo provvisorio iracheno ha accusato oggi il
gruppo di Abu Musab al Zarqawi, il presunto alleato di Al Qaida.
“Non c’e ombra di dubbio che questo porta il marchio di
Zarqawi” ha detto Mowaffaq al Rubaie, aggiungendo che gli
attentati sono un tentativo di spingere i cristiani a lasciare
il Paese.

In Iraq vivono 22 milioni di musulmani insieme ad alcune
comunita’ cristiane di varie tradizioni religiose, oltre ai
seguaci delle religioni sabea, mandea e di altre numericamente
meno importanti. Prima della guerra del Golfo, i cattolici erano
oltre 700.000 – tra caldei (piu’ di 600.000), latini (2.500),
siro-antiocheni (75.000) e armeni (2.000) – ma da allora sono
stati in tanti ad abbandonare il Paese. (ANSA).

FREEDOM FIGHTERS DEMAND RIGHTS BACK

YEREVAN, JULY 30. ARMINFO. “We demand the restoration of our lawful
rights and privileges,” the members of the legislative action group,
commanders of detachments that took part in liberation of Nagorny
Karabakh stated at a press conference held at the “Armenian-Aryan
Union” organization. The disabled soldiers and the families of killed
freedom-fighters demand the resolution of the housing problem on the
basis of the list approved by the RA Ministry of Defense. Another
problem is the adoption of a law on the status of freedom-fighters.

The law is expected to be applied to the freedom-fighters that took
part in battles for at least six months. The freedom-fighter demanded
a rise in pensions to the families of killed and wounded soldiers.

HRANT SHAHINIAN’S MEMORIAL PLAQUE OPENED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The prominent Armenian athlete, many
times Olympic, world and European champion, skillful sport manager
Hrant Shahinian would have been 80 years old on July 30. Although he
died still seven years ago, he is remembered by many as a wonderful
man and specialist. The opening of the memorial plaque in the house of
Shahinian in Yerevan’s Charents street was intended to immortalize
that memory. The Chairman of the government-affiliated Sport
Committee, Armenian NOC President Ishkhan Zakarian, Sport Committee
Vice-Chairman Mikael Ispirian, Yerevan Vice-Mayor Grigor Mirzoyan,
well-known sportsman recognized as the best sportsman of Armenia in
the 20th century Albert Azarian made speeches at the event.

H. Shahinian’s widow made a speech of appreciation and gave her thanks
for the event. The author of the memorial plaque is architect Tigran
Barseghian, the sculptor is Gagik Stepanian.

ANS TV, Baku, in Azeri
28 Jul 04

Local official says Armenians use river to float booby-traps to
Azerbaijan

[Presenter Natavan Babayeva] Armenians even use rivers on the
occupied territories for provocative ends.

[Correspondent, over video of sappers and anti-mine equipment in
rural area] The Armenians float mines and explosive ammunition on
Tartar river to the territory of Tartar District [northwestern
Azerbaijan], Ilqar Musayev, chief of the Tartar district civil
defence headquarters, has said. We should note that the Armenian
positions are located higher than the positions of our army. This
eases the enemy’s provocations on our territory.

[A man captioned as Ilqar Musayev, chief of the Tartar district civil
defence headquarters] [beginning of sentence missing] is being
floated on the river, enters fields through canals and irrigation
ditches. You know, some of them are bombs, but look like other
things, for example toys and other deceptive objects.

[Correspondent] According to Musayev, about 200 people in Tartar have
been blown up on mines since 1994 following the end of military
operations. As against previous years, the number of victims of mines
and unexploded ammunition grew in 2004. That is why the district
executive authorities have appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers and
the Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Action [ANAMA] to clear the
dangerous areas of mines. ANAMA representatives, who have been
working in Tartar since 29 June, will clear mines on 975,000 square
metres where major military operations were held during the first
Karabakh war.

[A man captioned as Ramil Azizov, ANAMA’s operational manager for
Tartar District] This mined area comprises 116, 451 square metres. It
is planned to end the work here in about 40 days. After finishing
work in this area we will start work on [indistinct] mined area where
a reconnaissance group is currently operating.

[Correspondent] ANAMA has 43 employees involved in this work. In
addition, sniffer dogs are being used to discover mines. An equipped
brigade of doctors is also operating to intervene in possible
unfortunate incident on time. Generally speaking, 29m square metres
around 23 villages in Tartar have been mined. The main part of this
areas is suitable for sowing.

Rufat Hasanov, Sahin Rzayev, Zaur Naibov, ANS.

Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
28 Jul 04

Karabakh official receives Britain’s Baroness Cox

Stepanakert, 28 July: The people and the government of Artsakh [the
Armenian name for Karabakh] highly appreciate the efforts of [the
deputy speaker of the British House of Lords] Baroness Caroline Cox,
and the international organization Christian Solidarity – which Cox
leads – to assist Nagornyy Karabakh and to protect its interests on
the international arena, foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR], Ashot Gulyan has said. He received the delegation
headed by Cox on 27 July.

Cox told Gulyan that she is setting up a new foundation which will
specialize in protecting human rights. The Christian Solidarity
organization, meanwhile, will continue to implement its humanitarian
programmes. In particular, she will continue to assist the Stepanakert
intensive care centre which has achieved, according to Cox,
international recognition.

[Passage omitted: minor details]