Author: Navasardian Karapet

BIG-NOSED VARDAN AND ANDRE IN AZERBAIJAN

Lragir.am
10 July 06

Alekper Aliyev, reporter of the Bakinski Rabochi, participating
in the international seminar entitled "European Integration As a
Factor Favoring Karabakh Settlement" in Yerevan, presented the moods
in Azerbaijan regarding Armenians and the past and present of the
conflict over Karabakh to the news reporter of the Lragir.am.

According to Alekper Aliyev, in the early 90s there were myths about
the Armenian lobby, Azerbaijanis invented excuses for their defeat
rather than fought. "The Armenian lobby was pictured as a rich and
big-nosed Vardan, who could meet with Bush or Gorbachov at any time,
or invite them to Yerevan, station the U.S. army in Karabakh, organize
an earthquake in Azerbaijan and even turn back the time," told the
Azerbaijani reporter. Now there are other myths. "They are gradually
forgetting Vardan, however Andre is our new nightmare." Alekper
Aliyev wonders why an episode of the biography of Andre participating
in Eurovision became a national issue. And the change in Andre’s
biography on the website of the contest expected by the Azerbaijanis
was "accepted as a historical victory". "We admitted the loss of 1/6
of our territory, but we are ready to kill for the copyright of tolma
[a kind of dish]. Our victory in the football match with Armenians
was presented as a victory equal to the capture of Berlin in 1945."

Alekper Aliyev does not fear troubles like the reporter of the
Baku-based Obozrevatel, who was fired for having visited Karabakh.

Karabakh is a more sensitive issue, Armenia is not that sensitive,
announced Alekper Aliyev and added that the reporter of the Obozrevatel
was admitted back after the strictures of the Union of Journalists of
Azerbaijan. Besides, the Azerbaijani minister of foreign affairs Elmar
Mammedyarov announced, "Everyone can go to Karabakh, it is our land,
and every Karabakhi can go to Baku, it is their country."

Unlike Yerevan Baku does not hold seminars with representatives of
Armenian NGOs. Alekperov says such seminars were organized formerly.

However, now the Azerbaijani government cannot guarantee security,
"extremists are few in number but unpredictable." This is for the past
two years. Formerly, Armenians from both Armenia and Karabakh took
part in seminars. Azerbaijan is a country of contrasts. If you are an
Armenian, they may both hug you and kill you in the street, says the
Azerbaijani reporter. 95 percent of Armenians living in Azerbaijan
are women. There are minibus drivers, teachers. "Nobody hurts them,
but they cannot announce in the street that they are Armenians."

Alekper Aliyev states that the society in Azerbaijan does not want war,
if it did, it would demand. "But there is a party with 5.5 members,
which wants war. The Azerbaijani opposition has expired. People do
not trust the opposition any longer."

And the journalist reports: the reality is that the confidence of the
Armenians of Karabakh for their independent future is in contrast with
dissatisfaction and fury of the Azerbaijanis. "Nobody is willing to
accept the suggestions on the resolution of the conflict discussed
in the negotiations." Alekper Aliyev announced that he arrived in
Yerevan to talk to people, which the authorities fail to do.

AB Haber, Belgium
EU-Turkey News Network
July 7 2006

STATEMENT BY PROF. YAKUP KEPENEK, MEMBER OF THE TURKISH DELEGATION TO
THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

PLENARY SESSION
(6 JULY 2006)

15TH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
(3-7 JULY 2006, BRUSSELS)

Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues,

In our deliberations throughout the week, we have taken a number of
significant decisions for strengthening human security in the OSCE
region. The debate on the resolutions and the supplementary items has
given us the opportunity to exchange views on issues of common
concern and to reinforce our dialogue in order to address challenges
we all face. We thank all the rapporteurs and the authors of the
amendments for their hard work. We also welcome Montenegro as a new
participating State in this dialogue.

In our debate, it has become clear once again that the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly is a unique platform for sincere and
constructive political dialogue for enhancing peace and security.
Most of the interventions have lived up to that standard and
expectations. There were only a few who regrettably have chosen to
use the proceedings of this august body to extend biased and
misleading allegations. To facilitate smooth running of the Committee
proceedings we have not responded to those unwarranted allegations
one by one.

Allow me now to make a few comments on what one delegation has said
on the Cyprus question in all three Committee meetings. They talked
about the so-called "Turkish occupation" of the northern part of the
island as a violation of the international law and commitments.
Furthermore, they referred to Turkey’s EU accession process and
claimed a link between this process and the Cyprus question. I have
to be straightforward to get my messages through:

Cyprus question did not start when Turkey intervened in the island in
1974. The question started much earlier and in 1963 the Turkish
Cypriots were ousted by force from all organs of the Republic of
Cyprus established as a partnership state in accordance with the 1960
London and Zurich Agreements. The intervention in 1974 based on
Turkey’s rights emanating from the international treaties of 1960 was
a reaction to the attempt by the military regime in Greece to annex
the island through a military coup. The Turkish intervention brought
peace to the island which lasted until today.

Since 1974, both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots have supported the
efforts carried out under the good offices mission of the United
Nations Secretary General towards finding a just and viable
settlement to the Cyprus question. However, the Greek Cypriot side
rejected various draft proposals for settlement, more recently the
Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem, the well-known Annan
Plan in April 2004. The Turkish Cypriot people approved the Annan
Plan by a clear majority (over 64 per cent). The affirmative vote has
been applauded by the UN and the rest of the international community
which was accompanied by calls for restoration of direct economic,
trade and cultural activities of the Turkish Cypriots. Until today,
not much has changed in the daily lives of the Turkish Cypriots and
the forty-year long isolation and embargoes imposed on them continue
unabated.

The accession of the Greek Cypriot Administration into the European
Union without a comprehensive settlement played a significant role in
increasingly uncompromising policy of the Greek Cypriot side who
rejected the Annan Plan. We regard fairness and objectivity as our
guiding principles in the relations between Turkey and the EU. We
also expect our partners in the EU to fulfil their commitments they
have made both towards Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. Putting an
end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots including starting
direct trade is but one of them. Turkey is determined to continue its
efforts towards the solution of the Cyprus problem under the auspices
of the good-offices of the UN Secretary General based on the Annan
Plan.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, a few words on the Southern Caucasus. Southern
Caucasus region is strategically important for Turkey and for the
entire Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region not least because of the
energy and transport corridors between Europe and the Caspian basin.
The "frozen conflicts", including in Upper-Karabakh, obstruct
regional cooperation perspectives and initiatives. The peaceful
resolution of the Upper-Karabakh conflict would not only contribute
to the regional cooperation but also to the normalization of the
Turkish-Armenian relations.

The Turkish people is united in its determination to foster peaceful
relations with all its neighbours based on mutual respect and the
spirit of cooperation for a better future. With this conviction, we
will continue to support the activities of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly in fostering dialogue and cooperation across the OSCE region
and particularly in the zones of conflict.

Thank you.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 8 2007

Goran Lenmarker’s election PACE chairman is to Azerbaijan’s good – MP
Eldar Ibrahimov

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

08.07.2006

Goran Lenmarker’s election PACE chairman is to Azerbaijan’s good, Trend
reports quoting MP Eldar Ibrahimov, deputy head of Azeri delegation
to PACE and chairman of permanent commission for agrarian policy with
Milli Medjlis.

Swedish MP Lenmarker was elected chairman during the 3-7 July session
of PACE. "As new chairman, Lenmarker is quite aware of Nagorno-Karabakh
problem. Having visited the region several times, is knows well about
the situation. We hope he will positively influence approval of some
decision on Nagorno-Karabakh problem upon its discussion in PACE",
he outlined.

Ibrahimov said also the new co-rapporteur on Nagorno-Karabakh would
be appointed by Lenmarker.

The Nation, Kenya
July 8 2006

Rogue pair stirred city hotel

Story by MUGUMO MUNENE and LUCAS BARASA
Publication Date: 2006/07/08

The rogue Armenian brothers stirred the showcase Panari Sky Centre,
brandishing police identifications, totting a gun and shoving away
astonished guards only a day before they were deported.

Lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria cross-examines a witness yesterday. He is
appearing for Narc activist Mary Wambui’s daughter Winnie Wangui.

Photo by Fredrick Omondi

They had arrived in separate vehicles bearing foreign number plates
at the five-star hotel and entertainment complex off Mombasa Road,
hours before they caused more commotion at the JKIA.

The details emerged as Ms Winnie Wangui, daughter of businesswoman and
political activist Mary Wambui – whom President Kibaki has clarified
are not members of his family – sent a lawyer, Dr Gibson Kamau Kuria,
to represent her before the Kiruki Commission.

One of the brothers, Mr Artur Margaryan, has publicly declared his
love for Ms Wangui, who is also listed as a director of one of his
companies.

The Commissions of Inquiry Act provides that anyone likely to be
mentioned in bad light in the course of an inquiry is informed of
the general nature of evidence in advance, giving them a choice to
call witnesses, personally testify, or send a lawyer to represent them.

The law also gives such a commission powers of a High Court to summon
witnesses who become critical to the investigation they undertake.

Ms Wangui, an assistant secretary at the Ministry of Water, is among
11 government officials, including policemen, suspended from the
civil service after the two were spirited out of the country.

And as he took the witness stand, the Panari Sky Centre security
manager Daniel Owiya yesterday recounted to a hushed commission
the ordeal the hotel’s hapless guards underwent in the hands of the
foreigners he described as "usually rough". And this, at a centre that
would ordinarily attract even the world’s very rich. It overlooks the
Nairobi National Park, and is a state-of-the-art architectural work
comprising of the hotel, a huge shopping mall, ice-skating rink,
cinema theatres and a host of food courts catering for the varied
exotic tastes.

The hotel boasts 136 rooms tastefully done, with unique antiques
adorning the walls. The rooms include standard, deluxe, superior and
a presidential suite – the Royal Jade Suite.

One of the most unique facilities available at the Panari Hotel is
the ice-skating rink, the only one in East and Central Africa since
the one that used to be operated by the Hall Thermotank at Jamhuri
Park Showground closed down more than 30 years ago.

The first to arrive at the centre on June 8 at 3.30pm was Mr Artur
Sargsyan – the shorter pale one – who proceeded to a restaurant on
the second floor without incident.

An hour later, Mr Margaryan arrived in the company of a man and a
woman, with bodyguards in a Kenyan registered Volvo in tow.

Drama unfolded the moment Mr Margaryan discovered that the parking lot
directly in front of the hotel was reserved, upon which he alighted
from his vehicle and removed the Reserved Parking barriers.

The guards attempted to direct him to another parking lot, but they
were simply shoved aside by menacing bodyguards as their boss swaggered
into the hotel and proceeded to the lifts.

A lift arrived from the basement, but as soon as the doors slid open,
Mr Margaryan and his bodyguards ejected its bewildered occupants and
went in by themselves to the second floor to meet his brother.

Mr Owiya said the security guards immediately alerted him of the
unusual incident and he had to plead with the brothers to return to
the parking lot and remove their vehicle.

NEW USA AMBASSADOR MENTIONS NECESSITY OF PARTLY RESOLVING NK CONFLICT
Author: E.Huseynov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006

Azerbaijan plays an important role in the liquidation of the global
energy security threats, the new USA ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne
Derse told on July 3 in Baku, presenting the copy of the credential
to Azeri foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The new ambassador highly assessed the important role of Azerbaijan in
realization of global energy projects. She mentioned the importance of
the cooperation between the USA and Azerbaijan in different sectors
of economy, as well as development of the oil sector in the country,
agriculture, information technologies and agro business. Speaking
about the joint fight with the international terrorism, the diplomat
stressed the necessity of expanding the cooperation in the sphere of
security. Touching on Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Anne Derse mentioned the need of partly resolving the conflict, release
of Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and returning of refugees and
internally displaces persons to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mammadyarov congratulated the ambassador on new position and wished
successes. He stressed the importance of the cooperation with the
Euro-Atlantic structures which hold reforms in political, economic
and humanitarian spheres.

FRANCE IMPATIENTLY AWAITING YEAR OF ARMENIA START

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2006 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 12 Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian and French FM Philippe Douste-Blazy will open the Year of
Armenia in France, French President’s Diplomatic Advisor Laurent Bili
stated at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, both sides
are ready to introduce the program of events including exhibitions,
concerts, meeting with Armenian art workers. "Events will be held not
only in Paris but also in the other French cities. We are impatiently
waiting for the opening of the Year of Armenia, since this country
is dear for us," Bili said.

He also said that the main purpose of the Year is to represent this
country to the world. Mr Bili is convinced that the Year of Armenia
in France will become symbolic for both states. "Armenia is a wonder
of a young state with centuries-old history. The French will be
represented the art of ancient and modern Armenia and the art of the
Armenian Diaspora.

Culture is a dialogue of civilizations. It also promotes tourism and
economic development," Laurent Bili underscored.

As for the financing, the French government will assign 0.5 million
euros. "Some private persons also gave consent to finance the events. I
suppose the sum will total in 1.5-2 million euros. However this figure
is preliminary," the French President’s Advisor said.

KURDISH IDENTITY IS DENIED IN TURKISH CONSTITUTION
By Dr Rebwar Fatah

Kurdish Media, UK
July 3 2006

Levant 1100 A.D., showing the Indo-European language areas before
arriving Turkic tribes

The first article of this series about Turkish constitution "Don’t
judge Turkish constitution by its European cover", looked at the impact
of the Turkish constitution on the Kurdish people and their homeland,
Kurdistan. This article, however, looks at the deliberate denial of
the Kurdish identity by the Turkish constitution.

It could be said that fundamentally Turkey is an unstable country.

Formally the homeland of Kurds, Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians,
Turkey has been successful in establishing itself through various
forms of genocide to coerce ethnic groups in favour of Turks.

In this article, I shall deal with what might be considered as Kurdish
identity in the Turkish constitution.

A third of Turkey’s population have Kurdish blood. These Kurds speak
Kurdish and occupy vast areas of ‘Kurdistan’ – what has always been
their homeland but cannot be found in the Turkish Constitution.

The fear and hatred of the Kurds which appears in the Turkish
constitution makes it one of the most racist official documents found
anywhere in Europe. In fact, it doesn’t even reach the standard of
Saddam Hussein’s constitution, which clearly identified "Kurds" and
the "Kurdish language". In spite of this, Saddam is under trial for
crimes against humanity. Where does this position the Turkish state?

Turkish fear is understandable. What is today termed "Turkey" covers
huge areas of Kurdistan, and Turks know very well that sooner or
later this will be challenged. No one can put the fear of Turks
better than their father, Ataturk, who realised what a Kurdish state
meant. Ataturk stated:

"If one wanted to draw a border separating the Kurds, one would have to
devastate Turkey. There would have to be a border that went as far as,
say, Erzurum, Erzincan, Sivas or Harput. Indeed, one must not forget
the Kurdish tribes in the deserts of Konya."

At the beginning, Mustafa Kemal was careful not to mention the Turkish
state. Instead, he stressed either the fraternity between the Kurds
and Turks, or the Ottoman nation in conflict with foreign occupational
forces. When Mustafa Kemal first began to form the Turkish-nation
state, it was not clear what constituted a Turk.

Indeed, in appealing for Islamic unity against the ‘Christian
invaders’, Ismet (Inonu) – Ataturk’s famous lieutenant and eventual
successor- initially spoke of the new state as being a "homeland for
Kurds and Turks".

As Turkey’s commercial and NATO partner, the USA is in full support
of Turkey and does not care for Kurdish or other ethnic group’s
rights. The American leadership demonstrates trivial knowledge of
Kurds, despite partnering with or using Kurds in the past, such as
during the last Gulf War, or even working with them up to now in the
Iraqi government. In his recent visit to America, the president of
Kurdistan dressed up, as is his usual habit, in Kurdish costume. When
President Bush welcomed him in the White House, he showed his support
for the Kurdish dress and stated that the President of Kurdistan
could not wear Kurdish costume during Saddam’s era. The President did
not know that Saddam frequently dressed in Kurdish costume. Saddam,
unlike Turkey, never denied the existence of Kurds, Kurdish language
or Kurdish homeland, Kurdistan.

However, the EU accepts the Turkish constitution and regard Turkey as
a democratic state. Sadly, when attempt to show Turkey the way, the
EU does not pull Turkey’s head out of the sand to show it the light.

Rather, the EU puts its head in the sand and attempts to lead Turkey
in the dark. The blind cannot lead the blind. Turkey is blind by
hatred and fear of Kurds. What is the EU’s fear?

Anything that is "Kurdish" in Turkey is "separatist" and what is
"separatist" by Turkish definition is "terrorist". Being Kurdish means
one is "separatist" under Article 216 of the new Turkish Penal Code.

Let us accept the official Turkish policy on Kurds: Kurds are
terrorists. But nothing stops Turkey in constituting a civilised
constitution. But the constitution, I suggest, is a recipe for
preparing terrorism.

The Turkish constitution does not mention the Kurdish language at
all. Article 3 states:

"The Turkish state, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible
entity. Its language is Turkish."

Article 42 elaborates this further:

"No other language than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue
to Turkish citizens at any institutions of training or education.

Foreign languages to be taught in institutions of training and
education and the rules to be followed by schools conducting training
and education in a foreign language shall be determined by law. The
provisions of international treaties are reserved."

By contrast, Saddam Hussein’s constitution (of 1990) stipulates the
Kurdish language. Article 7 [Languages] of the Iraqi constitution
states:

(a) Arabic is the official language.

(b) The Kurdish language is official, besides Arabic, in the Kurdish
Region.

Article 42 of Turkish constitution ensures that Kurdish is not taught
as the mother tongue. Kurds are brought up only with the Turkish
language, ensuring linguistic genocide. Article 42 states:

"No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue
to Turkish citizens at any institutions of training or education."

There are a number of Articles in the Turkish Penal Code that
undermines the Kurdish language. For example, the use of any language
but Turkish for political speeches remains prohibited under Law No.

2820 on Political Parties. As a result, speaking in Kurdish – even
a single word – at an official party functions or press conferences
is illegal.

The persistent denial of the existence of Kurds, Kurdish language and
Kurdish homeland Kurdistan has been done in a very clever, subtle way,
without mentioning any of these words. Throughout the constitution,
and also the penal code, the existence of Kurds are denied. This can
be seen in Article 66 (as amended on October 17, 2001):

"Everyone bound to the Turkish state through the bond of citizenship is
a Turk. The child of a Turkish father or a Turkish mother is a Turk."

This can be defined as "identity genocide": wiping Kurds from the
surface of earth. It is disturbing. No individual can be born from
Kurdish parents, even when they are born from Kurdish parents. They
immediately become Turkish by the magic of this article. This is a
clear denial of the existence of Kurds. Please note this article has
been amended to meet EU criteria, or more correctly, to fool naïve
EU politicians.

By contrast, Saddam Hussein’s constitution in Article 5 [Nationalities
or ethnicities] clearly states that Iraqi people constitutes of two
ethnic (nationality ie al-Qawmiya) Kurds and Arabs. It reads:

(b) The Iraqi People are composed of two principal ethnicities:
the Arab ethnicity and the Kurdish ethnicity.

Most importantly:

(c) This Constitution acknowledges the national rights of the Kurdish
People and the legitimate rights of all minorities within the Iraqi
unity.

It must be noted that the Iraqi constitution does not regard Kurds as
a minority. Saddam recognised Kurds as the partners of Arabs in Iraq.

If Turkey wants to join the civilised nation of states, it needs to
regard Kurds equal to Turks in Turkey. It needs to change the name of
the state, establish a Kurdistan region, parliament and government
in order to develop the north of Kurdistan. The EU, also, need to
promote and accept the Kurdistan parliament as part of the EU and
allow Kurdistan bloc to join the EU parliament.

My thanks to Chris Lacey.

–Boundary_(ID_AMorIvX/yaKTjQ1dJyB82w)–

ARCHBISHOP MESROP MUTAFIAN: "I DO NOT SHARE THE SAME OPINION, BUT THE CATHOLICOS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT APPROACHES OF DIASPORA"

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 29 2006

ISTANBUL, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian stated that his opinion
concerning the Armenian Genocide differs from one of Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians.

According to the Istanbul "Marmara" daily, Turk newspapers widely
touched upon the statement of His Holiness that the Armenian
Genocide is not a discussable and disputable issue, is a truth,
and Turkey must accept that truth. The "Hurriyet" daily informed
that when journalists asked the Constantinople Armenian Patriarch
what he thinks of the statement of the Catholicos of All Armenians,
Mesrop Patriarch answered:

"The Turk-Armenian relations did not involve only the years of
1890-1923.

The statement of His Holiness was expected for us. A correspondent
of the "Shoghakat" TV company arrived from Armenia was also present
at the Catholicos’ press-conference. So, all Diasporan Armenians were
watching that press-conference, so the Catholicos spoke, taking into
acount approaches of Diaspora. I have said earlier as well. It will be
good that the issue of 1915 is discussed by politicians, diplomates,
historians and sociologists, it will help that the sides understand
approaches of the opposite side."

Informing the news, "Hurriyet" promised to also publish Sefa Kaplan’s
voluminous interview with the Armenian Patriarch.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI LEADERS NEED TO PREPARE PUBLICS FOR PEACE AND NOT FOR WAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2006 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In November last year the Minsk Group Co-Chairs
reported to this Council that the two sides in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict were poised to make a transition from negotiating to
decision-making and that a historic breakthrough in the settlement
of the conflict was possible in 2006, says the statement by the OSCE
Minsk Group made in Vienna June 22.

"During the past seven months, we intensified our mediation efforts and
worked hard to achieve the agreement of both sides on basic principles
for a settlement. We visited Baku and Yerevan three times together and
several more times separately, organized two meetings of the Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan and two summits between
Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev – first in Rambouillet in February
and then in Bucharest in early June.

For the first time since 1997, when the current format of the
Co-Chairmanship of the Minsk Group was established, a joint Mission
of Representatives of the Co-Chair countries at the Deputy Foreign
Minister level traveled to the region in May in order to make clear to
the presidents of both countries that 2006 is the necessary window of
opportunity for reaching an agreement on Nagorno- Karabakh. In fact,
the delegation of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin,
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, and high-ranking
French diplomat Pierre Morel – representing French Political Director
Stanislaus de Laboulaye – told the two Presidents that our three
countries expected them to take advantage of this opportunity by
reaching an agreement on core principles for a settlement at their
Bucharest summit in early June.

Our deputy ministers told the two Presidents that an agreement on
basic principles now, before the July G8 Summit in St. Petersburg,
would secure broad international support and a high level of
financial assistance for postconflict reconstruction and peacekeeping
activities. We stressed – as always – the belief of our nations and,
more widely, of the international community that the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can be resolved in no other way than a peaceful one. Moreover,
we stressed that both leaders need to prepare their publics for peace
and not for war," the statement says.

ARMENIA AND UKRAINE ARE THE BEST

Hindu, India
June 29 2006

The chess Olympiad, the biggest congregation of talent in the game
with well over 1000 players from around 150 nations, provides the
platform for the super powers to test their strengths once every two
years, writes Rakesh Rao.

There is surely a change of guard in world chess. Russia may continue
to have the services of the most trusted masters of the game, but
when it comes to performing as a team, some of the other nations are
proving better. The Chess Olympiad, the biggest congregation of talent
in the game with well over 1000 players from around 150 nations,
provides the platform for the super powers to test their strengths
once every two years.

If in 2004, Ukraine snatched the gold from Russia, this time the
performances of the eventual champion Armenia, China and USA knocked
the top-seed out of the medal bracket in the men’s section. In fact,
Russia slipped to the sixth spot behind the fourth-placed Israel and
Hungary. Even in the women’s section, Russia and defending champion
China had to make way for Ukraine at the top of the podium.

The only bright spot for Russia was the performance of Vladimir
Kramnik, who returned to competitive chess after over six months and
walked away with the best performer’s trophy among the male players.

Not that chess in Russia is on the wane, but it is clear that some
of the other leading countries are quietly growing confident of their
own abilities.

However, the second-seeded Indian men did not inspire much confidence
with their spiritless and somewhat spineless campaign. After a
path-breaking performance in 2004, when the team finish sixth, the
Indian men fared poorly to take the 30th place.

Seeded to win a medal for the first time, this was India’s most
disappointing performance in the Olympiad considering that much was
expected of the country’s strongest ever combination.

The ladies, too, could not improve upon their ninth-place finish
in 2004 and occupied the 12th spot. Considering the composition of
the team, not as strong as it was last time, it was a reasonably
good result.

China proves a super power

Today, India is considered a super power of chess in Asia but at the
Olympiad in Turin, it was China, which took that honour by winning
medals in both sections. The Chinese men finished second best to
Armenia, collecting their first ever medal in the Open section.

Wang Yue, on the third and fourth boards, scored 10 points from 12
games, to help his team make the medals bracket. On the top board
Bu Xiangzhi, who came close to beating Anand in the fifth round,
was unbeaten with eight points while Ni Hua, the first reserve,
scored 5.5 points from nine undefeated games.

Aronian shows the way

The talking point of the event was the worthy performances of the
Armenian men. Led by World Cup winner Levon Aronian on the top board,
Armenia was the only unbeaten team in the competition and looked like
a champion side even before it formally won the trophy. Aronian may
have scored only seven points from 11 rounds but he was a source of
confidence on the top board for his teammates. Vladimir Akopian,
unbeaten on the second board with nine points from 12 rounds, was
another key performer. But the man who made the difference was Gabriel
Sargissian, the first reserve who ended up playing all 13 rounds and
contributed 10 points to Armenia’s winning tally of 36 points.

Sargissian, too, was unbeaten and won seven of the first nine rounds
to keep his nation in front. When it comes to a team event like the
Olympiad, it is often said that medals are won and lost on the fourth
board. If last time Sergey Karjakin was the star turn for Ukraine on
the fourth board, it was Sargissian this time for Armenia.

On the other hand, a team like Russia had to sweat it out on the
fourth board with the experienced Evgeny Bareev struggling to cope
with the pressure and his lack of energy cost Russia a medal.

Kramnik’s consistency at the top did not prove good enough for Russia
to win a medal.

USA, headed by Gata Kamsky who finished a creditable second behind
Veselin Topalov in Sofia before rushing to Turin, enjoyed its best
moment in the history of the Olympiad. On its way to the bronze
medal, USA even defeated Russia 2.5-1.5 in the 11th round with Hikaru
Nakamura, the only non-Russian involved in the match, winning against
Alexander Grischuk on the third board. USA’s lone loss came against
Israel in the 12th round.

Maiden title for Ukraine

Like the Armenian men, the ladies from Ukraine remained undefeated
for their maiden triumph in the Olympiad.

Ukraine won the first 12 matches to emerge as the most successful
team in the 13-round contest. Ukraine agreed to draw the final round
against Armenia only after it became clear that a win was not required
for the gold. So dominating were the performances of Natalia Zhukova
(7.5/10), Katerina Lahno (8/10), Inna Yanovska-Gaponenko (7/9) and Anna
Usshenina (7/10). Significantly, Ukraine defeated Russia and China by
identical 2-1 margins to underline its rightful claim over the title.

Former champion Russia’s trio of Alexendra Konteniuk, Tatiana
Kosinsteva, Nadezhda Kosintseva played most of the matches, with
Ekaterina Kovalevskaya stepping in as a reserve. The top seed was held
by USA and China in successive rounds before France did the same in
the penultimate round. Overall, a consistent performance saw Russia
take the silver.

China may have failed to defend the title but took the bronze after
former World junior champion Zhao Xue and Hou Yifan emerged as the
first and third-best individual performers in the event.

China could have finished second if India had managed to take a game
off Russia on the final day. But China had reasons to be pleased
with its performance considering the fact that Wang Yu and Shen Yang,
on boards two and three, were woefully out of form.

Zhao Xue’s score of 10 points from 13 games and Hou Yifan’s tally of
11 points after playing all the games ensured China’s presence among
the medal winners.

FINAL STANDINGS

Men: 1. Armenia 36.0 points, 2. China 34.0, 3. USA 33.0, 4. Israel
33.0, 5. Hungary 32.5, 6. Russia 32.0, 7. France 32.0, 8. Ukraine 32.0,
9. Bulgaria 32.0, 10. Spain 32.0, 30. India 29.5.

Women: 1. Ukraine 29.5 points, 2. Russia 28.0, 3. China 27.5, 4. USA
24.5, 5. Hungary 24.5, 6. Georgia 24.5, 7. The Netherlands 24.5, 8.
Armenia 24.0, 9. Slovenia 24.0, 10. Czech Republic 24.0, 12. India
23.0.