NINE ARMENIANS DEATH IN BESLAN SCHOOL SIEGE CONFIRMED
ArmenPress
Sept 8 2004
ROSTOV ON DON, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: According to the latest
information from Armenian consul general in the southern Russia,
Ararat Gomtsian, at least nine of the hostages killed by the
terrorists in Beslan school siege were ethnic Armenians. Five of them
were children. He said all Armenians who suffered in the crisis were
taken to hospitals in Moscow and one, Mariam Simonian, to a hospital
IN Rostov-on-Don city. All in all 33 ethnic Armenians were among the
hostages, seven of them are reported missing. Another official of
the Armenian consulate general said the figures were not final and
could change any minute.
At least 335 people, most of them children, have been officially
confirmed dead since Russian special forces stormed a secondary school
in the North Ossetian town of Beslan seized by Islamist militants
fighting for neighboring Chechnya’s secession from Russia.

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 8, 2004
Contact: George Shirinian Tel: 416-250-9807
BAL FAMILY SETS UP $100,000 PHD SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT ZORYAN INSTITUTE
TORONTO, CANADA – A new scholarship fund has been established at the
Zoryan Institute by the Bal family for PhD students preparing their
thesis on the Armenian Genocide or comparative genocide with a focus
on the Armenian Genocide.
The creation of this fund was the initiative of Mr. and Mrs. Dikran
and Sonia Bal of Montreal, who made it possible by their generous
donation of $100,000 as a seeding fund for this purpose.
The Bals have been regular supporters of the Zoryan Institute. In just
the last two years, in addition to this new scholarship fund, they have
contributed $200,000 for scholarly research and publication in general,
and the Genocide and Human Rights University Program in particular.
The scholarships will be awarded to a total of four candidates each
year, and are renewable, pending an annual review. Applicants must
have completed an MA in one of the social sciences, such as history,
international law, political science, psychology, or sociology and
be enrolled full-time in an accredited PhD program. Knowledge of the
Armenian and Ottoman Turkish languages will be considered an asset for
applicants. The amount awarded will vary according to the individual
needs of each research project.
In explaining why they chose to create such a fund, Mr. Dikran Bal
commented that “It is important for people like us, who are not
specialists but care about this field of study, to support those who
can make a scholarly contribution. The fruits of their research go
directly towards helping us understand the Genocide and its impact
on our history, the formation of modern Armenian society, and on our
identity.” He continued by appealing to others to help. “We hope that
the community will join us in supporting this initiative and build up
this scholarship fund to attract new scholars. With a knowledge of
our recent history, we will never be able to understand our present
and accordingly plan for our future, as a nation.”
He concluded his remarks by stating, “It is clear that the Armenian
community wants to see its genocide studied, documented, analyzed and
written about, and to see it achieve full recognition along with other
cases of genocide, universally. There are currently very few young
scholars taking up this challenge. Therefore, I urge the community
to actively support the institute and help Zoryan motivate young
scholars to pursue work in this field at the highest academic level.”
Mrs. Sonia Bal, joining her husband, expressed her thoughts on this
initiative, by stating, “I hope that this scholarship fund will
be a catalyst for drawing young scholars to pursue their academic
dreams in this field. I feel that the Zoryan Institute is the right
organization to administer such a fund, as it has a proven record of
over twenty years of original scholarship and a reputation for academic
integrity, directed by board members who are world renowned scholars,
such as Prof. Vahakn Dadrian, Dr. Roger Smith, and Dr. Yair Auron,
to name only a few.”
“We are deeply moved by the kind of support that the Bals’ donation
signifies,” remarked K.M. (Greg) Sarkissian, President of the Zoryan
Institute. “This kind of support is essential for the institute to
carry out its mission and to help pursue the study of the Armenian
Genocide as part of the worldwide phenomenon of genocide. Moreover,
it is inspiring to find people like the Bals, who appreciate how
much time and effort goes into developing such an institute, and
particularly into preparing scholars in this field. It is my fervent
hope that through the growth of this scholarship fund, we will enable
students to pursue the study of the Armenian Genocide and make this
subject part of their professional careers.”
Professor Vahakn Dadrian, Director of Genocide Research at the Zoryan
Institute, explained, “It is exciting to see people like the Bals
get involved actively and personally in the support of genocide
studies. Such involvement can only serve to reinforce Zoryan’s
motivation to persist and at the same time renew its commitment to
this much neglected domain of scholarship. Moreover, students need
extra encouragement to pursue the study of the Armenian Genocide,
because it is a difficult and often painful subject to deal with. Apart
from that, it demands knowledge of many languages, and the sources
of information are scattered around the world and hard to find,” he
remarked. “The establishment of such a fund will definitely facilitate
the recruitment of interested and qualified candidates.”
Roger Smith, Chairman of the Academic Board and Director of the
Genocide and Human Rights University Program (GHRUP), noted, “This
scholarship fund created by the Bals serves as a perfect complement
to the GHRUP, which is designed to provide students with a strong
introduction to genocide studies on campuses in the US, Canada and
Europe. The confidence in the institute demonstrated by the Bals
with this most thoughtful and strategic idea is both humbling and
gratifying.”
Further details about the application process will be announced. For
more information about the scholarship, please contact the Zoryan
Institute, 255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310, Toronto, Canada M3B 3H9,
E-mail [email protected].

CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN GERARD CAFESJIAN ART MUSEUM TO START SOON
ArmenPress
Sept 8 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Construction of a modern Gerard
Cafesjian art museum will start soon in Yerevan and will most
likely host the first art funs in a couple of years. David Hotson,
the director of an architectural David Hotson company, was named
the winner of a contest announced for the best design. He designed
several prominent venues, namely the office of UN General Secretary,
African Art Museum in Manhattan, New York and several others.
According to John Waters, the deputy chairman of Cafesjian Museum Fund,
the design takes into account the opinions of experts and respective
officials. The main building of the museum will enlarge the territory
of Kaskad which joins Tamanian park to Arabkir community by outdoors
stairs and indoors escalator. The museum building will encompass
public places, a decorative pool, architectural monuments, parks,
a cafe and an outdoors cinema which can be attended by passer-bys
and visitors of the museum.
A 25 meter high glass tower will be made by famous glass makers,
Stanislav Libenski and Yaroslava Mrikhtova. Near the glass tower and
the museum building a monument to independence will be erected. The
museum will exhibit rare samples of 20-th century painting and
architecture. To be located on 10 thousand square meters, it will
also host traveling exhibits throughout the world. The total project
costs 25 mln USD.
“This is a excellent opportunity to work in Armenia, in a country
with such an outstanding history and culture, in such an unusual
environment. Cafesjian museum will enter in between the history of
Armenian nation and its future. It is a call for a promising future
of Armenia, concurrently reflecting its strong origin,” architecture
D. Hotson said, speaking about the design.

Iran’s president reaches agreement with Armenia on gas pipeline
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
September 8, 2004, Wednesday
YEREVAN — Iran and Armenia agreed Wednesday on the construction of a
gas pipeline during Iranian President Mohammed Khatami’s first visit
to Yerevan. The agreement was reached in a meeting between Khatami
and Armenian President Robert Kocharian at which the two leaders
also signed a broad agreement on friendship and cooperation between
their two countries. Armenia, which shares a 50-kilometre-long
border with Iran along its southern tip, is dependent on energy
deliveries from Iran. It is cut off from much of the economic
activity in the region by Turkey to the west and Azerbaijan to the
east. In addition, Khatami told reporters Iran was dedicating great
attention to stability in the Caucasus. The Iranian news agency IRNA
said Khatami referred to historical ties between the two countries
during his meeting with Kocharian and highlighted the role of Iran
and Armenia in the region. He said the two sides’ security, stability
and development are interrelated and for this reason, “We should
broaden our ties more than ever before,” he said, according to IRNA.
Kocharian said relations between Armenia and Iran were very close,
and all opportunities should be seized for broadening of mutual ties.
Iran plays a very significant and unique role in the region, he said,
adding that Yerevan welcomes expansion of cooperation with Tehran.
dpa am fk gj

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/08/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Iran's Khatami Pledges Closer Ties with Armenia 2) NATO, US to Develop Military Aid Program in Azerbaijan 3) Abkhazia Will Never Rejoin Georgia Announces Speaker 4) Aliyev, Chirac Meet in Paris 5) Finland Defeats Armenia in World Cup Qualifier 1) Iran's Khatami Pledges Closer Ties with Armenia YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--Iran's President Mohammad Khatami described on Wednesday his country's relationship with Armenia as a benchmark of peaceful co-existence and cooperation between neighbors on the first day of an official visit to Yerevan where he was given a red-carpet reception. Khatami was greeted at Yerevan airport by virtually all members of Armenia's ruling cabinet before going into talks with President Robert Kocharian. The two leaders signed a framework treaty on bilateral cooperation which they said will further strengthen political and economic links between the two nations. They also presided over the signing of several other agreements covering the energy sector, customs administration, and culture. "The relationship between the Armenian and Iranian peoples can serve as the best example for all those who want to live side by side and respect each other's sovereignty," Khatami declared at an ensuing joint news conference with Kocharian. "We have felt obliged to establish and deepen relations with Armenia since its independence," he said. "Every year that followed 1991 saw a further development of our relations. The agreements signed today give us hope that they will continue to deepen in the future." "I declare that this relationship is to the benefit of the sides but not to the detriment of anybody else," Khatami added. "We are ready to make every effort to help resolve crises existing in the region, including Mountainous Karabagh, and to contribute to the establishment of a lasting peace and stability in the region," Khatami said in a speech at the Armenian parliament later in the day. Kocharian, meanwhile, said that Armenia and Iran should pay particular attention to developing their economic cooperation. He singled out the energy sector where the two nations plan to implement multimillion-dollar joint projects. The biggest is the construction of a pipeline that will ship Iranian natural gas to Armenia and possibly other countries. An agreement on the implementation of the $120 million project was signed by the two governments in Yerevan last May. Armenia's ambassador to Tehran, Gegham Gharibjanian, said this week that work on the Iranian section of the pipeline is already underway and will soon begin on the Armenian side. Energy Minister Armen Movsisian had said earlier that the Armenian government will receive a $30 million loan from Iran to finance the construction of the Armenian section. Despite the energy projects, the volume of Armenian-Iranian trade has steadily declined in recent years and made up only 3.5 percent of Armenia's external commercial exchange last year. 2) NATO, US to Develop Military Aid Program in Azerbaijan BAKU (Ekspress)--Commenting on the outcome of US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's visit to the South Caucasus last month, NATO general Frank Boland told Baku-based Ekspress that the US and NATO intend to launch an unprecedented military aid program in the region in the near future. "We are thinking about extending our aid to Azerbaijan within the framework of the newly-drawn up program. Discussions were held during Rumsfeld's meetings with Azerbaijani officials," commented Boland, the chief of Force Planning Section at NATO's Defense Planning and Operations Division The US Congress, according to Boland, has considered specific loans for the development of military forces in the South Caucasus countries in the current year. "This figure is higher in Azerbaijan than in other countries," he said, and revealed that Azerbaijan seeks to implement the program in the Caspian basin and its borders. According to some critics, the US and NATO project exceeds the limits of the Caucasus. Boland said the initiative will help beef up the onshore, offshore, and air security of Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan in the Caspian region. He also said that NATO is familiar with the realities of the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, and is seeking new approaches there. "We will increase our positive attempts to achieve a solution to the conflict." Addressing NATO, Azerbaijan cooperation, Boland stated that the fight against terrorism in maintaining security in the region is necessary, and that numerous projects centering on security, are nearing completion. "These projects mainly serve the development of security in the region. The interests of NATO and Azerbaijan in the region coincide." 3) Abkhazia Will Never Rejoin Georgia Announces Speaker SUKHUMI (Interfax)--Abkhazia will never voluntarily rejoin Georgia, Abkhaz parliament speaker Nugzar Ashuba said during a meeting with OSCE envoys in Sukhumi on Tuesday. "We cannot commit another fatal mistake. We are prepared for any sacrifices just to defend our freedom, so that the world not lose one more people," Ashuba said. He did agree, however, that the negotiation process between Georgia and Abkhazia should continue. The OSCE delegation visiting Abkhazia is led by Ivan Naidenov of Bulgaria and includes representatives from 23 countries, including Russia, the United States, Germany, Poland, France, Britain, Italy, Latvia, Romania, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark and others. "We are here to study the situation in the region on the spot. The OSCE could be more actively involved in the processes going on here," Naidenov said at the meeting in the Abkhaz parliament with the Abkhaz parliamentary speaker and deputies. The sides discussed approaches to settling the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, Abkhazia's political status, the return of refugees, and the implementation of agreements concluded between the Russian and Abkhaz leaderships in Sochi. 4) Aliyev, Chirac Meet in Paris PARIS (AzerTag)Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with French counterpart Jacques Chirac in Paris on Tuesday, underlining the rapid political and economic developments between the two countries. They also focused on Azerbaijan's aspirations to integrate into the European Union, as well as Azerbaijan's regional conflicts, including Mountainous Karabagh. Chirac stressed his commitment to continued peace negotiations, and said that France would implement its mediation mission as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair. 5) Finland Defeats Armenia in World Cup Qualifier YEREVAN (Reuters)Finland beat Armenia 2-0 in a World Cup Group One qualifier on Wednesday, lifting Finland to second place in the group on six points, three behind leaders Romania who hold a perfect record. In an often choppy game with fouls stopping the flow of play, Finland went ahead after 24 minutes when striker Mikael Forssell, surrounded by defenders, found the back of the net from the edge of the box. Finland made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Alexei Eremenko was put through just over the halfway line for a clear run on goal before slotting the ball past Armenian keeper Armen Ambartzumyan. The 21-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best new talents of Finnish football, scored twice in Finland's comfortable 3-0 win over Andorra on Saturday. There was little for the Armenians to take from the match, whose goal tally is now 0-5 after two defeats in their opening two qualifiers. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

I’ll Be The First Soldier
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
8 Sept 04
On the occasion of the Independence Day of NKR the public organization
of the disabled azatamartiks “Vita” organized a meeting to which
members of the National Assembly Ararat Petrossian and Maxim Mirzoyan
were invited too. Not having their office the chairman of the public
organization Arevik Petrossian invited the members of “Vita”
to her home. The moods of the disabled could not be described as
festive. Perhaps they remembered details from their life during the
war, or maybe problems of everyday life. One thing is certain that
each of them dreams of living in a free, independent and peaceful
fatherland. They are conscious that the problem of Karabakh has long
ago been moved from the military arena to the sphere of diplomacy. And
the fair settlement of the problem is conditioned by the elimination of
the problems hindering the regular activity of political and public
structures of both the Republic of Armenia and Nagorni Karabakh,
and a joint and determined position of the people. The azatamartiks
proved by their actions that Artsakh is an Armenian territory, and
the land of the ancestors belongs to those who lived and continue
living on this land. Congratulating the disabled azatamartiks,
Arevik Petrossian mentioned that in 13 years NKR achieved all the
attributes of state. Along with the state political structures a
stable public sphere was formed in Karabakh. As to the recent
elections to the municipalities, I must say that all the conditions
are present in Karabakh for building a democratic state and a civil
society, emphasized the chairman of the organization. Touching
upon the problems of the organization, which is the solution of
the social problems of the azatamartiks, the problem of office and
transport, she mentioned that they rely upon the government of the
country and hope they will do everything for the protection of the
rights of the azatamartiks. According to member of parliament Ararat
Gevorkian, he had a dual feeling on the Day of Independence. “We
owe to these men for the independence of our statehood. At the same
time I feel pain and pity for the thing that many of the disabled
azatamartiks live in extremely hard social conditions. I would like
our government to provide more support to the disabled, the families of
killed azatamartiks,” mentioned Ararat Petrossian adding that our
people live in a country where war may break out at any time. ”
Independence is a great victory but not a final one. Our people
are at the tenuous borderline between war and peace. Our dream is
to live in a free and peaceful fatherland. Let there be no war ever
and the number of the disabled people do not multiply,” said the
member of parliament. Disabled soldier Edward Andrian said, the fact
of four members of “Vita” receiving treatment abroad speaks
about the willingness of the government. “The traces of war have
been erased in Stepanakert, the town has been restored, prospered and
become beautiful. I think in the course of time the quality of life
of the people who stood up for their rights in 1988 and assured the
entire world that their land is Armenian, will rise. Everyone must be
master of their fate and no one has the right to rule us,” said
Andrian adding that in case Azerbaijan resumes military actions, it
will have great losses because the Karabakh army is strong and ready to
counterattack the enemy. “If war breaks out, I’ll be the first
soldier of my country,” said azatamartik Armen Shahnazarian. Armen
is from the village Chartar. He was wounded in 1994, and his elder
brother was killed in 1993. “I want Karabakh become a rich country
for us to be able to provide well-being of our families. Several
of my acquaintances left Karabakh for Russia. I will never leave the
fatherland, maybe if I have the possibility I will leave abroad and get
treatment. But then I’ll come back. This is our land, we liberated
it and we must look after it. My children will grow here. I repeat,
if, God forbid, war resumes in our wonderful country, I will be the
first soldier of my country,”
NVARD OHANJANIAN. 08-09-2004

SCHOOL IN NEW FOUNDED VILLAGE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
8 Sept 04
As in all the other regions, in Nor Shahoumian also the program of
resettlement is implemented. Here, near historical Handaberd a new
village was founded a year and a half ago and was named Knaravan after
the deceased mother of the family Harutyunian who fund the construction
of the village. Building works in the village are supervised by
the union of public organizations “Yerkir”. Narek Harutyunian told
that two years ago he had met in Karabakh with the chairman of the
union “Yerkir” Sevak Artsrouni and decided to choose an area for
the village. They approved of the area for several reasons. First,
its strategic importance. Besides the scenery is very beautiful and
surrounded with historical monuments. He says they could build a
village anywhere, and also in the Republic of Armenia, which would
be much easier, but choosing the liberated areas, building a village,
sowing seeds there is already a brave step. The implementation of the
program started in May 2003. By now the construction of 11 houses has
already been completed, and the building of four houses still goes on.
Presently the village is inhabited by 4 families, and this year it is
planned to settle all the other houses as well. A school has been built
in the village as well, which was opened on September 3 this year. At
the ceremony of opening were present the husband of Knar Harutyunian
and their two sons Narek and Komitas who had arrived from America. The
joint Armenia-Lebanon chamber choir “Komitas” was invited as well. It
should be mentioned that not a single member of the government was
present at this memorable event. After the opening the participants
of the ceremony visited the church (its name is not known) located
on the adjacent hill to see the historical monument. By the way, the
chairman of the organization “Avetyats Yerkir” Vahram Gevorgian said
that the Institute of Archaeology of Armenia has recently explored the
ruined church. They found a khachkar with an inscription dating to the
13th century but the building inscription of the church has not been
discovered yet. According to Vahram Gevorgian, after the exploration
the church will be restored (again on the funding of the family). The
program implemented on the funds of the family Harutyunian is not
limited to 15 houses and the school building. This year in Knaravan the
building of the municipality, the surgery and a cattle-shed for each
family will be built. By the way, the sponsors also aim at implementing
a program of developing cattle-breeding and providing the inhabitants
with livestock. This is the first stage of the program. In the second
stage it is planned to continue the construction of houses along the
other side of the river, which will extend up to the village Chapni,
and the two villages will join under the name Knaravan.
ANAHIT DANIELIAN.
08-09-2004

CONFESSION OF DISABILITY
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
8 Sept 04
While the new minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan consistently
continues studying the viewpoint of official Yerevan on the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict every once in a while choosing this or that
capital of European countries as a place for meeting, in Baku they
do not wait and keep silent. Hostility towards Nagorni Karabakh
and the anti-Armenian moods, backed by the government, acquire
a new shade of colour among the big and small state officials.
Any example of progress, success or event in NKR is accepted
in Azerbaijan, and not only in the political circles but also,
financial, economic, and even cultural spheres and sport, as an
encroachment upon the authorities of this republic, threatening to
feeble slowly the fundaments of its statehood, and questions the
suspicious hypothesis of its territorial integrity. The officials
of this synthesized republic the firmness of their chairs is first
of all dependent upon the procrastination in the settlement of the
Karabakh issue are not at all interested in the idea of establishing
friendly relationships with Karabakh. This is more dangerous than,
for example, resumption of war. It is not at all accidental that Baku
often makes militarist statements that the Azerbaijani army is ready
to make Nagorni Karabakh obey through the force of weapon. By the way,
though during the 70 soviet years Azerbaijan was not able to get rid
of the Armenian element through weapon, instead it managed to stop
the growth of the Armenians and, as a matter of fact, on the eve of
1990 in Soviet Azerbaijan the number of the Armenian population had
not grown since 1923. The official men of Baku are well aware that
throughout the history of mankind those who started war and tried to
win authority by shedding their people’s blood, after the war were
condemned by their own people and not the enemy. This fear haunts
all those who came in the possession of wealth during the military
actions, which cannot bring happiness to them. Therefore everything is
done here to keep the point of resumption of military actions on the
agenda, blaming Nagorni Karabakh for all the misery of their people,
otherwise the social blast threatening the present authorities and
the existence of the Aliev clan will be inevitable. Official Baku is
in an awkward situation not managing to get rid of the fossilized
complex of hypocrisy. Displaying to the West their “insatiable”
desire to become part of civilized Europe, cherishing a hope to
dominate over Nagorni Karabakh through Europe and with its support,
abusing the right for territorial integrity, at the same time unfolds
its unrequited love to its northern neighbour. The idea of the famous
Azerbaijani film “If not That Then This” was shaped under the arches of
the ministry of foreign affairs of this country independent of who is
in the head of it or what his mental or diplomatic abilities are. In
any case it is here that the ABC of the strategy of comprehensive
struggle against Nagorni Karabakh is worked out and the behaviour and
expressions of the president are planned. Deviating a little from
the topic, we should notice that during the election campaign of
Ilham Aliev the Azerbaijani opposition, getting reconciled with the
fact of passing over the power from Aliev Senior to Aliev Junior,
hoped that Aliev would be the last representative of this family
on the political scene. Today it is hard to tell whether this was a
guess or just a way to justify their passiveness. Anyway, visiting
Nakhijevan several days ago, the Azerbaijani president passed his
anxiety and the hopeless mood to the journalists informing that he
will not take part in the negotiations for the sake of imitation of
the negotiations process and if he sees that the talks do not produce
the necessary results, the Azerbaijani party will abstain. By saying
“necessary results” I. Aliev doubtlessly means restoration of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan although he is sure to know that
any negotiations are meant to find ways for mutual agreement between
the negotiating parties. At least his statement made on the very day
of the 13th anniversary of NKR independence testifies to the rightness
of the forecast of the opposition. The president of Azerbaijan has
already taken up the process of self-justification. Where will this
step lead to: slow and heart-rending fall or a rapid destruction? It
is difficult yet to state. It is only apparent that denying the
negotiation process is nothing else but a confession in disability.
If it is true that all the mortals advance towards their fate, Ilham
Aliev cannot be an exception. Against this background the fatal efforts
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan are if not absurd
than funny. According to the newspaper “Echo”, last week this agency
diligently drew up the list of the top officials of Karabakh aiming
at not granting entrance visas to other states. Similar attempts
were also taken in the past years. Perhaps these will continue in
the coming years. Well, even if it fails, then at least there will be
much agitation. In what other ways can the foreign ministry conceal
its inactivity? The same cannot be said, for example, about the new
leadership of the federation of football. By the way, presently
everything is politicized in Azerbaijan, even sport. Otherwise,
the football federation of this country would not accept the news
of the NKR football cup with the craving of announcing it illegal
and flooding UEFA and FIFA with telegrams demanding use of sanctions
against Karabakh. The reason for worry of the sport leaders of the
neighbour state is clear. For becoming member of UEFA or FIFA it is
obligatory to organize championships, build stadiums. Of course, for
Karabakh it is still too early to dream of the international arena,
but in Azerbaijan they are convinced that if here they have made
up their minds, they will achieve their goals by all means. And as
they think that this first of all deals a blow to the sovereignty
of Azerbaijan, they cannot remain calm. We cannot describe this in
another way, because this is exactly a confession of disability.
MARCEL PETROSSIAN.
08-09-2004

A.R.F. Zavarian Student Association Conference to be Held in Beirut
The A.R.F. Zavarian Student Association was founded by Simon
Zavarian in 1904, in Beirut, Lebanon. On the occasion of the
Association’s centenary, the ARF Bureau Youth Office together with
the A.R.F. Zavarian Student Association is organizing a pan-Armenian
student conference entitled “Armenian students facing the challenges
of the 21st century”, which is to be held on September 20-25, 2004
in Beirut.
The goals of the conference are:
– To examine the national challenges at the dawn of the 21st
century and the role of Armenian students in that prospect.
– To gather student association representatives and Armenian
students in general, providing them the opportunity to
strengthen mutual relations and to exchange ideas and
experiences.
– To make the centenary of the A.R.F. Zavarian Student
Association an occasion to reevaluate and reinforce the role
of Armenian students within the context of realities facing
Armenians throughout the world.
– Introduce the participants to the Armenian community in
Lebanon.
During the 5-day conference the topics mentioned below will be raised,
followed by discussion sessions:
– The Armenian Cause in the light of the presence of the
Armenian Republic.
– The integration of the Armenian Republic in the European Union:
advantages and disadvantages.
– Globalization and the problems or the possibilities facing
the Armenian Republic.
– The meaning of the mutual relations between Armenia and the
Diaspora and their role (the role of the Diaspora in promoting
the development of the Armenian Republic and Armenia’s role
in maintaining the liveliness of the Diaspora).
– Students and the Armenian National heritage preservation issue
(emigration, assimilation).
– The current situation and mission of Armenian students living
in Armenia or in the Diaspora.
A 100th anniversary ceremony is also to take place during this event.
For more information, contact: [email protected] or [email protected] .

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 8 2004
MM SPEAKER MEETS WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
[September 08, 2004, 22:47:15]
Chairman of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Murtuz Alasgarov received
Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Baku Nikolay Ryabov on
completion of his tenure.
Having expressed condolences to the Ambassador and the people of
Russia in connection with the terror act in Beslan, the Speaker noted
that Azerbaijani people, who had faced terror more than once, share
the sorrow of the friendly Russian people.
He further dwelt on the role of the national leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev in development of the friendly relations between the
two countries, interparliamentary links and the Ambassadors
activities in these sphere.
Touching upon the large-scale democratic reforms being implemented in
the country, Mr. Alasgarov noted with regret that the conflict with
Armenia because of Nagorno-Karabakh put serious obstacles for them to
be realized more successfully. He stressed in this connection that
Russia as OSCE Minsk group co-Chair and the most authoritative
country in the region. Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia noted the
problem can be resolved only within the limit of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.
Ambassador Nikolay Ryabov expressed gratitude to the President,
Parliament and the people of Azerbaijan for the sympathy and
condolences, support and aid to Russia and the suffered from the
terror act.
Everyone knows that there are a number of long-running conflicts in
the region. Russia is striving for resolution of these problems, and
President Vladimir Putin has initiated a meeting of presidents of
Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia in Astana, Kazakhstan on 16 September,
he said.
Ambassador Ryabov also expressed gratitude to the Head of Azerbaijan
State and the people of the country for the support during his
diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan.
The, Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov and Ambassador Nikolay Ryabov exchanged
views on a number of other issues of mutual interest.