GEORGIAN PROTESTERS DETAINED IN CLASHES OVER AZERI PIPELINE RELEASED
A-Info news agency
24 Aug 04
Akhalkalaki, 24 August: Four protesters arrested in the village of
Tabatsquri in Georgia’s Borjomi District during clashes over the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline were released on
Monday (23 August).
We should say that on 20 August, there were clashes between locals and
the police. On the next day, special police forces from Tbilisi were
dispatched to Tabatsquri where the four men were arrested in the
course of their operation.

La Croix
24 août 2004
Les saints du jour. Saint Barthélemy (Ier siècle). Saint Ouen.
Saint Barthélemy (Ier siècle). Originaire de Cana (Galilée), il est
un des 12 apôtres.
Plusieurs pays lui attribuent leur évangélisation, tels l’Arménie,
l’Ethiopie, la Perse et l’Inde.
On fête également saint Ouen (v. 600-684), évêque de Rouen durant 44
ans.

Compensation row prompted violent pipeline protest in Georgia
A-Info news agency
20 Aug 04
AKHALKALAKI
On 20 August in the morning an extraordinary situation arose again in
the village of Tabatsquri in Georgia’s Borjomi District. Some
residents of the village, anti-Ceyhaners who oppose the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline , are demanding compensation and say that
compensation should be paid to all the villagers, so they tried to
obstruct construction work on the pipeline. The police who were there
used force against the villagers. In turn the villagers threw stones
at the policemen and BP cars.
The previous evening representatives of the district administration
handed to some villagers property certificates for their land used by
BP . The villagers who did not receive privatization certificates were
amazed that their fellow-villagers had been given the certificates
away from the village and outside working hours.
The employees of BP hoped that the problem had been resolved and they
could get back work, so they tried to move their equipment to
Tabatsquri. There they met resistance, resulting in the scandal.
Passage omitted

Xinhua News Agency – French
23 août 2004 lundi 5:02 PM EST
Entretien téléphonique entre les présidents russe et américain sur l’
Afghanistan et l’Irak
Le président russe Vladimir Poutine a tenu une conversation
téléphonique avec son homologue américain George W. Bush lundi pour
discuter de la situation en Afghanistan et en Irak, ainsi que de
questions d’importance bilatérale, a déclaré le service de presse
présidentiel.
Sergueï Prikhodko, conseiller de M. Poutine, n’a pas donné de détail
sur le contenu de ces entretiens, mais a précisé que la conversation
avait eu lieu à l’initiative de M. Bush, selon Interfax.
Les deux chefs d’Etat ont souligné la nécessité de poursuivre le
dialogue sur les questions énergétiques, et ont discuté de l’ordre du
jour du prochain sommet américano-russe à haut niveau, a ajouté M.
Prikhodko.
M. Poutine, actuellement en vacances dans la station balnéaire de
Sotchi, sur la mer Noire, a également rencontré le président
ukrainien Leonid Kuchma, le président arménien Robert Kocharyan, et
le président belarusse Alexandre Lukashenko.
M. Poutine doit également participer à un sommet de trois jours avec
le président français Jacques Chirac et le chancelier allemand
Gerhard Schroeder dans sa résidence de Sotchi les 30 et 31 août.

GIBRAHAYER e-newsletter
[email protected] r.cyprusnewsletter.com
AGBU TO OPEN MELKONIAN EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN YEREVAN
Yerevan, August 18, Armenpress: The AGBU is planning to open “Melkonian
educational center”, a youth complex in Yerevan in the coming years. The
school may host up to 200 students from around the world. AGBU Armenian
representation director Ashot Ghazarian told Armenpress that Diaspora
Armenians will learn Armenian language, literature and history which will
contribute to preservation of Armenian identity and Armenian education.
According to Ghazarian, many young Armenians from around the globe will make
contacts with motherland and communicate with national values. “Of coarse, t
his is not a tourism program, the focus is on education,” Ghazarian said.
The educational establishment will be equipped with modern technology
with lingo-phone and computer auditoriums. University aged students may
continue their education at local Armenian higher educational establishment
as well as at American and French Universities here in Yerevan. Ashot
Ghazarian informed that they are negotiating with Yerevan municipality to
provide facilities for that purpose. The project will be funded by AGBU.
The project has been discussed with president Kocharian, chairman and
members of writers’ house, Yerevan state university rector Radik
Martirossian and minister of education and science Sergo Yeritsian.
WAR GAMES BEGIN BETWEEN RUSSIA AND ARMENIA
The annual war games between Russia and Armenia will take place from August
24-27 with the participation of Russia’s 102nd base.
Meanwhile, a 21 year old soldier of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, was
released from Nagorno Karabagh forces. The young soldier was doing his
military service in Terter District, and was taken captive on August 2 after
he lost his way and came closer to the positions of the Armenian military
units.
His detention was immediately reported to the International Committee of the
Red Cross and the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Despite a cease-fire, forces of the Karabagh Republic and Azerbaijani troops
continue to face off across a demilitarized zone, and shooting occasionally
erupts with casualties and detentions.
PAN ARMENIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL “ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” BEGINS IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–On Sunday August 15, the opening of the “One Nation,
One Culture” Pan-Armenian cultural festival took place in the National
Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.
President Kocharian, Catholicos Karekin II, FM Vartan Oskanian, Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan, and other officials were present at
the ceremony.
Greeting the participants, Oskanian called the festival a historic event and
emphasized: “Every generation living in its homeland or the diaspora should
reveal the depth and wealth of one united culture of the national
originality of his origin, should be newly filled w ith aesthetic and moral
spirit of national and human real values.”
Among the performers were the State Dance Ensemble of Armenia and the
“Barekamutiun” ensemble, dudukist Jivan Gasparian, singers Hasmik Papian,
Hasmik Hatsagortsian, Svetlana
Navasardian, Ruben Matevosian, actors Vladimir Abajian, Hovhannes
Babakhanian, Zhenia Avetisian, as well as other well-known Armenian artists.
Also participating are cultural groups from the diaspora.
12TH ARMENIAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RESTARTS
YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). The 12th Armenian Football Championship
restarts with the matches of Day 15. Leaders of the tournament were again
victorious. Armenian
champion “Pyunik” beat “Ararat” 2-1, “Mika” beat “Kilikia” 5-1. “Kotayk” –
“Dinamo-Zenit” 2-1, “Banants” – “Shirak” 1-1.
Current standings are as follows: 1.Pyunik(Yerevan)-39 points,
2.Mika(Ashtarak)-35 p.
3.Ararat(Yerevan)-22 p. 4.Banants(Yerevan)-21 p. 5.Dinamo-Zenit(Yerevan)-20
p.
6.Kilikia(Yerevan)-11 p. 7.Kotayk(Abovyan)-9 p. 8.Shirak(Gyumri)-9 p.
KALAYDJIAN’S COMMENTS ANGER COMMUNITY
Nicosia August 20, Gibrahayer – The comments of Armenian representative in
the Cyprus House Bedros Kalaydjian in last week’s Gibrahayer issue have
angered community members who emailed and telephoned, to voice their
protest.
“Kalaydjian is insulting our intelligence. That is the real problem, not the
fact that he was apathetic towards the needs of the Ensemble.” read one
protest email who wanted to keep his anonymity.
“You suffer from apathy ….the panicle of arrogance” read another more
expressive email (A.H from Nicosia)*, which we chose not to publicise in its
entirety.
“If he was going on a holiday and wanted to help the Ensemble he should have
appointed someone and not made up a story about some mobile phone being shut
down. C’mon if he had called just anyone in Xylotympou and asked for a
member of the Cultural Association, they would have given him a number.”
said another (N.B. from Limassol)*.
Others simply wanted the debate to end. “I believe the subject matter
should end at this point. Any indifference to an Armenian event within the
community should not be undermined by the community leaders, but it is
equally fair to say when everything is done within one’s power, then
understanding and patience should take precedence.” wrote Daniel Jonoyan
from Glendale, California, a former employee of the Melkonian Educational
Institute in the early eighties.
* names of email senders withheld upon their request
OLYMPIC MOMENTS
– WEIGHT LIFTING – Armen Ghazarian won fifth place in the 62 kg category
– TENNIS – Marcos Baghdatis fought bravely only to lose against Nicolas
Kiefer ranked 14 in the world for place in the round of 16, in a match that
lasted nearly two and a half hours, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6.
– BOXING – Vanes MARTIROSYAN (USA) made a solid start for his medal
campaign, beating Benamar MESKINE (ALG) 45-20 to set up a fascinating clash
with ARAGON ARMENTEROS in the round of sixteen on Thursday, 19 August.
VERCHIN JAM: Martirosyan lost on points.
– JUDO – Armen Nazaryan, Armenia, defeated Alexandre Lee of Brazil, and lost
to
Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, of Iran. In the quarters Nazaryan lost to Jean
Claude Cameroun, from Cameroon.
NEWS IN BRIEF
– The renowned Italian academic publishing house, Edizioni Guerini, has
just come out with an Italian-language edition of Dr. Vahakn Dadrian’s now
classic History of the Armenian Genocide: Ethnic Conflict from the Balkans
to Anatolia and the Caucasus.
– A survey funded by the EU suggests a staggering 30% rate of unemployment
in Yerevan which is three times higher than the figure reported by the
Armenian government.
– Bella Kocharian, wife of the Armenian president, has received an award by
the Armenian Bone Marrow Donors Register, an American-Armenian organization
operating in Los Angeles.
g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r
The Armenian Youth Federation completed its 17th Annual Summer Camp at the
Morphou Prelature Camp Site at Kalopanayiotis on Sunday 15 August 2004.
Pictures from Camp can be viewed next week as they are not ready.
The Annual General Meeting of The Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational
Association “Oshakan” Cyprus Chapter will take place on Tuesday September
14, 2004 at 8:00 p.m. at A.Y.M.A.
The Armenian Prelature announces that the next permit for the Armenian
Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is schedul ed for
Sunday 23 August, 2004.
Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation can be heard
via real audio on . Broadcast times 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus
time (14:00-15:00 GMT) News bulletins at 17:15 local time on Sundays,
Tuesdays, Fridays. Armenian Cypriots can also tune in on the following radio
frequencies 91.1 FM (Mount Olympus – for Nicosia listeners) 94.2 FM
(Paralimni/Protaras/Agia Napa) 92.4 FM (Larnaca) 96.5 FM (Paphos).
Every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. (Cyprus time +2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito, Puzant
Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blues” together with Robert Camassa.
The programme which is now in its second year can also be heard on Real
Audio from the Internet edition of CyBC on . A repeat
programme can also be heard seven hours later at 2:00 a.m. local time.
AYMA announces that the weekly practices of the football team begin in the
second week of September. Contact the AYMA Sports Committee for more
details.
CALENDAR U.S.A.
2004 AYF-YOARF OLYMPIC GAMES
Hosted by the Chicago “Ararat” Chapter
MAIN OLYMPICS HOTEL SOLD OUT!!! SECOND HOTEL ADDED
September 2-6, 2004 – The AYF-YOARF 71st Olympic Games is shaping up to be
one of the most successful Olympics in recent history. The Westin O’Hare has
just sold out and the SHERATON GATEWAY SUITES has been added as a second
hotel. Reserve your room by calling the Sheraton at 888-627-8117 and
requesting the “AYF” rate.
The AYF wishes the very best for arriving guests and participants and hopes
to provide all attendees with the experience of a memorable weekend. Our
games are associated with fraternalism, athletic competition and the
existence of an enjoyable and safe social environment. The AYF will be
forcing the Zero-Tolerance Policy implemented last year. Any violation of
these guidelines will result in removal from the hotel for the duration of
the weekend. These and any other violations according with local and state
law will be enforced by the Olympic Security Force and the Hotel. The
Zero-Tolerance Policy will be posted on the AYFs website soon.
Just Added! The AYF Central Executive will be hosting a reception for the
70th Anniversary of the Armenian Weekly at this year’s AYF Olympics in
Chicago. This reception will highlight the history and many accomplishments
of the weekly, honoring past and current supporters/contributors. The event
will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 4th in the Westin
Hotel.
The deadline for the Olympic Ad-Book is approaching – (August 15th!!! We
encourage friends, family and alumni to share their memories and well-wishes
with all olympics attendees. Lastly, the Hye-Pass is still available – $60
covers admission in to all athletics events and dances (sorry, the Boat
Cruise is not included!).
Additional information including downloadable forms for the Hye-Pass and
Ad-Book can be obtained from Visit for
more information!!!
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Bejanyan Tamara
Organization: Terjan Hotel Complex
Project: “Silk Road” Armenian Decorative and Applied Arts Fair
Date: 10 September, 2004, at 18:00 PM
Where: Terjan Hotel Complex, Silikyan district, 5th str.
Tel.: fax: (3741) 399 699, 390 388, 398 699
E-mail: [email protected] Web site:
TERJAN HOTEL COMPLEX HOLDS “SILK ROAD” FAIR FEATURING EXCLUSIVE WORKS OF
CONTEMPORARY ARMENIAN APPLIED AND DECORATIVE ART
The third in a series of expositions featuring Armenian modern artwork will
take place at Terjan Hotel, on September 10th, 2004.
You will have an opportunity to see the exceptional works of Nune Aghbalyan,
the professor of Yerevan State Institute of Fine Arts and fashion designer
Kevork Shadoyan.
The member of the Union of Professional Artists of UNESCO since 1995, Nune
Aghbalyan has exhibited in France, Russia, Germany, Austria and
Czechoslovakia.
The sphere of art called material painting (batik) so little known to the
Armenian artists in the past is now becoming more and more popular.
It was Nune Aghbalyan who nearly 23 years ago made outstanding progress in
this field.
The latest collection of modern costumes with Armenian ornaments, as well as
paintings on the silk, cotton, velvet, silk ties, pins and other accessories
will be showcased at the exposition for the first time in Armenia.
In October the collection will be staged at Boston’s fashion show.
Officials from the government, foreign embassies, international and local
organizations as well as media representatives will be invited.
Refreshments will be served.
No entrance fee for the fair
Free parking space
Please, for more details call: 399699, 390388
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian GDP up 9.3% in first 7 months
23.08.2004 09:48:00 GMT

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia’s GDP increased 9.3% year-on- year to
788.3 billion dram in January-July 2004, a source in the National
Statistics Service told Interfax.
In July this year GDP increased 10.4% compared with June.
According to the statistics, industrial production in Armenia amounted
to 285.6 billion dram in the first seven months of the year, up 3.4%
year-on-year. Electricity production increased 15.4% year-on- year to
amount to 3.68 billion kWh in the reporting period.
Foreign trade increased 2.8% to $1.1 billion.
The average weighted exchange rate in the first seven months of the
year amounted to 553.58 dram to the dollar, the source said.
The official exchange rate on August 23 was 516.08 dram to the dollar.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia to train 150 Armenian military specialists –
23.08.2004 09:46:00 GMT
Sochi. (Interfax-AVN) – Russia is ready to fulfill Armenia’s request
to train Armenian military specialists at its colleges, President
Vladimir Putin announced at his Friday meeting with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian inSochi.
“We will fully meet the request of the Armenian Defense Ministry to
train experts,” Putin said adding that Armenia had asked to train
140-150 officers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
“THE REUNIFICATION OF KOREA SHOULD OCCUPY A PRIORITY PLACE ON THE AGENDA OF
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY”
Stated His Holiness Aram I
(KOREA, ANTELIAS, LEBANON) – 22 August 2004 – In his message to the
congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of Cilicia and Moderator of the Central Committee of the WCC,
emphasized the urgency of the reunification of the South and North Koreas.
He said that the international community should help these countries to
engage in a process of democratization and reconciliation on the basis of
mutual respect and trust. The focus of Aram I’ message was that the
Christian Church must take the Gospel to the world. He said that the church
is a missionary reality. “Being Christian means being a witness, and being a
witness means taking the whole Gospel to the world. We are sent by God in
Christ to become missionaries in a world, where the Gospel values are in
decline, in a world dominated by injustice, violence, in a world which is in
dire need of meaning. At the end of his sermon which was based on Acts 1:8,
His Holiness described the Christian understanding of power. He said “Our
power is our powerlessness that comes from the cross, the symbol of God’s
self-emptying and victory over the death”. He said that “As Christians we
are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become the witnesses of the Gospel
values”.
Present at the Church among the congregation were state officials and
Ecumenical guests.
His Holiness attended a luncheon given in his honor, by the former
representatives of the Korean Churches at the WCC. His Holiness also
attended a formal dinner given by the Churches of South Korea.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mail & Guardian Online , South Africa
Aug 23 2004
Equatorial Guinea ‘coup’ trial to start on Monday

Fienie Grobler | Johannesburg

advertisementThe trial of eight South Africans accused of plotting a
coup d’état in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea is due to open in Malabo on
Monday with claims of torture and denial of due process casting
doubts over the proceedings.
The eight men detained at the notorious Black Beach prison in Malabo
along with six Armenians and a German — who died in custody — were
arrested early March for conspiring to topple leader Teodoro Obiang
Nguema.
The eight South Africans are to go on trial along with the six
Armenians on Monday but South African officials said that the group
saw their lawyers for the first time on Friday.
Family members say the men have been severely tortured and even
though the official cause of German Gerhard Eugen Nershz’s death is
cerebral malaria, Amnesty International has said he “died on March
17, apparently as a result of torture”.
Three more men have since contracted malaria. Two have recovered but
a third is still ill.
The men have for the largest part of their incarceration been held
incommunicado, according to Amnesty International, and two wives from
South Africa were only allowed to visit them for the first time
earlier this month.
“The lawyers have just seen them today [Friday] and this was the
first contact they had,” said Billy Masetlha, advisor to South
African President Thabo Mbeki.
Mbeki, after a meeting with Obiang in July, announced his government
would send a team to Malabo, on request from Equatorial Guinea, “to
assist them in understanding what would represent a free and fair and
just trial”, Masetlha said.
“We have been pushing them to give access to the lawyers, however it
happened too late. The case is on Monday and clearly a case of that
level would need some preparation.
“From my simple reading of the situation… I would think it would be
possible that the lawyers go to the court and ask can you please give
us more time to study the charges, consult the clients, prepare the
documents,” said Masethla.
The 15 men arrested in Equatorial Guinea were nabbed two days after
Zimbabwean authorities detained 70 suspected mercenaries at Harare
airport following a tip-off from the South African government.
The Equatorial Guinea men, led by South African Nick du Toit, were
allegedly an advance group responsible for the preparations of the
coup d’état before the arrival of the 70 suspected soldiers of
fortune who took off from South Africa and stopped in Harare to pick
up weapons.
“I am very, very worried about this court case. My first name is
fear,” said Belinda du Toit, the wife of Nick du Toit.
“My logic tells me that you cannot have a trial like this without
legal representation. For cases like these you need months and months
to prepare. I do not think it could be a fair trial,” said Du Toit.
The men who are awaiting judgement in Harare say they were on their
way to guard diamond mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo while
the Equatorial Guinea detainees deny any involvement in the alleged
plot.
Nick du Toit (48), owns fishery and air-transport businesses in
Equatorial Guinea.
He is a former member of the South African police’s elite Special
Task Force unit and has been linked to Executive Outcomes, a
mercenary outfit that closed down in the 90s when the African
National Congress government outlawed mercenary
activity.
Du Toit is also said to have good relations with the soldiers of the
former so-called “Buffalo Battalion”, a mercenary unit created by the
apartheid government in South Africa in the 1970s to fight in Namibia
and Angola.
Five of the South African men detained with Du Toit, all of them of
Angolan descent, were members of the Buffalo Battalion.
Also arrested with Du Toit is Bones Boonzaaier, another a former
Special Task Force member. He is said to be a business associate of
Du Toit and took care of the logistics of his companies in Equatorial
Guinea.
The third man in detention is Mark Schmidt. He has no military
background and was employed by Du Toit as a cook.