Sports Features Communications (press release), FL
Aug 16 2004
BOXING: Welterweight Martirosyan Showcases the Olympic Spirit

ATHENS, GREECE – After welterweight (152 lbs/69 kg) Vanes Martirosyan
(Glendale, Calif.) earned a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing
Team, fellow Olympic Team Trials – Boxing competitor Andre Berto
(Winter Haven, Fla./Haiti) chose to use his dual citizenship to
compete for the Haitian Olympic Boxing team. Although the two
athletes were competitors, they always maintained a friendly
relationship, at least outside the ring.
Martirosyan and Berto share more than just boxing, both know what it
means to come to the Olympic Games representing two countries.
Martirosyan is boxing for the United States but feels that he is
competing for his native country of Armenia as well. Berto was boxing
for Haiti but the American teenager also wanted to make the United
States proud.
Martirosyan earned a first round victory on Sunday afternoon over
Benamar Meskine of Algeria, and Berto competed for the first time on
Sunday night. During Berto’s bout, Martirosyan stood in one of the
front rows of the Peristeri Boxing Hall in Athens, Greece.
Martirosyan didn’t just come to scout or watch his possible future
opponent, he stood and cheered for him, encouraging him in his first
round contest. Although Berto fell just short, losing 36-34 to Xavier
Noel of France, Martirosyan showed true class and sportsmanship as
well as the Olympic spirit in coming to support his fellow boxer.
Martirosyan will compete in his second round bout on Thursday,
August, 19, when he takes on defending World Champion Lorenzo
Armenteros Aragon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COE (Communiqués de presse), Switzerland
Aug 16 2004
WCC executive committee to meet for first time in Korea;
general secretary to visit Korean churches
The vitality of the churches and the ecumenical movement in Korea and
the region will be at the centre of attention during a 24-27 August
2004 World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committe meeting in
Seoul. The meeting will be preceded by a visit by the WCC general
secretary to the Korean churches from 18-20 August 2004, and by a
special programme for WCC executive committee members from 21-23
August 2004.
Peace and reconciliation in the divided peninsula has received
particular attention from the churches and the WCC for decades; it
will be the focus of a statement by the executive committee on Korea.
The committee will address other situations of international concern,
including events in Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Somalia.
Preparations for the WCC’s 9th assembly, to be held in Brazil in
February 2006, will also receive priority attention. In addition, the
committee will review applications for membership from several
churches, and a series of proposed amendments to membership rules.
Also on the agenda are a review of the WCC’s Pacific office, a
progress report on relations with partner organizations, a detailed
programme report for the first half of 2004, and an update on the
council’s finances.
For the first time, the executive committee will be using a consensus
method of decision-making as a new methodology of work to be applied
at major WCC meetings. This approach to decision-making was proposed
by the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC, and
is seen as a more inclusive and conciliar way of working.
WCC leadership to visit Korean churches
Prior to the meeting, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
will visit WCC member churches in Korea, and a series of encounters
with church leadership and congregations is planned (18-20 August).
A special programme (21-23 August) for the members of the executive
committee will include a visit to the demilitarized zone that divides
North and South Korea.
The programme also includes worship in local church communities, as
well as a reception hosted by the National Council of Churches in
Korea (NCCK) and the Korean ministry of culture. An audience with the
president of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Roh Moo-hyun, is also
foreseen.
On 23 August, the NCCK will organize a seminar on the future of
ecumenism which will be addressed by WCC leadership.
The executive committee meeting is being hosted by the NCCK and the
four WCC member churches in the country: the Anglican Church of
Korea, the Korean Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church in the
Republic of Korea, and the Presbyterian Church of Korea.
The 25-member executive committee is the highest governing body
between meetings of the WCC central committee, and it usually meets
twice-yearly. Its moderator is Catholicos Aram I, head of the
Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilicia).
Media contact: Ms Jung Hae-Sun, 82-2-745-4943, 82-16-396-2876
(mobile), [email protected]
Programme highlights for press:
18 August
16:00 WCC general secretary gives press conference at Korea Christian
Building
20 August
09:20 WCC general secretary visits the Christian Broadcasting System
and gives an interview
21 August
Morning: WCC general secretary attends the North East Asia church
leaders’ meeting at the Centennial Building
22 August
09:00 WCC executive committee members visit local churches
18:30 Welcome reception (hosted by NCCK )
23 August
09:30 International Forum on New Vision and Challenges to Ecumenism
in the 21st Century (80th anniversary celebration of NCCK)
16:00 Visit to office of South and North Dialogue
17:20 Welcome reception (hosted by minister of culture and tourism)
24 August
16:00 Visit to the Blue House (presidential office)
27 August
14:00 WCC leadership give a press conference at Korea Christian
Building
Website of the National Council of Churches in Korea
Informations complémentaires: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363 [email protected]

Olympic Weightlifting Results
.c The Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Results Monday from the Olympic weightlifting
competition:
Men
62Kg
1. Shi Zhiyong, China, (1, 152.50-336; 2, 172.50-380), 325.00 kg.-717 pounds.
2. le Maosheng, China, (3, 140.00-309; 1, 172.50-380), 312.50-689.
3. Leonidas Sampanis, Greece, (2, 145.00-320; 3, 167.50-369), 312.50-689.
4. Israel Jose Rubio Rivero, Venezuela, (8, 132.50-292; 4, 162.50-358),
295.00-650.
5. Armen Ghazaryan, Armenia, (6, 135.00-298; 9, 160.00-353), 295.00-650.
6. Gustar Junianto, Indonesia, (7, 132.50-292; 5, 160.00-353), 292.50-645.
7. Samson Ndicka, France, (10, 127.50-281; 6, 160.00-353), 287.50-634.
8. Umurbek Bazarbayev, Turkmenistan, (9, 130.00-287; 10, 157.50-347),
287.50-634.
9. Sunarto Sunarto, Indonesia, (11, 125.00-276; 8, 160.00-353), 285.00-628.
10. Sheng Hsiung Yang, Taiwan, (14, 120.00-265; 7, 160.00-353), 280.00-617.
11. Manuel Minginfel, Micronesia, (12, 120.00-265; 11, 152.50-336),
272.50-601.
12. Toshio Imamura, Japan, (13, 120.00-265; 13, 150.00-331), 270.00-595.
13. Asif Malikov, Azerbaijan, (15, 115.00-254; 12, 150.00-331), 265.00-584.
14. Gert Trasha, Albania, (16, 115.00-254; 14, 140.00-309), 255.00-562.
15. Ioan Florin Veliciu, Romania, (17, 110.00-243; 15, 135.00-298),
245.00-540.
16. Yacine Zouaki, Morocco, (18, 95.00-209; 16, 130.00-287), 225.00-496.
NR. Kamran Panjavi, Britain, 0.00-0.
NR. Sevdalin Angelov, Bulgaria, 0.00-0.
NR. Im Yong Su, North Korea, 0.00-0.
NR. Diego Fernando Salazar Quintero, Colombia, 0.00-0.
Women
58Kg
1. Chen Yanqing, China, (1, 107.50; 1, 130.00), 237.50 kg..
2. Ri Song Hui, North Korea, (2, 102.50; 2, 130.00), 232.50.
3. Wandee Kameaim, Thailand, (3, 102.50; 3, 127.50), 230.00.
4. Aylin Dasdelen, Turkey, (4, 100.00; 4, 125.00), 225.00.
5. Aleksandra Klejnowska, Poland, (5, 97.50; 5, 122.50), 220.00.
6. Pak Hyon Suk, North Korea, (9, 95.00; 6, 122.50), 217.50.
7. Alexandra Escobar, Ecuador, (6, 95.00; 7, 120.00), 215.00.
8. Patmawati Patmawati, Indonesia, (7, 95.00; 10, 117.50), 212.50.
9. Michaela Breeze, Britain, (10, 92.50; 9, 120.00), 212.50.
10. Franca Gbodo, Nigeria, (8, 95.00; 11, 117.50), 212.50.
11. Maryse Turcotte, Canada, (11, 90.00; 8, 120.00), 210.00.
12. Zlatina Atanasova, Bulgaria, (13, 90.00; 12, 115.00), 205.00.
13. Charikleia Kastritsi, Greece, (12, 90.00; 13, 110.00), 200.00.
14. Bayarmaa Namkhaidorj, Mongolia, (14, 87.50; 14, 107.50), 195.00.
08/16/04 15:29 EDT
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
August 13, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Armenian Official Briefs on Armenian Economy at National Press Club
On August 10, 2004, the National Press Club in Washington, DC hosted a news
conference by Vahram Nercissiantz, Chief Economic Adviser to the President
of Armenia, who presented Armenia’s current social and economic development,
his vision for regional cooperation, and expressed his appreciation for
Armenia’s inclusion in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). In drawing a
historical account of Armenia’s irreversible achievements in making
political and economic reforms since independence, Mr. Nercissiantz
described the political and philosophical foundations of the Armenian
reforms, and the strategic directions of the transition, emphasizing the
commitment of the Armenian authorities to further development of liberal
democracy and market economy in Armenia. He concluded by presenting the
Armenian government’s strategy for sustaining high rates of economic growth
and reducing poverty in Armenia.
In a vigorous Q&A that followed his presentation, Mr. Nercissiantz addressed
issues ranging from Armenian-Turkish relations to details of the MCA process
in Armenia. He reiterated that the removal of the Turkish blockade and
subsequent opening of the Armenian-Turkish border would greatly benefit both
Turkey and Armenia, as well as neighboring countries of South Caucasus by
promoting greater regional cooperation and stability. Mr. Nercissiantz, who
is ex officio Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian
Program of the Millennium Challenge Account, explained that the Armenian
government had held extensive consultations with Armenian NGO’s, groups of
experts and other concerned parties, both at national and local levels, to
solicit advice and develop a public awareness on the strategic directions
for developmental assistance under the terms of MCA. Addressing recent
articles in the Washington Post that had drawn an unbalanced and inaccurate
portrayal of Armenia’s economy, he said that Armenia’s progress was real and
emphasized the determination of the government and the people of Armenia to
seriously tackle the social and economic challenges facing Armenia today.
For full text of Vahram Nercissiantz’s presentation, please visit the
Embassy of Armenia website:

SOLEMN OPENING OF “ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” FIRST PAN-ARMENIAN
CULTURAL FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE ON AUGUST 15
YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). On August 15, the solemn opening of
the “One Nation, One Culture” first Pan-Armenian cultural festival
took place in the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after
A.Spendiarian. RA President Robert Kocharian, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II, Vardan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, Hovik
Hoveyan, RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, and other officials
were present at the ceremony. Numerous well-known cultural workers
from France, Austria, Great Britain, the US, Syria, Lebanon, Iran,
Turkey, Russia were also taking part in opening of the festival.
Greeting the participants of the festival, V.Oskanian mentioned that
the “One Nation, One Culture” festival is a historic event. Quoting
the words of the President, he emphasized: “Every generation living in
its homeland or the Diaspora should newly reveal the depth and wealth
of one united culture of the national originality of his origin,
should be newly filled with aesthetic and moral spirit of national and
human real values.” The State Dance Ensemble of Armenia and the
“Barekamutiun” ensemble, dudukist Jivan Gasparian, RA People’s Artist
Gegham Grigorian, singers Hasmik Papian, Hasmik Hatsagortsian,
Svetlana Navasardian, Ruben Matevosian, actors Vladimir Abajian,
Hovhannes Babakhanian, Zhenia Avetisian and other well-known Armenian
art workers performed at the concert that followed the opening of the
festival.

CREDITS OF GERMAN BANKS FOR $50 MLN WILL BE ATTRACTED FOR
MODERNIZATION OF FOIL-ROLLING PLANT ARMENAL IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16. ARMINFO. Credits of a group of German banks for
$50 mln will be attracted for modernization of the foil-rolling plant
Armenal in Armenia, Deputy Director General of Russian Aluminum JSC
Alexander Livshits told journalists in Yerevan today.
He said that the plant’s modernization program and the current
situation at it were presented to Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan. Livshits said that Rusal, the owner of Armenal, intends to
make the plant the best in Europe. “It is a good project, and it will
be a toy and not a plant,” he said. The largest banks in Germany
headed by “Baerishelandes bank” come out as creditors. The credit is
planned to be received against guarantee of the German State Insurance
Society Hermes. A principal agreement in connection with provision of
guarantees is expected already by the late August, he said. The total
cost of the investment program will total $70 mln. The remaining $20
mln will be invested by Rusal. Livshits said that the Russian company
has already invested $1.5 mln in elaboration of a feasibility study
and other works. The cost of the investment program rose in connection
with plans not only to produce foil, but also to establish
aluminum-rolling line. Thus, a closed loop enterprises will be
established, he explained. Livshits added that the general contractor
on modernization of the plant is a German company Achenbach. He
assured that the plant is planned to be activated in 2005, with the
6-9 micron aluminum foil produced by it to be highly in
demand. According to Livshits’s estimations, after the plant’s
modernization, some 1,000 people will be employed there, and the
production volumes will increase to 25,000 tons yearly. Last year, 9
thous. tons of foil were produced, in 2002- 5.5 thous. tons.

DEPARTMENT FOR TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND LAND CONTROL OF YEREVAN
MUNICIPALITY OF ARMENIA EXPOSED 867 ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTIONS BY AUGUST 1
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16. ARMINFO. By August 1, the Department for Town
Development and Land Control of Yerevan Municipality of Armenia
exposed 867 illegal constructions, meanwhile last year’s indicator for
the first six months totaled 72. Chief Adviser of Yerevan Mayor
Grigor Melkumyan told journalists today.
He said that the greatest number of illegal constructions was exposed
in the communities Center (229), Achapnyak (149) and Arabkir
(147). 325 of the above 867 illegal constructions were disassembled as
against 32 in the first half of 2003. Within the first 7 months, the
Municipality received 1,974 applications by citizens and orgnaizations
in connection with illegal constructions and seizure of land lots, 867
of them were considered grounded. Melkumyan said that the Department
issued 235 permissions for construction. The lion’s share of the
constructions will be carried out in the Center and Achapnyak
communities.
67 and 66 permission were issued for constructions in these
communities respectively.
It should be noted that Yerevan municipality elaborated a complex
program on settlement of this problem, which will allow the city
authorities to follow the work of the employees of the Department for
Town Development and Land Control. Due to the rotation mechanism, all
the employees of the Department were moved from their previous
districts to new ones. Besides, the Municipality made a decision on
compulsory installation of tables containing information on the
company engaged in construction, the goal of the construction and
other data at construction sites. It should be noted that 57 cases
when construction sites lacked such tables were registered in the
period under review.

NEXT MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS FIXED FOR
LATE AUGUST IN PRAGUE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16. ARMINFO. The next meeting of Armenian and
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers, Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar Mamedyarov,
is fixed for the late August in Prague, Press Secretary of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry Hamlet Gasparyan told ARMINFO.
However, he said, that the exact date of the meeting has not been
determined yet. It should be noted that the meetings of the ministers
are held on the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group on settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. The forthcoming meeting will become the forth in
succession.

AZERBAIJAN SHIFTS FOREIGN POLICY TO SETTLE KARABAKH PROBLEM – TV
ANS TV, Baku
15 Aug 04
Azerbaijan has recently found itself in the focus of a “fierce clash”
of US, Russian and Iranian interests and it is steering between them
to settle the long-standing Nagornyy Karabakh conflict with
neighbouring Armenia. The following is an excerpt from report by
Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 15 August:
(Presenter) The Nagornyy Karabakh problem will be a subject of
discussions during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s
first official visit to Moscow next week. Diplomatic and political
activities in the South Caucasus region have considerably intensified
with Azerbaijan being in the centre of them.
Representatives of totally different and even contradictory interests,
on the one hand, the Iranian president, on the other hand, the US
defence minister, have visited Baku. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov is due in Moscow after visits to Washington and
Tehran. Obviously, at the crossroads of fierce clashes of varied
interests, Azerbaijan is carrying out diplomatic manoeuvres to gain
dividends to settle the Karabakh problem. Ibrahim Mammadov comments:
(Mammadov over footage of Washington) The US president will soon
announce plans to pull 100,000 troops out of Europe and Asia. Part of
the troops to be pulled out of Germany, Japan and South Korea will be
sent home. The remaining part is expected to be redeployed in new NATO
member countries.
Unlike last year, Azerbaijan is not being mentioned amongst these
countries. On the other hand, the law on national security of the
Azerbaijani Republic, which came into effect two weeks ago, bans
deployment of foreign countries’ military bases on the territory of
the country. Incidentally, the approval of this law meets the
interests of Russia and Iran, which want to keep the South Caucasus
clear of foreign military bases.
A communique adopted during the Azerbaijani president’s Moscow visit
contains provisions on not taking military steps running against the
other country’s interests. Azerbaijan has honoured them all the way
through. At NATO’s Istanbul Summit, Azerbaijan did not file an
official application for membership. Later, a law banning deployment
of foreign military bases in Azerbaijan was adopted. Finally,
Azerbaijan has not given a positive answer to the US address to
dispatch extra forces to Iraq.
(Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, shown speaking to journalist) We
have not put forward our stance yet. We agreed in talks with (US
Secretary of Defence Donald) Rumsfeld here to continue the
negotiations and see what the outcome will be.
(Correspondent over video of Rumsfeld and Safar Abiyev at the airport)
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev drew attention to the fact
that sending troops to Iraq was a political issue.
True, although the minister did not shed light on what was the
political matter, his replies to other questions highlighted that
Azerbaijan’s only wish was that the USA helped Baku in the resolution
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Apparently, although Azerbaijan wanted a hand with the resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem in exchange for committing extra troops
to Iraq and military cooperation, the USA deems it necessary to keep
the status quo referring to the OSCE Minsk Group.
Azerbaijan requested a hand with the Karabakh issue in exchange for
supporting the USA and said that otherwise, the conflict would remain
unresolved for a long time. A reaction came immediately.
US State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez reacted to the replacement
of the imam at (Baku’s) Cuma mosque two months ago only now and
condemned the incident calling on the Azerbaijani government to
respect religious freedom.
(Passage omitted: quotes from The New York Times)
The Russian stage in Azerbaijani diplomacy is starting now. Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay a visit to Moscow on 17-18
August. In the run-up to Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit, he commented
positively on (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s favourite Single
Economic Space, which shows that Azerbaijan is ready to do a serious
economic favour for Russia.
Most likely, the USA will not treat this step positively
either. Because Ukrainian President Vladimir Kuchma’s decision to
create a single economic space with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan was
opposed by Ukraine’s pro-American opposition forces which called for
Kuchma’s resignation. The formation of a single economic space with
Russia was even interpreted by the Ukrainian pro-Western opposition
forces as a loss of sovereignty. However, Kuchma managed to do this.
The Ukrainian president agreed to it purely because of economic
interests.
Together with economic benefits, Azerbaijan puts an emphasis on the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. In other words, it is supposed
that Azerbaijan might review its position on the Single Economic Space
if Russia changes its position on the Karabakh problem. On the other
side, this is neither pro-Russian nor anti-American policy. The
government of Azerbaijan is trying to change regional countries’
position on the Karabakh issue in Azerbaijan’s favour as much as
possible.
After Iranian President Khatami’s Baku visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Hamid Reza Asafi explained the president’s Karabakh policy
this way. Iran wants Azerbaijan to restore its control over this
enclave. Up to now, Tehran has not issued an unambiguous statement
like this and simply limited itself to stating that it recognizes our
territorial integrity.
The US defence secretary did not say anything unambiguous or different
from what had been said so far and mentioned (US Co-Chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group) Steven Mann’s name, pointing at the fact that the
State Department is dealing with the issue, not the Pentagon. However,
the Pentagon has more influence in the South Caucasus than the State
Department. The outcome of Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit will show whether
Russia will make any changes or not.
Ibrahim Mammadov for ANS.

RUSSIAN COMPANY MODERNIZING ALUMINIUM PLANT IN ARMENIA
Mediamax news agency
16 Aug 04
YEREVAN
“Armenal will become the best plant in Europe for the rolling and
production of aluminium foil.”
This is what the deputy general director of the Russian company Rusal,
Aleksandr Livshits, said today in Yerevan at a briefing on his meeting
with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Mediamax reports. Rusal owns
the Armenal enterprise, set up on the basis of Yerevan’s Kanaker
aluminium plant.
Aleksandr Livshits said that 70m dollars would be invested in
modernizing Armenal. Of this, 50m is provided by credits from a group
of German banks and 20m is invested directly by Rusal.
In 2002, Armenal produced 5,500 t of aluminium foil and in 2003 9,000
t. Livshits said that after modernization the annual volume of foil
production would reach 25,000 t.
Rusal’s deputy general director said that Armenal’s modernization
would be finished by 2005.