The San Diego Union-Tribune
Saturday, Apr. 17, 2004
Pechanga plays host to NBC fights
By Jerry Magee
STAFF WRITER
April 16, 2004
TEMECULA – Boxing seldom is offered between breakfast and lunch, but it will
be at the Pechanga Resort and Casino tomorrow on a card that initiates a
second season of telecasts of the sport by NBC and Telemundo.
First bout is at about 11 a.m., with the main event, a scheduled 10-round
lightweight bout between unbeaten Juan Diaz of Houston (23-0, 11 KOs) and
Martin O’Malley of Edmonds, Wash. (21-2-1, 14 KOs) to begin at about 12:30
p.m.
NBC Sports and Telemundo, a Spanish-language network, cooperated in
presenting three Saturday cards a year ago – NBC’s first venture into
televising boxing in 11 years. This year the series has been expanded to
five programs, with the others scheduled in Houston, Atlantic City, N.J.,
Tucson and Yakima, Wash.
“We’re known as storytellers, and we’re going to continue the stories we
began last year,” said Ken Schanzer, president of NBC Sports.
The main event and a scheduled eight-round welterweight match between Archak
Ter-Meliksetian of Armenia (8-0, 7 KOs) and Nurhan Suleymanoglu of Turkey
(13-0, 5 KOs) are on NBC. Only Telemundo is displaying a scheduled 10-round
welterweight bout between Jauquin Gallardo of San Leandro (15-2-1, 5 KOs)
and Arturo Morua of Guadalajara, Mexico (18-4-1, 13 KOs).
Diaz, ranked No. 4 as a lightweight by the WBC, also fought at Pechanga in
May 2003, coming away with a close but unanimous decision over tough Eleazar
Contreras of Bakersfield in a bout that was nominated as a “Fight of the
Year.” Diaz was dropped in the sixth round before rallying to win on the
judges’ cards, 95-94, 95-94 and 97-92. Diaz is 20.
O’Malley, 28, swept his first 17 bouts as a professional before being
stopped in the ninth round in July 2001 by Leonard Dorin, later a
lightweight champion. Two years later, O’Malley fought for the vacant NABA
lightweight title and was outpointed by Luis Villalta.
Ter-Meliksetian, 25, raised in Porto Alegre, Brazil, had an amateur record
of 98-8 with 76 KOs while winning four Brazilian national titles. As a pro,
he has stopped six opponents in the first round.
Suleymanoglu, 32, is a native of Kazakhstan who captured a silver medal for
Turkey in the 1996 Olympics. He has been boxing professionally since April
2001.

Details of European title races (Albania-Belarus)
Reuters
Friday April 16, 2004 1:51 AM
LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) – Following are details of the current
situations in the domestic league and cup competitions of European
countries (Albania-Belarus):
ALBANIA
League: Seven rounds left to play. Reigning champions SK Tirana look
likely to retain the title.
They play second placed Dinamo Tirana at home on May 15, but unless
they suffer a spectacular collapse they should have won their 21st
championship long before then.
Final round of matches: May 22
Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. SK Tirana 29 21 5 3 75 24 68 2. Dinamo
Tirana 29 18 5 6 53 32 59 3. Partizani Tirana 29 16 5 8 51 28 53
Cup: At semi-final stage. Dinamo Tirana lead SK Tirana 3-1 and
Partizani Tirana lead Vllaznia 2-0 after the first leg matches. Second
leg matches to be played on April 21.
SK Tirana could still win their third double, having previously
acheived the feat in 1996 and 1999.
European places (3): Champions qualify for first qualifying round of
Champions League. League runners-up and Albanian Cup winners qualify
for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.
ANDORRA
League: Season ended on April 4. Santa Coloma retained the Andorran
championship. The victory, Coloma’s third, equals Principat’s three
championships won between 1997 and 1999.
Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. Santa Coloma 20 14 3 3 44 21 45
2. Sant Julia 20 13 4 3 57 18 43 3. Ranger’s 20 10 4 6 34 17 34
Cup: At second elimination round, matches to be played on April
18. Four match winners joined by Santa Coloma, Sant Julia, Ranger’s
and Encamp in quarter-finals.
European places (1): Champions Santa Coloma qualify for first
qualifying round of UEFA Cup. Andorran Cup winners do not receive a
European place.
ARMENIA
League: Season only one round old. Pyunik Yerevan are looking to win
their fourth consecutive championship.
Final round of matches: November 7
Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. Pyunik Yerevan 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 2. MIKA
Ashtarak 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 3. Banants 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Cup: At semi-final stage. Pyunik Yerevan drew 0-0 with MIKA Ashtarak
and Shirak Giumri beat Banants 2-0 in the first leg matches. Second
leg matches to be played on April 21. Final to be played on May 9.
European places (3): 2003 Champions Pyunik Yerevan qualify for first
qualifying round of Champions League. League runners-up Banants and
Armenian Cup winners qualify for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.
AUSTRIA
League: Seven rounds left to play. Reigning champions, and leaders,
Austria Vienna play host to second placed Graz AK on April 25in what
is shaping up to be the title decider.
Austria Vienna are chasing their 23rdampionship, Graz AK their first.
Final round of matches: May 20
Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. Austria Vienna 29 17 7 5 49 21 58
2. Graz AK 29 17 7 5 51 28 58 3. SV Pasching 29 13 9 7 46 36 48
Cup: At quarter-final stage. Sturm Graz and holders Austria Vienna
have reached the semi-finals and will face each other. SV Ried and
Kaernten meet on April 20 and Rapid Vienna play Graz AK on April 21
for the remaining places. Semi-finals to be played on May 4.
Austria Vienna could record their tenth double.
European places (4): Champions qualify for second qualifying round of
Champions League. League runners-up, third placed team and Austrian
Cup winners qualify for second qualifying round of UEFA Cup.
AZERBAIJAN
League: Two rounds left to play. Shamkir and Neftchi are level at the
top as they battle it out to become the first champions since 2000-01,
although Neftchi have a game in hand.
Shamkir won the last two championships before the league was abandoned
and a third would equal the three won by Neftchi since the
championship began in 1992.
Third placed Karabach are also still in contention.
Final round of matches: May 5
P W D L F A Pts 1. Shamkir 25 20 3 2 67 11 63 2. Neftchi 24 20 3 1 58
15 63 3. Karabakh 24 18 3 3 60 16 57
Cup: At semi-final stage. Neftchi play Bakili and Shamkir play
Karabakh. Neftchi could record their second double, having previously
acheived the feat in 1996. Shamkir could win their first double.
European places (3): Champions qualify for first qualifying round of
Champions League. League runners-up and Azerbaijan Cup winners qualify
for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.
BELARUS
League: Season not yet started. Season begins on April 15. Reigning
champions Gomel begin their defence away to Zvezda Minsk.
Cup: At semi-final stage. BATE Borisov play Gomel and Shakhtsyor
Salihorsk play Naftan Nacapolatsk.
European places (3): 2003 champions Gomel qualify for first qualifying
round of Champions League. League runners-up BATE Borisov and Belarus
Cup winners qualify for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/16/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ANCA Shares Armenian American Disappointment Over Bush Administration Record with Congressional Leaders 2) ANC of Canada and Deputy Prime Minister Discuss Armenian Genocide Motion 3) Aliyev Says Russian Troops in Armenia a Danger to Region 4) Key Parliament Gunman Found Dead in Jail 1) ANCA Shares Armenian American Disappointment Over Bush Administration Record with Congressional Leaders LETTERS TO SPEAKER HASTERT AND MAJORITY LEADER FRIST OUTLINE SPECIFIC ARMENIAN AMERICAN POLICY CONCERNS ANCA CHAIRMAN PRAISES REPUBLICAN FRIENDS OF ARMENIA IN CONGRESS WASHINGTON, DC--In letters sent this week to Congressional leaders, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) voiced the disappointment of the Armenian American community over the Bush Administration's record on Armenian issues. In its correspondence, the ANCA called for renewed efforts by the leadership of the legislative branch to urge the White House to adopt more constructive policies on issues of special concern to Armenian American voters. Included with the letters, signed by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and sent to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, were copies of the ANCA's 2004 Armenian American Presidential Report Card, which gave the President generally low marks on a range of fifteen different Armenian American issues. These issues were grouped into three general categories as follows: 1) Unfulfilled commitments: Most notable among the unfulfilled commitments were the President's failure to honor his campaign pledge in February of 2000 to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, and his decision this February to abandon the 2001 White House agreement with both Congress and the Armenian American community to maintain parity in military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. 2) Opposition to community concerns: In terms of active opposition to community concerns, we have seen the White House block Congressional legislation concerning the Armenian Genocide, waive Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, propose reductions in US aid to Armenia, and mistakenly place Armenia on a Department of Justice/INS terrorist watch list. 3) Failure to prioritize Armenian issues: The Administration has failed to prioritize either US-Armenia ties or the White House's relationship with the Armenian American community. An example of the former is the failure of the Administration to take meaningful proactive steps to foster increased US-Armenia commercial relations, or even to press Congress to move quickly to adopt Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for Armenia. An example of the latter is that the President has not invited the collective leadership of the Armenian American community to a meeting at the White House despite repeated requests for such interaction. Both the Senate and House letters included more than a dozen specific recommendations by the ANCA about how the Congressional leadership could encourage the White House to improve its standing among Armenian American voters. The ANCA letter also stressed that, while disappointed with the President's performance, the ANCA "highly values our many close friends in Congress and throughout the country and wants to ensure that they can effectively reach out to Armenian Americans this election season, confident in the knowledge that their national leadership has been supportive of Armenian issues." Hachikian highlighted that Armenian Americans "have great respect for the tremendous leadership of Congressman Joe Knollenberg as Co-Chairman of the Armenian Caucus and appreciate his spearheading of the adoption of legislation in the House granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. This important measure, which is awaiting Senate action, was provided crucial Committee support by Chairman Bill Thomas of the Ways and Means Committee. Our community deeply appreciates the efforts of Congressman George Radanovich in introducing and advocating tirelessly on behalf of the Genocide Resolution, and those of Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner for moving this important measure out of Committee. We admire the efforts of Congressman Mark Kirk, who has worked with Congressman Knollenberg and Chairman Jim Kolbe of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee to address Armenian American concerns in the foreign aid bill. Throughout the nation, Armenian Americans value their friendships with Republican legislators, from David Dreier in California, Eric Cantor in Virginia, Chris Smith in New Jersey, Mark Souder in Indiana, to New York's John Sweeney, who is of Armenian heritage, and many others." In the Senate, Hachikian made special mention of "Senators Mitch McConnell, John Ensign, George Allen, Elizabeth Dole, and many others," noting that the ANCA wants to "ensure that they can effectively reach out to Armenian Americans this election season, confident in the knowledge that their national leadership has been supportive of Armenian issues." In a similar letter sent last week to the Chairman of the Bush-Cheney-04 campaign, Marc Racicot, the ANCA included a copy of its Bush Administrations' Report Card and suggested "a number of steps that the Administration can take to improve its standing among our nation's one and a half million citizens of Armenian heritage." The letter went on to note that, "these issues are of profound importance to our entire community--Republicans, Democrats, and independents--all of whom, sadly, are united in the view that this Administration, despite its early promise, has fallen far short of their expectations." Racicot, in addition to being the former Governor of Montana, was the immediate past Chairman of the Republican National Committee. For the full text of the ANCA 2004 Armenian American Presidential Report Card visit: <;pressregion=anca>
anca.org/anca/pressrel.asp?prid=540&pressregion=anca
For the National Organization for Republican Armenians perspective on the
Bush
Administration’s record visit:
<; 08.htm The Armenian American Leadership Council's (AADLC) review of the Bush Administration can be found at: <; leases.asp?pr id=51 A review of Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) record on Armenian issues is located at: <; 2) ANC of Canada and Deputy Prime Minister Discuss Armenian Genocide Motion OTTAWA--Armenian National Committee of Canada Chairperson Dr. Jirayr Basmadjian and ARF of Canada Central Committee member Krikor Der Ghazarian met with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan on March 29. The meeting was arranged through former Federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Stephan Dion. The ANC representatives focused on the government's position on M-380, a Motion in the Canadian parliament acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and condemning it as a crime against humanity. They expressed the Armenian community's deep disillusionment regarding the Canadian government's long-held negative position vis-à-vis official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. They pointed out that in the past the government had not merely adopted a negative stance, but also actively lobbied against adoption of motions on the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian representatives stated that Canada has fallen far behind the countries on the list of those that have recognized the Genocide as historical factdespite the fact that Canada is considered a foremost defender of human rights. Dr. Basmadjian reiterated the current understanding that at this stage, the ministers constituting the government would be voting against the measure, but that members of parliament (MPs) belonging to the governing party would be allowed to vote according to their conscience. The ANC reps therefore requested that the government not apply indirect pressure against those MPs. Dr. Basmadjian explained that all MPs from two of the opposition parties, and the vast majority of MPs from the third opposition party, are expected to vote in favor of the M-380. Therefore, he pointed out, the government party would find itself in an untenable position if its majority were to vote against a motion that is a matter of conscience and human rights. After discussing various details, Deputy Prime Minister McLellan promised to give serious consideration to the practical suggestions and proposals presented to her during the meeting. 3) Aliyev Says Russian Troops in Armenia a Danger to Region ISTANBUL--The Turkish press reported on various statements made by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev recently. Aliyev, who is in Turkey on an official visit, referred to the Russian armed forces deployed in Armenia, saying they pose a danger to the region. He said that although the Russians no longer take sides, which signifies progress, as they sided with Armenia previously, more action must be taken because Armenia is an occupying power. "Russia must clearly recognize that fact," Aliyev said. "It is wrong to treat the occupier and victim equally." Aliyev asserted that Armenia behaves unilaterally and does not carry out the recommendations of international organizations. He pointed to the continued presence of Russian forces in Armenia, saying that they have been reinforced with Russian troops from Georgia. "In the other countries of the Caucasus, there are no Russian troops," he said. "There are none in Azerbaijan and never will be." Aliyev questioned who exactly the Russian forces in Armenia are confronting. "There was a Cold War before, but there is no such thing now." According to Aliyev, the Russian troops are a threat not only against Azerbaijan and Turkey but also Georgia. "In this matter, Iran stands by Azerbaijan, but prefers not to get involved," he said. Aliyev expressed satisfaction that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have agreed that Armenia must withdraw from Karabagh. "Those two countries have strategic importance, and through their initiative, a new process has begun, he said. 4) Key Parliament Gunman Found Dead in Jail YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--One of the five gunmen who had gone on a killing spree in Armenia's parliament in October 1999 was found dead in his prison cell on Friday. Authorities said Vram Galstian, who was serving a life sentence along with the other attackers, committed suicide by hanging himself in Yerevan's Nubarashen high-security prison. Representatives of Red Cross and three human rights organizations were invited to check the official cause of death. "They opened the cell and we saw him hanging from a tightly knotted bed sheet," said Avetik Ishkhanian of the Armenian Helsinki Committee. "They did not let us see if there are any traces of violence, saying that an investigation is underway." A former villager from the central Gegharkunik province, Galstian was the uncle of ringleader Nairi Hunanian and his brother Karen. The brothers were convicted last December of assassinating Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, parliament speaker Karen Demirchian, and five other officials during the shock raid on the National Assembly on October 27, 1999. Galstian was found guilty of shooting a lawmaker moments before the armed group burst into the main parliament auditorium. According to Samvel Hovannisian, head of a Justice Ministry department running Armenia's prisons, Galstian was placed in solitary confinement at his request "three or four days" before his death. "He said he could not live with the other inmates in his previous cell." Hovannisian also said Galstian suffered from a mental illness and attempted suicide on several occasions. "In the past, inmates sharing the cell with him complained about his aggressive behavior," said Hovannisian. But Ishkhanian informed that a prison psychologist visited the convict as recently as April 13 and found no signs of "disturbance." Ishkhanian noted that he and the other human rights activist were not allowed to interview the prisoners in Galstian's former cell. 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.

Spreading the word on genocides
Organizers to use Charter Channel 6 to reach wider audience for Week of
Remembrance
Glendale News-Press
April 16, 2004
By Josh Kleinbaum
GLENDALE CITY HALL – The city’s annual Week of Remembrance kicked off
Thursday night in traditional fashion, with a panel discussion on the
Armenian Genocide and other atrocities.
But event organizers are trying to bring this year’s weeklong event,
which officially begins Monday and commemorates the lives lost in all
genocides, including the Armenian Genocide, to a wider audience than
usual, including non-Armenians and youth.
“The whole point of this committee was to educate non-Armenians,” said
Ardashes Kasakhian, executive director of the Armenian National
Committee and a member of the Week of Remembrance’s organizing
committee. “A large part of Glendale knows April 24 commemorates
something, but I’ve heard people call it a celebration. We’re not
celebrating. It’s an international day of mourning.”
From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Turks and the Republic of Turkey are
accused of killing 1.5 million Armenians, in an attempt to eliminate the
Armenian people known as the Armenian Genocide.
To reach that wider audience – the people who do not already know about
the history of the Armenian Genocide and the significance of April 24 –
the committee is taking to the airwaves.
The city’s cable network taped the kickoff discussion, attended by
Glendale Community College students, and will air it on Charter
Communications Channel 6 throughout the week, beginning Monday. For a
schedule of show times, visit .
Along the same lines, the committee will launch a yearlong
public-service announcement contest, modeled after a contest sponsored
by moveon.org for commercials deriding President George W. Bush. The
contest winners will be announced and aired on Channel 6 during the 2005
Week of Remembrance.
“People will have a whole year to prepare this,” said Mayor Bob
Yousefian, who also chairs the organizing committee. “We’ll have people
in the movie industry act as judges. They’ll pick one, and we’ll
continue to play those PSAs on Channel 6.”
The committee is planning a handful of other events for the Week of
Remembrance, including an art exhibit, blood drive, formal program and
candlelight vigil at the Glendale Civic Auditorium on April 24, and a
monthlong book drive for the Glendale Central Library’s new genocide
collection.
But the panel discussion and the public-service announcements underscore
the committee’s effort to reach a wider audience. Both will reach
Channel 6’s diverse audience, and appeal to youth.
,1,5974466.story

The Georgian Messenger
Opinion
16 April 2004
Armenia attempts “Carnation revolution”
Over the last few days, despite the tension between the central
government and the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara,
the Georgian media still devoted much attention to the events in
neighboring Armenia. The series of protests against the administration
of President Robert Kocharian were forcefully broken up this week, but
opposition leaders say they are planning to continue. Still observers
point out that for several reasons the situation in Armenia is not
similar to that which surrounded Georgia’s Rose Revolution of November
2003 and doubt the Georgian scenario can be repeated.
Last year all three South Caucasian countries conducted elections, the
results of which will play a large role in the future development of
each country. In Azerbaijan and Armenia, as per tradition, the
government prevailed in presidential elections. In Yerevan, Robert
Kocharian was reelected and in Baku, Heydar Aliev managed to pass the
reigns of power to his son Ilham.
Events following parliamentary elections in Georgia, however, unfolded
in a very different manner. After being accused of falsifying the
November 2 campaign, Eduard Shevardnadze’s administration was removed
from power by massive peaceful street protests later dubbed the Rose
Revolution.
Georgia’s example inspired opposition forces in a number of other
post-Soviet countries, among them Armenia. Political processes in
Armenia have always been dominated by the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. Armenia won control over this region within the borders of
Azerbaijan, but traditionally populated mainly by Armenians after a
vicious three-year war ending in 1994. Today, President Kocharian and
much of the government hails from Karabakh. It can be said that
Armenia has become a prisoner of its victory in the conflict. The
controlling Karabakhi clan can block any opposition insurgence with
the claim that an internal conflict in Armenian society would be
catastrophic for the country’s foreign policy interests. Therefore,
the opposition must resign itself to routine election falsification,
corruption and other governmental sins. In contrast to Georgia, both
the government and opposition in Armenia are strongly
pro-Russian. However, the Russian government unilaterally supports the
Kocharian administration. We can expect no western orientation from
his government. On Wednesday his foreign minister said Armenia has no
plans of joining NATO. He further added, reported Interfax: “If
Georgia and Azerbaijan become NATO members after all and Armenia does
not, this will obviously lead to new dividing lines in the Caucasus.”
Armenia’s “Carnation Revolution” has not been successful. Kocharian
himself, as well as many analysts, point out that Armenia is radically
different from its rosy neighbor. The government there is much
stronger than Shevardnadze’s administration was here in Georgia. All
else aside, during the Rose Revolution, Georgian law enforcement and
military declared their neutrality, which in large part determined the
later development of events. In Armenia, however, the police and the
army unilaterally stood by the side of President Kocharian. It has
been reported that the most active dispersers of last week’s protests
were special service personnel brought in from Karabakh.
Tbilisi’s official position regarding the events in Yerevan was
completely neutral, as the leadership of all three South Caucasian
countries pursue a policy of not interfering in the internal political
processes in neighboring states.
Though Georgians viewed the protests in Armenia from the sidelines,
the local media was awash with speculation about the possible impact
these events could have on Georgia. Their general opinion was that
crisis in Yerevan is not in the country’s interests and that what
suits Georgia best is stable and predictable relations with its
neighbor. In recent days, Armenia made a decision that distances the
country from the path to democratic development. On the other hand,
the decision Georgia made last November greatly accelerated this
process. Change in Georgia is progressing rapidly, with plenty of
successes and plenty of mistakes made by a young government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

16 April 2004
Steven Mann Named Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh
Served as charge d’affaires in Armenia, ambassador to Turkmenistan
Secretary of State Colin Powell has named Steven R. Mann to be special
negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and Eurasian conflicts.
Ambassador Mann succeeds Ambassador Rudolf V. Perina.
Since May 2001, Mann has been senior adviser for Caspian Basin Energy
Diplomacy and will continue those responsibilities in his new position. He
also has served as the first charge d’affaires at the U.S. embassy in
Armenia and as U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan.
Following is the State Department announcement on his appointment:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 16, 2004
MEDIA NOTE
Special Negotiator Named for Nagorno-Karabakh and Eurasian Conflicts
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has named Ambassador Steven R. Mann to be
the Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and Eurasian Conflicts,
succeeding Ambassador Rudolf V. Perina. Since May 2001, Ambassador Mann has
been the Senior Advisor for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy. As the senior
U.S. official dealing with Caspian energy issues, Ambassador Mann is
involved in realizing the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, in the launch
of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) line, and a range of other Eurasian
energy issues. Ambassador Mann will retain his Caspian energy
responsibilities while acting as Special Negotiator. In 2003, Ambassador
Mann joined the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq where he worked to
manage transition of the UN Oil-for-Food Program.
Ambassador Mann, from Pennsylvania, joined the Foreign Service in 1976. He
has served in a number of foreign and domestic assignments, including
Moscow, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Micronesia, and Mongolia. In January 1992,
Ambassador Mann conveyed the diplomatic note that established American
diplomatic relations with Armenia. He opened the first United States Embassy
in Yerevan and served as the first American Charge d’Affaires in that
nation. From 1998 to 2001, he was served as the U.S. Ambassador to
Turkmenistan.
In 1985-86, Ambassador Mann was a Fellow of the Harriman Institute for
Advanced Soviet Studies at Columbia University. He is a 1991 Distinguished
Graduate of the National War College. Ambassador Mann holds an A.B. degree
from Oberlin College and M.A. degrees from Cornell and Columbia
Universities. His foreign languages are Russian and German.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

RESETTLERS EXEMPT FROM TAX ON LAND
Azat Artsakh–Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
16-04-2004
According to the law adopted by the NKR National Assembly, the
resettlers will be exempt from the tax on land for five years. The
chairman of the permanent committee of finance and budget questions
and economic management M. Danielian explained that according to the
agreement with the resettler he receives land which he can privatize
in five years in case of following all the points of the
agreement. During these five years he is exempt from the tax on land.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
16-04-2004

PENSIONS WILL BE RAISED
Azat Artsakh–Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
16-04-2004
According to the law adopted by the NKR National Assembly, the
pensions of the rank and file soldiers disabled during the military
actions, as well as during their service and the families of killed
soldiers will be raised by 20 percent, i.e. by 700-2000 AM drams.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
16-04-2004

NEW ARTICLES IN THE LAW `ON CHILDREN’
Azat Artsakh–Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
16-04-2004
Amendments were made to the NKR law `On children’. According to the
acting law, it is not allowed to sell alcohol and cigarettes to
children under 18 at shops and places of entertainment. According to
the new changes, to this list were added also narcotic drugs, horror
and erotic literature and video films. However, although the law
presupposes liability of those who will break the law, there are no
mechanisms of control. According to the chairman of the social
committee of the National Assembly Edward Aghabekian, it is possible
to work out a mechanism of control by the law on trade and
service. After the mentioned law is brought in effect, parents,
teachers, citizens may go to court for the cases of selling horror or
erotic films and magazines to children under 18. Besides, it is
necessary to observe that even near the schools there are kiosks
selling in daytime magazines with indecent photos. Whereas, in
developed countries showing these products is allowed only after
midnight.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.16-04-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IS THERE AGRICULTURAL POLICY?
Azat Artsakh–Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
16-04-2004
Member of parliament Edward Aghabekian applied to the government with
the question that his voters are interested according to what
principle the ministry of agriculture grants loans, mortgages, solves
the questions of irrigation, seeds, pesticides. Is there a progressive
development program of agriculture according to which all this is
carried out? As an answer prime minister Anoushavan Danielian noticed
that the question is not formed professionally.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
16-04-2004