Author: admin

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 3, 2004, Friday

COST OF THE MATTER

SOURCE: Kommersant, August 31, 2004, p. 9

by Gennadi Sysoev

VLADIMIR PUTIN’S MEETING WITH RAOUL KHADZHIMBA: MOSCOW INDICATES THAT
IT CONSIDERS ABKHAZIA A ZONE OF ITS SPECIAL INTERESTS

No matter what official announcements may claim, President Vladimir
Putin did not meet with prime minister of Abkhazia and candidate for
president to discuss social position of veterans of World War II. The
meeting was instantly interpreted as Moscow’s support of Khadzhimba
running for president. The reasoning is simple: Abkhazia is a small
republic, the news that the premier met with the president of Russia
will spread immediately, and the population will know who to vote for
on October 3.

All of that is undeniably so. There is, however, more to the meeting
than meets the eye. Organizing it, official Moscow indicates that it
considers at least Abkhazia a zone of its special interest.

The road connecting Russia with Armenia, its major ally in the
Caucasus, runs through Abkhazia. Not far from Gudauta (Abkhazia)
there is the strategic airfield which specialists call unique:
aircraft taking off there are practically invisible to NATO radars in
Turkey. Krasnaya Polyana, the southern residence of the Russian
president is in Abkhazia, not far from the Psou River. Abkhazian
leaders regularly remind the Kremlin that if Tbilisi takes over, NATO
will immediately install its ELINT station on the Psou. Last but not
the least, there are financial considerations as well. Russia bought
a great deal of property in Abkhazia in the last several years, and
Georgian politicians’ statements on a redistribution of property in
Abkhazia make Moscow wary.

There is even more. Moscow needs to retain its clout with Georgia
because along with its strategic partnership with Armenia it will
ensure its clout with the Caucasus in general. And the Kremlin hopes
to retain its clout with Georgia through control over Abkhazia.

Formally, Moscow is unlikely to dispute territorial integrity of
Georgia, the country Abkhazia is officially a part of. That is why
Abkhazia is not going to become a part of Russia. Still, it is not
necessary. Sufficient that practically all population of Abkhazia are
citizens of Russia. From Moscow’s point of view, it permits it to
take care of Abkhazia.

Georgia may refuse to put up with it and even return to drawing
parallels between Abkhazia and Chechnya. Or may ask what its Defense
Minister Georgy Baramidze asked: why is it all right for Russia to
defend its borders but when Georgia is going the same thing it is
called aggression? Moscow has an answer to that: there are no
citizens of Georgia in Chechnya, and Abkhazians do not blow up
Georgian planes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New U.S. ambassador takes over in Kazakhstan

Associated Press Worldstream
September 3, 2004 Friday 6:55 AM Eastern Time

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — A new U.S. ambassador has arrived in Kazakhstan
and assumed duties in the oil-rich Central Asian nation, the
U.S. Embassy said Friday.

John M. Ordway arrived Thursday in the Kazakh commercial center,
Almaty, where the U.S. Embassy is located, it said in a statement.

Ordway, a career diplomat, previously headed the U.S. diplomatic
mission in Armenia. He also served at the U.S. embassies in Russia
and Poland, and at the U.S. mission to NATO in Brussels, the statement
said.

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic the size of Western Europe,
is Central Asia’s most economically developed nation.

It is the only country in the region that is contributing a military
contingent to the international force in Iraq.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Cincinnati Post

Gold medalist out at U.S. Open

By Diane Pucin
Los Angeles Times

EZRA SHAW/Getty Images

Sargis Sargsian celebrates after defeating Nicolas Massu in five sets.

NEW YORK — All day, all night, all around the grounds of the United States
Tennis Center, emotions overflowed.
An Olympic gold medalist howled in despair.

Nicolas Massu, who played a four-hour, five-set match against Mardy Fish in
Athens, Greece, to win that gold, played the second-longest match in U.S.
Open history and lost Thursday night.

On Court 11, packed with cheering Chilean fans for him and noisy Armenian
fans against him, the 10th-seeded Massu was upset by 31-year-old Sargis
Sargsian, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. It took 5 hours 9 minutes, and at
the end Massu bent over, exhausted and disgusted. Sargsian was serenaded by
rooters who had chanted in Armenian all during the match. Only once, in a
1992 semifinal, had a match here gone longer when Stefan Edberg took 5:26 to
beat Michael Chang 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.

Massu broke rackets and carried on a 10-minute argument with chair umpire
Carlos Ramos after being penalized a game in the fifth set for his third
broken racket, one that was bounced so hard it caromed as high as his head.
Massu’s rant to Ramos was profane. His tirade an hour after the match was
angry.

“I can’t believe I lost the match,” Massu said. “It’s hard to believe that
this guy (Ramos) didn’t use the head a little bit. This guy come here, put
to me two, three warnings. If I have to pay something I pay, no problem. But
the third one? Unbelievable.”

The first warning for equipment abuse had come to Massu at 4-4 in the first
set after he wrecked a racket. Ramos gave Massu a point penalty in the 10th
game of the second set before taking away a game from him to start the fifth
set.

In a statement, tournament referee Brian Earley explained why Massu was
penalized a game. “There were three code violations for racket abuse,”
Earley said. “Following the Grand Slam code of conduct, the first code
violation resulted in a warning. The second violation resulted in a point
penalty. The third violation resulted in a game penalty.”

Three crushed rackets had been discarded by Massu, stark proof of his anger.

The Olympic silver medalist didn’t have a good day either. Fish, seeded
26th, quarreled about line calls and hung his head after bad shots instead
of fighting to hit better ones until he left a 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 loser
to Czech qualifier Michal Tabara.

French Open champions grumbled and groaned as well.

Anastasia Myskina, seeded fourth, was dismissed, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in the second
round by a fellow Russian, 17-year-old Anna Chakvetadze who is ranked 175th.
And Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, seeded ninth, was a mostly passive
participant in his 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Thomas Johansson of Sweden.

Myskina considered the performance “a pretty bad match for me,” then said
she was all done in. “I’m really empty right now,” the 23-year-old said. “I
didn’t want to fight. I didn’t want to run. I didn’t want to do anything.”

Paying customers should love hearing that.

Gaudio, too, just shrugged and muttered, “Too bad,” as he walked away from
the court.

But there were sounds of joy around the grounds.

Shikha Uberoi, an Indian American with an infectious laugh, embraced the
gargantuan Arthur Ashe Stadium court, clapped for herself and for her
opponent Venus Williams after good shots for both, giggled with glee when
Williams ended an enthralling rally with a winning passing shot and later
spoke with awe about the way the lights made her racket sparkle.

Uberoi, ranked 275th, fought hard against 11th-seeded Williams before losing
a second-round match, 7-5, 6-1.

Publication Date: 09-03-2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR CELEBRATES ITS INDEPENDENCE DAY

ArmenPress
Sept 2 2004

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
president Arkadi Ghukassian, Armenian defense minister Serze Sargssian,
NKR National Assembly speaker Oleg Yesaian, prime minister Anushavan
Danielian, other government officials, officers of defense army,
parliamentarians and guests from Russia, Armenia and Diaspora visited
the memorial of Stepanakert today at 12 am on the occasion of 13th
anniversary of NKR Independence Day. They put flowers on the grave
of NKR Supreme Council first chairman Arthur Mkrtchian and honored
his memory with a minute silence.

“Independence of NKR, perhaps, is the highest achievement of our
nation. Therefore it can not be looked at as a temporary state. We
have factually proved the international community that are capable of
creating an independent statehood and live independent of Azerbaijan.
A nation, which has passed through a hard war of trials and hardships,
sacrificing the best of its sons, is unconquerable,” NKR president
A. Ghukassian said.

“There will be a time when the cherished hopes of our generations
will come true, generations which have even before us fought for the
high ideals and consciously died for their motherland,” Armenian
defense minister Serze Sargssian said. Responding to the question
what are the major principles in Karabakh conflict resolution,
Sargssian answered that they are three of them which have been
variously stated by Armenian president Robert Kocharian, “We think
that Nagorno Karabakh should be granted a status which will provide
independence from Azerbaijan, NKR will have borders with Armenia and
strong security guarantees.”

During the second half of the day, festivities to the Independence
Day moved to the park near Shahumian monument, republican sports
field where concerts, sports competitions and national marches were
organized. In the evening a big concert will be performed in the
Square of Revival with the participation of Russian famous singer
Iosif Kabzon, other famous singers of Russian music and best bands
of Armenia and Artsakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MARATHON MAN
By BRIAN LEWIS

New York Post, NY
Sept 3 2004

September 3, 2004 — Sargis Sargsian dropped to his knees and
covered his moist eyes, overcome with a mixture of exhaustion and
emotion. He draped an Armenian flag over his shoulders and celebrated
the second-longest win in U.S. Open history — and the most dramatic
of this summer’s classic.

He had just upset two-time Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu 6-7
(8), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 in a marathon that lasted five hours and
nine minutes, a tilt that saw the 10th-seeded Chilean lose first his
poise, then the hotly-contested match on Court 11.

“I lost the match and I’m so [peeved] about it,” Massu said. “I can’t
believe they…what happened on the court is too much. It’s too much
for five hours to believe in everything, to fight…to accept that
you lost the match. It’s difficult.”

It was the second-longest match ever at the U.S. Open, behind only
Stefan Edberg’s 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 win over Michael Chang that
lasted five hours and 26 minutes in 1992.

Sargsian kept his cool, with his serve getting better and better as the
match went on. Meanwhile, Massu showed precious little sportsmanship or
Olympic spirit with an on-court tantrum. “I was too tired to notice,”
Sargsian said. “My legs were [going to give out], so I was just trying
to hold on.”

After spraying a return shot long, Massu dropped his racquet to the
court and yelled at it, as if it were to blame. He battered the U.S.
Open sign with his racquet and got warnings in the first two sets,
and lost a point, dropping the second set 6-4. In the fourth set, he
argued a call with chair umpire Carlos Ramos. He slammed his racquet
down so hard, it bounced up over his head.

Destroying a racquet is an automatic penalty, so Sargsian was awarded
the first game of the fifth set. Massu appealed to famed Wimbledon ref
Alan Mills — serving as Grand Slam ref — but his backhand deserted
him in the fifth set, and Sargsian went on earn a third-round date
with Paul Henri-Mathieu, who beat Taylor Dent.

“I didn’t lose the match because of that, but it’s hard to believe
this guy didn’t use his head. All the players throw the racquet,”
said Massu, who spent close to an hour after the match griping to
Open officials. “I play for five hours, I fight, and this guy comes
and gives me three warnings.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines
Sept 3 2004

Armenian outlasts Massu in 5-set marathon at US Open

Updated 01:49pm (Mla time) Sept 03, 2004
Agence France-Presse

NEW YORK , New York, United States of America — Olympic double gold
medallist Nicolas Massu was eliminated from the US Open on Thursday
in a historic five-set marathon with Sargis Sargsian of Armenia.
Sargsian fired 20 aces and won 184 of 337 points to beat Massu 6-7
(6/8), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.

The match lasted five hours, nine minutes and is second longest on
record behind the 1992 men’s semi-final where Stefan Edberg beat
Michael Chang in five hours and 26 minutes.

The previous second-longest match was also in 1992 when Ivan Lendl
beat Boris Becker in five hours, one minute in the round of 16.

“So many things happened in that match,” Sargsian said. “It is just
amazing to come through.

“I wouldn’t put it on top of my list but it is in the top three. Now
I am just go to take my vitamins, get a massage and pray for rain,”
he said.

He has one day to rest before his third round match against France’s
Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Sargsian won the war of attrition but he paid for it as after four
hours on the court both players started to suffer from leg cramps.

“I couldn’t feel my legs,” Sargsian said of the end of the match.

Sargsian’s family and friends would have had to stay up to 4 a.m.
Armenian time to watch the entire match.

Massu came into the US Open after the best week of his career, having
won gold medals in singles and doubles at the Athens Games.

The Chilean lost his composure on several occasions, breaking his
racket in the first set.

He argued several times with chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, and vowed to
never play in front of Ramos again.

“I lost because of my mistake. But this umpire have not to umpire
anymore,” Massu said. “He is unbelievable. He is never going to
umpire me again.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 3 2004

VISIT OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV TO NAKHCHIVAN AUTONOMOUS
REPUBLIC
[September 03, 2004, 18:48:57]

The ceremony of opening of the Civil Defense Center of Nakhchivan was
held on 2 September, AzerTAj correspondent reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony.

***

On the same day, a swimming center was opened in the city of
Nakhchivan.

Head of Azerbaijan State attended the ceremony and made a speech.

***

After familiarization tour, Head of State answered questions of media
representatives.

Q. Mr. President, Your first arrival to Nakhchivan was taken with
great interests, this is the second one…

A: If you remember, staying here in May this year, we did visit the
school to learn how the work was going on and decided that I would
arrive here again to attend its opening. I always keep my word, as
you know, and now I am here. Taking the chance I’ve also visited
other large objects in Nakhchivan including the Swimming and Civil
Defense Centers. After midnight we’ll hold a meeting at the Supreme
Majlis. I’ve made sure once again that Nakhchivan had become more
beautiful and developed. Nakhchivan is an ancient Azerbaijan’s land,
a strategic area of Azerbaijan, and everybody must take every effort
to strengthen Nakhchivan both from military and economic standpoints
for the people here to live better.

Q. Mr. President, your visit to Paris is expected in the next few
days. May we have the date of the visit, and are bilateral meetings
expected there?

A: This will be a working visit. The bilateral meetings are expected
during the first ten days of September.

Q. Mr. President, in the last days, Russia, Moscow is overwhelmed by
the wave of terror. What do think about it?

A: I have expressed sympathy to Head of Russia Mr. Putin. This is a
great trouble, great menace. Azerbaijan itself used to suffer from
terrorism. We are well aware what it is. It’s very difficult to fight
terror. Fighting terrorist attacks around the world needs
consolidation of all forces, all countries. We most resolutely
condemn the terror acts committed in the last days in Russia. We hope
the crisis will be settled soon, and the hostages released.

Q. You will have to meet with Armenian President. Armenia is
conducting military exercises. There is an opinion in our public that
the negotiations are useless. How do see the prospects of the
upcoming talks?

A: Since I haven’t yet rejected the talks, then I hope for them to
bring results. If you remember, I stated more than once that I was
not going to just imitate the negotiations. As soon as I am sure the
talks are ineffective and that I don’t believe in their future, then
Azerbaijan will be the first to reject the negotiations. What I can
say now is that there is a need to continue the talks. The talks are
going on, foreign ministers meet. Of course, sometimes you are
unsatisfied with their answers to your questions on the matter, but
it is normal as the negotiations are confidential. We have not yet
come to a certain result. But the talks cover concrete issues. I want
to hope that they will be effective. Azerbaijan’s lands will be
released and its territorial integrity restored.

Q. Mr. President, the judge passed the sentence on the members of the
Organization of Karabakh Liberation. Do you agree with the verdict
not as a President but a citizen Ilham Aliyev?

A: Good question. As a President I cannot and don’t want to interfere
in the court’s decision. But as a citizen, I consider the sentence
passed is not adequate to their actions. It ‘s too hard penalty; as a
citizen I can’t back up the decision. I would recommend addressing
the Court of Appeal, and I hope the issue will be resolved. At the
same time, the Law is for everybody. One should not idealize any
organization or person. Authorized structures and persons in
Azerbaijan are working hard on the resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The president, foreign
minister, defense minister and other relevant structures know their
jobs well. They know well when and what step they should take. So,
the public has to have adequate attitude to such organizations. We
should not make an image of hero for anybody. Of course, every
organization has its own position, but everything should be exercised
within the limits of Law. We are building a legal state and stand for
supremacy of Law. So, every citizen must honor the Law. But I want to
repeat that the verdict brought in is too severe, and as a citizen, I
don’t agree with that. I hope the problem will be fairly solved.

Q. Mr. President, the other day You appointed ambassadors to four
countries. What would you comment on this?

A: I consider this decision as very important, Azerbaijan should take
more active part in the international community, defend its stance.
Azerbaijan has few representative offices abroad, so it had been
planned to open more embassies.

Q. Mr. President, is a new decree on pardon expected in the near
future.

A: Yes, it is.

Q. Mr. President, during the upcoming CIS Heads of State summit in
Astana, Russia intends to raise the question on the double standards
at OSCE. May we have your opinion on the issue?

A: Our opinion was expressed during the July summit when Azerbaijan
didn’t sign the statement. There were reasons for doing so then. We,
as a country, are pursuing independent policy, and this independence
is most important for us. We can also make claims on OSCE. I
personally expressed them our claims quite sharply, they are
reflected in official documents. But these issues concern us only.
The question is of political character and Azerbaijan does not intend
to interfere with that. We are pursuing our policy independently, it
was not accidental that I didn’t sign the statement in July, and
won’t this time.

Q. Mr. President, is the Council of Europe going to discuss
Azerbaijan related issue?

A: Hope the discussion will be constructive. There is not any problem
between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe. At the moment, our
relations with the Council of Europe are being developed; the
organization meets the political and economic reforms in Azerbaijan
with approval. I am very pleased of this. I expect that the issue of
honoring commitments will be discussed along the way; there may be
some recommendations or certain criticism, but that is quite normal.

Q. Mr. President, Nakhchivan has been living under blockade for 12
years. Nevertheless, considerable accomplishments have been gained.
Don’t you think the time has come to give the rank of city-hero to
Nakhchivan?

A: You know, it’s an obsolete practice. We should abandon the Soviet
experience. The ranks would reflect nothing then. Heroism must be
reflected in people’s attitude to their city and country. Our
national leader Heydar Aliyev paid special attention to Nakhchivan
not because he had been born here but because he realized very well
how important Nakhchivan is for Azerbaijan. We continue to follow
this policy, and I am very happy the good job done by local
authorities brings yields.

Q. Mr. President, after the meeting with President Khatami, you did
not presented detailed information on the North-South corridor. Was
the issue generally discussed?

A: Of course, it was. We don’t have any difference of opinion. Both
Iran and we have concern in the functioning of the corridor,
Azerbaijan’s joining it, and certain steps have been taken and talks
held with this respect. It is very important for us. Maybe this issue
was not reflected in a document but was seriously discussed. If all
these agreements are realized, Nakhchivan will be completely supplied
with electricity and gas in two years.

Thank you.

***

On September 2, President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev held an
enlarged meeting at the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic. He addressed the meeting with an opening remark. The
President noted in particular that Nakhchivan is now rapidly
developing and that good job in municipal improvements has been done
in the republic. He also mentioned the strengthening of the
republic’s infrastructure. As I mentioned earlier today, he said, 70
thousand new jobs have been opened here since the presidential
elections; all these facts show that we are on the right way.

The Head of State further touched upon the energy problems in
Nakhchivan. Nakhchivan has been living under blockade for many years.
Supply of natural gas from Azerbaijan is impossible, while
electricity supply does not fully meet the demands. However,
appropriate measures have been taken to completely supply Nakhchivan
with natural gas and electricity, President Ilham Aliyev said.

Following the presidential remarks, the meeting participants have
held a comprehensive opinions exchange on the mentioned issues.

***

In the evening on the same day, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
returned to Baku.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish F.M. Leaves For Netherlands

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Sept 3 2004

ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul left on Friday for the
Netherlands to attend the European Union (EU) Informal Ministerial
meeting.

Before he flew to the Netherlands, Gul told reporters that the draft
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) had not been given its final shape and
presented to the parliament, and refrained from commenting on the
amendments made to the draft which considered adultery as a crime.

Gul expressed thought that the matter was not reflected correctly to
Turkish public opinion.

“Every country can have some sensitivities peculiar to itself.
Turkish society can have some sensitivities and different views and
feelings about several matters as how Ireland has some sensitivities
about birth control and abortion, and some other countries have
similar sensitivities. I am sure that we will reach a conclusion in
a civilized way,” Gul added.

GUL: I DON’T KNOW HOW CORRECT IT IS TO LINK PUTIN’S VISIT WITH
TERRORIST ACT IN NORTH OSSETIA

Gul said, “I don’t know how correct it is to link (Russian President
Vladimir) Putin’s visit (to Turkey) with the terrorist act in North
Ossetia.”

Gul told reporters, “it is a reality that Russia is facing such
terrorist attacks for a long time. Therefore, I don’t know how correct
it is to link the recent terrorist act with this visit.”

Gul said that nobody could reach anywhere by terrorism, and those who
used terrorism as a tool to reach their targets would be considered
unjust although they had a rightful cause.

“Terror on innocent people, and violence against defenseless people
are wrong,” Gul stated, and said that Turkey condemned all those acts.

When he was recalled about the statement of Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey would fulfil its responsibilities
regarding the terrorist act in North Ossetia, Gul said, “if they ask
us to settle the matter peacefully, we will exert every effort we can.”

When a reporter recalled British press reports that some Chechen
leaders including Aslan Mashadov were in Turkey, Gul said those press
reports were inaccurate and noted, “Russian officials also know that
these claims are not correct.” He added that Russia had not asked
Turkey any questions about these claims.

-TURKEY-IRAQ-

Answering a question about Turks abducted and killed in Iraq, Gul
said that Turkey had taken and implemented some measures regarding
the matter. “But, unfortunately our citizens who travel to Iraq don’t
take our recommendations seriously.”

Therefore, Gul stated, they decided to tighten their measures.

Gul added, “who are behind these acts? Organs who will analyze this
matter attended our meeting (at the Foreign Ministry). What can the
reason (of these acts) be? Turkey is a friend of Iraqi people. It has
proven its friendship with its stance after the Iraq war. We need to
find the reasons of these attacks against Turks that are staged in
a period when Turkey is being sympathized in the Middle East as it
has never been sympathized before. We search for the reasons.”

Recalling that Turkey did not have any military forces in Iraq, Gul
said, “we are in Iraq to help (Iraqi people), to meet humanitarian
needs, and to serve (Iraqi people.) We need to well analyze the reason
of these attacks since this is our sole aim.”

-KERRY’S STATEMENT-

When recalled the statements of U.S. President candidate John Kerry
who said if he is elected as President, he will recognize so-called
Armenian genocide, Gul said, “this issue is important for Turkey.
Thus, we follow it closely.”

“However” Gul added, “such statements have made in the United States
previously during election milieu.”

When asked whether a Turkish diplomat on ambassador level will
be appointed to Jerusalem Consulate General and recalled that this
appointment does not take place in recent ambassadors decree, Gul said,
“the ambassadors decree which is published in news reports and the
appointment are separate issues.”

-MEETING IN THE NETHERLANDS-

Gul said, “the issues which will be discussed in the meeting in the
Netherlands are important for Turkey.” He added, “we will discuss
international issues and especially Iraq and international terrorism.”

Noting, “I will have bilateral meetings within the scope of the meeting
in the Netherlands,” Gul said, “the most important issue which will
be discussed is Cyprus.”

Gul said, “as you know, there is a decision which was taken by
Council of Europe about Cyprus and a report which was prepared by
the EU Commission.” He added, “we closely follow these issues.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian aide calls for systematized fight against terrorism

Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
3 Sep 04

Text of Vaan Vardanyan report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkhar on
3 September headlined “International terrorism threatens everybody”

An interview with the president’s advisor on security issues, Garnik
Isagulyan.

[Garnik Isagulyan] The fight against international terrorism should
be systematized. First of all, superpowers should accept that it is
inadmissible to use such groups in the fight against each other. When
they get out of hand, they start acting against their former sponsor,
i.e. a boomerang effect takes place.

The second important problem is to prevent the phenomena that feed
international terrorism. First of all, this envisages the strict
registration of people who have served in special units of the armies
or other structures of different countries. Because if such people
fall under the influence of any ideological or religious sect, they
become very dangerous.

And finally, stable cooperation is necessary between the special
services on all issues related to terrorism – ranging from information
exchanges to joint actions. No country of the world is insured against
terrorism today.

[Ayots Ashkhar correspondent] Let’s take Armenia. We are going to send
sappers and drivers to Iraq. Do you not worry that as representatives
of other nations, they might be taken hostage as well?

[Isagulyan] We have only expressed our readiness to take part in the
reconstruction of Iraq, sending there sappers and drivers who will
not participate in the armed actions by the coalition forces against
local groups. Certainly, one may object to this in the sense that even
journalists of different countries have been taken hostage. But this
is being done mainly against the countries whose armed forces have
participated in the war. For this reason, they traditionally demand
the withdrawal of their armed forces from Iraq as a condition for
releasing the hostages. I think that Armenia’s top leadership took
these conditions into account when taking such a decision.

Although it is not right to say that we are absolutely insured against
danger. That’s to say, countries that are hostile to us may try to plan
any terrorist acts and then justify them by the fact that Armenia has
sent troops to Iraq. But I do not think such a danger is realistic.

[Correspondent] Does it mean that Armenia is more protected than the
powerful countries of the world?

[Isagulyan] No, it does not. Our privilege is that we are comparatively
a monoethnic country. If in Russia they link terrorism mainly to the
Chechens, it is very difficult to differ them from representatives of
other Caucasus nations living in Russia. This complicates the work of
the special services because they cannot arrest all the dark people
in order to expose just one terrorist.

In Armenia it is easier to notice and register foreigners entering
Armenia. Of course, this does not mean that we are in a perfect state
and are simply insured. Our special services should be very attentive
in this matter. Over the past 15 years, the national security system
in Armenia has not reached a flawless level. On the contrary, there
was an outflow of professional personnel, and it is difficult to say
that those who came instead are quite professional. We should pay
special attention to the national security service. Because today,
as well as in the future, much depends on the ability of this service
to ensure national security.

[Correspondent] And finally Karabakh. For many years, Azerbaijan has
been trying to present Karabakh to the world community as a centre
training terrorists. How “fruitful” is such propaganda by Azerbaijan?

[Isagulyan] Neither the special services of Azerbaijan, nor Azerbaijan
itself are at a level where their “information” and reports would
mean anything to the special services of superpowers.

The world community differs Karabakh from other unrecognized countries.
Although the world community’s attitude towards Karabakh may be
compared with their position on Northern Cyprus and Kosovo. That’s
to say, the world accepts the NKR as a well-governed territory with
all the attributes of a state, where the situation is under control
and normal elections are conducted. This is a country which has taken
the path of democratic development, not a territory where some groups,
which have unclear goals, have become masters, while the same cannot
be said for Azerbaijan.

Under the Soviets, there was a brunch of the KGB in Baku and a special
training centre where representatives of “Islamic” countries were
trained. I do not think that this fact is so imperceptible that it
does not lead to certain conclusions in the world community.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Sept 3 2004

Sargsian captures five-set marathon

Match is second-longest in Open history By Jerry Magee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

NEW YORK – They don’t pass out gold medals at the U.S. Open, cash
being preferred, but Nicolas Massu of Chile, a gold medalist in
tennis at Athens, and Sargis Sargsian staged a match last night that
was truly Olympian.

Sargsian, from Armenia, finally won it, but only after he and Massu
had struggled through the second-longest match in Open history – 5
hours and 9 minutes.

The longest match on record at the Open was a 1992 men’s semifinal
between Stefan Edberg of Sweden and Michael Chang that lasted 5
hours, 26 minutes. Edberg won 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.

Before the Sargsian-Massu match, the second-longest match also
occurred in 1992, with Ivan Lendl defeating Boris Becker 6-7, 6-2,
6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in 5:01 in the round of 16.

The Sargsian-Massu get-together was a stormy one, with Massu,
supported by a noisy, flag-waving contingent of Chileans, carrying on
several dialogues with the chair umpire, who twice warned him for
slamming his racket and later penalized him a game for another such
abuse.

“Three violations,” Massu said. “The first two were OK. Nothing to
say. But the third one, I can’t believe.”

Massu did not dispute that he had thrown his rackets; he shattered
two of them. “Yeah, but normally all the players throw the racket,”
he said. “This umpire (Carlos Ramos) should not umpire anymore. He
unbelievable. He’s never going to umpire me again.”

Ted Schroeder of La Jolla, meantime, remembered that in the final of
the 1949 U.S. Championships, he and Pancho Gonzalez played a five-set
match that went on for 5 hours, 15 minutes. Schroeder said there were
no chairs on the court and changeovers had to be completed in 30
seconds.

In his three previous matches in that tournament, Schroeder said, he
had played five-setters on consecutive days against Gardnar Mulloy,
Frank Sedgman and Billy Talbert.

Massu being eliminated left the men’s phase of the tournament without
any of the Athens medalists. Silver medalist Mardy Fish of the United
States failed yesterday against Michal Tabara, the player from the
Czech Republic winning 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Bronze medalist
Fernando Gonzalez of Chile had been beaten in the opening round by
Robin Soderling of Sweden.

The women’s field has lost bronze medalist Alicia Molik of Australia,
but gold medalist Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium and silver
medalist Amelie Mauresmo of France are still around.

Marathons aside, this week at the Open has been marked by
retirements, with first Todd Martin, then Wayne Ferreira saying
farewells. Andre Agassi, of their generation, presses on. He did
yesterday, gaining the tournament’s third round when a muscle problem
in the left leg forced Florian Mayer of Germany to retire in the
fourth set. Agassi advanced 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (ret).

Agassi, 34, said he misses many of the players against whom he
competed when he was in his 20s.

“In some cases, these are guys you grew up with and competed with
since you were 8 years old,” Agassi said. “So you do miss them; you
feel as if the game misses them.”

Agassi said he has not made any plans after the Open. He said he may
play a full fall schedule, he may not. On one point, he was clear: He
has no plans to retire should he win the Open.

No. 3 seed Carlos Moya took last night’s concluding match in Arthur
Ashe Stadium with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 conquest of American Amer
Delic. Earlier, French Open champion Gaston Gaudio of Argentina fell
to Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress