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ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 26, 2004 Thursday 8:31 AM Eastern Time

CIS states’ debts to Russia stand at over 3 billion dollars

MOSCOW, August 26

The debts of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) to Russia including interest stood at 3.33 billion dollars as
of January 1, 2004, the Prime-Tass news agency reported on Thursday
referring to documents of the Russian Finance Ministry.

Ukraine is the biggest debtor with its debt amounting to 1.681
billion dollars. Uzbekistan, with its debt of 646.996 million
dollars, is placed second on the list of Russia’s debtors. The debt
on unpaid interest makes up 146.385 million dollars.

Tajikistan’s debt stood at 299.67 million dollars as of January 1,
2004. Kyrgyzstan owes Russia 179.12 million dollars, Georgia – 156.91
million dollars. Belarussia’s debt stands at 135.89 million dollars,
while Moldova’s debt is estimated at 134.13 million dollars.

Armenia winds up the list of debtors with its 96.66 million dollars
of debt.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse — English
August 26, 2004 Thursday 3:28 PM GMT

Equa-Guinea prosecutor accuses Armenian flight crew over coup

MALABO Aug 26

Equatorial Guinea’s attorney general said Thursday he was surprised
at the protestations of innocence by the crew of a cargo plane
accused of helping to plot a coup, saying the sole reason they were
in the central African country was “to wait for mercenaries.”

The six Armenian crew members, including captain Ashot Kerapetyan,
told the court earlier that they were unaware on what charges they
were being held until a few days before hearings into the alleged bid
to oust long-time Equato-Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema
began on Monday.

Samuel Darbinyan, 41, a co-pilot of the aircraft leased by a company
belonging to Gerhard Eugen Merz of Germany — one of 15 alleged
mercenaries arrested in March and accused of fomenting a putsch —
said he did not know why he had been held in Malabo’s notorious Black
Beach prison since March along with five other crew members and eight
South Africans.

Merz, who was arrested along with the others, died in detention,
officially of cerebral malaria, but with rights groups saying he was
tortured to death.

But after listening to their testimony, Attorney General Jose Olo
Obono said the crew’s ignorance surprised him.

He hurled the accusation at them: “It is quite clear that your
mission here was to wait for the mercenaries’ action.”

The Armenians arrived in Equatorial Guinea in January this year.
Their Antonov-12 aircraft was hired the following month by Nick du
Toit, the South African former soldier turned businessman who risks
the death penalty for allegedly leading the botched coup plot.

>From the time they arrived in the tiny central African country, the
Armenians flew out of Equatorial Guinea once on board the Antonov,
bound for Democratic Republic of Congo where they were to deliver
cargo picked up at N’Dola in Zambia, they told the court.

Merz had given them the instructions for that trip, they said in
separate testimonies.

The flight crew said the shipment was never delivered to DRC because
the airport they were bound for there was closed. They said they
returned to Malabo with nothing in the hold.

Du Toit told the court Monday that the Antonov was to have picked up
ammunition for security agents at mines in DRC. The crew members said
they were unaware of what their payload was to have been.

The Armenians are on trial alongside eight South Africans and four
Equato-Guineans, all accused of complicity in a plot to topple
Obiang, who has been in power since 1979.

Obiang announced their arrests on March 9, saying: “A group of
mercenaries entered the country and was studying plans to carry out a
coup d’etat.”

Without going into details, Obiang said interrogation of the suspects
revealed they were financed by multinational companies and “countries
that do not like us.”

The arrests came days before some 70 men were detained when their
plane stopped off in Zimbabwe, allegedly en route to Equatorial
Guinea for the coup.

The group arrested in Zimbabwe has consistently said it was on its
way to DRC to protect diamond mines.

A Zimbabwe magistrate is expected to hand down verdicts on Friday
when the trial resumes of the suspected mercenaries held in Harare.

They are led by Briton Simon Mann, a close friend of the son of
British former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Mark Thatcher, who
was arrested Wednesday in South Africa and accused of involvement in
the increasingly complex alleged coup plot.

Du Toit is so far the only one of the 18 defendants on trial in
Equatorial Guinea to admit any involvement in a coup plot.

On Wednesday he told the Malabo court that he had been in contact
with Thatcher in July last year, but strictly for business purposes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRIME MINISTER SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES TO RF PRIME MINISTER
IN CONNECTION WITH PLANE ACCIDENTS

YEREVAN, August 26 (Noyan Tapan). Andranik Margarian, RA Prime
Minister, sent a telegram of condolences to Mikhail Fradkov, RF Prime
Minister, in connection with the August 25 plane accidents. The
Information and Public Relations Department of RA government informed
Noyan Tapan that the telegram, in particular, says: “On behalf of RA
government and personally on my behalf I express deep condolences in
connection with the accidents of TU-134 and TU-154 planes, as a result
of which dozens of people died. Addressing sincere words of
condolences at this time of sorrow for Russian people we ask to pass
our condolences to the families and relatives of people that died as a
result of the accident.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

L’Humanité
26 août 2004

Le dernier champion olympique connu s’appelle Varakadis.

Prince arménien d’origine perse, il triomphe au pugilat en l’an 369
de notre ère. À l’époque, les « olympionike » originaires de Grèce ne
représentent plus que 10 % du total tandis que les athlètes d’Asie
mineure trustent 60 % des couronnes d’olivier.

Les Jeux avaient connu leur première internationalisation, au IVe
siècle avant Jésus-Christ, après les conquêtes d’Alexandre le Grand.
L’événement se « mondialise » un peu plus avec la conquête de la
Grèce par l’Empire romain (- 146). Mais, manipulés ou ignorés par
Rome, gangrenés par le professionnalisme, les jeux Olympiques ne sont
plus que l’ombre d’eux-mêmes. Le coup de grce est porté par Théodose
Ier, dit le Grand. En 393, l’empereur romain converti au
christianisme publie un édit supprimant les jeux Olympiques,
manifestation païenne, sur les conseils, semble-t-il d’Ambroise,
évêque de Milan. La thèse est aujourd’hui encore discutée par des
historiens.

Toujoursest-ilqu’après1168anset 293 olympiades, les Jeux sont morts.
En 395, Alaric et les Goths ravagent Olympie. La statue de Zeus,
l’une des sept merveilles du monde, est transportée à Constantinople
où elle disparaît dans un incendie. Cinq ans plus tard, l’atelier de
son créateur, le sculpteur Phidias (IVe siècle avant Jésus-Christ)
est transformé en église.
Épitaphe de Palladas, poète grec (IVe siècle) :
« J’ai vu Hercule en rêve.
Ah ! lui dis-je, déchus
Tes honneurs…
Peuh ! dit-il. Apprends que même un dieu
S’arrange comme il peut en ces siècles fichus. »
C.D.

PRESS RELEASE August 26, 2004
CONTACT: Christopher Close/Knollenberg
(202) 225-5802
Andrew Souvall or Jennifer Cannata/Pallone
(202) 225-4671

ARMENIAN CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS COMMEND NAGORNO KARABAKH ON 13TH ANNIVERSARY
OF INDEPENDENCE

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, today commended the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the
13th anniversary of their independence.

“Despite all the difficulties, today Nagorno Karabakh is a proud state
committed to the values of democracy, respect for human rights, and an
open civil society,” Knollenberg and Pallone wrote in a letter to
President Arkady Ghoukasian of Nagorno Karabakh. “Today, as we extend
our congratulations to the people and the authorities of Nagorno
Karabakh on the 13th anniversary of the Proclamation of the NKR, we
welcome your determination and efforts in strengthening Karabakh’s
democratic institutions and market economy.

“Karabakh has proven to be a capable, reliable and serious partner of
the international community,” the lawmakers continued. “Peace and
stability in the South Caucasus are not possible without a
contribution from Nagorno Karabakh. We assure you of our strong
commitment to Karabakh’s security and development.”

On September 2, 1991 the people of Artsakh adopted the Proclamation of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, declaring their independence from
Azerbaijani rule.

The text of the letter to President Arkady Ghoukasian follows.

August 26, 2004

H.E. Arkady Ghoukasian
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
3 February 20th Street
Stepanakert, NKR

Dear Mr. President

As you know, September 2 is a historic day for Nagorno Karabakh. On
this day in 1991 the people of Nagorno Karabakh declared their
intention to create their own independent state. This is the day when
the Declaration proclaiming the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was adopted.
With this Declaration the courageous people of Artsakh expressed their
determination to live in freedom.

The people of Artsakh have persevered through many challenges to peace
and stability as the Soviet oppression, Azerbaijan’s military
aggression, consequences of a devastating war, and the continuing
blockade imposed by Azerbaijan failed to break the spirit of Artsakh’s
people. Despite all the difficulties, today Nagorno Karabakh is a
proud state committed to the values of democracy, respect for human
rights, and an open civil society.

Today, as we extend our congratulations to the people and the
authorities of Nagorno Karabakh on the 13th anniversary of the
Proclamation of the NKR, we welcome your determination and efforts in
strengthening Karabakh’s democratic institutions and market economy.
Karabakh has proven to be a capable, reliable and serious partner of
the international community. Peace and stability in the South
Caucasus are not possible without a contribution from Nagorno
Karabakh. We assure you of our strong commitment to Karabakh’s
security and development.

Sincerely,
Joe Knollenberg Frank Pallone, Jr.
Member of Congress Member of Congress

Jennifer Karch Cannata
Press Secretary
Office of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.
420 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4671 office
(202) 225-9665 fax

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s security service says it has no evidence of criminal act as aviation
experts rule out accident: Family’s grief after final phone call from doomed
plane

The Guardian – United Kingdom
Aug 26, 2004

NICK PATON WALSH IN MOSCOW

Mikhail Degtaryev, a Volgograd businessman, aged 56, was jubilant when
he boarded the Tupolev-134 in Moscow. He had left his home town early
that morning to catch the 6.40am shuttle to the capital, where he
would, during the day trip, sign a contract that was the big break for
the family export business he had run for 15 years.

As he sat back in his seat, he rang the younger of his two daughters,
Yevgenia, 36, on his mobile phone to wish her happy birthday. She bid
her father goodbye and said she would see him soon, at the airport.

“It was his last call,” said his secretary, Tatiana, by telephone
yesterday. “I spoke with him yesterday, he was very happy after he
signed the contract and said he would tell me all about it. But what
does it mean now?”

An hour later, Mr Degtaryev’s plane fell from 10,000 metres to the
ground near the town of Tula. Witnesses heard explosions, but the
authorities still say there is no evidence yet of terrorism. For
Tatiana and Mr Degtaryev’s export company, the uncertainty only
compounds their loss.

The businessman had travelled to Moscow with the firm’s accountant,
Valentina Miglinskaya. The flight was full of the elite of the
southern town – a top oil executive, a government bank manager, the
six-year-old daughter and mother of a 24-year-old television
anchorwoman, Aida Starikova.

The plane was being piloted by Yuri Balchkin, the general director of
the airline, Volga Avia Express, a small regional company. A company
spokesman said the aircraft had been well maintained and that Mr
Balchkin was an experienced pilot.

Ms Miglinskaya’s husband went to the airport with Yevgenia and her
sister to meet the pair. “It was there the terrible news hit them,”
said Tatiana. She said Ms Miglinskaya’s husband returned to the
company office and sat in his wife’s chair, silently, for six hours,
trying to conjure her presence one last time.

Mr Degtaryev’s daughters were too distraught to comment
yesterday. “Mikhail was like a father to all of us,” said Tatiana.

Three minutes later and 500 miles south, another tragedy unfolded. A
Tupolev-154 that had left Domodyedovo airport 40 minutes before the
Volgograd plane also fell out of the sky. Eyewitnesses reported
hearing an explosion before the crash, yet the authorities say they,
too, have not found any evidence that the plane was attacked by
terrorists. Its owner, the second largest airline in Russia, Sibir,
said it received a hijack alert from the plane, but officials have
disputed the nature of the warning.

Whatever its cause, the loss is great to the Armenian community of
Sochi, said Stepan Pogosian. He was a friend of Sarkis Organesian, 43,
a Sochi businessman who died on the Tupolev-154. He said, by
telephone: “I, like many in Sochi who knew Sarkis, are in shock. He
has two sons and a widow.

“We don’t know if it was a terrorist act or something else. The first
information was that it is, and now it seems this is being denied. We
are all in a state of shock”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENTEL INTERVENES IN HOME POLICY OF ARMENIA, CHAIRMAN OF
NON-REGISTERED PARTY DECLARES

YEREVAN, August 26 (Noyan Tapan). ArmenTel intervenes in home policy
of Armenia. Ruben Mnatsakanian, the Chairman of the “Free Hayk
Mission” non-registered party, declaring this at the August 26 press
conference mentioned that because of 7-day breaking of telephone
communication of the party office the party wasn’t able to inform the
representatives of territorial and regional structures of the party
about the special general meeting that was to be organized for the
purpose of registration of the party. On August 24, a representative
of ArmenTel objected to the suit of the party in the court of first
instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash Yerevan communities mentioning
that according to the acting law, the “Free Hayk Mission” should have
declared about the congress a month ago through mass media, so
breaking of the telephone communication has nothing to do with
non-registration of the party. According to R.Mnatsakanian, this
objection is means of influencing the home policy of Armenia and “a
regular attempt of avoiding responsibility by means of abusing the
monopoly position on the market.” To recap, the “Free Hayk Mission” is
among 51 parties included into the list of the parties subject to
dissolution, which were submitted to the court by the State Register.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 26 2004

A bear in bear’s clothing

On Tuesday Georgian mass-media and the political establishment
shuttered to see amateur video footage showing a huge concentration
of Russian armed-forces, including soldiers, tanks, armed vehicles,
helicopters, and artillery allegedly in North Ossetian territory
immediately bordering the Roki Tunnel into South Ossetia – the only
artery in the separatist region connecting Georgia to Russia.

The chair of the Defense Committee of the Georgian Parliament Givi
Targamadze stated that from now on Georgia must be prepared to defend
itself from Russian intervention being planned by ‘Russian
imperialists.’ Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze openly asked the
Russian administration to explain the appearance of Russian military
forces so close to the Georgian border without any obvious reason.

The Russian newspaper Kommersant confirmed a large military presence
in Sernovodsk (North Ossetia) where a training of Russia’s 57th army
is underway. According to the paper, it involves more than 2,000
personnel and more than 100 units of tanks and armored vehicles.

At the same time there are preparations underway for another training
with more than 5,000 reservists are expected. Elsewhere in Armenia
Russian and Armenian forces are planning a joint training, that
includes fighter and bomber aircraft and in the Abkhazian conflict
zone Russian peacekeepers are also conducting trainings.

It is important to note, especially after the mysterious crashes of
two Russian passenger jets late Tuesday, that Russia nervously is
watching events before and after the August 29 elections scheduled
for Chechnya. With such a jittery stance, Russia is more likely to
react with unbridled brute force than with a thought-out plan if it
encounters disturbances anywhere in the Caucasus.

Several Georgian politicians mentioned that although full-scale war
most probably has been avoided in the Tskhinvali region, the
prospects of Russian intervention are still very serious. They add
this could be done if not directly through implementing Russian
regular troops, then otherwise by sending military forces into the
region under a guise.

In his statement late on Tuesday, President Saakashvili highlighted
that the direct confrontation has been avoided in the region and
although Georgia should be very cautious towards the developments
with Russia, there should be no possible way for the further
escalation of the confrontation and in particular there should be no
comparison with the events ongoing in Chechnya.

Saakashvili mentioned that Georgia respects the territorial integrity
of Russia and it is not part of Georgia’s intentions to think of a
confrontation with Russia. However, Russia should itself realize and
respect the territorial integrity of Georgia and prove this in deed.

Saakashvili also stressed upon the fact that he is in permanent
contact with President Putin of Russia but it was likely that
President Putin sometimes does not control the entire situation in
his country.

President Saakashvili’s next decision to attend the government
session which had been moved to Adjara gave confidence to the
Georgian population that things are not that dramatic. However,
Georgian law-enforcement is on alert in particular around the
conflict zone.

All Georgian leaders and political figures and political analysts are
unanimous that only through the internalization of the peacekeeping
process in the region could Georgia avoid future complications in the
conflict zone. Therefore Georgia tries to attract as much attention
from international organizations such as the European Union, the
Council of Europe, OSCE and friendly countries including neighboring
Turkey and of course the United States.

Several times Saakashvili mentioned a deeper and full-scale
involvement of the OSCE in monitoring the conflict zone and even
conducting a peacekeeping mission. The headlines of Georgian
newspapers on Wednesday clearly stated that the conflict has not been
resolved yet and the current situation is very far from a peaceful
settlement.

Unlike twelve years ago, it is difficult to turn a blind eye to
events in Georgia, particularly interference by political groups and
officials based in Russia. The Rose Revolution made it impossible for
countries to turn the other way as they did in the early 1990’s and
throughout the crisis in Chechnya. Moreover, with numerous
achievements under its belt, the young Georgian government has earned
the backing of supporters in Europe and beyond.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Payvand, Iran
Aug 26 2004

Armenia’s Central Bank governor welcomes closer ties with Central
Bank of Iran

Moscow, Aug 25, IRNA — Governor of Central Bank of Armenia Wednesday
in a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Yerevan Alireza Haghaqian
stressed strengthening bilateral economic and financial cooperation
between the two nations.
Tigran Sarkisian said that Armenia attaches importance to it
relations with Iran based on mutual respect.

He further added that closer cooperation with Iran can be positive in
reducing Armenia’s economic problems.

Iranian ambassador also said the two countries should use their
banking capabilities in joint projects.

The two nations have forged close economic and trade relations.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian said here in July that
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project is of great importance to Yerevan.

ArmeRuss Gazprom and Gazprom companies voiced readiness in June to
contribute to Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project.

The two companies have started feasibility study on the technical and
economic aspects of the project and a group of engineers, being
members of the working group, visited the regions in Armenia from
where the pipeline is going to pass.

Experts believe that Iran-Armenia pipeline project is of strategic
importance to Armenia for not passing the critical spots in northern
Caucasus and Georgia.

Iran and Armenia signed agreement on the 142-km gas pipeline project
in 2001, under which the republic would receive 1,500,000 cubic
meters of gas from Iran a day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Aug 26 2004

KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN FOCUS OF GERMAN TALKS WITH ILHAM
ALIEV

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS: Azeri president Ilham Aliev
discussed bilateral cooperation with German president Horst Koehler
and chancellor Gerhard Schroder during his Wednesday meeting in
Berlin. Ilham Aliev arrived in Berlin on an official visit on
Tuesday.
Interfax cites a delegation source accompanying Ilham Aliev saying
that Aliev discussed bilateral cooperation with German authorities as
well as regional issues. The sides paid particular attention to
Karabakh conflict resolution.
In a press conference called on the occasion of Aliev talks,
German chancellor Gerhard Schroder stated that it is necessary to
resolve the conflict based on territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
Interfax sources say.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress