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RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 20 2004

RUSSIA TO TREAT CSTO MILITARY ALLIANCE ON PAR WITH DOMESTIC
PARTNERSHIP: PUTIN

SOCHI, August 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is willing to treat military
partnership with other countries on the Collective Security Treaty
Organization on a par with partnership ties within the country,
reassures President Vladimir Putin.

He made the statement at a news conference he and President Robert
Kocharyan of Armenia were addressing after today’s summit in Sochi,
Russia’s Black Sea coastal spa.

The State Duma, Russia’s lower parliamentary house, will debate the
prospects. The Kremlin is ready with a respective resolution, which
implies all exports/imports within the Treaty Organization proceeding
from Russian domestic prices, said President Putin.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization brings together six
post-Soviet countries-Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia and Tajikistan.

Mr. Putin spoke about Russian-Armenian economic partnership, too.
Thus, several Russian industrial companies intend to invest a total
$26 million to update the Armenian-based Armenal Co.

Power industrial partnership is an essential aspect of bilateral
ties, added Russia’s President.

President Kocharyan, in his turn, approved current trends and
developments in bilateral economic contacts. They became much more
diversified within the preceding two or three years, and capital
investment is on an upswing, he said.

The President highlighted 600 presently available Russian-Armenian
joint ventures, and stressed an increasing Russian corporate
participation in Armenian business.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH ASSOCIATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
WITH PARTICIPATION OF FORMER USSR COUNTRIES

YEREVAN, August 20 (Noyan Tapan). Armenia proposed to establish an
Association of Information Technologies. The former USSR countries
will be its members. Arman Valesian, the Executive Director of the
Union of Information Technologies’ Enterprises, reported at the August
20 press conference that 9 countries have already responded this
proposal, including Russia, the Ukraine, Latvia and Belorussia.

A.Valesian mentioned that a portal will be also established where the
companies of the sphere of information technologies of the
country-members of the Association will be represented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s Putin offers help in settling Nagornyy Karabakh conflict

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
20 Aug 04

SOCHI

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is prepared to
act as a mediator and a guarantor in settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

“We did discuss the Karabakh problem and the discussion focused on
searching for additional opportunities for maintaining dialogue and
resolving the problem itself,” Putin said following his talks with
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

“There have been no breakthrough decisions, but it is important to
register the sides’ intention to look for a compromise. I formed the
impression that the Armenian and the Azeri presidents have this kind
of resolve,” Putin said.

“Like in other cases, Russia is prepared to play just one part – that
of a mediator and a guarantor, in case our input is required and the
negotiating sides express such a desire,” Putin said.

As for the overall situation in the South Caucasus, “we had to inherit
numerous conflict situations”, Putin said. “I hope that the
understanding of the need to improve relations between people living
in the region will prove stronger than ambitions, and we will be
settling these conflicts during the search for a compromise,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mighty mite Ali adds to Iraq’s Olympic triumphs with boxing win

By GREG BEACHAM
.c The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – For just one evening, Najah Ali felt 10 feet
tall and unbeatable.

Iraq’s only Olympic boxer added another triumph to his war-torn
nation’s unexpected success at the Olympic on Wednesday, beating North
Korea’s Kwak Hyok Ju 21-7 to advance to the second round in the light
flyweight bracket.

Ali, the games’ smallest fighter at 1.5 meters (4-foot-11) and 48 kg
(106 pounds), outslugged his taller opponent from the start, peppering
the Korean with jabs and combinations. With his nation’s flag on his
chest and his American coach’s chosen slogan – “Iraq Is Back” –
across his back, Ali punched, feinted and danced across the ring for
four impressive rounds.

When it was over, Ali pumped his fist over his head and jumped for joy
while a handful of flag-waving Iraq fans screamed and chanted his
name. Just reaching the Olympics was a triumph – but winning was
unimaginably better.

“It’s a victory for Iraq and for Iraqis all over the world,” said
Ali, who looks much younger than his 24 years. “I’m a symbol for a
lot of people looking for a good life. I’m a symbol for freedom.”

Ali’s victory arrived on the heels of the Iraqi soccer team’s wins
over Portugal and Costa Rica. The Olympics already have been
improbably successful for a nation that was banned from competition
last year by the IOC.

After the fight, Ali received several kisses from Maurice “Termite”
Watkins, a Texan who went to Iraq last year to provide pest control
for the U.S. Army – and wound up coaching 21 Iraqi fighters. Termite
and his mighty mite pursued their dream from the Philippines to
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – and for four rounds in Athens, everything
came together.

“I felt as good as a man can feel,” Watkins said. “Whether he wins
another fight or not, he’s a winner now in the Olympics.”

Ehad Hussain, the Iraqi press attache, was unsure of his nation’s
total number of Olympic boxing victories, but Iraq has never medaled.

“How can I express my feelings?” Hussain said. “It’s a wonderful
thing for the people of Iraq. Just a wonderful thing.”

The Iraqi boxing program largely was ignored when Uday Hussein ran the
nation’s sports programs – and that might have been a lucky break for
the boxers. Ali has seen the torture and abuse of athletes, mostly
soccer players, who didn’t live up to Hussein’s standards.

Ali, a college graduate who was working in a furniture factory before
joining the team, was introduced to boxing by his father, a former
Iraqi champion.

“I’m sure he’s jumping now in front of the screen,” Ali said. “In
Iraq, everyone is jumping.”

Ali spent six weeks training with the U.S. team in Colorado earlier
this year, also making stops in Houston and Marquette, Mich., with his
colorful coach. Watkins is a raconteur and a boaster, a former
used-car salesman and lightweight boxer who took time out from
dispatching black flies and snakes to rebuild Iraq’s national team.

After training in a bombed-out Baghdad gym, Watkins led his team
around Asia in several failed attempts to qualify any fighters for the
games. When asked to choose one boxer for the IOC’s special invitation
to Athens, he selected Ali.

The fighter carried the flag in the opening ceremonies, leading Iraq’s
delegation of six individual athletes and the soccer team.

Watkins was joined in Ali’s corner by U.S. head coach Basheer
Abdullah, who agreed to help out Watkins in Ali’s corner after getting
to know the Iraqi fighter during training.

The coaches knew Ali caught an enormous break drawing Kwak as his
first-round opponent. The Korean gave perhaps the most awkward
performance of any fighter at the games, completely unable to contend
with the diminutive dynamo ducking and dodging in front of him.

“I don’t want to say anybody is easy in the Olympics, but we thanked
God we had that type of draw to get him some confidence,” Abdullah
said.

After the Olympics, Watkins believes Ali will turn pro, perhaps also
returning to Houston to work on a master’s degree in computer science.

But first, there’s the matter of another Olympic fight Saturday
against Armenia’s Aleksan Nalbandyan. Ali will be a heavy underdog –
but he has faced bigger challenges.

“If he’s right, he can beat anybody,” Watkins said. “He’s that
good.”

08/19/04 02:01 EDT

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Athens 2004 Official Website

Armenian Coaches at the Athens 2004 Olympics

ADAMYAN Vardan – ARM Rowing
ALAVERDYAN Pashik – ARM Weightlifting
BABAYAN Tigran – ARM Judo
BICHAKHCHYAN Vahan – ARM Weightlifting
DANIELYAN Roman – ARM Weightlifting
GASPARYAN Aram – ARM Wrestling
GEVORGYAN Samvel – ARM Wrestling
JULFALAKYAN Levon – ARM Wrestling
KHACHATURYAN Sargis – ARM Athletics
MARGARYAN Samvel – ARM Wrestling
MEHRABYAN Rafik – ARM Boxing
MIRZOYAN Hoksen – ARM Wrestling
NIKOGHOSYAN Seyran – ARM Shooting
SARGSYAN Bagrat – ARM Tennis
SIMONYAN Simon – ARM Canoe/Kayak Flatwater
YENOKYAN Hrant – ARM Wrestling

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Athens 2004 Official website

Armenian Referees/Judges at Athens 2004 Olympics

KAZARIAN Levon – Armenia – Wrestling

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Tenterfield Star, Australia
Aug 19 2004

Entertainment – International ensemble on the way to Tenterfield
Thursday, 19 August 2004

A GROUP of four international artists is set to bring a unique
musical experience to the audience at a concert in Tenterfield next
Thursday, August 26.

The four musicians, known as the Tavantinsuya Ensemble, play violin,
clarinet, viola and piano in a wide repertoire of works. They combine
in different ways to present a variety of duos, trios and quartets
and for this concert they have chosen works highlighting the elegance
of Mozart, the romantic warmth of Max Bruch and the Latin American
rhythms of Salzelo. They’ve included some folk-style intensity of the
music of Armenian composer Khacharturian as well as selections from
George Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’, an intriguing short piece by
young Australian composer Nigel Sabin and some popular clarinet
pieces.

The concert will take place at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School
of Arts from 8pm with pre-concert wine and cheese available from 7pm
to 8pm and during intermission from the Friends of the Sir Henry
Parkes Memorial School of Arts.

Meet the artists

Ronald Woodcock

Ronald Woodcock had toured in over 87 countries during a
distinguished career as concerto and recital soloist, chamber player,
teacher and orchestral conductor.

He has performed in centres such as London, Vienna, Paris, Berlin,
Warsaw, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires as well as in remote
countries such as Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Peru and the Solomon
Islands where he has introduced Western classical music to audiences
for the first time.

Iola Shelley

Iola Shelley was born in Wales and began piano lessons at four. At
the age of 13 she was the youngest student ever to receive the LRAM
and ARCM Performing Diplomas. Along with an illustrious solo piano
career, she has also studied cello, oboe and organ.

In Christchurch, Iola Shelley was one of the founding members of the
Christchurch Conservatoire which was formed in 1978 by members of the
Camerata Piano Quartet.

Graham Evans

Graham Evans first learnt the piano but later took up the clarinet
which became his professional instrument. He was a member of the Band
of the Irish Guards which led to winning a scholarship at the Royal
College of Music. On graduating, he joined the Northern Sinfonia,
Britain’s longest established chamber orchestra. He toured
extensively throughout Europe, the USA and South America as well as
recording with leading musicians for the major record companies.

Louise Woodcock

Louise Woodcock studied viola and piano at the Capetown College of
Music, gaining her LRSM (Performers) and winning a scholarship to the
Vienna Academy of Music. She was a member of the Capetown, Durban and
Auckland Symphony Orchestras and violist in the New Music Group
chamber ensemble in Auckland. For 20 years she was a string teacher
for the Education Department of South Australia and being appointed
string examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hartford Courant , CT
Aug 19 2004

Tradition Takes Back Seat
August 19, 2004
Combined Wire Services

For all the talk of reaching back to the ancient roots of the games,
some Olympic venues have all the reverence of a real-life beer
commercial.

Tanned, toned dancers in orange bikinis gyrate at beach volleyball.
Laker Girl wannabes in flashy dresses shimmy at men’s basketball.
Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” blares from the speakers at
baseball.

These may be your great-great-grandfather’s games in terms of
location, but some venues at the Athens games offer all the subtlety
of Wrestlemania – or the NBA, which helped coordinate entertainment
during basketball games.

“From the first to the last detail, they are responsible for that,”
basketball venue manager Dimitris Karydas said Wednesday. “It looks
to you the same because it is the same.”

Tuesday night’s sold-out game between the United States and Greece,
which didn’t need extra hype, was sexed up even more with a
nine-member dance group from Russia and Ukraine called the Red Foxes,
who shook their shoulders and fan-kicked their way through Jennifer
Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.” Wearing silky-red, low-cut halter dresses
and black high heels, the dancers smiled and tossed their hair (in
varying shades of blond) with unwavering enthusiasm.

For Dad and country: Norik Martirosyan lost a hand in a grenade
explosion, so he uses his other one when he’s chain-smoking
cigarettes – an old, unhealthy habit that Martirosyan’s son, Vanes,
has begged his father to stop.

When Vanes won the Olympic trials after the two favorites in his
weight class were disqualified, Norik said, “Vanes, if you win a gold
medal, I’ll quit smoking.” So Vanes Martirosyan, of Glendale, Calif.,
an 18-year-old underdog, son of an Armenian immigrant, is determined
to win Olympic gold in the 152-pound class so his father will quit
smoking. And for one other reason.

“For all the time I have been boxing,” Vanes said, “my father has
told me what a lucky boy I am to be growing up in the United States.
… He has told me, since I can remember, that there would be no
greater honor for a sportsman such as me to win a gold medal to honor
our country.”

Martirosyan will fight 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist Lorenzo
Aragon of Cuba in the second round today. Martirosyan outpointed
Benamar Meskine of Algeria in the first round.

Busy in Beijing: The Beijing Olympics are four years away, but
construction of the venues is so far ahead of schedule the
International Olympic Committee has asked Chinese organizers to slow
down to better manage their cash flow.

The Chinese have been equally zealous about preparing their athletes
for the 2008 Games. And China has gotten off to a dazzling start in
Athens, ranking second to the U.S. in the medal count with 22
overall.

Ratings report: NBC’s television ratings for the first five days of
the Summer Olympics in Athens are 5 percent higher than the same span
of the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney.

The network telecasts for last Friday through Tuesday were watched by
an average 15.4 percent of the 108.4 million U.S. households with
televisions, compared with 14.6 percent for the first five days of
the Sydney games, NBC said, citing Nielsen Media Research Inc.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI MINISTRY PROTESTS AGAINST KARABAKH STAMPS

Azad Azarbaycan TV
18 Aug 04

BAKU

(Presenter) The separatists of Nagornyy Karabakh, who are striving to
present themselves as a state to the world community, are continuing
to issue stamps. What is most deplorable is that historical monuments
of Azerbaijan are depicted on the stamps, which are issued in
Germany. Objecting to this, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications
and Information Technology intends to have this issue discussed at the
23rd congress of the World Postal Union (WPU), in which Armenians are
also expected to take part.

(Correspondent, over video of Karabakh and the Azerbaijani Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology) Protesting against the
issuance of stamps which introduce the self-styled Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic as a state, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology has sent an appeal to the WPU. The appeal says
that this step by the self-styled entity contradicts international law
and, therefore, those stamps should be considered invalid.

(Novruz Mammadov, in office, captioned as the advisor of the Ministry
of Communications and Information Technology for postal issues) I want
to note that Nagornyy Karabakh illegally attempted to produce stamps
several years ago, in 2001. We appealed to the WPU in accordance with
the existing rules and based on this appeal the WPU sent letters to
each of its 200 member states to invalidate those stamps.

(Correspondent) It is the second appeal that the ministry has sent to
the WPU on the matter. Because after the first letter of protest the
self-styled entity continued production of stamps depicting this
year’s calendar. No response has been given to the ministry’s latest
appeal. Mammadov also touched upon the images on the stamps issued for
separatists. He said that the Azerbaijani monuments are touted as
Armenian on the stamps.

(Mammadov) They usually issue stamps dedicated to some monuments in
Karabakh. But, I again say that they are invalid. Azerbaijan
regularly issues stamps dedicated to historical monuments in Nagornyy
Karabakh every year and similarly such stamps were issued in 2004.

(Correspondent) The ministry, which is not confined to this, intends
to take the issue for discussion at the 23rd congress of the WPU, due
in Bucharest, Romania this September. Mr Mammadov said that there were
no postal services at all in the occupied region. Therefore, the
issuance of stamps is just aimed at presenting Karabakh as a state to
the world community, end quote. Armenia is also expected to take part
in the autumn congress of the WPU and Armenian and Azerbaijani
delegations are scheduled to meet during the event .

Farida Agaverdiyeva, Mirtofiq Miralioglu, for “Son Xabar”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri foreign minister returns from Moscow, says Karabakh topped agenda

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
19 Aug 04

[Presenter] Russia would support any agreement reached between the
conflicting sides, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a
meeting with his Azerbaijani colleague Elmar Mammadyarov. Mr
Mammadyarov, who returned to Baku about an hour and a half ago, said
this to journalists at Heydar Aliyev airport.

He said that Moscow promised to be more active in settling the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

[Correspondent over video of Mammadyarov] Russia will be more active
in settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov told a
briefing devoted to the results of his visit to Moscow. Moscow sees a
settlement of the Karabakh conflict within the framework of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

[Mammadyarov] Above all, we discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. Russia supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Sergey Lavrov told a news conference openly that both as a co-chairman
[of the OSCE Minsk Group] and as a neighbouring country, the Russian
Federation is ready to render assistance to ensure a speedy settlement
to the conflict.

[Correspondent] As for a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers to be held in Prague [29-30 August], Mr Mammadyarov
said that there has been no change in Baku’s position.

[Mammadyarov] I think that we should continue our work. The
co-chairmen have already expressed their stance. An exchange of views
should be held and a new way should be found to resolve this problem
peacefully. The issue is that forced migrants should definitely go
back.

[Correspondent] At the meeting with Sergey Lavrov, they also discussed
the development of bilateral economic relations. Moscow proposed that
Azerbaijan increase the amount of oil transported through the
Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline.

[Mammadyarov] The Russian side wants Azerbaijan to increase the use of
the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. We discussed this issue. If this
proposal is commercially viable, we are ready to consider this.

[Correspondent] Moreover, they discussed regional security, the fight
against terrorism and problems of Azerbaijanis living in Russia.

Farida Agaverdiyeva and Emil Aliyarli, “Son Xabar”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress