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ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games

Boxing

Men’s Light Welter (64kg) & Welter (69kg) 15 Aug. 2004

ATHENS, 15 August – It may be an indoor venue, but at the Peristeri Boxing
Hall today the stars shone brightly in the hotly contested Welter Weight
(69kg) category.

Making his return to Olympic competition after an eight year absence, Cuba’s
double World Champion Lorenzo ARAGON ARMENTEROS was devastating in his
destruction of local hope Theodoros KOTAKOS (GRE), the referee stopping the
contest midway through round three when KOTAKOS appeared defenceless, and
the Cuban led 34-14.

Vanes MARTIROSYAN (USA) made a solid start for his medal campaign, beating
Benamar MESKINE (ALG) 45-20 to set up what should be a fascinating clash
with ARAGON ARMENTEROS in the round of sixteen on Thursday, 19 August.

MARTIROSYAN will need to be at his very best to beat the Cuban, but going
into this tournament the Armenian born American was confident he could win
the gold medal.

Another Welter Weight to impress was Ruslan KHAIROV (AZE) who showed his
power against Canadian Adam TRUPISH.

A solid right cross at the start of round three opened a nasty cut on the
bridge of TRUPISH’s nose, and on the advice of the ring side doctor, the
referee stopped the fight.

World Championship silver medallist Sherzod HUSANOV started slowly against
Jean Carlos PRADA (VEN), but knocked the Venezuelan to the canvas twice on
his way to a 33-20 points decison.

Oleg SAITOV (RUS), who is chasing his third Olympic gold medal, was his
usual methodical self against Miloud AIT HAMMI (MAR).

He started slowly, but his experience told in the end and he scored a
comfortable points decision.

In the Light Welter Weight (64kg) division, the stand out performance of the
afternoon session came from stylish Bulgarian Boris GEORGIEV, who totally
outclassed Nasserredine FILLALI (ALG).

When the referee stopped the contest late in round two, GEORGIEV had taken a
20 point lead over the Algerian, enough to book a contest against Rock ALLEN
(USA) in the next round.

In the evening session Alexander MALETIN (RUS) was devastating in his
demolition of Saleh KHOULEF (EGY) and must be the boxer everyone in the
Light Welter Weight division fears most.

Willy BLAIN (FRA) was sharp and effective in disposing of Mohamed Ali SASSI
(TUN), but the Frenchman will have a more difficult job in his next round
clash with the ‘Russian Tank’ MALETIN.

Ukrainian hard man Viktor POLYAKOV has also come into medal contention,
after his slugging contest against Gerard O’MAHONY (AUS).

ONS nb/sad

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 16 2004

Azeri, Armenian journalist teams may play in Moscow

The sixth international football tournament among journalist teams
dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the sports journalism figure Lev
Filatov will be held in Moscow, Russia on September 9-12, the
tournament organizer Alexander Lagutenkov said.
Teams from Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia are
expected to take part in the competition.
The matches will be played on the special pitches on the Luzhniki
Olympics complex.
Best goalkeeper, defender, forward and scoring player will be awarded
and the winning team will receive a special prize named after Lev
Filatov.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Télégramme
16 août 2004

Les costumes folkloriques, qu’ils soient bretons, biélorusses,
argentins ou arméniens, ne craignent pas les pluies
d’applaudissements. Ce serait plutôt le contraire.

Mais les trombes d’eau venues du ciel, alors là, c’est la cata…
Pourtant hier, le ciel n’est pas tombé sur la tête du défilé des
Nations, l’un des temps forts du festival, qui chaque année, fait de
Plozévet le carrefour mondial des cultures. Rues noires de monde,
pour un spectacle de danses slaves, sud-américaines ou bretonnes, à
même le macadam. A 14 h, le défilé s’est mis en marche sous un ciel
de traîne, un vrai temps de festival, disait le public. Il a pris son
temps pour descendre la grand’rue, amorcer le virage de l’église,
avant les premières gouttes annonciatrices. Les parapluies se sont
ouverts. Et soudain, la pluie, qui ne s’est plus arrêtée. Le défilé a
sauvé les meubles, le public s’est sauvé. Tant pis pour le deuxième
passage qui est tombé à l’eau…

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

El Pais
Ago 15, 2004

A UN PASO DE LA GLORIA Y DEL FRACASO

Ritmos etnicos, salsa, ‘hip-hop’, cantautores o rock. Todo un abanico
de propuestas en los festivales de agosto. Por Fernando Iniguez

Parecia que la historia se imponia. Cualquier villa o pueblo de mas
de 20.000 habitantes, a veces incluso menos, debia tener su festival
de musica. Podia buscarse cualquier pretexto para dotarlo de
contenido: un castillo famoso serviria para juntar a las nuevas
musicas; un claustro bien conservado o una plaza rustica, un festival
de ritmos etnicos; una playa o un desierto, un encuentro salsero o
una rave electronica, y una plaza de toros o un polideportivo
espacioso, un festival de rock con acampada incluida.

Al rebufo del exito de los festivales musicales que surgieron a
mediados de los noventa, como el rockero Festimad de Mostoles
(Madrid), los etnicos La Mar de Musicas de Cartagena (Murcia) o El
Pirineos Sur del Valle de Tena (Huesca), o el de pop independiente de
Benicassim (Castellon), la geografia espanola se poblo en agosto de
festivales. Algunos sobreviven a duras penas, otros han tenido que
dejar de celebrarse y muchos variar sus planteamientos iniciales para
hacerlos mas rentables.

Ayer mismo, 14 de agosto, coincidian varios festivales de diversos
contenidos.

En Sos del Rey Catolico (Zaragoza), la actuacion el sabado del
madrileno Antonio Vega en el Patio de la Lonja Medieval puso fin a la
tercera edicion del Festival Luna Lunera, que ha cobijado en esta
quincena una amplia y evolucionada propuesta de cancion de autor.
Luna Lunera se ha esforzado siempre por alejar el arquetipo de
cantautor del artista solitario y proteston de guitarrita y taburete,
y ha contado este ano con las actuaciones de Julieta Venegas, Javier
Ruibal, Los Secretos, Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Hammill, Distritocatorce
y Josele Santiago.

El del Castillo de Ainsa (Huesca) se ha inaugurado este ano para
bucear en un concepto unico: Musicas de Europa. Arranco el jueves con
Sargento Garcia y ofrece hasta el dia 21 un interesante abanico para
profundizar en las sonoridades de un territorio como el europeo que
se ha cruzado con miles de culturas diversas sin perder sus propias
raices. El armenio Arto Tuncboyaciyan, los irlandeses Kila o la
fanfarria gitana balcanica de Liliana Buttler & Mostar Sevdah Reunion
son algunas de las actuaciones programadas.

El rock duro protagonizo varios encuentros tambien anoche.

En Lorca (Murcia) se celebra la septima edicion de Lorca Rock que,
sin apenas difusion, sobrevive con buena salud. Para este ano han
conseguido la reunificacion de Europe, en la que sera la unica
actuacion en Espana de los creadores de The Final cowntdown.
(). La plaza de toros de Tomelloso (Ciudad
Real) acogio ayer el quinto Tomelloso Rock con un cartel pasado de
decibelios: Napalm Death, TerroriStars, Beholder o Mama Ladilla,
entre otros (). Roquetas de Mar (Almeria) monta,
desde este ano, Agosto Rock, un festival que ya ha pasado por miles
de dificultades antes de inaugurarse. Se divide en dos jornadas, la
primera el pasado viernes, con los leoneses Cooper de estrellas, y
Profesor Popsmuggle y Sujeto Pasivo; y la segunda el proximo sabado
21, con una mirada mas internacional: los ingleses Pleasure Beach o
Sidonie.

No muy lejos de Roquetas, en la playa de Villaricos de la localidad
almeriense de Cuevas de Almanzora, aparece el Creamfields 2004, un
festival de vanguardia inspirado por Cream, el celebre local
londinense que ha marcado tendencias en la cultura de clubes y musica
de baile desde hace mas de diez anos. Massive Attack son sus
estrellas, pero compiten en igualdad de condiciones con Fatboy Slimo
con reputados pinchadiscos como la francesa Miss Kittin o el
norteamericano Jeff Mills.

El proximo fin de semana, Aranda de Duero celebra la edicion de
Sonorama 2004, un festival que quiere convertirse en una especie de
Benicassim mesetario. El viernes 20 actuan Yani Como, Mastretta,
Astrid, Atom Rhumba y Sidonie. Al dia siguiente, el campo de futbol
arandino recibira a Sexy Sadie o Bebe, la revelacion de la temporada,
y a El Columpio Asesino y Big Soul, una actuacion que se declara ya
historica, pues supone el punto y final de su carrera, segun anuncia
el propio trio. En la otra punta de Espana, ese mismo sabado arranca
la primera edicion del Festival de Hip-Hop Canos de Meca, a celebrar
en la localidad gaditana del mismo nombre en el marco del cortijo El
Acebuchal. La Excepcion que Confirma la Regla, Hablando en Plata,
Juaninack y 5 Elementos expondran alli sus audaces rimas callejeras.

Pero mientras unos nacen y otros se mantienen, los hay que
desaparecen. El Festival Son Latinos (Tenerife), que reunio a 400.000
personas el ano pasado en la playa de las Vistas, ha sido suspendido
por las presiones de los ecologistas. Otros, como el Festival Serie
Z, ha cerrado por falta de dinero. A la espera de como vayan las
cosas con vista al verano de 2005, todos los festivales en curso, y
los que tuvieron lugar entre julio y primeros de agosto.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA Today
Aug 14 2004

Daily Preview of Olympics 2004

Boxing

Light welterweight Rock Allen got a bye into the second round of the
141-pound competition, so the sole American boxer in action on Sunday
will be 152-pound welterweight Vanes Martirosyan, who takes on
Benamar Meskine of Algeria at 7:45 a.m. ET. Just 18, Martirosyan was
born in Armenia and moved to the U.S. when he was 4.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Associated Press Worldstream
August 14, 2004 Saturday

Judo Results

ATHENS, Greece

results for Saturday’s Olympic judo competition at the Ana Liossia
Olympic Hall:

Women
48Kg
Round of 32

Lyubov Bruletova, Russia, def. Konkiswinde Hanatou Ouelogo, Burkina
Faso, Waza-ari awasete Ippon, 1:39.

Anna Zemla-Krajewska, Poland, BYE.

Tatyana Shishkina, Kazakhstan, def. Lisseth Orozco Pallares,
Colombia, Koka.

Alina Alexandra Dumitru, Romania, BYE.

Soraya Hadad, Algeria, def. Bertille Ali, Central African Republic,
Ippon, Kuchiki-taoshi, 1:27.

Yamila Zambranon Cuenca, Cuba, BYE.

Ryoko Tani, Japan, BYE.

Maria Karagiannopoulou, Greece, BYE.

Gao Feng, China, def. Daniela Polzin, Brazil, Ippon, Kata-guruma,
1:24.

Giuseppina Macri, Italy, BYE.

Tatiana Moskvina, Belarus, BYE.

Frederique Jossinet, France, def. Sonya Chervonsky, Australia,
Waza-ari awasete Ippon, 1:34.

Julia Matijass, Germany, BYE.

Carolyne Lepage, Canada, BYE.

Nese Sensoy Yildiz, Turkey, def. Ri Kyong Ok, North Korea, Waza-ari.

Ye Gue-rin, South Korea, BYE.

Round of 16

Anna Zemla-Krajewska, Poland, def. Lyubov Bruletova, Russia, Ippon,
Kosoto-gake, 1:38.

Alina Alexandra Dumitru, Romania, def. Tatyana Shishkina, Kazakhstan,
Ippon, Uchi-mata, 1:33.

Soraya Hadad, Algeria, def. Yamila Zambranon Cuenca, Cuba, Ippon,
Kuchiki-taoshi, 1:54.

Ryoko Tani, Japan, def. Maria Karagiannopoulou, Greece, Waza-ari
awasete Ippon, 3:22.

Feng Gao, China, def. Giuseppina Macri, Italy, Ippon,
Yoko-shiho-gatame, 3:45.

Frederique Jossinet, France, def. Tatiana Moskvina, Belarus, Ippon,
Sukui-nage, 0:15.

Julia Matijass, Germany, def. Carolyne Lepage, Canada, Ippon,
Uchi-mata, 1:42.

Gue Rin-ye, South Korea, def. Nese Sensoy Yildiz, Turkey,
0010S1-0001S2.

Quarterfinal

Alina Alexandra Dumitru, Romania, def. Anna Zemla-Krajewska, Poland,
Ippon, Ushiro-goshi, 0:35.

Ryoko Tani, Japan, def. Soraya Hadad, Algeria, Ippon, Osoto-gari,
2:17.

Frederique Jossinet, France, def. Feng Gao, China, Waza-ari.

Julia Matijass, Germany, def. Gue Rin-ye, South Korea, Ippon,
Uchi-mata, 1:07.
Quarterfinal Repechage

Anna Zemla-Krajewska, Poland, def. Tatyana Shishkina, Kazakhstan,
Hansoku make, 3:13.

Maria Karagiannopoulou, Greece, def. Soraya Hadad, Algeria,
0101S3-0100S1.

Feng Gao, China, def. Tatiana Moskvina, Belarus, Waza-ari awasete
Ippon, 2:12.

Gue Rin-ye, South Korea, def. Carolyne Lepage, Canada, Yuko.
Semifinal

Ryoko Tani, Japan, def. Alina Alexandra Dumitru, Romania, Waza-ari
awasete Ippon, 4:19.

Frederique Jossinet, France, def. Julia Matijass, Germany, Ippon,
Yoko-shiho-gatame, 1:33.
Semifinal Repechage

Maria Karagiannopoulou, Greece, def. Anna Zemla-Krajewska, Poland,
Ippon, Ippon-seoi-nage, 1:18.

Feng Gao, China, def. Ye Gue Rin, South Korea, Koka.
Bronze Medal Matches

Julia Matijass, Germany, def. Maria Karagiannopoulou, Greece, Ippon,
Uchi-mata, 2:51.

Feng Gao, China, def. Alina Alexandra Dumitru, Romania, Ippon,
Yoko-shiho-gatame, 5:00.
Gold Medal Match

Ryoko Tani, Japan, def. Frederique Jossinet, France, Waza-ari.
Men
60K
Round of 64

Younes Ahamdi, Morocco, BYE.

Evgeny Stanev, Russia, BYE.

Anis Lounifi, Tunisia, BYE.

Pak Nam Chol, North Korea, BYE.

Nestor Khergiani, Georgia, BYE.

Kenji Uematsu, Spain, BYE.

Bazarbek Donbay, Kazakhstan, BYE.

Omar Rebahi, Algeria, BYE.

Craig Fallon, Britain, BYE.

Scott Fernandis, Australia, BYE.

Sanjar Zokirov, Uzbekistan, BYE.

Revazi Zintiridis, Greece, BYE.

Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, Iran, BYE.

Jean Claude Cameroun, Cameroon, BYE.

Armen Nazaryan, Armenia, BYE.

Alexandre Lee, Brazil, BYE.

Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, Mongolia, BYE.

Akram Shah, India, BYE.

Gal Yekutiel, Israel, def. Albert Techov, Lithuania, Waza-ari.

Taraje Williams Murray, United States, BYE.

Reiver David Alvarenga Dominguez, Venezuela, BYE.

Benjamin Darbelet, France, BYE.

Choi Min-ho, South Korea, BYE.

Ludwig Paischer, Austria, BYE.

Tadahiro Nomura, Japan, BYE.

Modesto Lara Arias, Dominican Republic, BYE.

Oliver Gussenberg, Germany, BYE.

Siarhei Novikau, Belarus, BYE.

Cristobal Alejandro Aburto Tinoco, Mexico, BYE.

David Fernandez Tercero, Costa Rica, BYE.

Francis Labrosse, Seychelles, BYE.

Miguel Albarracin, Argentina, BYE.
Round of 32

Evgeny Stanev, Russia, def. Younes Ahamdi, Morocco, Ippon, Uki-waza,
0:29.

Anis Lounifi, Tunisia, def. Pak Nam Chol, North Korea, Ippon,
Harai-goshi, 1:28.

Nestor Khergiani, Georgia, def. Kenji Uematsu, Spain, Ippon,
Kuchiki-taoshi, 3:41.

Bazarbek Donbay, Kazakhstan, def. Omar Rebahi, Algeria, Ippon,
Seoi-nage, 0:14.

Craig Fallon, Britain, def. Scott Fernandis, Australia, Ippon,
Tai-otoshi, 0:37.

Revazi Zintiridis, Greece, def. Sanjar Zokirov, Uzbekistan, Ippon,
Tani-otoshi, 4:33.

Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, Iran, def. Jean Claude Cameroun, Cameroon,
Yuko.

Armen Nazaryan, Armenia, def. Alexandre Lee, Brazil, 0101S1-0001S3.

Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, Mongolia, def. Akram Shah, India, Ippon,
Gyaku-juji-jime, 0:44.

Taraje Williams Murray, United States, def. Gal Yekutiel, Israel,
Ippon, Morote-gari, 2:59.

Benjamin Darbelet, France, def. Reiver David Alvarenga Dominguez,
Venezuela, 0010S1-0002S2.

Choi Min-ho, South Korea, def. Ludwig Paischer, Austria, Ippon,
Tai-otoshi, 4:31.

Tadahiro Nomura, Japan, def. Modesto Lara Arias, Dominican Republic,
Ippon, Seoi-nage, 2:46.

Oliver Gussenberg, Germany, def. Siarhei Novikau, Belarus, Ippon,
Ushiro-kesa-gatame, 3:03.

Cristobal Alejandro Aburto Tinoco, Mexico, def. David Fernandez
Tercero, Costa Rica, Koka.

Miguel Albarracin, Argentina, def. Francis Labrosse, Seychelles,
Ippon, Sukui-nage, 4:14.

Round of 16

Evgeny Stanev, Russia, def. Anis Lounifi, Tunisia, Ippon, Sukui-nage,
3:03.

Nestor Khergiani, Georgia, def. Bazarbek Donbay, Kazakhstan, Yuko.

Revazi Zintiridis, Greece, def. Craig Fallon, Britain, Ippon,
Sumi-otoshi, 4:56.

Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, Iran, def. Armen Nazaryan, Armenia,
0010S1-0001S2.

Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, Mongolia, def. Taraje Williams Murray,
United States, Ippon, Kibisu-gaeshi, 1:37.

Min Ho-choi, South Korea, def. Benjamin Darbelet, France, Yuko.

Tadahiro Nomura, Japan, def. Oliver Gussenberg, Germany, Ippon,
Seoi-nage, 0:53.

Miguel Albarracin, Argentina, def. Cristobal Alejandro Aburto Tinoco,
Mexico, Ippon, 2:08.

Quarterfinal

Nestor Khergiani, Georgia, def. Evgeny Stanev, Russia, Waza-ari.

Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, Iran, def. Revazi Zintiridis, Greece, Ippon,
Kouchi-gari, 2:55.

Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, Mongolia, def. Min Ho-choi, South Korea,
Ippon, Kami-shiho-gatame, 1:14.

Tadahiro Nomura, Japan, def. Miguel Albarracin, Argentina, Ippon,
Ouchi-gari, 0:14.
Round of 16 Repechage

Kenji Uematsu, Spain, def. Bazarbek Donbay, Kazakhstan, Sogo gachi,
5:00.

Jean Claude Cameroun, Cameroon, def. Armen Nazaryan, Armenia, Ippon,
Kuchiki-taoshi, 1:01.

Akram Shah, India, def. Taraje Williams Murray, United States, Ippon,
Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame, 0:47.

Oliver Gussenberg, Germany, def. Modesto Lara Arias, Dominican
Republic, Yuko.
Quarterfinal Repechage

Kenji Uematsu, Spain, def. Evgeny Stanev, Russia, 0001x-0000S1.

Revazi Zintiridis, Greece, def. Jean Claude Cameroun, Cameroon,
Ippon, Sukui-nage, 0:09.

Min Ho-choi, South Korea, def. Akram Shah, India, Ippon, Seoi-nage,
0:49.

Oliver Gussenberg, Germany, def. Miguel Albarracin, Argentina, Ippon,
Yoko-shiho-gatame, 0:49.
Semifinal

Tadahiro Nomura, Japan, def. Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, Mongolia,
Ippon, Ouchi-gari, 0:23.

Nestor Khergiani, Georgia, def. Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, Iran,
Waza-ari.
Semifinal Repechage

Kenji Uematsu, Spain, def. Revazi Zintiridis, Greece, Ippon, 2:07.

Choi Min Ho, South Korea, def. Oliver Gussenberg, Germany, Ippon,
Seoi-nage, 2:20.
Bronze Medal Matches

Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar, Mongolia, def. Kenji Uematsu, Spain, Yuko.

Choi Min Ho, South Korea, def. Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh, Iran, Ippon,
Seoi-nage, 0:53.
Gold Medal Match

Tadahiro Nomura, Japan, def. Nestor Khergiani, Georgia, Waza-ari.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

United States Department of Defense
Aug 13 2004

News Transcript
On the web:
l

Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact: or +1 (703)
428-0711

Secretary Rumsfeld Press Conference in Baku

SEC. RUMSFELD: Good morning. In my meetings with the
president and the minister of defense, I expressed the gratitude of
the American people, to the people of Azerbaijan for their important
support in the global war on terror. After the attacks on the United
States on September 11, 2001, Azerbaijan was one of the first
countries to offer support, providing valuable access and overflight
rights for coalition aircraft, sending peacekeepers to Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

And today Azeri troops are deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq and
working closely with coalition forces there. In addition, we’re
working very closely together in connection with the NATO Partnership
for Peace effort, which, of course, is a benefit to all 26 NATO
nations, as well as the partners.

In our meetings today with the president and the minister, we
discussed our bilateral defense cooperation. This includes
cooperation with Azerbaijan to help guard against transnational
threats in the Caspian Sea, such as narcotics trafficking, terrorist
transit and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The
American people greatly appreciate the steadfast support of
Azerbaijan in the global war on terror, and we look forward to
continuing to strengthen our military cooperation in the period
ahead.

QUESTION [Via Translator]: Two questions. First of all, Mr.
Secretary of Defense, did you discuss the issue of expansion of Azeri
peacekeepers in Iraq and Afghanistan with President Ilham Aliyev?
And secondly, whether you have been asked for any assistance or
support in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solution as the only Muslim
country Azerbaijan has its troops on the ground in both Iraq and
Afghanistan?

SEC. RUMSFELD: We did not discuss the possibility of expansion of
Azeri troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. We did discuss the fact that
the United Nations is currently undertaking a responsibility under a
U.N. resolution to assist with Iraqi — the upcoming elections and
that the United Nations is soliciting assistance from countries
around the world to provide security forces to assist the United
Nations with respect to the forthcoming Iraqi elections. With
respect to Nagorno-Karabakh, as you know, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Minsk Group, is the lead
organization for facilitating negotiations for a peaceful settlement
of that set of issues.

SEC. RUMSFELD: And we did discuss the fact that the United States,
which is involved in that process, along with three or four other
countries, has recently appointed a new ambassador, Mr. Mann, to
assist. And as you know, the United States supports the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

Q: Good morning, Mr. Minister, my name is Tom Squitieri, I’m with
USA Today. You heard Secretary Rumsfeld say he looks forward to
further military cooperation between United States and Azerbaijan.
I’m wondering what specific things you would like to see the United
States and NATO provide to your nation’s military to transform it
into a force you think is necessary for your country, and also, have
you considered the secretary’s request about supplying forces to
protect during the Iraqi elections? Thank you.

DEF. MINISTER ABIYEV [Via translator]: As you know, since Azerbaijan
gained independence in 1991, the country has faced lots of threats
and 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories are still under Armenian
occupation. And what we want from the U.S. as our ally and partner
is the U.S. to support Azerbaijan in this conflict and demand that
Armenia immediately withdraws its occupational forces from the
territories of Azerbaijan.

Yes, indeed, there’s military cooperation, security cooperation
between our country is going from year to year, and we highly value
this cooperation, and we’re also cooperating with the United States
in the NATO Partnership for Peace Program. And today we’ll also
discussed the issue of security in the Caspian — also another
important issue for Azerbaijan, another unresolved and important
problem for Azerbaijan, but having said that, it’s a political issue
and only when the political solution is found to this issue then the
military will speak.

Q: [Inaudible]

TRANSLATOR: Say what again?

Q: [Inaudible] response to the secretary regarding the security
[Inaudible]?

DEF. MINISTER ABIYEV [Via Translator]: Azerbaijani peacekeepers are
already in Iraq and they have their mandate to fulfill and they will
continue to carry out their tasks.

QUESTION [Via Translator]: Two questions. First, would like you to
– Mr. Secretary of Defense — to evaluate the threats you think posed
to Azerbaijan by Iran’s possibility to develop nuclear weapons and to
whether you anticipate any measure, or perhaps joined together with
Azerbaijan measures, to prevent this threat? And second question is
the Tehran Times newspaper that was reported recently that Azeri
forces under American trainers — American military instructors —
will be deployed on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran. Would
like your comments on this.

SEC. RUMSFELD: I think the – well, the first thing I would say is
that the world is properly concerned about the Iranian nuclear
development activities. The international atomic energy commission
[sic] representing the world community has been active in inspecting
what’s taking place there and has repeatedly expressed concern. The
Iranians have almost consistently responded to the IAEA in an
unsatisfactory way. That presents a problem for the world.

It’s a problem that is really twofold. One is the potential for a
nuclear capability in that country and the implications for
neighboring nations, as you suggested. The second problem it poses is
one of proliferation. As you know, Iran has been on the terrorist
list for many years. And one of the gravest concerns that the world
faces is the nexus between a terrorist state that has weapons of mass
destruction and terrorist networks. So it’s understandable that the
nations, and not just in this region, but throughout the world, are
deeply concerned about what’s taking place in Iran.

QUESTION [Via translator]: Second part of the question, the Tehran
Times and American military instructors on the border Azerbaijan,
Iran?

SEC. RUMSFELD: Not to my knowledge.

UNKNOWN: We’ll take two more questions.

Q: Toby Zakaria with Reuters. Secretary Rumsfeld, also on Iran, did
you discuss with the president and the minister of defense Iranian
President Khatami’s recent visit here? And did you express any
concerns at all about what appears – some might say what appear to be
growing ties between Azerbaijan and Iran?

SEC. RUMSFELD: Yes and no. We did discuss the subject with the
president of the visit of the president of Iran to Azerbaijan. And
no, we did not discuss various things mentioned in your second
question.

QUESTION (Via translator): ATV Channel. Mr. Secretary, you said
that the United States supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
In this case, how would you explain the fact that the United States
Congress allocates $5 million per year to the secretary’s regime in
Nagorno-Karabakh, and second question is that Saddam Hussein, who did
not fulfill United Nation’s resolutions, was punished. Do you
anticipate anything against Armenia that…

SEC. RUMSFELD: I’m sorry. I was listening here, instead of to you.
Go ahead.

Q: Yeah. And the second question is Saddam Hussein, who did not
fulfill U.N. resolutions was punished. Do you anticipate taking any
measures against Armenia that refuses to fulfill United Nations for
resolutions in Nagorno-Karabakh?

SEC. RUMSFELD: First, I’m advised that the first question involved
simply some humanitarian assistance and I think it’s important to
look at the totality of all of the various types of cooperative
arrangements we have with Azerbaijan and the total number in terms of
dollars comes to a substantially higher number.

As I mentioned earlier with respect to Nagorno-Karabakh, the Minsk
Group and the negotiating process that’s in place and supported by
the international community is under way and we are hopeful that
there can be a peaceful resolution of that set of issues that will be
respectful of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Thank you very much.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Daily Pilot, CA
LATimes.com
Aug 14 2004

Report: Newport is least multiracial

Marisa O’Neil, Daily Pilot

NEWPORT BEACH – One of the state’s priciest cities also has the
lowest percentage of residents who identify themselves as
multiracial, according to a report released Friday.

“California’s Multiracial Population,” a study by the Public Policy
Institute of California, listed Newport Beach as its “least
multiracial” city, with 1.7% of its population checking more than one
box to describe their ethnicity on the 2000 census. That year was the
first in which respondents were allowed to select more than one race,
including “some other race,” on the census.

Multiracial Californians are more likely to live below the poverty
line than are single-race residents, according to the study.
Statistically speaking, that would limit their ability to live in
places with expensive real estate, said Hans Johnson, co-author of
the report.

“Newport Beach is an expensive place to live,” Johnson said. “Because
it is the case that whites have higher incomes than other groups,
that’s a reflection of the cost of living in Newport Beach.”

The state’s multiracial population has an average age of 24, versus
34 for its single-race residents. That’s a reflection of the
increasing acceptance of intermarriage, shown by more mixed-race
children in recent years, Johnson said.

Johnson also co-wrote a 2002 report that showed Newport Beach as the
least-diverse city in California, with a 90% white population.

Average median home prices in June hovered around the $1.5 million
mark. Median household income in the city was $83,455 in 1999,
according to the 2000 census.

Because Newport Beach has so few minority residents, it stands to
reason that few people in the city would intermarry and produce
offspring, said Scott Bollens, a professor of urban planning at UC
Irvine.

“Throughout the years, [residents] would have less interaction – at
libraries, at community events, wherever – that could lead to the
development of households,” he said.

In 2000 census data, 1,220 residents out of 70,032 identified
themselves as being more than one race. Those included – from highest
percentage of occurrences to lowest – white, Asian, some other race,
black, American Indian and Pacific Islander.

Glendale, at 10.1%, was the “most multiracial,” according to the
report. The city has a large Armenian population that checked “some
other race” and wrote in “Armenian” on the census form, Johnson said.

Statewide, 5% of Californians identified themselves as multiracial on
the 2000 census, according to the report. That was more than double
any other state.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Aug 12 2004

Plenty of fight

Young Glendale boxer a surprise Olympian

By Paul Oberjuerge , Staff Writer

ATHENS, Greece — Vanes Martirosyan’s enthusiasm is endearing. And
sometimes endangering.
The 18-year-old welterweight from Glendale revels in the chance to
box for his adopted country in the Athens Olympics.

“It’s so exciting,” he said Tuesday, a heavyweight smile erupting on
his boyish face. “When I sit and think about it, sometimes I get
tears in my eyes. Like, where am I? Is this really true? It’s like a
big dream. Then you wake up, and the coaches are there saying, ‘Let’s
go run,’ then you go, ‘Yeah, this is true. I am here.’ ”

“Here” is the Summer Olympics, the apex of the amateur boxing world.
No wonder Martirosyan is fired up.

But that youthful exuberance can be a detriment in the ring.

Martirosyan is most effective, U.S. assistant coach Joe Zanders said,
when he sticks with the technical, “Russian style” long-distance
boxing he learned from his father and personal coach, Norik, who
moved his family to Glendale from Armenia in 1990.

“What we want him to do is box,” Zanders said of the 152-pounder. “We
don’t want him to get into a fight. He gets excited, and he will
fight; he’s got that kind of heart.

“We have to keep him doing the things he’s done so far to get himself
here.”

That Martirosyan is here at all, preparing to walk in Opening
Ceremonies on Friday, is a significant upset. He wasn’t one of the
country’s well-regarded welterweights when the selection process
began this year, and his progress through the U.S. Trials surprised
even him. If not his father or his uncle, Serge, who repeatedly told
him, “You’re the best. You don’t know how good you are.”

He began to think maybe his father and uncle were right after he
defeated fifth-ranked Timothy Bradley in the Western Trials. Then he
clinched a berth in the Athens Games by defeating second-ranked Andre
Berto of Haiti in the continental qualifier in Tijuana, Mexico.

“My confidence kept going up and up,” he said. “I was getting better
and better.”

Martirosyan believes he is “a puzzle” to opponents because he can
change styles at the drop of a glove.

He grew up with the Russian style his father learned while boxing in
the former Soviet Union. “But I can fight American style, and I had a
Mexican coach (Joe Lopez), so I can fight Mexican style, too,” he
said. “Guys don’t know what they’re going to get from me.”

Lopez said he was not surprised when Martirosyan qualified for the
Olympics.

“He has been training very hard,” said Lopez, who until three years
ago trained Martirosyan out of Glendale. When Lopez was offered a job
at the Baldwin Park Boxing Club, he accepted, and Martirosyan
followed.

“He worked really hard in the gym and I think it is his
determination,” Lopez said. “No matter how much anybody tries to
discourage him, he believes in himself and he goes for it.”

Louie Escobar is head trainer at the Baldwin Park Boxing Club. He
said that when Martirosyan first set foot in his gym at age 15, he
knew he was something special. And not just as a boxer.

“I could see that he was very, very respectful, a good role model for
the younger kids,” Escobar said. “And I could see that he was very
talented. Raw, but talented.”

Zanders suggest Martirosyan is best served by the heady,
at-a-distance Russian style that can help him rack up jab points in
the electronically-scored Olympic tournament.

“He fights more like a Russian than anybody who’s not a Russian,”
Zanders said. “Guys who move and punch at the same time. He does that
extremely well.”

Zanders said Martirosyan was holding his own with 2003 world champion
Lorenzo Aragon of Cuba after two rounds in a tournament bout here in
May. Then the excitement factor bushwhacked the Glendale Kid,
something even Martirosyan concedes.

“The first two rounds, I was doing good, and the coaches tried to
calm me down because I get so excited, I’m having so much fun,” he
said. “I just started throwing raw punches. In the third round,
(Aragon) was running from me, and I was chasing him, but he was
scoring punches, while he was running.”

Martirosyan lost a decision, but perhaps gained some perspective.

“He didn’t stick with his game,” Zanders said. “If he listens to the
coaches, things will be a lot different. Losing to the Cuban is maybe
his greatest motivator, to this point. Now he has a better idea of
what this is about.”

Martirosyan’s father tried for 10 years to emigrate to the U.S., and
the family is so thankful to have joined relatives in Glendale that
Vanes sees the Olympics as a chance “to thank this country because it
made room for me and my family. Just to wear these (red, white and
blue) colors is a thrill for me.”

Martirosyan has become something of a celebrity in Glendale’s large
Armenian community. “They support me a lot,” he said. “When I walk
out of the house they come up and hug me and kiss me and say, ‘Go do
it.’ They show me a lot of love.”

According to USA Boxing spokeswoman Julie Goldsticker,
Armenian-American grocers sometimes refuse to take Norik
Martirosyan’s money, telling him to “go feed his son.”

Vanes Martirosyan will be joined here this week by his father and
uncle, as well as little brother Vatche and cousin Ilousha. His first
bout is Sunday.

A strong Olympics showing often has been a springboard into a
lucrative professional career. American welterweights who fought in
the Olympics include Sugar Ray Leonard, Donald Curry, Mark Breland,
Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya. The Golden
Boy happens to be a favorite of Martirosyan’s.

“The way Oscar won the gold and dedicated it to his mother, that was
great,” Martirosyan said.

The home-schooled boxer said he will not decide about turning pro
until after the Olympics. Hr added that his father and uncle will be
prime movers in that choice.

“I box; they handle everything else,”he said.

Martirosyan is not a medal favorite. The top welterweights figure to
be two-time gold medalist Oleg Saitev of Russia and Cuba’s Aragon.
Then again, Berto was a bronze medalist at the 2003 World
Championships, and Martirosyan defeated him during his breakthrough
year.

Said Zanders: “I think he has a chance to be a real problem for some
of the better boxers. I would not be surprised at any level he
achieves.”

Said Martirosyan: “Every day I sit in my room and dream what it would
be like to win a gold medal,” and another monster smile lights up the
room.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

National Public Radio (NPR)
SHOW: Morning Edition (11:00 AM AM ET) – NPR
August 10, 2004 Tuesday

Armenian immigrants living in Glendale, California

ANCHORS: RENEE MONTAGNE

REPORTERS: AMY WALTERS

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

This week, MORNING EDITION is visiting immigrant communities here in
Los Angeles, one of the most diverse places in the country.
California is home to the largest population of Armenians outside the
homeland. NPR’s Amy Walters recently visited the Chamlian Armenian
school in Glendale.

AMY WALTERS reporting:

Glendale looks a lot like other Los Angeles suburbs. It has several
major shopping malls, strip malls and house after house after house.
Signs advertise familiar businesses like Texaco and 7-Eleven. But
other storefronts display an ancient script that doesn’t mean much to
anyone except the city’s 53,000 Armenians. That’s more than a quarter
of Glendale’s population, and that script represents their future.

Ms. ANI BABARIAN(ph) (Teacher): If you are going to keep one nation
together, it’s the language and the religion. When you take the
language, and if you take the religion, you don’t have a nation
anymore.

WALTERS: That’s Ani Babarian. She’s teaching Armenian to
eighth-graders at the Chamlian Armenian school, where she also
teaches history and religion. Armenia has a unique Christian church
founded in the early fourth century, before the country was conquered
by Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols and Turks, among others. As a
result, Armenians lived in diaspora in the Middle East and Europe for
centuries.

Ms. BABARIAN: These are all student work. This is our alphabet.

WALTERS: Babarian’s classroom displays pictures and posters created
by her students, each one representing Armenia, a homeland most of
these students have never seen.

(Soundbite of bell)

WALTERS: Every morning at Chamlian begins with a bell and the Pledge
of Allegiance.

Group of People: (In unison) I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America.

WALTERS: But here they pledge allegiance twice, first to the American
flag, then the Armenian.

Group of People: (Armenian spoken)

WALTERS: It’s the final year at Chamlian for Babarian’s eighth-grade
class, and she’s filling their heads with as much Armenian as she
can.

Ms. BABARIAN: (Armenian spoken)

Unidentified Boy: (Armenian spoken)

WALTERS: Students learn Armenian two hours a day beginning in first
grade. This first-grade class sings a traditional children’s song
about how much fun it is to be at school.

(Soundbite of children singing in Armenian)

WALTERS: The school opened almost 30 years ago when the Armenian
population of Glendale started to grow. In the late 1970s, war broke
out in Lebanon and Iran, and the Armenians from the Middle East
flooded into Los Angeles. Today’s immigrants come mostly from the
Republic of Armenia. They’re looking for economic opportunities they
can’t find in the chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet
occupation. At Chamlian, Armenian communities that were separated for
decades, even centuries, are reunited for the first time. Megan
Megasarian(ph) is part of Chamlian’s eighth-grade class. Her parents
came from Iran. After hearing their story, she says she appreciates
the freedoms of America.

MEGAN MEGASARIAN (Student): My mom came here when she was about 10
with her brother, and they kind of had to raise themselves on their
own. And my dad came here, I think, around when he was 18 or 19 to
escape from the war. And they had to always look out for themselves
because if you don’t look out for yourself, basically, really nobody
will. But when you come to an Armenian school and you’re in an
Armenian community, you feel that you’re protected.

WALTERS: Next year, Megan and her eighth-grade classmates will go to
public school. There’ll be no Armenian classes, songs or pledge of
allegiance. These kids say they don’t share their parents’ fears of
war and political oppression. But Patio Kerkorian(ph), a fellow
classmate, says she has fears of her own.

PATIO KERKORIAN (Student): You know, it’s really scary when you,
like, see–you know, you meet someone, like, you go to a new school
and their last name ends with I-A-N and then you go and you say, ‘Oh,
you’re Armenian,’ and you start talking Armenian, and they’re like,
‘What are you saying?’ And it’s like, ‘Aren’t you Armenian?’ and they
say, ‘Yeah, but we don’t know Armenian.’ It’s like, ‘It’s not
possible. How can you not know Armenian?’ You get scared. You know,
you think, oh God, you know, when I’m gonna go to a public school
after Chamlian, you know, is that gonna be me?

WALTERS: This summer, Patio is preparing for freshman year at
Glendale High. She says she’s nervous but she comforts herself with a
promise she made to one day send her own children to Chamlian. Amy
Walters, NPR News, Los Angeles.

MONTAGNE: It’s 11 minutes before the hour.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress