Author: Emil Lazarian

Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia)
September 5, 2004 Sunday
DVD Review
by KAY SCHMIDT
DRAMA
Ararat
Imagine (MA)
In short: Focuses on the Armenian genocide, still denied by Turkey.
The players: Arsinee Khanjian, Christopher Plummer, Charles Aznavour,
Elias Koteas.
Verdict: A history lesson that is too wide-ranging to be involving.
AN ambitious, complex and informative film from Atom Egoyan (The
Sweet Hereafter), a Canadian of Armenian extraction. His deeply
personal mission is to draw attention to his heritage — the 1915
massacre of up to a million Armenians, which went mostly unnoticed
during World War I. He does so through several strands connecting
past and present, including a film within the film based on the
alleged atrocities.

In the Caucasus, another crisis threatens
Neal Ascherson IHT
International Herald Tribune, France
Sept 6 2004
Abkhazia
LONDON — While President Vladimir Putin of Russia struggles to deal
with the fallout from the school siege that killed hundreds last
week in Beslan, across the border, Georgia’s new president, Mikhail
Saakashvili, faces simmering conflicts that may flare up dangerously
if they are mishandled.
The most daunting of them all concerns Abkhazia, a fertile and
beautiful coastal strip between the Caucasus mountains and the Black
Sea whose existence the outside world has all but forgotten.
Since he took power in a bloodless revolution last November,
Saakashvili, 38, has successfully tackled large-scale corruption and
set Georgia on a course toward Western-style democracy. But he has
run into trouble as he tries to “reintegrate” Adzharia, South Ossetia
and Abkhazia, regions that either refused to join independent Georgia
in the 1990s or tried to break away more recently.
In May, Saakashvili overthrew the secessionist regime of Aslan
Abashidze in Adzharia, the Georgian province bordering Turkey. But
this summer he failed to re-establish Georgian authority over South
Ossetia. Troops were sent in, but there was armed resistance from the
Ossetians, leading to more than a dozen deaths and furious protests
from Russia.
The fiasco in South Ossetia has damaged prospects for any settlement
with Abkhazia, the most difficult territorial problem facing
Saakashvili. Abkhazia fought a ferocious war of independence against
Georgian forces in 1993 and 1994, in which atrocities were committed
by both sides. More than 200,000 Georgian civilians fled Abkhazia
and survive as homeless refugees in Georgia.
The Georgians maintain that Abkhaz identity is little more than
a fiction that Russia supports in order to undermine Georgia’s
own independence. The Abkhazians retort that they had never been
an integral part of Georgia, and that they went to war only when
independent Georgia threatened to annex them after the fall of the
Soviet Union.
During the Soviet period, massive settlement of Georgians in Abkhazia
had reduced the Abkhazians to a minority in their own country. On the
eve of the 1993-1994 war, ethnic Abkhazians numbered only 100,000 out
of a population of 500,000. (There were also about 100,000 Armenians,
most of whom supported the cause of Abkhazian independence.)
But independence brought no happy end for Abkhazia. With the best
vacation beaches on the Black Sea, it might have become prosperous.
Instead, it became an unrecognized microstate, blockaded by the
outside world. Road, rail and air links were cut off. Ten years later,
Abkhazia’s government is disillusioned and defensive. There is an
elected Parliament, but democratic reformers have to struggle against
a culture of authoritarian rule and spreading corruption.
Recently Russian tourists have returned to the beaches and a flow
of imports fills the shops. If they apply for Russian passports,
Abkhazians can now travel abroad. But even today, about a third of
buildings in Sukhumi, the capital, remain gutted by war.
Peacekeepers from the Confederation of Independent States – Russian
troops, in other words – occupy the region bordering Georgia, while a
small United Nations force observes the cease-fire zone. But 10 years
of meandering peace talks between Abkhazia and Georgia have produced
no solution.
Observers hoped that Saakashvili’s democratic “revolution” might reduce
tension between Abkhazia and Georgia. But when I visited Abkhazia early
this year, I found that Saakashvili was regarded there as an erratic
Georgian nationalist determined to crush Abkhaz independence. Recently,
Georgian patrol boats fired on a Turkish vessel off the Abkhaz coast,
and Saakashvili has hinted that Russian cruise ships might be prevented
from entering Abkhaz ports.
Saakashvili’s use of force in South Ossetia confirmed the worst
Abkhazian suspicions about him. And yet he is trapped by his own
rhetoric on Abkhazia. He has to do something about it or lose the
confidence of his followers.
On Oct. 3, there will be presidential elections in Abkhazia. The ailing
president, Vladislav Ardzinba, who led the independence war, favors
Raul Khajimba, currently prime minister, as his successor. So does
Putin, it seems; Khajimba, like Putin, has a KGB background. But if
Khajimba wins, he won’t necessarily push Abkhazia toward integration
with Russia. Many Abkhazians are almost as worried about Russian
absorption as they are about Georgian threats.
A deal between Georgia and Abkhazia may still be possible.
Saakashvili’s enormous popularity means that, in theory, he could
afford a compromise: some sort of fudged confederation in which
Abkhazia could associate with
Georgia and yet retain “sovereignty.”
But Saakashvili and the new Abkhaz president will face two obstacles.
One is how to let the refugees return without overbalancing
Abkhazia’s demography. The other is gaining Russian approval. That
is even harder. As American influence in the region grows, with
huge U.S. investments in Caspian oil and trans-Caucasus pipelines,
Russia’s instinct is to hold on to any lever in its grasp – including
the military presence in Abkhazia that gives Moscow a decisive grip
on Georgian policies.
In the end, it is not Georgians or Abkhazians who will solve this
dangerous standoff. Only a global agreement between Russia and the
United States on the future of the Caucasus will end Abkhazia’s
isolation and bring Georgia and Abkhazia to a lasting settlement.
Neal Ascherson, who reported on the collapse of the Soviet Union
for The Observer, is the author of “Black Sea” and, most recently,
“Stone Voices: The Search for Scotland.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

El Periódico, España
4 sept 2004
El polvorín del Cáucaso
• El territorio es un conjunto de pueblos y naciones de diversos
orígenes lingüísticos y étnicos
• Hay numerosos conflictos latentes que Rusia no ha sido capaz de
resolver
MARC SEMO
PARÍS
Después del desmembramiento de la Unión Soviética en 1991 y la
independencia de las repúblicas transcaucásicas (Georgia, Armenia y
Azerbaiyán), la Federación Rusa teme perder el control del mosaico
étnico del Norte del Cáucaso.
Una auténtica Babel
El Cáucaso es, en verdad, una auténtica Babel. Una extraordinaria
concentración de pueblos de origen turco, persa e indoeuropeo, pero
una cuarta parte de ellos son autóctonos, no se puede relacionar con
ningún otro grupo étnico o lingüístico en el mundo. “Son estructuras
sociales cercanas. La mayoría son musulmanes sunís, practicantes
tolerantes del sufismo”, subraya Georges Charachidze, especialista en
filología y civilización en el Cáucaso.
La conquista rusa conllevó el éxodo forzado en 1864 de la mayor parte
de cherkesos hacia territorio otomano y el aniquilamiento de los
ubiks. Fieles al principio de dividir para poder reinar, el régimen
soviético organizó la región en seis repúblicas autónomas que se
convirtieron después de siete años en una mezcla de pueblos
diferentes, incluso hostiles entre sí.
El conflicto checheno
“Los chechenos son los más numerosos y representan una masa compacta
dentro de un territorio continuo”, explica Charachidze. En Chechenia
había un millón de chechenos antes de las masacres y de las
deportaciones en masa, organizadas por Stalin, después de la segunda
guerra mundial. Después de su rehabilitación en 1956, volvieron a su
tierra. Y eran unos 800.000 en el momento de la disolución de la
URSS. Los chechenos han proclamado unilateralmente su independencia
en noviembre de 1991. La reivindicación fue encabezada por el general
Dudayev, asesinado en 1996
En 1992, los chechenos se separan de sus primos ingushetios, que
dudan en desafiar a Moscú. Creyendo que el “ejemplo checheno” no se
extiende, el presidente ruso Boris Yeltsin, lanzó en 1994 a su
Ejército contra la república separatista. La capital, Grozni, cayó
después de meses de combates encarnizados. En agosto de 1996, los
rebeldes chechenos conquistaron la capital. El acuerdo de Kasaviurt
selló la derrota rusa, dejando a la pequeña república en una
independencia de facto. Mientras, Moscú hizo todo lo posible para
favorecer el caos antes de intervenir de nuevo militarmente en
octubre de 1999.
Extensión del conflicto
El recorrido de los oleoductos ya construidos o en proyecto
acrecienta, aún más, la importancia estratégica del Cáucaso Norte,
así como la de las repúblicas transcaucasianas, formalmente
independientes, que Moscú sigue considerando como una zona bajo su
influencia. La tensión potencial más grande es con Georgia, república
presidida por Mijail Saakachvill.
El ataque contra Beslán, primera gran acción chechena en Osetia del
Norte, es desde esta perspectiva, inquietante. Osetia del Norte, que
pertenece a la Federación rusa, es una república mayoritariamente
cristiana. En 1957, la URSS le dio un 40% del territorio ingushetio,
y aparece como el punto de apoyo más fiel a Moscú. A este panorama se
añaden los numerosos micro-conflictos latentes atizados desde Moscú,
en el seno de las repúblicas autónomas, como la de los cherkesos. Los
combatientes chechenos, intentan, por lo que se refiere a ellos,
extender su lucha a los vecinos de Ingushetia y Daguestán. El mosaico
caucásico contiene al menos 26 pueblos diferentes, mayoritariamente
musulmanes, obligados a confraternizar por su condición de minorías.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

4TH MEETING OF OSKANIAN AND MAMEDIAROV TOOK PLACE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
4 Sept 04
Despite the recent statements of the Azerbaijani foreign minister
allowing to think that the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia
and Azerbaijan would not take place, it nevertheless took place
in Prague on August 30. This was the fourth meeting on the level
of foreign ministers. As we had forecast, there was not much to be
expected from this meeting. According to the RA foreign minister,
“The only expectation was that the Armenian party may continue and
lead to its logical end what they had undertaken, at last making
it clear on what basis the talks between the two countries will
go on.” According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of RA, the American, Russian and French co-chairmen of the
Minsk Group Stephen Mann, Youri Merzlyakov and Henry Jacolin also
took part in the meeting of Oskanian and Mamediarov. The personal
representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk was
also present at the meeting. This meeting, as the previous ones,
did not have a special agenda. The ministers of foreign affairs of
Armenia and Azerbaijan went on discussing questions referring to the
prospect of regulation of the Nagorni Karabakh conflict. According
to the participants, the meeting was useful and positive. After the
meeting the RA minister of foreign affairs told the journalists that
the newly appointed ambassador of the USA in Armenia John Evans who has
recently arrived in Yerevan, must actively get involved in the talks
for the settlement of the Karabakh problem. As to the effectiveness
of the meeting, Oskanian noticed that this was an ordinary meeting
of which no results should be anticipated. “There may be news only
after the meeting of presidents,” said Vardan Oskanian. Therefore
we may state that the fourth meeting of Oskanian and Mamediarov did
not produce any results, at best it prepared for the next meeting
between Kocharian and Aliev. Let us hope that at least that meeting
will promote positive changes in favour of the peaceful regulation
of the Karabakh conflict.
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
04-09-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN TO VISIT POLAND ON SEPTEMBER 5
ArmenPress
Sept 3 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
will visit Poland from September 5 to 7. The invitation was extended
by his Polish counterpart Alexander Kwasniewski. In the course of the
visit the Armenian president is scheduled to meet with the leadership
of the Polish Sejm (lower parliament chamber), the Senate and the
prime minister. Two agreements on military cooperation and fighting
against organized crime and a memorandum on cooperation between
Armenian trade and economy development ministry and Polish Union of
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses will be signed in Warsaw.
According to Kocharian’s press office, the main goal of the visit is
to enhance inter-state ties, to outline economic cooperation priorities
and exchange views on issues of reciprocal interest.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Poland were established
in 1992, February. The Armenian embassy in Warsaw began functioning
in 1998. In 1999 president Kocharian paid a state visit to Poland.
The Polish embassy opened in Yerevan in 2001 and in the same year
Alexander Kwasniewski paid a state visit to Armenia.
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

Yerevan unruffled by Baku’s protest against Armenian presence at NATO drills
Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
3 Sep 04
NATO is the organizer of the Cooperative Best Effort – 2004 exercises
and has already confirmed the number of participants, the spokesman
of the Armenian Defence Ministry, Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, has said,
commenting on Azerbaijani media reports that Baku has lodged its
protest with Brussels against the participation of Armenian officers
in the NATO field exercises.
To recap, Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said that the
Armenian side would participate in the NATO exercises in Baku. He
noted that seven Armenian servicemen would take part in the exercises.

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