Author: Emil Lazarian

Athens 2004, Olympics Official Website
Aug 23 2004
Quarterfinals: 48kg; 60kg; 81kg.
ATHENS, 23 August – Fighters in the Light Fly Weight (48kg), Light
Weight (60kg) and Light Heavy Weight (81kg) categories are into the
quarterfinal stage on Tuesday, 24 August.
Teenage sensation Amir KHAN (GBR) will be fighting for a place in the
semifinals on the evening of Tuesday, 24 August, against Korean, BAIK
Jong Sub in the Light Weight division.
The world junior champion outclassed his first opponent, and then
demoralized Dimitar STILIANOV (BUL) in the round of 16, and is highly
fancied to reach the gold medal decider.
The first of the Light Weight (60kg) quarterfinals features two
boxers who had a bye in the preliminary round, Domenico VALENTINO
(ITA) and Serik YELEUOV (KAZ), with YELEUOV favoured to progress.
In the Light Fly Weight, southpaw Sergey KAZAKOV (RUS) should have
little trouble against Joseph JERMIA (NAM).
JERMIA was a late replacement in the Olympic Games tournament, while
KAZAKOV is the World Champion and three times European Champion.
Italian Alfonso PINTO meets Atagun YALCINKAYA (TUR) in the second
quarterfinal, with the Turkish boxer expected to be too strong for
PINTO.
World Championship silver medallist ZOU Shiming (CHN) has an awkward,
yet effective style and he face Armenian Aleksan NALBANDYAN in the
third quarterfinal, who eliminated Najah ALI (IRQ) in the round of
16, while ZOU accounted for Ethiopian Endalkachew KEBEDE.
In the last of the Light Fly Weight quarterfinals, HONG Moo Won (KOR)
does battle with Yan BHARTELEMY VARELA (CUB), with the Cuban expected
to win and qualify for the semifinals.
Mario Cesar KINDELAN MESA (CUB), then clashes with Rovshan HUSEYNOV
(AZE) in the third quarterfinal with the triple World Champion
expected to face a tough challenge from HUSEYNOV.
The last of the Light Weight quarterfinals features Ugandan Sam
RUKUNDO against Murat KRACHEV (RUS), with KRACHEV expected to reach
the semifinals.
The Light Heavy Weight (81kg) quarterfinals will bring the Greek
crowds to their feet, with the appearance of Elias PAVLIDIS (GRE)
against Ahmed ISMAIL (EGY), with PAVLIDIS seeking to become the first
Greek boxer to win an Olympic Games boxing medal.
The man expected to win gold in the Light Heavy Weight category,
Evgeney MAKARENKO (RUS) will clash with American Andre WARD, with the
vast experience and long reach of the Russian expected to see him
through to the semifinals.
The last of the Light Heavy Weight quarterfinals pits Yuping LEI
(CHN) against Magomed ARIPGADJIEV (BLR).
LEI upset the highly fancied Andriy FEDCHUK (UKR) in the round of 16,
while the boxer from Belarus scored a comfortable victory against
Edgar Ramon MUNOZ MATA (VEN).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Africa News
August 23, 2004 Monday
Equatorial Guinea;
No Translator for 14 Suspected Mercenaries As Trial Opens
by UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
Fourteen foreigners went on trial in the tiny oil-rich state of
Equatorial Guinea on Monday, charged with plotting a mercenary
invasion to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, a government
official in the capital Malabo said.
The eight South Africans and six Armenians were arrested in Malabo on
6 March. They were charged with conniving with 70 South African
mercenaries who were arrested 24 hours later in Zimbabwe as they were
allegedly on their way to Equatorial Guinea to mount an invasion.
An Amnesty International observer at the trial reported that all 14
were charged with conspiracy to overthrow Obiang, who has ruled the
former Spanish colony since he ousted his uncle, Macias Nguema, in a
coup 25 years ago.
In addition, Nick du Toit, a South African accused of leading the
advance group inside Equatorial Guinea, was accused of treason, the
observer said, according to Amnesty International spokesman George
Ngwa in London.
Ngwa noted that treason carried a mandatory death penalty in
Equatorial Guinea. However, President Obiang Nguema said in a radio
broadcast on Sunday that none of the accused would face execution.
Ngwa told IRIN that at Monday’s opening session of the trial, the
charges were read out to the accused in Spanish. There were no
translation facilities available and the accused were not invited to
plead. The proceedings were then suspended until later this week when
the prosecution was due to cross-examine the accused, he added.
The court was expected to provide translators at that stage, the
Amnesty spokesman said.
A senior official at the Ministry of Information in Malabo, contacted
by telephone from Libreville in neighbouring Gabon, told IRIN: “The
Interior Minister of Equatorial Guinea has said that the presumed
mercenaries were planning to kill the entire family of President
Teodoro Obiang Nguema.”
“The mercenaries on trial in Malabo are mainly accused of planning a
coup d’etat against the head of state and of the illegal possession
of arms and ammunition. They risk a prison term of five to 15 years
if convicted,” he added.
Ngwa said the Equatorial Guinean government had invited Amnesty to
send an observer to the trial, indicating at the time that it
expected the trial proceedings to take about two weeks.
One suspect dead
The authorities originally arrested 15 foreigners in connection with
the alleged mercenary invasion plot, but one of them, a German called
Gerhard Eugen Nershz, died a few days later.
The government said he died from an attack of cerebral malaria.
Amnesty International quoted eye witnesses who had seen the German’s
corpse as saying he was tortured to death.
Du Toit, the alleged leader of the mercenary group inside Equatorial
Guinea, is a former South African military officer who was once
closely connected to the now defunct South African security company
Executive Outcomes. The company supplied private guards to
multinational oil and mining companies and mercenary combatants to
several governments, including Angola and Sierra Leone.
The six Armenians on trial are the flight crew of an Antonov 12 cargo
plane belonging to the small company Tiga Air, which operated in
several countries in Central Africa.
The group of suspected mercenaries arrested in Zimbabwe was detained
after their Boeing 727 jet landed in Harare on the night of 7 March
to take on arms and ammunition purchased from the Zimbabwe state arms
factories.
The group, all of whom held South African passports, were led by
former British army officer Simon Mann, who co-founded Executive
Outcomes in South Africa in the late 1980s.
Executive Outcomes was officially dissolved at the end of 1998 after
South Africa passed a law banning mercenaries from operating from its
soil, but the company’s former staff have resurfaced in several other
private military companies such as Sandline and Northbridge Services.
All those arrested in Harare said they were on their way to protect a
mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Zimbabwean government, which has announced plans to try them
locally, has accused the group of preparing to invade Equatorial
Guinea to overthrow Obiang. The president of Equatorial Guinea said
in an interview with the magazine Jeune Afrique Intelligent earlier
this month that he would not seek their extradition.
The government of Equatorial Guinea, has accused Severo Moto, an
opposition leader who heads a government-in-exile based in Madrid, of
being behind the mercenary invasion plan.
It claims that the plot was financed by Greg Wales, a London-based
businessman with previous links to Executive Outcomes, and Elie
Khalil, an international oil dealer of Lebanese origin, who has close
links with Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville and who has been
implicated in a bribes scandal involving the French oil company Elf.
Oil puts country on map
Equatorial Guinea consists of a square of jungle covered territory
wedged between Cameroon and Gabon on the African mainland, plus the
volcanic island of Bioko, 200 km to the northwest in the Gulf of
Guinea, where the capital Malabo is situated.
The country has been ruled by Obiang’s family since independence from
Spain in 1968, but until oil was discovered offshore in the early
1990s it was a largely forgotten backwater.
Now, however, Equatorial Guinea produces 350,000 barrels of oil per
day and is gearing up to become a major exporter of liquefied natural
gas. It is Africa’s third largest oil exporter after Nigeria and
Angola and is regarded as strategically important by the United
States, which has undertaken most of the investment in the local oil
industry.
Although the country now boasts one of the highest per capita incomes
in Africa as a result of its new-found oil wealth, very little of
this money has been spent on improving the living standards of its
people.
Despite a per capita income of more than US $6,000 per year, which
puts the country in the same league as Malaysia or the Czech Republic
, Equatorial Guinea ranks 109th out of 177 on the United Nations
Human Development Index, behind Algeria and Cape Verde, which have a
per capita income of less than $2,000.
Obiang’s government has been widely criticised by western governments
and human rights organisations for rampant corruption and human
rights abuse. Suspected government opponents are frequently arrested
and held without trial and there have been numerous allegations of
torture and extrajudicial killings.
Last month, the US Senate published an investigation into Riggs Bank,
a Washington-based bank into which most of Equatorial Guinea’s oil
revenues were paid until recently. This showed that at least $35
million were siphoned off by Obiang, his family and senior officials
of his regime. The president has denied any wrongdoing.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Athens 2004, Olympics Official Website
Aug 22 2004
Men’s Greco-Roman 84kg : Abrahamian (SWE) seeking medal
ATHENS, 12 August – Ara Abrahamian (SWE) is ready to compete for his
first Olympic medal.
The Armenian born wrestler, made his international debut for his
homeland at the 1996 European Championships, still competed for
Armenia as late as the 1998 World Championships before moving to
Sweden and representing his adopted country at the 1999 World
Championships.
Abrahamian, who finished sixth at the Sydney 2000 Games in the now
discontinued 76kg class, has won two world championships since.

In 2001 he claimed the 74kg class title in Patra, Greece before
jumping up to 84kg class the following year and winning again.

At last year’s World Championships in France he won the silver medal.

The Men’s Greco-Roman 84kg competition begins on Tuesday 24 August at
the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 20, 2004 Friday 10:04 AM Eastern Time
CSTO wants UN stronger role in provision of peace
By Alexandra Urusova
MOSCOW
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) wants a stronger
role of the United Nations in the provision of peace, participants in
Moscow consultations of CSTO member countries said on Friday.
Diplomats of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and
Tajikistan attended the consultations.
“There was a detailed exchange of opinions on main items on the
agenda of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly,” a source in
the CSTO press service said. The delegates also discussed the CSTO
attitude to the Proliferation Security Initiative and a common
position in fundamental areas of the CSTO activities.
The delegates called for regular exchange of opinions about key
issues, concerning their interests and security.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 19, 2004 Thursday 5:19 AM Eastern Time
Baku to insist on peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict
MOSCOW
Azerbaijan will insist on the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov told a news
conference in the news agency Itar-Tass on Thursday.
According to him, the Karabakh conflict is “the biggest problem in
the region, and the conflict is the oldest.” The minister opposed
“the freezing” of the conflict. “We do not believe in an idea of
“frozen” conflicts,” he emphasized.
“The world community should realize that combat actions is not a
method of solving the issue. Armenian forces occupy territories,”
Mamedyarov pointed out. “Without the return of forced migrants it is
difficult to hope for the successful outcome of negotiations,” he
indicated.
“Such countries as the United States, France and Russia should say
their loaded word. The principle of territorial integrity is hard and
fast,” the Azerbaijani foreign minister remarked.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
August 20, 2004
JOYOUS FIRST ANNUAL YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO ST. CATHERINE’S
Georgina Sarkissian
Saturday, August 14th was a glorious day for those who attended the
First Annual Youth Pilgrimage to St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
St. Catharine’s. As the youth arrived, sleeping bags in hand, they
were greeted warmly. This historic event was under the auspices of His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.
The day began with a sight-seeing tour of the Niagara area and
returned to a barbecue prepared by Julia Sarkisian-Dumanian and her
husband Loris. Later, the group sat around a campfire with Serpazan
Hayr, Der Gomidas and Der Datev. During the night, His Eminence held
a prayer session that was an emotionally moving time for everyone.
The morning dawned on a weary, but happy group of youth, ready to
devour a breakfast prepared by the dinner crew. Following their early
morning program the youth participated in the church service with the
flocks of faithful in attendance.
The Blessing of the Grapes took place in the park of the church with a
processional of the youth carrying flowers and candles. His Eminence
BishopBagrat Galstanian blessed the grapes and all those present with
his prayers and sprinkled them with rose water according to the
tradition of the day.
The afternoon consisted of food, fun, dancing to a live Armenian band
and cementing friendships for the following year. What a great
beginning to an annual event that will hopefully draw more youth to
celebrate together the traditions of the Assumption of Mary, Mother of
God and the Blessing of theGrapes. The First Armenian Church in Canada
proudly welcomes all the faithful youth of our diocese to attend next
year, sleeping bag in hand.
* * *
TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY
MOTHER OF GOD IN MONTREAL
The feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God (Verapokhoumn Sourp
Asdvadzadzni) is one of the five major holidays (Daghavar) of the
Armenian Apostolic Church. It is held each year on the Sunday closest
to August 15. This year it was celebrated on Sunday August 15, in the
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral of Montreal.
Prior to the Divine Liturgy, the traditional ceremony of Antasdan was
held, whereby prayers are raised to the Lord to bless the four corners
of the earth. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vazken
Boyadjyan, Pastor of the Cathedral. In his sermon Fr. Boyajyan
highlighted the Feast of Assumption as a major Christian holiday in
the entire Christian world, and related the historical Biblical
representation of the Assumption, when Jesus’ Disciplesfound
St. Mary’s tomb empty, indication the Mother-of-God’s ascension to
Heaven. Fr. Boyajyan then stressed the sanctity of motherhood as
exemplified by St. Mary, and talked about the Armenian tradition of
blessing of grapes at this time, symbolizing fruition of God-given
blessings. At the end of the Badarak, grapes were blessed, which were
then distributed to the faithful.
Following the ceremonies, an open-air luncheon was held on the church
grounds, instead of the banquet usually held in the church hall.
* * *
THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN TORONTO
On Sunday, August 15, 2004 the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church
of Scarborough, Ontario celebrated the Feast of Assumption of Holy
Virgin Mary. Rev. Arch. Fr. Zareh Zargarian celebrated the Divine
Liturgy.
During the liturgy Rev. Arch. Fr. Zareh Zargarian asked all women who
bear the name Mary or similar names which characterize the Holy Virgin
Mary to come forward and be blessed as it was their name day. Each
was given candles and a special prayer of blessing was said over them.
Immediately following the Divine Liturgy (badarak) the “Blessing of
the Grapes” ceremony was performed on the church grounds in front of
the Genocide Memorial.
The Annual Assumption Day Picnic organized by the Parish Council of
Holy Trinity Armenian Church was held immediately following the
Blessing of the Grapes ceremony. Those present enjoyed delicious
Armenian foods, Armenian music and the fellowship of the Armenian
Church community.
* * *
AN UNPRECEDENT EVENING TO HONOR THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES 2004
It is with deep spiritual joy that we announce to the faithful of the
Armenian Church Canadain Diocese that the Armenian College Ministry
Department in conjunction with a group of young Armenians called
“Armenians for Higher Education” have been working hard over the
summer, planning an unprecedented event for all High School graduates
in the greater Montreal area to publicly showhow proud the Armenian
community is of the accomplishments of the Class of 2004.
The event will take place on Sunday, September 19th (6:00 pm), at the
Bolsahay Cultural Center. There will be a separate cocktail for the
graduates and another one for the accompanying family members. Each
graduate will receivea certificate of merit from the Primate, His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.
For more information please visit the website at or
contact the Diocesan office at 514-276-9479.
* * *
BISHOP GALSTANIAN MEETS WITH THE MAYOR OF MISSISAUGA
On Monday August 9, 2004 the Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada
H. E. Bishop Bagrat Galstanian met with the Mayor of the City of
Mississauga Honorable Hazel McCaillon in the Mayor’s office. Present
to the meeting were Der Zareh Zagarian, Der Komidas Mirzakhanian,
Mr. Les Hamlin, Mr. Vartegez Simonian, Mrs. Lilian Sevadjian.
During the meeting discussions were focused on the future plans and
projects of the Saint Vartan Armenian Community of Mississauga. Bishop
Galstanian mentioned the importance of having a church and community
center in order to organize Youth activities within the church, thus
shaping a new portrait for the coming generations. The Honorable Mayor
Hazel McCaillon agreed that building churches and community centers
are vital and important factors for the growth of a healthy
community. His Eminence then thanked the Mayor and presented a stone
cross (khatch- kar) and a book on the History of the Armenian Church.
* * *
DIOCESAN ARARAT SUMMER CAMP 2004 A FUN-FILLED WEEK HAS COME TO AN END
Taline Baltayan
During the week of August 9-14, forty-seven campers from the Toronto,
Mississauga and Montreal parishes attended Camp Ararat at Woodland
Trails, just north of Toronto. The children, who were between 7 and
14 years of age, spent an active and educational week at camp where
new friendships were made and old ones were strengthened and renewed.
The camp was led by Fr. Komitas Mirzakhanyan and run by a crew of 13
dedicated counsellors and staff members. The camp’s delicious meals
were prepared by Mrs. Maro Menengitchian.
What was a typical day at camp? After a 7:30 am wake-up, campers
began their day with morning exercises before eating a hearty
breakfast. Next, time for morning worship and bible study class.
After a bit of free time, campers headed for arts & crafts and sports.
Lunch time! Following lunch came the highlight for most campers â=80¦
swimming! After a few hours in the pool, campers would have some
group time and free time before dinner. The camp evening program
usually consisted of a guest speaker or a group activity, a campfire
complete with singing and marshmallow roasting, and then evening
prayers. Once campers headed back for the dorms, it would be time for
a bit of journal writing and then bed!
In keeping with the Olympic spirit, the campers were placed in their
own Olympic teams where they earned points for various activities
during the course of the week. Congratulations go to Team Yellow for
bringing home the gold!
Visitors to Camp Ararat included Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Mrs. Maida
Icliates, Rev. Blain MacLeod, and circus performer Souren Torosyans .
Our Primate, Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan also visited the camp on a few
occasions to speak and spend time with the campers.
Once again, Camp Ararat was a great success this year. Stay tuned for
details regarding Camp Ararat 2005!
* * *
GENERAL ELECTIONS HELD AT THE DIOCESE OF DAMASCUS
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Damascus announces that on
Sunday, August 15 2004 Diocesan Council meeting (Central Governing
Body) has been held at St Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in
Damascus.
Under the auspices of the Primate of the Diocese of Damascus Very
Reverend Father Armash Nalbandian the delegates have elected eleven
new Diocesan Council members who, together with the Primate of the
Diocese, would lead and serve the needs of the Armenian Community of
Damascus.
We pray the Almighty God to grant the newly elected Diocesan Council
members good health and many successes in their future undertakings.
* * *
ANNUAL SUMMER BARBEQUE WITH THE BOYAJYAN FAMILY
Saturday August 7, 2004, continued the tradition set by the members of
the Boyajian family who organize a summer barbeque each year in the
backyard of their residence This tradition began in 1992 and has
continued once a yearwhen the Boyajian family graciously opens their
home and hearts to His Grace Bishop, Bagrat Galastanian, Primate of
the Canadian Diocese, Rev. Arch. Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Mr. Hratch Shishmanian, Chairman of
the Parish Council, Deacon Vrej Berberian and the members of the
Ladies Sewing Circle of Holy Trinity Armenian Church. Mrs. Zevart
Boyajian is the Chairperson of Ladies Sewing Circle. Through the years
they work voluntarily sewing and providing the beautiful vestments
worn by Primates and Priests as well as the deacons and choir robes
and the alter coverings for Holy Trinity Armenian Church as well as
churches in Armenia.
The party started in early afternoon and continued until
evening. Those in attendance enjoyed a delicious Armenian barbecue and
good music. The gathering came to a close with a prayer offered by His
Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyanand Rev. Arch. Fr. Zareh Zargarian.
They thanked the Boyajian family on behalf of all present and
expressed their gratitude for their hospitality.
Secretariat of the Diocese
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PUTIN TO VISIT ARMENIA NEXT YEAR
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
20 Aug 04
Sochi, 20 August: Russian President Vladimir Putin is to visit Armenia
next year. “(President) Robert Kocharyan has invited me to Armenia at
the start of next year,” Putin told a joint news conference. “It will
be my pleasure,” he added.
The Russian president said the date of the visit would be coordinated
through Foreign Ministry channels at a later date.

ArmenPress
Aug 18 2004
HAIK STUDENT CROSSROAD HOSTS 200 ARMENIAN YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Student council of Yerevan
Architectural Institute (YAI) holds Haik Student Crossroad, a big
event in Sevan, Hankavan and Meghrazor on August 19-28 with the
participation of more than 200 young Armenians from Armenia and
Diaspora as well as Youth Movement of Armenian Apostolic Church. Some
two dozens of teams will be named after different historic regions of
Armenia.
YAI student council Hayk Akarmazian said that this a
de-politicized action. During the event, discussions will be held on
statehood, religion, student self-government bodies. Pro-government,
opposition and spiritual actors will visit the students. Also sports
and intellectual competitions will be held.
The budget of the project totals 4 mln 600,000 dram, 2 mln 400,000
of which is provided by All Armenain Youth Fund and the rest by YAI
and Arartian Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church.

UEFA.com
Aug 18 2004
Stojkov shoots down Armenia
F.Y.R. Macedonia’s bid for a place in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21
Championship finals got off to a good start with a comfortable 4-0
victory against Armenia.

F.Y.R. Macedonia have made a winning start in Group 1

Took control
The home side had not won a competitive U21 match since June 2001,
but they took control in the early stages of the Group 1 tie and
never looked back after Aco Stojkov had opened the scoring on 27
minutes.
Hat-trick complete
On the half-hour Darko Tasevski set up Stojkov to double the lead and
after Goran Todorcev had struck the third from outside the area on 48
minutes, Stojkov completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with
three minutes remaining. The Macedonians now hold the early lead in a
group where Romania, their next opponents on 3 September, beat
Finland 1-0 yesterday.
Next fixture
Armenia will hope to revive their bid for one of the two play-off
places on offer when they welcome Finland on 8 September, by which
time the Czech Republic and the Netherlands will also have begun
their campaigns in the six-team group.

Baku Today
Aug 17 2004
South Korean Ambassador To Azerbaijan Completes Mission
On Monday, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received Kim Song Kwan,
the South Korean Ambassador to Azerbaijan, on the completion of his
diplomatic mission.
Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan attached particular importance to
the development of multi-faceted cooperation with South Korea.
Underlining the necessity of developing bilateral economic relations,
Mammadyarov stressed that it was necessary to take the territorial
integrity, sovereignty of state and inviolability of borders as a
priority during the discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper Garabagh held within the framework of international
organizations.
The South Korean ambassador, in turn, expressed his gratitude to
Azerbaijan for supporting his country within international
organizations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress