Author: Emil Lazarian

Le Figaro
03 août 2004
Promotion de deux danseurs;
DANSE Mathilde Froustey et Josua Hoffalt couronnés
René SIRVIN
Deux jeunes coryphées du corps de ballet de l’Opéra de Paris ont
triomphé jeudi soir au concours international de Varna (Bulgarie),
l’un des plus importants du monde. Mathilde Froustey, 19 ans, la plus
jeune des 126 concurrents, a remporté la médaille d’or catégorie
senior, et son partenaire Josua Hoffalt, 20 ans, la médaille d’argent
(la médaille d’or a été décernée au jeune Arménien Arman Grigoryan,
19 ans).
Bien que se produisant ensemble dans des pas de deux, Mathilde et
Josua concouraient séparément. Après avoir passé les premières
épreuves dans le « Grand Pas classique d’Auber », le deuxième acte de
« Giselle », et « Yondering » de Neumeier, ils l’ont remporté grce à
« Delibes Suite », une chorégraphie du danseur étoile José Martinez
et « Le Rire de la lyre » de José Montalvo.
Le jury, qui comprenait la première danseuse de l’Opéra Karin Averty
(grand prix junior du concours de Varna 1980), était présidé par
Youri Grigorovitch, ancien directeur du Ballet du Bolchoï.
Née le 8 juin 1985 à Bordeaux, Mathilde Froustey était aussi douée
pour le tennis, l’équitation, le violon et la danse. C’est sa mère
qui décida de lui faire prendre ses premières leçons de danse à neuf
ans. A douze ans, refusée à l’Ecole de l’Opéra de Paris, elle entre à
celle de Marseille que dirige Pietragalla, et un an plus tard se
présente de nouveau à Paris où elle entre en troisième division. Au
spectacle 2002 de l’Ecole, Claude Bessy la choisit pour danser le
rôle titre de « La Fille mal gardée » et Mathilde est engagée à 17
ans dans le corps de ballet de l’Opéra. Le 23 décembre dernier, elle
était promue coryphée au concours de fin d’année, après ses
brillantes interprétations de « Giselle » et de « Paquita ».
Mathilde a eu la chance d’être remarquée par Youri Grigorovitch, venu
remonter son ballet « Ivan le Terrible » à l’Opéra Bastille. Avec
Brigitte Lefèvre, il décida de confier pour une représentation (le 6
janvier 2004) les trois rôles vedettes à trois jeunes artistes, dont
Mathilde. Son charme, son jeu spontané, son aisance en scène et sa
confiance en ses partenaires en firent immédiatement un des grands
espoirs de l’Opéra, plébiscitée par le public. Le 30 mars, au gala
d’adieu de Claude Bessy au Palais Garnier, elle a dansé le pas de
deux de « La Fille mal gardée » avec Josua Hoffalt et en mai dernier
à l’Opéra Bastille elle était le délicieux Cupidon du « Don Quichotte
» de Noureev.
Josua Hoffalt, né au Pertuis le 19 mai 1984, a commencé la danse à
huit ans. A dix il travaillait à Marseille sous la direction de
Colette Armand et en 1998 était admis à l’Ecole de danse de l’Opéra
de Paris. Lui aussi était choisi par Claude Bessy pour danser « La
Fille mal gardée » à l’Ecole en 2002 et engagé en septembre dans le
corps de Ballet de l’Opéra. Grand et beau prince d’un mètre
quatre-vingts, il a été promu coryphée au concours de fin d’année
2003. Il a également participé aux soirées Jeunes Danseurs en mai
2003 où on a admiré la perfection de son style classique.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA NOT TO DEPLOY FOREIGN BASES ON ITS TERRITORY – ENVOY
Interfax news agency
3 Aug 04
Moscow, 3 August: The Armenian ambassador to Russia, Armen Smbatyan,
has confirmed that his country has no plans to allow the establishment
of foreign military bases on its territory.
“The possibility of deploying third countries’ bases in Armenia is out
of the question. There is simply no such issue on Armenia’s foreign
policy agenda,” Smbatyan told Interfax on Tuesday (3 August).
Commenting on observers’ opinions on the rivalry between Russia and
the United States in former Soviet republics, including the Caucasus,
the ambassador said that these allegations lack any sound grounds.
“In my opinion, remarks about a collision of the interests of Russia,
the United States and Europe on the former Soviet territory are
exaggerated. Caucasian countries are primarily guided by their own
interests while developing their policy,” the diplomat said.
Yerevan’s foreign policy is driven by “Armenia’s current interests” as
well, he said.
Commenting on the situation in the CIS, Smbatyan suggested that
integration processes within this organization have been proceeding
slowly, particularly in the economic sphere. “A revision of values
needs to take place. It is necessary to take a new approach to
building relations between the CIS countries, as well as to accelerate
the development of economic relations,” he said.
Smbatyan said he shares Russia’s opinion that “it is necessary to
centre efforts on raising the level of relations between the CIS
nations”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mother Jones, CA
Aug 3 2004
Christians Leaving Iraq
The religious leaders of Iraq’s small Christian community have
long-downplayed the fact that many Iraqi-Christians are leaving Iraq.
But Sunday’s coordinated attacks in Baghdad and Mosul on five
churches — which, unlike mosques, have not previously been targeted
— will no doubt strengthen the resolve of Iraqi-Christians thinking
of leaving Iraq and convince others of the necessity of doing so.
Iraq’s Christians — Chaldean Catholics; Assyrians; Roman and Syriac
Catholics; Greek, Syriac and Armenian Orthodox; Angicans and others
— make up 3 percent of the population, and are concentrated in the
cities. Of course, the lack of security has been a problem for all
Iraqis, whatever their religion, but the country’s Christians feel
particularly vulnerable to attack. For one, many within the
insurgency view the American-led coalition as a Christian crusade and
Iraq’s Christian community as its supporters and collaborators. Shops
selling alcohol, many of them owned by Christians, have been
attacked, their merchandise destroyed, and their owners beaten and
even murdered. As the BBC reported last month, the Iraqi police
blamed the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army for the
attacks: “His men are no longer fighting American and interim Iraqi
government troops, and some suspect they are now channelling their
energies into a moral battle instead.”
Iraq’s national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie held Egyptian
militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi responsible for Sunday’s attacks on the
churches, which occurred during mass, killing 11 people and injuring
47: “Zarqawi and his extremists are basically trying to drive a wedge
between Muslims and Christians in Iraq. It’s clear they want to drive
Christians out of the country.” But as the Christian Science Monitor
reported last month:
“Not all Christians are killed by Islamic militants. Issaq [director
of international relations for the Assyrian Democratic Movement] has
compiled a list of 102 Christians killed since April 9, 2003. Some
were killed for selling alcohol; others for working with Americans as
translators or laundresses. (About 10 percent were killed by
coalition troops, casualties of postwar violence.) Many were
kidnapped and killed for money, a fate that befalls Muslims, too.
But sometimes it’s hard to separate kidnappings from religious
murders. Among Iraqis, there’s a widespread belief that Christians
are wealthy. This stereotype, too, can kill.”
Iraq’s Christians had their churches destroyed and themselves
forcibly relocated under Saddam Hussein, but they didn’t experience
the sort of persecution that the majority Shia, not to say the Kurds,
have been subjected to. Considered less politically threatening by
the Baath Party than Islamic minorities and the Shia majority,
Christians were granted a greater degree of religious freedom in
return for their political obedience. Relations between Muslims and
Christians have generally been placid.
Today, Iraqi Christians are upset about what they say is inadequate
representation in the current government (a claim echoed by every
group) and they fear the creation of an Islamist state. Some
Christian leaders say that a separate Christian province is necessary
to protect the country’s minority. Aside from the obvious failure of
coalition troops to provide security, the United States is blamed by
some Christians for promoting Islamic rule in Iraq, where Christians
date their presence to the first century. As one Assyrian-Iraqi told
UPI in early June:
“The American-funded TV station, Al Iraqia, broadcasts Muslim
programs four times every day and for two hours each Friday but
nothing for the other religions. The recent inauguration of the new
government was opened by a Muslim mullah reciting a long passage and
a prayer from the Koran, but none of our priests were invited. Why do
they do this? Why do the Americans promote Muslims? They need to
promote equality and democracy and freedom, not Muslim dictatorship.”
Among the Iraqi-Christians who have emigrated, some have settled in
neighboring countries like Syria, while others have received asylum
in Australia, North America, and Europe. Australia’s Iraqi-born
population, which includes the various Christian dominations as well
as Kurds and Jews, has grown dramatically since Gulf War. In 1991,
there were 5,186 Iraqi-born persons in Australia, but in 2001, the
last year for which census figures are available there were 24,819.
Among Iraqi-Armenians, who make up one of the smaller Christian
communities, some have emigrated to the Republic of Armenia.
The number of Christians seeking to emigrate is unknown, but the
estimated 800,000 that live in Iraq today represent a marked decline
from the 1987 census that registered 1.4 million Iraqi-Christians.
Shmael Benjamin a member of the political bureau of the Assyrian
Democratic Movement told Reuters: “We’re the Red Indians of Iraq. We
were the majority, today we’re the minority, our percentage is
reducing day by day in this country.” Perhaps, as Slate puts it,
“with Iraq’s Shiites and Kurds having earlier been targeted by
bombings, it was probably only a matter of time before the country’s
Christians would get their turn.” But given the previous attacks on
Christians, the continuing lack of security for everyone, and fears
of a future Islamist state, Iraqi’s Christians are more likely to
draw the conclusion that it is time to pack their bags.
— Nonna Gorilovskaya

20% OF EXPECTED HARVEST OF VEGETABLES ALREADY GATHERED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, August 3 (Noyan Tapan). About 106.2 thousand tons of
vegetables, or 20% of expected harvest, have already been gathered in
Armenia as of July 30, which is more by 7,000 tons in comparison with
the index of the same period of last year. According to the operative
data, the main volumes of harvest were gathered in the Armavir region
(55,000 tons) and the Ararat region (42,000 tons). According to the
Plant Growing Department of the RA Ministry of Agriculture, it is
expected that 553,150 thousand tons of vegetables will be harvested
this year, which is less by 16,000 tons than the same index of last
year.
11,000 tons of vegetable crops, or 10% of the expected harvest, were
gathered as of the same day. It was mentioned that 5,350 thousand tons
of fruits, which is less by 3.5 thousand tons than the index of the
same period of last year, have already been harvested. It is expected
that a total of 131.3 thousand tons of fruits will be harvested this
year, which is more by 30,000 tons than the index of 2003.

ArmenPress
Aug 3 2004
PUPPET SHOWS FOR ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN AND AZERI CHILDREN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS: Save the Children is implementing
Children Tolerance Programs in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In
all three countries half hour 36 puppet shows will be developed. In
Armenia they will be aired on H2. The scenarios will be translated in
all three languages and puppets will be in national clothes.
According to Armenian office head Irina Saghoian, the shows are
not involved with politics and have educational nature teaching to be
honest, forgiving, also teaches how to involve in negotiations and
effectively communication with people of different culture. The
program will continue for one year.
Save the Children has representation in 40 countries of the world.
The Armenian office opened in 1993. By now a total of 420 project
have been implemented covering 40 percent of the republic’s
territory.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agassi, Moya win; Schuettler, Pavel eliminated in Cincinnati
.c The Associated Press
CINCINNATI (AP) – Former two-time champion Andre Agassi advanced to
the second round of the Cincinnati Masters when Mardy Fish retired in
the third set with a back injury on Monday.
Agassi, the last back-to-back winner in 1995-96, was leading 4-6, 7-6
(3), 4-1 when Fish quit.
Agassi isn’t sure whether this will be his final year on the tour and
is hoping to be back in form in time for the U.S. Open. Seeded 11th,
he has recovered from a sore hip that bothered him this summer.
His goal in Cincinnati is to build up confidence.
“I need all these matches now to do that,” Agassi said. “I’ve got
to string a few together now. So it would be really nice to see my
game elevate as the tournament progresses.”
In other matches, 2002 champion Carlos Moya, French Open winner Gaston
Gaudio and 14th-seeded Marat Safin also progressed, but No. 8 Rainer
Schuettler, No. 16 Andrei Pavel and 2000 champion Thomas Enqvist were
eliminated.
Fish was the beaten finalist last year to Andy Roddick, and had won
his only previous match against Agassi in the San Jose semifinals in
February.
He broke 10th-seeded Agassi in the ninth game and completed the first
set on his fourth ace. In the second-set tiebreak, Agassi broke for
2-1 and the 7-3 clincher. But at 1-1 in the third, Agassi won three
straight games before Fish’s injury worsened.
Carlos Moya, who beat No. 1-seeded Lleyton Hewitt in the 2002 final,
overcame British qualifier Arvind Parmar 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 by winning the
final four games of the match, and No. 9-seeded Gaudio dispatched
U.S. wild card Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 6-2.
Safin crushed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-0 for his first
tour win in two months since the French Open. Safin had lost his last
three first-round matches, including at Wimbledon.
Tommy Haas broke in the last game to beat German countryman Schuettler
6-3, 1-6, 6-4 for the first time in five career meetings.
“I finally got a win,” Haas said. “It certainly wasn’t a pretty
match. In the end, it came down to a couple of points here and
there.”
Schuettler, also ranked No. 8, lost his sixth consecutive match on
hard courts since February.
Haas next faces Sargis Sargsian of Armenia, who beat Swiss qualifier
Michel Kratochvil 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Wayne Arthurs of Australia, a late replacement in the draw for David
Sanchez of Spain, upset 16th-seeded Pavel of Romania 7-6 (5), 6-3. The
first-round loss was Pavel’s fourth in five appearances in the
tournament.
Sweden’s Enqvist was ousted by Britain’s Greg Rusedski 3-6, 6-3 6-2.
Rusedski had to qualify, and he’ll play Gaudio next.
Argentines Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian, set to be seeded
Nos. 3 and 6, withdrew with respective shoulder and elbow injuries.
08/02/04 18:44 EDT
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“KARABAKH” FILM OF GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZIAN DOCUMENTALISTS SHOWN IN
ARTSAKH
STEPANAKERT, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). Lately the “Karabakh” 60-minute
documental film of Georgian and Abkhazian cinematographic workers has
been shown in Shushi and Stepanakert. The film, the main heroes of
which are refugees, represents the consequences of the Karabakh
conflict for both sides. At the discussion of the film Mamuka
Kubaradze, the Georgian co-author of the film, mentioned that they
wanted to show the fates of people, which are very much alike, and to
help the sides in making right conclusions. According to Svetlana
Gorsaya, an Abkhazian cinematographic worker, the authors of the film
restrained themselves from proposing any concrete solutions of
settlement of the conflict, their main goal was to etablish peace by
means of acquaintance and mutual understanding of the sides.

zawya
Bahrain mulling gas deal with Iran, Qatar: report
02 August 2004
Tehran — Bahrain plans to sign agreements with Iran and Qatar next year for
the purchase of gas, a Bahraini press report said, citing a finance ministry
official.
The projects involve pipe laying under the Persian Gulf, which is expected
to finish by 2009, Bahrain Tribune said on its website, quoting
Undersecretary for Finance and National Economy, Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa
al-Khalifa.
It put the cost of the projects at one billion Bahraini dinars. Shaikh
Ibrahim said talks with Iran and Qatar were `progressing smoothly and would
be completed by the year-end`, Bahrain Tribune said.
It said, “Iran has affirmed its keenness to take part in the joint
investment project and provide investment options.”
The Itar-Tass news agency said last month that Iran had begun building a
140-km-long gas pipeline to Armenia. It said the two countries had signed an
agreement on the project worth around 120 million US dollars in May, when
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh visited Yerevan.
Under its provisions, Iran will be supplying 36 billion cubic meters of
natural gas to Armenia annually from 2007 through 2027. Itar-Tass, citing
OPEC sources in Vienna, said that the pipeline might be used to ship Iranian
gas to Georgia, Ukraine and farther on to Europe in the future.
Tehran has already a multi-billion-dollar contract with neighboring Turkey
to supply gas for 25 years. The gas flow was launched in December 2001 via a
2,577-kilometer pipeline, running from the northeastern city of Tabriz to
Ankara, which supplies gas from southern Iran near the Persian Gulf.
The contract has been a boon to Iran`s bid to become a sustainable gas
supplier to Turkey and Europe.
Looking for alternative markets, Tehran has held talks with the Persian Gulf
littoral states and the Central Asian nations for the sale of gas.
The country sits on the second largest proven gas reserves of the world
after Russia, which has been a headache for Iran by getting into, what is
feared to be, an unnecessary and costly competition.
© IRNA 2004
Article originally published by IRNA 02-Aug-04
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
[email protected]

July 30, 2004
BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA CELEBRATES ITS INAUGURAL YEAR
Yerevan, Armenia – Armenian youth from a cross section of our diasporan
institutions came together, joined by the newly repatriated diasporan youth
and their Homeland peers, to celebrate the launch of a new and truly
forward thinking organization, Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk. The inaugural
festivities, under the name ” Gateway 2004″, symbolizing the organizations’
promotion of an ever-widening bridge between the Diaspora and the Homeland,
was held on July 16th in Yerevan with lively dancing, food and drink.
“Gateway 2004” marks this non-profit’s first year of operations in Armenia.
It also served as a means to highlight the diversity of the first group of
young participants which Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk sponsored from seven
different summer volunteer, cultural, and study programs serving our
diasporan youth. It was an unprecedented evening of unification and
networking in one, under the main “Journey of Self-Discovery” theme. The 40
Depi Hayk participants of 2004 and other diasporan attendees represented the
following organizations: Armenian Volunteer Corps, Armenian Students’
Association-NY, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Youth Federation,
Land and Culture Organization, Armenian Medical Association and the Armenian
Church Youth Organization of America, the University of Michigan Summer
Language Institute and the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia .
Welcoming the 160 plus attendees, Birthright Armenia founder Edele Hovnanian
commented that “It is refreshing to see a truly integrated group of youth
gathered together under one roof, all of whom understand the importance of
our presence here in the Homeland at this particular time in the history of
our building a nation-state”. She then introduced Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian to continue the welcome and opening remarks. Addressing the group,
Minister Oskanian stated:
“The first time I heard about the Depi Hayk program, I immediately jumped on
the idea, committing the Foreign Ministry to help this new organization in
any way necessary. This is the first step in really increasing the number
of diasporan youth who can experience the Homeland, and I am confident that
it will continue to grow and expand beyond North America to include young
people and groups from all over the world. This will enable young adults to
see Armenia, in all its beauty, to see its progress, to understand the good
and the bad, to take in everything that Armenia is at this moment.
The message I want to leave you with today is the following: please don’t
take what you see in Armenia today for granted. It took us a great deal to
build this and to keep this. We’ve come a long way since the early days of
independence. A long, long way. Our main source of pride should be this
Armenia. Believe in Armenia. Be committed to it. When you get back home,
stay involved, join efforts with others, influence your governments, and
become more engaged. Yes, there are many differences between the Diaspora
and the Homeland, as a result of many things like history and geography. The
result is different upbringing and different thought processes. We can
certainly bridge these gaps, and one of the best ways to do so is through
the younger generations. One of the most effective ways to do so is through
interaction among youth here on Armenian soil, so we can reach our goal and
say we are one nation, comprised of two entities, the Diaspora and the
Homeland. The two together through joint efforts will make Armenia the
place we will all be proud of.”
The Gateway 2004 celebration took place at the spacious art showroom of the
Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art – graciously offered to
Birthright Armenia by co-Founder Edward Balassanian. Live international
music was provided by Arsen Nercessian, a local musician with a
Latino/Calypso touch.
It is foreseen that “Gateway” celebrations will be an annual affair, to
capture the energy and spirit of Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk efforts at the
peak of the summer programs, and to continually serve as a networking and
relationship building event for Armenian youth worldwide.
Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the Homeland and
diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of Armenia’s
daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through work, study
and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense of Armenian
identity. This is accomplished by supporting and complementing the
initiatives of existing diasporan organizations that offer youth programs in
Armenia, and encouraging them to expand their offerings in depth and breath.
Birthright Armenia assists with travel fellowships, language instruction,
in-country seminars, orientation and excursions in exchange for community
service in Armenia. Please visit our Web site at
for more information.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
July 31 2004
PRESIDENT’S PRESS OFFICE REFUTES HEARSAY ON TRANSPOSITIONS IN
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AND RESIGNATION OF MAYOR OF YEREVAN
BAKU AUTHORITIES DID NOT SANCTION RALLY AGAINST ARMENIAN OFFICERS’
ARRIVAL IN AZERBAIJAN
HEARINGS ON COMPENSATION PAYMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS BEGAN
IN CALIFORNIA
*********************************************************************
PRESIDENT’S PRESS OFFICE REFUTES HEARSAY ON TRANSPOSITIONS IN
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AND RESIGNATION OF MAYOR OF YEREVAN
31.07.2004 13:54
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President’s press office refuted the
reports of the local media about the forthcoming transpositions in
the Armenian government and the resignation of the Mayor of Yerevan.
As President’s Press Secretary Ashot Kocharian told Armenpress
agency, such rumors do not correspond to reality.
*********************************************************************
BAKU AUTHORITIES DID NOT SANCTION RALLY AGAINST ARMENIAN OFFICERS’
ARRIVAL IN AZERBAIJAN
31.07.2004 13:53
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Baku City Administration refused to give sanction
to the protest actions of the United Front Party of Azerbaijan (UFPA)
against the arrival of the Armenian servicemen for the participation
in NATO exercise this September. To remind, UFPA activists intended
to picket the Embassies of NATO member-states in early August. The
press release of the party states the City Administration’s deed as
“gross infraction” of the law on Freedom of Meetings. According to
Echo Baku newspaper, the final decision on the planned rally is to be
taken by UFPA leadership on August 2.
*********************************************************************
HEARINGS ON COMPENSATION PAYMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS BEGAN
IN CALIFORNIA
31.07.2004 13:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The final hearings of the case “victims of the
Armenian Genocide against New York Life Insurance Company” began in
the Californian Court on July 30. The Court is expected to decree on
the payment of $20 million to the heirs of thousands of Armenians,
who insured their lives in American Insurance Companies and then fell
victims of the Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. To remind, the company
officially recognized the validity of about 2300 insurance policies.
According to the lawyers, Liberty reports, the moral factor in this
case is more important that the material one, since the fact of the
Genocide is for the first time to be recognized in legal form.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress