Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Azeri defence chief urges world to recognize Armenia as aggressor
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
10 Jun 04
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev has once again urged the
international community to recognize Armenia as an aggressor.
At today’s meeting with the deputy commander of the US European
Command, Gen Charles Wald, Abiyev said that the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict could not be frozen. The fact that Yerevan is an aggressor
should be confirmed.

Armenian leader, entrepreneurs discuss business problems
Mediamax news agency
8 Jun 04
Yerevan, 8 June: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received about
30 representatives of small and medium-sized businesses in Yerevan
today, the presidential press service has told Mediamax.
Robert Kocharyan said at the meeting that in 2003, the share of
products manufactured by small and medium-sized businesses in
Armenia accounted for 38 per cent. According to the president,
“this is quite a serious indicator which testifies that small and
medium-sized businesses are gradually getting off the ground”.
At the same time, the head of state said that “there are still a lot
of problems and unresolved tasks that I am ready to discuss with you”.
During the meeting, the Armenian president and the businessmen
discussed issues of improving tax and customs legislation and problems
of ensuring equal competition.

ARKA News Agency
June 2 2004
Kazakhstan Ambassador to Armenia hands credential to RA MFA
RA President receives three-times olympic champion, RF State Duma
Deputy Alexander Karelin
RA President receives delegation of CIS TIC Heads’ Council
CBA Chairman to take part in 13th international banking congress in
Saint-Petersburg
CBA Council receives delegation of Asian Development Bank
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KAZAKHSTAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA HANDS CREDENTIAL TO RA MFA
YEREVAN, June 3. /ARKA/. Kazakhstan Ambassador to Armenia Krymbek
Kusherbayev (residence in Moscow) handed credential to RA Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian, RA MFA told ARKA. The parties stressed
absence of political splits between the countries. Besides they
discussed perspectives of deepening of bilateral cooperation,
especially considering dynamic growth of the economies of the two
countries. In accordance to that the parties noted the importance of
direct contacts and information exchange between the businessmen of
Armenia and Kazakhstan. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT RECEIVES THREE-TIMES OLYMPIC CHAMPION, RF STATE DUMA
DEPUTY ALEXANDER KARELIN
YEREVAN, June 3. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian received
three-times Olympic Champion, RF State Duma Deputy Alexander Karelin.
The parties discussed development of sport. Talking about activation
of joint contacts in sport sphere, Kocharian said that Armenia has
favorable conditions for conduction of gatherings, which allow
restoration of previous traditions. The President represented the
policy conducted by the State on development of physical training and
sport and said that he constantly visits sport objects and has good
relations with sportsmen.
Karelin heads delegation of Russian Federation at international
tournament of Graeco-Roman wrestling after Olympic champion Levon
Djulfalakian. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT RECEIVES DELEGATION OF CIS TIC HEADS’ COUNCIL
YEREVAN, June 3. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian received
delegation of CIS Trade Industrial Chambers Heads’ Council. Kocharian
paid attention to the work of the sittings of the Council and
expressed confidence that Yerevan meeting will give new stimuli for
development of cooperation. The President welcomed initiative of
conduction of exhibition and business forum in the frames of TIC
Council. The Chairman of RF TIC Eugenie Primakov in his turn called
the results of the sitting productive. According to him, the parties
discussed wide range of issues considering cooperation of subjects of
small and medium business of CIS countries, exchange of business
information and expanding of cooperation in the sphere of
organization of the exhibitions. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CBA CHAIRMAN TO TAKE PART IN 13TH INTERNATIONAL BANKING CONGRESS IN
SAINT-PETERSBURG
YEREVAN, June 3. /ARKA/. CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsian will take part
in 13th international banking congress “RF Banking System in the
Light of International Trends and Standards” in Saint-Petersburg.
Sargsian will make a speech “Lessons and Perspectives of
Modernization of Banking System”. The congress will discuss
international trends of development of banking business and their
influence on the economy, international standards of administration
of banking system, actual goals of banking activity in the frames of
Bazel-2 and the goals of corporate management of the banks and
internal monitoring. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CBA COUNCIL RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
YEREVAN, June 2. /ARKA/. Council of CBA received delegation of Asian
Development Bank headed by Amarjit Vassan, deputy Secretary as CBA
Press Service told ARKA. According to the press release during the
meeting, the representatives of the Asian Development Bank presented
activity of the company that aims at implementation of loan projects
targeted at poverty reduction and securing sustainable development of
the organization member countries.
In his turn, the Chairman of CBA Tigran Sargsyan presenting CBA
activity, its main tasks and operations as well as the general
situation in the Armenian economy. As mentioned by Vassan, that
unofficial agreement between bank members of Asian Development Bank
around Armenia’s membership in the institution. In his opinion, the
purpose of the visit is clarifying terms of Armenia’s membership.
T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************

EU ready to grant 100 mln euros to close Armenian nuclear plant
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 3, 2004 Thursday
YEREVAN, June 3 — The European Union has reiterated its readiness
to allocate 100 million euros to close the Armenian nuclear power
plant 40 kilometers west of the Armenian capital Yerevan, the press
secretary of the Yerevan office of the European Commission’s delegation
in Georgia and Armenia, Anait Azatyan, told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
The funds will be allotted after the talks on terms of the plant’s
shutdown are completed.
The Armenian nuclear plant was launched in 1979 and shut down in 1989
after a devastating earthquake. In 1996, Russia helped Armenia repair
the second reactor and put the plant on line.
This plant generates 40 percent of all electricity in Armenia. In the
meantime, the EU is pressing for its closing. The Armenian authorities
declared in response the plant’s shutdown would be possible if the
EU proposed alternative electric power sources. One of the options is
to lay a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia. The pipeline construction
is expected to begin this year and be completed in 2006.

* Argentinian ‘Galacticos’
* Nalbandian ends Kuerten’s love affair, Hewitt outwitted
* Argentinians’ day
* Nalbandian beats Kuerten at French Open
* Nalbandian downs Kuerten to reach semis
* Nalbandian, Gaudio Advance to French Open Semifinals (Update3)
***************************************************************************
Argentinian ‘Galacticos’
Agence France Press
June 3 2004
Nalbandian ousts Kuerten, Gaudio knocks out Hewitt to reach semis
PARIS: David Nalbandian and Gaston Gaudio joined compatriot Guillermo
Coria in the semifinals of the French Open yesterday to leave
Britain’s Tim Henman standing alone against the three-pronged
Argentinian assault on the Roland Garros title.
Nalbandian, the eighth seed, shattered Gustavo Kuerten’s dream of
becoming only the second man in history to win four French Open
singles crowns with a commanding 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over
the popular Brazilian.
Unseeded Gaudio reached his first ever Grand Slam sem-final by
outclassing Australian 12th seed Lleyton Hewitt, the former Wimbledon
and US Open winner, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
He will now face Nalbandian on Friday for a place in Sunday’s final,
guaranteeing an Argentinian in the title match-up, while third seeded
Coria, the overwhelming favourite, faces ninth-seed Henman.
Yesterday’s 3hr 07min quarterfinal proved to be just one too many
exertion for the 27-year-old Kuerten, who is still trying to
recapture the sort of form which took him to the 1997, 2001 and 2002
titles here before a hip operation threatened to send his career into
freefall.
But he had his chances squandering four set points in the fourth set
before going down to defeat after a tense tie-break where he had been
just a point away from levelling the tie against the 2002 Wimbledon
runner-up.
The 25-year-old Gaudio had never previously got beyond the last 16 of
any Grand Slam but yesterday he was in devastating form, never
allowing Hewitt to settle on a cold, blustery Philippe Chatrier
court.
“It was my childhood dream to win Roland Garros,” said Gaudio. “I
thought I would be more nervous playing in my first Grand Slam
quarterfinal but that wasn’t the case and it all worked out well.”
Hewitt, who had been bidding to become the first Australian winner
here since Rod Laver in 1969, believes the unheralded Gaudio has a
chance of the title.
“Coria is probably the best player on clay but Gaudio is not far
behind,” said Hewitt.
Coria, the third seed, reached the semifinals on Tuesday with a 7-5,
7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over Spain’s 1998 winner Carlos Moya and will now
face the unpredictable Henman.
Henman became the first British player to reach the last four here
for 41 years and must beat red-hot favourite Coria if he is to become
the first Briton to make the final since 1937.
Henman, the ninth seed, clinched an easy 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win over
Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela in his quarter-final. Mike Sangster,
back in 1963 was the last British man to get to the last four, and
should Henman overcome the formidable hurdle of hot favourite Coria,
he will be the first Briton in the final since Bunny Austin in 1937.
Fred Perry remains the only British man to have won the French Open
in 1935. Until this year, Henman’s best Grand Slam performances had
all come on grass at Wimbledon where he has been a semi-finalist four
times.
Furthermore, outside of Wimbledon, he had never got beyond the round
of 16 in any of the other three Grand Slam events and had never
survived the third round in Paris before.
But the 29-year-old, who started this tournament coming back from two
sets down in the first round against Cyril Saulnier and saved two
match points in his fourth round win over Michael Llodra,
served-and-volleyed his way into the history books in the Paris gloom
on Tuesday.
Coria’s win was his 47th in his last 49 matches on clay and gives him
the chance to go one better than last year at Roland Garros where he
lost his semifinal to Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands. – AFP
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Nalbandian ends Kuerten’s love affair, Hewitt outwitted
Reuters
June 3 2004
PARIS, June 2: Gustavo Kuerten’s love affair with Roland Garros
turned sour on Wednesday as the three-time champion was upended in
the quarterfinals by Argentina’s David Nalbandian.
Kuerten has led a charmed life at the French Open since his unlikely
run to the first of his trio of titles in 1997, but his luck deserted
him on centre court as he fell 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6.
The Brazilian’s samba style was silenced. Instead the centre court
pulsed to the tune of the tango. Nalbandian joins compatriots Gaston
Gaudio and Guillermo Coria in the last four – the first time there
have been three Argentine semifinalists at a Grand Slam tournament.
Briton Tim Henman completes the line-up.
“It’s truly unbelievable,” Nalbandian said. Former world number one
Kuerten had never lost to a fellow South American in a grand slam
tournament but Nalbandian proved too solid from the baseline.
“Everybody knows what it means to me to play in this tournament,”
Kuerten said as he left the court. “I had a tough time today. “Today
he made me run a lot and I really suffered.”
In the day’s other quarterfinal, Lleyton Hewitt found that
unflinching determination and bottomless heart were insufficient as
his claycourt failings were exploited by Gaudio.
The resolve on which the Australian has built his career was of
little use against an Argentine master who ran rings round him on
centre court to reach the semifinals 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
“He was too good,” was Hewitt’s candid analysis. “Today I just lost
to a guy that was too good. “You know, he’s very good at any time,
but especially today he was able to get that ball back extremely
deep, so he didn’t give me a lot of chances to actually attack him
out there today. He’s a class player on this surface.”
For Gaudio, ranked 44th in the world, victory over the former
Wimbledon and US Open champion propelled him into his first Grand
Slam semifinal. “It has always been my dream to win this tournament,”
the 25-year-old said. “But there is a long way to go yet because the
two most difficult matches are yet to come.”
Coria faces Henman in the other semifinal. Coria comfortably saw off
Carlos Moya on Tuesday while Henman became the first British man in
more than 40 years to reach the French Open semifinals.
While Coria is the tournament favourite, Henman is a fast-court
player with four Wimbledon semifinals behind him. He had never
progressed beyond the fourth round of any grand slam tournament
outside of Wimbledon, and had never won more than two matches in any
of his nine previous visits here.
If Tuesday belonged to Henman, Wednesday was Nalbandian’s day. The
22-year-old barely put a foot wrong on a windswept centre court. Try
as Kuerten might, he was unable to repel the sturdy Argentine who
bombarded him with forehand after forehand, punching the ball deeper
and deeper into the corners.
Eventually Kuerten could resist no longer. Having failed to serve out
the fourth set despite holding three set points he allowed himself to
be overhauled in the tie-break to hand the eighth seed victory.
Henman sparkled as Tuesday’s daylight faded with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
victory over Argentine claycourter Juan Ignacio Chela. His victory
was as impressive as it was unexpected, coming as it did on his least
favourite surface.
“I’ll settle for that,” Henman smiled. “I think, again as I’ve been
banging on about for some time, it’s about trying to play the right
way. “I really imposed my game from the start and never let him get
into a rhythm. But why stop here? I feel good about my game and I am
feeling in good shape.
I’m ready to come here on Friday and do it all again.” Coria, the
best clay courter so far this year, will be a huge mountain to climb.
The third seed beat Spanish former champion Carlos Moya 7-5, 7-6,
6-3.
Wednesday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):
MEN’S SINGLES:
QUARTERFINALS: 8-David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat 28-Gustavo Kuerten
(Brazil) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6); Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) beat
12-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Tuesday’s remaining results:
MEN’S SINGLES:
QUARTERFINALS: 9-Tim Henman (Britain) beat 22-Juan Ignacio Chela
(Argentina) 6-2, 6-4, 6-4; 3-Guillermo Coria (Argentina) beat
5-Carlos Moya (Spain) 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. -Reuters
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Argentinians’ day
Associated Press
June 3 2004
(AP)
3 June 2004
PARIS – Gustavo Kuerten’s bid for a fourth French Open title was
ended yesterday by David Nalbandian, who won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6)
to give Argentina three men’s semifinalists.
Kuerten failed to convert four set points in the fourth set,
squandered a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker and sailed a forehand long on
match point.
The No. 8-seeded Nalbandian’s opponent in the semifinals tomorrow
will be unseeded compatriot Gaston Gaudio, who beat No. 12 Lleyton
Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 3 Guillermo Coria of Argentina will play No. 9 Tim Henman of
Britain in the other semifinal.
Spain had three men’s semifinalists at Roland Garros two years ago.
But Argentina has never before advanced more than two men as far as
the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam event.
“This is like a history event – an unbelievable week,” Gaudio said.
“Maybe an Argentinian guy is going to take the final, and it’s going
to be like a dream.”
Paola Suarez of Argentina is in the women’s final four and will face
Elena Dementieva today.
Playing in the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career, the
25-year-old Gaudio rose to the occasion with a nearly flawless
performance.
“I thought I was going to be really nervous,” Gaudio said. “But, in
fact, I was not at all.”
His biggest stumble came in the second game of the final set, when he
slipped and fell chasing a shot and scraped his knee on the clay.
Blood still trickled down his shin after the match, but his strokes
were unaffected.
The baseliner finished with 27 winners and just 19 errors, and he won
20 of 21 points at the net, playing serve-and-volley to close out two
games.
“He was too good,” said Hewitt, who was seeded 12th.
“He’s very confident at the moment, especially on this surface, and
his movements are as good as anyone on this surface.”
***************************************************************************
Nalbandian beats Kuerten at French Open
(Agencies)
China Daily
June 3 2004
Updated: 2004-06-03 09:16
Gustavo Kuerten’s bid for a fourth French Open title ended Wednesday
when David Nalbandian won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) to give Argentina
three men’s semifinalist.
David Nalbandian of Argentina reacts after defeating Gustavo Kuerten
of Brazil in their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis
tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 2,
2004. Nalbandian won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. [AP]
Kuerten failed to convert four set points in the final set,
squandered a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker and sailed a forehand long on
match point.
The No. 8-seeded Nalbandian’s opponent in the semifinals Friday will
be unseeded compatriot Gaston Gaudio, who beat No. 12 Lleyton Hewitt
6-3, 6-2, 6-2. No. 3 Guillermo Coria of Argentina will play No. 9 Tim
Henman of Britain in the other semifinal.
“It’s incredible for Argentina,” Nalbandian said. “For us it’s not
normal. It’s the first time, so it’s something special.”
Spain had three men’s semifinalists at Roland Garros two years ago.
But Argentina has never before advanced more than two men as far as
the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam event.
“This is like a history event — an unbelievable week,” Gaudio said.
“Maybe an Argentinian guy is going to take the final, and it’s going
to be like a dream.”
Gaudio, Nalbandian and Coria all hope to become the first Argentine
to win a major men’s title since Guillermo Vilas won the 1979
Australian Open.
Paola Suarez of Argentina is in the women’s final four and will face
Elena Dementieva on Thursday. The other match will be between 2001
champion Jennifer Capriati, who beat Serena Williams on Tuesday, and
No. 6-seeded Anastasia Myskina, who upset Venus Williams.
Kuerten has been a favorite in Paris since winning the first of his
three Roland Garros titles in 1997, and the Brazilian captivated
French Open fans with this year’s surprising run to the
quarterfinals.
Seeded only 28th and nursing a chronically sore hip, he engaged
Nalbandian in grinding rallies for more than three hours. But Kuerten
was hampered by his hip, requiring treatment from a trainer several
times, and Nalbandian played better on the biggest points.
“He made me run a lot,” Kuerten said. “Today I suffered a lot on the
court. I had a very tough time.”
Kuerten lost his serve three times in the third set, including the
final game. Serving at 4-5, 30-all, he hit a forehand barely long.
The umpire climbed down from his chair to confirm the call in
consultation with a line judge.
On the next point, Kuerten sprinted into the corner to hit a backhand
and slipped and fell. Nalbandian hit a forehand into the open court
to close out the set, and Kuerten limped to his chair, tossing his
racket at it in frustration.
Fans hoping for a Kuerten comeback kept waving Brazilian flags and
singing his nickname: Guga. But he missed repeated chances in the
final set to even the match against Nalbandian.
“By just a little bit it escaped from my hands,” Kuerten said. “He
was able to play pretty well in the right time, and that was probably
the difference.”
Nalbandian erased a set point serving at 3-5, overcame two more in
the next game to break Kuerten, then broke again to reach 6-6.
In the tiebreaker, Kuerten played serve-and-volley — a rare tactic
for him — and put away a shot at the net for a 6-5 lead. But
Nalbandian erased another set point with a forehand winner, and
consecutive errors by Kuerten gave Argentina yet another victory at
Roland Garros.
The crowd gave Nalbandian a warm ovation, then raised the decibel
level when Kuerten took a curtain call.
“The fans were fantastic,” Nalbandian said. “It’s normal that they
rooted for Guga because of what he represents to Paris.”
Playing in the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career, the
25-year-old Gaudio rose to the occasion with a nearly flawless
performance.
“I thought I was going to be really nervous,” Gaudio said. “But, in
fact, I was not at all.”
His biggest stumble came in the second game of the final set, when he
slipped and fell chasing a shot and scraped his knee on the clay.
Blood still trickled down his shin after the match, but his strokes
were unaffected. The baseliner finished with 27 winners and just 19
errors, and he won 20 of 21 points at the net, playing
serve-and-volley to close out two games.
“He was too good,” said Hewitt, who was seeded 12th. “He’s very
confident at the moment, especially on this surface, and his
movements are as good as anyone on this surface.”
Gaudio won 11 consecutive points early in the second set to take
control and needed less than two hours to complete the victory. He
improved his career record in major events to 20-20.
***************************************************************************
Nalbandian downs Kuerten to reach semis
The News, PAkistan
June 3 2004
PARIS: Eighth seed David Nalbandian shattered Gustavo Kuerten’s
dreams of winning a fourth French Open title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4,
7-6 (8/6) win on Wednesday that made him the third Argentine to make
the semi-finals of the men’s singles.
Nalbandian, Wimbledon runner-up in 2002, will now take on countryman
Gaston Gaudio for a place in the final while third seed Guillermo
Coria will face Britain’s Tim Henman.
The 3-hour quarter-final proved to be just one too many exertion for
the 27-year-old Kuerten. But he had his chances in this match
squandering four set points in the fourth set before going down to
defeat after a tense tiebreak where he had been just a point away
from levelling the tie.
Nalbandian and Kuerten exchanged breaks in the first two games of the
opening set but it was Nalbandian who was to dominate breaking serve
on two more occasions to lead 5-2. He took the set after 39 minutes
with an ace, just as he had wrapped up the three sets he won in his
fourth round victory against Russia’s Marat Safin.
But spurred on by passionate support inside his beloved Philippe
Chatrier court, Kuerten soon found his range and his artillery of
whipped backhands, flat forehands and sweetly-timed drop shots was
enough to level the match after 78 minutes. To his credit, Nalbandian
overcame losing his first service game of the third set to take a 4-1
lead.
Back came Kuerten to level at 4-4 before Nalbandian carved out a set
point in the tenth game when the Brazilian hit a fraction long. A
cross-court forehand, which left Kuerten scrambling, gave the
Argentine the edge again as he took the third set after exactly two
hours. Kuerten again broke in the opening game of the fourth set and
held to lead 2-0 as his confident touch around the court returned,
illustrated when he matched an exquisite Nalbandian drop shot with
one even more subtle to win the opening point of the ninth game. But
the Argentine wasn’t able to capitalise on his hard work handing the
break straight back to Kuerten to lead 6-5 before fighting back to
take the set to a tiebreak.
Kuerten struck first with a fierce, cross-court drive, which left
Nalbandian wrong- footed as the Brazilian took a 5-2 lead before his
opponent rallied to 5-5. Nalbandian saved another set point at 5-6
before he went to match point off a Kuerten netted return and
clinched the tie and a place in the last four when Kuerten hit a
return wide.
***************************************************************************
Nalbandian, Gaudio Advance to French Open Semifinals (Update3)
Bloomberg
June 3 2004
June 2 (Bloomberg) — David Nalbandian became the third Argentine to
reach the semifinals of tennis’s French Open with a four-set victory
over three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten.
The 2002 Wimbledon finalist will face unseeded countryman Gaston
Gaudio, who beat Lleyton Hewitt to advance to his first Grand Slam
semifinal.
Nalbandian, Gaudio and Guillermo Coria, who plays Britain’s Tim
Henman in the last four, are vying to become the first Argentine
since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win on the clay courts of Roland
Garros in Paris. Paola Suarez, also of Argentina, is in the women’s
semifinals.
“At this stage of the competition there are no more favorites,”
Nalbandian told France Television. “Anyone can win.”
Nalbandian, who had never been beyond the third round at the second
Grand Slam of the year in two prior visits, reached the quarterfinals
of the Australian Open in January and was a semifinalist at the U.S.
Open in 2003.
After the pair split the opening sets today, the 22-year-old
capitalized on a stumble by his Brazilian opponent at 5-4 to punch a
volley home and take the third set.
Kuerten, seeded 28th, let slip two set points that allowed Nalbandian
to pull level at 5-5 in the fourth set. Nalbandian opened the 11th
game with two double faults and Kuerten converted the second of two
break points to lead 6-5 before he lost his serve to set up a
tiebreak.
Crowd Support
After three hours and six minutes, Nalbandian took the tiebreak 8-6
for a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory. Kuerten, whose preparation was
curtailed by a hip injury, made 68 errors to Nalbandian’s 46.
“The great support from the crowd helped lift me and helped me bear
the pain from my hip, but today I was made to run a lot and I
couldn’t quite make it,” Kuerten, 27, said. “It was still a
fabulous tournament for me.”
Gaudio needed less than two hours to dispose of 12th seed and former
world No. 1 Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The 25-year-old had never advanced
beyond the fourth round at one of the four majors.
Gaudio, who had five-set victories in the first two rounds, is 44th
in the world rankings and won two ATP Tour singles titles in eight
years as a professional. Even though clay is his favorite surface,
his previous best showing in five appearances at Roland Garros was
reaching the fourth round in 2002.
Title Dream
“I thought I’d be really nervous but not at all; everything went
great,” said Gaudio, seeking to become the first unseeded winner
since Kuerten in 1997. “To win the French Open is a childhood dream.
Now I have to believe I can do it.”
Gaudio has now beaten Hewitt, the 2001 U.S. Open winner and 2002
Wimbledon champion, in three of five encounters. Hewitt made 43
unforced errors, while Gaudio made 19.
“He was just too good,” Hewitt said. “Coria is probably the best
on clay right now, but Gaudio’s not far behind.”
While Nalbandian’s match with Gaudio will see a face-off between
baseline players, Friday’s semifinal between ninth seed Henman and
No. 5 Coria pits a serve-volleyer against a clay-court specialist.
Henman, 29, may be the first Briton to reach the French final since
Bunny Austin in 1937 and the first to lift the title since Fred Perry
in 1935. Yannick Noah, in 1983, was the last serve-volley player to
win the French Open.
Coria, 22, reached the semifinals last year and lost one of his last
37 matches on clay. Coria is rated a 1/6 bet to reach the final at
U.K. bookmaker William Hill, with Henman a 7/2 shot. Henman was 100-1
at the start of the competition.
“He is the player to beat in this tournament, the player to beat on
clay,” Henman said. “I am just excited to have the opportunity.”
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ARMENIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA WESTERN DIOCESE
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COMMUNIQUE
PRIMATE ATTENDS INSTALLATION OF
GREG KRIKORIAN AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
GLENDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD
On May 25, 2004, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of
the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, attended
the installation ceremony of Mr. Greg Krikorian as the first Armenian
President of the Glendale Unified School District Board. The ceremony
took place at the Glendale Unified School District Headquarters
in Glendale.
During the ceremony His Eminence congratulated Mr. Krikorian on
his new assignments and commended him for his role in bringing
about awareness for Armenian issues. Recently, the Glendale Unified
School District Board acknowledged January 6th as the Epiphany. The
Primate said, “It is certainly an immense joy to witness a son of
the Armenian Apostolic Church and the nation to be elevated to such
a prestigious and responsible position. Therefore we extend our most
sincere appreciation and best wishes to our newly elected president
of the Glendale Unified School District Board. May the good Lord lead
your steps toward the well being of the students.”
DIVAN OF THE DIOCESE
May 25, 2004
Burbank, California

Armenian foreign minister, speaker receive Estonian MPs
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 May 04
[Presenter over video of meeting] Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan discussed Armenian-Estonian cooperation issues with a
delegation of the Estonian parliament, led by Chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson.
Vardan Oskanyan noted that Estonia’s admission to the European Union
(EU) is creating new opportunities to develop the Armenian-Estonian
relations. The sides can give a new impetus to the economic relations
using the Armenian-EU agreement on cooperation. In this context, the
sides attached great importance to Armenia’s and the South Caucasus
countries’ participation in the “Enlarged Europe, the new neighbours”
programme.
The Estonian parliamentarians also met their Armenian
colleagues. Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Artur Bagdasaryan
received them. He noted that it is expected that the Caucasus agreement
pact will be signed with the support of the political forces of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg,
which should be a good basis for the peaceful settlement of the
regional conflicts and the development of political and economic
relations.

USA not supporting investment, trade in Karabakh, envoy in Azerbaijan says
Lider TV, Baku
26 May 04
[Presenter] US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish has commented
on opinions about the joint work of US companies [with Armenians]
in Nagornyy Karabakh today.
[Harnish, speaking to microphone in English, with Azeri voice-over]
The US does not support investment or trade in Nagornyy Karabakh. The
only real answer for the Nagornyy Karabakh [problem] is a just lasting
and negotiated solution.

Azeri ruling party happy about BBC’s response to criticism
Sarq, Bak
25 May 04
Text of Lala’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Sarq on 25 May headlined
“The BBC has stopped the campaign against Azerbaijan” and subheaded
“The New Azerbaijan Party will monitor the programmes”
After the ruling New Azerbaijan Party’s secretariat sent a letter to
the headquarters of the BBC World Service, anti-Azerbaijani programmes
stopped. The ruling party will continue to monitor the BBC’s radio
programmes, the party’s deputy executive secretary, Mubariz Qurbanli,
has said.
The party’s secretariat sent a letter to the headquarters several
days ago to protest against the BBC Russian Service’s anti-Azerbaijani
propaganda. Responding to the party’s statement, the BBC has stopped
its anti-Azerbaijani propaganda, Qurbanli said.
“Although the BBC is a very powerful international media corporation,
its Russian language radio programmes, regrettably, contained some
aspects aimed against the Azerbaijani statehood. The reason for this is
that ethnic Armenians work for the Russian Service. They are directly
to blame for these programmes,” he said.
Qurbanli reckons that any body or organization operating in Azerbaijan
should voice its protest against the radio station, as the New
Azerbaijan Party did. “We believe that the party’s statement did
have an effect. The BBC looked into the issue. They told us that
appropriate measures were to be taken. However, in addition to this
we will continue our monitoring. We will issue a similar statement
again should the situation be repeated. At present, monitoring shows
that the radio station is operating within the legal limits.”

Roots of Anti-Semitism Misunderstood
by: Adam Sabet
New University, (UC Irvine) CA
May 24 2004
Throughout the history of Western journalism – as with most other
journalism – there has been a substantial outpour of falsified
information, none more consistent than the misuse of the term
“anti-Semitism.” Since the rise and fall of the Third Reich, people of
Jewish descent (and later Israelis) have used the term to exclusively
depict people who look down upon the Jewish peoples and would rather
have them exterminated.
Had any of the numerous journalists or Israelis who have used this term
paused to study the meaning of “Semitism,” they would be surprised
to learn that a Semite is a member of a group of Semitic-speaking
people of the near-East and Northern Africa. Jewish people are but
one of many of the Semitic peoples, including the Arabs, Arameans
(lingual ancestors of Arabs and Armenian), Babylonians, Carthaginians
(biological ancestors of present-day Moroccans and Algerians),
Ethiopians, Hebrews and Phoenicians (present-day Lebanese). As such,
there are only four remaining Semitic subgroups: Hebrew/Jewish, Arab,
Ethiopian and Armenian. Through this purely lingual definition –
the only one that is academically legitimate – Arabs cannot be labeled
as anti-Semitic. Thus, for any Westerner (or Israeli for that matter)
to refer to Yasser Arafat or any other Arab leader as an anti-Semite is
by definition impossible and an improper use of the English language,
lest that Arab seeks self-destruction as well.
In terms of ethno-racial labeling, a Semite would be defined by a
person’s geo-biological heritage–they must be able to trace their
lineage to the Middle East. Using such a definition, a Jewish convert
of European descent could not accurately be identified as Semitic.
Also, Israelis with fair skin, blue eyes and blond hair cannot be
accurately viewed as more Semitic than their olive-skinned, brown-eyed
counterparts (regardless of religious following). Such a claim would
be similar to a seemingly white person claiming to be black based on
perpetual indoctrination of such a belief or some ancient hereditary
claim.
For too long has this term been improperly used and perhaps ingeniously
so. Though this may seem a moot point, the exclusive use of the term
Semite to refer to those of Jewish descent or Israeli nationality
does have great philological value. By claiming Jews or Israelis to
be the remaining Semites of the world evokes greater sympathy from
an otherwise indifferent ear.
Thus this error in definition has allowed the media to portray
anti-Semitism to be on the rise in Europe, invoking the memories of
the fascist days of the World War era. The so-called “anti-Semitic”
sentiment of the European nations is thus labeled by their condemnation
of Israeli incursions, and the rise of such sentiments among their
publics in light of the Palestinian (another Semitic people) plight and
perpetual state of vulnerability. During the World War era, however,
true anti-Semitism was on the rise as Europeans commonly upheld the
belief that Semites (along with all other minorities) were inferior
to those of self-proclaimed “pure Aryan” descent.
Had the commonly used definition of Semitism been accurate, then
countless Western journalists and Israelis would still be using the
term out of context in regards to public European admonition of Israel
and any Arab leaders, including Yasser Arafat. Though some Arabs may
wish to see the absolute removal of Israel from once-Palestinian lands,
most accept Israel’s right to exist and have not hatred for all Jews,
but rather for the occupying and brutally oppressive nature of Israel
towards Palestinians. Anti-Israeli sentiment, in this regard, is often
haphazardly confused with anti-Semitism. However, just as during the
Cold War the United States was anti-communist and not anti-Slavic,
most Arabs who have been wrongfully accused of anti-Semitism are in
reality merely anti-Israeli; that is, their enemy is the country’s
policies and not its people nor followers of the Jewish faith.
The difference between hatred for all Jews and a hatred of Israel
must be clarified as the lack of differentiating the two results in
demonizing those who are against Israel as being no better than Hitler.
As with all long-hidden truths, this one must be revealed somewhere.
For too long have the other Semitic peoples sat idly while they were
slowly being excluded from their ethno-lingual heritage. I find such
an exclusion not only ignorant, but insulting as well; as a modern
Egyptian-American, to deny my Semitic roots is worse than denying my
Pharaonic ones, as I am culturally entrenched in Semitism and not
the ways of the ancients. For all the Armenian, Arab and Ethiopian
readers out there: Whenever you hear the misuse of the term that is
used to define your peoples, please correct the speaker.
Adam Sabet is a third-year political science major.