Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 20 2004
Putin reiterates Russia readiness to mediate in Karabakh conflict

SOCHI, August 20 (Itar-Tass) – President Vladimir Putin reiterated
Russia’s readiness to act as a mediator and guarantor in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
“We have discussed the Karabakh problem; the discussions focused on
the search for additional opportunities to maintain dialogue and
resolve the problem,” Putin said after his talks with Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan.
“No breakthrough decisions have been made, but it’s important to note
the parties’ wish to look for a compromise,” Putin said, “it seemed
to me that both the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents have such a
mood.”
Russia, as in other cases, is ready to act only in one capacity –
that of a mediator and guarantor, if its efforts are needed and the
parties to negotiations wish it, according to the head of the Russian
state.
Speaking about the situation in southern Caucasus in general, Putin
noted that “we have inherited many conflicts.”
“Hopefully, the understanding of the necessity to establish relations
between people living in the region will prevail over ambitions, and
in the course of the search for a compromise we’ll be resolving these
conflicts,” the Russian president said.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 20, 2004, Friday
VLADIMIR FEDOROV REPLACED THE HEAD OF THE BORDER GUARDS OF THE URALS
MILITARY DISTRICT MIKHAIL OGANESYAN
The Major-General Vladimir Fedorov was appointed the head of the
regional border administration of FSB of the Urals Federal district.
The appropriate decree was signed by President Vladimir Putin. The
former head of the Urals border guards Mikhail Oganesyan left for
Armenia. Journalists do not know the reasons for this yet. “He left
for the other country and does not work in the FSB now” – announced
the press service of the administration. The new head of the border
administration Vladimir Fedorov started his service in 1969 as a
soldier. He commanded border troops in the Caucasus, in the Pacific
Ocean and in Siberia. (…)
Source: UralPolit.Ru, August 18, 2004

Russian minister pledges help in Karabakh settlement
ITAR-TASS news agency
18 Aug 04
Moscow, 18 August, ITAR-TASS correspondents Natalya Lenskaya and Irina
Chumakova: Russia supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today following talks with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The Russian minister said
that Moscow “is ready to do its utmost to help settle the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict both as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and also
as a nation”.
“Moscow is interested in finding a settlement to the conflict on the
basis of all the existing agreements. But only the sides themselves
can resolve the conflict and they can do so only through
negotiations,” the Russian minister said. “We cannot make a decision
for the sides, if they cannot come to an agreement themselves,” Lavrov
noted.
He expressed satisfaction with the resumption of talks late last year.
“We believe that the negotiations will be continued because what the
Minsk Group has done so far does not cover all the accumulated
problems,” the minister noted.

Olympic Shooting Results
.c The Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Results Tuesday from the Olympic shooting
competition:
Men
50m Pistol
Qualification
1. Jin Jong-oh, South Korea, 567 (Q).
2. Mikhail Nestruev, Russia, 565 (Q).
3. Kim Jong Su, North Korea, 564 (Q).
4. Norayr Bakhtamyan, Armenia, 564 (Q).
5. Isidro Lorenzo, Spain, 562 (Q).
6. Tanyu Kiriakov, Bulgaria, 562 (Q).
7. Vladimir Issachenko, Kazakhstan, 561 (Q).
8. Boris Kokorev, Russia, 560 (Q).
9. Martin Tenk, Czech Republic, 559.
10. Victor Makarov, Ukraine, 558.
10. Tan Zongliang, China, 558.
12. Francesco Bruno, Italy, 556.
12. Joao Costa, Portugal, 556.
12. Vigilio Fait, Italy, 556.
15. Igor Basinski, Belarus, 554.
15. Alexander Danilov, Israel, 554.
15. Daryl Szarenski, United States, 554.
18. Sorin Babii, Romania, 553.
18. Kim Hyon Ung, North Korea, 553.
18. Frank Seeger, Germany, 553.
18. Jason Turner, United States, 553.
18. Xu Dan, China, 553.
23. Daniel Repacholi, Australia, 551.
24. Franck Dumoulin, France, 550.
24. Lee Sang-do, South Korea, 550.
24. David Moore, Australia, 550.
24. Abdulla Ustaoglu, Germany, 550.
28. Dionissios Georgakopoulos, Greece, 549.
28. Jakkrit Panichpatikum, Thailand, 549.
30. Yi Ning Chang, Taiwan, 548.
30. Maximo Tomas Modesti, Argentina, 548.
32. Andrija Zlatic, Serbia-Montenegro, 546.
33. Roger Daniel, Trinidad and Tobago, 545.
34. Norbelis Barzaga, Cuba, 542.
34. Jose Antonio Colado, Spain, 542.
36. Attila Simon, Hungary, 541.
37. Kanstantsin Lukashyk, Belarus, 539.
38. Masaru Nakashige, Japan, 537.
39. Wojciech Knapik, Poland, 536.
40. Arseny Borrero, Cuba, 535.
41. Chris Rice, U.S. Virgin Islands, 529.
41. Friedhelm Sack, Namibia, 529
08/17/04 04:07 EDT

ARKA News Agency
Aug 16 2004
Presidents of Armenia and Russia to conduct a working meeting in
sotchi on August 20
RA President meets with the delegation of Russkij Aluminy company
today
*********************************************************************
PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND RUSSIA TO CONDUCT A WORKING MEETING IN
SOTCHI ON AUGUST 20
YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. The Presidents of Armenia and Russia
Robert Kocharian and Vladimir Putin will conduct a working meeting in
Sotchi on August 20. According to the Press Service Department of RA
President, a large scope of issues of Armenian-Russian bilateral
relations will be discussed. L.V. – 0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH THE DELEGATION OF RUSSKIJ ALUMINY COMPANY
TODAY
YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. The RA President Robert Kocharian met
today with the delegation of Russkij Aluminy (RusAl) Company headed
by Alexander Livshits, the Deputy Director General of the company.
According to the Press Service Department of RA President, Livshits
presented the projects related to the activities of the factory and
the process of their implementation to the President. He said that it
is planned to implement a volume program of industrial reequipment of
the factory by means of attracting foreign investors. As a result of
the program, Armenal will become the most modern factory in CIS and
Europe. The Deputy Director also informed that financial mechanisms
of the investment program are currently being developed.
After the meeting, Livshits told the media, that `the meeting was
held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere’
The first meeting of RA President and the delegation of Russkij
Aluminy (RusAl) company took place on July 30, 2003. Then, it was
planned to invest $38 mln in industrial reequipment of Armenal. Now,
the investment in factory modernization will make $70 mln. L.V.-0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
August 9, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Armenian-U.S. Bilateral Defense Consultations Held in Kansas
An Armenian Ministry of Defense delegation headed by Deputy Defense
Minister, Lt. Gen. Arthur Aghabekyan, visited Kansas on August 2-7, 2004, to
participate in the third annual round of U.S.-Armenian Bilateral Defense
Consultations. Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian and
Defense Attaché Colonel Armen Sargsyan joined the Armenian delegation for
the consultations. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense James MacDougall
headed the American delegation to the Bilateral Defense Consultations.
The bilateral discussions were held in Kansas because of an active State
Partnership Program between the Kansas National Guard and the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Armenia, commenced in 2003 as part of overall
Armenian-U.S. military cooperation. The consultations addressed the current
state of and perspectives for further military and military-political
cooperation between Armenia and the United States, and other issues of
bilateral interest.
During a visit to State Capitol in Topeka, the Armenian delegation members
met with Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and Secretary of
Agriculture Adrian J. Polansky, and were later hosted by the Adjutant
General of Kansas National Guard, Maj. Gen. Tod M Bunting in his
headquarters at State Defense Building. The Armenian delegation visited Ft.
Riley and several military installations of U.S. Armed Forces and the Kansas
National Guard, as well as several industrial and national landmarks,
including the Harley Davidson factory, the Eisenhower Presidential Center in
Abilene, KS, and the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Independence,
MO.
A special meeting with the representatives of Kansas’s tiny
Armenian-American community, held in Kansas City, KS, was an opportunity to
present Armenia’s progress at home and in strengthening U.S.-Armenian
bilateral relations.

RESIDENTS OF VILLAGE OF TSIKHISJVARI, BORZHOMI REGION, GEORGIA PROTEST
AGAINST CONSTRUCTION OF BTC OIL PIPELINE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4. ARMINFO. Residents of the village of Tsikhisjvari,
Borzhomi region, Georgia, have blocked Bakuriani-Tapatskhuri road, as
a token of protest against construction of BTC oil pipeline, A-INFO
reports.
According to the source, the heavy lorries of British Petroleum have
considerably damaged part of the road, with majority of water
supplying pipes having been destroyed. As a result, the roads to the
village occurred to be flooded. Besides, BP lorries damaged the local
bridge. In their turn, talking to the residents, BP representatives
promised to restore the damaged road and the bridge.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
August 1, 2004
IRAQ: ATTACCO A CHIESE; CRISTIANI SONO 3% POPOLAZIONE ;
I CATTOLICI, TRA CALDEI, LATINI E ARMENI SONO 800 MILA
(ANSA) – ROMA, 1 AGO – I cristiani sono circa il 3 % della 23
milioni di iracheni, suddivisi in maggioranza tra cattolici e
ortodossi. Nel paese sono presenti anche i protestanti, in
numero inferiore rispetto alle altre due confessioni, in quanto
arrivati solo da pochi anni.

Nazione a maggioranza musulmana, l’Iraq conta una forte
presenza di sciiti, che sono la confessione maggioritaria con
circa il 63% della popolazione, seguiti dai sunniti che
rappresentano il 34%.

Tra le popolazioni curde, stanziate nel Nordest dell’Iraq e
contano circa 4 milioni di persone, si trovano ancora pochissimi
ebrei, ma la comunita’ cristiana e’ tuttora presente. Nel paese
sono presenti anche i cristiani Assiri che hanno ripreso a
sperare di poter vivere la loro specificita’ religiosa e
culturale dopo la caduta di Saddam.

Molto variegata la presenza dei cattolici: sono poco meno di
800 mila, tra caldei (700 mila), latini (2.500), siro-antiocheni
(75.000) e armeni (2 mila). La popolazione Caldea rappresenta il
terzo gruppo etnico in Iraq, dopo arabi e curdi. (ANSA).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 2 2004
Armenian Armed Forces to Run Military Maneuvers in Karabakh
Turan 02/08/2004 16:44
So called Nagorno Karabakh Republic is going to run military
maneuvers on August 3-12 in Karabakh, Turan reported on Monday.
Purpose of the maneuvers is to examine the efficiency level of
military forces. Maneuvers aim to increase the coordination level of
the troops during defense and counter attacks, too.
In early July Armenian President, Robert Kocharian declared that in
the nearest future Armenian troops will run maneuvers towards the
Eastern [Azerbaijan] direction, Turan reported.

The Mirror
July 31, 2004, Saturday
GERS GO BAKU TO THE FUTURE
EXCLUSIVE BY LAURIE HANNA
RANGERS LOY-_OIL: Travelling Gers fans can look forward to a scenic
trip to Baku
RANGERS fans in far-flung Azerbaijan last night urged supporters to
ignore scare stories and support their team in the terror hotspot.
Graeme Johnstone, 43, a member of the Baku Rangers Supporters Club in
the Azerbaijani capital, says he’s got his fingers crossed PFC
Neftchi beat CSKA Moscow to claim a tie against the Ibrox giants in
the Champions League qualifiers.
And he said that Rangers fans should make the trip to his adopted
homeland if Neftchi get through.
Celebrating yesterday’s draw, he said: “It’s excellent news, really
brilliant.
“I know it depends on the next game but it would be fantastic news
for all the fans over here.
“I know that Azerbaijan may have its problems but it is a great place
and is well worth visiting.
“I am from Glasgow and I’m sure we would see a lot of the boys from
back home if the team were to come over.”
The supporters club has more than 60 members and enjoys the banter
with their rival Celtic supporters club in Baku.
Graeme, who has spent the last year working for an oil firm in
Azerbaijan, said: “We get to watch a few games a season, usually all
the Old Firm and European ones, plus some other league games.”
Scots visiting the country are sure of a warm welcome from the UK’s
official representative there – as he is from Glasgow.
But Vice-consul Derek Lavery admits he’s not a bluenose – he’s a
Partick Thistle fan.
Derek, from Bearsden, has spent the last two years in the country
with his wife, having worked in Germany and Pakistan.
And he revealed that he misses his beloved Thistle and would much
prefer the Jags to be heading to Azerbaijan.
He said: “Whenever I lived in Glasgow, I went to Firhill all the time
and I still go when I am back.
“However, I don’t get much time to go home any more.
“I would love to see them again soon.”
Derek added that, although the country is volatile and still in
dispute with neighbouring Armenia, fans would be made welcome by
locals.
He said: “The Armenian military forces protect the area while the two
governments are still trying to negotiate some sort of settlement.
“There is occasional firing, even though there is a ceasefire, but
any fans coming out here should be OK.
“There are a lot of Scots here working for oil companies. BP are
building a massive oil pipeline through the country and on to Georgia
and Turkey.
“There is somewhere in the region of 3,000 Brits in the country and
the majority are Scots.” Closer to home, bar owners in Newcastle have
boarded up their windows as the city prepared for an invasion of
17,000 Scots football fans this weekend.
Police have held a summit in a bid to head off football hooliganism
as Rangers arrive for a pre-season tournament involving Feyenoord.
Strathclyde Police Supt Kenneth Scott, a football intelligence
officer said: “We have been liaising with Northumbria Police in
connection the forthcoming tournament.
“Strathclyde Police officers will also be attending to offer advice
to the host force.”
The last time Rangers played in the region, three men were stabbed
after a friendly game with Sunderland.