Author: Kalantarian Kevo

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.

RosBusinessConsulting Database
July 29, 2004 Thursday 11:54 am, EST
Georgia pays debts to Armenia
The Georgian government has paid $5.8m in fines and interests of its
debt to Armenia for the period from 2003 to May 2004, Armenian
Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian told journalists, the ARKA news
agency reported. According to him, a bilateral commission that will
discuss all debt issues has been created.
Georgia’s state debt to Armenia is $19.5m. Moreover, Georgian energy
enterprises own $4m to Armenian energy companies.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS US NATIONAL INTERESTS, AMERICAN MEDIATOR
STATED
26.07.2004 14:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement by means of negotiations within the frames of the OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) conforms to the US national interests, MG US co-chair Steven Mann
told Regnum IA. In his words, US pursues a long-term policy in references to
this region. US has no interest in events that can threaten stability in the
region as it assists energy projects, one of them being Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, which is important for the whole region, the diplomat said.
When replying to the question “whether the US will support Azerbaijan of the
latter decides to restore its territorial integrity”, Mr. Mann stated that
the US position remains unchangeable – the conflict should be resolved
peacefully. At that he called the parties “to sense and compromise”. “Only
by making concessions it is possible to find a solution admissible for the
conflicting parties. This is the opinion of the co-chairs. Only this way we
can achieve long-term peace in the region. The conflicting parties chose the
OSCE to resolve this problem and we are trying to settle the conflict
peacefully and will support the decisions taken by the parts”, the American
diplomat stated. As for the new proposes, they always exist, he said.
However everything depends on the attitude of the parties and readiness to
accept them, he noted adding that the co-chairs are to continue
consultations with the parties within next few weeks.