Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN TROOPS MARCH THROUGH YEREVAN TO MARK VICTORY DAY
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
9 May 04
YEREVAN
Armenia on Sunday (9 May) is celebrating the Day of Victory and
Peace. Thousands of people came to the Victory Park in the Armenian
capital Yerevan to commemorate the fighters who fell in the Second
World War battles.
Representatives of the republican authorities, ministries,
departments, the army, law enforcement bodies, political parties and
public associations, as well as war veterans, living in the republic,
laid wreaths and flowers at the eternal flames of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb.
The chairman of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan,
Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and other high-ranking officials of
the country attended the ceremony. They also laid a wreath from
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan who is visiting Stepanakert to
celebrate the first anniversary of Shushi (Susa)’s capture in the
course of the Karabakh conflict.
Employees of the Russian embassy in Armenia, representatives of the
command of the Russian military base and border guards stationed in
the republic laid wreaths and flowers at the monument. Heads of
diplomatic missions and military attaches took part in the ceremony.
Following the performance of the national anthems of the Russian
Federation and the Republic of Armenia, columns of Russian troops and
border guards as well as of the Armenian army marched.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 6 2004
SLOVENIA TO SUPPORT FAIR POSITION OF AZERBAIJAN
[May 06, 2004, 18:10:53]
Executive secretary of the `Yeni Azerbaijan Party’ /YAP/, Milli
Majlis deputy Ali Ahmadov met with Ambassador of Slovenia to Turkey
and Azerbaijan Andre Groselli, YAP’s press service reports.
Ali Ahmadov updated the ambassador on the party’s activities, state
program on socio-political development of regions for 2004-2008 and
steps towards further development of democracy. YAP executive
secretary highly rated the relationship between the two countries and
expressed confidence that Slovenia would be more active in protecting
Azerbaijan’s interests.
The Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the present state of
relationship between the two countries, and stated that Slovenia
stands for peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the scope of international law. He
pledged that his country would support Azerbaijan’s position during
the term of presidency at OSCE.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 6 2004
United opposition bloc agrees to talks with Armenia pres

YEREVAN, May 6 (Itar-Tass) – – The united opposition bloc has agreed
to negotiations with the president and prime minister of Armenia.
This is said in a statement made by the opposition alliance Justice
and the party National Unity.
The opposition bloc motivates its step by the resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as of April
28. It is ready to refrain from holding meetings in Yerevan for ten
days “as a manifestation of good will.”
As opposition forces affirm, “the political crisis has been
aggravating since the last year presidential elections.” They are
convinced that the fulfilment of the PACE resolution “is of decisive
importance for our country.”
Among other things, opposition forces demand that Robert Kocharan
should resign from the post of the president of Armenia and their
arrested activists be released.
As opposition forces warned, “mass events will be resumed if
authorities don’t agree to a compromise.”

A1 Plus | 17:19:26 | 29-04-2004 | Politics |
PACE FINAL REPORT ON ARMENIA
PACE has already adopted final report on situation in Armenia.
1. Since the end of March 2004, a series of protests were organised by
the opposition forces in Armenia, calling for the holding of a
“referendum of confidence” in President Kocharian. The possibility of
such a referendum was first mentioned by the Armenian Constitutional
Court following the presidential elections in February and March last
year. The Constitutional Court later clarified its proposal and the
authorities qualify the opposition demands and protests as an attempt
to seize power by force.
2. The demonstrations, while announced, have not been authorised by
the authorities who threatened their organisers with criminal
prosecution. Following the demonstrations on 5 April, the prosecutor
general opened criminal investigations in connection with the rally of
the opposition parties against several members of the opposition and
many more were arrested. On the same occasion, several journalists and
politicians were beaten up by unknown persons while the police were
standing by taking no action.
3. New demonstrations took place on 9, 10 and 12 April in Yerevan. In
the early morning of 13 April, the security forces violently dispersed
some 2000-3000 protesters who were attempting to march towards the
presidential palace, calling for President Kocharian’s
resignation. The police reportedly used truncheons, water cannons and
tear gas, causing dozens of injuries. A number of protesters were
arrested, including members of parliament, some of whom are members of
the Assembly, and some were allegedly mistreated during their custody
by the police. The security forces also assaulted and arrested several
journalists who were covering the opposition rally.
4. The tensions in Armenia continue to run high; new protests are
planned for the week of 26 April. For the time being, there seems to
be little room for dialogue between the authorities and the
opposition, even if some offers have been made and some members of the
ruling majority – and notably the Speaker of the Armenian parliament –
have begun criticising the heavy-handed crackdown on demonstrators.
5. With regard to the conduct of the authorities, the Parliamentary
Assembly recalls that its actions are contrary to the letter and the
spirit of the recommendations formulated in its Resolution 1361 (2004)
adopted last January. It is particularly concerned with the fact that:
i. arrests, including on the basis of the Administrative Code, ignored
the demand to immediately end the practice of administrative detention
and change the Administrative Code used as a legal basis for this
practice;
ii. the authorities refused to authorise opposition rallies for
reasons not permitted under the European Convention on Human
Rights. Moreover the new draft law on the procedure of conducting
gatherings, meetings, rallies and demonstrations, currently in the
parliamentary procedure, was evaluated as excessively restrictive by
experts of the Venice Commission;
iii. persons detained during the recent events were reportedly
subjected to ill-treatment by police and security forces, in spite of
Assembly’s demands to take resolute and more active steps to remedy
misconduct by law enforcement officials;
iv. freedom of expression continues to be seriously curtailed and
several acts of violence against journalists, which took place during
the recent events, were carried out or were allowed to happen by the
police and security forces.
6. With regard to the conduct of the opposition, the Assembly stresses
that they should do their utmost to avoid any future violence.
7. As to their demands for the holding of a “referendum of confidence”
and the resignation of President Kocharian, the Assembly stresses
that:
i. both the presidential, and the parliamentary elections which
followed in May last year were severely criticised by the
international community, including by the Assembly delegations. The
electoral process as a whole had not complied with international
standards and the irregularities observed notably included biased
media coverage, detention of opposition proxies and campaign staff,
falsification of results, intimidation of observers as well as
generally inadequate performance of the elections administration.
ii. although the fraud, in spite of its magnitude, did not decisively
change the outcome of the elections nor invalidate their final
results, in its report on the honouring of obligations and commitments
by Armenia, adopted in January 2004 (Resolution 1361), the Assembly
expressed profound disappointment at the conduct of the elections and
called for a thorough investigation into electoral fraud and an end to
the judicial impunity for those responsible for it.
8. While insisting that the Armenian authorities must fully comply
with its recommendations concerning last year’s flawed elections, the
Assembly considers that the opposition, while entitled fully to enjoy
its constitutional right to peaceful assembly, should strive to
achieve its goals within the constitutional framework.
9. The Assembly calls upon the Armenian authorities to:
i. allow peaceful demonstrations and refrain from any further action
which would legally, or in practice, lead to unjustified restrictions
to the freedom of assembly guaranteed by the European Convention on
human rights;
ii. guarantee freedom of movement within Armenia;
iii. immediately investigate – in a transparent and credible manner –
the incidents and human rights abuses reported during the recent
events, including assaults of journalists and human rights activists,
and inform the Assembly of their findings and possible legal actions
against persons responsible;
iv. immediately release the persons detained for their participation
in the demonstrations and immediately end the practice of
administrative detention and amend the Administrative Code to this
effect;
v. take note of the fact that the immunities of PACE members are valid
during the whole year (PACE Resolution 1325 (2003) and Recommendation
1602 (2003)); accordingly it invites the competent Armenian
authorities to henceforth inform as soon as possible the President of
the PACE when Armenian members of that Assembly are prosecuted or
detained;
vi. create fair conditions for the normal functioning of the media,
notably as regards the issuing of broadcasting licences to television
companies, particularly to television channel A1+;
vii. send a written report to the Assembly, before the opening of the
June 2004 part-session, on the steps it has taken with regard to
sub-paragraphs 9.i to 9.vi.
10. The Assembly calls upon the authorities and the opposition to
refrain from any action which may lead to further violence and to
engage in a dialogue without preconditions, with a view to resolving
the present conflict in accordance with Council of Europe standards
and European democratic practice.
11. The Assembly believes that the recent events have added a measure
of urgency to its demands for Armenia’s full and unconditional
compliance with their obligations and commitments. It resolves to
instruct the Monitoring Committee to send its rapporteurs to Armenia
to present a report on the situation, particularly on the follow-up of
the recommendations set out in sub-paragraphs 9.i to 9.vi, as soon as
appropriate, and well before the opening of the September 2004
part-session. If no progress with regard to sub-paragraphs 9.i to 9.vi
is made by the opening of the September 2004 part-session, it resolves
to reconsider the credentials of the Armenian delegation in accordance
with Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure.

Sweet science pays off for Harrison
The Scotsman – United Kingdom
Apr 30, 2004
Stephen Halliday

IT HAS long been known as the sweet science, although AJ Liebling
certainly did not have jelly babies or laboratories on his mind when
he gave boxing its memorable moniker several decades ago.
For WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison, however, the phrase has
taken on a whole new meaning since he turned to sports scientist Dr
Niall Macfarlane for assistance in the wake of July’s numbing and
unexpected loss of his title to Manuel Medina.
The University of Glasgow lecturer has since become a crucial part of
Team Harrison, helping the 26-year-old Scot regain his belt and adding
a whole new dimension to his already unforgiving training
regime. William Abelyan, the US-based Armenian No 1 contender for
Harrison’s title, will be the next to face the revitalised champion
when the pair clash at the Braehead Arena on 29 May.
More of the aforementioned jelly babies later, but Harrison’s father
and trainer Peter first explained yesterday the circumstances which
lead him to seek scientific help for his son.
“After the first Medina fight, I wanted to make sure nothing like that
happened to Scott in the future,” he said. “We wanted to optimise his
condition and try and take every safeguard against the illness which
affected him against Medina.
“I was told Glasgow University was the place to go. When I first
contacted Niall, he advised me to do it through Sportscotland, but
they told me it wasn’t part of their remit to work with professional
boxers. I went back to Niall who then agreed to work with us.
“It’s been tremendous, being able to use all the technology they have
at the university. From Scott’s viewpoint, though, the best thing has
been the nutritional advice. He can have Frosties for breakfast now
instead of plain cornflakes and he’s also allowed to snack on jelly
babies, wine gums or raisins after training sessions to keep his
carbohyrdate levels up.
“Scott has always been fit, but now we are training him more
thoroughly than ever before.”
According to Dr Macfarlane, Harrison is as well conditioned as any
physical specimen who has passed through his science and medicine
department at the university. “We have had Ethiopian distance runners
here,” said Macfarlane, “and I’d say the best comparison I can make
for Scott is with them. His endurance levels and aerobic performance
are tremendous. He could easily be a 10,000 metre runner and if he
was, he would probably be Olympic finalist standard.
“When Peter came to me, he wanted to make sure they were never
blind-sided again by the kind of illness which caused the loss to
Medina first time around. Our technology, allied to his natural
fitness and dedication, has hopefully helped.”
The champion himself is delighted with the results of his work with Dr
Macfarlane and ready to step up another level against Abelyan in four
weeks time. “I feel there has been a 20 per cent improvement in me
since I started working with Niall,” he said. “I have no problems
making the weight now, I can throw more punches than ever in a round
and I’m faster than I was before. You’ll see an even better Scott
Harrison against Abelyan next month.”

ArmenPress
April 30 2004
ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES DAILY’S CLAIMS
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense ministry has
denied a report in the local daily Haykakan Zhamanak which cited in
its Thursday issue from a report of the US-based Strategic
Forecasting Inc (Stratfor) to claim that according to logistical
agreements between the U.S. military and the Armenian armed forces,
reached earlier this week, Armenian authorities have allowed the US
to deploy its military planes on Armenian airfields.
The agreement in question was announced following a visit to
Armenia by a senior U.S. military official. Gen. Charles Wald, who,
according to Stratfor, walked away from Yerevan with an agreement to
allow U.S. landing rights on Armenian airfields.
A statement released by Armenian defense ministry on Thursday
evening said the Armenian-US agreement does not envisage deployment
of US war planes on Armenian airfields and that the daily’s claims
were the result of a wrong translation. It said the core of the
agreement is to satisfy logistical and other demands of the other
side at its request having in mind Armenia’s policy and priorities.

USA/Armenia: VOA starts daily Armenian-language TV programme
Voice of America press release
3 May 04

Text of press release by Voice of America on 3 May
Washington, DC, 3 May 2004: Voice of America (VOA) debuted a daily
Armenian-language TV feed today, aimed at providing daily TV stories
to viewers in Armenia and the extensive Armenian diaspora throughout
the Middle East and Europe. For this venture, VOA has partnered with
Armenia TV, which will air the feeds during its weekday newscasts and
present a 30-minute block of VOA television material every Saturday.
“VOA has been an important source of news and information for
Armenians since 1951, and this move to television will help us reach
an even greater audience,” said VOA Director David S. Jackson. “This
is especially important as Armenia faces continued challenges as it
develops toward a more open and democratic civil society.”
VOA’s Armenian service recently ceased its radio broadcasts in order
to focus on providing television news reports and features. The
Armenian Service will be able to build upon its already large radio
audience to reach an even greater number of viewers throughout
Armenia.
A recent survey showed that 97 per cent of Armenians use television
each week as a source of news about current events. Armenia TV reaches
52 per cent of viewers between the ages of 25 and 50 in Armenia alone
and is one of the first private TV companies in Armenia to have such
an extensive reach via satellite. Armenia TV is also available via
satellite subscription in Western Europe and the Middle East,
including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland,
Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Syria and
Israel.
Amerikai Dzain Herustahandes (VOA TV Magazine) is included in each
weekday news programme, broadcast at 3 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. local time
(1000 and 1330 UTC) to audiences in Armenia. A compilation of each
week’s reports will air Saturdays at 11 p.m. local time (1800
UTC). Programmes as well as previews of upcoming shows will soon also
be available on the Internet at
The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a
multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the US
government. VOA broadcasts 1,000 hours of news, information,
educational and cultural programming every week to an estimated
worldwide audience of 87m people. Programmes are produced in Armenian
and 43 other languages.
For more information, call the Office of Public Affairs at (202)
401-7000, or E-mail [email protected].

Calcutta Telegraph, India
April 27 2004
Surya Sekhar loses to 13-year-old Norwegian
Dubai: Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran slipped to joint second place
yet again after drawing with GM Artashes Minasian of Armenia in the
seventh round of Dubai international chess championship on Monday.
GM Pavel Eljanov of the Ukraine shot into sole lead following a
hard-fought victory over GM Alexei Federov of Belarus.
Surya Sekhar Ganguly lost to 13-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway. IM
D.V. Prasad also ended up on the losing side against Goran Dizdar of
Croatia. Eljanov, on six points, is closely followed by top seeded
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania, Shakhriyaz Mamedyarov of
Azerbaijan, Moldova’s Viorel Iordachescu, Alexander Goloshchapov of
Ukraine, Carlsen, Minasian, Sasikiran and P. Harikrishna. They have
5.5 points each.
With just two rounds remaining, a pack of eight players share the
third spot with five points apiece.
The Indian IM norm aspirants suffered a setback in their quest as
Parimarjan Negi and Manthan Chokshi went down fighting against
Russian GM Alexey Kuzmin and Armenian GM Karen Asrian, respectively.
P. Harikrishna was in his elements in beating GM Zahar Efimenko of
Ukraine from the white side of a King’s Indian defence.
In the late middle game, the Ukrainian fell prey to a well-disguised
pawn sacrifice by the Indian and found himself a pawn less. Not
giving any chances thereafter, Harikrishna traded queens at the
opportune juncture and romped home in 47 moves. Sasikiran maintained
a minuscule advantage for the major part of the game against Minasian
but could not really convert that with his white pieces as his
opponent posted stiff resistance.
The middle game arising from a Torre attack was on expected lines and
pieces got exchanged at regular intervals leaving Sasikiran with a
better-placed knight against bishop. However as it turned out in the
end, black had just about sufficient replies to maintain the balance.
The draw was agreed to in 49 moves.
The big winner of the day was Carlsen who looks set to become the
youngest GM after his spectacular victory over Surya Sekhar who
played the black side of a Trompowski opening.
Women GM Aarthie Ramaswamy lost to Shanava Konstantine while her
husband GM R.B. Ramesh was held to a draw by Nadera Barlo.
The other Indians in the fray had good results with Abhijeet Gupta,
IMs Deepan Chakravarthy and Rahul Shetty scoring over A.R. Saleh
Jasiom, Asylguzhin Radik and Janahi Zeyaad, respectively.

Lowell Sun, MA
April 25 2004
Their horror remembered, their culture celebrated
Local Armenians honor the 1.5 million killed in genocide
By STEPHANIE COYNE, Sun Correspondent
LOWELL Thomas Magarian was an infant when his mom and dad were
murdered.
He lost four of his eight brothers and sisters when they were killed
along with his parents.
Luckily he doesn’t have any recollection of those horrible days, when
1.5 million Armenians were murdered some eight decades ago.
What he does remember is growing up in an orphanage in Beirut.
He smiles as he recalls a beautiful tree growing over a spectacular
Armenian church next to the home for children whose parents died in
the Armenian genocide.
Magarian is one of the few remaining survivors of the killings that
began on April 24, 1915, and lasted until 1923.
Yesterday, families of the victims gathered alongside Magarian, of
Tyngsboro, and another survivor, Bedros Shamshoyian of Lowell, to
remember Armenian Martyrs’ Day, the beginning of a period when the
Armenians were either killed or forced into exile from their
homeland.
Nearly 100 people attended the event, which began with a parade down
Merrimack Street to the steps of City Hall.
Tom Vartabedian emceed the ceremony, which paid tribute to the lives
lost and declared continued efforts to persuade the world to
recognize the Armenian genocide as a crime against humanity by the
Turkish government.
“We observe this anniversary not because it will bring back the dead
or restore our desecrated church and not because our people were
violated and dehumanized,” said Vartabedian, of Haverhill. “But
because we cling to the hope that maybe through education and
understanding, similar atrocities can be avoided.”
Many families with ancestors from the Armenian genocide attended
yesterday’s event to show commitment to keeping their history alive
and pay respect to the lives that were lost.
Sona Gevorkian and her husband Allen brought along their two
children, Datev, 2, and Tsoline, 1, to show their support in getting
the genocide recognized by the world. Turkey continues to deny any
involvement.
“My grandparents were survivors and I grew up hearing my
grandmother’s stories about the genocide,” said Sona, of Bedford.
“We’re trying to get it recognized for me it’s a personal thing as
well as a national thing.”
Angele Dulgarian of Chelmsford felt the same way.
She lost both grandparents and an uncle during those years of death
and destruction.
Dulgarian has attended the annual event honoring the Armenian victims
for the past 17 years and said she will continue to do so as long as
possible.
“We want to memorialize what happened,” she said. “We don’t want to
forget and we want future generations to know their history.”
Dro Gregorian, president of the Armenian Youth Federation through
Saint Gregory’s Armenian Church in North Andover, reaffirmed that
statement.
“The survivors of the genocide have rebuilt their communities and
churches and have kept their culture alive,” said Dro, of Chelmsford.
“As young grandchildren of survivors we vow to continue to keep our
rich history, religion and culture alive.”

Los Angeles Times, CA
April 25 2004
Armenians Mark Genocide

Events including a protest and rally commemorate the 1915 start of
violence against the ethnic group that took 1.5 million lives.
By David Pierson, Times Staff Writer
Thousands of Armenian Americans throughout the Los Angeles area
commemorated a grim chapter in their history – the killing of 1.5
million of their countrymen and women by the Turks between 1915 and
1922 – with protests, prayers, a blood drive and even a rock concert.
The events included a solemn ceremony in Montebello, a raucous
protest along Wilshire Boulevard and a rally in east Hollywood that
some said was more a display of national pride than a somber
remembrance of the Armenian genocide.

Despite the diversity of events, Armenian American organizers across
town said they were pleased that their history is being honored and
taught to the younger generation.
Ashot Dermenjian held his daughter Alyssa’s hand as he walked up to
the plaque at a towering Montebello memorial, a cluster of pillars
reaching skyward. The cream-colored structure was surrounded by
flowers Saturday as hundreds paid their respects. Officials,
including Mayor James K. Hahn and City Councilman Antonio
Villaraigosa, addressed the crowd.
Dermenjian said a prayer and made the sign of the cross. “This is her
first time here,” Dermenjian said of his 10-year-old daughter. “I’m
going to bring her every year now. They have to know what their
ancestors went through.
“The sad thing is, I don’t know anything about my family past my
grandfather. I don’t know what they did, where they are from or what
kind of work they were in.”
The Wilshire Boulevard Turkish Consulate was fenced off and guarded
by LAPD officers Saturday as a boisterous crowd of hundreds of
teenagers and young adults outside expressed their passion by
chanting to passersby.
Urged on by members of the local chapter of the Armenian Youth
Federation, they held up placards and shouted: “1915, Never Again” to
passing cars.
“This can happen to any people if the denial keeps going on,” said
Armen Soudjian, a 19-year-old college student carrying a video camera
to make a documentary about the protest.
The Hollywood resident said he would attend a rock concert at the
Greek Theatre that night held by System of a Down, a popular Armenian
American rock group who chose the performance date for its historic
importance.
“No matter what you’re doing today,” Soudjian said, “we’re all still
here for that one cause” – official recognition by Turkey of what
Armenians call the Armenian genocide. Turkish officials deny that the
genocide occurred.
In Glendale, home to more than 40,000 Armenian Americans, the civic
auditorium displayed modern artwork reflecting the atrocities of the
genocide, old articles from the New York Times and a telegram from
1915 written by the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Henry Morgenthau,
advising the State Department of the killings.
Alongside the paintings, the Red Cross set up a blood bank at the
event because “89 years ago, so much blood was shed for no good. Now
we can give it to anyone who needs it,” said one of the event’s
organizers, Stepan Partamian.
Partamian, who is host of an Armenian television show in Glendale,
said many Armenians suffer from an identity crisis because the
diaspora dispersed them to so many countries after they fled
persecution. He said April 24, the day historians say the killings
began, unites Armenians of different backgrounds, whether their
families fled to Lebanon, Egypt, Iran or any other country.
How to commemorate the day is another matter. In Armenia, people make
a pilgrimage to Tsitsernakaberd, a hilltop where a giant memorial
stands.
“They climb up there, they leave flowers out of respect and there are
no speeches,” said Partamian, a 42-year-old Glendale resident.
That more solemn approach is in stark contrast to the raucous
demonstrations around Los Angeles, especially in east Hollywood,
where some protesters complained that the event resembled the
atmosphere of a national soccer game.
“People honking? That’s inappropriate,” said 18-year-old Hovsep
Hajibekyan, sitting at the entrance of the Hollywood and Western
subway station. “It’s disappointing. This is a day to go to church
and be with family.”