Author: Maghakian Mike

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 29 2004
ADDRESS BY H.E. MR. ILHAM ALIYEV, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
AZERBAIJAN EAPC SUMMIT MEETING IN ISTANBUL
[June 29, 2004, 17:06:15]
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to participate at the Summit, which I believe will
have strong impact on development of the Alliance.
I congratulate the new NATO members whose efforts to meet criteria of
membership have led to its logical results. I am sure that the
biggest ever enlargement of NATO will contribute further to expanding
the boundaries of peace, security and freedom to the whole
Euro-Atlantic area.
Since 1994 Azerbaijan is actively participating in “Partnership for
Peace” Program. Our bilateral relations with NATO are developing very
successfully.
Participation in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP)
initiative marks an important milestone in Azerbaijan’s partnership
with NATO and will significantly contribute to the development of our
security policy. Azerbaijan’s policy aimed at integration with
European and Euro-Atlantic structures, conducted for more than 10
years will continue. We are sure that this integration will bring
more security to our region and prosperity to our people, Azerbaijan
has already proved, not only by statements, but by practical steps
that it is a reliable partner. We expressed our political will and
readiness to contribute to the cause of common security joining
NATO’s peace support operations. Today our peacekeepers together with
troops from NATO and Partner Nations contribute to stability and
security in different parts of the world.
Azerbaijan was one of the first countries that joined anti-terror
coalition after the September 11th attacks on the United States.
Today, our country effectively contributes to the global fight
against terrorism.
Suffered itself from Armenian terrorism – more than 2 thousands
people were killed in 32 terrorist acts – we know that only by joint
efforts of the whole international community we can effectively
combat this evil.
Continuing for more than 10 years occupation by Armenia of 20% of the
territory of Azerbaijan is one of the biggest threats to peace and
security in our region. As a result of Armenian aggression and ethnic
cleansing more than 1 million Azerbaijanis became refugees and
internally displaced persons, Nagorny Karabakh and 7 other regions of
Azerbaijan are under occupation. Territorial integrity of our country
is violated. Armenia continues to ignore 4 United Nation’s
resolutions, which demanded unconditional withdrawal of Armenian
troops from occupied territories.
Peaceful negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan held for more
than 10 years do not have any results. Azerbaijan will not compromise
on its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Nagorny Karabakh is a lawless, uncontrolled zone, which is a constant
threat to security and stability in the South Caucasus.
We hope that outcomes of this Summit will extend our capabilities to
provide more security and stability in Euro-Atlantic area and its
neighborhoods,
Thank you.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 28 2004
American University of Beirut awards honorary degrees
By May Habib
Special to The Daily Star

When Vartan Gregorian arrived in Beirut from Tehran 54 years ago, he
had $50 in his pocket, couldn’t speak Arabic or English and did not
know a single person in the country.
On Saturday, Gregorian, the head of the Carnegie Corporation in the
US and an acclaimed philanthropist and educator, returned to receive
an honorary doctorate from the American University of Beirut.
Gregorian’s first English teacher in Beirut, Antoine Kehyaian, was
present at the ceremony to see his former pupil.
“As a student I used to tell Antoine, ‘Don’t worry, one day I will
get a degree from AUB,'” said Gregorian, who has received honorary
degrees from 15 universities. “I had to spend 50 years in the
wilderness in order to earn this.”
Along with Gregorian, the mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah, famed
cellist Yo-Yo Ma and journalist Peter Jennings also received honorary
degrees.
AUB President John Waterbury said this year’s recipients
“demonstrate, almost to perfection, the coupling of specialization
and achievement to lifelong involvement in other fields.”
Upon leaving Beirut, Gregorian – who also delivered the commencement
address Saturday – went to Stanford University in California, where
he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1958 and his doctorate in history
in 1964. After teaching at various universities in the US, he became
founding dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University
of Pennsylvania and eventually became the provost.
After leaving the University
of Pennsylvania, Gregorian headed the New York Public Library,
raising an unprecedented $400 million for its revival.
Never content to remain too long in any position, he left the New
York Public Library in 1989 to become president of Brown University.
He then left Brown for the philanthropic Carnegie Corporation in
1997.
Gregorian advised students at the ceremony to “get really rich” so
they can donate money to AUB in the future.
“There are not many AUBs in the world, especially this part of the
world,” he said. “You owe it to AUB and the Lebanese to keep this
beacon of learning and light shining.”
Sir Michael Atiyah, whose work in string theory has been awarded
numerous medals, also commended AUB for creating cultural links that
“straddle space and time.” Atiyah, the son of a Lebanese father and a
Scottish mother, grew up in Sudan and attended Victoria College in
Cairo. He was knighted in 1983 and was awarded the rank of commander
in the Order of the Cedars by the Lebanese government in 1993.
Atiyah helped AUB develop its Center for Advanced Mathematical
Studies and is the chairman of the center’s International Advisory
Committee.
Jennings, who came to Lebanon in 1972 as the ABC News bureau chief in
Beirut, said that AUB – founded by US missionaries – is “one of the
greatest things the US has done in the Middle East.” He said that at
a time when the US government is challenged by winning the hearts and
minds of the region’s people, “at AUB the great ideas of the US come
together.”
Waterbury joked that he would try to keep secret that the hugely
successful Jennings did not finish high school and does not have a
university degree.
“We forgive you Peter for your early dismissal of our product,”
Waterbury said.
Yo-Yo Ma, a concert cellist since the age of 9 and a 14-time Grammy
winner, closed the ceremony with a piece from Bach. “I know I was not
invited here for my speaking skills,” he joked, holding up his cello.

Al-Qa’idah might threaten major oil pipeline – Azeri security chief
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
25 Jun 04

[Presenter] The National Security Ministry has obtained information
about acts of sabotage being prepared on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline, Minister Namiq Abbasov has told ATV. Being more specific,
the minister said that Al-Qa’idah is involved in the terrorist threat.
[Reporter] The country’s special services have information that
international terrorist groups are planning sabotage on the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. National Security Minister Namiq
Abbasov said that Al-Qa’idah was also mentioned in this connection.
[Namiq Abbasov] We have such reports. This is quite possible. There
are quite a few opponents of Baku-Ceyhan. All kinds of threats against
it are quite possible.
[Reporter] The general did not rule out that Al-Qa’idah members could
be hiding in occupied uncontrolled territories. He said that it would
be irresponsible to dismiss possible sabotage on the Azerbaijani
section of the oil pipeline. But the minister stressed that special
services were carrying out the necessary measures in order to prevent
this.
Mr Abbasov also commented on the problem of the two Armenians who left
Armenia for Azerbaijan and are seeking asylum in a third country. The
problem will be settled very soon, the minister said.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
June 24 2004
Speaker declines to put Garabagh on parliamentary agenda

MPs suggested in a Milli Majlis (MM) session on Friday that the Upper
Garabagh conflict be discussed in the parliament.
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said there was no need to put the issue on
the parliament’s agenda considering the fact the conflict remains
unresolved. He said talks are currently underway on the issue on
different levels and pointed out the upcoming meetings of the two
countries’ foreign ministers and presidents.
Alasgarov further suggested waiting for feedback from western
countries and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. He voiced his
confidence that Azerbaijan will not accept any compromises and that
the country’s territorial integrity will be restored according to
international norms.

The Herald, UK
June 24 2004
Olympics: Athens to Athens

DOUG GILLON
50 days to go
When the XXVIII Olympics of the modern era open on August 13, the
Games will truly be coming home. Athens was merely the place where
the Games restarted.
The ancient Olympics date back to 776BC and were held every four
years in southern Greece, in the valley of Olympia. Lighting a flame
on the altar of Zeus is the origin of the modern flame-lighting
ceremony.
The first Olympic champion recorded was a cook, Koroibos of Elis, who
won the stadion, a sprint of nearly 200 metres. It was the only
athletic event among religious ceremonies attended by crowds of
40,000.
Events were added regularly, and wars were suspended in a month-long
truce, or heiromenia, to allow competitors safe passage to the
celebrations.
Although there was no prize money (just an olive wreath), athletes
were supported in their training, and rewarded by their patrons, just
like professionals. There was evidence of doping, bribery, cheating,
and even boycotts.
Women were excluded on pain of death from the all-male contests, but
were permitted to own horses. The first female winner was Kyneska of
Sparta who won the tethrippon in 396 and 392 BC. Or rather her horses
did. She was not actually a competitor at all, but a horse breeder,
whose horses won the 12-lap, four-horse chariot race.
The Games were held for more than 1100 years, until abolished in
393AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered them to be
pagan. The last recorded champion of the ancient era was a boxer,
Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369AD.
50 days to go
When the XXVIII Olympics of the modern era open on August 13, the
Games will truly be coming home. Athens was merely the place where
the Games restarted.
The ancient Olympics date back to 776BC and were held every four
years in southern Greece, in the valley of Olympia. Lighting a flame
on the altar of Zeus is the origin of the modern flame-lighting
ceremony.
The first Olympic champion recorded was a cook, Koroibos of Elis, who
won the stadion, a sprint of nearly 200 metres. It was the only
athletic event among religious ceremonies attended by crowds of
40,000.
Events were added regularly, and wars were suspended in a month-long
truce, or heiromenia, to allow competitors safe passage to the
celebrations.
Although there was no prize money (just an olive wreath), athletes
were supported in their training, and rewarded by their patrons, just
like professionals. There was evidence of doping, bribery, cheating,
and even boycotts.
Women were excluded on pain of death from the all-male contests, but
were permitted to own horses. The first female winner was Kyneska of
Sparta who won the tethrippon in 396 and 392 BC. Or rather her horses
did. She was not actually a competitor at all, but a horse breeder,
whose horses won the 12-lap, four-horse chariot race.
The Games were held for more than 1100 years, until abolished in
393AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered them to be
pagan. The last recorded champion of the ancient era was a boxer,
Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369AD.
50 days to go
When the XXVIII Olympics of the modern era open on August 13, the
Games will truly be coming home. Athens was merely the place where
the Games restarted.
The ancient Olympics date back to 776BC and were held every four
years in southern Greece, in the valley of Olympia. Lighting a flame
on the altar of Zeus is the origin of the modern flame-lighting
ceremony.
The first Olympic champion recorded was a cook, Koroibos of Elis, who
won the stadion, a sprint of nearly 200 metres. It was the only
athletic event among religious ceremonies attended by crowds of
40,000.
Events were added regularly, and wars were suspended in a month-long
truce, or heiromenia, to allow competitors safe passage to the
celebrations.
Although there was no prize money (just an olive wreath), athletes
were supported in their training, and rewarded by their patrons, just
like professionals. There was evidence of doping, bribery, cheating,
and even boycotts.
Women were excluded on pain of death from the all-male contests, but
were permitted to own horses. The first female winner was Kyneska of
Sparta who won the tethrippon in 396 and 392 BC. Or rather her horses
did. She was not actually a competitor at all, but a horse breeder,
whose horses won the 12-lap, four-horse chariot race.
The Games were held for more than 1100 years, until abolished in
393AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered them to be
pagan. The last recorded champion of the ancient era was a boxer,
Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369AD.

Azeri police arrest organizers of attack on NATO conference
ANS TV, Baku
22 Jun 04

The trial of those arrested in the protest action organized by the
Karabakh Liberation Organization outside Hotel Europe, the venue of a
NATO conference attended by two Armenian officers, was held today. Two
of the arrested, Barat Elmanli and Gunduz Umudov, have been released.
The chief of the Nasimi district police department, Bagir Bagirov, has
told ANS that criminal proceedings have been instituted against five
other people, including the chairman of the Karabakh Liberation
Organization, Akif Nagi.
They are being charged with hooliganism.

All hail Kerko, king of the billion dollar buyout
By Richard Siklos (Filed: 20/06/2004)
The Telegraph, UK
June 20 2004
Ace Greenberg, the legendary former head of investment bank Bear
Stearns, once admonished a colleague who questioned the wily ways
of Kirk Kerkorian: “Don’t ever tell Babe Ruth how to hold his bat.”
(Translation for UK relevance: “Don’t tell Becks how to lace his
boots”.)
In an age of wannabes and poseurs, when it comes to power-broking
mastery, Kerkorian is the real deal – the Warren Buffett of buyouts.
This week, in what ought to be the gloaming of his career (he’s 87),
he’s in the midst of wangling his biggest trade yet – getting out
of one fantastically glamorous but sometimes spivvy industry while
beefing up in, well, another fantastically glamorous but sometimes
spivvy industry.
Kerkorian is on the verge of selling the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie
studio to a venture between Sony and two private equity groups for
$5bn (£2.7bn), not counting a $1.4bn tax-free dividend cheque he
banked from the company last month.
Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corporation paid $1.3bn for MGM in 1996 and –
get this – this would mark the third time since 1969 he has bought
and sold the place (first to Ted Turner, then to Carlo Paretti),
making buckets of cash each time.
Meanwhile, last Wednesday, his MGM Mirage hotel and casino company
sealed a deal to pay $4.8bn for the Mandalay Resort Group, the Las
Vegas-based company. The confluence of these deals is a bit of a
coincidence, given that Kerkorian has been trying to unload MGM for
a while, and has been gobbling up properties on the Las Vegas strip
for years. But you’ve still got to admire the octogenarian’s sheer
audacity.
As a result of the Mandalay purchase, Kerkorian will be the biggest
casino boss in Vegas history – bigger than Bugsy Seagal, bigger than
Howard Hughes, bigger than Steve Wynn, whose renowned Bellagio resort
he swallowed up four years ago in a hostile takeover.
In total, Kerkorian will preside over 11 casino resorts on the famed
strip alone, including the Mirage, Excalibur and Luxor. Kerkorian’s
empire would also include 17 other gambling halls in Nevada, other
corners of the US, and Australia. His MGM Grand resort is already
the biggest venue in Vegas, but if the Mandalay deal passes muster
with regulators he’ll control more than half the hotel rooms and 40
per cent of the slot machines in town. As one wag put it in a local
Las Vegas paper: “It gives them the ability to cater to everyone,
from Joe Six Pack to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.”
As far as MGM the movie studio goes, did you catch its last cinematic
blockbuster? Me neither, but that’s because the studio has produced a
lot more forgettable duds than mega-hits. Its main success has been
the James Bond series and a string of low-budget, sequel-friendly
releases such as Jeepers Creepers and Barbershop. But the value of MGM
apparently lies in the vault of 4,000 old movies, including The Wizard
of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Rocky and Annie Hall, that are expected
to have new legs in this age of re-mastered DVDs and video-on-demand.
“Kirk is not a Hollywood person, he’s a money person,” fellow
billionaire David Geffen recently told Variety magazine. “He’s a
businessman, he’s not nostalgic and sentimental.”
Kerko (as he was known) was born in Fresno, California, to a family
of raisin farmers, and his life followed a fairly epic path from
there including dropping out of school at 13, a stint as a captain
in the Royal Air Force during World War II – he ferried planes back
and forth from Canada – and a successful career as a prizefighter
with the nickname “Rifle Right”.
Apparently he queues for movies and has never ordered up a private
screening of one of MGM’s movies. Although he never gives interviews,
Kerkorian’s friends and executives take pains to point out that rather
than being a Howard Hughes-esque recluse, he just couldn’t care less
about publicity. His top managers bash the tennis ball with him on
weekends at his Beverly Hills mansion. His company’s odd title is an
amalgam of his daughters’ names – Tracy and Linda. Worth around $6bn
he’s given some $150m to various causes in Armenia, but adamantly
refused invitations to have boulevards, airports and schools there
named after him.
In the business world, there are few destinations that have emptied
more pocketbooks and broken more dreams than Vegas and Hollywood. As if
conquering them wasn’t enough, who can forget Kerkorian’s bold play to
take over the automaker Chrysler in the 1990s? Even more entertaining
has been his ongoing $3bn lawsuit against DaimlerChrysler over the
1998 merger that created the auto giant.
The billionaire testified in a Detroit court in February that he
was deceived by DaimlerChrysler chairman Juergen Schrempp’s public
statement that it would be a “merger of equals”. (German executives
from the Daimler side ended up dominating the top jobs, but the
company has dismissed his claim as frivolous.) When DaimlerChrysler
lawyers tried to point out that Kerkorian, then Chrysler’s biggest
shareholder, hadn’t even read the deal’s final prospectus before
backing the merger, Kerkorian exploded in court: “I looked at the
merger as honest. We didn’t look in every nook and cranny for deceit,
but it was there.” A verdict in that case is expected this fall.
So what makes King Kirk run? No one can really say. Maybe he’s just
trying to save up a little for his retirement.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAGH LEADER SAYS AZERI PRESIDENT NOT READY FOR CONFLICT SOLUTION
ArmenPress
June 17 2004
PARIS, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS: President of Nagorno Karabagh Arkady
Ghukasian, who was visiting France last week to attend a series of
ceremonies there on the occasion of 10-th anniversary of establishment
of truce in Nagorno Karabagh, met with the French co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group and French Armenian reporters.
According to Ghukasian, the Minsk Group co-chairmen are expected to
visit Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabagh in June and may bring
new proposals with them. He also said that Azerbaijan does not want
to seat at the negotiation table with Nagorno Karabagh demanding that
prior to it all the occupied lands be returned, after which they will
‘think’ about the status of Nagorno Karabagh. “This is of course an
unacceptable position. French Minsk group co-chairman Mr. Jacolin is
very optimistic and thinks that there are possibilities that must be
used,” Ghukasian said.
In response to the question why Azerbaijan has taken such a tough
stance, Ghukasian said that Ilham Aliyev is absolutely not ready for
discussing Nagorno Karabagh issue, not only in terms of his readiness
for solution but just for discussion. “He is not ready to take any
risk and go for any compromise. It is strange for me to hear from
a president that Azerbaijan will not go for any compromise. This
is not something to be heard from a president. Presidents are to
be more flexible. He understands clearly that it is not possible to
give Karabagh back but still resists to go on talks. In this respect
Heydar Aliyev was more controlling the situation,” Ghukasian noted.
Speaking on a possible involvement of John Paul II in negotiation
processes, as was declared by Vatican ambassador in Azerbaijan and
Georgia, Ghukasian said that all wishes are welcomed but the conflict
is very complicated and professional approaches are needed. In this
case such professionalism can demonstrate the OSCE, Minsk group,
the Council of Europe and other international organizations. And the
most important is that the solution to the problems after all depends
on the conflicting sides.
“We have clear understanding of the limit of compromises. We are
realistic about where we go and what we want,” and because everything
is interrelated the bounds of our compromise will depend on the level
of compromise from Azerbaijan,” he said.

Heavy hailstorm hits northern Armenian districts
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Jun 04
   
[Presenter] A heavy hailstorm has hit Lori and Tavush Districts
[northern Armenia]. A shower of hailstones destroyed the potato and
grain fields and pastures within 10 minutes. The most affected villages
were (?Hakhvat), (?Sanahin) and (?Akner). As a result of the natural
disaster the roofs of many houses and buildings were destroyed.
[Correspondent, over video of hailstorm] The people of the Akner
village will not have potato and grain this autumn. About 30 ha
of potato and 30 ha of grain fields have been destroyed completely
by hail.
[A man, captioned as resident of village] There is no hope. I think
that this will not be restored. The region’s authorities have already
been informed about this. But this issue must be discussed and resolved
at the government level.
[Correspondent] The librarian is concerned about the fate of books –
10,000 books are in danger. The hail destroyed 70-80 per cent of the
roofs of the houses.
[Passage omitted: villagers complain about natural disaster]
[Presenter] A heavy hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain also hit the
Tavush District centre. The energy, drinking water and communications
systems were destroyed. Roads in the district were also destroyed. The
rain swept away animals, vehicles and roads. A 250-km section of the
Yerevan-Idzhevan highway was temporarily closed.
[Correspondent, over video of destroyed roads] The hail hit and
destroyed the roofs and windows of houses, vehicles parked in the
streets, and vineyards. This is explained by the unusual seize of
hailstones and intensity of the hail. According to local residents,
such a hailstorm was not recorded in the last 20 years. The first
restoration measures and work are already under way.
Employees of the district and regional emergency departments,
the Idzhevan road construction organization and regional interior
bodies took part in the rescue work. The state highway opened in the
midnight, the town’s power supply and communications were restored. The
restoration work is under way.
Gayane Tamanyan, “Aylur”.

Cork City miss out
Irish Independent
Jun 09, 2004
CORK CITY have missed out on a place in the UEFA Cup following the
FairPlay League draw in Germany last night – Pat Dolan’s side will
contest the Inter TottoCup instead.
Armenian side FC Mika, plus a team from Ukraine yet to be decided as
their league season runs until June 19, were the lucky names drawn
from the hat during half-time at the European Under-21 Championship
final in Bochum.
The other teams in the draw, together with with Cork and Charlton,
were Esbjerg ofDenmark, SK Brann of Norway, German side Freiburg,
FC Lahti of Finland, Spanish sideReal Mallorca, KS Teuta of Albania
and Throttur Reykjavik of Iceland.