Author: Nahapetian Samvel

ARARATCEMENT CONTINUES INCREASING OUTPUT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. Araratcement, the biggest cement producer
in Armenia, continues increasing its output and exports.
In Jan-July 2004 the company’s output was 3.241 bln AMd which is 48%
more than in Jan-July 2003. The sales grew by 80.3% to 3.079 bln AMD,
the exports totalled 1.430 bln AMD – 14 times as much as a year
before.
The second biggest cement producer Mika Cement produced cement for
1.988 bln AMD – 68% growth. The sales was 1.652 bln AMD (+27.8%), the
exports 429.8 mln AMD (3 times growth).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Aug 19 2004
OREGON CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly welcomed the official
announcement today that Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has joined
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, bringing the total to
133. The news follows an August 10 district meeting with the Armenian
Assembly held August 10 in Portland, Oregon.
“As the congressional representative of many Armenians in
Portland, I’m proud to be the latest member of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, an ever-growing group of those of us in
Congress who want to give these issues the attention they deserve,”
said Congressman Blumenauer.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues and the members of
the Armenian community in my home town and around the world on issues
of importance to Armenians,” he continued. Assembly Western Office
Director Lena Kaimian, who led this week’s meeting, said: “We welcome
Congressmen Blumenauer’s membership to the Armenian Caucus. He brings
experience, enthusiasm and commitment to the Caucus and we look
forward to working with him and his congressional colleagues on
issues pertinent to the community.”
“Assembly supporters worked closely with our Los Angeles staff to
encourage the Congressman’s membership to the Caucus,” Kaimian
continued. “I would especially like to thank activists Greg Geokjian
and Les Margosian for participating in this meeting and advocating on
behalf of our issues.”
Congressman Blumenauer, who has represented Oregon’s Third
Congressional District since 1996, is a well-known supporter of
Armenian-American issues. As such, he has urged President George W.
Bush to appropriately acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, voted to
maintain Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and supported the
Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act.
The Congressman also serves on the International Relations
Committee and is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee. He joins fellow Oregon lawmaker, Congresswoman Darlene
Hooley (D-OR) in representing Armenian-American interests on the
Caucus.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Georgian PM Comes Under Fire in Ossetia 2) New Pastors Appointed to Western Prelacy Parishes 3) Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School Receives LAUSD Grant 4) The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Another Four Years 1) Georgian PM Comes Under Fire in Ossetia TBILISI (AFP/Civil Georgia)--Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said Friday that he came under attack from South Ossetian troops while visiting the separatist region on a peace mission. He told Georgia's private television that no one was hurt in the attack. The station showed footage of gunfire as he passed through an area that saw three Georgian soldiers killed Thursday. "They were shooting directly at us," he said. "I see this as Ossetia's response to our peace initiative. "Both Ossetian and Russian peacekeepers knew that only my convoy was passing through that region at the time," he said. Zhvania went to its northern separatist region, which is trying to join Russia, late Thursday amid Georgian efforts to win back its control. Those attempts have so far led to shootouts between Georgian, Ossetian, and Russian troops, which are also acting in the region as peacekeepers. The pro-Moscow region's self-declared president denied his forces were responsible for any attack. The village of Eredvi, where the incident occurred, "is controlled by Georgian troops," Eduard Kokoity told Russia's Interfax news agency. "There was no shooting from the Ossetian side, and we view this as a provocation." At least five villagers were reported injured at Eredvi in shooting that started early Friday morning, according to Georgian television. The station claimed the attack came from the Ossetians in yet another exchange of accusations in the escalating conflict. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili raised the prospect on Thursday of "ethnic cleansing" in the separatist region after fighting there left four soldiers dead and around 40 people injured. A senior Russian official also sounded an alarm over the latest developments in South Ossetia, a territory located along the Georgia-Russia border which has enjoyed a measure of de facto independence since fighting a war with Tbilisi in the early 1990s. Russia has proposed an emergency meeting of a tripartite Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the dispute and appealed in the meantime for an immediate ceasefire. The United States on Thursday urged Russia and Georgia to end rising tension over the separatist Georgian region. "We are urging Georgian officials to move quickly to avoid further conflict," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said. "We're also making the point with Russian officials that it's important to work with the South Ossetian authorities to end hostilities immediately." He said US diplomats had been in touch with Georgian authorities in Tbilisi and that the message had been conveyed to Moscow in meetings with officials from the Russian embassy in Washington. Ereli also told reporters that the United States backed Russia's call for an emergency meeting of the so-called "Joint Control Commission," a tripartite Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the festering dispute. Georgia's parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding that Russian peacekeepers withdraw from its separatist region of South Ossetia and instead be replaced by international troops. The non-binding resolution has been passed in a 117-3 vote on the same day Zhvania came under fire from South Ossetian troops while visiting the separatist region. Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze was barred from entering South Ossetia's self-declared capital Tskhinvali region on August 13. "The Ossetian side is categorically against my entering the Tskhinvali region. I simply want to pass via Tskhinvali [capital of breakaway South Ossetia] and meet with Georgian population of the breakaway region," Nino Burjanadze said at the Tkviavi administrative border between breakaway South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia. She reiterated that the Georgian Prime Minister is ready to hold talks with South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoity; however, the latter is categorically against. Saakashvili has vowed to reassert Tbilisi's authority over the entirety of his Caucasian country, which splintered into several separatist regions in the wake of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. 2) New Pastors Appointed to Western Prelacy Parishes LA CRESCENTA--On Thursday, the Prelate and the Joint Session of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America announced new pastoral appointments in three parishes of the Prelacy. The appointments, which were based upon the considerations discussed during the 32nd Representative Assembly held in May of this year, will help advance the Prelacy's mission. Rev. Fr. Vrouyr Demirjian was appointed as assistant to the Prelate at the Prelacy and will be in charge of the Christian Education department and Youth Movement program. Rev. Fr. Hrant Yeretsian was appointed as Pastor of Forty Martyrs Arm. Apostolic Church in Orange County. Rev. Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian and Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian were appointed as pastors of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello. Rev. Fr. Khoren Baboushian was appointed as Pastor of St. Sarkis Arm. Apostolic Church in Pasadena. 3) Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School Receives LAUSD Grant ENCINO--Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School was able to obtain a $56,000 grant allocation from Los Angeles Unified School District for use during the school year 2004-2005. The grant was allocated under the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001." A large portion of these grants will be applied toward faculty development programs and approximately $10,000 will be devoted toward attaining scientific resources. In addition, a special grant allowed five elementary teachers to attend the 5-day Governor's Reading Institute this past summer. Through the institute, teachers acquire training in the use of the Open Court Reading series. 4) The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Another Four Years BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN So I think I've finally figured out how this internet thing works. For a system of communication that's supposed to simplify the way we do things, this internet business is pretty confusing. Trying to understand how to work with it when you're coming in at the middle is like starting to watch `Days of Our Lives' midway through the season and understand what the heck is going on. (I still don't know why Stefano is evil or why Marlena was possessed). I've finally set up my web blog. After trying and trying and giving Asbarez readers the runaround, the blog/website is finally up and can be visited at This time it's for real. Feel free to write back and exchange ideas. I don't take things personally, so all types of comments and letters are welcome. After all, everyone has an opinion, and it's not a crime yet in this country to share your opinions openly. Take last week's column for instance. I wrote about the flip-flopping of the Democrats at their National Convention and stated my opinion. In response, I received numerous letters from Republicans and Democrats alike. Republicans praised me for finally seeing the light and Democrats thought I had been sniffing glue. But my column wasn't an endorsement of Republicans. I simply stated my opinion about the Democratic Convention. I doubt anyone would disagree with me when I say that it was probably the most boring week of television up until the Republican Convention later this month. One of the letters I received last week was a forward of a letter to the Editor by an Armenian who is presumably a Republican and was obviously a President Bush supporter. I've decided to share an excerpt from this letter because it illustrates an opinion that I disagree with and is part of my response this week to Armenian Bush supporters. `[T]his Presidential election is not about the issues that both parties are talking about, or who can make the most promises to whichever interest group gives them the most money or votes--because all of these factors are irrelevant. The issue is simply who Osama and his buddies would fear most as President of the United States of America.' I agree with the first part of this statement that says that this election is not about the issues that the parties are talking about because the issues that the two parties are talking about non-issues such as Kerry's war and post-war record. Did Senator Kerry throw medals or ribbons over the fence of the White House in protest of the Vietnam War? Did he throw his own ribbons or someone else's ribbons? Who cares? I don't care if Kerry threw an orangutan in pajamas over the fence because its irrelevant. The real issue in this election is the question that Ronald Reagan asked Americans when he challenged Jimmy Carter and then when he was seeking reelection to the White House against Walter Mondale--`Are you better off today than you were four years ago?' My answer is a resounding `no.' And as for the question of whom Osama and his buddies would fear more? I personally think they would fear someone who was able to restore America's glory and respected position in the world rather than gallivanting around the globe like a vigilante gunslinger from an old Western. I appreciate that there are folks out there that still believe this election is about the War on Terror, but the War on Terror isn't going to put books in classrooms for our schoolchildren. Nor has it helped bring down the cost of colleges and universities or created any stable, long term jobs. The next time you call AOL or any other Internet Service Provider and you wonder why your customer service call is being answered by some young kid living in Punjabi, India, ask yourself why these jobs have left America and why places like West Virginia have an economy that parallels those in the third world. Or the next time you hear about another kid that died in Iraq, ask if he was looking for Bin Laden. Ask where your retirement investments have disappeared to and why the top executives of Enron (Bush's top campaign contributors) are still free and being driven around in limousines. And finally, the next time Vice President Dick Cheney talks about national energy policy and national security, ask how much money his former employer, Halliburton Inc., has invested in Azerbaijan, a country which harbors Al Qaeda cells and hires Taliban fighters to fight against Christian Armenians defending their land in Karabagh. I'm not a fan of Michael Moore and this column isn't my version of `Fahrenheit 9/11.' Nor is this an endorsement of one candidate over another. But, I'm sorry to say that there are a lot more questions to ask in this election that simply who will Osama Bin Laden and his buddies fear more. The real question is not who we will fear more but how long will we have to live being afraid of ourselves, of the world around us, and those enemies out there who relish in terrorizing us and our children. There are too many questions to be asked and no one who is willing to answer them truthfully. I don't want to live in a country where my beliefs and political views are defined by who a nefarious criminal genius fears more. We'll just have to wait until November to see if the rest of America shares my sentiments. Skeptik Sinikian is an angry Armenian-American with lots of useless ideas and opinions. He'd love to hear from you at [email protected] or visit him at All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZES MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
`ARMENIA / THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES’
Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
August 10, 2004
The Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
will hold an international conference on the theme `Armenia/the South
Caucasus and
Foreign Policy Challenges.’ The conference will be held at the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on October 21-24, 2004.
This unique gathering will bring together some thirty-five scholars,
past and present diplomats and conflict negotiators from over ten
countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran,
Europe, Canada, and the US to discuss the foreign policy problems and
prospects of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia as well as the conflict
resolution processes in the region, with special emphasis on Nagorno
Karabakh.
The conference is being organized by Prof. Gerard Libaridian (Department
of History) under the auspices of the Armenian Studies Program at the
University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with the support of the Center for Middle
Eastern and North African Studies, and is being cosponsored by the
Department of History, the Department of Near Eastern Studies, the
International Institute and others at the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor.
The conference will be open to the general public.
Details will be announced later and can be accessed on the website of
the Armenian Studies Program,
Inquiries can be made by writing to [email protected] or by
calling 734-764-0350.

IN JAN-JUNE 2004 TAX REVENUES OF RA STATE BUDGET EXCEED BY 17.7% INDEX
OF LAST YEAR
YEREVAN, August 9 (Noyan Tapan). In January-June of this year revenues
and official transfers of the RA state budget increased by 19.4% in
comparison with last year and made 126 bln, 766 mln drams (about 244
mln dollars). According to the RA National Statistical Service, during
the same period tax revenues to the state budget increased by 17.7%
and made about 409 bln, 475.1 mln drams, revenues of state duties
increased by 5.9% and made 7 bln, 454 mln drams.
Non-tax revenues increased by 129.3% and made 7 bln, 900.3 mln
drams. During the same period, the expenditures of the state budget
exceeded by 11% the same index of last year and made 120 bln, 803.6
mln drams. The proficite of the budget made 5 bln, 962.4 mln drams
during the indicated period.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 6 2004
PROSECUTOR GENERAL MEETS PACE DELEGATION
[August 06, 2004, 15:01:23]
PACE co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan Andreas Gross and Andrea Herkel and
accompanying delegation met on 5 August with Prosecutor General of
Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov.
Prosecutor General first let the guests know that the Azerbaijani
society had appreciated the COE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer’s
statement on illegality of the Armenians intention to hold elections
in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Such objective and unbiased
attitude promotes prevention of separatist tendencies not only in
relation to the Armenia-Azerbaijan but also other similar conflicts,
and reflects fair stance and demands of Azerbaijan, as well, he said.
It was mentioned, however, that Armenia, which holds unconstructive
position in peace process, stating on conducting military exercises
in the occupied territories, that complicates the situation in the
region.
Mr. Garalov also touched upon the issues related to honoring by
Azerbaijan its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe.
He stressed the irreversibility of the political course towards
democracy initiated by national leader of Azerbaijan and founder of
the country’s independent statehood Heydar Aliyev and now being
successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. This is what
constitutes the basis for the measures aimed at building civilized,
secular and legal state, the Prosecutor General said.
He especially emphasized that it was continuation, under the
leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, of the reforms in legal sphere
that allowed to create today all the institutes ensuring practically
human right and freedoms in Azerbaijan. Mr. Garalov informed the
guest on measures taken in the country to improve activities of the
prosecutor’s bodies aimed at protection of the human rights and
freedoms.
Speaking of a number of achievements in development of international
relations gained since the meeting with Mr. Andreas Gross held at the
Office of Prosecutor General on May 20 2004, Prosecutor General Zakir
Garalov told of the efforts being taken by President Ilham Aliyev for
Azerbaijan’s integration into European and Euro Atlantic structures.
The guests were also advised of the work done in the Republic to
perform the obligations in the framework of the international
cooperation, including joining the country the European regional
anti-corruption initiatives, presenting the national report to the
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Prosecutor General assured them that serious anti-corruption
measures base of the Head of State’s political will would be taken in
Azerbaijan.
In conclusion, Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov especially emphasized
the importance of objective and unbiased assessment of democratic
processes taking place in Azerbaijan for stimulating their further
development.

THERE WILL BE VACANCIES ON NATURAL-SCIENTIFIC SPECIALTIES OF HIGHER
SCHOOLS OF YEREVAN AND REGIONS
YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). As of August 2, 13,958 applicants
took examinations in the higher schools of Armenia, 19% of them
received 19 and 20 points, and 13% received unsatisfactory marks. RA
Minister of Education and Science Sergo Yeritsian said during the
August 3 press conference that a 100% excellent result was registered
on the “Persian language” examination: one applicant who took an
examination on this subject received 20 points. According to the RA
Minister, the high result on the “German language” and “French
language” subjects is registered this year: 42% and 35%, respectively.
In comparison with last year works estimated as unsatisfactory were
more on the subject “History of Armenian People” (28% instead of 22%
of last year). According to the RA Minister, the number of applicants
who didn’t come to the examination decreased by 10% in comparison with
last year. 1,120 works have been appealed from July 20 up to
day. Marks of 963 out of them remained unchanged, and they were raised
in 157 cases. The greatest number of appeals was submitted on the
subject “mathematics” (416 cases) and mark were raised in 46
cases. Marks were increased only in 10 works out of 200 works given
for the repeat appeal (by 1 point). The Minister said that parents
were also present at oral examinations this year for the first time,
as a result the number of appeals decreased sharply. Sergo Yeritsian
also said that the vacancies will remain on the line of
natural-scientific specialties as a result of the competition in the
higher schools of Yerevan and the regions. Additional competitions
will be announced for them. The greatest number of the maximal point
(20 points) made 304 on the “Armenian language-1” subject from July 20
to present. And the number of minimal points (below 8) was registered
on the subject “mathematics” – 484.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL DATA, ARMENIA TO HAVE NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS
CONNECTED WITH EXTERNAL DEBT SERVICE DURING NEXT FEW YEARS
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). Expenditures on the RA external debt
service decreased by 25.5% during the first six months of this year in
comparison with the same period of last year and made 4.6 bln drams
(about 8.8 mln dollars).
According to the prognosis of the RA Ministry of Finances and Economy
Armenia will have no serious problems from the point of view of the
external debt service in the case of preservation of the policy
carried out in the sphere of the management of the external state
debt, as well as in the case of preservation of the current rates of
GDP growth, the exports, the revenues of the state budget. Regardless
of the growth of the absolute amount of the external debt, the share
of the privileged credits in the debt structure increased constantly:
as of late 2003, their share made about 93%.
At the same time, if the RA external debt made 43.3% of GDP in 2002,
it made 39.3% of GDP in 2003. As of the end of last year net current
value of the debt made 26% of GDP. 7.6 bln drams were foreseen by the
state budget for the external debt service. The nominal value of the
internal state debt will make 48.5 bln drams at the end of this year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

armenianow.com
July 30, 2004
River Beds: Avan Dzoraget puts guests in the center of nature
By John Hughes
ArmeniaNow reporter
Five months before the latest Tufenkian Heritage Hotel was ready to
receive guests, its Yerevan office was already getting requests for
lodging.
“By February, we were getting emails and phone calls already making
reservations,” says Tufenkian public relations spokeswoman Lilit Hakobyan.
In fact, the Avan Dzoraget is not expected to officially open until
mid-October. Still, it has been receiving guests since the first of July –
visitors who indulge the finishing touches of construction for a chance to
overnight in unique lodging.
A river runs through it
Tucked snuggly into the side of a mountain in the picturesque region of
Lori, Avan Dzoraget enjoys the reputation of its sister Heritage Hotel in
Tsapatagh, on Lake Sevan.
But except for their shared consistency of quality, the hotels could hardly
be compared.
“If we have the spectacular view in Lake Sevan, here, we are in the gorge
and it is completely different,” Hakobyan says.
And completely complementary to Dzoraget’s mountainous environment.
Carefully chosen to blend with nature, Avan Dzoraget’s large-stone gray
façade could camouflage into its companion hillside, except for the
trademark Tufenkian clay-colored tile roof alerting passersby on the main
road to Tbilisi.
The hotel has 34 rooms (the same number as Marag Tsapatagh) and hugs a bend
in the Debed River on what used to be a football field. It is also in front
of residences that house former workers of a nearby hydroelectric plant.
Hakobyan said Tufenkian staff was initially concerned about blocking
villagers’ river view by putting up the hotel. But, prior to starting
construction two years ago, owner James Tufenkian held meetings with
villagers, who consented to the location – especially since it brings 55
jobs, only two of which went to employees from Yerevan.
“The location of the hotel fits our overall concept of being in places that
were historical crossroads,” Hakobyan says.
Just about 30 kilometers from the Georgia border, the company hopes to
attract Tbilisi-Yerevan travelers (and is even considering expanding the
restaurant’s all-Armenian menu to include some Georgian dishes). The capital
cities connection (with constant meetings between internationals in Tbilisi
and Yerevan) might also have been behind the thinking of including an
80-person conference hall as part of Avan Dzoraget.
Dzoraget is the third (there’s also Avan Villa in Yerevan) of a five-hotel,
$11 million project Tufenkian () launched three years ago. A
fourth hotel is planned for Areni and a fifth, also in Tsapatagh.
The hotel’s market strategy is to offer luxury accommodations in an
unexpected location. And, even though new and old guest houses are scattered
throughout Lori, the latest addition is an anomaly.
Rough nature and classy comfort
“At first, locals didn’t understand our concept,” Hakobyan says. “They didn’
t understand why the hotels were located so far (about three hours in the
case of Dzoraget) from Yerevan.
“But eventually they started taking visiting Diaspora there and then started
visiting, themselves.”
The result for the hotel project has been a 60 percent occupancy in the
first year of business for the facility in Tsapatagh “even in the winter”,
Hakobyan says.
When it officially opens in October, Dzoraget is expected to include a
swimming pool, sauna, basketball, football, tennis and a bar located in an
old bomb shelter. Already, though, its 70-seat restaurant has been
functioning since June. Hakobyan says distant plans call for a 150-seat
restaurant that will be located in a building separate from the hotel.
Consistent with the two other hotels, Dzoraget rooms feature distinct
furnishings designed by the owner, using natural materials found in Armenia.
Included are hand-made bed linens, and carpets produced by the Tufenkian rug
factory, its first Armenian enterprise.
Room rates (including VAT and breakfast) are from $58.80 to $142.80.

Valletta Times, Malta
July 29 2004
Marinov urges team to stay focused
Bulgarian coach confident Marsaxlokk could surprise Primorje today
A 1-0 defeat to NK Primorje in their home leg a fortnight ago left
Marsaxlokk with a rather tall order to secure a passage from the
first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup when the second leg is played
today in Slovenia.
Coach Atanas Marinov is aware of the difficult task facing his team,
this summer playing for the first time ever in European club
competition. However, the Bulgarian firmly believes that there is
enough talent in his squad to surprise Primorje today. The Maltese
team, he reckons, stand a good chance of earning a favourable result
and qualification to the next round.
“We start 1-0 down… it’s a difficult match, no doubt. But
qualification for us is not impossible,” Marinov told The Times.
“Our performance in the first leg was very encouraging especially in
the second half. It was our first time in UEFA matches but we showed
no hesitation and I’m convinced we could offer better resistance even
though Primorje are in a better physical shape.
“Before the first leg we only played a couple of friendlies. The
league in Slovenia has not started yet but Primorje had already
played eight warm-ups. Since July 15, our physical condition has
improved considerably… now we’re in better shape.”
At Ta’ Qali Marsaxlokk managed to hold their own against Primorje and
looked a good bet to score a satisfactory result. However, a lapse in
concentration three minutes from the break proved costly for them as
Goran Jolic hit the goal that put Primorje in the driving seat ahead
of the second leg.
For Primorje, this year’s UEFA Cup participation represents a return
to Euro football after failing to qualify last season. Their last
showing was in the UEFA Cup in season 2002-03. They ousted Armenia’s
Zvartnots (agg: 6-3) in the qualifying round before falling to
Poland’s Wisla Krakow (agg: 1-8) in the first round proper.
Marinov may sound confident but he still warned his players to stay
focused and avoid committing the same mistakes as the one that led to
Primorje’s goal at the National Stadium.
“They will certainly go out in search of an early goal. That would
virtually seal the tie in their favour and us facing a mountain to
climb,” he said.
“We must take the field fully concentrated and determined to achieve
a good result. Primorje have to be given the respect they deserve but
we should not fear them or else it’s better for us to have stayed at
home.”
Since arriving in Slovenia, Marinov conducted two training sessions,
both yesterday, and a light warm-up is scheduled for today.
The only injury worries are defender Richard Buhagiar and midfielder
Minabo Asechemie.
Buhagiar seems to have recovered from a foot injury and Asechemie,
who twisted his ankle yesterday, should also be included in the
starting formation.
Marsaxlokk (probable): I. Casha, D. Carabott, D. Camilleri, N.
Slavtchev, R. Buhagiar, C. Magro, J. Pace, I. Zammit, T. Templeman,
D. Bogdanovic, E. Barbara.
Referee: A. Tchagharyan (Armenia FA).