Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

MEET GEORGE YAPCHAIAN: CANCER SURVIVOR AND BIKER

Warren Times Gazette, RI –
hp
July 27 2007

TIVERTON – George Yapchaian, 63, from Tiverton is a businessman,
cancer survivor, and serious biker, who on Saturday, August 4, will
ride 84 miles in one day, from Wellesley to Bourne, to raise money
for Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Mr. Yapchaian’s route is
part of the renowned Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) on the first
weekend in August that will involve 5,000 bicyclists – 200 of them
cancer survivors.

Cyclists from 36 states and six countries will be participating,
pedaling different routes through 43 towns across Massachusetts. The
PMC regularly raises more money (this year’s goal is $27 million)
than any other athletic fundraising activity in the country. Mr.

Yapchaian was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2004 after
a physical exam was negative but blood tests showed elevated PSA
(prostate-specific antigen) levels. He underwent surgery in June,
2004, and suffered a recurrence very early in 2006, which was followed
by eight weeks of radiation that spring. Since then he has had no
recurrences. In gratitude for the care he received at Dana Farber,
he said, and to help others, he took up biking after completing his
radiation treatment, and participated in his first PMC fundraiser
last summer. The 75 mile route he traversed proved so difficult
(it was all uphill, he said) it’s been discontinued. He trains for
this year’s challenge by biking over 100 miles each week, riding six
days weekly. He lives with his wife Frances (a CPA) at the Villages
on Mount Hope Bay. They have two grown children, Matthew, 30, now in
graduate school in fine arts, and Kaitlin, 25, a consultant.

Advice about prostate cancer? "Always have an annual checkup. ask
questions, do research. There’s a network of people out there who’ve
had prostate cancer who are available for discussing the disease or
treatment. [See insert] We call ourselves ‘cancer light’ in comparison
to other more lethal kinds."

How do you train for the PMC? "Right now I ride 100 miles a week.

It’s 18 to Fogland Beach and back. That’s my money ride. Saturdays
and Mondays are off, Sundays I do 50, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I do 18,
Friday 33. Thursdays it depends how I feel."

Why the PMC challenge? "The most important thing about the Pan Mass
is – the people who line the streets are applauding the bikers, there
are people in bandanas, in wheelchairs or who’ve lost people. These
people are yelling ‘thank you.’ I was amazed by that."

How long will your 84 mile ride take you? "I’m budgeting six to seven
hours. You’re riding in traffic."

What’s your greatest fear, riding? "That the friend I’m riding with
will outshine me."

Why are you doing this? "It’s like saying, Dana Farber, you’re doing
as good job. I’m giving a little bit back, a small donation."

Favorite ride? "A loop through Little Compton and Westport. It can
be about 50 miles or 33. It takes about two to three hours depending.

That’s my getaway. I vary it, swap directions."

Magazines subscribed to? "Biking, The New Yorker, Smithsonian."

Dream car? "Corvette Sting Ray. The one with the split window. It
was a 1963 maybe. I think they only made 300."

Favorite food? "Shish kebab. Skewered lamb."

Favorite biking snack/drink? "Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Also energy gels you can get at bike shops in different flavors.

Water. The rule is, drink before you’re thirsty, eat before you’re
hungry."

Childhood ambition? "Garbageman, my family will tell you."

Wildest dream? "Other than winning the lottery, there’s a bike ride
across the state of Iowa that I’d like top do." [See insert]

Greatest regret? "There are too many, you know. Shoulda, woulda,
coulda. Like yesterday’s news. But, yes, there’s one. I don’t have much
knowledge about my family’s history and the Armenian Genocide of 1914."

Pet peeve? "People who drive too close to bikers. Sometimes you feel
they aim for them. There’s a term we have, called ‘skinning.’"

Favorite movie? " ‘Birdcage,’ with Robin Williams. Also the Wallace
and Grommet movies."

Favorite music? "Soft jazz. Diane Krall. Nancy Wilson."

Idea of a perfect day? "Having my family around."

Fondest memory? "Seeing my children born. Sometimes you wish you
could have them back, but….."

Where do you go to retreat? "On my bike."

BABADI FOR ARMENIA’S BANANT FC
By Douglas Bugingo & Lambert Rusoke

The Monitor, Uganda
July 25 2007
Kampala

CRANES holding midfielder Noah "Babadi" Kasule has passed trials at
Armenian Premier League side Banants Yerevan FC.

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) publicist Rogers
Mulindwa disclosed the development yesterday during the Front Page
Fufa weekly press briefing at Mengo.

MIDFIELD TERRIER: Kasule has passed trials at Banants FC of Armenia
and will sign soon. Photo by Eddie Chicco.

"We received a communication from Banants indicating that Kasule
had passed trials with them. And in the same communication, the club
requested us to process his ITC (International Transfer Certificate),"
Mulindwa said.

The federation is yet to consult Kasule’s local club, Uganda Revenue
Authority (URA) for clearance. "Fufa has no problem with releasing
the ITC for Kasule but we have to consult his local club first for
clearance," said Mulindwa.

If the deal is completed, he will join Cranes team-mate Eugene Ssepuuya
at the club.

Prior to joining URA in 2005 where he has been a central figure in
the tax collectors’ back-to-back league titles, Kasule had tried and
failed to secure a move to Europe.

He briefly played for Rwandan army side APR, before vanishing to
Britain, from where he was deported.

Fufa has also decided to lower entry fees for the crunch African
Nations Cup tie against Niger on September 8. Entrance to the open
stands remains at Shs 10,000, while the blue seats have been reduced
from Shs 25,000 to 20,000 and red seats from Shs 50,000 to 30,000.

"This is aimed at showing our appreciation for the huge support we
got during the Nigeria game and also attract a bigger crowd for the
Niger game," Mulindwa said.

Uganda needs to win by four clear goals to stand a chance of securing
a place at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.

In a related development, the Council for East and Central Africa
Football Associations (Cecafa) U-19 Championship has been rescheduled
from August 11th to 18th.

Uganda will send a team to Burundi for the event.

INTERNATIONAL DONORS HELPED BUILD 4853 HOMES FOR REFUGEES IN ARMENIA

Lragir, Armenia
July 25 2007

The Armenian government will carry on the policy on integration of
refugees, stated Gagik Yeganyan, head of the department of refugees
and migration of the Ministry of Territorial Governance, in a news
conference on July 25, ARKA reported. According to Gagik Yeganyan,
in three years the government allocated 2.9 billion drams for housing
of refugees, and 800 families already have houses. This year funds
will be allocated to another 220 families to buy apartments. On the
whole, 4853 apartments and houses were built for refugees, including
on donor money.

As a result, more people have rejected the status of refugee and got
passports of citizens of Armenia. According to Gagik Yeganyan, this
year 76 thousand people got citizenship compared with 6000 in 2002.

"PYUNIK" SUCCEEDED

A1+
[11:46 am] 26 July, 2007

The Armenian football champion "Pyunik" managed to overcome the
obstacle of the first stage of the Champions League qualification.

"Pyunik" managed to beat his rival 2:0 during the meeting with the
Irish "Derry City" team. The first match of the teams ended in a
tie 0:0, thus, the Armenian team will continue the struggle in the
second stage.

In the second stage of qualification "Pyunik" will play with
"Shakhtyor" team from Ukraine. The first match is due at 20:00 on
31 July in Yerevan. The return match is to take place in Donetsk on
8 August.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO LEAVE FOR GEORGIA ON JULY 25 ON THREE-DAY VISIT

Noyan Tapan
Jul 24, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian will
leave for Georgia on a three-day working visit on July 25. V. Oskanian
will meet with Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili during
the visit.

V. Oskanian will visit Ajaria on July 26, where he will meet with
Ajarian Prime Minister Levan Varshalomidze. In Batumi V. Oskanian
will also get acquainted with the conditions of the building chosen
for Armenia’s Consulate General.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, on July 28, the RA Foreign
Minister will meet with ambassadors of a number of countries accredited
in Georgia and with heads of international organizations’ offices.

I AM A SUPPORTER THAT WHO WILL BE ELECTED…

Azat Artsakh Tert – Nagorno Karabakh Republic
July 23 2007

According to the chairman of the local commission of 4/2 polling
district Rena Nersisian, the commission has started the works in due
time, and already at 8:00 ‘clock the first voter voted. Elections
passed in normal conditions, by 12:50, 310 of 837 voters have already
done their civic duty. As the chairman of the commision has noted,
the infingements have not been registered. The course of elections have
been followed by the observers, journalists. For doing the civic duty,
at 13:00 o’clock the NKR presidential candidate Masis Mailian with
his wife visted to the polling district.After voting the presidential
candidate answered numerous questions asked by the journalists." Mr
Mailian with what feeling have you come to vote?".

"With joyful and high spirit, we expect a victory"."What infringements
for this moment and generally during the pre-election campaign
have been fixed by your headquarters?" "We have already presented 9
applications and complaints to the NKR CEC.

Unfortunately, infringements are going on now and we have presented
them in written form to the NKR CEC. "Don’t you think, that speaking
about infringements, you damage to the process of elections, as only
you of all candidates speak about infringements?"."I don’t think so,
if we love our country, we should speak about lacks openly and make so
that our people and the world community shouldn’t be deceived. It is
simply impossible and hasn’t a meaning. If we wish to take the place
in world we should become really democratic country. Everybody should
realize it. The law is the most important, and the president elected
only by the law, establishes legality in the country. However the
world community doesn’t generally recognize NKR. If we shall continue
to carry out elections with infringements, we are not recognized also
in the future. Besides, elections are not carried out for the world
community, first of all they are carried out for our people. And
everything should be lawful, so that in further to have the bases to
insist on our position and that the world community will recognize
our country"

NKR PRESIDENT MET WITH…

Azat Artsakh Tert – Nagorno Karabakh Republic
July 23 2007

On July 20, the NKR president met with the members of RA NA observant
mission led by the Vice-speaker of RA NA Ishkhan Zakarian being in
the republic in connection with taken place free and transparent
elections. Congratulating Artsakh people in connection with taken
place free and transparent elections, armenian observers attached
importance to the significance of these elections from the point of
view of international authority. On the same day A. Ghoukasian had a
meeting with russian observers. During the talk the representatives
of russian observant mission stated the absolute accordance of taken
place elections with the necessary international standards. The
president thanked all the international observant missions set about
the observation of the process and noted that owing to their objective
position and lively work local and international communities could get
comprehensive information about electoral process taken place in NKR
(the acting press secretary of the NKR president reported).

ACCORDING TO NKR PRESIDENT, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NKR HAVE TAKEN PLACE

STEPANAKERT, JULY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Sergey Nasibian, the Chairman of
the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh,
summerized the participation data of the elections and stated that
the presidential elections in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh have
taken place. According to him, 53.8% of applicants had already voted
by 14:00. The number of voters in the Republic makes 91 thousand and
166, according to the national register.

The preliminary results of the elections will be published in 24
hours after the end of the ballot, and as for the final results,
they will be summarized in 72 hours.

It should be mentioned that five candidates are taking part in the
presidential elections: Masis Mayilian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, Hrant Melkumian, the Leader
of the Communist Party, Armen Abgarian, an MP in the NKR National
Assembly, Bako Sahakian, the former Chief of the NKR Security Service,
and Vanik Avanesian, a Professor in the State University of Artsakh.

In response to journalists’ questions concerning the numerous
statements made by the headquarter of Masis Mayilian, according to
which there are infringements in the electoral proceedings, Bako
Sahakian estimated it as black PR, which is being used in Nagorno
Karabakh for the first time. And in response to the question of
whether his rivals will stay at their posts in case he is elected,
Bako Sahakian declared: "My rivals will not be prosecuted. I was
struggling with the "Together for Artsakh" slogan and intend to act
this way in the future as well."

During the whole day of the elections the pre-electoral headquarters of
Masis Mayilian raised alarm warning against infringements being made
during the elections: for example, when the empowered person of Masis
Mayilian was entering the polling station, he stopped Karin Balayan,
a member of the Commission, with a ballot-paper marked opposite the
name of Bako Sahakian in the hand.

It should also be mentioned that Azerbaijan, Turkey, the organization
of Georgia, the Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, a number of European
institutions, and NATO have declared that they will not recognize
the results of the NKR presidential elections.

AZERBAIJAN: ELECTION IN BREAKAWAY REGION

Stratfor
July 20 2007

Bako Saakyan, former head of the security service in Azerbaijan’s
breakaway province of Nagorno-Karabakh, won 85 percent of the vote
in the July 19 leadership election, according to preliminary results
released by the central election committee July 20. Masis Mailyan,
Saakyan’s main opponent, received 10.9 percent of the vote. The
Organization of the Islamic Conference and the French government
condemned the election, while the United States called it fair and
transparent. Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian province, declared
its independence in the 1990s. Azerbaijan does not recognize it.

NKR READY FOR ELECTIONS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 18 2007

"Everything is ready for the presidential elections to be held in
NKR, and there are all prerequisites to conduct them at high level",
the Chair of Nagorno-Karabagh Republic Central Electoral Commission
Sergey Nasibian told DE FACTO.

278 electoral districts have been formed, one of which will be in
Yerevan, at NKR Permanent Representation in RA. 91, 166 people have
been included in the electors’ lists. 65, 5 millions drams have been
allocated from the state budget to organize and hold the elections.

July 17 is the pre-electoral campaign’s last day. According to Sergey
Nasibian’s estimation, this stage of electoral campaign "passed without
excesses". NKR CEC Chair stated only three complains had been lodged,
and they were all made by Masis Mailian’s electoral headquarters. CEC
has given exhaustive answers to all complains.

Ex Director of the NKR National Security Service Bako Sahakian, Deputy
FM Masis Mailian, a deputy of NKR National Assembly Armen Abgarian,
a lecturer of the Artsakh State University, professor Vania Avanesian
and Karabagh Communist Party leader Hrant Melkoumian will run for
the post. The elections will be held on Thursday, July 19. By the
decision of NKR government July 19 is a day off.