Author: Vardanian Garo

ARKA News Agency
July 29 2005

AN EXHIBITION OF MANUSCRIPTS AND WORKS OF ART OF NOR JUGHA WAS
LAUNCHED IN THE HOLY SEE OF ETCHMIADZIN

YEREVAN, July 29. /ARKA/. An exhibition of manuscripts and works of
art of Nor Jugha was launched in the treasure-house “Alek and Mary
Manukyan” in the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. According to the Press
Chancellery of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, 30 manuscripts were
exhibited, part of which though were not reproduced in Nor Jugha,
however are the constituent part of the Armenian culture of Iran.
According to the press release, the Director of the Museum of the
Holy See of Etchmiadzin, bishop Paren Avetikyan touched upon the
history of the Iranian Armenians, beginning from 1604, when Shah
Abbas by force moved to Isfahan (capital of Persia) thousands of
Armenians of Jugha (where they founded the city Nor Jugha – “ARKA”).
According to the Bishop, though that event was one of the black pages
of the history of Armenia, nevertheless it fostered the extension of
the relations of Armenians with Europe and East. He noted the role,
which residents of Nor Jugha played in the development the social and
cultural lives of Iran.
The Head of the Department for Manuscripts of Holy See of Etchmiadzin
Vardan Devrikyan was engaged in the exhibition preparatory work.
To note, before 2010 exhibitions introducing 400-year history of the
Armenian community of Nor Jugha and its culture, will be organized in
various countries o the world. The exhibitions are organized due to
the efforts of the president of the cultural center “Peria” Masis
Baghdasaryan. A.H.-0-

US State Department official says next Armenian-Azeri talks may be “crucial”

Arminfo, Yerevan
28 Jul 05

Baku, 28 July: US Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky has said
that the next meeting scheduled to be held soon between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents might be crucial in the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. Dobriansky is paying a two-day visit to Baku in
connection with the forthcoming parliamentary election in Azerbaijan.

Dobriansky met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev yesterday evening,
but the meeting is said not to have discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue, Yerkir reported. To all appearances, the senior US diplomat and
the Azerbaijani president talked about problems in the run-up to the
election. Dobriansky noted that the world community would closely
follow the election.

TURKEY ADDRESSES NOTE TO SWITZERLAND ON PERINCEK CASE

Azg/arm
28 July 05

Armenian Genocide denial is a punishable offence in Switzerland. 3
years in prison await every denier according to the penal code of the
country. In this regard, it was not strange perhaps that the chairman
of Workers’ Party, Dogu Perincek, was detained for interrogation in
Winterthur, July 23.

Perincek was detained for “Armenian genocide is a great international
lie” statement uttered during celebration of 82d anniversary of the
Lausanne Treaty. He was release after Turkish Foreign Ministry
interfered.

Among the set of measures that Turkish authorities took concerning
this incident, Turkish NTV singles out on July 27 Turkey’s note that
is to be handed to Swiss ambassador to Ankara and to Swiss authorities
in Berlin today. While Switzerland is still to respond to the Turkish
note, the Perincek case is still under investigation in Winterthur,
otherwise NTV wouldn’t says, “Even if Perincek case gets suspended,
Turkey will still push for the note”.

Dogu Perincek, former convict, is a Maoist. He organized the march in
Switzerland together with Turkish nationalists. As the majority of
Turkish Maoists, Perincek seems also to enjoy good relations with
secret services of Turkey.

By Hakob Chakrian

PanArmenian News Network
July 26 2005

BURJANADZE: ARMENIAN PM HAS CORRECT AND FRIENDLY STAND

26.07.2005 03:38

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At their July 25 meeting Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan and Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze
discussed problems of Samtskhe-Javakheti region populated by
Armenians. During the conversation the parties touched upon the
incident in Samsa village, where there had been a fight between a
group of Georgian students and local population over belonging of the
local church. Burjanadze appreciated Armenian PM’s stand over the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region. In her words, `one should not focus on the
not very pleasant fact that has occurred in Samsa.’ At the same time
she noted `most population has taken quite a correct stand.’
Burjanadze reported a number of projects, specifically, road
restoration, will soon be implemented in Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
Georgia has asked US for assistance to accomplish the project as soon
as possible, the Speaker said. In her words, the Armenian PM has
proposed for the Governments of Georgia and Armenia, as well as the
Georgian and Armenian Churches `consider and decide for good the
issue of belonging of any church to avoid misunderstanding in the
future.’ `The Armenian PM has an absolutely correct and friendly
stand. Everyone should understand that sowing discord between the
Armenian and Georgian population means just playing into our enemies’
hands,’ the Georgian Speaker said, reported Novosti-Gruzia.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 25 2005

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT AND RA PRIME MINISTER TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

YEREVAN, July 25. /ARKA/. Georgian President Michael Saakashvili and
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan will discuss in Tbilisi issues
of development of cooperation between the two countries. According to
ITAR-TASS, in the course of the meeting the sides will discuss the
relations between the countries and prospects of developing the
cooperation between Georgia and Armenia.
To note, Margaryan arrived in Georgia on July 24 by car. Georgian
Prime Minister Zourab Nogaideli met Margaryan on the border of the
two countries. Nogaideli stated that “issues of economic cooperation,
mainly issues of joint development of border regions” will be
discussed. According to Margaryan, Armenia and Georgia “by joint
efforts will develop border regions” A.H. –0–

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION SET FOR COMMITTEE-LEVEL CONSIDERATION:
COSPONSOR LIST FOR H.RES.316 REACHES 102

WASHINGTON, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) is working in Washington, DC and
in communities around the nation to generate support for Armenian
Genocide legislation that is slated to come before the House
International Relations Committee. It appears likely at this time that
the Armenian Genocide measures (H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195) currently
before Congress will be considered and acted upon by the influential
panel. “We welcome the willingness of Chairman Hyde and the
International Relations Committee to formally consider and act upon
Armenian Genocide legislation,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “We
especially would like to express our gratitude to George Radanovich
for leading the effort and building on his decade-long record of
principled and energetic leadership on this issue, to voice our
gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Armenian Caucus – Joe Knollenberg
and Frank Pallone – for generating a powerful, bipartisan
constituency, and to share our special appreciation for Adam Schiff’s
vital role in ensuring Committee level action on Armenian Genocide
legislation.” “We look forward to working with our friends in focusing
our collective energies on defeating Turkey’s genocide denial machine,
to ensuring favorable consideration of these measures by the
International Relations Committee, and to securing final passage of
legislation reaffirming the Armenian Genocide by the House of
Representatives,” added Hachikian. H.Res.316, which was introduced by
Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), calls upon the President to ensure U.S. foreign
policy reflects appropriate understanding of the Armenian
Genocide. The resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past
U.S. hearings, resolutions and Presidential statements, as well as
references to statements by international bodies and organizations. As
of today, a bipartisan group of 98 Representatives have already agreed
to cosponsor this measure. H.Con.Res.195, introduced by Rep. Adam
Schiff, was offered following direct negotiations with House
International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL). The
Chairman agreed to Committee-level consideration of Armenian Genocide
legislation in return for Rep. Schiff tabling a planned June 8th
Armenian Genocide amendment to the House Foreign Relations
Authorization bill. The agreement addressed serious concerns on the
part of the Administration and Congressional leaders that the Schiff
Amendment – which had strong prospects of passing – would overshadow
the White House meeting, held that same day, between President Bush
and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. This measure, which is in the
process of being amended, reaffirms the Armenian Genocide within the
broader context of regional relationships and addresses Turkey’s
efforts to join the European Union. According to Capitol Hill sources,
the Turkish Ambassador and his lobbyists – including the Livingston
Group – are actively making the rounds to members of the International
Relations Committee, seeking to block any action on U.S. reaffirmation
of the Armenian Genocide. As part of this effort, the Livingston Group
has been distributing a four-page genocide-denial document to
Congressional offices. A third, non-Genocide related resolution that
may also be considered by the International Relations Committee deals
with Turkey’s illegal blockade of Armenia. This measure, H.R.3103,
introduced by Rep. Schiff, calls on Turkey to “comply with the
long-standing position of the United States that in order to restore
economic, political, and cultural links with Armenia, Turkey should
immediately lift its ongoing blockade with Armenia.” In addition, it
would require that, “Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
appropriate Congressional committees a report that outlines the steps
taken and plans made by the United States to end Turkey’s blockade of
Armenia.” The ANCA supports the adoption of this measure by the
U.S. House at the earliest opportunity.

Wine history link to jar of grapes in ruler’s harem
By Maggie Beale

China Daily, China
July 22 2005

2005-07-22 06:04

Questions from reader Paul Murphy prompted this week’s article on
wines of ancient times. Basically, 1) Were wines aged to last in
Roman times? 2) Were there vineyards before then? 3) Did the Romans
teach the French (in Provence) how to make wine?

Wine-making skills of the Romans most probably came via the ancient
Greek colonies in Sicily and southern Italy. Homeric texts (8th century
BC), record that matured vintages of Greek wines were accorded great
reverence – probably akin to that awarded to 19th and early 20th
century Bordeaux today.

Wall paintings on Egyptian tombs, circa 3,000 BC, show workers pruning
vines with a curved hand-tool very similar to the small scythe still
used in parts of rural Greece and Italy today. Several such implements
and ancient links to wine have survived centuries of wine making.

“Think of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon 605-562 BC. The giant bottle
holding 20 regular bottles of wine is named after him. He drank wine
before the Romans ever tipped a goblet,” historian diplomat Massimo
Baistrocchi told me some time ago.

According to the great Greek historian Herodotus, (circa 484-425 BC)
Persians loved wines. Called the “father of history” by Cicero, he
wrote nine books on the wars between Greece and Persia containing
much incidental information on life at the time.

Baistrocchi says, “There is one tale which says wine was discovered
by accident in Persia, when one from the ruler’s harem found a great
jar of grapes which had been stored for some time and fermented
naturally. She poured a cup for her master and (presumably) became
his favourite!”.

Even older Armenian legends say Noah planted the first vines near
Erivan. And the Libation Scene in the “Standard” of Ur panel (Ur was
an ancient city of Sumer, South Iraq, precursor of Babylon) dates
from early 3,000 BC. A hollow box, decorated with scenes of the times,
including wine drinking, is now in the British Museum. Amusingly, one
side shows a potentate drinking from what looks like a Martini glass!

Earliest records of wine in Egypt are inscribed on the stoppers of
amphorae found in pre-dynastic tombs. The kings even had their own
named vineyards: Rameses III (1198-1166 BC) was one. Hmm, imagine
that label.

Baistrocchi recalled, “The Romans not only brought wine to France but
also to the Nahe Valley of Germany over 2000 years ago. Viticulture
tools have been unearthed around the spa town of Bad Kreuznak; you
can see them in the local museum there”.

Busy as they were, the Romans weren’t the first to plant vines for
wine. You have to look further east for that. As reported in the China
Daily edition of June 23, 2003, “25 kilos of vintage wine from the
Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) was discovered in a nobleman’s tomb
in Shaanxi Province during construction excavation, and its raw lacquer
seal has kept it perfectly airtight”. Some controversy surrounds the
colour of the wine – it’s green. Most likely the reaction of the wine
with the bronze container. It’s doubtful anyone has tasted it.

Certainly, wine culture has spread all over the world, to South Africa
since 1688 and Australia when the first commercial vineyard started
in 1827. But that’s a mere bagatelle when compared to ancient Roman
and Chinese wines.

Did the Romans teach the French to make wine? Most probably they
shared an amphora or two – it’s the convivial nature of wine drinking,
don’t you agree? And one thing soon leads to another.

Maggie Beale is an international food and wine critic and judge;
and president of Wine Writers Circle.

The Messenger, Georgia
July 15 2005

PRESS SCAN

AiF: new hope for Abkhaz railway

The Russian newspaper Argumenti I Facti reports that Minster of
Transport of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin has held negotiations
in Georgia, where it was agreed that Georgia is ready “to open the sky”
for Russian airplanes.

According to the paper, the agreement means that Russian airlines
will be able to carry out as many flights and routes as possible.

Georgian airplanes will retain the right to deliver cargoes only to
Moscow. It was also agreed at the negotiations that starting from
August 1 Georgia will abolish quotas on the international automobile
transport.

“But the most important thing is that there is hope to restore the
railway connection through Abkhazia. For Russia it means the access
to Armenia and Iran. Only 1.5-2 years are necessary for the repair
of the railway. Georgia always linked the restoration of the railway
connection with the return of refugees to Abkhazia,” the paper writes.

However, Argumenti I Facti also states that the Georgian government
is now concerned not about the return of the refugees but the ensuring
of security of the 40-50,000 people who have already returned.

The paper notes on a tangent that the Georgian and Russian sides could
not agree on the sale of the main gas pipeline that supplies Armenia
with the gas to Gazprom. “Georgians, according to the Americans’
advise, rejected the promise they gave two year ago,” the paper states.

BritishBoxing.net, UK
July 13 2005

A rundown on Magee and Eastman’s opponents
by Michael Weber
Jul 13th 2005

New foreign correspondent Michael Weber gives British fans a run down
of the two opponents who will face Brian Magee and Howard Eastman on
Saturday.

Firstly Vitaly Tsypko who is 15-0 with 9 ko’s:

Brian Magee is facing the tall Ukrainian for the European
championship and is still unbeaten and one of the greatest talents in
the super-middleweight division.

He set his mark in the division when he beat the former Commonwealth
champion, Charles Adamu, in 2004. It was the first defeat of Adamu
and the win of the WBA International title for Vitali. He defended
the title twice, versus Alexander Zaitsev (UD 12) and Lawrence
Chapman (UD 12). He also had a IBF world championship eliminator
fight when he faced Jeff Lacy in 2004, but the fight was a “No
Contest” due to a Tsypko cut caused by a headbutt.

The technically well-schooled Ukrainian, who is also able to knock
his opponent out, is one of Europe’s prospects for the next
generation in this division. He is actually ranked at number 5 with
the WBA, 9 with the WBC, 12 with the IBF and 4 with the WBO. He wants
to fight for a world title at the end of this year or in spring 2006.
But first of all he has to struggle with the experienced Brit.

Unbeaten Arthur Abraham who comes to the ring in a ‘Smurf’ hat is
next for Michael’s thoughts:

Together with Jermaine Taylor and Felix Sturm, Arthur Abraham is
supposed to be one of the future rulers of the middleweight division.
The 25-year-old Armenian who started as a sparring partner of Sven
Ottke is hitting extremely hard. Only the young Canadian prospect Ian
Gardner could go the distance with him.

Under his KO victims there are guys like Hector Javier Velazco,
Roberto Mario Vecchio, Nader Hamdan and Branko Sobot who lost in a
title fight against the ruler of the super-middleweight, Joe
Calzaghe. And there are many who already compare Arthur with the
young Calzaghe. Sinan Samil Sam once said that Abraham hits like a
heavyweight.

The fight versus the Battersea Bomber on Saturday will prove whether
Arthur is ready for a title fight. Howard Eastman will have to show a
top performance to win this fight. Will his experience be enough to
stop the young knockout specialist?

HACKER ATTACK

A1+
12-07-2005

July 9 internet users were deprived of the possibility of visiting
website.

The problem is that Friday evening the server was hacked. Presently
the website is unavailable. `We do know who the hackers are and why
they did it. Presently reconstruction works are being carried out. The
site will start functioning in a few days’, chairman of Investigating
Journalists public organization Edik Baghdasaryan said.

To note, it’s the first attempt to hack the website. According to Edik
Baghdasaryan, recently publications about trafficking have been placed
on the site, however the journalists hesitate on the real reason of
hacking .

P.S. By the way, hackers could not remain indifferent about the survey
of A1+. They got interested in the subject of the week and distorted
the results of the survey.