Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Armenian fashion on display in October
Burlington Union, MA
Sept 10 2004
Students of the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts and their
instructors will present fashions from Armenia in New England on
Sunday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. at National Heritage Museum in Lexington.
This event, the first of its kind to be held in the U.S., has peaked
public interest.
Coordinating the program will be four accomplished designers from
Armenia who will present their unique fashions. Nune Aghbalyan and
Anna Panosyan, instructors at the Academy’s Textile Department,
have resumes that include degrees and design coursework in Berlin,
Paris and Barcelona. Kevork Chadoian, 30-year-old, brilliant designer
and 2004 graduate from the Academy will present an elegantly designed
“Armenian Wedding Suite.” ATEX Fashion Salon proprietor Karine Hakobyan
will show her beautiful collection which will include unique fashions
embellished with Marash and Aintab embroideries.
The Fashion and Textile Design Chair was joined to the Design
Department of the Academy in 1999 after overcoming great hardships.
The department aims to give students a sound education, emphasizing
theory and practice a free way of thinking about composition, and
insight on how to find correct functional solutions.

ARMENIA IRAN FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN KARABAKH
RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 9 2004
YEREVAN, September 9 (RIA Novosti) – The presidents of Armenia and
Iran, Robert Kocharyan and Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, came out
for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the hot stage of
which ended 10 years ago.
The sides highly assessed direct contacts between the Armenian and
Azeri presidents and expressed hope that they helped rapidly and
finally solve the issue which would take into account the present-day
realities and ensure the lasting and worthy peace in the region.
The presidents of Armenia and Iran pointed out that the deepening and
bringing closer together the interests of the region’s countries
would make it possible to create a favorable atmosphere for solving
all the conflicts in the Caucasus.
The situation in the zone of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian enclave
on the territory of Azerbaijan, and around it can be described as no
peace, no war situation. When Ilkham Aliyev came to power in
Azerbaijan he intensified bellicose rhetoric and declared that the
republic’s army could return the Azeri territories, occupied by the
Armenian side, by using force. At the same time, Azerbaijan
demonstrates its readiness to give a large-scale status to the
self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic but within a single Azeri
state. But both Yerevan and Stepanakert (the capital of
Nagorno-Karabakh) agree to consider any other issues of settlement
(the return of refugees to the places of their permanent residence,
the liquidation of the Lachinsky corridor which connects
Nagorno-Karabakh with the territory of Armenia, the restoration of
interrupted economic ties, the lifting of blockade from Karabakh and
so on) but not changes in its present status. The Minsk group did not
bring the sides’ stands closer to each other either.
The Armenian and Iranian presidents signed a treaty on the
foundations and principles of cooperation.
The press service of the head of Armenia reported that the
delegations of the two countries also signed a memorandum on mutual
relations on the results of the fifth joint session of
intergovernmental commissions on the Armenian-Iranian ties; the
treaty of cultural cooperation between the two countries in 2004-2007
and a memorandum on mutual understanding between the customs
committee under the Armenian government and the customs service of
Iran on the administrative cooperation in customs issues.
President Mohammad Khatami arrived in Yerevan in reply to Robert
Kocharyan’s visit to Iran in December 2001. The Iranian president
pointed out that when Armenia became an independent state a new stage
in its cooperation with Iran began. Khatami expressed hope that his
visit to Yerevan will help deepen the Armenian-Iranian relations in
all spheres.
The foreign trade between Armenia and Iran in January-July, 2004
amounted to $52.713 million against $45.746 million year-on-year.
Last May a treaty was signed in Yerevan on the deliveries of the
Iranian gas to Armenia and construction of an Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. Now the construction of the Kadzharan tunnel and the
hydroelectric power station on the Araks river dividing the two sides
is being actively discussed.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 7 2004
ADDRESS OF MINISTRY OF CULTURE TO HEADS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND
STRUCTURES, JURIDICAL AND PHYSICAL PERSONS ENGAGED IN ARRANGING
CONCERTS IN AZERBAIJAN
[September 07, 2004, 17:55:49]
Renowned artists from the Russian Federation and a number of
other countries have given concerts in Nagorno-Karabakh province of
Azerbaijan. The other day, singers Nadezhda Babkina, Soso Pavliashvili,
Valentina Legkostupova, Aleksandr Peskov, Irina Otiyeva and rock group
“Chay Vdvoyom” have performed for the “long-suffering Armenians” in
Khankendi, an integral part of the Azerbaijan Republic. Arriving in
Khankendi illegally through the territory of Armenia without reaching
any agreement on the concert with relevant state, public of private
structures of Azerbaijan Republic, the Russian entertainers thus have
frankly shown disrespect for the people and workers of culture of
Azerbaijan. The most distressing is that many of the above-mentioned
artists had had concert tours of and participated in various cultural
events in Azerbaijan more than once. Every time and everywhere they
had been shown respect and hospitality of our people, and many had
been paid non-adequately high fees.
In this connection, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic has
sent a letter of protest to Minister of Culture and Mass Communications
of the Russian Federation A. Sokolov.
Regarding this action by the Russian Artists as a fact negatively
effecting the steadily developing Azerbaijan-Russia cultural ties,
the Ministry of Culture of the Azerbaijan Republic hereby expresses
its resolute stance: these artists will no longer be invited to
Azerbaijan Republic.
Addressing the heads of organizations and structures, as well as
juridical and physical persons engaged in arranging concert in
Azerbaijan, we call on them to hold a civil position, and back the
address of the Ministry of Culture by suppressing such actions in
the future.
Until the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not settles,
territorial integrity of our state is not restored, artists performing
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, irrespective of their
ethnic belonging, are not worthy of being invited to participate in
our mass cultural events.
We express hope that all the organizations, juridical and physical
persons engaged in concert activity will take up our call.
Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic.

Kwasniewski values Armenia’s declaration to sent troops to Iraq
Polish Press Agency
PAP News Wire
September 6, 2004 Monday
Warsaw, Sept. 6
President Aleksander Kwasniewski has said Poland is grateful to
Armenia for its declaration on readiness to sent troops to Iraq
under the Polish command. The president made the statement after a
meeting with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian, who started
an official part of his visit to Poland on Monday.
“We highly value this fact as we know these are difficult decisions
but necessary in the era of common, united war against terrorism,”
the Polish president stressed at a Monday news conference.
The two condemned the recent terrorist attack against a school in
Beslan, Northern Ossetia and declared their solidarity with the
families of the victims and entire Russia.
According to Kwasniewski, Polish-Armenian relations are in a perfect
condition. The Polish president explained that a treaty basis for
closer cooperation, especially in economy had been prepared. On Monday
the two presidents witnessed the signing of the treaty in cooperation
in defence and fighting organised crime.
The president of Armenia stressed that Poland’s membership of the
European Union “has given a new dimension to cooperation” between
the two countries. Armenia wants to use Polish experience in economic
transformation and law adjustment to EU standards.
In the afternoon, President Kocharian received in the Belvedere
Palace Polish PM Marek Belka. Later he visited the parliament where
he met with deputy Speakers of the Sejm and Senate Jozef Zych and
Ryszard Jarzembowski.
Robert Kocharian arrived in Poland on Sunday and was Aleksander
Kwasniewski’s guest at Hel Peninsula. The present visit is his third
paid to Poland.

U.S. OPEN NOTEBOOK
Highlight in quarters
BY ARTHUR STAPLE, STAFF WRITER; Jeff Williams
Newsday
September 5, 2004
Andre Agassi and Roger Federer both looked very strong in three-set
wins yesterday, inching closer to a quarterfinal that would be by
far the most anticipated men’s match of the tournament to date.
Agassi, the No. 6 seed, cruised past No. 25 Jiri Novak, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3,
to reach the final 16 for the 14th time in his 19 Open appearances. He
next faces marathon man Sargis Sargsian, and the 34-year-old Agassi
is smart enough not to look past anyone.
“I don’t really look ahead,” he said. “I know it’s a cliche. It’s a
great problem to worry about when it’s time to worry about it … I
felt like I turned a corner that I needed to turn going into the
second week.”
Federer dominated No. 31 Fabrice Santoro, 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), looking
more like the world’s No. 1 than in his previous two matches. He next
faces No. 16 Andrei Pavel. Unlike Agassi, Federer is already eyeing
the quarters, and for two good reasons. Federer has never been past
the fourth round in three previous Opens and Agassi waxed him in
three sets in the 2001 tournament. The two have split six meetings,
with Federer winning the last three.
“It seems with [Agassi] and [Lleyton] Hewitt, you always know that
you’re gonna be in a real big battle. It would be nice to play
[Agassi] here at the Open, get my revenge, because he got me badly
the one time.”
Sarge in charge
Sargis Sargsian is 31 and his biggest claim to fame in a lengthy
career is his frequent workouts with good friend Agassi. But the
Armenian reached the fourth round with a second consecutive incredible
performance last night.
Sargsian defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5),
a 4-hour, 41-minute match that followed his five-hour, nine-minute
match in his third- round win over Nicolas Massu. Sargsian saved two
match points last night to reach the fourth round for the first time.
Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hrbaty
Dominik Hrbaty has had a Jekyll and Hyde year. He won three of the
first five tournaments he played in, then went through six months of
mostly first- and second-round losses.
In early August, he scored his biggest match win of the year, a
first-round victory over Federer, ending the top-ranked player’s
23-match winning streak.
Now he’s made it to the fourth round for the second time in his
career here, beating popular Paradorn Srichaphan yesterday, 7-6
(10-8), 6-3, 6-3.
– Jeff Williams

Azeri ANS TV, radio to suspend broadcasts in protest at Armenians’ visit
ANS TV, Baku
3 Sep 04
Azerbaijani media outlets have issued a statement in protest against
Armenian officers’ visit to Baku [to attend NATO exercises].
[Passage omitted: Reported details of statement]
We would like to inform our viewers and listeners that ANS TV and
radio will suspend their broadcasts between 1000-1100 [0500-0600 gmt],
1600-1700 [1100-1200 gmt] and 2000-2100 [1500-1600 gmt] on 4 September.

Armenian Fest marks its 8th anniversary
By KEITH J. O’CONNOR, Staff writer
The Republican, MA
Sept 2 2004
Thursday, September 02, 2004
While various towns held “taste” events this summer to sample the
“tasty” fare from area restaurants, it’s the Armenian community
now inviting the public to enjoy a fun day of traditional foods and
dancing with them at their eighth annual Armenian Fest Sunday.
“It’s a time to share our common, everyday foods and our traditions
among ourselves and with other communities,” said Eleanor Demirjian
of St. Mark Women’s Guild.
“And it’s a time to have fun and see friends you only see on occasion
and to catch up on what has been happening with them,” she added.
The event, noon-6 p.m., will be held on the grounds of St. Mark
Armenian Church at 2427 Wilbraham Road, Springfield.
According to parishioner Hagop “Jack” Boyajian, the festival began
eight years ago as a picnic “in the confines of the church hall,”
but soon outgrew its quarters indoors.
“The festival is multipurpose in addition to bringing people together,”
Boyajian said.
“It also serves to sustain the basic needs of the parish such
as meeting gas and electric charges, as well as raising money to
provide charitable funds, such as when we helped those impacted by
an earthquake in Armenia,” he added.
Admission to the festival is free, but money is raised through the
sale of food and other items.
This year’s menu will include hot shish kebab, chicken kebab, and
losh kebab, which is beef and lamb with spices, priced at $10 to $12.
“The dinners come with rice pilaf, salad and bread,” Demirjian said.
Members of the St. Mark Women’s Guild have been cooking around the
clock to stock a bake table where diners can enjoy an appetizer or
dessert “on the spot” or order some to take home. Among Armenian
delicacies for sale will be flaky turnovers called cheese boreg,
spanakopita or spinach boreg, string cheese and boorma, a flaky pastry
with sugar syrup. There will also be a sweet bread called choreg,
stuffed grape leaves and butter cookies.
“Paklava, which is the same as baklava, is a layered filo dough with
nuts, cinnamon, honey and sugar, and is the king of our pastries,”
Demirjian said.
“Our queen of pastries is the boorma, a flaky dough that is a lighter
version of our paklava, with the same ingredients and a nice light
sugary sauce,” she added.
Frozen lahmejune, or flat meat pies, will also be available for sale
to take home by the dozen, Demirjian noted.
“These are flat, like a pizza but with no cheese, and a meat topping
along with spices, peppers, onions and other vegetables,” she said.
To add to the festivities, live music to sit back and tap your toes
or to get up on your feet and dance, will be provided by Hye Echoes.
Visitors can even do a little shopping at this year’s fest where a
“country store” has been set up to sell cracker bread, grains, dried
flowers, a yogurt drink called tahn, Armenian coffee and more.
For those feeling lucky, Anita Assarian will have some fun predicting
fortunes as she reads the future from coffee residue left in a cup
after drinking.
This year’s Armenian Fest will also feature live cooking and dancing
demonstrations.
“We are currently preparing a video cookbook for sale and will be
running a sample of it near the bake table showing the preparations
for several of the baked items we will be selling,” Demirjian said .
To keep the kids entertained, there will be games and a bounce house.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri MP proposes parliament resolution to stop foreign visits to Karabakh
Ekho, Baku
1 Sep 04
Text of E. Faxri’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 1 September
headlined “The ‘NKR’ is attracting foreigners” and subheaded “They
do not believe it in Azerbaijan”
A total of 1,610 foreign nationals from more than 50 countries
were registered at the “foreign ministry” of the “Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR]” (here and after the inverted commas are inserted by
us) from the beginning of 2004 through late August this year. The
consular department of the NKR reports that citizens of the USA,
France, Russia, Iran, Canada, Germany, Syria, Australia, the UK,
Lebanon, Israel, Turkmenistan and other countries have visited the
“NKR”. The number of visitors to the “NKR” rises by the year, the
Armenian media quoted the “NKR foreign ministry” as saying.
This is not the first time that information of this type has been
circulated in the Armenian media. They believe in Azerbaijan that
these reports are unlikely to be accurate. For example, the Armenian
media recently reported that the “NKR” is of touristic interest
to foreign nationals, though the [Azerbaijani] Ministry of Sports,
Youth and Tourism has pointed to the fact that any country respecting
itself would never have touristic contacts with an unrecognized entity
which is not even a member of the World Tourism Organization. Besides,
expatriates are cautious and would prefer to relax in a more stable
region where they would not be exposed to danger. National experts
believe that this misinformation aims at proving to the public that
the “NKR” is living a “full-fledged life”.
Azerbaijani MPs think that if the myths about the visits to the “NKR”
are after all true, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry should, of course,
issue an appropriate note. MP Zahid Oruc says the visits of foreign
nationals to the “NKR” without Azerbaijan’s official consent represent
a violation of the principles of international law – since the world
community has recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The
parliamentarian is proposing that a fuss should be made about “NKR”
visits, as was the cases with the “chess tournament” in Xankandi and a
BBC employee’s visit. “We have to intensify the struggle against these
undesirable elements in the Karabakh issue.” The MP suggests that
the Milli Maclis [Azerbaijani parliament] should adopt a resolution
on visits by foreign citizens to unrecognized Nagornyy Karabakh. In
parallel, he thinks, the [Azerbaijani] Foreign Ministry should
notify international organizations of illegal visits by expatriates
to Karabakh.
Another MP Ramiz Ahmadov expressed quite a sharp position on this
issue. He said the figures by the “NKR foreign ministry” point to the
inaction of the Azerbaijani authorities. He noted that the Azerbaijani
government had many times raised objections against visits by foreign
nationals to the “NKR”. However, he went on to say, the governments
of these countries justify the visits of their citizens by the fact
that these visits are private. Meanwhile, the MP is convinced that
none of the foreign businessmen will invest in the “NKR” without
the permission of his government. “The governments of the countries
indicated in the report approve of the visits of their citizens to
Karabakh. Then, officials of these countries state that the visits
of their nationals are private.” The MP blames everything on the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, which, as he put it, is not even trying
to “punish” the foreign citizens who visit Azerbaijan after this.
In turn, a member of the parliamentary commission on national security
and defence, Alimammad Nuriyev, noted that Azerbaijan should demand
explanations from the governments of the mentioned countries within
the framework of the UN. The MP thinks that the visits to the “NKR”
will continue as long as Baku restricts itself only to statements.
Commenting to Ekho on the information by the “NKR foreign ministry”,
the director of the centre for legal aid to migrants, Alovsat Aliyev,
stressed that the occupied lands of Azerbaijan attract people with
a predisposition to crime. He said that expatriates go to Karabakh
via Armenia and with the permission of the Armenian authorities. The
expert said that the countries whose citizens visit Karabakh should
realize that they are going to sour relations with Azerbaijan in
this way. He said the countries indicated in the report by the “NKR
foreign ministry” should take precautions and stop their citizens
from visiting Nagornyy Karabakh.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 30, 2004, Monday
MOUNTAINOUS TASK FORCE
SOURCE: Rossiya, No. 32, August 26 – September 1, 2004, p. 11
by Leonid Malakhovsky
August has been an uneasy month at the Russian Defense Ministry:
it only has a month to draw up and submit the plans of setting up
and training two new Special Forces brigades, designed for actions
in mountainous landscapes. The president hinted at a recent Cabinet
meeting that he had given this order to the defense minister long
ago and time has come to see the results. Sergei Ivanov managed to
put off the report for the only month, within which the documents to
be submitted to the president are to be given their definitive form.
Ivanov’s forgetfulness is unlikely to be the reason why he proved to
be unprepared to report to Putin. Military analysts say that this
issue involves many problems and couldn’t be settled on impulse,
due to the specific existence, training and actions of the future
Special Forces brigade.
As a matter of fact, the present-day army structures have nothing
of what had been earlier called the professional mountainous unit.
Mountainous Special Forces of the 128th Regiment of the 7th Army
stationed in Armenia were among the last to cease its existence after
disintegration of the USSR. The units, which shielded mountain ranges
across the former Soviet border, were disbanded too. Russia’s modern
map has the Caucasian Mountains alone, which make the hottest spot
for a decade already.
>>From the very beginning the Chechen campaign made the security
structures to face a problem: how to act against gangsters in the
mountains? (…) Until now, the gangster groupings feel safe in
the mountains, which enables them to make blazing raids into calm
regions. When they faced the local landscape, Russian militants
said they’d be using bomb and artillery strikes to get rid of the
guerrillas. To all appearances, this phase has passed and it has been
decided to use the Special Forces units to capture the separatists.
This is where the notions were substituted. Common Special Forces
units were taken into the mountains. However, it is very hard for
them to act under specific conditions.
Finding the manpower for the mountainous Special Forces units is
the major problem which the Defense Ministry has encountered when
it started working out the concept of mountainous Special Forces
brigades. It was proposed to use the experience of those who had been
to Afghan mountains. This experience matters indeed, but since that
time those servicemen who are still in the army have grown to ranking
positions. Where could one get a platoon or a company commander? No
educational institutions are training mountainous officers. Skills
of mountainous operations were formerly taught in Vladikavkaz, but
this institution doesn’t exist for a long while.
(…)
By the way, the problem, which the Defense Ministry is trying to
settle now, had emerged in the Border Service much earlier. At
the initiative of Konstantin Totsky, former commander of the Border
Service, the border guards started formation of a special border unit
(as far as is known, in the vicinity of Mineralnye Vody). The border
guards, trained how to act in the mountains, equipped according to
the climate conditions and armed with most up-to-date weapons were
sent to the most vulnerable sectors of the Russian-Georgian border.
This was when the Border Service started forming an assault unit.
This group was to appear in 2003. When our reporter inquired about the
situation in the unit now, the regional border service headquarters
in the North Caucasus avoided any details and said that all border
guards assigned to this region are initially mountain shooters. It
could be that existence of new border units in the south of Russia
is indeed a military secret.
Very likely Yevgeniy Podkolzin, former Airborne Troops commander,
has unveiled this secret. In his words, in its due time the General
Staff refused to form a mountainous unit which could be used in
Chechnya. Besides, the general criticized the idea of using the
common Special Forces, even GRU Special Forces units. It is not
about weak professional skills of the Special Forces. Broad theaters
of operations, especially the mountains which require professional
skills, become extremely vulnerable.
It happened so: where mountains rise, the military and other security
structures form mountainous units. The Russian Defense Ministry wants
to keep pace with time. However, in Kyrgyzstan the National Guards
are fulfilling this mission (analog of the Russian internal troops).
The Pantera Special Forces unit, the first to be formed there,
excelled itself in the elimination of bandit groupings in Batken in
1999-2000. One more mountainous unit has been formed now. All officers
are being prepared in Turkey, which has educational institutions for
training mountainous Special Forces soldiers.
Ukraine is also involved in the innovations: its internal troops have
two units of mountainous shooters, which are stationed in Balaklava
and Simferopol. Given experience of our neighbors it is possible to
calculate the cost of a mountainous Special Forces unit.
Given the habitual allowance of a soldier from the plains, special
equipment is added in the mountains. Each soldier of a mountainous
Special Forces unit has above 40 pieces of individual ammunition, not
including the team equipment (tents, fuel, avalanche tents, etc.) –
20 pieces more. In addition, such units require most state-of-the-art
firearms, ammo and food. According to the most modest calculations
a mountain shooter is by tens of times more expensive than a plains
shooter.
However, the huge spending is unlikely to become the stumbling
block for creation of new military units in Russia – mountainous
Special Forces brigades. As promised by Ivanov, jointly with the
border guards such soldiers will cover the mountain passes of the
Big Caucasus neighboring Georgia, which is a strategic task. Military
experts tend to think that instability in this region, generated by
irreconcilable Chechen recluses has spurred up the Defense Ministry
to accelerate this step. The hastiness with which the mountainous
Special Forces are being born gives the only cause for concern. Any
trifle to be forgotten in the offices may cause adversity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Aug 26 2004
12 MLN TO FOR INCREASED SECURITY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)
stopped for repair and recharge on July 31. According to Armenian
energy minister Armen Movsisian, this year the overhaul of the plant
has been exceptional: both two turbines and a reactor are repaired at
the same time. Some 12 mln USD will be invested to rise security
measures at the plant this year. According to him, about 40 mln has
been invested since the re-operation of the plant.
Once again the minister mentioned that unless an alternative
energy source with the same capacity is available in Armenia, it is
senseless to speak about shutting down the NPP. In case of proper
funds are available selection may be made among two alternatives – a
new nuclear power plant or a thermal power plant. In any case, the
100 mln USD suggested by European Union is not enough to build an
alternative energy source. Some 1 bln USD is necessary for that
purpose.
According to the minister, security level of the power plant is
rather high at present, meets all international requirements and
poses no danger of itself. According to NPP chief architect Movses
Vardanian, works on security are made compatible with international
standards. Due to rise in security guarantees, the plant can safely
operate until 2016.
Speaking about recharge of NPP, Armen Movsisian mentioned that
nuclear fuel has been already transported to Armenia and is now in
the plant. All the nuclear fuel is now in the cooling basin. Czech
Shkoda is now doing the repair of the reactor. Works will be over in
5-6 days after which the fuel will be moved to the reactor. Yesterday
a discussion at NPP reported that works go according to timetable and
the plant will be put into operation on October 4.