Category: News

The Caucasus mountains, a turbulent crossroads
Agence France Presse — English
September 3, 2004 Friday 3:54 PM GMT
MOSCOW Sept 3 — The Caucasus, scene of a dramatic hostage crisis
that ended Friday with more than 100 dead, is the turbulent home to
scores of ethnic and religious groupings prone to regular outbreaks
of violence.
The mountainous region, roughly the size of California, forms a
natural crossroads between east and west, north and south and currently
comprises three newly independent states — Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia — along with part of the regional superpower, Russia.
The seven Russian republics in the region are themselves highly
diverse, including strife-torn Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, North
Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia, Adygeya and Kabardino-Balkaria.
Dagestan alone, wedged between the Caspian Sea and Chechnya, is
inhabited by 30 nationalities, each with its own language and customs.
Many of the region’s languages are of Indo-European or Turkic origin,
others are indigenous.
Islam is well-established in the Caucasus, notably in Azerbaijan and
several of the Russian republics, but Orthodox Christianity in its
Russian, Georgian and Armenian variants is also widespread.
Its key position made the Caucasus a target for regional empires
including those of the Ottomans and Persia.
More recently the Russians have dominated the region, and many of the
conflicts of the past decade have been exacerbated by administrative
demarcations decided during the Soviet era and the wholesale
deportations ordered by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin during World
War II.
Nationalist sentiment among the rugged, fiercely independent mountain
peoples was never entirely extinguished, and aspirations to self-rule
contributed significantly to the break-up of the Soviet Union.
The first out-and-out conflict erupted in the late 1980s between
Armenians and Azeris scrapping over the remote enclave of Nagorno
Karabakh, administratively part of Azerbaijan but inhabited mainly
by Armenians.
That conflict, like others that have broken out subsequently, has
still not been resolved.
In 1992, in the months following the dissolution of the Soviet Union,
South Ossetia, part of Georgia, fought a brief war with government
forces to claim independence from Tbilisi, while Christian North
Ossetia, part of Russia, battled with Muslim Ingushetia over a
territorial claim.
The same year, Georgia’s western Abkhazia region — with suspected
Russian support — fought a year-long separatist war that won de
facto independence at a cost of thousands of dead and a ruined economy.
In December 1994 Russian president Boris Yeltsin poured troops into
Chechnya to put down a separatist insurgency headed by Dzhokhar
Dudayev. Less than two years later he was forced to withdraw the
troops, leaving rebel leaders in control.
Chechnya’s de facto independence, marked by chaos and warlordism,
lasted less than three years as an incursion by rebels from Chechnya
into Dagestan triggered a further invasion by Russian troops, ordered
this time by Yeltsin’s prime minister and heir apparent Vladimir Putin.
Putin has made frequent claims since then to have stabilised the
situation in Chechnya, usually finding them belied by events.
The Caucasus region, particularly its Russian republics, are also
dogged by lawlessness despite — some say because of — the presence of
Russian troops, with oil-trafficking, clan warfare and hostage-taking
rampant.

ON SEPTEMBER 5 THE RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR POLAND WITH AN OFFICIAL VISIT
ARKA News Agency
Sept 3 2004
On September 5 the President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will
leave for Poland with an official visit by the invitation of Polish
President Aleksander Kwasniewski. According to the RA President’s
Press Service Department, meetings with the President of Poland,
the Leadership of Sejm and Senate as well as the Prime Minister of
Poland are planned within the framework of the visit. Also, Bilateral
agreements on military cooperation and joint fight against organized
crime as well as a memorandum on cooperation between the Union of SME
of Poland and the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development are
to be signed. The main goal of the visit of the Polish delegation
to Armenia, which will last till September 7, is to stimulate the
development of intergovernmental relations, define the priority
directions and tasks for the economic cooperation between the two
countries, as well as exchange opinions regarding the most actual
goals of an international interest.
The diplomatic relations between Armenia and Poland have been
established since Feb 26, 1992. In 1998 an Armenian Embassy was
opened in Warsaw, and the Polish Embassy in Armenia – on Jan 27,
2001. The first visit of the RA President Robert Kocharyan to Poland
took place on July 13-15, 1999. The visit of the Polish President
Aleksander Kwasniewski to Armenia took place on November 14-16, 2001.
According to RA National Statistics Service, the trade turnover
between Armenia and Poland in Jan-July 2004 made $2068,6 thsd. versus
$2042 thsd during the analogous period of 2003. At that, the volume of
export made $28,1 thsd. for the first 7 months of 2004 (in 2003 -$129,5
thsd.), and import -$2040,5 thsd. (in 2003-$1912,5 thsd.). A.H.–0–

Azg Armenian Daily
Sept 3 2004
ARMENIANS PERSECUTED IN IRAQ
IRAN’S PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA
ARKADY GHUKASIAN TO MEET ILHAM ALIYEV
“ARMENIA AGREED TO RETURN SIX REGIONS, EXCEPT SHUSHI AND LACHINE, IN
FEBRUARY, 1994” MAMEDRAFI MAMEDOV. “THE STRONGEST WINS THE WAR”
OPPOSITION TO BEGIN NO ARMED REVOLUTION
ART OF LABOUR
ASILVA’S WORLD OF CLEAR LINES AND COLORS
ASYLUM LEVELS AND TRENDS IN INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES
*********************************************************************
ARMENIANS PERSECUTED IN IRAQ
Gevorg Khurbanian Threatened to Be Killed in Case of Working for
Americans
Basra is the second Iraqi city with major Armenian population after
Baghdad. The Iraqi Armenians who managed to flee to their motherland
tell that last week terrorists attacked the house of an Armenian,
murdered him, wounded his wife and robbed his house. And if there are
still Armenian families in Baghdad then there is hardly one in Basra.
It has been 3 months since Gevorg Khurbanian-Fahradian together with
his wife Zabel Martirosian and 4 children lives in Yerevan.
“My 20-year-old boy was on the edge of death 7 months ago. He was on
his way to buy bread when 3 masked people assaulted demanding money.
He suffered from his nerves for one month after this. Thanks to God
he was not killed. We could but leave the country”, says Gevorg
beginning his story of Iraqi Armenians. Some days ago Gevorg’s
brother who is still in Baghdad called him telling that their
district was bombarded and only miraculously his house were saved.
The brother himself cannot leave Iraq, as he owns several houses and
can’t simply leave his possession for safety.
Gevorg says that there are also many poor people unable to leave Iraq
who have to live day by day with a fear in their hearts. He mentions
about Armenian organizations of America and Syria that regularly send
humanitarian aid to their compatriots.
“One cannot get out of the house after 7 p.m. if anyone is ill he is
destined to die as you cannot take him to hospital. Abduction is also
in full swing, and I am glad that my children are in safety in
Armenia”, Gevorg explains. But the cost of safety was to be high:
Gevorg’s family lives in a hired flat, which is paid by relatives
from abroad, they could find no job in the motherland no matter how
hard they tried and the future looms very dimly.
In Baghdad Gevorg used to be a manager in Italian and Holland
companies, had a high salary reaching 1300-1800 dollars. Armenians
were always treated well in Iraq but the war changed Iraqis attitude
to all Christians including Armenians.
Christians are outcasts in Iraq especially after the recent attacks
on churches. Many flee from the country. Iraqi terrorists threaten
Armenians and forbid working for the Americans. Gevorg himself was
threatened, and two others, Armenian and Assyrian, were killed for
not obeying.
The long-awaited motherland didn’t greet them with outstretched arms,
but instead they often hear from compatriots discouraging words.
The Iraqi Armenians are perplexed at many things. For instance, they
don’t understand how can someone’s age hinder finding a job and that
a policeman demands money for selling fruits and vegetables on the
street. “You will never see such a thing in Baghdad. Armenian
specialists were better off than Arabs themselves. But there is no
job there either”, says Gevorg.
There were 20 thousand Armenians in Baghdad before the war. Most of
them left for Syria, America, Holland, Germany. Neither Gevorg’s nor
other families have been supported by the state after coming to
Armenia. The only aid was from the Red Cross, which is too little to
stay alive.
Regardless the states attitude towards them, Gevorg applied for an
Armenian citizenship for him and for his family. Now he waits.
By Karine Danielian
*********************************************************************
IRAN’S PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA
Does it Interest States Outside South Caucasus?
The president of Iran Islamic Republic Mohammad Khatami will arrive
in Armenia on September 8 for a two-day official visit. President
Khatami visited Azerbaijan on August 5 and is going to visit Turkey
by the end of September.
Mohammad Khatami’s visit to Azerbaijan is important for Armenia as
regard to the Karabakh issue discussed there and Azeris’ indignation
over Iran’s pro-Armenian policy. We can assume that Turkey will also
drive president Khatami’s attention to these issues. Thus Mr.
Khatami’s visit to Turkey should also be viewed as important for
Armenia.
The first vice-president Habibi’s visit to Armenia in 1996 was the
first visit of a high-rank Iranian official ever paid. And now
Armenia is going to host the president of the republic. Armenia is
looking forward to maintaining closer ties with Iran after the visit.
A regular session of intergovernmental commissions of the two
countries is going to be held on the days of president’s visit. Iran
will be represented at the session by the Minister of Economy and
Finances Safrad Hoseyn.
President Khatami is supposed to meet with Robert Kocharian, will
make a speech in the parliament, will visit the Yerevan State
University and will participate in arrangements for high-rank
officials. Taking into consideration Iran’s influence and authority
in the region, president’s visit should reach far beyond the borders
of Armenia. It will be important for Georgia, Azerbaijan as well as
Russia and Turkey. The USA should not be left out from this list as
it is Russia’s rival in maintaining its influence in the South
Caucasus.
By Hakob Chakrian
*********************************************************************
ARKADY GHUKASIAN TO MEET ILHAM ALIYEV
A Legend or A Necessity?
The president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visits Nakhidjevan for the
second time during his tenure. During his last visit in May 12-14 the
Azeri president threatened that if the peace talk give no result then
“Azerbaijan will have to win the occupied territories back by force.”
President Aliyev didn’t threaten Armenia at his last visit on
September 2. He only said that the conflict resolution talks with
Robert Kocharian should carry on.
On September 1 the foreign minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian stated
in his televised appearance that his last meeting with his colleague
Elmar Mamediarov in Prague on August 30 was the most efficient. Mr.
Aliyev’s words that “there is a need for talks today and they
continue around concrete issues” come to supplement Mr. Oskanian’s.
Yerevan occasionally repeats that the best point to start with is the
one reached by Robert Kocharian and late Heydar Aliyev. Kerry Kavano,
former co-chairman at the OSCE Minsk group, used to say that the
sides are incredibly close to the conflict solution. But Heydar
Aliyev turned down the agreement according to which Karabakh was to
be part of Armenia.
The issues being discussed today are perhaps known only to two
presidents and their foreign ministers, maybe also to Karabakh
authorities. Yerevan is willing to start the talks from the Key West
point but Baku is pressing on beginning from a new page.
The position of Nagorno Karabakh is not certain, as Stepanakert is
never asked for a voice. Although Robert Kocharian always mentions
that he represents also Nagorno Karabakh in the talks and that
Karabakh will join the talks at a certain point, in fact Stepanakert
has been a spectator since 1996. Karabakh’s involvement in the
conflict resolution was reduced to Minsk group mediator’s several
visits to Stepanakert.
In 1995-1996 we witnessed the three-way meetings. Armenia was
represented by Vartan Oskanian, Azerbaijan by Tofic Zulfugarov and
Karabakh by Arkady Ghukasian.
We have a different picture today. If Mr. Aliyev ventured to consider
his father’s legacy as a starting point and if Nagorno Karabakh,
according to Key West agreement, was annexed to Armenia, then
Karabakh’s position as a subject of confrontation would be justified.
But Karabakh’s keeping off of the talks can also be justified in case
Karabakh gains its status of 1988. This is the case when Karabakh
remains without Armenian population, this is Azeris standpoint.
In all other possible versions of conflict resolution Karabakh’s
direct participation in the talks is not only desirable but also
necessary. In 1993 due to talks between Stepanakert and Baku
cease-fire was reached along the whole frontline. The same year there
were more than 10 meetings between Karabakh and Azerbaijan
authorities.
Baku’s desire for cease-fire at that time can surely be understood,
as Azeris were loosing one region after the other and there was no
other alternative. As soon as a cease-fire was declared Baku had no
further desire to speak to Stepanakert but rather turn to Yerevan.
If Baku is really willing to reach peaceful solution then sooner or
later it will have to consider Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s de facto
existence. From this perspective, the meetings of presidents of the
two republics, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, will support not only
the conflict resolution but also will create an atmosphere of trust
between Armenians and Azeris. As long as the nations keep distrusting
each other neither of resolution alternatives will work.
By Tatoul Hakobian
*********************************************************************
“ARMENIA AGREED TO RETURN SIX REGIONS, EXCEPT SHUSHI AND LACHINE, IN
FEBRUARY, 1994” MAMEDRAFI MAMEDOV. “THE STRONGEST WINS THE WAR”
Mamedrafi Mamedov, former Azeri Defense Minister, told in the
interview to the Zerkalo, Baku newspaper, that it was possible not
only to stop the military actions but also settle the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict in the February of 1994.
“The meeting of the defense ministers of the sides in conflict took
place in Moscow. A treaty was signed by me and the Armenian defense
minister. According to this document, the Armenians should have
withdrawn their forces from Aghdam and Fizuli in a month’s time,
afterwards, in three months they should have left Zangelan, Kubatlu,
Jebrail and Kelbajar. The parties discussed the issue of Shushi,
Lachine and the status of Nagorno Karabagh. I reported about the
results of the meeting to Heydar Aliyev. For unknown reasons this
plan wasn’t carried out,” Mamedov said.
In response to the question whether the Armenian army was stronger
than the Azeri one, Mamedov said: “You can put this question this
way. But I can’t agree with you. The stronger wins the war. The state
of the Azeri army during those years could bring no victory for us.”
Mamedov expressed doubt about the viewpoint shaped within the
society, saying that, as if Armenians won the war but for Russian
arms and Russia’ s assistance. “The Russian militants helped me much.
You just don’t ask how they did it. I can’t answer this question,” he
said. By the way, Mamedov moved to Azerbaijan from the Russian army
in 1993. Heydar Aliyev asked Yeltsin to allow Mamedov to move to Baku
and lead the Azeri defense Ministry. In 1995, Mamedov again moved to
Moscow.
Mamedov answered the question saying that Russia rendered military
help to Armenia in the following way: “That was more politics than
military help. Russia was building its relations both with us and
with Armenia.”
Mamedov emphasized with regret that he was against the plan
envisaging counterattack in direction of Kelbajar. But Ali Omarov,
Public Prosecutor, managed to conceive Aliyev that there is no
difficulty in conquering Kelbajar. ” It’s hard to say how many people
were killed then, I can’t remember the exact number. My heart will
ache for the perished soldiers and officers till the end of my life,”
he said.
It’s worth reminding that he spoke of the military actions began by
Azerbaijan in direction of Kelbajar in 1993-94 winter. Azeris lost
over 2000 soldiers in the battles that lasted two days. Armenians
lost over 500 soldiers.
On the other hand, Mamedov believes that “the population of Zangelan
and other regions should not have fled from their native villages,
they should have stayed and struggle in the war.” Mamedov finds the
May 12 ceasefire resolution adopted in 1994 defensible. Till now some
people think in Baku that the war should not have been stopped. “We
were conducting military actions, then we stopped and began defense
actions. Thus, the enemy thought that we will have no force to attack
and that they can attack us too. In order to avert this we should
have accepted a ceasefire agreement,” Mamedov said.
Former Azeri Defense Minister finds that his country needs no
American military stations. “I am sure that if American forces are
located in the republic, none will be able to talk of returning the
occupied territories,” he said.
By Tatoul Hakobian
*********************************************************************
OPPOSITION TO BEGIN NO ARMED REVOLUTION
The September 1 sitting of “Justice” union makes us think that the
opposition members will finally define the main components of the
autumn script. Victor Dallakian, Secretary of “Justice” faction, said
that they decided to settle the issue during the congress of the
parties involved in the faction. The congress is envisaged to take
place in the middle of September. The new situation will be discussed
and new decisions will be made during this congress.
Anyway, tactically applied measures (rallies, processions,
demonstrations and meetings with the population) were ratified during
this sitting.
The head of the faction said that the last decision of the Government
to eliminate the areas envisaged for the meetings with the population
didn’t discourage them at all.
In reply to the notice made by Azg Daily, saying that the rallies are
not effective methods for struggle and the opposition should find new
ways for reaching their goals, Victor Dallakian said that there are
two ways of power shift: the first is through the people and the
second is through armed rebellion. He knows no other way of struggle
and they will settle the issue through the people. He is sure that
the wave of rallies is still strong.
Victor Dallakian assured once again that the opposition will ignore
the autumn session of RA National Assembly, as “no change that will
help us return to the parliament is made.”
As for the constitutional reforms, he said that the current
authorities have no right to discuss such a package as the submitted
draft-law underwent only slight amendments. This draft-law was
rejected by the people in 2003.
Moreover, “the current authorities that have violated the
constitution for many times have no moral right to submit a draft-law
on constitutional amendments.”
By Karine Danielian
*********************************************************************
ART OF LABOUR
On September 2, Sonia Balasanian, founder of Center for New
Experimental Art, opened the exhibition of her works done during the
last 15 years at the same center. She considers this exhibition a
unique completion of her creative life, as she displayed pieces both
from her painting and video art.
“I tried to reveal the secret of the relations between the woman and
the man,” Sonia Balasanian emphasizes.
Yeva Khachatrian, curator, coordinated and represented the pieces of
many years in various lines.
“The exhibition is entitled “Labour”. Sonia Balasanian depicts the
birth, life and death of the woman and the man,” Yeva Khachatrian
said.
The pieces exhibited in the Center for New Experimental Art have been
included in the exhibitions at New York contemporary Art Museum, as
well as in many other famous museums of the world.
By Arevik Badalian
*********************************************************************
ASILVA’S WORLD OF CLEAR LINES AND COLORS
Asilva, French-Armenian artist, exhibited her pictures in Yerevan for
the first time. She exhibited her pieces in many countries and
received positive evaluation and prizes. Her pieces exhibited in the
Artists’ Union were transparent and full of harmony. “Hollow,”
“Hope,” “Ararat,” “Light of Silence,” “Obscure Light,” and many other
pieces drew the attention of the viewers. “She has unique energy and
talent, and her exhibition in Yerevan was prepared with love and
devotion,” Henrik Igitian said. He emphasized that today our
compatriots from abroad are dreaming of being exhibited in Yerevan.
This lessens the distance between Armenian and Diaspora. This first
step aimed to find each other are caused from inner necessity. The
artist’s works are full of warmth and bright colors. She confessed
love to Armenia and France. Asilva’s exhibition opened two days ago.
Art critic Shahen Khachatrian said that modern forms and the dynamic
architecture of these forms, as well as the harmonic colors draw
attention of the viewers. Arto Chakmakchian, Canadian sculptor, said
that the pieces are complete and he is sure that many people will
like them, as they are realistic.”
By Melania Badalian
*********************************************************************
ASYLUM LEVELS AND TRENDS IN INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES
Asylum levels in the industrialized world continue to drop sharply.
In 30 mostly industrialized countries 86,800 asylum applications were
submitted during the second quarter of 2004, 8 % less than during the
first quarter.
Asylum seekers from the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro,
China, Turkey, India are still the majority. Armenia is on the 20-th
place. In the second quarter of 2004 as 1,188 asylum applications
were lodged in industrialized countries from Armenia. Looking at the
number of applications lodged in European countries, Armenia is on
the 18-th place (1,056 asylum applications).
Armenians lodged asylum applications in the following industrialized
countries:
Austria 97
Belgium 97
Bulgaria 29
Cyprus 9
Czech 20
Denmark 8
Finland 14
France 264
Germany 127
Greece 11
Hungary 8
Netherlands 48
Norway 10
Poland 5
Spain 17
Slovakia 35
Sweden 140
Switzerland 105
UK 5
USA 139
Total 1,188
*********************************************************************

Armenian speaker calls for expanding relations with Iran
IRNA, Iran
Sept 2 2004
Moscow, Sept 2, IRNA — Armenian National Assembly Chairman Arthur
Baqdasaryan on Thursday called for further expansion of mutual
cooperation between his country and Iran in various areas.
In a meeting with Iran`s Ambassador to Yerevan, Ali-Reza Haqiqiyan,
Baqdasaryan said the forthcoming visit by Iran`s President
Mohammad Khatami to Armenia is considered as a significant factor to
promote bilateral ties.
He also attached significance to Iran-Armenia mutual cooperation,
parliamentary relations and further communication between parliamentary
friendship groups of the two countries.
The Iranian diplomat, for his part, attached significance to
Khatami`s visit to Yerevan and parliamentary cooperation between the
two countries.
“The Republic of Armenia enjoys special status in Iranian foreign
policy. Tehran calls for strengthening stability and security and
economy of Armenia, said Haqiqiyan.
President Mohammad Khatami is scheduled to pay an official visit to
the Republic of Armenia in near future.

Armenian official stresses boosting ties with Iran
IRNA, Iran
Sept 1 2004
Moscow, Sept 1, IRNA — Head of Armenian Constitutional Court Gagik
Harotunyan on Wednesday in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to
Armenia Alireza Haqiqiyan called for bolstering Iran-Armenia ties.
Noting the prospect of cooperation and continuity of Tehran-Yerevan
consultations, Harotunyan called expanding bilateral cooperation in
different fields as `important`.
He referred to the measures taken by Iran to remove financial problems
of Armenia, saying cultural and historical affinity are proper backing
for Iran-Armenia relations.
Harotunyan underlined the need to consolidate regional cooperation
and urged establishment of new frameworks for expanding such relations.
Iranian ambassador, for his part, referred to the growing trend of
mutual relations and called the upcoming visit of President Mohammad
Khatami as a step toward further expanding relations.
He reiterated the Iranian stance on regional cooperation, calling
Dialogue Among Civilizations (proposed by President Khatami) as the
main factor in removing tension from relations.

Minister underlines importance of Khatami`s visit to Yerevan
IRNA, Iran
Aug 28 2004
Moscow, Aug 28, IRNA — Armenia`s Minister of Defense Serzh Sarkisyan
Saturday underlined the significance of a visit by Iranian President
Mohammad Khatami to Yerevan.
In a meeting with Iran`s Ambassador to Armenia Ali-Reza Haqiqiyan,
Sarkisyan underlined growing relations between the two countries in
various areas as well as bilateral and regional cooperation.
The Iranian diplomat, for his part, stressed Iran`s willingness to
strengthen relations with Armenia.
Haqiqiyan reiterated that Khatami`s visit to Yerevan would lead to
further mutual cooperation.
President Khatami is to pay an official visit to the Republic of
Armenia soon.
From: Baghdasarian

Herald Sun
What a smashing match
Anna Cock
New York
04sep04
NICOLAS Massu, fresh from his dual gold-medal triumph in Athens,
threw a temper tantrum of epic proportions during his five-set loss
to Armenian Sargis Sargsian yesterday.
Lasting five hours and nine minutes, the second-longest match in
US Open history was marked by an extraordinary outburst from Massu
after chair umpire Carlos Ramos awarded a penalty game against the
racquet-tossing Chilean at the start of the fifth set. Up 1-0 and
serving, Massu threw his racquet to the ground at 0-30, a third code
violation for which Ramos awarded the game to Sargsian.
Massu took issue with the decision during an animated argument with
Ramos and then with tournament referee Alan Mills.
While Sargsian received treatment for cramp courtside, an infuriated
Massu spoke to himself at length until play resumed.
“I lost control completely for a moment,” Massu said after losing 6-7
(6-8) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.
Arguing with tournament officials for an hour afterwards, Massu told
the post-match media conference Ramos’s decision was “unbelievable”.
Massu said he had not broken his racquet when he threw it for the
third time, arguing it was therefore not a code violation and didn’t
deserve the penalty.
“I didn’t lose the match because (of) that, but it is hard to believe
that this guy (Ramos) didn’t use the head a little bit, the mind,”
10th seed Massu said.
Ramos had issued a warning to Massu in the first set and another
in the second, which resulted in a point loss after he trashed his
racquet by slamming it against a wall.
An emotional Massu said he could not come to terms with the defeat.
“(It) is too much in five hours to believe everything, to fight,
to arrive to the locker, to accept that you lost the match,” he said.
In other upsets yesterday, Olympic silver medallist Mardy Fish was
ousted by Czech qualifier Michal Tabara 6-3 3-6 1-6 6-3 6-3, while
French Open champion Gaston Gaudio lost 6-3 2-6 6-4 6-4 to Swede
Thomas Johansson.
In the women’s event unknown Russian 17-year-old Anna Chakvetadze
defeated compatriot and world No. 3 Anastasia Myskina 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
“I couldn’t believe I could win. I still don’t believe I beat Myskina,”
Chakvetadze said after the match.

MARATHON MAN
By BRIAN LEWIS
New York Post
September 3, 2004
September 3, 2004 — Sargis Sargsian dropped to his knees and
covered his moist eyes, overcome with a mixture of exhaustion
and emotion. He draped an Armenian flag over his shoulders and
celebrated the second-longest win in U.S. Open history — and the
most dramatic of this summer’s classic. He had just upset two-time
Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu 6-7 (8), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6),
6-4 in a marathon that lasted five hours and nine minutes, a tilt
that saw the 10th-seeded Chilean lose first his poise, then the
hotly-contested match on Court 11.
“I lost the match and I’m so [peeved] about it,” Massu said. “I can’t
believe they…what happened on the court is too much. It’s too much
for five hours to believe in everything, to fight…to accept that
you lost the match. It’s difficult.”
It was the second-longest match ever at the U.S. Open, behind only
Stefan Edberg’s 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 win over Michael Chang that
lasted five hours and 26 minutes in 1992.
Sargsian kept his cool, with his serve getting better and better as the
match went on. Meanwhile, Massu showed precious little sportsmanship or
Olympic spirit with an on-court tantrum. “I was too tired to notice,”
Sargsian said. “My legs were [going to give out], so I was just trying
to hold on.”
After spraying a return shot long, Massu dropped his racquet to
the court and yelled at it, as if it were to blame. He battered the
U.S. Open sign with his racquet and got warnings in the first two sets,
and lost a point, dropping the second set 6-4. In the fourth set, he
argued a call with chair umpire Carlos Ramos. He slammed his racquet
down so hard, it bounced up over his head.
Destroying a racquet is an automatic penalty, so Sargsian was awarded
the first game of the fifth set. Massu appealed to famed Wimbledon ref
Alan Mills — serving as Grand Slam ref — but his backhand deserted
him in the fifth set, and Sargsian went on earn a third-round date
with Paul Henri-Mathieu, who beat Taylor Dent.
“I didn’t lose the match because of that, but it’s hard to believe
this guy didn’t use his head. All the players throw the racquet,”
said Massu, who spent close to an hour after the match griping to
Open officials. “I play for five hours, I fight, and this guy comes
and gives me three warnings.”

The Cincinnati Post
Gold medalist out at U.S. Open
By Diane Pucin
Los Angeles Times
EZRA SHAW/Getty Images
Sargis Sargsian celebrates after defeating Nicolas Massu in five sets.
NEW YORK — All day, all night, all around the grounds of the United States
Tennis Center, emotions overflowed.
An Olympic gold medalist howled in despair.
Nicolas Massu, who played a four-hour, five-set match against Mardy Fish in
Athens, Greece, to win that gold, played the second-longest match in U.S.
Open history and lost Thursday night.
On Court 11, packed with cheering Chilean fans for him and noisy Armenian
fans against him, the 10th-seeded Massu was upset by 31-year-old Sargis
Sargsian, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. It took 5 hours 9 minutes, and at
the end Massu bent over, exhausted and disgusted. Sargsian was serenaded by
rooters who had chanted in Armenian all during the match. Only once, in a
1992 semifinal, had a match here gone longer when Stefan Edberg took 5:26 to
beat Michael Chang 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.
Massu broke rackets and carried on a 10-minute argument with chair umpire
Carlos Ramos after being penalized a game in the fifth set for his third
broken racket, one that was bounced so hard it caromed as high as his head.
Massu’s rant to Ramos was profane. His tirade an hour after the match was
angry.
“I can’t believe I lost the match,” Massu said. “It’s hard to believe that
this guy (Ramos) didn’t use the head a little bit. This guy come here, put
to me two, three warnings. If I have to pay something I pay, no problem. But
the third one? Unbelievable.”
The first warning for equipment abuse had come to Massu at 4-4 in the first
set after he wrecked a racket. Ramos gave Massu a point penalty in the 10th
game of the second set before taking away a game from him to start the fifth
set.
In a statement, tournament referee Brian Earley explained why Massu was
penalized a game. “There were three code violations for racket abuse,”
Earley said. “Following the Grand Slam code of conduct, the first code
violation resulted in a warning. The second violation resulted in a point
penalty. The third violation resulted in a game penalty.”
Three crushed rackets had been discarded by Massu, stark proof of his anger.
The Olympic silver medalist didn’t have a good day either. Fish, seeded
26th, quarreled about line calls and hung his head after bad shots instead
of fighting to hit better ones until he left a 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 loser
to Czech qualifier Michal Tabara.
French Open champions grumbled and groaned as well.
Anastasia Myskina, seeded fourth, was dismissed, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in the second
round by a fellow Russian, 17-year-old Anna Chakvetadze who is ranked 175th.
And Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, seeded ninth, was a mostly passive
participant in his 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Thomas Johansson of Sweden.
Myskina considered the performance “a pretty bad match for me,” then said
she was all done in. “I’m really empty right now,” the 23-year-old said. “I
didn’t want to fight. I didn’t want to run. I didn’t want to do anything.”
Paying customers should love hearing that.
Gaudio, too, just shrugged and muttered, “Too bad,” as he walked away from
the court.
But there were sounds of joy around the grounds.
Shikha Uberoi, an Indian American with an infectious laugh, embraced the
gargantuan Arthur Ashe Stadium court, clapped for herself and for her
opponent Venus Williams after good shots for both, giggled with glee when
Williams ended an enthralling rally with a winning passing shot and later
spoke with awe about the way the lights made her racket sparkle.
Uberoi, ranked 275th, fought hard against 11th-seeded Williams before losing
a second-round match, 7-5, 6-1.
Publication Date: 09-03-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Children face deep trauma
The Star Online
Saturday September 4, 2004
PARIS: The children ensnared in the three-day hostage drama in North
Ossetia will have probably suffered major psychological damage and
some may never get over their ordeal completely, a French expert
warned yesterday.
Gilbert Vila, a paediatrician who specialises in child trauma at Necker
Hospital, said a child subjected to a deep shock of this kind was
likely to show a long range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression,
turbulence at school and problems in his family relationships.
“This case is of the gravest kind,” he said. “The psychological
problems will be major.”
Vila has authored several studies into the psychological impact on
children who suffer a catastrophic shock, including a group of primary
schoolchildren taken hostage at their school in the Paris suburb of
Neuilly in 1993.
Detailed research into Cambodian children who were tortured under
the Pol Pot regime and Armenian children who survived an earthquake
shows that, for most victims, the big symptoms will gradually ease
but for a minority, the problems will be lifelong, Vila said.
In those cases, 90% of the children showed significant trauma symptoms
during the first few weeks after their trauma.
That figure fell to 50% after six months, and to around 15% two or
three years later. Some, though, were never completely cured.
In the Cambodian study, “some children who were aged between eight
and 12 years at the time of their ordeal were still experiencing
problems at the age of 30,” he said.
More than half of the children in this category had problems that
seriously hampered their daily life.
As for very young children and babies, “we still lack data” on the
long-term repercussions, said Vila, noting however that there had been
cases of children younger than four “who showed the same post-trauma
symptoms as (US) Vietnam vets.” – AFP