Category: News

The Irish Times
August 17, 2004
Keeping the past of a maritime republic alive
Letter from Venice/Patrick Comerford: The “Queen of the Adriatic” is
a city of over 100 islands and 400 or more bridges. But few visitors
give themselves a chance to get lost in its narrow alleyways or to
discover the unique and colourful minorities that have been part of
Venetian life for centuries.
Jews have lived and traded in Venice since 1381. In 1516 they were
forced to live in the New Foundry or Ghetto Nuovo, a tiny island
still linked by three small bridges to the rest of Venice. But by
then their numbers were being swollen by new arrivals from Spain and
Portugal, from central Europe, and from Greece and Turkey. Europe’s
first Ghetto was soon too small for the Jewish community, which
spilled out into the neighbouring Ghetto Vecchio and Ghetto
Nuovissimo, and Napoleon tore down the walls and gates of the Ghetto
in 1797.
About 200 Venetian Jews were deported to the death camps in
1943-1944, and only eight returned. But today there are about 400
Jews in Venice, including 80 or so in the Ghetto, their numbers
boosted in recent years with the arrival from Rome and New York of
enthusiastic, pious Hasidic Jews. Four synagogues remain open in the
Ghetto area: the Scola Tedesca and the Scola al Canton, built by
German and French Jews between 1528 and 1531, are virtual museums.
But the Scola Spagnola, built by Spanish Jews at the same time, still
alternates Saturday services with the Scola Levantina, built by Greek
Jews in 1538, complete with a hip-level screen inspired by the
iconostasis or icon-screen of Greek churches.
A significant Greek community has lived close to Ponte dei Greci (the
Bridge of the Greeks) since the 11th century, when the first Greek
artisans arrived to decorate Saint Mark’s Basilica and many of the
early churches of Venice. They expanded significantly with the influx
of refugees following the Turkish capture of Constantinople in 1453.
The church of San Giorgio dei Greci, with its leaning belltower, was
built at a cost of 15,000 gold ducats between 1539 and 1573, and the
vivid iconostasis or icon screen was painted by Michael Damaskinos,
the greatest Cretan iconographer of the day and a contemporary of El
Greco.
As the Serene Republic lost its Greek colonies in the 17th and 18th
centuries, Greeks continued to flood into Venice, and their presence
helped to spread classical culture throughout Europe. A whole Greek
neighbourhood took shape around the church on the banks of the Rio
dei Greci, and at its peak the Greek community numbered 15,000
people. But Napoleon’s abolition of the Republic of Venice in 1797
marked the beginning of the decline of this prosperous community as
their assets and church treasures were confiscated. However, a
convent of Greek nuns and their girls’ school survived until 1834,
and until 1905 the Greek College provided Greek communities in the
Ottoman territories with educated priests and teachers.
Despite their decline in recent generations, the small Greek
community continues in Venice. The Collegio Flangini now houses the
Hellenic Institute for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies, a museum
in the former Scuola di San Nicolo dei Greci displays a unique
collection of icons, and San Giorgio dei Greci has became a
cathedral, with an archbishop living in the old palace.
Close to Saint Mark’s, the Calle degli Armeni is in the heart of the
old Armenian quarter. By the end of the 13th century, the Armenian
community had a secure presence in Venice, finding their niche as
tradesmen and moneylenders. The church of Santa Croce degli Armeni
was founded in 1496 and the procurators of Saint Mark paid annual
visits in recognition of the “well-deserving and most-favoured
Armenian nation.” The city’s best-hidden church is now locked except
for Sunday services, and the most conspicuous Armenian presence is
out on the lagoon on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, where a
monastery was founded on the former leper colony in 1717 by a group
of Armenian monks expelled from the Morea in Greece by the Ottoman
Turks.
The monks of San Lazzaro survived Napoleon’s confiscations because of
an indispensable Armenian in the imperial secretariat. Byron spent
six months here, learning classical Armenian and compiling a
dictionary. But, despite the proximity of the Lido, the monks are
virtually undisturbed by visitors. On the afternoon I arrived, only
half a dozen others got off the vaporetto. As he took me around the
library with its 200,000 precious manuscripts and books, the museum
with its Egyptian sarcophagus and mummy, and the gallery of Armenian
paintings, Father Vartanes explained that there are only eight
Armenian monks left on San Lazzaro and no more than 10 Armenian
families in Venice.
When evening falls and the tourists leave Venice, the dwindling
numbers of Jews in the Ghetto, the Armenian monks on San Lazzaro and
the remaining Greeks of San Giorgio are left alone once again.
The proportion of native Venetians who live here continues to decline
rapidly as wealthy Italians from Milan and Turin snap up properties
on the market. Even the Venetians are becoming a minority in their
own city.

Gulf News
August 17, 2004
SIX SHARE LEAD AFTER SECOND ROUND IN MASTERS
Yasir Abbasher, Staff Reporter
A total of six players shared the leadership in the Masters
Championship at the ongoing 14th Abu Dhabi International Chess
Festival with two points from as many rounds. They will face each
other in the third round to decide the shape of the top of the
standings.
Second seeded Russian GM Mikhail Kobalia beat Uzbekistan IM Tahir
Vakhidov in the second round and will face his countryman GM Dmitry
Bocharov who defeated Iranian IM Morteza Mahjoob.
Kazakhstan GM Pavel Kostur beat IM Faruk Bistric from Bosnia and will
face GM Geleizerov Evgeny from Russia who defeated IM Emad Hekki from
Syria.
Armenian GM Ashot Anastasian beat UAE’s GM Taleb Moussa and will face
IM S Kidambi from India who beat GM Saidali Iuldacev from Uzbekistan.
In second place with 1.5 points are 13 players including top seed GM
Kazakhstan’s Evgeny Vladimirov, GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM
Ramachandran Ramesh and IM Neelotpal Das, all from India, GM Shukhrat
Safin and GM Marat Dzhumaev, both from Uzbekistan, GM Mikhail Ulbin,
GM Ramil Hasangatin and GM Konstantin Chernyshov, all from Russia,
France’s IM Yannick Govvoli, Armenia’s IM Artashes Minasian and
Iranian IM Elshan Moradiabadi.
UAE’s young woman player Amennah Mohammad Saleh was among the 42
players who shared the lead in the Open Tournament with two points
with her countrymen Ali Mahmoud, Ali Abdul Khalig, Ebrahim Mohammad
Khory, Meshaal Moussa, Mansoor Abbass, Hamed Abdul Razzag, Fahad
Ahmad, Eisa Mohammad Khory, Ahmad Abbass and Khalid Khamis.
The leader’s list also featured Germany’s Markus Huster, Bosnian
Boric, Iran’s Shirin Navabi, Egypt’s Ehab Al Sayed, Azerbaijan’s
Bajarani, Avlan Arsitosa and Dizon Manny from the Philippines,
Nicholas D. from Britain.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
August 17, 2004, Tuesday
FEATURE: History takes centre stage at 2004 Olympics
Athens
More than 116 centuries after a Roman emperor abolished the Olympics
because of its pagan roots, ancient Olympia will once again take
centre stage with the shot put competition on Wednesday.
The same day the Panathinaiko stadium in Athens will see the medal
round in the women’s archery competition – the first Olympic final
there since the start of the modern era Games in 1896.
Nestled in a valley covered in pine trees and laurel, the venue at
Olympia will play host to around 80 shot putters from at least 47
countries. Up to 15,000 spectators will watch them, sitting on the
grassy slopes around the stadium, rather than seats, as they did in
ancient times.
The plan to hold the men’s and women’s competition at the ancient
stadium will mark the first time since the Games began in 776 BC that
female athletes will be allowed to compete there. It will also be the
first time women spectators are allowed in.
In ancient times, any woman caught watching the event, where men
competed in the nude, were punished by death.
Spectators lucky enough to attend will pass through an impressive
arch to their places around the arena of the remarkably preserved
stadium, which dates to the 4th century BC.
In its heyday, the stadium had a capacity of 40,000.
Although the shot put was not part of the ancient games, organisers
decided to hold the event at the ancient stadium because it requires
little space and can be completed in a single day before dusk.
“I believe it will be a fantastic spectacle. Just imagining that the
first Olympics were staged there is an amazing feeling,” said German
shot putter Astrid Kumbernuss.
“We will be very careful not to break anything,” she added of the
stadium, which is now a World Heritage Site.
In their infancy, the games took place in just one day, expanding
later to a five-day Olympic festival. In line with its ancient
significance, organisers have decided to keep the event simple with
no corporate banners and the bare minimum of electrical equipment.
The stadium is located next to the ancient temple of Zeus, whose
massive marble columns, crumbled in an earthquake, can still be seen
as a testament to its former glory. The temple once featured a huge
statue of the prominent Greek god, listed as one of the seven wonders
of the ancient world.
The Games were abolished in 393 AD by Roman Emperor Theodosius, who
had adopted Christianity and considered the Olympics a pagan ritual.
His decree ended an uninterrupted 1,169-year Olympic tradition.
The women’s shot put winner – likely Irina Korshanenko or Svetlana
Krivljova of Russia – will be the first Olympic champion in Olympia
since Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369 AD.
When the modern Olympics were revived in 1896 at the Panathinako
stadium or “Kalimarmaro” in central Athens, more than 17,000
spectators were on hand to witness the first Olympic victory by
American James Connolley in the triple jump.
On Wednesday, the famous stadium which is hosting an Olympic
competition for the first time in 108 years will award the first
medals in the archery event.
The marble stadium, also the finish of the marathon races later in
the 2004 Games, underwent a costly modernisation of its marble
structure as Greece welcomed the Games back home. dpa cp jb ms

A 121.6% REAL GROWTH OF GDP PROVIDED IN NKR IN FIRST HALF YEAR
STEPANAKERT, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). A 121.6% real growth of GDP was
provided in the NKR in January-June of this year. According to the NKR
National Statistical Service, the volume of industrial output made
7,608 mln drams (about 14.63 mln dollars), which is more by 15.5% in
comparison with the first half of 2003. The volume of the gross
agricultural output made 5,754.3 mln drams, or more by 52.2%. Capital
construction of 3,356.9 mln drams (a 10.7% growth) was carried out in
the NKR during the period under review. Foreign commodity circulation
made 51,772 thousand dollars (139.5%), including the exports –
17,808.5 thousand dollars (136.3%) and the imports – 33,963.6 thousand
dollars (141.3%). In the first half of 2004 the average mothly nominal
salary of one employee made 38,157 drams, which is more by 17.8% in
comparison with the same period of last year.

MOUNTAIN-CLIMBERS OF “SPITAK” RESCUE CENTER ARE GOING TO CONQUER SEVEN
TOPS OF TRANSCAUCASIA TILL OCTOBER 2004
YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Members of the “Spitak” rescue
center are going to conquer tops of seven mountains of Transcaucasia
(Kazbek, Elbrus, Sipan, Nemrut, Demavend, Aragats and Hustup) till
October 2004 in connection with the 175th anniversary of Khachatur
Abovian’s and Fridrikh Parrot’s climbing mountain Ararat.
Mountain-climber Karen Amamchian, a member of the “Spitak” center,
told NT’s correspondent that the center needs financial support for
the implementation of the indicated program.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARCHEOLOGISTS FIND IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE OF PRESENCE OF PALEOANTHROPUS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14. ARMINFO. An Armenian-French archeological
expedition has found new traces of the primitive man, paleoanthropus,
that inhabited the coasts of paleolakes in the Aparan hollow of the
Aragatsotn region of Armenia.
Talking to ARMINFO, the Head of the expedition, researcher at the
Institute of Archeology and Ethnography, RA National Academy of
Sciences, Boris Gasparyan pointed out that the Armenian-French
expedition worked in July-August 2004 in the vicinity of the Aparan
hollow and of the canyon of the Kasakh River. The expedition members
found about 4,000 items of obsidian and other stones, many bones of
mammals, birds, as well as fish and cockle-shells.

ARMENIAN CHURCH OF ST.PETER CELEBRATES ARMENIAN HOLDS FESTIVAL OF
TRADITION AND CULTURE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16. ARMINFO. It was a festival of tradition and
culture in Watervliet (state New-York) Sunday. St. Peter’s Armenian
Church held its annual Armenian Festival. The church has been a staple
of the community for more than 100 years and enjoys sharing their
food, music and heritage with the Capital Region. Bob Meeson, Parish
Council Chairman, said, “We all come together to enjoy Armenian food,
dance and music, and for a good cause — it helps us keep our church
growing and alive.” A Penny Social Auction was also held to raise
funds. Local merchants and members of the parish donated items that
were auctioned off to those in attendance. The proceeds are going
toward building a new addition to the church

NET PROFIT OF ARMENIA’s BANKING SYSTEM TO TOTAL 9.4BLN AMD BY 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16. ARMINFO. The net profit of Armenia’s banking
system is expected to make up 9.4bln. AMD by 2005, and 11.1bln. AMD by
2007. Bankers forecast that almost all profit expected by 2005 will be
directed to increasing the capital. Only three banks intend to pay
dividends totaling 290.3mln. AMD before July 1, 2005.From that time,
three other banks are to perform this operation, and their dividends
are to amount to 2.4bln. AMD.
If the forecast profit and carrying amounts are ensured by 2005, the
ROA of Armenia’s banking system will make up 2.8% and the ROE 24.2%.
According to bankers, changes in the income-expense structure of the
country’s banking system will be caused by further reduction of
interest rates, increase in the share of assets, improvement of the
credit portfolio and introduction of modern technologies as a result
of a necessity for new banking services.
According to bankers, in the incomes structure, interest incomes will
increase from 26.4bln. AMD to 33.7bln. AMD and noninterest incomes
from 13.8bln. AMD to 17.2bln. AMD January 1, 2005 to January 1,
2007. In the expenses structure, interest expenses are expected to
increase from 8.9bln. AMD to 10.8bln. AMD and noninterest expenses
from 18.1bln. AMD to 22.3bln. AMD. As a result, incomes are expected
to total 51.4bln. AMD and expenses 40bln. AMD by 2005, and
64.3bln. AMD and 49.2bln. AMD respectively by 2007. As a result, the
balance profit is expected to increase from 11.4bln. AMD to
15.1bln. AMD.
According to the RA Central Bank, the net profit of Armenia’s banking
system totaled 4.3bln. AMD in the first half of 2004. By June 1, 2004,
the total capital had been 55.7bln. AMD, assets 310.9bln. AMD. In the
first half of 2004, total incomes were 25.6bln. AMD, and total
expenses 20.2bln. AMD. As a result, balance profit totaled
5.3bln. AMD.

DWELLERS OF MINAZ APPEAL TO COURT AGAINST BP COMPANY
AKHALKALAKI, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Dwellers of the village of Minaz
(Minadze) of the Akhaltskha region appealed to the court against the
British Petrolium (BP) company in connection with the construction of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeihan oil pipeline, which is carried out by this
company. According to the “A-Info” Agency, the reason for the
complaint of the dwellers of Minaz is that their houses greatly
suffered from shocks taking place as a result of the traffic of heavy
machinery used for the construction of the oil pipeline: some houses
are already considered as accident-prone and are under threat of
destruction.
Dwellers of the village demanded that BP should compensate for the
damage, the latter refused to compensate. According to the BP company,
corresponding testing was carried out in the village for checking the
level of shocks taking place as a result of the traffic of their
transport means, and the level of chocks was determined. The company
is sure that the traffic can’t influence the constructions of the
village. BP representatives think that the trumbledown state of the
houses of Minaz is connected with the landslides of the local land.

CASES OF ILLEGAL BUILDING BECOME MORE FREQUENT IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Unauthorized building and illegal
seizure of land is still widely spread in Yerevan and Yerevan Mayor’s
Office is anxious about this fenomenon. Grigor Melkumian, the Chief
Adviser of Yerevan Mayor, said this at the August 16 press
conference. Meanwhile it was mentioned that the struggle against
unauthorized building has become rather active compared with the
previous years. According to him, 1,974 signals about urban
construction and land use spheres were received at Yerevan Mayor’s
office in January-July of 2004 (in the first half-year of 2003 their
number made 919).
On the basis of them 867 facts were grounded as illegal building and
land seizure (compared with 72 cases of the previous year) and 325
buildings were destroyed and dismantled (compared with 32 buildings
destroyed and dismantled last year). 107 cases of administrative
violations were discussed in the committee in the above-mentioned
period. According to G.Melkumuian, lately unauthorized buildings have
been discovered in Acharian 17 and Artsakh 59b addresses and in the
territory adjoining Shirak street. And unauthorized attics built by
residents were discovered on the roof of the building situated in
Abovian 23.
The Chief Adviser of Yerevan Mayor mentioned that the illegal
buildings and constructions that correspond to the norms of urban
construction are found as a state property by the court and are ruled
by the Mayor’s Office. According to G.Melkumian, such structures may
be put on direct sale or auction after getting a state
registration. Meanwhile, it’s possible that these structures may be
obtained by their former owners.
The Adviser of Yerevan Mayor didn’t exclude that some responsible
officials who are aware of illegal construction may not inform or give
a signal about this in time. 2 employees of Yerevan Mayor’s Office
were dismissed and 3 called to disciplinary account for this very
reason.
G.Melkumian also informed that 17 additional posts were allocated for
the Urban Construction and Land Control Department of Mayor’s
Office. Competitions for occupying them will be held in the middle of
September. A new division of modern technologies and information will
be opened in the department.
From: Baghdasarian