Category: News

United States Department of Defense
Aug 13 2004
News Transcript
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Secretary Rumsfeld Press Conference in Baku
SEC. RUMSFELD: Good morning. In my meetings with the
president and the minister of defense, I expressed the gratitude of
the American people, to the people of Azerbaijan for their important
support in the global war on terror. After the attacks on the United
States on September 11, 2001, Azerbaijan was one of the first
countries to offer support, providing valuable access and overflight
rights for coalition aircraft, sending peacekeepers to Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
And today Azeri troops are deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq and
working closely with coalition forces there. In addition, we’re
working very closely together in connection with the NATO Partnership
for Peace effort, which, of course, is a benefit to all 26 NATO
nations, as well as the partners.
In our meetings today with the president and the minister, we
discussed our bilateral defense cooperation. This includes
cooperation with Azerbaijan to help guard against transnational
threats in the Caspian Sea, such as narcotics trafficking, terrorist
transit and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The
American people greatly appreciate the steadfast support of
Azerbaijan in the global war on terror, and we look forward to
continuing to strengthen our military cooperation in the period
ahead.
QUESTION [Via Translator]: Two questions. First of all, Mr.
Secretary of Defense, did you discuss the issue of expansion of Azeri
peacekeepers in Iraq and Afghanistan with President Ilham Aliyev?
And secondly, whether you have been asked for any assistance or
support in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solution as the only Muslim
country Azerbaijan has its troops on the ground in both Iraq and
Afghanistan?
SEC. RUMSFELD: We did not discuss the possibility of expansion of
Azeri troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. We did discuss the fact that
the United Nations is currently undertaking a responsibility under a
U.N. resolution to assist with Iraqi — the upcoming elections and
that the United Nations is soliciting assistance from countries
around the world to provide security forces to assist the United
Nations with respect to the forthcoming Iraqi elections. With
respect to Nagorno-Karabakh, as you know, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Minsk Group, is the lead
organization for facilitating negotiations for a peaceful settlement
of that set of issues.
SEC. RUMSFELD: And we did discuss the fact that the United States,
which is involved in that process, along with three or four other
countries, has recently appointed a new ambassador, Mr. Mann, to
assist. And as you know, the United States supports the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.
Q: Good morning, Mr. Minister, my name is Tom Squitieri, I’m with
USA Today. You heard Secretary Rumsfeld say he looks forward to
further military cooperation between United States and Azerbaijan.
I’m wondering what specific things you would like to see the United
States and NATO provide to your nation’s military to transform it
into a force you think is necessary for your country, and also, have
you considered the secretary’s request about supplying forces to
protect during the Iraqi elections? Thank you.
DEF. MINISTER ABIYEV [Via translator]: As you know, since Azerbaijan
gained independence in 1991, the country has faced lots of threats
and 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories are still under Armenian
occupation. And what we want from the U.S. as our ally and partner
is the U.S. to support Azerbaijan in this conflict and demand that
Armenia immediately withdraws its occupational forces from the
territories of Azerbaijan.
Yes, indeed, there’s military cooperation, security cooperation
between our country is going from year to year, and we highly value
this cooperation, and we’re also cooperating with the United States
in the NATO Partnership for Peace Program. And today we’ll also
discussed the issue of security in the Caspian — also another
important issue for Azerbaijan, another unresolved and important
problem for Azerbaijan, but having said that, it’s a political issue
and only when the political solution is found to this issue then the
military will speak.
Q: [Inaudible]
TRANSLATOR: Say what again?
Q: [Inaudible] response to the secretary regarding the security
[Inaudible]?
DEF. MINISTER ABIYEV [Via Translator]: Azerbaijani peacekeepers are
already in Iraq and they have their mandate to fulfill and they will
continue to carry out their tasks.
QUESTION [Via Translator]: Two questions. First, would like you to
– Mr. Secretary of Defense — to evaluate the threats you think posed
to Azerbaijan by Iran’s possibility to develop nuclear weapons and to
whether you anticipate any measure, or perhaps joined together with
Azerbaijan measures, to prevent this threat? And second question is
the Tehran Times newspaper that was reported recently that Azeri
forces under American trainers — American military instructors —
will be deployed on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran. Would
like your comments on this.
SEC. RUMSFELD: I think the – well, the first thing I would say is
that the world is properly concerned about the Iranian nuclear
development activities. The international atomic energy commission
[sic] representing the world community has been active in inspecting
what’s taking place there and has repeatedly expressed concern. The
Iranians have almost consistently responded to the IAEA in an
unsatisfactory way. That presents a problem for the world.
It’s a problem that is really twofold. One is the potential for a
nuclear capability in that country and the implications for
neighboring nations, as you suggested. The second problem it poses is
one of proliferation. As you know, Iran has been on the terrorist
list for many years. And one of the gravest concerns that the world
faces is the nexus between a terrorist state that has weapons of mass
destruction and terrorist networks. So it’s understandable that the
nations, and not just in this region, but throughout the world, are
deeply concerned about what’s taking place in Iran.
QUESTION [Via translator]: Second part of the question, the Tehran
Times and American military instructors on the border Azerbaijan,
Iran?
SEC. RUMSFELD: Not to my knowledge.
UNKNOWN: We’ll take two more questions.
Q: Toby Zakaria with Reuters. Secretary Rumsfeld, also on Iran, did
you discuss with the president and the minister of defense Iranian
President Khatami’s recent visit here? And did you express any
concerns at all about what appears – some might say what appear to be
growing ties between Azerbaijan and Iran?
SEC. RUMSFELD: Yes and no. We did discuss the subject with the
president of the visit of the president of Iran to Azerbaijan. And
no, we did not discuss various things mentioned in your second
question.
QUESTION (Via translator): ATV Channel. Mr. Secretary, you said
that the United States supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
In this case, how would you explain the fact that the United States
Congress allocates $5 million per year to the secretary’s regime in
Nagorno-Karabakh, and second question is that Saddam Hussein, who did
not fulfill United Nation’s resolutions, was punished. Do you
anticipate anything against Armenia that…
SEC. RUMSFELD: I’m sorry. I was listening here, instead of to you.
Go ahead.
Q: Yeah. And the second question is Saddam Hussein, who did not
fulfill U.N. resolutions was punished. Do you anticipate taking any
measures against Armenia that refuses to fulfill United Nations for
resolutions in Nagorno-Karabakh?
SEC. RUMSFELD: First, I’m advised that the first question involved
simply some humanitarian assistance and I think it’s important to
look at the totality of all of the various types of cooperative
arrangements we have with Azerbaijan and the total number in terms of
dollars comes to a substantially higher number.
As I mentioned earlier with respect to Nagorno-Karabakh, the Minsk
Group and the negotiating process that’s in place and supported by
the international community is under way and we are hopeful that
there can be a peaceful resolution of that set of issues that will be
respectful of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
SEC. RUMSFELD: Thank you very much.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
August 13, 2004, Friday
FEATURE: Being the first Olympic champion is special at the Games
By
John Bagratuni, dpa
Athens
The first Olympic gold medal awarded is special at any Olympics, and
like four years ago in Sydney it will be the winner of the women’s 10
metres air-rifle event on Saturday. At the first modern Olympics in
1896, by contrast, it was the men’s triple jump. The first winners in
1896 and 2000 were Americans, James Connolly and Nancy Johnson, and
they both created plenty of interest. Connolly quit Harvard
University after having a request for leave of absence for the
Olympics turned down. Legend has it that the 27-year-old spent his
life savings for a ticket aboard a German freighter to fulfil his
Olympic dream in Athens. It was well worth the investment as
Connolly, one of 12 children of Irish-Catholic parents from Boston,
won the triple jump Olympic title with 13.71 metres, finished second
in the high jump and third in the long jump. “I breathed into my
palms and waited, taking time to measure the path with my eye while
doing so. “But more than everything else, I was waiting for that wave
of high energy which will come to the man who is gathering himself
for a big try, if he will but wait for it,” the NBC Olympic website
recalled him as saying. The triple jump victory made him the first
Olympic champion in 1,527 years since Varesdates, Prince of Armenia,
who won the boxing event in 369 AD. The ancient Olympics were
outlawed in 393 AD by Roman Emperor Theodosius because he considered
them pagan. Connolly did not return home until May 1896, alone and
unnoticed. He later became a famous journalist and writer. In 1949,
he turned down a Harvard honorary doctorate. He died at the age of
88. Johnson, meanwhile, claimed a surprise air-rifle gold in Sydney
four years ago after miraculously overcoming a muscle-wasting illness
at the age of 17. “The doctors talked me up as a medical mystery
because they never really found out what happened apart from severe
nerve damage and muscle atrophy in my left arm and left side,”
Johnson said. “They indicated that they thought it was MS (multiple
sclerosis) and that I would be in a wheelchair within six months.
“They said ‘forget shooting, forget anything that requires you to use
both hands’,” she said. But six months later Johnson started
regaining feeling on her left side and was back in full health after
intensive physical therapy. The gold in Sydney was the icing on her
recovery. On Saturday, another air rifle athlete will make history as
the first Olympic champion of the 2004 Athens Games. dpa jb adh

Geelong Advertiser (Regional Daily), Australia
August 13, 2004 Friday
Gold medal would lift weight off Olympic team’s mind
EVEN a gold medal at the Olympics can only be considered a minor
salvage job on the wreckage that is Australian weightlifting.
Sergo Chakhoyan will head to Greece as the world No.1 rated lifter in
the 85kg class. He is expected to vie with the host nation’s triple
gold medallist, Pyrros Dimas, for top honours in Athens.
Ultimately, though, anything Chakhoyan achieves will be undermined by
the drug scandals and selection debacle that has battered the sport
in the lead-up to the Games.
Weightlifting has long had more than its share of doping problems —
exemplified by the 11 positive tests at the 2003 world titles — but
Australia had remained relatively clean. Until 2004.
It started with two peripheral squad members, Seen Lee and Anthony
Martin, receiving two-year bans for steroid use. Much worse was to
come, though, as it was revealed Australia’s sole women’s
representative, Caroline Pileggi, refused to take a drug test while
training in Fiji.
Pileggi, too, was given a two-year ban, which she unsuccessfully
appealed, and was replaced in the team by Deborah Lovely.
Meanwhile, questions had been raised about Chakhoyan — who’d already
served a two-year ban for steroid use in 2001 — after the Australian
Olympic Committee could not locate the lifter for three-and-a-half
months while he was training in Armenia.
However, a test in Armenia three months before the Games was
negative.
And against the backdrop of the drugs controversy was a poor world
championship campaign and the debacle of the Oceania qualifiers,
where Australian weightlifting officials sent an understrength team
and then lost a qualifying spot to the tiny nation of Nauru.
Chakhoyan can’t turn things round for the sport but he can win gold.
Fifth at the Sydney Olympics, Chakhoyan won gold and bronze at last
year’s world titles in Vancouver.

Assa-Irada
Aug 13 2004
US Defense Secretary avoids question on Upper Garabagh
BAKU
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held a press conference at the
Heydar Aliyev Airport of Baku prior to leaving Azerbaijan.
Rumsfeld said that in his meetings with President Ilham Aliyev and
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev he thanked the Azerbaijani people for
the contribution to anti-terror operations.
Touching upon the details of the talks held in Baku, the US Defense
Secretary said issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed.
He said the US cooperation with Azerbaijan in this area promotes the
tranquility in the Caspian region, fighting international terrorism,
smuggle of goods, transit of narcotics, and weapons of mass
destruction.
`The American people appreciate Azerbaijan’s efforts at fighting
terrorism globally and our military cooperation will continue’,
Rumsfeld said. He noted that he did not discuss with President Aliyev
the issue of expanding the contingent of Azerbaijani peacekeepers in
Iraq an Afghanistan.
Rumsfeld added that the USA was in talks with its allies on the
upcoming presidential election in Iraq and that he discussed the
issue with Azerbaijani government officials.
He avoided a question on whether the US could step up assistance in
settling the Upper Garabagh conflict and make changes to its policy
in this respect.
`As you know, the United States supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. Washington’, Rumsfeld said and added that Washington was
involved in the Minsk Group.
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev who attended the news
conference called on the United States to demand that Armenia
withdraw from the occupied land of Azerbaijan.
Touching upon the involvement of Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Iraq,
Abiyev said this was a political issue and that he would be able to
address it after a political decision is made.
With regard to Iran’s nuclear program, Rumsfeld said it represents a
threat for the neighboring countries.
Referring to the recent visit by the Iranian President Khatami to
Baku, the US Defense Secretary said he discussed the issue with
President Ilham Aliyev.*

ARKA News Agency
Aug 13 2004
Regional semi-final of 5th international contest of young designers
`New Fashion – World Without Borders’ takes place in Yerevan
NKR authorities returned Azeri military man
CBA plans to resume traditions of conduction of Armenian Chess Cup
The newly appointed Ambassador of Poland to Armenia hands credentials
to RA President Robert Kocharian
ArmenTel CJSC to emit a new consignment of Sim and Easy-Card
beginning from August 16, 2004
CBA publishes bad borrowers list
NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan goes on holiday
*********************************************************************
REGIONAL SEMI-FINAL OF 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONTEST OF YOUNG DESIGNERS
`NEW FASHION – WORLD WITHOUT BORDERS’ TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, August 13. /ARKA/. Regional semi-final of 5th international
contest of young designers `New Fashion – World Without Borders’ took
place in Yerevan. According to the President of Russian Siluet
Foundation, Honorary Member of Russian Arts Academy Tatiana
Mikhalkova, `the contest is an opportunity for young designers to
receive new orders and maybe even work abroad. We would like that
government and private structures supported us’, she said.
According to the Director of `Atex Fashion Center’ Karine Dnoyan, 70
applications for participation in the contest were received from
students and graduates of Armenian and NKR institutes. After 3 rounds
30 young Armenian designers will take part in the semi-final. The
winners will represent Armenia during the final in Moscow in
September.
The organizer of the contest is CJSC Atex Fashion Center. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
NKR AUTHORITIES RETURNED AZERI MILITARY MAN
STEPANAKERT, August 13. /ARKA/. Today, in 14.00 local time at the
Aghdam direction of NKR and Azeri armed forces contact line, NKR
State Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing transferred the
citizen of Baku Samedov Anar Misha ogly to Azeri party.
Transmission was conducted in accordance to the decision of NKR
authorities in mediation of International Red Cross Committee in NKR,
after the Azeri party agreed to receive its military man. During his
stay in Karabakh, Samedov was attended by representatives of IRCC.
Anar Samedov was arrested by NKR Defense Army on August 6, 2004
during trespassing the line of demarcation. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
CBA PLANS TO RESUME TRADITIONS OF CONDUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHESS CUP
YEREVAN, August 13. /ARKA/. CBA plans to resume traditions of
conduction of Armenian Chess Cup among bank’s staff members. Three CB
staff members became the winners of the competition that started two
months ago, they received prizes and memory gifts. First place was
taken by the lawyer of Legal Department of CB Karen Meliksetian, who
received money prize in amount of 50 thousand AMD, second place –
staff member of Department of Information Systems Khachatur
Bakhshetsian, who received 30 thousand AMD, third place – Director of
CB Cafeteria Levon Poghosian, who received 20 thousand AMD.
According to CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsian, CB plans to resume
traditions of the cup. He said that chess in Armenia have serious
traditions and the goal of the bank is to give new impulse to their
future development. `In near future we plan to conduct similar chess
tournaments in commercial banks of the country and then we will
determine the best players of RA banking system and create a team of
banking chess players’, Sargsian said. He also said that
Ardshininvestbank already expressed readiness to provide financial
support to conduction of similar tournaments.
The President and Founder of Armenian Chess Academy, International
Grand Master Smbat Lputian said that `as a chess player he is proud
that chess traditions are restored in the country’. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
THE NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF POLAND TO ARMENIA HANDS CREDENTIALS
TO RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN
YEREVAN, August 13. /ARKA/. The newly appointed Ambassador of Poland
to Armenia Tomash Knotkhe has handed credentials to RA President
Robert Kocharian today. According to RA President’s Press Service
Department, during the meeting Kocharian expressed his satisfaction
with the level of Armenian- Polish relations, noting that they
develop quite dynamically. He also attached importance to the
development of Armenian-Polish partnership in the context of the
European direction of the Armenian external politics. According to
Kocharian, Armenia, on its way to European integration, considers
Poland as a new partner in the frames of EU, who is represented by
Poland.
According to the press release, the parties attached key importance
to the visit of RA President to Poland planned on September 5-7 for
further development of Armenian-Polish relations. A.H. – 0 –
*********************************************************************
ARMENTEL CJSC TO EMIT A NEW CONSIGNMENT OF SIM AND EASY-CARD
BEGINNING FROM AUGUST 16, 2004
YEREVAN, August 13. /ARKA/. ArmenTel CJSC will emit a new consignment
of SIM and Easy-Card beginning from August 16, 2004. According to the
announcement published in the press, SIM cards will be given to
individuals and juridical persons by their free subscription for
them. Cards will be provided in Yerevan and regional departments of
the company.
Besides, according to the announcement, ArmenTel will also provide
Easy-Card to the individuals who subscribed for cards in Yerevan
subscribers servicing centres of the company in November-December
2003. To get an Easy-Card one should submit an application ticket and
passport. The announcement also states that other people, who have
subscribed for cards, will be additionally informed of the supply
with Easy Card.
At the end of 1997 OTE Greek company purchased 90% of ArmenTel
telecommunication company’s shares at $142.47 mln. through
international tender. The rest 10% of the shares belongs to the RA
Government. According to the agreement, signed with the RA
Government, ArmenTel received a monopoly licence on communication
system for 15 years. According to the agreement, OTE was to invest
$200 mln. into the RA telecommunication within first 5 years. A.H.
-0 –
*********************************************************************
CBA PUBLISHES BAD BORROWERS LIST
YEREVAN, August 13. /ARKA/. Central Bank of Armenia published list
containing name of bad borrowes that as of 30 June 2004 had
liabilities to the Armenian commercial banks in the sum more than USD
100 thous. and with the term of more than 180 days. According to
statement of CBA, this publication is stipulated by requirement of
paragraph 3 of Clause 6 of RA law on banking confidentiality. The bad
borrowes list contains 89 enterprises as a whole among which are such
companies as Armenergo CJSC, Intermotor Yerevan Ltd, Armenicum+ CJSC,
Neutron SIE, Nairit Plant CJSC, Sodk Golden Ore Ltd, Kapan Ore Mining
Combine. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT ARKADI GHUKASYAN GOES ON HOLIDAY
STEPANAKERT, August 13. /ARKA/. President of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Arkadi Ghukasyan went on holiday that we would spend outside
the Republic, as NKR President General Information Service told ARKA
today. T.M. -0–

Interfax
Aug 13 2004
Industrial output in Armenia drops 5.8% in January-July
Yerevan. (Interfax) – The monetary volume of industrial output in
Armenia dropped 5.8% year-on-year to 170.7 billion dram in the
January-July 2004, the country’s Trade and Economic Development
Ministry told Interfax.
The greatest decrease – 19.5% – was posted in the gem-cutting and
polishing and jewelry industry. Enterprises in this sector turned out
product worth 71.7 billion dram.
The ministry’s figures show sales of industrial product increased
15.5% to 168.3 billion dram in January-July. Exports were up 9.8% to
143.6 billion dram.
The official exchange rate for August 13: 519.24 dram/$1.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 14 2004
About 20,000 Armenians live in Azerbaijan
The State Statistics Committee (SSC) will hold the next census in
2009, the committee chairman Arif Valiyev told a news conference on
Friday.
Valiyev said that as of July 1, 2004, the population in Azerbaijan
made up 8.300 million people. Noting that 657 officially registered
Armenians live in Azerbaijan according to the census of 1999, the SSC
chairman said that the figure is about 20,000.
Valiyev underlined that Armenians were not requested to produce
documents indicating their nationalities during the 1999 census in
accordance with the UN recommendations.

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Aug 14 2004
Flame lights a Greek revival
John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer

Athens — To rousing cheers of “Hellas! Hellas! Hellas!” the
442-member Greek delegation marched into the Olympic Stadium on a
wave of emotion Friday night as the Opening Ceremonies of the Games
of the 28th Olympiad reached a crescendo of sound and sentiment,
silencing skeptics the world over who had doubted it could be done.
Minutes later, sailor Nikolaos Kaklamanakis lit the Olympic cauldron
to bring to a conclusion ceremonies that ran nearly 3 1/2 hours and
touched upon Greece ancient and modern and upon the nation’s unique
role in the history of the Olympic Games.
“This is the new Greece waiting for you to discover,” said Athens
2004 head Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the woman credited with
rescuing the Olympic bid from internecine squabbles and three years
of mismanagement. “You will be revived. Greece is here tonight. We’re
ready. The Olympic Games — welcome home.”
Perhaps 2 billion people worldwide and 72,000 in person watched as
the 35-year-old Kaklamanakis, familiar to Greeks for his sailing
skills in the Mistral class, touched the Olympic flame to a
needle-like device attached to a fulcrum.
Upon being lit, the stiletto-like device was raised back into
position by a huge counterweight. At that, fireworks went off to more
cheers, and people slowly walked from beneath the stadium’s stylish
arched glass roof into a balmy summer night in this northern Athens
district of Mousassi.
“It was incredible,” said U.S. middle-distance runner Alan Webb.
“Just watching the flame being lit was well worth it. I thought that
was the highlight.” The cauldron will burn continuously for the next
16 days, until the 2004 Summer Olympics conclude on Aug. 29.
American archer Jennifer Nichols said the lighting of the cauldron
“gave me a feeling of awe, like I can’t believe I’m here.”
During the ceremonies, a piece of the pyrotechnics lodged high in the
latticework of a crane outside the stadium and remained burning as
visitors exited to an acrid aroma.
An equally familiar smell was noticeable inside the stadium, that of
fresh paint. Outside, trees had been planted mere days before to
brighten a tableau of dirt reflecting a frantic rush to complete the
facilities in time.
These are the Games that Athens had hoped to host in 1996 for the
centennial celebration of the modern Olympics, which had been
established after a hiatus of 1,500 years. But Atlanta won the bid
instead.
Greeks take almost perverse pride in their last-minute ethic in
getting things done, and indeed they got things done on the most
important day of the Olympics.
But even as all of Greece celebrated the arrival of a sporting
festival developed here in 776 B.C. as a paean to the gods and
revived in 1896 under the precepts of fair play and sportsmanship,
the potential of shame lurked: National hero Kostas Kenteris, the
defending Olympic champion in the 200 meters, faced a possible ban
for skipping two mandatory drug tests.
Kenteris and sprinter Katerina Thanou became the big story Thursday
night and early Friday morning after both missed tests and after a
motorcycle accident in which they were said to suffer minor injuries.
Their cases were being reviewed by an International Olympic Committee
panel hours before the Opening Ceremonies were to begin.
The artistic portion of the ceremony was constrained by time because
the nearly 10,000 athletes from 201 nations had to wait to walk into
the stadium. It was nevertheless classy as more than 2,400 volunteer
performers referenced Greece from antiquity to the present day in
stylized vignettes rolling by on floats.
Greek civilization was presented as an evolution of art, science and
mathematics under the heading “Clepsydra,” described as “a dreamlike
parade depicting stylized figures that look as though they have been
brought to life from Greek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and
paintings.”
The ceremonies quickly transitioned from art to athletes. Competitors
from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe celebrated their time on the global
stage in a slow gambol before spectators and a segregated section of
dignitaries.
Among the royalty, Queen Sofia of Spain attracted the most attention
in her pale lime-green dress and her obvious bodyguards with
earpieces. There was no Fidel Castro sighting, as in Olympics past.
The parade of athletes is always a highlight for its very definition
of human diversity. Attire ranged from ghastly Ward Cleaver-like gray
suits for the men of Armenia to genuine leopard-skin loincloths for
the men of Burundi. The women of Moldova wore silky pink slacks and
pink halter tops above bare midriffs.
Bermuda, true to tradition, sent out grown men wearing black blazers
with red shorts and knee-high black socks.
The U.S. delegation was the largest, with 538 athletes, not all of
whom took part in the ceremonies because of imminent competitions
today. The Americans were casual and well-behaved in their uniforms
from Roots, a Canadian company that caused a marketing furor with
berets at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.
Despite Greece’s relatively proximity to the continuing conflict in
Iraq, the Americans received an enthusiastic greeting when they
entered the stadium, putting them in the same league, ovation-wise,
as Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and nearby Cyprus. Israel was met
mostly with silence.
In contrast to the U.S. delegation, sauntering in six abreast, the
east African nation of Djibouti was represented by one athlete,
tennis player Abdo Abdallah, who by necessity carried his country’s
flag.
The most rambunctious country was Italy, its men specifically. A
number of them mugged for the camera, kissed the lens and tarried to
such an extent they had to be herded back to their delegation by
black-clad production people acting as sheepdogs.
The tallest flag bearer in Olympic history was someone familiar to
U.S. sports fans. Basketball player Yao Ming of China, at 7-feet-5 or
perhaps 7-6, led his country’s delegation clad in cream-colored
slacks and red jacket. During the NBA season, he plays for the
Houston Rockets.
North and South Korea marched in together, most athletes holding
hands above their heads. Earlier in the day, International Olympic
Committee president Jacques Rogge spoke of the possibility of the two
Koreas forming one country as Germany did after the fall of the
Berlin Wall.
While Armenia was noticeable for its drab suits, easily the worst
fashion statement of the evening was turned in by the athletes of
Kyrgyzstan, who wore hats that can only be described as demented
stovepipe Tyroleans, like the Swiss wear only much taller.
In any event, it was hats off to Athens and all of Greece for an
event seven years in the making, three years in the delaying and
finally brought to fruition with frantic effort.
For complete Olympic coverage — including interactive guides to
featured sports — go to sfgate.com/olympics/.

Daily Pilot, CA
LATimes.com
Aug 14 2004
Report: Newport is least multiracial

Marisa O’Neil, Daily Pilot
NEWPORT BEACH – One of the state’s priciest cities also has the
lowest percentage of residents who identify themselves as
multiracial, according to a report released Friday.
“California’s Multiracial Population,” a study by the Public Policy
Institute of California, listed Newport Beach as its “least
multiracial” city, with 1.7% of its population checking more than one
box to describe their ethnicity on the 2000 census. That year was the
first in which respondents were allowed to select more than one race,
including “some other race,” on the census.
Multiracial Californians are more likely to live below the poverty
line than are single-race residents, according to the study.
Statistically speaking, that would limit their ability to live in
places with expensive real estate, said Hans Johnson, co-author of
the report.
“Newport Beach is an expensive place to live,” Johnson said. “Because
it is the case that whites have higher incomes than other groups,
that’s a reflection of the cost of living in Newport Beach.”
The state’s multiracial population has an average age of 24, versus
34 for its single-race residents. That’s a reflection of the
increasing acceptance of intermarriage, shown by more mixed-race
children in recent years, Johnson said.
Johnson also co-wrote a 2002 report that showed Newport Beach as the
least-diverse city in California, with a 90% white population.
Average median home prices in June hovered around the $1.5 million
mark. Median household income in the city was $83,455 in 1999,
according to the 2000 census.
Because Newport Beach has so few minority residents, it stands to
reason that few people in the city would intermarry and produce
offspring, said Scott Bollens, a professor of urban planning at UC
Irvine.
“Throughout the years, [residents] would have less interaction – at
libraries, at community events, wherever – that could lead to the
development of households,” he said.
In 2000 census data, 1,220 residents out of 70,032 identified
themselves as being more than one race. Those included – from highest
percentage of occurrences to lowest – white, Asian, some other race,
black, American Indian and Pacific Islander.
Glendale, at 10.1%, was the “most multiracial,” according to the
report. The city has a large Armenian population that checked “some
other race” and wrote in “Armenian” on the census form, Johnson said.
Statewide, 5% of Californians identified themselves as multiracial on
the 2000 census, according to the report. That was more than double
any other state.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pasadena Star-News, CA
Aug 14 2004
Boy who lost foot remains critical
PASADENA — An 8- year-old boy remained in critical condition at Los
Angeles County- USC Medical Center on Friday after being thrown from
an SUV in a rollover accident and hit by a Gold Line train Thursday,
authorities said.
The boy’s mother, Lena Khodaverdian, 41, was one of three people
killed in the crash, church officials said.
The accident occurred about 10 a.m. Thursday on the eastbound
Foothill (210) Freeway, just before the Madre Street exit. The 2003
Ford Expedition was carrying seven women and the boy, on their way to
a church picnic.
CHP investigators believe the driver swerved to avoid another vehicle
and then flipped, crashing into the center wall and ejecting at least
three of its occupants, who were not wearing seat belts. The boy
landed on the Gold Line tracks, where his foot was severed by a
train.
Members of the Armenian Brotherhood Bible Church on Washington
Boulevard in Pasadena mourned the deaths and worried about the status
of the injured throughout the day Friday.
Alice Basmadjian, 82, who died in the crash, was remembered as a
woman who was always smiling, according to friends at the church. Her
funeral may be held Wednesday, church officials said.
Church secretary Azniv Ailanjian was uncertain about the condition of
the other injured women. Two of the victims remained hospitalized and
two were released Thursday from Huntington Hospital, she said.
Pregnant woman dies in crash; husband hurt
GLENDALE — A crash Thursday on the Ventura (134) Freeway claimed the
lives of a Pasadena woman and her unborn child and seriously injured
her husband, CHP officials said.
Barbara Scollard, 40, died in the accident, and her husband, Craig,
was injured, authorities said. Barbara Scollard was pronounced dead
at the scene of the accident, which happened at 1:48 p.m. Thursday in
the westbound lanes just east of the Glendale Freeway.
Unknown lumps found on Jupiter satellite
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE — Nearly a year after NASA intentionally
crashed its Galileo spacecraft into Jupiter’s atmosphere, researchers
from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and UCLA have detected irregular
lumps, which may be rock formations, beneath the frozen surface of
Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, from data it collected more than
seven years ago.
They report their findings in the current issue of the journal
Science.
The lumps sit in the interior of the icy satellite, with no visible
features associated with them appearing on the surface. The
scientists believe this means near surface ice most be strong enough
to support the bulging masses from sinking to the bottom of the ice
for billions of years. However, the same effect could be caused by
rock piles beneath the ice, according to a written statement prepared
by JPL.
“They could also be in a layer of mixed ice and rock below the
surface with variations in the amount of rock,’ said John Anderson, a
scientist at JPL and the paper’s lead author, in the written
statement. “There are many possibilities, and we need to do more
studies.’
The scientists stumbled on the reported results when studying
measurements of Ganymede’s gravity field during Galileo’s second
flyby of the moon in 1996.
Arcadia police join anti-drinking campaign
ARCADIA — The city and its Police Department will participate in the
national “You Drink and Drive, You Lose’ campaign from Aug. 27 to
Sept. 12.
The crackdown is the first nationwide effort since all states adopted
0.08 blood alcohol level content as the standard for impaired
driving.
During this period, the Police Department will establish a checkpoint
and increase the amount of patrolling in the area.
To report impaired drivers, call the police department at (626)
574-5150.
Concert in the Parks finale set Aug. 31
PASADENA — The finale for the free Concert in the Parks series Aug.
31 will feature the Great American Swing Band at the Levitt Pavilion
in Memorial Park.
The band will perform hits from the 1940s big band era, including
music from Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman among others.
For more information, call the Pasadena Senior Center at (626)
795-4331 or visit
Orchestra to honor Lloyd Webber, Puccini
ARCADIA — The California Philharmonic will perform “Andrew Lloyd
Webber Meets Puccini’ on Aug. 31 at Festival on the Green at the Los
Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
The orchestra will perform music that includes Webber’s “Jesus Christ
Superstar,’ “Evita,’ “Phantom of the Opera,’ in addition to Puccini’s
“Tosca’ and “Turandot.’
The evening begins with preconcert activities at 5:30 p.m. The
concert begins at 7:30.
Tickets are free, but reservations must be made by Aug. 17 to Jerry
Rosengren at (626) 292-1400.
The arboretum is at 301 N Baldwin Ave.
Chorus to present concert and social
ARCADIA — The Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus invites the public to
its sixth annual ice cream social, “Pick Yourself Up,’ on Aug. 22 at
the Arcadia Community Center.
The event begins at 2 p.m. and will feature regional award-winning
quartets in addition to performances by the Verdugo Hills Showtime
Chorus.
The social costs $12 per person and includes ice cream and coffee.
Group discounts are available.
For tickets or for more information, visit
or call (877) SING-OUT or Mary Dakan at
(818) 848-2467.
City of Hope plans informational luncheon
DUARTE — The City of Hope will host a luncheon and discussion on
blood, platelet and bone marrow donations Aug. 26 at the Old
Spaghetti Factory.
Kevin Collins, director of Blood and Platelet Recruitment Programs
Development, will speak about the City of Hope Cancer Center’s most
recent developments in research and treatment and the significance of
donations.
The event will also feature the testimony of a bone marrow transplant
survivor who has depended on blood and platelet donors.
Tickets cost $13.50. To make a reservation or for more information,
call (626) 256-4673, ext. 62347. The Old Spaghetti Factory is at 1431
Buena Vista Ave, Duarte.
To donate blood or platelets, please call (626) 471-7171.