Category: News

STATE REGISTER TO APPEAL TO COURT SOON WITH PURPOSE OF LIQUIDATION OF
NON-REGISTERED PARTIES
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The State Register will appeal to
the court soon with the purpose of the liquidation of the Armenian
parties non-registered after the approval of the new law “On Parties”
in November 2002. The total number of these parties makes 51. Edik
Margarian, Chief of the Department on Registration of Public
Organizations, Unions of Non-Commercial Juridical Persons and Mass
Media of the State Register Agency, told NT’s correspondent that these
parties didn’t submit applications on self-liquidation. He mentioned
that the documents necessary for the liquidation of 33 parties are
already ready, and it is also necessary to prepare the documents of 18
other parties. It should be mentioned that the “Gardmank” Party and
the Agrarian Party non-registered after the approval of the new law
have already wind up their activities. ARF Dashnaktsutyun, “Pedagogues
of Armenia”, the Nationalistic Party of Armenia, the “21st Century”
Democratic National Party and the “Victory and Democracy Unity” Party
have already submitted applications on self-liquidation, and they will
be also liquidated soon.

Azeri official downplays Karabakh polls, war games
Ekspress, Baku
10 Aug 04
Text of Alakbar Raufoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on
10 August headlined “The Armenians are deceiving themselves”
“By conducting the so-called local government elections and military
exercises in Nagornyy Karabakh, the Armenian separatists are trying to
comfort themselves and this cannot affect the settlement process in
any way,” the head of the foreign relations department of the
Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov, has told
Express.
“Azerbaijan’s economic and political potential is great and our army
is getting stronger. Concerned about that, the Armenians are trying to
present themselves as being powerful in order to find out what
Azerbaijan’s reaction will be. They organize such activities in order
to comfort themselves. But they are only deceiving themselves. In
other words, they are trying to say that we are there and this is what
we can do,” Mammadov said.
The official added that the OSCE and other prominent international
organizations have stated that they do not recognize the Karabakh
elections.
“Everyone knows that the separatists’ actions are illegal. As for the
military exercises, they don’t even have an army to conduct them. This
is all empty talk,” he said.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic source has told Express that more than 500
troops and retired officers from Armenia were involved in the
large-scale military exercises near Azerbaijan’s Agdam District. The
exercises are held mainly in the village of Xidirli and in Agdam
itself. The Armenians have established a firing range there and are
using anti-aircraft guns and armoured vehicles in the exercises.

ACCORDING TO SPOKESMAN OF RA MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, TO CONSIDER ARMENIA
AS THE TERRITORY OF HISTORIC AZERBAIJAN IS THE OPINION OF A MAN
UNCONVERSANT WITH HISTORY
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). “It is certainly not harmful to
dream, and let the Spokesman of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan
dream,” said Seiran Shahsuvarian, Spokesman of the RA Ministry of
Defense, during his meeting with journalists, answering the question
of journalists about the statement made by the Spokesman of the
Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan recently. To recap, Spokesman of the
Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan Ramiz Melikov said that “today’s
Armenia has been formed on the historic lands of Azerbaijan and
expressed an opinion that there will be no state named Armenia in the
territory of the South Caucasus during upcoming 25-30 years. “I am
deeply convinced that it is the opinion of a man unconversant with
history, literature, cartography, who announces publicly that these
are Azeri lands, rather than the opinion of the Minister of Defense of
Azerbaijan, the government and moreover the President of Azerbaijan.”
During a press briefing held in the village of Teg of the Goris region
Seiran Shahsuvarian added: “The Azeris didn’t have caves, rocks of
Goris, and I think they will never have them.” He also expressed an
opinion that the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan “should think a
little of his Spokesman and come to conclusions.”

Anti-Armenian protesters on trial in Azerbaijan
Turan news agency
11 Aug 04
Baku, 11 August: The trial of Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO)
activists, presided over by judge Famil Nasibov, started at Baku’s
Nasimi district court today.
In the dock is the chairman of the KLO, Akif Nagi, as well as Rovsan
Fatiyev, Ilkin Qurbanov, Mursal Hasanov, Manaf Karimov and Firudin
Mammadov. They were arrested for involvement in an unsanctioned
protest action on 22 June in connection with the visit of two Armenian
officers to Baku.
The charges were read out in court. In particular, the KLO activists
are charged under Articles 221 (hooliganism), 233 (breach of public
order) and 315.2 (putting up resistance to authorities).
The defendants themselves denied the charges, terming them
fabricated. Nagi said that the KLO activists had never broken the law,
since citizens have the right to freedom of assembly under Article 49
of the Constitution of the Azerbaijani Republic.
The defendants also denied the charge that they were attempting to
disrupt a NATO meeting. They underlined that they were simply
protesting against the visit to Baku of Armenian officers. According
to the defendants, the police were the first to use force against the
pickets and their reaction was a response.
The court upheld the defence’s petition to summon to appear in court
the deputy police chief of Baku’s Yasamal district, Cingiz Mammadov,
who personally beat the pickets.

SERGE SARGSIAN: THE ARMENIAN ARMY IS A GUARANTEE OF SECURITY OF THE
NKR POPULATION
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). “The leadership of Armenia stated
many times that the Armenian Army is a guarantee of security of the
population of Nagorno Karabakh. Today we state the same, and I am sure
we will speak so always,” RA Minister Serge Sargsian, who was present
at the commanding and staff exercises of the NKR Defense Army, said
about it during the August 10 meeting with journalists. According to
him, it is well-known to everybody that Nagorno Karabakh can’t
independently provide security for the part of the Armenian population
living there. The RA Minister of Defense also said that he isn’t
absolutely agitated with the reaction of the international circles to
his presence at these exercises. According to him, the RA Minister of
Defense is present at the sector entrusted to the Defense Army not for
the first time.

Concern over Azeri foreign policy behind US defence chief’s unexpected visit
Zerkalo, Baku
11 Aug 04
Concern over Azerbaijan’s ties with Iran and Russia is the reason for
Donald Rumsfeld’s unscheduled visit to Baku, major Azerbaijani daily
Zerkalo has reported. Azerbaijan wants more support in resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and therefore seeks closer relations
not only with the USA and NATO, but also with Russia, Iran, Pakistan
and China, the paper said. The following is the text of A. Rasidoglu’s
report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 11 August headlined “The
USA is concerned over Azerbaijan’s foreign policy” and subheaded
“Today’s visit of the Pentagon head could be viewed in this context”;
subheadings inserted editorially:
US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld will pay a one-day visit to
Baku today. The objectives and the schedule of the meeting has not
been reported yet. However, it is known that he will have talks with
Azerbaijan’s leaders – President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and Defence Minister Safar Abiyev. The sides will discuss
Azerbaijan’s participation in the counterterrorism coalition in Iraq,
as well as bilateral military cooperation.
An informed diplomatic source has told Turan news agency that the
visit was not scheduled and was caused by Washington’s concern over
the latest trends in Baku’s foreign policy. The White House does have
some causes for concern. It is enough to mention the visit of Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami to Azerbaijan and the visit’s possible
consequences. In particular, the USA is concerned about the prospects
of Baku and Tehran getting even closer.
Chinese general to visit Baku
Maj-Gen Qian Lihua, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office at
China’s National Defence Ministry, will visit Baku on 20-21 August,
Chinese ambassador to Azerbaijan Zhang Xiyun has reported. He said
that the delegation plans to meet Abiyev and will conduct talks on
various directions in bilateral military cooperation. The guests will
also visit military colleges in Baku and learn about the education
there. Dozens of officers from the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are
trained in China’s military academies every year.
Alarming prospects for Americans
It is also noteworthy that the chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of
Staff Committee, Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan, is currently visiting
Azerbaijan. He has said that Islamabad will support Azerbaijan in the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Moreover, there is talk now of a possible
coalition between Tehran, Baku, Islamabad, Beijing and Moscow.
It goes without saying that such a prospect alarms the Americans. The
strengthening of military ties between Baku and Moscow is another
factor causing irritation. Stronger Russian and Iranian clout in Baku
can cast doubt over the US military presence in Azerbaijan. This is an
extremely unfavorable prospect for the USA in the light of a possible
destabilization of the situation in Iran. Therefore, Rumsfeld will
try to obtain clear answers from the Azerbaijani leadership on these
issues.
No other choice for Azerbaijan
Former presidential aide on foreign policy Vafa Quluzada has said in
this regard that Azerbaijan simply has no other choice. Baku is forced
to move closer to Moscow and Tehran in the hope of resolving the
Karabakh problem. “If the USA continues to turn a blind eye to the
existing situation, it can lose Azerbaijan as a strategic partner,”
Quluzada said.
Lately, the Kremlin has been trying to influence the Baku government
with a view to changing its foreign policy course. In particular,
Russian politicians openly state that the pro-Western and pro-American
course chosen by Baku does not quite suit Moscow.
However, one should not forget that Azerbaijan has reached a new level
in its relations with NATO by agreeing on a programme of individual
cooperation with NATO. Azerbaijan has become a member of the European
Union’s Wider Europe – New Neighbourhood initiative. These aspects can
all but concern Moscow. In tandem with Iran, Russia would like to halt
the military, political and economic expansion of Western Europe and
the USA in Central Asia. The Kremlin still regards the incumbent
authorities in Georgia and Azerbaijan as anti-Russian. While Aliyev is
taking certain steps towards Russia, Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili’s actions are only causing further complications in
Moscow-Tbilisi relations.
Not enough support from America and NATO
However, the American policy of double standards vis-a-vis Azerbaijan
has shown that Washington’s main goal is not to help the Azerbaijani
nation to prosper, but to oust Russia from the Caucasus and build a
strategically important corridor between Central Asia, the Caucasus
and Europe.
Azerbaijan and Georgia hoped that by becoming NATO members they could
favourably resolve the problems in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
Karabakh. However, it transpired in the wake of Kosovo that NATO
servicemen do not intend to fight in Abkhazia or Karabakh instead of
Georgians and Azerbaijanis, and that the White House will not put
pressure on Armenia regarding the Karabakh issue. Moreover, the USA
has proposed a plan to settle the conflict on terms which are
unacceptable to Baku.
Azerbaijan is tired of America’s statements that resumption of
military operations would be “pointless” (in private conversations
they are more specific and say that they will simply not allow us to
do that). However, when the Azerbaijani authorities take some steps
towards Russia and Iran, Washington gets irritated. One wants to ask
the question: “Did you not want this?”
Opposition as leverage
That the Azerbaijani leadership pays more attention to relations with
Russia and Iran, in the opinion of the Russian media, has to do with
the fact that Azerbaijani opposition politicians who are not
pro-Western feel comfortable in those countries. Therefore, Aliyev is
concerned that with support from Russia or Iran this opposition could
destabilize the situation in Azerbaijan. Still, Washington too, could
use the “opposition card” and wield it to put pressure on the Baku
government.

ARMENIAN CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN FESTIVAL “LET’S CHANGE WORLD FOR THE
BETTER” HELD IN “ARTEK”
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian delegation also
participated in the festival “Let’s Change World for the Better” held
in the “Artek” international camp from July 15 to August 4. Arsen
Soghomonian, Chief of the Department on Youth Policies of the RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, said during the August 10 press
conference that for the fourth year in succession the festival makes
it its aim to contribute to mutual acquaintance with the national
traditions and customs, the establishmnet of friendly relations
between children of different nationalities, creating in different
spheres of art: the decorative-applied arts, vocal, ethnographic,
musical, dance and in the sphere of painting. 20 out of 50 Armenian
children aged 11-15, who submitted applications for participation in
the festival, were selected: members of the “Nane” show-ballet,
participants of the “Melanzh” trio, laureates of the Fund of V.
Spivakov, participants of different international competitions.
According to Narine Topalian, Artistic Director of “Nane”, Armenian
children took an active part in the competitions organized during the
festival and received many diplomas. And the performance of the
“Melanzh” trio so delighted the audience that it was invited to
perform with concerts in the neighboring camps. The Armenian children
also performed with concerts in the yard of the Armenian church of
Yalta. Narine Topalian also said that in “Artek” there were
disagreements with the delegation of Azerbaijan, which treated it
badly with the children from Armenia. But members of the Ukrainian
delegation warned them that “Artek” is a children’s camp, and children
are connected with politics in no way.

FIRST ISSUE OF “LITERARY CRITICISM” PERIODICAL RELEASED
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The first issue of the “Literary
Criticism” periodical was released upon the initiative of the
Institute of Literary Criticism after M. Abeghian and the Writers’
Union of Armenia. Literary critic Azat Yeghiazarian, editor-in-chief
of the periodical, told NT’s correspondent that the issues of the
history of the Armenian literature and the development of the modern
literature, as well as theoretical problems will be covered in the
magazine. According to Azat Yeghiazarian, the creative activities of a
number of Western Armenian writers weren’t sufficiently studied for
some reason or other. “We are still far from the entire notion about
the Western Armenian literature. One of the main tasks of the new
periodical is to fill this gap,” he mentioned. Articles on Hakob
Oshakan, Byuzand Topalian, Andranik Tsarukian, Kostan Zarian and many
other Western Armenian writers have already been published in the
first issue of the magazine. Azat Yeghiazarian mentioned that the
magazine will also give its pages to young literary critics, as
according to him, “they should continue, develop and deepen all the
traditions that the Armenian literary criticism has, as well as should
advance new ideas and approaches, being grounded on these traditions
and achievements of the world literary criticism ideology.” It should
be mentioned that it is expected that the extracts from the “White
Book” of Avetik Isahakian dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, some
letters of Hakob Oshakan, as well as the memoirs of Maro Alazan on
Yeghishe Charents, Nairi Zarian and other writers will be published in
the second issue of the “Literary Criticism Magazine”.

The Cincinnati Post
Publication Date: 08-11-2004
Olympics
2000 Olympic medals table
Country G S B Tot
United States 39 25 33 97
Russia 32 28 28 88
China 28 16 15 59
Australia 16 25 17 58
Germany 14 17 26 57
France 13 14 11 38
Italy 13 8 13 34
Cuba 11 11 7 29
Britain 11 10 7 28
South Korea 8 9 11 28
Romania 11 6 9 26
Netherlands 12 9 4 25
Uraine 3 10 10 23
Japan 5 8 5 18
Hungary 8 6 3 17
Belarus 3 3 11 17
Poland 6 5 3 14
Canada 3 3 8 14
Bulgaria 5 6 2 13
Greece 4 6 3 13
Sweden 4 5 3 12
Brazil 0 6 6 12
Spain 3 3 5 11
Norway 4 3 3 10
Switzerland 1 6 2 9
Ethiopia 4 1 3 8
Czech Republic 2 3 3 8
Kazakstan 3 4 0 7
Kenya 2 3 2 7
J amaica 0 4 3 7
Denmark 2 3 1 6
Indonesia 1 3 2 6
M exico 1 2 3 6
Georgia 0 0 6 6
Lithuania 2 0 3 5
Sl ovakia 1 3 1 5
Algeria 1 1 3 5
Belgium 0 2 3 5
Sou th Africa 0 2 3 5
Morocco 0 1 4 5
Taiwan 0 1 4 5
Iran 3 0 1 4
Turkey 3 0 1 4
Finland 2 1 1 4
Uzbekistan 1 1 2 4
New Zealand 1 0 3 4
Argentina 0 2 2 4
North Korea 0 1 3 4
Austria 2 1 0 3
Azerbaijan 2 0 1 3
Latvia 1 1 1 3
Yugoslavia 1 1 1 3
Estonia 1 0 2 3
Thaila nd 1 0 2 3
Nigeria 0 3 0 3
Slovenia 2 0 0 2
Bahama s 1 1 0 2
Croatia 1 0 1 2
Moldova 0 1 1 2
Saudi Arabia 0 1 1 2
Trinidad and Tobago 0 1 1 2
Costa Rica 0 0 2 2
Portugal 0 0 2 2
Cameroon 1 0 0 1
Colombia 1 0 0 1
Mozambique 1 0 0 1
Ireland 0 1 0 1
Uruguay 0 1 0 1
Vietnam 0 1 0 1
Armenia 0 0 1 1
Ba rbados 0 0 1 1
Chile 0 0 1 1
India 0 0 1 1
Iceland 0 0 1 1
Israel 0 0 1 1
Kyrgyzstan 0 0 1 1
Kuwait 0 0 1 1
Sri Lanka 0 0 1 1
Macedonia 0 0 1 1
Qatar 0 0 1 1
Pu blication Date: 08-11-2004

SECOND PROGRAM ON SECURITY OF IRRIGATION DIKES OF ARMENIA SIGNED
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The second credit agreement on
Security of Irrigation Dikes of Armenia of 6.75 mln dollars was signed
between the RA government and the World Bank on August 10. According
to the press service of the RA Ministry of Finances and Economy, the
credit of the Agency of International Development will finance the
work on the improvement of the condition of 47 dikes needy
reconstruction, establishing the system providing control over their
security, as well as necessary exploitation and preservation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress