Category: News

POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA UNPREDICTABLE: VAHAN KHACHATRYAN
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO. The political situation in Armenia is
chaotic and unpredictable, therefore it has no prospects, the ex-mayor
of Yerevan, member of the “Armat’ public and political organization
Vahan Khachatryan told a press conference. The “Armat” organization
was founded by representatives of the former ruling party, Armenian
National Movement (ANM).
According to Khachatryan, the country’s authorities have no long-term
development program (the ones available are only a cover for the
international community), and their actions are aimed personal
enrichment. Corruption in all spheres, arbitrary rule in economy and
election system may not even me mentioned, as last year’s presidential
and parliamentary elections, dispersion of peaceful demonstration and
other acts of disgrace are still fresh in the people’s memory. In the
current situation everything depends on the opposition, the “Justice”
bloc and the “National Unity” party, on their commitment to the
principles proclaimed by them. In this context, September must give
answers to the questions as to whether the opposition return to
Parliament, resume rallies and so on. Khachatryan pointed out that
boycotting the Parliament means boycotting trips abroad (except for
OSCE sessions), and returning to Parliament means putting up with
election rigging,, political arrests, etc.. Political life in Armenia
is unfortunately full of criminal, and the authorities do not bear any
responsibility to society because they are illegal, so everything
depends on the opposition, Khachatryan said. He pointed out that all
the talks about a third force have been invented by the authorities to
“shatter” the opposition’s unity.
Khachatryan strongly disagrees with the opinion that the foundations
for corruption, election rigging and other unlawful acts were laid
under the ANM. “We were fully open, acted publicly. The incumbent
authorities tried to slander and condemn us, but nothing was
proved. Our real blunder was allowing the former party officials to
come to power,” Khachatryan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVED NEWS HEAD OF OSCE BAKU OFFICE
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO-TURAN: President Ilham Aliyev received the
newly appointed head of the OSCE Baku Office ambassador Maurizio
Pavesi yesterday.
Head of Azerbaijan said that the Republic attaches great significance
to cooperation with OSCE.
Touching upon the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Ilham
Aliyev said that OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in resolution of the
conflict. However hitherto it has failed in finding solution to the
problem. Aliyev underlined that the conflict jeopardizes stability and
security in the region and it should be settled only in the frame of
international laws and principles.
Speaking about democratization process in the country, Aliyev dwelt on
the active cooperation with the international
organizations. “Azerbaijan has fully implemented its obligations
before the Council of Europe”, – he added.
In his turn Maurizio Pavesi expressed confidence that this cooperation
would further continue and he personally would make his contribution
to the existing relations between Azerbaijan and the Organization.–

ELMAR MAMEDYAROV DISCUSSED WITH CONDOLEEZZA RICE KARABAKH CONFLICT
WASHINGTON, JULY 24. ARMINFO-TURAN: Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met yeasterday in Washington with advisor
on national security Condoleezza Rice. During the talk Rice thanked
Azerbaijan for support in struggle against global terrorism. “The
United States considers Azerbaijan its close friend and ally”, she
noted.
In his turn Elmar Mammadyarov informed Rice about situation in the
region of Southern Caucasus. He noted, that the relations between
Azerbaijan and the USA remain at the level of strategic partnership.
The sides also have had exchange of views on development and
transportation of energy resources of the Caspian sea, programs of the
US in region of Southern Caucasus, relations of Azerbaijan with its
neighbors.
Touching the issue of Karabakh conflict Condoleezza Rice emphasized,
that the US are interested in the immediate peace settlement of the
problem and as the as the memeber of OSCE Minst group would support
efforts on search of ways of settlement of the conflict.
The same day Mamedyarov met with congressmen James Gibbon and chairman
of subcommittee on external operations of the House of Representatives
James Coble. On discussions with American legislators, Elmar
Mammadyarov emphasized, that the decision of the Congress on granting
in 2005 fiscal year of the military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia in
the equal amount has been rceived negatevely in Azerbaijan.–

THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT SHADOWED ECONOMY IN ARMENIA IS AN INCREASE IN
DRAM CIRCULATION: CHAIRMAN ARMENIAN CB
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO. The best way to combat shadowed economy in
Armenia is an increase in dram circulation, and strengthening of the
national currency observed during the recent days can become a crucial
point for solution to this important task of the country, Chairman of
the Armenian CB Tigran Sargsyan said in his interview to RFE/RL.
It is not a secret that shadowed economy turnover is considerable
enough in Armenia, and, it is mainly the spheres dealing with US
dollars in cash, Sargsyan said. According to estimations of the
Armenian Ministry for Finance and Economy, the share of shadowed
turnover in GDP is 30-35%.
The growth of dram circulation supposes an increase in the spheres of
economy dealing with national currency, AMD. Besides, the chief banker
of the country thinks that the public should overcome the
psychological barrier and keep their savings in the Armenian drams,
and not dollars.
Sargsyan said that the rates of AMD strengthening in the current month
necessitate adoption of a new currency legislation in order to toughen
the country demands to currency operations and to create more
favorable conditions for circulation of the Armenian dram.
The CB adheres a policy of the “floating rate,”which means that its
level is dictated by the market, Sargsyan reiterated. At the same
time, he pointed out that the CB cannot interfere and dictate the
market-participants the level of the exchange rate artificially. He
added, the CB is not committed to artificial strengthening of AMD or
USD.
He said that a sharp increase in the USD circulation during the last
two months in Armenia has led to speculations observed on the currency
market during the last two weeks. That is, some individuals occurred,
who tried to take advantage of the situation for their personal
benefit hereby making the CB to purchase US dollars from the
market. However, the CB kept a neural strategy. Otherwise, the
“cheap” dollars bought by these individuals would have been sold to
the CB on much higher rates in future. All the participants of the
market understood very quickly that the CB had no intention of
currency interventions which would result in further artifical
reduction of the USD exchange rate, and in this connection, they took
an expectant position. He said that after the sharp strengthening of
AMD in the current month by 7%, beginning from July 21 the exchage
rate began returning to its normal course, reaching 525-530 AMD/1USD
today.
Tigran Sargsyan said that the major goal of the CB is security of
stable prices, which was not influenced by the sharp reduction of USD
during the last two weeks, as it lasted a short period of time.
He stated that the citizens having AMD incomes in the period of the
reduction of USD suffered no losses, and these people make up majority
in Armenia. Taking into account the prior task for today i.e. poverty
reduction, it is necessary to secure stable prices, first of all, and
not to allow a devaluation of AMD incomes of economic entities and the
country’s citizens, and not to solve the exchage rate’s fluctuation
problem. Simultanously, it is impossible to prevent losses of the
citizens who have AMD and USD incomes.
As regards the private transfers to Armenia, they increase year by
year. According to the CB’s estimations, money transfers to natural
persons only through the banking system increased 46% in the first
half of 2004, and 31% in the first quarter, and 55% in the second
quarter as compared with the same period of 2003. It testifies to an
increase in USD incomes of the population. This factor also
contributes to strengthening of AMD, as the citizens receiving
transfers in terms of USD from abroad, “pay tax” during conversion in
case of USD’s devaluation. It is, naturally, within the interests of
our country, aiming no artificial strengthening of USD positions and
contribution to development of U.S. economy, Sargsyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Daily News
24 July 2004
When you don’t care about life…
Let’s not find someone to pin the blame on.
Mehmet Ali Birand
What will happen if we find out that the train driver was going too fast or
the rail tracks were too old.
Nothing.
We will learn more about the responsibilities of the train driver, the
Turkish Railways (TCDD) general manager’s and the transportation minister.
When we find out who is responsible, our job will be done.
Everything will return to the way it has always been.
However, the real problem lies with our respect for human lives. A society
that respects human-beings would act differently.
The train driver would go a different speed.
The general manager or the political chief makes more detailed analysis.
Yes. Such accidents happen all around the world. However, the reasons behind
these accidents are not the differences between developed and undeveloped
nations.
The rail tracks laid in developed countries are different. The education the
train drivers receive are different. Security precautions taken are entirely
different.
In countries like ours, every project starts with: “Let’s just make do for
now and will take care of it later.” Such an attitude results in such
tragedies.
The only victims are those who lose their lives for nothing.
Paris Embassy should be congratulated
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul should be proud of his team.
Especially the entire personnel of the Embassy in Paris did a great job.
If you permit, let me give my assessment as a correspondent who has been
following such official visits for the last 40 years.
This perfect visit was organized by a team led by Ambassador Uluc Ozulker,
together with the councils in various French cities, public relations and
tourism representatives.
Nothing was out of synch.
In today’s world, everything running smoothly is a very important factor.
Ambassador Ozulker was like a very successful orchestra conductor.
Unfortunately, he will be vacating his post at the end of the year, due to
the procedural practice in the Foreign Ministry.
Ozulker not only excelled in the visit’s organization, passed the test in
every matter including, the briefing of the press and explaining facts to
the French. Moreover, he is such an experienced ambassador that he needs to
prove himself to nobody.
I am sure no one from the Foreign Ministry called him to tell him: “Thank
you for all your help. You did a great job.” Especially those among the
200-strong Turkish delegation, including the prime minister, will not call
him.
I would at last like to thank the team in Paris, lead by the ambassador, and
the young people at the Prime Ministry Press Bureau for helping us for all
my colleagues.
Turkey made up for the helicopter fiasco
I don’t know if you remember, but in 2000-2001, Turkey, all of a sudden,
forced France out of its helicopter tender. Until then Turkey had made many
promises to French President Jacques Chirac on the matter, and had told them
that France had a good chance on winning it. For Chirac, this was a matter
of honor. He was preparing to show how his policy of having closer links to
Turkey would pay of.
And then one day, before notifying Chirac or explaining the reasoning behind
it, France was removed from among the countries that had reached the last
stage of the tender.
Paris was shocked.
Without any explanations, it received a slap in the face. I don’t exactly
remember, but Ankara had got angry because of a law on Armenians or another
matter, and had decided to punish the French. However, that decision
resulted in a complete severing of all the bonds between Chirac and Ankara.
Since then, the French president is a little lukewarm towards Turkey. He had
lost his trust in those governing Turkey.
He openly said he had lost his trust.
This visit made amends for this gaffe that was made four years ago. I am not
talking about not giving France the helicopter tender. You decide on who you
are going to give the tender, depending on your political and economic
interests. However, if you are a little polite and clever, you will notify
your friends beforehand about your decision and try not to disappoint them
too much.
However, I don’t know why, we like to smash things.
Why is Gurel angry with the Ecevits?
Once upon a time, he couldn’t say enough about the Ecevits. When he was
chosen by the Ecevits as the foreign minister, he was seen as Democratic
Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit’s right hand man.
Sukru Sina Gurel is very angry with the Ecevit’s these days. Those who used
to stand to attention when Bulent Ecevit’s wife DSP deputy-leader Rahsan
Ecevit entered a room are now up in arms.
The reason is simple.
Ecevit’s chose a different candidate for leadership for the DSP to replace
them. Former pro-Ecevit supporters are very angry with the Ecevit’s for not
chosing them as their candidate. Gurel is saying that Rahsan Ecevit can
remain as the head of the party organization, adding that if he is elected,
he would remove her from that post.
We will never understand what goes on in politics. I guess the Ecevits chose
the best possible candidate to replace them.
NOTE: This article appears in daily Posta and, on the same day, in daily
Hurriyet’s all foreign publications, on Hurriyet’s internet site
(), on Milliyet’s internet site ()
and, after being translated by the Turkish Daily News staff, in both that
newspaper and on the Turkish Daily News internet site
().

Tehran Times
July 24 2004
MagMart Amu Darya
License Holder: Center for Study of Central Asia and Caucasus
The new issue of the English Iranian journal of Central Asian studies
`Amu Darya’ recently hit the Iranian newsstands.
In this issue, you may find articles on security arrangements in
southern Caucasus, the Karabakh conflict: legacy of ethnic challenges
in the Soviet era, the GUUAM Alliance: formation, challenges, future
prospect and an article which surveys the importance of Caspian Sea
for the countries have interest in the region.
This edition also releases a full report on the 10th International
Conference on Central Asia and the Caucasus Developments, which was
held January 20 until January 21, 2003 at the Iranian Institute for
Political and International Studies in Tehran. Foreign Policy License
Holder: Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The contents of the new edition of the Iranian journal are as
follows: Identity of Government and Foreign Policy, Comparative Study
of Political Development in Iran and Turkey, Persian Gulf and Middle
East as the Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zones, UN Intervention
in the Post-Cold War Era: Threat to the Sovereignty of States, the
Interaction of International Environment and Development Mechanism
with National Priorities, and the Ambiguities of Security Council
Resolution 1422 (2002).
The journal also has reports and analyses on international law and
Muslim world, appraisal of the U.S. foreign policy in global
strategy, achievements and teachings of contemporary China, and
Libya’s disarmament and the role of UN Security Council. The journal
brings reviews on the books of Stephanie Cronin’s `The Making of
Modern Iran: State and Society under Reza Shah,’ Valery Fedorov’s
`Putin’s Era’ John Eric Lynne’s `Politics and Society in Western
Europe,’ and Ian Branley’s `International Law in Final Years of the
20th Century.’

PanArmenian News
July 23 2004
ARMENIAN MILITARY INSTITUTE CADET TO ENTER GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
BOOK
Zarzand Mkhitarian, cadet of the Military Institute of the Armenian
Defense Ministry will enter the Guinness Book of World Records for
performing a peculiar exercise called “lift with rotation around the
horizontal bar”. As reported by the press service of the RA Defense
Ministry, the registration ceremony will take place in the Military
Institute on July 27.

The Economist
July 24, 2004
U.S. Edition
King Mikhail the good?;
Nationalism
The persistence of nationalism in ex-communist hot spots is a puzzle
Georgia’s leader may succeed as a nationalist who believes in law
CAN there be such a thing as a good nationalist, in regions where
violent chauvinism – asserting the interests of one nation, ethnic
group or faith at the expense of all others – has already taken a
terrible toll in blood? In the wilder bits of the ex-communist world,
that is something more than just a brain-teaser for political
scientists.
Mikhail Saakashvili, the charismatic young president of Georgia, is
trying to persuade the world that this question has an affirmative
answer (see page 33). Since taking power half a year ago, he has
tugged hard on his people’s patriotic heart-strings. He has devised
new state symbols and displayed them prominently; and he can deliver
thumping nationalist speeches when the occasion demands.
But in fairness, Mr Saakashvili has also been quite careful to tell
the world, and his compatriots, what his gestures do and do not mean.
He does want to extend the writ of Georgian government to the whole
of its territory, including the breakaway South Ossetia region; but
he has pledged to deal generously and inclusively with non-Georgian
minorities, amounting to at least 30% of the population. That is in
healthy contrast to the early years of Georgian independence.
Boris Tadic, the new Serbian president, is another pro-western
politician who knows how to beat the patriotic drum. At his
inauguration this month, he caused a sensation by playing Serbia’s
monarchist anthem, “God of Justice” – not heard in official places for
many decades – and pointedly kissing the Serbian flag. Nobody suspects
Mr Tadic of being an ultra-nationalist, but he clearly feels he must
assuage his compatriots who do lean in that direction.
For the western institutions that have spent billions of dollars
trying to exorcise the demon of chauvinism from the Balkans and the
Caucasus – and to promote the idea that nations and ethnic groups must
co-operate to solve their post-communist problems – the persistence of
nationalism is a puzzle and a disappointment. Bosnia’s protectors are
frustrated by the fact that after eight years of foreign tutelage,
politics there is still dominated by parties which assert the
interests of one ethnic group – Muslim, Serb or Croat – rather than the
whole country. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s protectors would rejoice if
Albanians and Serbs merely stopped killing each other; a wave of
anti-Serb violence in March was a severe setback. In the Caucasus,
years of international mediation have brought the conflict between
Armenians and Azeris no closer to a solution, and there is a powerful
lobby in Azerbaijan which favours going back to war.
Given that nationalism shows no sign of disappearing, can there be a
meaningful distinction between the “good” and “bad” varieties? Here
is one possible litmus test: is nationalism being used to promote the
rule of law, or to defy it?
At its mildest, nationalism can be a galvanising force, and perhaps a
necessary device, for any leader who is struggling to construct a
law-based state in places where government of any kind has all but
collapsed. That is what Mr Saakashvili says he wants: if he can turn
his ramshackle polity into a minimally efficient machine for
collecting tax, providing services and guarding its citizens, then it
should automatically earn people’s loyalty – whatever their ethnic
background.
At the other extreme, nationalism has often been a cover for exactly
the opposite: policies which stir up hatred both inside and outside a
country’s borders, and use the resulting conflict as a smokescreen
for behaviour which mocks the rule of law – stealing from the public
purse, robbing the victims of war and maintaining irregular armies
which live off larceny. In the chaos, and above all uncertainty over
property rights, which followed the collapse of communism, the
anti-law variety of nationalism was an irresistible temptation for
politicians who wanted to play on people’s fears and grab a share of
the loot. Serbia’s strongman, Slobodan Milosevic, was perhaps the
prime exponent of this tactic – but by no means the only one. From the
Adriatic to Central Asia, the politics of the ex-communist world have
been marred by warlords who steal or smuggle while exercising
authority in the name of tribal, national or ethnic sentiment.
If Mr Saakashvili can prove that his nationalism is of the
law-promoting, rather than the law-scoffing kind, then he will have
performed a valuable service – not just for his own country, but for
all the hard-pressed policymakers who are wondering how to put
conflict zones together again.

examiner.net
July 24, 2004
Out of the cold
Armine Burutyan Fong overcomes Soviet opression to become top coach
By Bill Althaus
The Examiner
Jeff Stead/the Examiner
Armine Burutyan Fong works with young gymnasts at Great American
Gymnastics Express in Blue Springs. Burutyan Fong was a top gymnast in
Armenia as a child but now shows what she has learned to area gymnasts.
The tiny girl stands in two feet of snow, blowing into her hands in an
unsuccessful attempt to keep them warm. She has a school backpack slung over
her right shoulder and a gym bag hanging over the left.
It is hours before the sun will rise in the small community in Armenia, yet
she peers down the roadside at 5:30 a.m., hoping to catch a glimpse of the
bus that will take her to her gym.
This is a daily ritual for 9-year-old Armine Barutyan, who will one day
become one of the most celebrated gymnasts in her country.
She didn’t view the daily trip by bus as a hardship. Her father worked three
jobs, yet there wasn’t enough money in the budget to buy gasoline to drive
his daughter to her early-morning workouts.
Jeff Stead/the Examiner
Burutyan Fong works with Courtney McCool as she warms up for practice.
McCool and Terin Humphrey both train at GAGE and have both qualified for the
U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team that will compete in the Olympics next month in
Athens, Greece.
For six years, in sub-zero temperatures, driving rain or mind-numbing heat,
Barutyan would never miss the opportunity to fine tune her skills – skills
that were light years ahead of their time.
It was the early 1980s, and this petite dynamo was executing a triple back
off the bars or a double layout off the beam.
Judges were so stunned by the moves, they didn’t know how to judge the
Armenian gymnast who seemed destined for Olympic gold.
But her dreams were dashed because of the type of political skullduggery
that most of us only experience in a big-budget summertime movie.
While Barutyan was about to burst on the international scene, the former
Soviet Union was hand picking representatives for its gymnastics team.
The Soviets wanted a pure team, and that did not include anyone from
Armenia.
“They asked me to move to the Soviet Union,” she said, “but I did not want
to leave my family.”
Officials even asked her to change her last name from Barutyan to Barutyana,
thinking that the extra vowel at the end of her name would make the world
think she was the pride of the USSR.
Jeff Stead/the Examiner
Armine Burutyan Fong talks with young gymnasts at GAGE in Blue Springs.
She refused – and soon disappeared from the international gymnastics scene.
Eventually, she and her family moved to the United States where she became a
gymnastics coach in Los Angeles.
“It’s a tragedy,” said Al Fong, the owner and coach at Great American
Gymnastic Express in Blue Springs. “Armine could have been one of the most
respected and honored gymnasts in the world – but she was never given the
chance to perform, to show what she could do.”
Fong speaks with great passion.
He loves his sport, and will take two gymnasts to the Summer Games in
Athens – Courtney McCool and Terin Humphrey.
He will also be joined by Armine Barutyan Fong, his wife of nine years, who
along with her husband earned Coach of the Year honors by USGA (United
States of America Gymnastics).
Barutyan Fong’s story is one of great disappointment, tempered by courage
and a fiery determination that could not be extinguished by the Soviet
Union.
“Al talks about revenge, and how sweet it must be to be going to the
Olympics,” Armine said, sitting in a small office at the Great American
Gymnastic Express.
“But I don’t see it as revenge. I see it as a great opportunity to show the
world what we have accomplished here at GAGE.”
The Fongs have no children of their own, but Armine is quick to point out
that, “Every girl at GAGE is like our child. We love them all.”
Jeff Stead/the Examiner
Armine lines up a group of young gymnasts during practice at GAGE.
But oftentimes, that affection is tough love.
“I came to the gym a week after Al and Armine were married,” said Humphrey
of Bates City, Mo.
“I kind of feel like her kid. I know she loves me, but I know how strict she
can be. What Armine says, goes. And that’s all right with me because she’s
always right. She knows what she’s talking about.”
Lee’s Summit resident McCool, who has been at GAGE the past six years,
agrees.
“We know that Armine could have been in the Olympics, she was good enough,
but she never made it because of politics,” McCool said. “I think you pay
closer attention to someone who has experienced what you’re going through.
“There are days you don’t feel like spending eight hours in the gym, but you
look over at Armine and see how much it all means to her, and you get back
to work. She’s a real inspiration to all of us.”
Humphrey’s family moved from Albany, Mo., to Bates City to be close to the
Fongs’ Blue Springs club.
McCool’s family could select any club in the metro area to train and they
selected GAGE.
“We wanted to work with Al and Armine,” Terin said. “I mean, I was too young
to really know what was happening when I first came, but I’m sure glad my
folks made the decision to have me work and train here.”
While McCool and Humphrey have put in countless thousands of hours to
realize their dreams of going to the Olympics, Armine and Al Fong have
dedicated their lives to the young ladies who train there.
“We spend a lot of time here,” Armine said, chuckling. “But we’re not
complaining. This is all so important to us. We want to build something
special, and I think we are.”
When asked about the hardships she had to endure, before leaving Armenia
with her family, Armine sighs and looks wistfully into the gym.
“Even though my father worked very, very hard at three jobs, we never had
much money,” she said. “Winters in Armenia are very cold, but I walked to
that bus stop every morning at 5:30 a.m.
“We’d get to the gym, and it wasn’t heated. We would keep our coats and
gloves on until it time to perform. We would do our routines, then put our
coats back on so we could get warm.
“Looking back on it, it was very difficult. But I was just a child. I
thought it was something that everyone went through and experienced.”
That’s why a recent conversation with GAGE parent didn’t sit very well with
Barutyan Fong.
“A mother said she didn’t want to drive 45 minutes to our gym,” Armine said.
“I thought, ‘I woke up at 5 a.m. I walked to the bus stop, made two changes
along the way and worked out at a gym with no heat.’
“Uh, I didn’t have much sympathy for that mother. She was talking to the
wrong person.”
Although she missed out on the glory and prestige that comes from being an
Olympic athlete, Armine can revel in the fact that she has been honored as
the top coach in the country.
She has no peers when it comes to choreography and she is about to live her
dream.
“We’re going to the Olympics,” she said, “we’re going to the Olympics.”

Aberdeen Press and Journal
July 23, 2004
Anne needs help to free musical spirit of azerbaijani youngsters
Impoverished and deprived children whose musical talents have lain
undiscovered in Azerbaijan schools are being given the chance to
shine. Ballater woman Anne Jack, 48, a music teacher and honorary
member of the London College of Music, has been teaching about 50
children at schools in the city of Sumgayit.
After moving to Azerbaijan because of her husband Bill’s work, Mrs
Jack found many children were taught traditional instruments by their
fathers but had no knowledge of theory.
“I found it very, very interesting, because these children are
extremely talented,” she said. “They are beautiful players, but they
don’t have a clue what they’re doing – it’s just natural talent. I
think their lives have been so repressed they haven’t had time for
anything else.” The country regained its independence after the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and, for the next three years,
was in armed conflict with Armenia.
Unemployment in Sumgayit is about 80%, while corruption is rife and
the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan’s petroleum
resources remains largely unfulfilled.
Classrooms have no pianos or keyboards and musical instruments are
not readily available.
Mrs Jack started off by taking 100 recorders and moved on to the
guitar and woodwind instruments.
She is now hoping to receive donations of instruments “in any form”
to further the children’s education, but would particularly like a
drum kit.
Music even helps pupils with their arithmetic, Mrs Jack says, as they
count the beats.
Anyone wishing to donate an instrument or money should e-mail Mrs
Jack at annejack100 @hotmail.com Instruments can also be dropped off
at the Aberdeen offices of KCA Deutag, Minto Drive, Altens, Aberdeen.