Category: News

ARMENIAN NPP TO BE RESTARTED ON OCTOBER 4, 2004
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. The Armenian NPP, which is not operative
now, is to be connected to the energy system on October 4, 2004, RA
Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan told reporters.
The NPP was shut down for maintenance repairs and re-fueling on July
31. The Minister pointed out that the work has been done 45-50 per
cent, and monitoring shows that it will be completed within 64
days. He added that fuel has for the first time been supplied on time
since 1995. The reactor is being repaired on the NPP’s internal
funds. Specialists of the Czech “Skoda” company are now testing the
strength of the metal case of the reactor in conformity with
international standards and technical requirements of the IAEA. This
work is to be completed within 5-6 days. To enhance the safety,
specialists intend to install 37 electro-gas circuit breakers. A
computer system will also be installed to register all the parameters
of the reactor, which will be filed for post-accident analysis.
In 2003, the NPP generated a total of 1.9bln. kw/h of energy, 36% of
the total energy output in Armenia. Last September, the NPP was
transferred to the management of the “Inter RAO EES” CJSC, a
subsidiary of the RAO “EES Rossii.”

FIRST GEOTHERMAL STATION TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. A program of using geothermal energy is
to be elaborated and approved in Armenia before the end of next year,
RA Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan told reporters.
He reported that geophysical studies in the Syunik region of Armenia
have been completed and, according to preliminary data, the reserves
exceed the expected amount several times. The studies are being
carried out by the Gyumri Research Institute of Geophysics and
Engineering Seismology at the order of the RA Ministry of Energy.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 24, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for Pontifical Visit to the Ukraine
On the afternoon of August 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for Kharkov, Ukraine, for a
Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Diocese of the Ukraine.
During the trip, His Holiness will consecrate the newly built Church of the
Holy Resurrection in Kharkov, on Tuesday, August 24. (The foundation of the
church was blessed in July 2000.) The consecration date coincides with the
350th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kharkov. The Church of the
Holy Resurrection will be the first Armenian church in all of eastern
Ukraine.
Accompanying His Holiness during the visit are His Eminence Archbishop
Nerses Bozabalian from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Rev. Fr. Tiran
Petrosian as Staff-bearer to His Holiness.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 25, 2004
New Diocesan Council Elected in the Armenian Diocese of Damascus
The Armenian Diocese of Damascus (Syria) officially informed the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin that on August 15, a Diocesan Assembly was convened at
the St. Sarkis Armenian Cathedral of Damascus. During the meeting a new
Diocesan Council was elected. The elections were organized by the
initiative of the Parish Council of St. Sarkis and the (Armenian) national
representative assembly of Damascus, and were conducted according to the
rules of the National Constitution, under the supervision of the Election
Oversight Committee.
An election such as this, with the participation of all Armenian
organizations of Damascus, had not happened in the last thirty years within
this diocese.
The newly elected Diocesan Council is comprised of eleven lay members from
throughout the community and two clergymen from the Diocesan Religious
Council. In accord with the national constitution, the president of the
Diocesan Council is the primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, Very
Rev. Fr. Armash Vardapet Nalbandian.
The new diocesan council members, under the guidance of their diocesan
primate, will bring their efforts and devoted service to the progress and
prosperity of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, for the glory of the
Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has conveyed his Pontifical Blessings and good wishes to the newly elected
members of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 25, 2004
New Appointment in the Mother See
By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Vardapet Jamkotchian, a
member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, has been assigned as parish
priest of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan.
Father Anushavan, having recently completed his education in the Rheinische
Friedrich-Wilhelms University (Bonn, Germany), has returned to the Mother
See to continue his service to the Armenian Church. Father Anushavan is a
doctoral candidate in the field of religious rights.
* * *
Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Vardapet Jamkotchian
(baptismal name – Andranik)
Born in Vagharshapat, Armenia in 1971, he received his primary and secondary
education at Vahan Rshtuni School.
Studied in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin from
1989-1994. Defended his thesis entitled “Movses Jughayetsi’s Collection of
Philology”, and graduated from the Seminary.
In 1993, he was ordained a deacon.
He was ordained a celibate priest in 1995 by His Grace Bishop Asoghik
Aristakesian.
>From 1994-1998, he attended classes at the Komitas State Conservatory in
Yerevan. Concurrently, he was an instructor of liturgical music at the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
>From 1998-2000 he studied church music in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, at Halle
Protestant College.
>From 2000-2001, Father Anushavan studied German at Martin Luther University.
In 2001, he returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and defended his
thesis entitled “Komitas and the Armenian Church” and was elevated to the
rank of Vardapet (Archimandrite).
Also in 2001, he studied in the School of Law of Martin Luther University in
Germany, concentrating on “Jurisprudence and the Rights of the Church”.
>From 2002 to 2004, Anushavan Vardapet studied “Church Canon Law” at the
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn, Germany.
In 2004, he defended his thesis entitled “The Basis of Rights of the
Armenian Church from the 4th through 20th Centuries”, and became a candidate
of doctoral sciences.

EastDay.com, China
Aug 25 2004
Zou Shiming secures first ever Olympic boxing medal for China
Light flyweight Zou Shiming achieved a historic breakthrough for
Chinese boxing as he beat his Armenian opponent on points 20-12 in
Athens Tuesday to secure the first ever Olympic boxing medal for his
country at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
With rapid attacks and extremely flexible paces, the 23-year- old Zou
outclassed Aleksan Nalbandyan of Armenia in the four-round
quarterfinal match to book a berth in the semifinals of the 48kg
category.
As the losers of semifinals share bronze medal at Olympic boxing
tournament, Zou has secured at least one bronze medal for China, the
best ever result for Chinese boxers at the Olympic Games.
“I can’t say anything to you now as I am just watching the match of
my opponent in the semifinals,” said Zou when Xinhua reached him via
mobile phone.
In the semifinals scheduled for Aug. 27, Zou will take on Cuban boxer
Varela Yan Bhartelemy, who beat South Korean Hong Moo Won 30- 11 on
points in another quarterfinal match.
“We have aimed at a major breakthrough at this Olympic Games, but we
didn’t give much pressure to ourselves,” said Li Qingsheng, head
coach of the Chinese boxing team.
“Therefore, Zou played all his matches in a fairly relaxed manner and
fully displayed his strength,” Li added.
Though the Armenian boxer played quite well in the previous rounds,
Zou felt he was quite sure of beating him after “some careful
analysis of his techniques”, said Li.
Zou established an early lead 4-1 in the first round and had since
well controlled the match. He was 9-3 ahead at the end of the second
round and 15-6 at the end of the third.
Zou, a native of Zunyi city, Guizhou Province in southwest China, was
a silver medalist in light flyweight at the 2003 world boxing
championships in Bangkok.
Zou had defeated Rau Shee Warren of the United States and Endalkachew
Kebede of Ethiopia to reach the quarterfinals.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Aug 25 2004
Armenian, Russian Troops Begin Joint Maneuvers
By Hrach Melkumian 25/08/2004 09:37
Underscoring their close defense ties, Armenia and Russia began on
Tuesday regular joint military exercises near Yerevan involving
hundreds of troops, military hardware and air force.
Officials said elements of Armenia’s Fifth Army Corps and the Russian
military base stationed in the country will practice military
operations and try to improve their interoperability during the
three-day maneuvers.
They said the troops will fire live rounds from light and heavy
weapons, including tanks and helicopter gunships.
`We are strategic partners and have a cooperation plan for 2004
singed by our defense ministers. The holding of such events is part
of it,’ Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian, chief of staff of the
Armenian armed forces, told RFE/RL.
`We have held such joint exercises for the last several years,’ he
said. `They are not directed against any other third country. Their
aim is to improve the combat readiness and cooperation of the
Armenian Armed Forces and 102nd Russian military base.’
The military alliance with Russia is a key component of Armenia’s
national security doctrine which sees a military threat from
neighboring Turkey. Russia has been the main source of external arms
supplies and training for the Armenian military for over a decade.
Harutiunian added that Armenia stands ready to hold similar exercises
with `other countries,’ apparently alluding to Yerevan’s growing
participation in NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. Armenia
hosted a first-ever NATO-led exercise on its soil in June 2002 and
intends to take part in similar drills to be held in Azerbaijan next
month.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 25 2004
Elmar Mamedyarov Does Not Disclose Subject of Upcoming Meeting with
Armenian Foreign Minister
25/08/2004 09:49
TURAN — Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov confirmed yesterday
that he will meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in
Prague on 30 August.
He however evaded a question about subject of negotiations in Czech
capital.
Nor did Mamedyarov answer if activization of Russia’s role in
settlement of the Karabakh conflict could be expected in light of
recent meetings between Foreign Ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan,
and Presidents of Russia and Armenia. Mamedyarov promised to clarify
these issues after meeting in Prague.

Agence France Presse
Aug 25 2004

EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Coup suspects proclaim innocence
Two South Africans, who are on trial in Equatorial Guinea with 16
other people, on Tuesday denied playing any part in an alleged coup
plot against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled the
central African country wth an iron fist for 25 years.
One of the alleged masterminds of the putsch, South African Nick du
Toit, told the court earlier on Tuesday that four citizens of
Equatorial Guinea, who are among the accused, were all innocent.
South Africans Marius Boonzaaier and Sergio Patricio Cardoso told the
court they had been employed by Triple Option, a company in
Equatorial Guinea set up by Du Toit.
But they said they had never been aware of a scheme to oust Obiang
Nguema, who had himself seized power in a military coup on August 3,
1979.
Boonzaaier (48) and Cardoso (44), were both members of the South
African military before they were recruited by Du Toit, who admitted
to the court on Monday to playing a limited role in a coup bid.
The three South Africans have been on trial in Malabo since Monday,
along with five other South Africans, six Armenians and four
Equatorial Guineans, all accused of involvement in the alleged coup
bid.
South Africans arrested in early March
The South African and Armenian suspects were arrested in early March,
after Obiang Nguema declared on national television and radio that a
bid to oust him had been thwarted.
The four Equatorial Guineans now on trial in Malabo with Du Toit and
the other suspects include former deputy economic planning minister
Antonio Javier Nguema Nchama, who was also chairman of Triple Option.
Du Toit, who runs several businesses in the small oil-rich country,
told the court earlier on Tuesday he had only ever had strictly
professional ties with the four, who he said were all innocent.
Du Toit told the court he had been in charge of logistics for an
attempted putsch and had accepted the job at the request of one Simon
Mann, founder of the mercenary firm Executive Outcomes.
Du Toit accepted job at request of Simon Mann
Mann is alleged to have headed a group of 70 suspected mercenaries,
who were arrested in Zimbabwe on March 7 and accused by Obiang Nguema
of intending to join Du Toit and the other defendants in Equatorial
Guinea to take part in the coup.
Equatorial Guinea’s state prosecutor said on Monday he was seeking
the death penalty for Du Toit and prison terms ranging from 26 years
to 86 years for the other defendants.
That prompted South Africa to say on Tuesday that it would intervene
if Du Toit was sentenced to death.
“Our constitution outlaws the death penalty and therefore our
government will seek diplomatic intervention if the death penalty is
handed down,” foreign ministry spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa told AFP.
Boonzaaier and Cardoso told the court Du Toit had asked them to pick
up a group of people from Malabo airport on March 7 but insisted they
had not known why.
Boonzaaier said he had only heard about the alleged coup after he had
been arrested and Cardoso told the prosecutor he did not know why he
was on trial.

DetNews.com, MI
Aug 25 2004
Gritty images tell story of auto industry’s past
By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News
WINDSOR – Louis M. Papp’s modeling career began and ended the same
day – but at least he worked with the best.
The 70-year-old Windsor businessman was a teen when renowned
photographer Yousuf Karsh showed up at Ford of Canada’s now-defunct
Windsor trade school, where Papp was a student. Karsh, who gained
fame for a 1941 portrait of Winston Churchill, had been commissioned
by Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd. to document the company’s Windsor
operations for its 1950 annual report.
The photographer enlisted Papp and his classmates to pose for him.
`I was somewhat of an amateur photographer myself,’ Papp recalled.
`But when I saw his equipment, I knew he wasn’t a beginner.’
The photo featuring Papp is part of a long-forgotten collection of
Karsh images on display through Nov. 14 at the Art Gallery of
Windsor. They not only reflect Karsh’s distinctive use of light and
shadow, they are snapshots of an industrial era before automation.
There are gritty images of tradesmen with meaty forearms and brows
glistening with perspiration. Some workers are focused on the task at
hand – spray-painting or tending a foundry furnace – while others
smile directly at the camera, transporting the viewer back to a time
when people were more intimately involved in auto manufacturing.
`They give the machines life and movement,’ Karsh said at the time.
`It is really their skill that gives a car strength and beauty.’
The exhibition also mirrors the auto industry’s growth pattern.
One hundred years ago this month, Henry Ford chose Windsor as the
site of his first international expansion and opened a factory to
build a Model T precursor, the Model C. As the Canadian company grew,
similar to Ford’s evolution in Detroit, job seekers flocked there
from around the world.
Karsh’s subjects – with names such as Fraser, LaMarsh and Wasyke –
reflect an ethnic diversity that survives in Windsor today. And all
are depicted with a sensitivity that borders on reverence.
`He saw everyone exactly the same, whether it was a head waiter or a
head of state,’ said Jerry Fielder, curator of the Karsh estate’s
collection and a former assistant to the photographer. `Whenever he
was photographing anyone, they had 100 percent of his attention and
nothing else mattered.’
Karsh, whose work is included among the permanent collections at New
York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and London’s National Portrait
Gallery, emigrated from Armenia to Canada in 1924, eventually opening
a studio in Ottawa, the nation’s capital. The capital setting
afforded him access to political leaders and other influential
thinkers who sat for his most memorable portraits.
They included John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Jawaharlal Nehru,
Fidel Castro, Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, Muhammad Ali and
Andy Warhol.
Karsh also had some rather offbeat assignments, such as documenting
behind-the-scenes activity during filming for the 1969 movie, `Planet
of the Apes.’
Karsh, who died in 2002 at 93, was commissioned to shoot industrial
scenes for other annual reports and some of these photos are also
part of the Windsor exhibition. But the Ford shots, of which there
are about two dozen, are the focus.
The photos were so well-received when originally published that Ford
of Canada featured the shots in a national touring exhibition. In the
half-century since, however, the collection has gradually been
dismantled, with photos haphazardly dispersed to decorate boardrooms
and workshops.
Cassandra Getty, curator of the Windsor gallery exhibition, restored
the collection with help from Ford of Canada. Partly because of those
efforts, Fielder donated two Karsh pieces to the Art Gallery of
Windsor’s permanent collection.
One is a Churchill portrait and the other features Maurice Lehoux,
who worked in the paint shop at Ford’s former Windsor car plant,
where the automaker now builds engines. When Maurice’s photo was
taken, Karsh’s greatness was lost on Lehoux, said his widow, Gloria
Lehoux, 70, of Windsor.
`He thought it was just … nothing,’ she said with a shrug.
Gow Crapper considered the exercise a bit of a joke. Sylvia O’Neil
Crapper of Windsor recalled how her late father-in-law described the
day Karsh spotted him on the assembly line and chose him as a
subject.
`He said to Gow, `You come with me.’ So Gow said, `Hey fellas! I’m
going to Hollywood!’ ‘
Gow Crapper, who died in 1987 at the age of 62, received $1 for the
use of his likeness – the same fee paid to Karsh’s other Ford
subjects. Crapper’s widow, Shirley, has the original image Karsh shot
of her husband.
Signed by the famed photographer, Fielder estimated its value at
between $5,000 and $8,000.
Papp, who now coordinates overseas joint ventures through his
company, Manufacturing Advisory Services, doesn’t have a copy of his
photo. He recalled seeing it once, many years ago, and was unaware it
was part of the Windsor exhibition – until his daughter visited the
gallery.
`I had to do a double take,’ Patricia Papp said.