Category: News

Azerbaijan may put Karabakh separatists on Interpol wanted list
Ekho, Baku
17 Aug 04

The National Central Bureau of Interpol (NCBI) in Azerbaijan is ready
to announce an international search for the president of the
self-styled Nagornyy Karabakh Republic (“NKR” – placed in inverted
commas hereafter), Arkadiy Gukasyan. An informed source at the
law-enforcement bodies told Ekho that the Azerbaijani Prosecutor
General’s Office should initiate criminal proceedings [against him]
for this purpose.
In the meantime, it is difficult to find a better time than it is now
if the National Central Bureau of Azerbaijan announces an
international manhunt for the leader of the Karabakh
separatists. Gukasyan has announced that he is going on holiday. And
“the president” will relax outside Karabakh. “The main information
department” under “the president” of the “NKR” does not report which
country Gukasyan headed for.
Gukasyan remains faithful to his tradition of going on holidays in
August or September. In the past, the leader of the Karabakh
separatists also spent his holidays outside Karabakh, but in Xankandi
they have always avoided reporting where he is going, probably, so
that nobody can spoil his holiday.
Gukasyan is known to travel abroad quite often. He more often visits
France and the USA where he takes part in a variety of telethons
organized by the All-Armenian Foundation Hayastan. The separatist
leader has repeatedly travelled to Moscow. Armenia’s opposition press
reports that Gukasyan is suffering from a certain serious disease
which requires treatment.
[Passage omitted]
It is interesting that representatives of the “NKR” and Yerevan are
hiding Gukasyan’s holiday destination. Thus, “the representation” of
“the NKR” in Moscow refused to tell Ekho anything concerning the
holiday of their “boss”. The same position was shown by the “NKR
representation” in France: “We do not know where our president is
relaxing.”
The separatists found it difficult to answer Ekho’s question about how
often Gukasyan relaxes in France, advising to address this question
to… [ellipsis as given] the Armenian authorities. Armenia’s
diplomatic representation in Moscow said they had no information as to
where the leader of the Karabakh separatists could be relaxing.
Even if the leader of the Karabakh separatists manages to relax
without problems this year, Azerbaijani parliamentarians intend to get
Gukasyan not to leave Karabakh or Armenia in the future. A member of
the parliamentary commission on national security and defence,
Alimammad Nuriyev, told Ekho that he was planning to raise the issue
of restricting the movement of the Karabakh separatists, including
Gukasyan, during the parliament’s autumn session.
Under the MP’s proposal, it is necessary to compile a list of
separatist leaders, which will be later sent to CIS countries and
other friendly nations. Official Baku will have to request that the
governments of these countries impose sanctions on the entry of the
people mentioned on the list. Nuriyev is confident that Baku’s
initiative will be supported, since some CIS countries have problems
with separatism.
The parliamentarian also intends to raise the issue of a similar
address to the European Union. “There is a precedent. The European
Union has banned [unrecognized] Dniester leaders [in Moldova] from
entering EU countries. We have to make use of it.”
In turn, another MP Zahid Oruc suggests introducing tougher sanctions
against the Karabakh separatists. The deputy is in favour of declaring
Gukasyan a war criminal and putting him on the international wanted
list. “I intend to raise this issue at the autumn session of the Milli
Maclis [Azerbaijani parliament]. We have to act on the example of
Russia which has announced Chechen militants war criminals and
demanded their extradition from neighbouring countries. We can in no
way allow Gukasyan to smoothly tour the world.”
Oruc acknowledged that Baku has to compile a list of the Karabakh
separatists headed by Gukasyan and request that CIS countries impose
sanctions against these people. “Time is ripe for moving from official
statements to fruitful actions.” The deputy is sure that constructive
cooperation between the [Azerbaijani] Foreign Ministry and the Milli
Maclis on this issue will yield positive results soon.

PRESS RELEASE
August 24, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
TURPANJIAN FAMILY FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES SCHOLARSHIP AND BIG BROTHER/SISTER
PROGRAM AT AUA
Oakland, CA -The Turpanjian Family Foundation generously pledged $1,000,000
over 10 years to the American University of Armenia (AUA) in April 2004 to
implement an innovative Big Brother-Big Sister orphan mentorship program,
and to provide educational scholarships to support qualified undergraduate
and graduate Armenian students who are at an economic and social
disadvantage. On August 13, 2004, the American University of Armenia
received its first installment of $100,000 from the Turpanjian Family
Foundation and AUA has begun program implementation.
One of the key components of the Turpanjian Family Foundation Scholarship
Program is to empower its graduates to make long-term contributions to
Armenia’s political, social and economic development. To this end,
scholarships will be awarded to eligible undergraduate and graduate students
in Armenia’s universities, including the AUA, whose major areas of study are
determined to be of critical need and strategic importance for the
development of Armenia. AUA has already sent out public announcements in
Armenia’s media to recruit eligible students.
Additionally, for the first time in Armenia, AUA will introduce a `Big
Brother-Big Sister’ mentorship program for orphans. AUA alumni and
students will be matched with orphans, as `big brothers’ or `big sisters’,
to establish one-on-one lifelong friendships and mentoring relationships and
to help with their social and intellectual development. This mutually
beneficial connection will not only assist the orphan with lifelong guidance
and counseling, but also instill within AUA alumni and students the values
of helping others less fortunate and the benefits of participating in
community service.
`Supporting a scholarship program in Armenia is a wonderful way to support
the local state institutions of higher education and individual students who
have the potential to attend AUA and make valuable contributions to Armenian
society,’ stated AUA President Haroutune Armenian. `The Big Brother/Big
Sister component of this program will also help those who are at a
socio-economic disadvantage to overcome their circumstances and believe in
their potential leadership and entrepreneurial roles in Armenia’s economy.’
—————————————-
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit

Indian Express, India
Aug 24 2004
Harikrishna is joint second

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, August 23: Grandmaster P Harikrishna defeated
International Master Imad Hakki of Syria in the eighth and
penultimate round and moved to joint second spot in the Master’s
section of the 14th edition of Abu Dhabi chess festival here.
Former Asian junior girls’ champion Tania Sachdev moved within
striking distance of her second Women Grandmaster norm after a draw
with WGM Julia Mashinskaya of Russia. Tania took her tally to four
points out of a possible eight and now needs just a draw in the last
round game against IM Alexander Raetsky of Russia to ensure the norm.

Meanwhile, GM Dmitry Bocharov of Russia joined GMs Ghaem Maghami
Ehsan of Iran and Pavel Kotsur of Kazakhstan in lead after a crushing
victory over compatriot GM Evgeny Gleizerov. All the three leaders
have six points each and are followed by top seed Evgeny Vladimirov
of Kazakhstan, Russians Gleizerov and Mikhail Kobalia, Artashes
Minasian of Armenia and Harikrishna on 5.5 points.
With just one round to go in this $16000 prize money tournament as
many as six players including GM Tejas Bakre are in contention for
the spot. Tejas Bakre defeated Zeinab Mamediarova of Azerbaijan in a
fine positional game from the White side of a Cole system. The game
lasted 58 moves. GM R B Ramesh went down to Minasian after a tough
fight from an irregular opening. The Armenian wrapped the issue in 38
moves.
Nisha Mohota was impressive in her victory over local hope Mohamed
Hossein while Eesha Karvade held compatriot IM S Kidambi. Neelotpal
Das lost to Kivanc Haznedaroglu of Turkey and Aarthie Ramaswamy drew
with Tayeb Suhail of UAE.

The South African Star , South Africa
Aug 24 2004
Hung out to die?
August 24, 2004
By Beauregard Tromp and Sapa-AFP
Nick du Toit has admitted that he recruited personnel and took charge
of logistics for an attempted coup bid in Equatorial Guinea.
The South African’s admission came on the first day of his trial in
Malabo, the capital of the small central African state, along with 17
other alleged putschists who have been charged with plotting to oust
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
“I wasn’t part of the operational group because my task was
logistics; that’s to say, getting vehicles (to the airport),” Du Toit
said yesterday when he was returned to the courtroom on his own after
an adjournment.
Du Toit – on trial with seven other South Africans, six Armenians and
four Equatorial Guinean defendants – said he agreed to take part in
the scheme because he was promised “a large amount of money”.
Questioned by Attorney-General José Olo Obono, the South African said
he had accepted the job at the request of Simon Mann, the alleged
leader of 70 other suspected mercenaries arrested in Zimbabwe. This
group was allegedly due to join those in Equatorial Guinea to carry
out the coup.
In a shock announcement yesterday, the state prosecutor sought the
death penalty for Du Toit and prison terms ranging from 26 to 86
years for the other defendants.
The head of the official South African observer mission to the trial,
Moketedi Mpshe, said he was shocked at the call for the death
penalty, which seemed to contradict assurances given by Obiang to
President Thabo Mbeki that none of the accused would be executed.
Obiang had also told the French magazine Jeune Afrique Intelligent:
“The death penalty can be applied here only if a crime has been
carried out, not if the accused was stopped when he was only in the
planning stage.”
Mbeki’s spokesperson, Bheki Khumalo, said last night: “Let us allow
the due process of the law to take its course, reach its logical
conclusion and take it from there.”
Legal watchdogs have, however, expressed fears that if the government
decides to intervene only after the death penalty has been passed, it
might be too late to prevent its being carried out.
South African officials have been told that the trial would be
completed and sentence passed this week, leaving little time for
reaction.
Handcuffed and in leg-irons, the accused were brought by military
vehicles to a conference hall in Banapa, a suburb of Malabo, which
has been turned into a makeshift courtroom for the trial.
About 100 people, including two of the suspected South African
mercenaries’ wives, human rights activists and foreign diplomats,
were in the public gallery for the trial.
Although Du Toit’s wife, Belinda, had complained before that the
mercenaries were in bad shape, an American diplomat present, Dan
Vernon, told Voice of America that the accused “appear to be
healthy”.
“All 14 of the expatriates have beards at this point, but they appear
to be in good health,” Vernon said.
“I noticed that Nick du Toit, the alleged leader of the group,
appeared extremely composed and chatted with the accused sitting on
either side of himself on occasion.”
The South African government’s observer mission, which was originally
to be eight-strong but dwindled to four, missed the opening of the
trial and spent yesterday in Libreville, Gabon, because of delays in
flights from Johannesburg.
“We will only be able to get a flight to Malabo at 7am tomorrow
morning,” Mpshe said yesterday.
But Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said
another team of officials, led by South Africa’s ambas- sador to
Gabon, Samuel Monaisi, was monitoring the trial to ensure it was
“transparent, fair and just”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is on record as
saying she would intervene diplomatically if a death sentence is
announced.
Meanwhile the Equatorial Guinean government seems to have reneged on
a promise to the South African government to allow South African
journalists and international lawyers to attend the trial.
The International Bar Association, based in London, said last night
that one of its observers had been allowed to travel to Malabo but
another had been refused entry.
Equatorial Guinea’s attorney-general outlined the role of each of the
accused in the coup plot, also citing the names of exiled opposition
leader Severo Moto, accused of masterminding the coup, and British
businessmen Elie Khalil, Greg Wales and David Hurt, accused of
funding it, but he did not say what sentences they faced.
Spain has refused to extradite Moto, leading Malabo to recall its
ambassador to Madrid and threaten to break off diplomatic relations.
Du Toit’s lawyer, Fernando Mico, called for seven years’ prison for
his client, saying: “There was no conspiracy, given that no weapons
were found in their possession.”
Lawyer Polciano Mbomio, pleading on behalf of six Armenian
defendants, asked for charges against them to be dropped, and called
Obono’s summary “narrative fiction”.
The four Equatorial Guineans were not implicated in the alleged coup
plot until the court case got under way yesterday.
The South African and Armenian suspects have been held at Malabo’s
notorious Black Beach prison since March.
Why observers are worried
The trial judges report to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
The government appointed legal representation for the accused at the
last minute, and did not allow them to have their own lawyers.
The prosecution is allowed to use confessions extracted by torture.
Court proceedings are held in Spanish, charges are put in Spanish and
there is no translation.
The trial started even though a South African government delegation
sent to make sure that it was free and fair had not arrived.
The South African government says it will allow the case to reach its
conclusion before it will act. However, its policy to intervene only
after the imposition of the death penalty proved to be ill-timed in
the case of Mariette Bosch, who was executed in secret by Botswana in
1999.
The Equatorial Guinean attorney-general called for the death penalty
despite earlier assurances by Nguema that the men would not be
executed.
SA’s Constitutional Court regards the right to life, as contained in
the constitution, as so important that it has ruled that even a
non-South African may not be extradited to another country to face
capital charges, unless an undertaking is given by that country that
the death sentence will not be imposed.
What Amnesty says of the country
German Eugen Nershz, one of the 15 foreigners arrested in connection
with the coup attempt, died on March 17, supposedly of cerebral
malaria. But Amnesty International has said he died “apparently as a
result of torture”.
The trial of 67 men sentenced to long jail terms after being
convicted of involvement in a previous alleged coup was unfair and
their convictions were based on statements made under torture.
They are being held in harsh conditions at the Black Beach prison,
crammed together in small, dangerously overcrowded cells. In March,
two prisoners were transferred to hospital. One had a broken rib as a
result of being beaten.
Amnesty International further noted that it had happened before that
the Equatorial Guinean government had “invented” plots to clamp down
on the opposition. In 2002, several members of political parties were
held for exercising their right to freedom of expression or for
membership of opposition groups.
Despite a partial amnesty in August 2002, more than 30 prisoners are
being held in conditions tantamount to torture after being convicted
on the basis of confessions extracted under torture.

SABC News, South Africa
Aug 24 2004
Ambassador says ‘mercenaries’ won’t get death penalty
Samuel Monaisa, the South African ambassador to Gabon, says he is
confident that the 14 suspected mercenaries held in Equatorial Guinea
will not be sentenced to death. Eight South Africans and six
Armenians were arrested in March and accused of plotting to topple
the oil-rich nation’s president with the help of 70 men detained in
Zimbabwe.
The prosecutor called for a maximum sentence on Nick du Toit, the
alleged mercenary leader yesterday, despite an assurance by the
government of Equatorial Guinea that the men would not be sentenced
to death. Monaise says it is common in any such case that the
prosecutor would be driving for a certain sentence but that does not
necessarily mean that is how the final judgment will pan out. He says
furthermore, the fact that what the men had planned was not carried
out and that the government has already ruled out the death sentence
makes him confident. In the Equatorial justice system, trial judges
report directly to the president.
Monaise says he does not have the jurisdiction to approach the court
and request that the government assurance be taken into account. “I
can’t do that that would be interfering in the judicial system of
another country… what we are just trying to do is to ensure that the
trial is transparent, fair and just.”
The South African government has sent four senior officials to attend
the trial. Among them are officials from the department of foreign
affairs, the department of justice and the National Prosecuting
Authority.

Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 24 2004
OSCE is waiting for a meeting between Zhvania and Kokoiti
As reported in the newspaper Alia, “the leaders of CIS states will
try to convince Mikheil Saakashvili to sit at the same negotiation
table together with the so called leader of Ossetia,” declared the
President of Russia Vladimer Putin in Sochi at a meeting with
Armenian president.
According to them, neither Russia nor Armenia, is going to watch
indifferently while the current situation in the Caucasus escalates.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Interfax
Aug 24 2004
Armenia wants Equatorial Guinea to release its pilots
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia is working hard to convince the
authorities of Equatorial Guinea to release six Armenian pilots who
were detained earlier this year, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
told journalists on Monday.
“I would not like to offer optimistic forecasts, but Armenia is doing
everything possible in this direction,” Oskanian said.
An Armenian delegation has left for a third visit to Equatorial
Guinea for talks, he said.
The pilots, who arrived in Equatorial Guinea’s capital of Malabo in
January 2004, were engaged in delivering cargoes on an Armenian
carrier’s An-12 aircraft under an agreement with German contractors.
They were arrested on March 7.
The pilots have been charged with organizing a coup, serving as
mercenaries and espionage. The accused men have denied the charges.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 24 2004
FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND DENMARK HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
[August 24, 2004, 15:51:56]
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met with
Danish counterpart Per Stig Moellere behind closed doors on August
23.
After the meeting, the Ministers held a press conference for media
representatives.
Noting that the discussions have been very useful both from political
and economic viewpoint, Minister Mammadyarov especially emphasized
that for the last seven years the Danish government had rendered US$
14 mln humanitarian aid to Azerbaijani refugees and internally
displaced people. He advised that the meeting had also been focused
on such issues as the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, fight against terror and weapon of mass
destruction, as well as international and regional situation.
Mr. Per Stig Moellere pointed out the considerable expanding in the
last years the Azerbaijan’s relations with European countries
including Denmark. The Danish Minister stressed that his country has
a concern in further development of the links, and announced that
tomorrow a honorable consulate and in a few month an Embassy of
Denmark to Azerbaijan would be opened in Baku.
The guest added that Denmark is ready to help Azerbaijan in
environment protection and energy sector development.
Finally, both Ministers responded to the questions from journalists.

ISN, Switzerland
Aug 24 2004
US troop redeployment sparks rumors on Azeri base 24.08.2004

News that the US is planning a massive redeployment of its armed
forces has Azeris wondering whether their country will soon host US
troops.

By Fariz Ismailzade for EurasiaNet
News that the US is planning a massive redeployment of its armed
forces has Azeris wondering whether their country will soon host US
troops. Azeri officials are coy on the base question, prompting some
local political analysts to say Baku is trying to leverage the issue
to achieve a breakthrough on the stalled talks on a Nagorno-Karabakh
peace settlement. Speculation over whether the US would establish a
military base in Azerbaijan began almost immediately after US leaders
announced 16 August that up 70’000 US troops in Europe and East Asia
would be redeployed. Most US soldiers appear headed back to the US,
but some will staff new facilities, in keeping with the Pentagon’s
desire to create a more mobile armed forces. A few days before the
announcement, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited Baku
for hastily arranged talks. The Azeri government provided only a
vague description about the discussions. However, Zerkalo, an
independent daily newspaper, claimed that a tentative base deal had
been reached. “Moreover, the USA is interested in modernizing …
military airfields in Azerbaijan,” Zerkalo reported on 17 August,
without citing a source. Azeri media have also seized on recent
comments attributed to General Charles Wald, the deputy commander for
US forces in Europe, who reportedly indicated that US defense
officials were considering Azerbaijan, Uganda, and the island state
of Sao Tome as potential host sites for US rapid deployment forces.
According to the Azeri reports, the US is seeking a base in
Azerbaijan to ensure the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
and to monitor developments in Iran, which Washington believes is
working hard to develop nuclear weapons.
Fait accompli
While some Azerbaijani media outlets are treating a US base as a fait
accompli, the only public statements on the issue by Azeri officials
have been non-committal. Foreign Minister Eldar Mammadyarov has
acknowledged that talks are on-going, but he stressed on 19 August
that “it is naive to think that military bases can be set up
overnight”. Some analysts say it wasn’t coincidental that Mammadyarov
made the statement in Moscow. Russia is on record as opposing any US
redeployment that would place US troops in the formerly Communist
sphere, and a few observers believe the potential US base is at the
center of a geopolitical game being played by Baku. The objective,
from Baku’s viewpoint, is to secure increased political support for a
Karabakh peace settlement that is to Azerbaijan’s liking. Azerbaijan
has insisted that any settlement leave the region under Baku’s
jurisdiction. Azeri officials have grown restless in recent months
over the lack of progress in the peace talks. Mammadyarov said in a
19 August television interview that the Karabakh question topped his
agenda during talks with Russian leaders in Moscow. Some in Baku
believe Russia, given Moscow’s close strategic relationship with
Armenia, is the key to achieving the desired breakthrough on
Karabakh. A trade-off involving Azerbaijan’s rejection of a US base,
effectively in return for greater Russian support for Baku in the
Karabakh peace process, could possibly pressure Armenia into
softening its Karabakh negotiating position.
A diplomatic bargaining chip
Some pundits say Mammadyarov’s attempt to use the base issue as a
diplomatic bargaining chip has so far failed. They note that both
Russia and the US have given no public indication of shifting their
existing positions on the Karabakh peace process. Given the apparent
failure of what some in Baku describe as Azerbaijan’s base “bluff”,
officials are now left to weigh the potential merits and liabilities
of playing host to US troops. Political analyst Rauf Mirqadirov,
writing in an analysis published 19 August analysis by Zerkalo,
examined the pros and cons of the base issue. On the plus side,
Mirqadirov said the presence of US forces would facilitate rapid
economic development in the region. He also downplayed the
possibility of Russian retaliation, arguing that Moscow “is not ready
for global confrontation with the United States”. Mirqadirov,
however, envisioned several potential negatives arising out of a
possible basing arrangement. A US presence, for example, could make
Azerbaijan a target of Islamic militant action. It could also
potentially limit Azerbaijan’s options in striving to achieve its
Karabakh settlement objectives. In addition, Mirqadirov voiced
concern about the possibility of Azerbaijan becoming embroiled in the
long-running feud between the US and Iran. “The Americans do not rule
out that Iran is their future target,” Mirqadirov said. “If all these
statements are made in order to frighten Tehran – then that’s one
thing. But if the Americans start another mess – moreover, one along
our border – then Azerbaijan, irrespective of its wishes, will be
dragged into this conflict.” Azeris interviewed at random on the
streets of Baku offered a mixed view on the base issue. “We need to
see, first, what is our benefit from these bases. Will they help us
in the war with Armenia?” said Nargiz, a university student. Niyazi,
an employee at a trading house, suggested an American troop presence
would “only bring us trouble with Iran.” Others, however, said US
troops would help defend against potential encroachment by Iran or
Russia against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.
Fariz Ismailzade is a freelance writer on Caucasus politics and
economics. He has obtained his masters degree from the Washington
University in St. Louis and is currently based in Baku.
EurasiaNet ()provides information and analysis
about political, economic, environmental, and social developments in
the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in Russia,
the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. The website presents a variety
of perspectives on contemporary developments, utilizing a network of
correspondents based both in the West and in the region. The aim of
EurasiaNet is to promote informed decision making among policy
makers, as well as broadening interest in the region among the
general public. EurasiaNet is operated by the Central Eurasia Project
of the Open Society Institute.

BBC News
Aug 24 2004
Zou wins medal for China

Boxing results in full
Zou Shiming claimed China’s first Olympic boxing medal by beating
Armenia’s Aleksan Nalbandyan 20-12 in the light flyweight
quarter-finals.
Zou now faces Yan Bhartelemy Varela in Friday’s semi-finals, the
Cuban having outscored South Korea’s Hong Moo Won.
Russia’s Sergey Kazakov beat Namibia’s Joseph Jermi 18-11 and fights
Turkey’s Atagun Yalcinkaya in the last four.
Zou defeated Bhartelemy Varela at last year’s world championships in
Bangkok and went on to win a silver medal.
Yalcinkaya outpointed Italy’s Alfonso Pinto 33-24.