Category: News

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 14 2004
The Ministry of IT and Communications Stops the Armenian Broadcasting
The Ministry of Information Technologies and Communictations
constructed special transmitters to prevent the broadcasting of
Armenian TVs and radios in Azerbaijani territories, Azadinform
reported on Friday.
The transmitters are contsructed in the territories of Tartar, Oghuz
and Poylu stations. These transmitters will stop the brodcast of
Armenian TV and radios to Azerbaijani areas near the Armenian
borders.
The same problem exixsts with the Iranian broadcasters. Azerbaijani
and Iranian parties have already finished negotiations and signed
several documents to prevent the broacasting of Iranian TVs and
radios to Azeri districts situated near the Iranian border. In spite
of this Iranian side still hasn’t made any attempts to stop the
broadcatsing of Iranian programs in Azerbaijani districts.

Tulare Advance Register, CA
Aug 14 2004
Good Deeds; Good News

Often good deeds and good news go unnoticed. This column, which runs
every Saturday, provides an avenue to get those good deeds and that
good news into the paper.
Here are this week’s items:
Good deeds
Principal excited about Ag-science students
Sundale Principal Cliff Gordon is excited about the work the kids in
the school’s Ag-science classes continue to do, and a cleanup on
Friday was no exception.
“Ag-science is part of the curriculum,” Gordon said. “The kids do
different things in relation to beautification of the school. The
work they’re doing [Friday] is part of a last-minute, final cleanup
because we’re getting ready to plant grass for a new baseball and
football field.”
The students aren’t the only ones working. Sundale parent volunteers
put in an irrigation system for the 16 acres of land purchased by the
school for the recreation area. The site is just north of the school
on Lovers Lane.
No buildings will be constructed on the land. It’s reserved for
recreation like soccer, football, baseball and a little park for the
Sundale community.
In three weeks, the Ag-science students will cut Ber-muda grass from
a neighboring farmer and replant it at the school.
“They probably do a lot of our landscaping as part of their
curriculum,” Gordon said. “But, even though it’s part of the
curriculum, if a student says that’s not something they want to do we
find an alternative for them. None of them have to do it.”
Administrators said they hope to have the site ready for baseball in
spring.
FFA officer visits Washington, D.C.
Grace Berryhill, 18, of Tulare was one of more than 100 FFA officers
who gathered in Washington, D.C., last month to strengthen skills in
leadership and citizenship and discuss national FFA business as part
of the National FFA State Presidents’ Conference.
Berryhill is the daughter of Bruce and Carol Berryhill. She is the
president of the California FFA Association.
The group attended the conference to prepare for their
responsibilities as delegates and committee chairs for the 2004
National FFA Convention, to be held in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 27-30.
FFA is a national youth organization of 464,267 student members
preparing for
leadership careers in science, business and technology of
agriculture, with 7,194 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. Information:
Former Tularean receives Fresno honor
Former Tularean Evelyn Michigian of Fresno was one of 40 Fresnan’s
depicted in “Fresno’s Finest Faces: Common Citizens Working for the
Common Good.”
This photographic exhibition by Jose Garza and Shari Savage was on
display at Fresno City Hall.
In addition to serving as librarian and administrative assistant to
the Fresno First Armenian Presbyterian Church Chancel and Choir,
Michigian serves as a volunteer staff member of United Way and serves
in the day surgery waiting room at Children’s Hospital Central
California.
Michigian graduated from Tulare Union High School with the class of
1943.
If you have a good deed to recognize, or good news to share, call the
Tulare Advance-Register newsroom at 688-0521.

Azad Azabycan
Aug 14 2004
AZERI POLICE ARREST JAPANESE STUDENT SUSPECTED OF SPYING FOR ARMENIA
BAKU, 14.08.04. An act of sabotage by Armenia was foiled in Baku
today. Employees of [Baku`s] Sabayil district police department
detained Japanese citizen (?Ogawa Siniawa), 28, when he was taking
photos of the Azarbaycan Hotel and other facilities.
The preliminary investigation showed that the Japanese resident, who
is a first-year student of Yerevan State University`s social studies
department, arrived in Tbilisi from Yerevan on 1 August and went to
Saki [northern Azerbaijan] two days later. He stayed in Saki for
three days, arrived in Baku on 6 August and stayed at a hotel in
Baku. He came to Azerbaijan as a tourist. The investigation is
continuing.

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
Aug 14 2004
ROBERT KOCHARIAN: `THE ARMENIAN-POLISH RELATIONS DEVELOP QUITE
YEREVAN, 14.08.04. The Armenian-Polish relations develop quite
dynamically. RA President Robert Kocharian said about it, receiving
newly appointed Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Tomash Knohte on
August 13. The newly appointed Ambassador of Poland to Armenia
presented his credentials to the RA President. Robert Kocharian
mentioned the importance of the development of mutual relations with
Poland in the context of the European direction of the foreign
policies of Armenia. Stressing that Poland has been a full member of
the European Union since 1 May 2004, the RA President mentioned that
Armenia, which is on the way to the European integration, within the
framework of the European Union found a new partner in the person of
Poland supporting its aspirations. According to the RA presidential
press service, the sides considered the official visit of the RA
President to Poland scheduled for September 5-7 as key in the matter
of the further development of the Armenian-Polish relations.

Noyan Tapan
Aug 14 2004
COOPERATION OF ARMENIA AND OSCE TO STRENGHTEN
YEREVAN
RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian received Ambassador
Steven M. Minikes, Head of the US delegation to the OSCE, on August
12. During the meeting the sides discussed the activities of the OSCE
structures and departments, its Yerevan Office, as well as the wide
circle of problems regarding regional security. The sides also
discussed the Karabakh problem, the processes and prospects of the
settlement of the confrontation.
According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the sides expressed hope that Armenia-OSCE cooperation will continue
and strenghten in a constructive spirit.
Noyan Tapan

Xinhua Online
2004-08-14 20:12:50
Results of men’s 10m air pistol finals
ATHENS, Aug. 14 (Xinhuanet) — Following are the results of men’s 10m air
pistol finals at the Athens Olympic Games here on Saturday:
1. Wang Yifu, China, 690.0 points
2. Mikhail Nestruev, Russia, 689.8
3. Vladimir Isakov, Russia, 684.3
4. Tanyu Kiriakov, Bulgaria, 683.4
5. Jin Jong Oh, South Korea, 682.9
6. Kim Hyon Ung, DPR Korea, 682.0
7. Norayr Bakhtamyan, Armenia, 681.9
8. Kim Jong Su, DPR Korea, 681.2

U.S. middleweight Dirrell wins first bout
SportsTicker
ATHENS, Greece (Ticker) – American middleweight Andre Dirrell won his
first bout as the Olympic boxing tournament opened Saturday, defeating
Dabateer Ha of China after a slow start.
Dirrell, one of the few true medal hopes for the United States, lost
the first round before using his tremendous hand speed to record a
25-18 four-round decision over the Asian.
“It was not a good start,” he admitted. “I should start faster, but I
always come on strong at the end.”
Making his Olympic debut, Dirrell admitted to some nerves as the
reason for his early tentativeness.
“Getting nervous is a tradition for me, but I think it is good because
I am more aware in the ring when I am nervous,” he said.
United States boxers were shut out of gold medals in Sydney four years
ago and won just one each in 1992 and 1996.
Dirrell was the only American in action Saturday. The Michigan native
owns victories over reigning 165-pound world amateur champion Gennadi
Golovkin of Kazakhstan and Cuban Olympic representative Yordanis
Despaigne Herrera.
Dirrell will have a week off before his next bout against Nabil Kassel
of Algeria, who fought off Gaucelio Abreu of Brazil, 41-36.
Herrera also was in the ring Saturday, advancing with a 36-24 decision
over Jean Pascal of Canada.
Among 12 middleweight bouts, medal contender Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov of
Russia got past Christopher Camat of the Philippines, 35-13.
There also were a dozen light heavyweight bouts, none involving any
serious medal contenders. American Andre Ward could surprise in that
weight class.
American welterweight Vanes Martirosyan faces Benamar Meskine of
Algeria on Sunday. The 18-year-old Martirosyan was born in Armenia
and moved to the U.S. when he was 4.
08-14-04 16:52 ET

AZERI MINISTER TO DISCUSS RUSSIA’S KARABAKH EFFORTS IN MOSCOW
Zerkalo, Baku
14 Aug 04
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay an official
visit to Moscow on 17 August at the invitation of his Russian
counterpart. It is noteworthy that Mammadyarov will go to Moscow
immediately after visits to Azerbaijan by Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami and US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld. That is why one
can be 100-per-cent sure that the Russian capital is looking forward
to Mammadyarov’s visit because the Kremlin is hardly indifferent to
the results of these visits to Azerbaijan, especially their
confidential aspects. For example, in Baku Rumsfeld did not hide that
he had an interest in the talks between Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Khatami.
In an interview with our Zerkalo correspondent, Mammadyarov said that
this is his first official visit to Moscow after his appointment to
the post (of foreign minister). “I was appointed foreign minister on 2
April this year. But Mr (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov was
appointed several months after that.
“The main issue that will be raised by the Azerbaijani side during
this visit is Russia’s role as a mediator and co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group in settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. This is a fundamental issue for us. That is why there is no
doubt that we will hold detailed discussions of this issue. The second
package of issues which will definitely be discussed during the visit
are related to economic relations between the two countries.”
(Passage omitted: The intergovernment commission is working actively;
ties between the two ministries and international issues will be
discussed as well)
Although the current world is different from the world of the early
1990s, Mammadyarov believes that “along with the other co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia is playing a major and even a key role in
settling the conflict”. He said Azerbaijan’s position was that it
would be impossible to achieve stability in the region without
resolving this conflict: “That is why we believe that a politically
stable and economically strong Caucasus is of benefit to all the
countries that have their interests in our region.”
Mammadyarov said that Russia has “deeper relations with Armenia” and
strong interests in Azerbaijan, at least from an economical
viewpoint. “As for Russia’s position on this issue, growing numbers of
people believe that if Russia is interested in settling the conflict,
peace will be established in our region very quickly,” Mammadyarov
said.
Generally speaking, there is a strange situation in the talks
process. The declared positions of the sides, at least their official
positions, are absolutely different. In these conditions, frequent
statements are made in society, especially among the military, that
the continuation of the talks has no prospects and it is necessary to
liberate the occupied territories by force. Commenting on the
aforesaid situation, Mammadyarov said: “You and I are talking at the
Foreign Ministry, not at the Defence Ministry. As the foreign
minister, I will back the peaceful option for settling the conflict to
the bitter end. Although, if you are aware of the Foreign Ministry’s
latest statement, you know that Azerbaijan is more and more
disappointed in the destructive position of the Armenian side.
“Armenia’s actions run counter to the purposes and spirit of the talks
held with the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation. Some staff exercises and
illegal local government elections have been held on the occupied
territories. In addition, resettlement is under way on the occupied
territories. Such actions can hardly have a positive impact on the
talks, during which, as the sides maintain, they are reportedly trying
to achieve peace. It is difficult to hold peace talks in these
conditions.”
But Mammadyarov added that the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, at
least the USA, have already reacted to the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s statement. “The USA has already voiced its position on
both the military exercises and illegal elections. It said that the
USA recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The OSCE
chairman-in-office issued a similar statement. The Council of Europe
secretary-general expressed his negative attitude to the events that
have occurred in recent weeks. We, however, believe that if our
attitude to the peace talks is serious and Azerbaijan actually wants
to achieve a breakthrough during the talks, we expect the same
attitude from the opposite side as well,” he said.

KARABAKH WAR GAMES DEADLY BLOW TO CONFLICT SETTLEMENT – AZERI ARMY OFFICIAL
Zerkalo, Baku
14 Aug 04
As is known, military exercises were held by the separatist regime on
the occupied territory of Nagornyy Karabakh a couple of days ago and
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan watched the course of the
exercises. We contacted the head of the Defence Ministry’s press
service, Col Ramiz Malikov, for comments.
(Passage omitted: background details)
(Ramiz Malikov) By holding the military “exercises” on the occupied
territory, the Armenian political and military leadership demonstrated
their aggressive stance towards Azerbaijan. These exercises showed
once again the true face of the Armenian separatists.
The Armenian military leadership wanted to demonstrate the existence
and might of the “Karabakh army” to the world. However, who will
believe in their fairy tales? The entire world knows that the Armenian
occupying troops took part in these exercises.
The participation of Armenia’s senior generals clearly showed who
planned this make-believe under the guise of exercises. (Armenian
Defence Minister Serzh) Sarkisyan wanted to demonstrate his muscles to
Azerbaijan. However, it is useless. Azerbaijan is well aware of their
military force.
I think that the exercises held on the occupied territory were a
deadly blow to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. It is the
Armenian side which is fully responsible for this.
(Correspondent) “One of the principles applied to the large-scale
military exercises conducted by the Karabakh defence army was to bring
these exercises as close to military operations as possible,” the NKR
(Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) defence minister, Seyran Oganyan,
said. “I think that the future military operations, if they happen to
take place, will be different from those of 1992-94. The present
exercises were like military operations that could be expected in the
future.” What can you say about this?
(Malikov) Azerbaijan has not heard of and does not know anything about
“the Karabakh army”. It is a gang that is functioning on the occupied
territory of Azerbaijan. This gang includes thugs, drug addicts,
terrorists and separatists. Therefore, I do not want to comment on
statements issued by the ringleader of a bandit formation.
However, I can say that the Azerbaijani army is much stronger than the
Armenian. The strength of our army is based on the logistics and
economy of our state, which makes the army develop continuously.
Armenia, however, is independent only in words. The troops of another
state are guarding its borders today. In fact, Armenia’s entire
industry is in the hands of another country. Armenia is not a
sovereign state, it is a vassal of another country.
(Passage omitted: minor details)

AZERI ENVOY CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN MILITARY TIES
Trend news agency, Baku
14 Aug 04
BAKU
Trend correspondent E. Huseynov: The OSCE Minsk Group, of which Russia
is a co-chairman, should take a stricter position on a peaceful
settlement to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and clearly and loudly
announce that the territory is under occupation, Trend news agency has
quoted the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia, Ramiz Rizayev, as saying.
(Passage omitted: reported details)
Voicing Baku’s concern about Moscow’s rapprochement with Yerevan in
the military field, Rizayev noted that it was particularly distressing
against the backdrop of the still unresolved conflict in Nagornyy
Karabakh.
“We know that many Armenians served and are continuing to serve in
Russia’s military units. This factor has had an exclusively negative
impact on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict…(ellipses as published)
Suffice it to say that the 366th regiment of the Soviet army, over 70
per cent of whose servicemen were Armenians, was involved in the
bloody events in Xocali (Azeri-populated Karabakh town which was
seized by Armenians in February 1992). The issue of the illegal
handover to Armenia of Russian arms worth over 1bn dollars is also
still unresolved. But we do hope that the current leadership of Russia
will finally show wisdom in this vital issue and these problems, which
we have inherited from the past, will be resolved,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of Azerbaijan’s admission to NATO, the
diplomat said: “We do not see any need to join any military bloc or
organization.”