Category: News

Simon Panek, a Czech who loves freedom
By JAN MARCHAL
Agence France Presse
April 20, 2004
PRAGUE, April 20 — A dissident student under communism, Czech Simon
Panek has remained an unconditional militant for liberty, running
the largest humanitarian organization in central Europe.
“For me, freedom is essential. It is the right of the individual to
feel part of the state. This is in my view the most important European
value,” Panek told AFP in a recent interview.
Panek is an example of the sort of “new Europeans” in the 10 countries
set to join the European Union on May 1.
The 37-year-old sees himself as an inheritor of the values
the dissident playwright Vaclav Havel fought for in freeing
then-Czechoslovakia from the yoke of Soviet domination.
Panek worked with Havel in the heady days before the Iron Curtain
fell in 1989, organizing strikes in Prague universities.
“We have traveled a long road. We freed ourselves from an extremely
dangerous ideology and now this is irreversible. In short, we won,”
he said.
Panek is still fighting however against other dictatorships, such as
in Cuba.
In March, he put on a striped prisoners uniform and sat for an hour
in a symbolic cell in the middle of Prague in a demonstration with
74 other people, including the president of the Czech senate Petr
Pithart, to alert public opinion to the fate of opponents of Cuban
leader Fidel Castro.
Panek’s main work is heading the humanitarian organization People in
Need, which he and several friends founded in 1992.
The organization was a follow-up on work he had done under communism
in order to help people in Armenia who were by the 1988 earthquake.
People in Need has grown into “the largest non-governmental
organization in the region,” Panek said.
It has been involved in some 30 countries, including Afghanistan,
Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Myanmar and Bosnia, and has an annual
budget of over 15 million euros (18.6 million dollars).
“Our action in crisis areas is not only for classic humanitarian aid
but also to get testimony and give information in order to defend
human rights,” Panek said.
Panek said his father showed him the way to fight for human rights.
“Expelled from his school shortly after the communist putsch in 1948,
my father helped Czechs to emigrate to the West, across the border
with Germany,” Panek said.
His father was arrested while doing this and then in 1953 escaped
from a uranium mine where he was doing forced labor.
He was caught and finally left prison in 1960, in an amnesty.
Panek said his family read clandestine political tracts in the 1970s
and 1980s. “I knew why it was necessary to be a militant,” he said.
Panek was named European of the Year in 2002 by the Reader’s Digest
magazine but he said he does not see himself as a hero of democracy.
“Quite the opposite, since I tend to be authoritarian. I am too blunt
with people and lack patience. I like to give orders and that’s why
I’m a manager,” he said.
jma/msa/rl
EU-enlarge-May1-Czech-profile

Turkiye
April 20 2004
GUL: `WE’VE MADE EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE UPPER KARABAKH ISSUE’
Commenting on recent rumors that the border between Turkey and
Armenia would be opened, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday
that Ankara first wanted Azerbaijan and Armenia to reach a settlement
on the upper Karabakh issue and was making efforts towards this end.
Stressing that the border would not be opened until the issue was
resolved, Gul said, `We are continuing our contacts with the
governments in both Baku and Yerevan.’ Urging all observers to take
lessons from a possible Cyprus settlement, Gul stated that Turkey
didn’t want the upper Karabakh issue to remain unresolved,
explaining, `There is an occupation there.’ The foreign minister also
added that during Istanbul’s NATO summit this June, a tripartite
meeting could be held to discuss the issue. /Turkiye/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

E.U. funds more refugee centres on new eastern frontier
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 20, 2004, Tuesday
Warsaw — The European Union will spend 17 million euros on six
new centres for refugees along Poland’s eastern border, destined
to be the E.U.’s new eastern frontier after May 1, PAP news agency
reported Tuesday.
Poland currently has 12 refugee centres able to host 2,500 people,
mostly near the western border with Germany.
The new centres will be built over the next two years in the eastern
Polish border cities of Przemysl, Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, and
Ketrzyn. Four of the centres will be closed, detention compounds
designed to hold illegal migrants.
Some Polish politicians worry Poland’s May 1 E.U. entry will draw
waves of asylum seekers to its eastern border.
But immigration officials point out Poland is still a transit rather
than a target country for migrants, with most heading for Germany,
France and Belgium.
In 2003, almost 7,000 people applied for refugee status in Poland,
twice as many as five years ago. Some 219 people were declared refugees
and granted the right to reside in Poland.
Chechens, Afghans, Indians, Palestinians, Armenians and Ukrainians
were the most numerous applicants. dpa sib pb sc
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Former head of Russian border force in Armenia put on trial
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS
April 20, 2004
YEREVAN, April 20 — Former commander of the Russian border force
in Armenia Lt. Gen. Vyacheslav Aboimov has faced a military
court in Armenia. He is charged with the abuse of office through
misappropriation of 3.5 million rubles.
Criminal proceedings were instituted on August 20 following an
inspection. A similar case was opened against Aboimov’s deputy for
the rear, Col. Vasily Filonov. Investigators say they transferred
funds of a non-existent construction project to the account of the
Simeron Enterprises Company based in Armenia.
The trial in the fifth garrison court of the Russian North Caucasian
military district is closed.
Aboimov headed the Russian border force in Armenia from March 2001
to July 2003. He is a holder of the Order of the Red Star, medals
and awards of Armenia and Afghanistan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Adelante Cuba, Cuba
April 20 2004
Question of Guantanamo Causes Diplomatic Stampede in Geneva
Geneva, Apr 20 (Prensa Latina) A simple question about the human
rights resolution concerning the US Naval Base in Guantanamo, that
illegally occupies Cuban territory, produced a stampede of diplomats,
or in some cases, simple evasion.
Cuban radio and television reporters, together with Prensa Latina
correspondent, sought the viewpoint of UN Human Rights Commission
delegates on the proposed resolution presented by Cuba, concerning
the arbitrary detention of prisoners at the US military base, since
the question is scheduled for discussion tomorrow, Wednesday.
Hours earlier, ambassadors from Syria, Palestine, China, Zimbabwe and
Iran, as well as numerous NGOs made their position known by the
resounding applause given Cuba´s denunciation of human rights
violations at the base.
Positions of other delegates were more difficult to obtain,
demonstrating their little acceptance of freedom of the press.
The European Union group (Holland, Czech Republic) indicated they
would follow the criteria of the EU, although without indicating what
that would be. Australia and Rumania likewise said they would vote as
instructed, but evidently do not yet know their instructions.
Ireland, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, France, Sweden, Armenia,
Croatia and Costa Rica left the Palace of Nations in record time,
none deigning to express an opinion.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
April 20 2004
MM OF AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
[April 20, 2004, 22:21:42]
Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic condemned the preliminary
decision of the Canadian Parliament on recognition of the notorious
`Armenian genocide’.
As was informed by AzerTAj, at the 20 April plenary sitting of the
Milli Majlis, the MPs expressed concern on preliminary decision of
the Canadian Parliament on recognition of the so-called `Armenian
genocide’. It was noted that Azerbaijan is keen on development of
relations with Canada and has made certain steps. Despite of
corresponding actions by the government of Canadian, the mentioned
act of this country’s parliament is incomprehensible
Chairman of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz Alaskarov
stressed the inadmissibility of decision of the Parliament of Canada.
He assigned the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation at the Council
of Europe to negotiate with the Canadian deputies. At his words, the
Chairman is going to send an informatory message to his Canadian
counterpart.
It has to be reminded that Parliament of Canada has adopted a
resolution to discuss the question related to the notorious `Armenian
genocide’ shortly.
Parliamentary delegation of Canada has the observer status at the
Council of Europe.

sportinglife.com, UK
April 20 2004
MOYA THROUGH AFTER SARGSIAN TEST
Spain’s world number five Carlos Moya moved through to the second
round of the Monte Carlo Open after coming out on top in a tough
three-set battle with Armenia’s Sargis Sargsian to register a 7-6
(7-5) 1-6 6-3 victory.
Moya was due to meet Jarkko Nieminen in the next round but the Finn
suffered a broken right wrist at the end of his first-round victory
over Italian qualifier Uros Vico and had to withdraw.
The 27-year-old, who earlier this month returned to the island of his
birth to help Spain register a Davis Cup quarter-final win over
Holland in Mallorca, fared better than his Davis Cup team mate Juan
Carlos Ferrero, who suffered a 6-2 6-3 defeat to Alex Corretja.
Romania’s Andrei Pavel beat the Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek 6-3
6-3, while Germany’s Tommy Haas overcame Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-3
6-4.
Corretja, who lost to Marcelo Rios in the 1997 final, was delighted
after registering his second win in six meetings against Ferrero, who
has one the tournament twice before.
“I’m not surprised, I’m happy,” he told the event’s official website,
Corretja, who received a wild card entry into the tournament, added:
“When you play a guy that you know is probably the best player on
clay – for sure the best player on clay last season – you always know
it’s going to be tough.
“If you look at everyone’s career right now, you’re pretty much
expecting it to be the other way around, you know, Ferrero beating
Corretja 6-2 6-3. So for me it’s a great win.
“I think I played pretty solidly, attacking very well, and of course
I took advantage of his errors. He made some mistakes with his
forehand trying to attack.”

ArmenPress
April 20 2004
RUSSIAN MEDIATOR SAYS PRAGUE MEETING RAISES OPTIMISM
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian
co-chairman in the OSCE Minks group, told Azerbaijani ATV that new
ideas about resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani opposition over
Nagorno Karabagh were put forth in a meeting in Prague between
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian and his new Azerbaijani
counterpart, Elmar Mamedyarov, mediated by the U.S., Russian and
French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Describing the meeting as
“useful”, the Russian diplomat said the co-chairmen presented their
new ideas and suggestions about how to end the conflict.
He said these new ideas will be presented to Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents, adding that the Prague meeting has brought in
some optimism about future prospects for the conflict’s resolution.
shared also by foreign ministers of the countries, who said they were
satisfied with the meeting.
Merzlyakov said the co-chairman and foreign ministers will soon
come up with a joint statement on the result of the Prague meeting.
“The new venue of the meeting can be decided only after the
presidents of the two countries are fully informed about the Prague
meeting,” Merzlyakov said.
A Baku-based 525 Gazet quoted Azeri foreign minister as saying
that the main outcome of the Prague meeting was reaching a tentative
agreement for meeting again next month. He said the meeting did not
discuss the new proposals suggested by the mediators.

ArmenPress
April 20 2004
OSKANIAN MEETS HUNGARIAN DEPUTY FM
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
and the visiting deputy foreign minister of Hungary Enio Boros, who
arrived in Armenia, as part of a regional visit, emphasized, as the
Armenian foreign ministry said “the centuries-long”
Armenian-Hungarian friendship for the purpose of stepping up
bilateral cooperation.
Hungary’s pending accession to the European Union was singled out
as “a good example for Armenia,” in view of both countries’ Communist
past and their experiences gained from the transitional period.
Oskanian was quoted as saying that the available potential for
developing trade contacts is not used to the full extent. The role of
a 10,000 strong Armenian community in Hungary was underlined in terms
of its contribution to deepening of bilateral relations.
The meeting referred also to the investigation and pending trial
of an Azeri officer, accused of killing his Armenian classmate on
February 19 at a Hungarian military academy. The Hungarian diplomat
said the case is proceeding in line with his country’s legislation
with an understanding that it should not be politicized.

ArmenPress
April 19 2004
PRESIDENT WELCOMES FAMOUS CANADIAN ARMENIAN SOPRANO
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
welcomed today a world-famous Canadian Armenian singer Isabel
Bayrakdarian, described by critics as “the glamorous and glamorously
gifted soprano.”
Isabel Bayrakdarian visits Armenia for the first time. She shared
her impressions with the president saying she was delighted and
promising to come again and again. She said she was enchanted with
the rich cultural life of Armenia and the high professionalism of
Armenian musicians. In Yerevan she will perform one concert.
First prize winner of the prestigious Placido Domingo “Operalia”
Competition in 2000 and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden
Jubilee medal, Canadian Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian made an
impressive series of appearances in the 2002/2003 season, including
debuts at the Paris Opera (Bastille) as Susanna in Le Nozze di
Figaro, as Catherine in A View from the Bridge at the Metropolitan
Opera, Zerlina in Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival, Elisa in Il
Re Pastore at Brussels’s Theatre de la Monnaie, and Clorinda in Il
Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda at Los Angeles Opera. Her
numerous concerts and recital appearances took her to New York,
Berkeley, Costa Mesa, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton,
Winnipeg, and Cyprus.
Miss Bayrakdarian can be heard on the Grammy Award winning
soundtrack of the blockbuster movie The Two Towers, the second
installment in The Lord of The Rings trilogy, as well as the multiple
award-winning Canadian movie Ararat. When Miss Bayrakdarian’s debut
recording “Joyous Light” was released in March 2002 on the CBC label,
it went straight to No. 1 in the classical charts across Canada.
Miss Bayrakdarian has been the recipient of many grants, including
a Canada Council Grant, the Sullivan Foundation Grant, the 2000
Leonie Rysanek Award from the George London Foundation, and the
Metropolitan Opera National Council Award in 1997.