INDELIBLE IMAGE: ANDRE AGASSI, PLAYER
Dave Scheiber Times Staff Writer
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
August 28, 2006 Monday
1 Edition
“I look forward to not having to do things – like waking up every
day and saying ‘What do I have to do today?’ because of the schedules.
It’s going to be a bit more on my terms, which is what I want my life
to look like. …
“You know, the last 20 years on the tennis court have all been practice
for me for tomorrow. It’s always been that way. I’ve spent a lifetime
on the tennis court preparing myself for the next battle.
And I feel like I have over 20 years of experience doing this very
thing, which is the challenge of how life now may look for me. I
look forward to embracing that as much as embracing any stage of my
career. I look forward to that general level of pressure to deal with
and holding yourself to the highest standard every day.
“I look forward to not having to rest. There are times (in tennis)
when you just have to rest. But try to explain that to a 3-year-old
and a 5-year-old. …
“Giving back to the sport is going to be very important to me in
any way that I feel I can make a difference. For me, hopefully the
decisions are being made so that I can continue my involvement. I
don’t just want to walk away, because this has been my life. It
hasn’t been about hitting the ball. It’s been about being part of a
great sport with a lot of great people. Family is also my foundation,
it’s my life. So that’s going to be a given. …
“There are difficult parts about (walking away while still
competitive). I anticipated it being more difficult. I wish I could
explain why but I can’t. It’s not just saying goodbye to a sport,
to a business, to hitting tennis balls. It’s saying goodbye, by the
way, to all the people you’ve done this with, from the fans, to the
sport itself, to your peers. …
“I’ve pushed myself through so many physical issues over the last
four years to negotiate doing this as well and as long as possible –
until I realistically felt it’s not something I can do at the highest
level anymore. I didn’t know if it was going to be physical reasons
or mental reasons or emotional reasons or all of the above. There
were so many factors involved. … But this has been great, and I’m
going to take this all in. I’ll also spend the rest of my life trying
to make everybody proud who has helped me along this path. And it’s
just time for me to do that.”
– Excerpts from a recent press conference
BY DAVE SCHEIBER | TIMES STAFF WRITER
THROUGH THE YEARS
1970: Born Andre Kirk Agassi on April29 in Las Vegas. One of four
children (brother Phillip, sisters Rita and Tami). Mother is Elizabeth
and father is Armenian-born Emmanuel “Mike” Agassian, a former boxer
who participated in the 1952 Olympics for Iran.
1975: Practices with pros such as Jimmy Connors and Roscoe Tanner.
1986: The 16-year-old prodigy of Nick Bollettieri, training at
Bollettieri’s academy in Bradenton, turns pro, exuding a long-haired,
earring-clad rebellious image (later underscored with his role as
pitchman for Canon’s Rebel camera, proclaiming “Image is everything.”)
1987: After losing in the first round at Wimbledon, is criticized
for passing up the tournament the next three years. He claims it’s
because he isn’t allowed to wear his colorful shirts on court instead
of the traditional all-white; critics say it’s because he doesn’t
want to risk losing. As a wild card, he beats Luiz Mattar of Brazil
on Nov. 29 in Brazil, for his first ATP title.
1988: Wins six titles in seven finals.
1989: Wins only title of year in Orlando.
1990: First Grand Slam final is French Open.
1991: Finalist for second year at the French Open, losing to fellow
Bollettieri star Jim Courier.
1992: Wins first Grand Slam, at Wimbledon. Later that year at U.S.
Open, Barbra Streisand, romantically linked with Agassi, refers to
him during a TV interview at Open as “Zen master.”
1993: After a poor season, parts ways with Bollettieri in July and
hires a new coach, Brad Gilbert. Has right wrist surgery.
1994: Returns from surgery to win five titles, including U.S. Open.
First unseeded player since 1930 to win the Open, beating five seed
who were seeded. Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation opens doors to
assist at-risk youth in Las Vegas.
1995: Shaves balding head just before winning Australian Open. Wins
career-high seven titles in a personal-best 11 finals, compiling a
personal-best 73-9 match record and reaching No. 1 on April 10, where
he reigned for 27 weeks. His first Grand Slam for Children benefit
is held, with more than $52.3-million taken in through 10 fundraisers.
Named winner of ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for 1995 and
2001 for helping disadvantaged youth in Las Vegas.
1996: First American man to win Olympic gold in singles play since
Vincent Richards in 1924.
1997: Marries actor Brooke Shields after four-year courtship;
plummets to No. 141 in rankings. Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club in
Las Vegas opens.
1998: Makes biggest one-year jump into top 10 in history of ATP
rankings (since 1973) by climbing to No. 6. Compiles a 68-16 record
and wins five titles.
1999: Marriage to Shields ends in divorce. After losing first two
sets in French Open final, roars back to win the tournament, becoming
only the fifth male to complete a career Grand Slam and the only one
to win all four majors and Olympic gold. Finishes No. 1 for first time.
2000: Captures sixth career Grand Slam title at Australian Open.
2001: Marries Hall of Famer Steffi Graf on Oct. 22 in Las Vegas;
son Jaden Gil is born Oct. 26. Oldest player (31) to finish in top 3
since 32-year-old Jimmy Connors was No. 2 in 1984. Starts season by
winning his seventh career Grand Slam at Australian Open.
2002: Becomes oldest (32 years, 8 months) to finish No. 2 in ATP
rankings.
2003: Captures four titles in first four months of season, including
his eighth and final Grand Slam in Australia. Daughter Jaz Elle is
born Oct. 3.
2004: Sixth in Open era to reach 800 wins.
2005: Finishes in top 10 for 16th time in his 20-year career and
becomes oldest in year-end top 10 since Jimmy Connors (36) was No. 7
in 1988.
2006: Plays only seven ATP matches (4-3) in first five months of
season because of chronic ongoing back problems. Announces June 24
he is retiring after U.S. Open. Highlights include: member of three
winning Davis Cup teams; career singles record of 868-273, including
60 titles; career earnings of $31,110,975.

CO-OWNER OF VTB-ARMENIA COULD SELL 30% STAKE TO VTB
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
August 28, 2006 Monday 5:06 PM MSK
Armenian businessman Mikhail Bagdasarov is planning to sell his 30%
stake in VTB-Armenia Bank (formerly Armsberbank).
Bagdasarov told reporters that he is holding negotiations on selling
his stake with Vneshtorgbank (RTS: VTBR) (VTB), the owner of 70%
of the bank’s shares and an initial right of refusal to buy up the
remaining shares. Talks are also being held with other potential
investors, but Bagdasarov did not give any further details about them.
VEB refused to comment.
VTB acquired 70% of Armsberbank in March 2004 and has provided
financial institutions with subordinated loans for approximately $15
million-$20 million since then. VTB-Armenia had charter capital of
around $18 million at the end of the first half of 2006.
Bagdasarov owns Armenia’s Armavia Airlines, the Mika Cement plant
and oil trader Mika Limited.
VTB-Armenia is a mid-sized bank in Armenia. There were 21 banks in
Armenia at the beginning of 2006.

RUSSIA WITHDRAWS ABOUT 400 PIECES OF MILITARY HARDWARE FROM GEORGIA
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
August 28, 2006 Monday 3:19 PM MSK
About 180 weapons were relocated from Russia’s 12th military base in
Batumi to Armenia in 2006, Deputy Commander of the Russian Forces in
the South Caucasus Colonel Vladimir Kuparadze told Interfax-Military
News Agency on Monday.
“Six trains have carried 179 units of armaments and military hardware
and 217 tonnes of other property from the 12th base in Batumi to the
102nd base in the Armenian city of Gyumri since the year beginning,”
he said.
This year’s withdrawal of arms, military hardware and property of the
62nd base in Akhalkalaki to Russia will be completed in September,
Kuparadze said.
“It is planned to withdraw 358 pieces of armaments and military
hardware and over 1,671 tonnes of other equipment from Akhalkalaki
to Russia in 2006,” he said.
One hundred and ninety pieces of armaments and military hardware and
738 tonnes of other military cargo have been sent by motor transport
from Akhalkalaki to Gyumri this year, he said.
Bilateral agreements provide for the completion of the Russian bases’
withdrawal from Georgia in 2008.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TELL ME A STORY: KIKOS IN THE WELL (AN ARMENIAN FOLKTALE) ADAPTED BY AMY FRIEDMAN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JILLIAN GILLILAND
Times Herald-Record, NY
Aug. 28, 2006
Once upon a time, there lived a poor peasant and his wife and their
three daughters. One day the man returned from a long, hot day working
in the fields. He was thirsty, and so he sent his eldest daughter to
the well to fetch him a bucket of water.
Off she set, and when she reached the well, she looked up at the tree
that towered beside the well. She began to daydream.
“Someday I’ll marry,” she said aloud, “and my husband and I shall have
a son, and we’ll name him Kikos after his grandfather. And one day
Kikos will walk to the well and climb this tree, and he will lose his
balance, fall and tumble into the well. Poor little Kikos will drown!”
And with this thought she collapsed in grief beside the well. “My son
Kikos,” she wept, “Kikos with his hair of chestnut brown. Poor Kikos,
my son, one day will drown …”
Now the distraught girl could not stop crying, and so upset was she
that she could not move. Back home the peasant waited, but when his
eldest daughter did not return with the water, he sent his second
daughter to find her.
When the second daughter saw her sister weeping by the well, she ran
to her side. “What’s wrong, sister?” she asked.
The eldest daughter spoke through her tears. “Auntie of my child,”
she wailed, “your sweet nephew Kikos one day will be born, but poor
Kikos, with his hair of chestnut brown, will climb this tree and fall
and drown, and from that day on we shall mourn.”
Now when the second daughter understood that the nephew she might
one day have, the boy named Kikos, could fall from the tall tree and
drown in this very well, leaving her an aunt mourning her nephew,
she too began to sob.
Time passed, and when the two daughters had not come home, the peasant
sent his youngest daughter to find out what the trouble was.
She ran to the well, and there she saw her sisters crying bitterly.
“What’s happened? What can be wrong?” she asked.
The second daughter hiccupped through her sobs. “One day our sister
here is bound to marry, and our sister shall have a son, and this
will be our nephew, a boy of beauty and fun.”
The third sister smiled delightedly.
“Oh no, you mustn’t smile,” said the second sister, “for our nephew,
Kikos by name, with hair of chestnut brown, one day will climb this
tree and fall, and in the well he’ll drown!”
“No!” cried the third sister, and when she did not return home,
her mother ran to look for all three girls. She found them sitting
by the well, their eyes swollen from crying.
“My beautiful girls,” she said, “what has happened to you?”
“Mother, mother, your own grandson, the child of your child, a boy
named Kikos, will one day climb up this tree. Imagine his smile,
his laughter, his glee. Imagine that hair, that rich chestnut brown,
and imagine poor Kikos falling here, Kikos drowned!”
“Woe is me!” the mother wept. “My favorite grandchild. Kikos, my
only boy!”
Now it was getting late, and the peasant could not imagine what could
take his women such a long time. So he pulled on his boots and trudged
all the way to the well. There he saw all four women, tears pouring
down their faces and noses so red, they seemed to be on fire.
“Grandfather! Poor man!” they cried when they saw the peasant.
“Good heavens, what is this all about?” he asked. “And who is
grandfather?”
“You, my sweet,” said the peasant’s wife, “your poor grandson, your
namesake Kikos, will one day climb this tree …”
“Oh, grandfather, imagine Kikos, the boy of such wit and such glee …”
“Like his grandfather Kikos, with thick hair, chestnut brown …”
“But father, your grandson will fall …”
“And he’ll drown!” they wailed together.
Now the peasant began to understand, and he shook his head and
wondered what to do with his foolish women. But he loved them well,
and so he said, “There, there, you’ll never bring our boy Kikos back
with your tears.”
“Ahh, what shall we do, father?” asked the eldest daughter, whose heart
was nearly broken by the thought of losing her one and only future son.
“Come home with me,” the peasant said, “and we shall invite the
neighbors to a feast in memory of our little Kikos. In this way our
son and grandson will live forever in everyone’s memory.”
And so the women became calm again, and all went home happily.
To learn more about Tell Me a Story and find out about the series’
just-released CD, go to: , or contact Amy Friedman
at [email protected].
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060828/LIFE/60828031 4

GEORGIA DRAGS FEET ON ISSUING VISAS TO RUSSIAN MILITARY – SOURCE
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
August 28, 2006 Monday 1:41 PM MSK
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has dragged out issuing visas for Russian
soldiers for more than a month and has finally issued fewer than 100
visas instead of the required 1,200, a source in the command of the
Russian military force in Transcaucasia told Interfax-Military News
Agency on Monday.
“More than a month ago the command of the Russian military force in
Transcaucasia asked the Georgian authorities to issue almost 1,200
visas to Russian soldiers who are coming to Georgia for a rotation.
However, visas were issued only to 94 soldiers,” the source said.
“This cannot satisfy the command of the Russian military force, and
it should not probably satisfy the Georgian authorities, if they do
not plan to drag out the process of Russian military bases withdrawal
from the country’s territory,” he noted.
“The position of the Georgian Foreign and Defense Ministries seems
strange, because they demand the swiftest possible withdrawal of
bases, but they create a lot of bureaucratic barriers when resolving
almost any issue, be it issuing visas or the slightest movement of
vehicles, demanding coordination over many days and many stages,”
he said, adding that Russia is fulfilling all its obligations on the
withdrawal of bases.
“Six trains with armaments have left the 12th base in Batumi this
year, and they cargo was added to the inventory of the 102nd Russian
base in Gyumri, Armenia. We will fulfill the plan of armaments and
hardware withdrawal from the 62nd base stationed in Akhalkalaki to
Russia in September,” he stressed.
According to the source, “the stress is laid on the withdrawal of
heavy hardware in 2006, while various materiel and equipment will
mostly be relocated in 2007.”
Under a Russian-Georgian accord, the Russian military bases are to
leave Georgia in 2008.

US STUDENTS EXPERIENCE LIFE IN ARMENIA THROUGH ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY SUMMER INTERNSHIP
ArmRadio.am
29.08.2006 10:25
Fourteen Armenian-American college students from across the US traveled
to Yerevan to take part in the Assembly’s largest summer internship
class in the program’s history. College students from California,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York
and Texas participated in the eight-week program to gain a better
understanding of living and working in Armenia – one of the most
culturally rich countries in the world.
While in Armenia, students said they gained a better understanding
of the lifestyle, work ethic and culture in Armenia and felt a deeper
connection with their Armenian heritage.
While some of the Assembly interns spent their summer working in
Government offices including the Constitutional Court, Ombudsman’s
Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry
of Urban Development, and the NKR Representation Office in Armenia,
others worked at non-governmental organizations (NGOs), medical
centers and media outlets.
During their time in Yerevan, the interns met with several government
officials including Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, Justice Minister
Davit Harutyunyan, Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan and Deputy Mayor of
Yerevan Vano Vardanyan. During these meetings, interns learned more
about the inner workings of the Armenian Government as well as the
important role of the Diaspora in the homeland. They also met with
US Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans.
Interns familiarized themselves with Armenia’s business sector and
toured the Grand Candy, Tamara Ice Cream Factory and Yerevan Brandy
Factory.
In addition to gaining a better understanding of life in Yerevan, the
interns traveled outside of the city, visiting historic sites such as
the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, the Garni Temple, the Geghard Monastery,
Khor Virab, and Zvartnots Church. During a two-day visit to Lake Sevan,
the interns spent some time enjoying the beautiful weather.
Interns took a three-day trip to Nagorno Karabakh. On the way, they
visited the Noravank, Tatev and Gandzasar Monasteries and the city of
Goris. In Karabakh, the interns toured the capital city of Stepanakert
where they met with President Arkady Ghukasyan and Parliament Speaker
Ashot Gulyan. They also visited the HALO Trust De-Mining Center where
they learned about the deadly landmines that continue to threaten
the people of Nagorno Karabakh. The students traveled to the town of
Shushi and visited the 19th century Ghazanchetsots Amenaprkich Church
and a newly-opened lavash factory.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MFA NOT INFORMED WEATHER ARMENIAN NATIONALS SUFFERED IN THE RESULT OF THE TERRORIST ACTS IN TURKEY
ArmRadio.am
29.08.2006 11:41
4 were dead and 90 were injured in the result of a series of explosions
in Turkey.
Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
told ArmInfo that the MFA does not possess any information weather
any Armenian citizens suffered in the result of the explosions. There
is information about two victims Russian in origin.
To note, the first explosions occurred Monday night in Istanbul and
Marmaris cities, another one came about in Anthalia yesterday.
The Turkish Police prevented another terrorist act being prepared in
Izmir city.

ARMENIAN ATHLETES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE “CAUCASIAN CITIES CUP”
ArmRadio.am
29.08.2006 13:26
Track and field athletes of Armenia have been invited to participate in
the “Caucasian Cities Cup” to be held September 12-13 in Sochi, Russia.
RA state athletics trainer Narine Shahbazyan told Armenpress that the
Athletics Federation of Armenia has accepted the invitation, and they
are currently collecting the team of athletes to leave for Sochi.

FROM THE MARGINS: RULES GO OUT THE WINDOW
By Patrick Azadian
Glendale News Press, CA
Aug. 28, 2006
Long before the movie “The Wedding Crashers” hit the silver screen,
my friend and I decided to crash an Armenian wedding. At the time,
my office was conveniently located across from the Royal Palace
banquet hall.
As we casually stepped into the lobby, a Russian security guard
greeted us.
He asked us which side of the family we belonged to. “We are Armen’s
friends,” I said. The guard was not impressed and inquired about
Armen’s last name.
“Armen Sarkissian,” I said, and followed it up with a question to
distract him. “Can you call him out for us?” I asked.
Within seconds we were being escorted out to the front door.
Meanwhile, I had a chance to squeeze in a few words to save face:
“Armen’s going to be very disappointed; he was looking forward to
seeing us.”
I could hear the Russian mumble: “Da, da…” advertisement
Recently, after seeing “The Wedding Crashers” on cable, I received
an invitation to a local Armenian wedding. This was my opportunity
to test the “crasher’s rule book” in a real-life situation.
I lived close enough to the hall to be able to walk there. MGM
Banquet Hall is right around the corner from my apartment. The name
MGM (associated with Kirk Krikorian, the Armenian version of Donald
Trump) is a common name for many Armenian establishments. Apparently,
it’s a source of pride by association.
As I stepped into the hall, the mother of the groom was personally
greeting all guests. She immediately identified me as a potential
outcast and asked about my wedding credentials. Thankfully, they
already had a table card in my name.
I realized there would be little room for improvisation for potential
crashers.
Rule No. 2 of the rule book, which suggests never using your real name,
seemed obsolete.
To meet any women at these weddings, the process should start with some
kind of eye contact. Rule No. 13 states, “bridesmaids are desperate:
console them.” Well, not at an Armenian wedding.
First, because the bridesmaids are not desperate; they know exactly
to whom they will be married, even if the guy has no idea.
And second, making eye contact is considered a health hazard. Most
girls are taken at young age. Focusing your eyes on the floral
centerpiece is highly recommended, no matter what the rum and coke
are telling you to do.
Making that ill-advised eye contact may be enough to cause you to
hit the pavement hard.
Rule No. 11 states that “sensitive is good.” Rule No. 53 is similar
in spirit. During the ceremony it’s suggested to get choked up. The
logic is for girls to think you’re sensitive.
As large segments of the Armenian community remain homophobic, it is
dangerous to show any signs of emotion as a man. As a matter of fact,
being sensitive, managing to be slim after high school or wearing a
pink shirt can eliminate you from the competition for all the wrong
reasons. This is no place for softies.
Rule No. 58: “The Ferrari is in the shop.” Whether the Ferrari is
actually at the shop or not, regardless of income level, the right
car is a basic requirement, not an advantage. Keep your dignity;
don’t brag about what’s not at the shop.
Rule No. 108 recommends knowing your swing and salsa steps. Girls
supposedly love to get twisted around.
Standing a the edge of the dance floor, I realized all the years of
salsa lessons in an effort to meet my own version of Eva Mendes had
gone to waste.
My money would have been better spent taking up “kazachok” (A
Russian/Ukrainian folk dance in which high kicks are made from a
squatting position). The dance is a firm favorite at Armenian weddings.
At the expense of sounding like an ingrate, at some point I realized
I was not having much fun. No disrespect to the hosts, the wedding
was great; but it’s not easy when you don’t know anyone, and staring
is not an option.
And although by this time I had decided the crasher’s rule book was a
total waste, Rule No. 12 sounded quite reasonable: “When it stops being
fun, breaking something is recommended.” I had my eyes on the pair
of large porcelain lions (symbolizing MGM) near the dance floor, but
I could not reach them without bringing too much attention upon myself.
I left quietly with my tail between my legs.

MOSISIAN: THE LIBERATED TERRITORIES CANNOT BE RETURNED
By H. Shindian
Yerkir.am
August 25, 2006
Below are the answers by Artur Mosisian, representative of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Artsakh,
to the newspaper Aparazh, published in Stepanakert.
Question: The draft constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has
been submitted to the National Assembly. What are the ARF’s proposals
in regard with constitution?
Artur Mosisian: After the constitution was submitted to the National
Assembly, the ARF-Movement 88 faction of the parliament has made many
proposals. In September or October, the Artsakh organization of the ARF
will make its proposals and views. Presently, I would like to speak of
one specific proposal we have made – the issue of liberated territories
that has not been included in the constitution. We have recommended
that the National Assembly accept this proposal and the liberated
territories be included in the final text of the constitution.
Q: The recent interview by the ARF Political Affairs and Hay Dat
Office Director Kiro Manoyan on the Karabakh settlement caused various
comments in the media. How would you comment on this matter?
A. M.: First, I would like to say that some media outlets have
wrongly understood and commented on what Manoyan said. I would
like to especially mention the Lragir which has distorted Manoyan’s
words. What Manoyan said was that unlike many others the ARF considers
that by maintaining stability the Karabakh conflict will be settled. As
for the liberated territories, the ARF believes that they cannot be
returned. We have said this on numerous occasions unlike others who
have adopted an uncertain position.
Q: The international forces seem to seek a settlement by the end of
2006, and their intention to deploy peacekeeping forces in the region
looks especially odd. What is your opinion?
A. M.: I don’t believe the Karabakh issue would be finally settled by
the end of 2006; I am saying this because of several reasons. First
of all, the belligerent statements of the Azerbaijani leadership, and
also the present political situation do not contribute to the peaceful
settlement of the conflict soon. I think some superpowers are more
interested in deployment of peacekeepers in Karabakh than the final
settlement of the conflict. We should not have an illusion. After
all, we know very well that peacekeepers are not able to guarantee
our security – the best example is Lebanon where the international
forces did nothing to stop the disaster. As we have said many times,
and I would like to emphasize it again, the best guarantee of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s security is the Defense Army which has
ensured fragile but real peace.