Le Cilicia ambassade flottante d’Armenie
Le Télégramme , France
16 août 2005
Depuis quelques jours, les visiteurs se succèdent au quai nord du
cinquième bassin : yachts de grand luxe ou voiliers races.
Lance en 2002 sur le lac Sevan, près d’Erevan, le Cilicia a ete
construit en chene et en pin, selon les methodes traditionnelles
retrouvees dans des manuscrits de l’epoque. Instruments de navigation,
accessoires et materiaux sont identiques a ceux utilises par les
navigateurs medievaux.
Long de 20 m pour 5 de large et d’un deplacement de 50 tonnes, le
Cilicia ne sera jamais un coursier des mers. Il peut atteindre une
vitesse de quatre noeuds, soit environ 7,5 km/heure. Mais ce n’est
pas le but recherche par Karen Balayan, son commandant, et ses 15
membres d’equipage.
Un long periple
Issus d’horizons divers (medecin, physicien, musicien ou encore
ecrivain, comme Zori Balayan), les matelots ont entrepris de demontrer
le rôle joue par les voyageurs et les marchands de l’epoque dans les
relations qui s’etablissaient entre des cultures et des civilisations
separees par les mers. Le navire est donc le symbole d’un moyen
d’unification. D’où le thème de ce periple : ” Navigation des sept mers
“.
Il en a deja parcouru un certain nombre puisque, parti de la mer
Noire, il a traverse la mer de Marmara, puis l’Egee et l’Adriatique,
pour parvenir a Venise où il a passe l’hiver dernier. Plus recemment,
il a vogue en Mediterranee et en Atlantique. Arrivant de La Corogne,
il passera deux jours a Brest, avant de rallier Portsmouth.
Tout au long de ce voyage, l’equipage du Cilicia, qui a deja fait
escale dans 23 ports de douze pays europeens et asiatiques, organise
des rencontres avec les autorites locales et les diverses communautes
pour des echanges culturels. Leur souhait : etablir des liens entre
les pays de tradition maritime où cultures et religions se sont
imbriquees et se sont enrichies mutuellement.
L’association Ayas, initiatrice du projet, a le soutien de particuliers
ou d’organisations, comme la fondation Gulbenkian ou le gouvernement
armenien. Ce soutien ne se limite pas a l’aspect financier puisque les
ambassades, dans les pays visites, sont egalement mises a contribution.
Visites de compatriotes
Lors de sa visite a Brest, le Cilicia a recu la visite de Souren
Pogossian, president d’une association representant une quarantaine
de familles de la diaspora armenienne etablies en Bretagne. Une
association symboliquement baptisee ” Menez-Ararat ” pour bien marquer
la double culture, bretonne et armenienne, dans laquelle baignent
maintenant ses adherents.
GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Souren Pogossian (a gauche), de
l’association ” Menez-Ararat “, a rendu visite a l’equipage du
Cilicia. Il a rencontre Zori Balayan, ecrivain (au centre) et Karen
Balayan, le commandant.
–Boundary_(ID_0yAscr34sTLPH07XDdkzBg)–

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
LATVIA SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN AND APPRECIATES
ITS PARTICIPATION IN PEACE-BUILDING MISSION
[August 17, 2005, 22:26:20]
As is known, defense minister of the Azerbaijan Republic
colonel-general Safar Abiyev has paid an official visit to Riga on
the invitation of the defense minister of the Republic of Latvia
Eynars Repshe on 15-16 August.
On 15 August, Mr. Safar Abiyev met with the Commander of National
Armed Forces of Latvia, vice-admiral Gaydis Andreys Zeybots. After
the briefing on the Armed Forces of Latvia for the defense minister
of Azerbaijan, Mr. Safar Abiyev informed on the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, on the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and the
cooperation links with NATO.
The same day, Mr. Abiyev met with defense minister of Latvia
Eynars Repshe. Mr. Safar Abiyev highlighted on the NATO-Azerbaijan
cooperation, on Azerbaijan’s participation in the anti-terror
coalition, and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
“We believe that sooner or later all the states will recognize Armenia
as an aggressor and demand to withdraw its armed forces from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, Mr. Abiyev stressed.
Mr. Eynars Repshe underlined that Latvia supports territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and highly assesses its participation in the
peace-building mission.
After the meeting, the ministers have signed an agreement on
cooperation in the military field between the defense ministries of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Latvia.
The Agreement includes exchange of experience related to
participation in the NATO’s PfP Program, the defense policy and
strategy, commandment and management, international peace support
and humanitarian operations, cooperation in military construction
and military reforms, military education and others.
The same day, Speaker of the Latvian Seym Ms. Ingrida Udre received
the Azerbaijan delegation. Then, foreign minister of Latvia Artis
Pabriks met with the defense minister of Azerbaijan and discussed
issues of cooperation.
Defense minister of Azerbaijan also had a series of meetings with
representatives of relevant departments of Latvia.
On 16 August, colonel-general Safar Abiyev familiarized with the
activity of the Research-Rescue Service Center of the Navy of Latvia.

CONFLICTING PARTIES DON’T WORK ON ANY CONCRETE DOCUMENT, ELMAR MAMMADAYAROV
2005-08-16 14:02
Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 16 2005
“If parties come to any agreement on the level of Foreign Ministries,
the Presidents on the base of information received could instruct on
the commencement of work over concrete documents,” the Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said. “Currently we are not
working over any concrete document,” Mammadyarov underlined, noting
the sides did not reach the stage of development of agreements.
However, the sides are too far form such approach and it is premature
to speak about it, he added. Commenting Azerbaijanâ’s standpoint
on the forthcoming meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers in Moscow, Mammadyarov said that the Prague process
was continued. The sides will try to develop definite elements to
design a unified position on conceptual issues. The Presidents of
the two countries will be informed on the results of the meeting and
after the talks will continue on the level of heads of state. The
same time Mammadyarov asserted that Azerbaijan and Armenia did not
come to a common ground on 7-9 elements. “Details of talks remain
confidential. It is too early to speak about the essence of the
elements, as the negotiation process is currently underway, he
noted. “People with appropriate basic knowledge оn the resolution
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict well understand which details
are meant,” he stressed. “Azerbaijan has adhered and will continue
to adhere its position implying the rehabilitation of Azerbaijan and
repatriation refugees and IDPs,” Mammadyarov underlined. He noted
that at the resolution of the CEC of Azerbaijan, dated 13 August,
the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh received an invitation
for the participation in the parliamentary elections scheduled for 6
November 2005. “Members of the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh
are the Azerbaijani citizens and they enjoy a right for participation
in the electioneering in the country in compliance with Constitution,”
Mammadyarov underlined, adding that the CEC had resolved to establish
constituency in Khankandi (N122) and Khojavand (124). Touching upon
Azerbaijanâ’s initiatives with new resolutions on the level of UN
Mammadyarov underlined that a resolution in the issue will be adopted
after the Moscow meeting with Armenian FM Vardan Oskanian. Trend
–Boundary_(ID_5XBngLyvwFEE9Q9fDBh/Rg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO AZERBAIJANI SOLDIERS STRIKE IN A MINE
2005-08-17 13:45
Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 16 2005
Armed forces of Armenia in occupied Seyidsulan village of Terter region
shelled at positions of Azerbaijan army in Qapanli and Qaradaghli
villages of the same region at night from August 16 to 17.Meanwhile
two Azerbaijani soldiers stroke in a mine in contact line of the two
armies in Qapanlivillage of Terter region. Zamiq Aslanov, the wounded
was taken to Sarijali hospital. The other soldier Ilqar Nureliyev,
19, enlisted from Azizbeyov Military Enlistment Office on April 1
2004 passed away at the spot informs ANS Qarabaq bureau. Ministry of
Defense affirms the news as well.

Everyone in Georgian separatist region to get Russian passports
Agence France Presse — English
August 17, 2005 Wednesday 1:34 PM GMT
MOSCOW Aug 17 — Everyone living in Abkhazia, a Russian-backed
separatist region of ex-Soviet Georgia, will have a Russian passport
within a year, the rebel president said Wednesday in Moscow.
“We need six months to a year for everyone in Abkhazia to become
Russian citizens,” Sergei Bagapsh told journalists.
Already an estimated 84 percent of people in Abkhazia carry Russian
passports and 70 percent of pensioners receive Russian pensions.
Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to regain control
over the Black Sea province, which broke away in a war following a
unilateral declaration of independence in 1992.
Russia officially recognises Georgian sovereignty in Abkhazia, but
Tbilisi accuses Moscow of backing, arming and financing the rebels.
Almost half the pre-war residents of Abkhazia were ethnic-Georgians,
most of whom fled along with retreating government forces. The
remaining population consists of ethnic-Abkhaz, Armenians and Russians.
The war also devastated the Abkhaz economy, which survives almost
entirely on tourism from Russia.

Le Cilicia seduit les visiteurs au port de commerce
Le Telegramme, France
17 août 2005
Malgre un nombre de promeneurs plus restreint qu’a l’habitude, les
Brestois ayant quelque peu deserte la ville a l’occasion du long
week-end du 15-Août, le Cilicia s’est, malgre tout, taille un beau
succès de curiosite durant son escale au
Il est vrai qu’avec une silhouette rappelant le drakkar et un grand
pavois arborant de multiples pavillons, la replique du navire marchand
du XIII e siècle ne passait pas inapercu.
Sauvegarder l’heritage historique
Beaucoup etaient interesses egalement par le panneau expliquant la
demarche de l’association Ayas, non seulement lors de la construction
du navire, mais aussi les raisons de ce long periple.
Le grand pavois hisse, avec les pavillons des regions a vieille
tradition maritime, et la volonte affichee de sauvegarder l’heritage
historique et culturel de ces regions, ne pouvaient qu’avoir un echo
favorable près des Brestois habitues des quais.
Ceux-ci n’etaient pas les seuls a rendre visite a l’antique voilier.
Karel, Sarkis, Souren ou Aram, la diaspora armenienne, partout
presente dans le monde, est egalement implantee en Bretagne. Souren
Pogossian et les adherents de son association ” Menez Ararat ” n’ont
pas manque cette occasion unique de venir prendre contact avec leurs
aventureux compatriotes.
Le Cilicia devait reprendre la mer hier, en direction de Portsmouth
où il passera l’hiver, le periple vers le nord et Saint-Petersbourg
devant reprendre l’ete prochain.
–Boundary_(ID_hLawRrzKd4eyQUUnkWTbaQ)–

Russia meets obligations on military pullout from Georgia
RIA Novosti
August 16, 2005
MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Malyshkin) — Russia has honored
all of its 2005 obligations on withdrawing its military bases from
Georgia, a senior officer said Tuesday.
Colonel Vladimir Kuparadze, the deputy commander of Russia’s troops in
the South Caucasus, said: “We have pulled out what we were supposed
to withdraw in 2005. Yesterday, the fifth column … crossed the
Russian-Georgian border. It was the last column to be withdrawn
this year.” The HQ of Russia’s group of forces in the South Caucasus
said 53 vehicles, 42 trailers, and tons of military hardware had been
withdrawn from Georgia. Moreover, he said materiel from Russia’s former
12th military base in Batumi, Georgia, had arrived in Russia’s Black
Sea port of Novorossiisk and been unloaded.
Kuparadze said Russian and Georgian diplomats were drawing up a
schedule for pulling out the rest of the equipment from two Russian
bases. “After this document is signed, the military will begin the
second stage of the withdrawal,” he said.
The deputy commander also said that Georgia had not yet started
repairing the bridges necessary for withdrawing Russia’s hardware of
the 62nd military base in Akhalkalaki, which is close to the Armenian
border. So Russia cannot deliver the equipment to Batumi for further
shipment by sea.
“It would be easier for us to pull out the hardware and the personnel
by train, and not by sea from Batumi, but Georgia has not yet allowed
us to send trains via Abkhazia [a self-proclaimed republic], which
is the only railroad route,” Kuparadze said.
Under a joint statement made by the Russian and Georgian foreign
ministers on May 30, Russia must withdraw its military presence from
Georgia in 2008. The bulk of Russia’s weapons will return to Russia,
and the rest of it will be delivered to a Russia military base in
Gumri, Armenia.

Azerbaijan to build up military potential – pres
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 16, 2005 Tuesday
BAKU, August 16 — Azerbaijan’s President Ilkham Aliyev said his
country will continue to build up its military potential.
Azerbaijan’s defense spending grew 76 percent to 300 million dollars
this year, the president said at a solemn ceremony on Tuesday to hand
in banners to borderguard units.
“The government is facing the task to ensure at least the same
increase in defense spending as in the previous year,” Aliyev said,
underlining that the military-technological basis of Azerbaijan’s
armed forces should be strengthened.
New equipment and armaments have to be purchased, the president noted.
He said he was convinced that the building up of military potential,
along with political, diplomatic and economic factors would help
achieve the solution of the Karabakh conflict.
“Until it’s too late, the Armenian leadership should understand that
we won’t cede our land to anybody,” the head of state said.
He also stated that “Armenia no longer can rival Azerbaijan which
considerably surpasses it in economic, political, and military terms.
“In a few years, the gap between us /Azerbaijan and Armenia/ will
become even wider,” Aliyev noted.
He said he had ordered the government to increase the defense spending
to the size of Armenia’s annual budget. “We’ll accomplish it if such
a task has been set,” the president emphasized.

Teens make a splash at water polo event
by Jonathan Powell
South China Morning Post
August 16, 2005
Teenage players in the Hong Kong water polo B team were praised by
their coach after they won last weekend’s Seventh Asian-Pacific Water
Polo Tournament at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
Hundreds of spectators cheered as Hong Kong B scored a thrilling 7-6
win over Japan and also beat Guangzhou 11-8 in the decisive round-robin
championship matches on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s Armenian coach Benyamin Simonyan said the side’s young
players had played a key role in the success.
The team’s “baby” was Chung Ching-nam, a 15-year-old student at Wah
Yan College, Hong Kong. More than half the team are still at school.
“Fung Wing-hei, Ku Yat-wa and Chung Ching-nam, all under 18, played
very well, and have great potential,” said Simonyan.
“The team have been recruiting young members for the past seven
years. They have good discipline and are willing to devote much time
to training.”
However, it was a Hong Kong veteran who won the top-scorer award.
Howard Wong Kai-hay netted 24 goals to win the honour for the second
successive year.
The match against Japan produced high drama as the scores were tied
at 6-6 with only a few seconds remaining.
“Hong Kong showed a lot of determination and it was a very exciting
finish,” said Jennie Leung of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming
Association.
Teams from Singapore, the Philippines, Guam, Japan, Sri Lanka, Taipei,
Guangzhou and two Hong Kong teams took part in the competition. It
was only the second time Hong Kong had won the annual event.
The Hong Kong team will compete in this week’s Asian Age Group
Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

WMD real threat requires adequate response – Gen Mylnikov
By Vladimir Zainetdinov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 17, 2005 Wednesday 9:25 AM Eastern Time
AKTAU, Kazakhstan, August 17 — Chief of the CIS Anti-Terrorist
Centre Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov called for searching for new
ways and methods to step up special services’ efforts in the fight
against terrorism.
He spoke at the opening of an anti-terrorist command staff exercise
in the Caspian region.
Mylnikov said on Wednesday, “The threat is very real that terrorists
can use weapons of mass destruction.” “Thus, special services,
security agencies and law-enforcement agencies should join efforts
to search for new ways and methods to adequately react on the threat
posed by international terrorism.”
At present, the CIS Anti-Terrorist Centre is working on a list of
terrorist and extremist organisations, which act in the territory
of CIS countries. “The list is being finalised by CIS security and
special services,” he added.
At the same time, Mylnikov noted, “Different approaches towards this
problem and the lack of universal legislative mechanisms prevent
us from making up a global list to be approved by the international
community.”
The threat posed by terrorism to CIS states comes from Afghanistan,
he said. “The situation in the country (Afghanistan) is quite far
from being stable due to the Moslem world’s reaction on the events
in Iraq. The situation in the country may explode on any time,”
Mylnikov said.
Instability in Afghanistan and growing activity by terrorist
organisations complicate the situation in Central Asia, Mylnikov said.
The Afghan society is on the brink of another civil war and this may
have adverse effects on the situation in the whole region of Central
Asia,” Mylnikov said.
He recalled that secret services back in 2002 warned that the leaders
of Al-Qaeda and Taliban had regrouped their forces with the aim to
destabilize situations in Central Asian countries. In their efforts
they have extensively used the terrorist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir,
banned in many countries.
“Last May’s unrest in the Uzbek city of Andijan was a confirmation of
this. As it has been established, Hizb ut-Tahrir militants participated
in violence there that claimed 176 lives,” the chief of the CIS
Anti-Terrorist Centre said.
Taking part in the anti-terrorist exercise in the Caspian are the
chiefs of anti-terrorist units and secret services from Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as officials from the Russian
Emergency Situations Ministry, the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS
anti-aircraft defence allied command.
Officials from the Iranian Security Ministry attend the exercise in
the capacity of observers for the first time.