Azeri Officer Taken Captive
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
22-year-old Azerbaijani warrant officer Ramin Khudaverdiyev has been
taken captive by Armenian military men.
The Yerevan office of the International Committee of the Red Cross
informed the organization’s Baku office of the incident on Monday,
the Azerbaijan State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and
Missing Persons told AssA-Irada.
The State Commission has appealed to international organizations over
the release of the Azerbaijani officer from captivity.

Convicted, But Free, in Armenia
Inside Higher Ed, DC
Aug 17 2005
A Duke University doctoral student was freed Tuesday, after an Armenian
court found him guilty of illegally trying to take books out of the
country but suspended his two-year prison sentence.
Yektan Turkyilmaz had been held since June 17, when authorities at
Yerevan Airport in Armenia yanked him off an airplane as he prepared
to leave the country. They seized about 100 books that he had bought
at secondhand stores and compact disks that contained notes from
research he had done in the Armenian National Archives, for his
dissertation on the Ottoman empire’s reign of terror in Armenia in
the early 20th century. Turkyilmaz, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in
cultural anthropology at Duke, had been the first Turkish citizen to
request and receive access to the archives.
In July, Armenian authorities charged him with violating an article
in the Armenian Constitution that bars transportation out of the
country of certain “raw materials or cultural values” without prior
permission. Armenians customs regulations require travelers to declare
books that are at least 50 years old, as 88 of Turkyilmaz’s books
reportedly were.
Turkyilmaz and his supporters said that if he violated the customs
policy, he did so unknowingly, and that he was being treated far more
harshly than the charges warranted.
Scholarly groups from around the world rallied to his defense,
suggesting that the smuggling charges were a pretext for a crackdown on
a researcher studying a politically sensitive period in the country’s
tangled history with Turkey – and from a sympathetic viewpoint, no
less. Duke’s president and the former U.S. Sen. Robert Dole joined
scholarly groups in writing letters on his behalf.
In a trial that started last week and ended Tuesday, prosecutors argued
that they had clearly proven that Turkyilmaz had violated the law, but
cited “mitigating circumstances,” including his youthfulness and his
“at least partly truthful” testimony in accepting a largely symbolic
suspended sentence, according to the Web site Armenialiberty.org,
part of Radio Free Europe. The news service said that the judge had
ordered the confiscation of the 88 books, and that Turkyilmaz will
remain in Armenia for two weeks until the verdict becomes official.
Officials at Duke confirmed late Tuesday that Turkyilmaz had been
released, but said they had little additional information.
Orin Starn, a Duke professor of cultural anthropology who, as
Turkyilmaz’s adviser, attended the trial, told Armenialiberty.org
that “Duke University is very pleased that Yektan has been given his
freedom. The books that Yektan collected were a reflection of his
interest in Armenia. I know that Yektan will do wonderful work that
will help us to understand the history of this region and the facts
of the Armenian genocide.”
– Doug Lederman
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The families that were wiped out
By Jean Christou
Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
Aug 17 2005
TWELVE entire Cypriot families, including a family of four Armenian
Cypriots, were wiped out in Sunday’s horrific air crash that killed
121 passengers and six crew members of the doomed Helios flight that
went down north of Athens.
Among the dead were also six representatives of Libra Holidays,
which owns Helios, a Greek Naval officer, a Greek Cypriot National
Guard officer, and a Cyprus Airways employee.
The youngest victim was four years old. In all, 17 children under
the age of 16 died in the crash. Three of the children, aged 16,
14 and five died along with their parents.
The oldest passengers were a couple aged 63 and 65.
Included in the six crew members who died was the daughter of Lonias
Efthyvoulou, artist and brother of veteran journalist Alex Efthyvoulou,
who was due to be married next month.
Few people in Cyprus did not know one of the victims, but places like
Paralimni and Dhali lost more than most.
Sixteen resident of Paralimni died, half of them children.
Three entire families from the town were wiped out, including Christos
Pyrillis 40, his wife Antonia, 36 and their three children Eva 12,
Xenios 10 and Marcos six, who had gone on a week-long holiday.
Reports yesterday said Antonia had been worried about flying and had
called her brother Andreas from the airport; he reassured her that
she was flying with an EU airline and that it would be safe.
All day Monday and Tuesday, friends and neighbours gathered at the
homes of the three bereaved families, while the town’s Mayor declared
40 days of mourning. He also said his municipality would cover the
cost of the burials.
Another Cypriot family in Paralimni, who were visiting from Australia,
left their 20-month old baby at home with its grandparents because
it had a fever. The boy, George Xiourouppa, is now an orphan.
His father Demos, 39, his mother Margarita, 34, and sisters Sophia,
10, and Joanna, nine, died in the crash. Reports said that Demos
didn’t actually want to go on the trip but his daughters begged him.
“You don’t know what to do,” one resident in Paralimni told
reporters. “If someone loses a grandparent or a mother or a father,
you go round to their house and talk about the person who’s gone
and you have a wake. But what are we supposed to do when we’ve lost
whole families?”
One woman from Nicosia, who had not gone on the trip, lost her husband
and three children, two boys and a girl aged 10, 8 and five.

Former Azerbaijan president, candidate for parliament, calls for sweeping reforms
By AIDA SULTANOVA
The Associated Press
08/16/05 14:51 EDT
MOSCOW (AP) – Azerbaijan’s former president, who is running in this
fall’s crucial parliamentary elections on Tuesday, called for sweeping
reforms in the oil-rich Caspian Sea nation.
Ayaz Mutalibov, who was the country’s first post-Soviet president,
also told The Associated Press in an interview that criminal charges
accusing him of negligence and of plotting to overthrow the government
were groundless.
“I am clean and honorable before my people. The sole reason why this
is being done is to delay me further and so that there is no political
competition,” he told AP.
Mutalibov was deposed in 1992 amid economic turmoil and losses in a
war with neighboring Armenia. Authorities have accused of orchestrating
coup attempts in 1995 and 1997 in the oil-rich nation.
On Monday, Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov again warned that Mutalibov
would be arrested if he returned to Azerbaijan.
This spring, Mutalibov announced he was joining an opposition alliance
seeking to gain a majority in Azerbaijan’s parliament, which currently
is dominated by President Ilham Aliev’s governing party.
Mutalibov, who has lived in Russia since his ouster, said Azerbaijan
needed sweeping reforms, including changes to the political system
and an overhaul of its economy. He said the country should move to
a parliamentary form of governance, with political parties taking
greater authority.
“(Aliev) has a beautiful chance to portray himself as a reformer.
This step could bring him not insignificant political dividends,”
he said.
Tensions between the government and opposition have risen sharply
in recent months with opposition groups accusing the government of
planning to rig the November election. Authorities say the opposition
is planning to foment unrest in a bid to seize power.
Azeribaijani opposition parties have been emboldened by the rise
to power of opposition groups in other former Soviet republics of
Ukraine and Georgia.
Azerbaijan’s October 2003 presidential election, in which Aliev
succeeded his late father, was widely viewed as marred by fraud.
In Baku, meanwhile, the ruling party announced Tuesday that Aliev’s
wife, Mehriban, would be a candidate in the November vote.

Privatized theatre celebrates new life
By Keti Sikharulidze
The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 17 2005
Batumi’s coastline: President
Saakashvili hopes revitalization
will bring more tourists from both
Georgia and abroad
President Mikheil Saakashvili attended the grand opening of the newly
remodeled “Cinema Tbilisi” in Batumi on August 15, highlighting
the revitalization of a property sold through the government’s
privatization program.
The theater was privatized by the Adjaran Ministry of Finance and
Economy at an auction this January, where it sold for USD 600,000.
The new, unnamed owner of the theater made extensive renovations prior
to the ceremony, installing modern Italian and American equipment,
local television stations report.
Local residents praised the new cinema, along with several other
changes made in Batumi recently. “I worked as cashier in the theater
a long time ago. I hope it will fill up often, as it did then,”
said Batumi native Nazi Lastakanidze to The Messenger.
The Batumi municipality also installed a jumbo-tron screen on the
city’s central boulevard, next to the statue of Memed Abashidze,
that is intended to provide locals and guests with information on
upcoming cultural events.
The arrival of President Saakashvili served to draw special attention
to the event, which government representatives hope will prove to be
a successful example of a state-owned enterprise becoming a viable
private business. The grand opening also provided an opportunity to
highlight recent development initiatives in the Autonomous Republic
of Adjara, one of Georgia’s prime tourist destinations.
“The more people that arrive in Adjara, the more cafes and bars will
open there. The main boulevard will become more attractive, as we
are installing one of the most beautifully colored fountains in the
world, which was specially ordered from France,” the president told
journalists on Monday.
Speaking with Armenian journalists, President Saakashvili said he
expects 100,000 Armenians to vacation in Georgia and encouraged
Armenian investors to work in Adjara. Officials also talked of the
possibility to increase flights between Batumi and Armenia.
Saakashvili said he was very satisfied with the event and urged
people to visit Batumi, promising many other exciting and entertaining
developments in the future.
“I like the changes made in Batumi recently. I have a daughter and
we both attended the opening ceremony of the new boulevard. I liked
the fireworks, though these fireworks scared the children, including
my daughter,” Batumi resident Tamuna Tsereteli told The Messenger.
Talking to the paper via phone, Batumi resident Maka Tsuladze stated
the government has done much for the Adjaran region and makes every
effort to improve the situation and create as many “good and beautiful
places for youth as possible.”
“I am so happy that the boulevard and cinema were renovated. We
had no places for entertainment here except bars and restaurants.
Sometimes we really wanted to go to the cinema to watch a film but
could not. However, now I hope that everything will be in order and
that the people will be satisfied with everything that is being done
for all of Georgia, including Adjara,” she said.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
President Promises to Increase Military Power
17/08/2005 14:55
President Ilham Aliyev says Azerbaijan’s military spending will continue to grow.
Addressing the ceremony dedicated to the 86th anniversary of frontier
guard troops on Tuesday, the President said that the country’s
military expenses have grown 76% this year to make up about $300
million. “I have issued instructions to ensure the growth will
continue next year.”
Aliyev noted that the government faces an objective to bring the
military spending figures to the overall budget of Armenia.
“Increasing military potential will affect the conflict settlement.
The Armenian leadership should understand that we will not yield our
land.”
The President added that Armenia is not able to compete with
Azerbaijan in the political, economic or military fields and the
difference ‘will be even greater in the future’.
Aliyev said that the country’s economic development allows a peaceful
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He
termed strengthening of Azerbaijan’s national army as an important
factor in this respect.
Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan is pursuing an ‘open-door’ policy.
Its borders are a key condition for the independence of the state’,
he said.
“Those trying to enter the country with bad intentions should know
that our state borders are strongly protected.”
On Monday, the President awarded a group of frontier guards with
military ranks and medals on the occasion of the mentioned holiday.

FM Welcomes Decision Allowing Karabakh Armenians to Vote in Elections
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has welcomed the Central Election
Commission (CEC) decision allowing Armenian residents of Nagorno
Karabakh to participate in Azerbaijan’s November 6 parliamentary
elections.
“The decision will be of great importance for the settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict”, the Minister told reporters.
Touching upon the meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian
due Moscow on August 24, Mammadyarov said that 7 to 9 ‘elements’
relating to the conflict resolution will be discussed. He did not
elaborate, but said the ‘elements’ cover restoration of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and return of internally displaced persons home.

Iranian Specialists Not To Repair Shusha Mosque
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
The Iranian embassy in Baku has dismissed reports saying that
Iranian specialists will be involved in repairing the Shia mosque in
Azerbaijan’s historic city of Shusha occupied by Armenia.
The Armenian Church bishop Pargev Martirosian said last week that
he would take the mosque under his patronage and Iranian specialists
would be invited to repair it.
Pundits say that by making the move, Armenian clerics aspiring to
present themselves to the international community as “humanists”,
aim to cast a shadow on the friendly relations between Azerbaijan
and Iran, which has repeatedly stated that Nagorno Karabakh is an
integral part of Azerbaijan.
The Caucasus Clerical Office has condemned the Armenian bishop’s
statement, terming it as hypocrisy.

PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief’s Fellowship Alumni Association
29 Rubinyants Street,
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Armine Gasparyan,
Program Assistant
Tel: (3741) 249677, 249675
E-mail: [email protected],
[email protected]
Web:
OMI/FARFAA SATELLITE SYMPOSIUM “ANESTHESIOLOGY”
Yerevan, July 25-26, 2005
FARFAA – Salzburg Medical Seminars Program, the Open Medical Institute
(OMI) program of the American Austrian Foundation, as well as the
Armenian Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care and Armenia
Pain Control and Palliative Care Association organized a Satellite
Symposium on “ANESTHESIOLOGY”. The symposium was sponsored by the
American Austrian Foundation and of FAR (Fund for Armenian Relief).
It took place on July 25-26, in Yerevan. About 150 anesthesiologists,
from different hospitals of Armenia both from the capital and province
attended.
~Z~Z
The chairmen of the symposium was Professor Gagik~Z Mkhoyan, the
head of the Armenian Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
.The symposium was lead~Z by Dr. Sudhir Diwan and Dr. Aarti Sharma
from Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, USA..
Some of the lectures during the symposium were “Opioids and Chronic
Pain”, “Neuropathic Pain: Current Concepts”, “Interventional Pain
Management” (by Dr. Sudhir Diwan), “Overview of Neonatal Physiology
and Anesthesia”, “Pediatric Airway Interventional Pain Management”,
“Management of Congenital Cardiac Problem for Non-cardiac Surgery”,
“” (by Dr. Aarti Sharma ). Several case presentations were
demonstrated on “Case of Missed Aspiration”, “Iatrogenic Injury of
Trachea” (by St G. Lusavorich MC), “Rare Complication of Difficult
Airways Management”, “Presentations of Clinical Cases” (by EMC),
“Intra-operative Extubation” (by~Z Khojalu MH), “Fatal Complication
after General Anesthesia” (by St Nerses Mets MC).
The goal of the symposium was to present the latest information on
the experience and the knowledge of the international faculty members
to Armenian doctors.
Participants positively evaluated the symposium and organizing
committee thanks to the high level of presentations, interesting
discussions and established connections.

Aurora Beacon News, IL
Aug 17 2005
Hastert funding is under scrutiny
~U Investigation sought: Group which has ties to Democrats wants
claims of impropriety examined
By Ed Fanselow Staff WRITER
WASHINGTON – A magazine story alleging a covert relationship between
a group of Turkish nationals and House Speaker Dennis Hastert
has prompted a group of leading Democrats to call for a federal
investigation into the claims.
The story, published in the September issue of Vanity Fair magazine,
relies on an uncorroborated account from a former FBI translator, who
says she overheard Turkish wiretap targets – who were the subject of
counter-intelligence investigations – brag of funneling thousands of
dollars into Hastert’s campaign fund in exchange for political favors.
The translator told the magazine that the donations were to be made
in payments of less than $200, which do not have to be itemized under
Federal Election Commission rules.
The Yorkville Republican himself was never heard in the recordings, the
translator told the magazine, and the story’s author admitted that the
Turks supposed claims may have been nothing more than “hollow boasts.
”
Still, the story caught the eye of the Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington (CREW), which on Tuesday filed a complaint with
the FEC calling for “a thorough investigation into Hastert’s finances.”
The group, founded by the former senior counsel to House Democrats,
was responsible for drafting a complaint against House Majority Leader
Tom DeLay, R-Texas, for which he was admonished last year.
In a written statement, CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan suggests
that the translator’s claims warrant a closer look since Hastert
recorded an inordinately high amount of small, unitemized donations
between 1996 and 2002.
According to the FEC, the Hastert For Congress Committee reported more
than $480,000 in donations of less than $200 during that 7-year period.
By comparison, DeLay reported receiving less than $100,000 during
the same span.
“The sheer number of small contributions should have raised a red
flag,” Sloan said.
John McGovern, a Hastert spokesman, called the allegations
“outlandish.”
“These are ridiculous and reckless claims from a Democratic front group
that have no basis in reality,” he said Tuesday. “It’s just not true.”
According to the Vanity Fair report, the Turks were apparently looking
for Hastert to help derail a 2000 House resolution designating the
killings of thousands of Armenians in Turkey during the 1920s as
genocide.
The controversial issue has long been a source of hostility between
the two countries as well as between Americans of Armenian and
Turkish descent.
The magazine alleges that Hastert originally supported the resolution,
only to reverse his position and withdraw it from consideration on
the House floor.
Another Hastert spokesman told the magazine, though, that the speaker’s
about-face came only after a personal appeal from then-President
Bill Clinton.
“To insinuate anything else,” the spokesman said, “just doesn’t
make sense.”