The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 1 2004

Russia blockade squeezes Abkhaz separatists
By M. Alkhazashvili

Russian officials have threatened to close the Russian-Abkhaz border
and to establish an economic blockade. On November 23 the governor of
Krasnodar Alexander Tkachov advised the Russian to close the Abkhaz
border until the situation is improved there. He also suggested that
the authorities stop paying pensions to Abkhaz who were granted
Russian citizenship some times ago.

In effect, however, such threats have already become a reality since
the Sokhumi-Sochi train-line has been closed for two weeks now and
the border is only open for one hour a day. This has had a
detrimental effect on Abkhazia’s economy, Georgian media reports, as
now is the season for picking tangerines and it is difficult to
transport the fruit into Russia. Akhali Taoba reports that if this
continues, Abkhaz citizens will loss a main source of income.

Furthermore, Rezonansi reports that those Abkhaz refuges living in
Krasnodar – there are reportedly about 5,000 Abkhaz and 10-12,000
Armenian refuges in the region – have been ordered to leave the
territory. The newspaper reports that the refugees have problems not
only with Russians, but also with local citizens.

Rezonansi goes on to report that Russia is threatening to stem the
number of Russian tourists traveling to the unrecognized republic
during the summer tourist season, which is another major source of
Abkhaz income.

The supporters of presidential candidate Sergei Baghapsh see these
steps made by Russia as “pressure” intended to remind Abkhaz of the
importance of ties with Russia. They state further that the economic
blockade is due to the fact that the governor of Krasnodar is not
fully informed with regard to Baghapsh and his supporters, and that
if he fully understood their position the blockade would be lifted.

Middle East Online
Dec 1 2004

What’s so special about Mediterranean food?

Paradox of how Mediterranean became source of chef’s inspiration,
temple for gastronomy.

By Dominique Ageorges- PARIS

The Mediterranean region has grown into one of the main inspirations
for cook books over the years, claiming a prominent place on
restaurant menus, but the phenomenon is somewhat of a paradox.

The region around the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, poor
agriculturally, has succeeded over the centuries in turning itself
into a temple for gastronomy.

Italian food is most often conjured up as the Mediterranean diet but
the region stretches from southern Spain to Lebanon.

With its islands and rivers, the Mediterranean region is the cradle
of three religions — Christianity, Judaism and Islam — and “was a
basin where basically only vines and olive trees grew”, said Paul
Balta, author of “Boire et Manger en Mediterranee” (Drink and Eat in
the Mediterranean).

But he said several plants originating from China acclimatised in a
number of central Asian countries, such as almond trees in
Afghanistan and apricot trees in Armenia, before spreading to the
Mediterranean basin.

“What is quite extraordinary is that little by little this
Mediterranean formed itself into a way of life, a gastronomy, by
adopting products from China for example, and adapting them and
exporting them itself,” Balta added.

In the seventh century for example, invaders from Arab countries took
oranges and watermelons to Spain. Later, red beans and potatoes came
from the American continent.

Over about 10,000 years, the region of the Mediterranean Sea has
never stopped being a “crossroads for exchanges” in trade and
culture, he said.

Renowned French chef Alain Ducasse has since 1987 celebrated
Mediterranean cooking in his Three Star Michelin restaurant in Monaco
and counts among his books “Le Grand Livre de Cuisine de la
Mediterranee”, a reference for this style of cooking.

“Nowhere else have as many civilisations and therefore cuisines
succeeded, clashed together and accumulated,” he said.

“Everywhere there remain the traces of explorers, invaders, warriors,
religious figures, travellers who have enriched, changed, transformed
the original dishes of each,” he said.

Couscous or tapas are examples of where dishes from different
cultures have crossbred. “Jewish people added meatballs to couscous,
a formula then adopted by the Arabs,” Balta said, who was born in
Egypt and specialises in the Arab world.

Lebanese mezze, Spanish tapas and French appetizers “reflect a love
of conversation, a conviviality that is typically Mediterranean”, he
added.

Guy Martin, chef of the Grand Vefour restaurant in Paris, hails from
Savoie in southeast France, a region that was once Italian.

He said he grew up eating lots of nuts and olive oil but that the
Mediterranean for him also conjured up the idea of a wide variety of
brightly coloured vegetables.

Oscar Caballero, an Argentine journalist who has just published a
book on the restaurant of Spanish chef Ferran Adria, El Bulli, said
the taste for the Mediterranean was recent.

“Twenty years ago in Catalonia you would never have seen a bottle of
olive oil on the table of a restaurant,” he said, adding it was
thanks to chefs like Ducasse who “showed the way”.

Turan News, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2004

UN POSTPONED VOTING ON OCCUPIED AZERI TERRITORIES WITH BAKU`S CONSENT
– OFFICIAL

BAKU, 29.11.04. The decision to postpone the voting on the draft
resolution on the situation in Azerbaijan`s occupied territories has
been adopted with Azerbaijan`s consent, Azerbaijan`s Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov told reporters today, commenting on the results
of the discussions at the UN.

Azerbaijan had not set itself a task to have the draft resolution
adopted on the same day [24 November]. Our main goal was to draw the
attention of the international community to the `artificial`
settlement of Armenians in Azerbaijan`s occupied territories, Azimov
said.

As for the voting at the UN, Azerbaijan can return to this issue at
any moment during the 59th session [of the UN General Assembly] which
will last until September 2005.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have supported Azerbaijan`s proposal
to send a mission to the occupied territories to check the facts of
settlement. Meanwhile, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said
at a meeting in Berlin that Yerevan understands Azerbaijan`s concern
and will take measures. The Armenian side also said it is ready to
resume the talks at the ministerial level.

Azimov said that Armenia`s pull-out from the occupied territories,
the return of the internally displaced people to their homes, the
resumption of communications, as well as Nagornyy Karabakh`s
political status were discussed during the talks in Prague.

Asked which of the occupied districts will be liberated first, Azimov
said that Azerbaijan wants the seven districts surrounding Nagornyy
Karabakh to be liberated. However, it is impossible to do this in one
day, and the issue can be resolved stage by stage, he said.

As for the return of the Azerbaijani population to Nagornyy Karabakh,
Baku insists that Azerbaijanis must be returned to Susa District and
other settlements where they used to live. Baku believes that the
Armenian and Azerbaijani communities [of Nagornyy Karabakh] can live
together under international monitors until Karabakh`s status is
resolved fully, Azimov said.

The Armenians of Nagornyy Karabakh are citizens of Azerbaijan and
Baku is ready to grant them autonomy. Baku is ready to negotiate with
the Armenian population of Nagornyy Karabakh, but to this end `the
foreign occupying army must pull out and the Armenians of Nagornyy
Karabakh must recognize that they are part of Azerbaijan`, he said.

The Armenian community may join the peace talks within the OSCE Minsk
Group, but they may do so in parity with the Azerbaijani community of
Nagornyy Karabakh, Azimov said.

Arab News
Dec 1 2004

Editorial: Democracy Games

The political drama in Ukraine is being replicated across the Black
Sea in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia. There too, Moscow has
been deeply involved. There too, its candidate faces defeat but is
busy pulling as many strings as possible in order to turn the
democratically expressed will of the people on its head – with
Moscow’s full support.

In last month’s presidential elections, opposition candidate Sergey
Bagapsh was widely thought to have defeated the Kremlin-backed
candidate, Raul Khadzhimba. That was recognized by the region’s
Supreme Court but it then reversed its decision because of pressure
from the outgoing government. The government has demanded a repeat
election and the outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba now refuses to
step down until one has taken place. Bagapsh, however, intends to
have himself inaugurated this Saturday and he has a massive army of
supporters to back him.

Last Friday they stormed government buildings in the capital,
Sukhumi. The next day, perhaps sensing the direction things were
moving, Parliament recognized him as the new president. But matters
are getting messy: Moscow has threatened to intervene in Abkhazia
despite the fact that the province is part of an independent country.
Were that to happen, it would trigger a major international row.

Moscow of course cares not at all. It has done it before. It backed
the occupation of the disputed Armenian-majority region of Nagorno
Karabakh to weaken Azerbaijan; it supports the Russian-dominated
breakaway region of Transdniester to undermine Moldova; it supported
the Abkhaz breakaway from the very start to punish Georgia for
leaning toward NATO and the West. Now it is busy stirring up threats
of secession in Ukraine if the pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko becomes
president.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian representative to the EU said that Ukraine
was an old nation but a very young democracy. He could just as easily
have been talking about Abkhazia or Azerbaijan or any of the other
former Soviet states that are experiencing so many difficulties with
democracy. Not that being `a young democracy’ is any guarantee of
things working well, as the row over who won the US election four
years ago proves.

There are lessons to be learned about democracy in places where it
does not have roots. Before condemning Russia for its own retreat
from democracy or its unashamed meddling in its former empire,
however, we should not ignore the evident hypocrisy of the rest of
us. In 1996, when Boris Yeltsin defeated the renascent communists in
the Russian elections, most of us breathed a heavy sigh of relief
– because we did not want the communists to win. But the election was
fixed. Likewise, the world said nothing in 1991 when the Algerian
elections were quashed after the Islamists had won.

Definitions of democracy, it seems, are not unlike definitions of
terrorism. They can too easily depend on where we stand and who else
is involved.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE
30 December 2004

Minister Oskanian receives Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for
HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe

On November 30th, Minister Oskanian received Mr. Lars O. Kallings, the
Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe,
who is in Armenia for a regional visit.

At the meeting both parties stressed the importance of coordinating efforts
in a fight against the disease, both on international and national levels,
and through engaging governmental structures, health and public
institutions. In this respect Minister Oskanian stressed that social
awareness should be increased as necessary.

Minister Oskanian used statistics from 1988-2004 to illustrate the situation
of AIDS in Armenia. Although the number of infected persons in Armenia is
comparatively small, both sides emphasized that the government must maintain
its focus on this issue.

According to the minister, Armenia has already gained experience in its
struggle against AIDS, and in the frame of combating the “20th century
disease” is ready to cooperate with various organizations, especially with
the UN.

Mr. Kallings has stressed the important work of the Commission, established
with mutual efforts of Armenian governmental structures, public
institutions, and international organizations. The Commission is closely
cooperating with Global Fund Organization, exchanging data and experience
with the similar commissions in other countries. The Fund supplies AIDS
medicine to infected persons for free. It has provided similar assistance to
Armenia, amounting to a sum of 7.5 million USD.

Ad-Diyar, Lebanese Daily in Arabic
Nov. 28 2004

Ramgavar-Reform celebrates Lebanese Independence Day

Beirut – The Reform Movement of the Ramgavar Armenian Party organized
a reception at Hotel Promenade (Zalqa) to celebrate the 61st
anniversary of Lebanon’s independence and the 83rd anniversary of the
Ramgavar Party. The reception was attended by Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, representing Catholicos of the See of Cilicia Aram 1,
ex-Prime Minister Rasheed el-Solh, Consul of Armenia in Lebanon
Moorad Parseghian, MPs and other government officials,
representatives of Lebanese political parties, etc.

Attorney Sevag Panossian gave a speech in Arabic about the Reform
Party and its activities, while Dr. Sahag Tashjian gave a speech in
Armenian.

Interfax
Dec 1 2004

Construction begins on Iran-Armenia gas pipe

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Construction of the 40-km Armenian section of
the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline from the Armenian border city of Agarak
to Kajaran – 320 km southeast of Yerevan, began on Tuesday.

A source in the Armenian Energy Ministry told Interfax that a
ceremony to mark the start of work was held close to Agarak, and was
attended by Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
Iranian Energy Minister Habibullah Bitaraf. The first few meters of
pipeline have already been laid.

According to the Energy Ministry, the gas pipeline will have a
diameter of 700 mm and the 140-km pipeline should be completed in
2006.

The gas transported through the pipeline will be used to produce
electricity at Yerevan Thermal Power Plant, for subsequent supply to
Iran at the rate of 3 kWh per cubic meter of gas. The gas will also
be used to meet domestic demand in Armenia.

The total cost of the Iran-Armenia pipeline and the construction of
the existing pipeline from Kajaran to Yerevan is estimated at $210
million – $220 million. Iranian gas will start to arrive in Armenia
no later than January 2007.

Interfax
Dec 1 2004

Armenia introduces second power line to Iran

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia introduced a second power transmission
line to double electricity supplies to and from Iran, the Armenian
government’s press office told Interfax.

The 82-kilometer, 200-megawatt 220-kilovolt line was built with an
Iranian credit of $8.4 million in accordance with a memorandum signed
by the two countries in July 2002.

Armenia will pay the credit off with electricity supplies.

Armenia and Iran plan to sign a memorandum on a third line in Yerevan
on December 1.

Armenia supplies electricity to Iran for five months during the
summer and receives electricity from Iran in the winter.

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Dec 1 2004

Clerk’s office now has a race
Lorna Vartanian files to become the second candidate in the running
to become city’s top elections official.

By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE CITY HALL – Now the city clerk race has some real
competition.

Lorna Vartanian, a financial accounting manager for a Los
Angeles-based law firm, announced Tuesday that she will run for City
Clerk in the April election, guaranteeing a contested race for a
position that has been little more than a political hand-me-down for
more than 75 years.

City Clerk Doris Twedt plans to retire after her term expires in
April, meaning an incumbent will not be running for city clerk for
the first time since 1929. Ardashes Kassakhian, executive director of
the Armenian National Committee’s Western Region, announced last week
that he will run for the position.

“I see the clerk’s office as a very dynamic office in its range of
responsibility and interaction with the public,” Vartanian said. “I
have a strong background in private sector administration. I see an
opportunity to bring my skills to the clerk’s office and to serve the
community.”

The City Clerk is the city’s chief election official, and the clerk
oversees the city’s records.

Vartanian and Kassakhian are the first to enter what could be a
crowded field for city clerk. Only six people have filled the post
since 1929, with elections being mere formalities. When one stepped
aside, he or she did it mid-term, and the City Council appointed a
replacement. The appointed clerks then ran for election as
incumbents.

The first open race in more than 75 years, along with a minimum
annual salary of $105,000, will likely draw more candidates.

“I’m sure the field is going to continue to grow,” Kassakhian said.
“There’s going to be other people announcing. It’s a long ways until
the election in April.”

If elected, Vartanian said she would focus on increasing voter
turnout and modernizing the city clerk’s office, including making
more information available on the city’s Website. Kassakhian
mentioned similar goals when he announced his bid last week.

One campaign issue could be whether the position should be political
or apolitical. Kassakhian has a background as a community activist,
lobbying for the Armenian National Committee. Vartanian stressed that
her background is in administration, not politics.

“It is an administrative post, and that’s what’s so important about
it,” Vartanian said. “The position needs to be completely neutral and
independent of any political influence.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Calcutta Telegraph, India
Dec 1 2004

Crown for Hari
– Korbut wins girls’ U-20 title l Deep in top-10 finish

Harikrishna has followed in the footsteps of idol Anand, who won the
title in 1987
Kochi: Indian Grandmaster P. Harikrishna lifted the world junior
chess crown with 10 points after the 13th and final round on Tuesday.

Harikrishna has followed in the footsteps of his idol Viswanathan
Anand, who won the title in 1987 in Baguio, the Philippines.

Russia’s Ekaterina Korbut, with 10.5 points, won the girls’ under-20
championship. GM Koneru Humpy had won the girls’ world junior crown
in 2002.

Harikrishna was sharing the leaderboard on the penultimate round with
Zhao Jun of China with 9.5 points.

In the last round, however, Harikrishna drew with top seed GM Ferenc
Berkes of Hungary in a Catalan defence in 50 moves, while on the
second board, Zhao went down to Radoslaw Wojtaszek of Poland in a
closed Sicilian opening in 49 moves.

Fourth seed GM Tigran Petrosian of Armenia defeated IM Elshan
Moradiabadi of Iran in a Catalan defence in 37 moves.

Petrosian took the second spot on better progressive score than Zhao,
who had to be content with the third spot.

`I am delighted to win the world junior title. Though I was
confident, I was a bit tense as I was in a must-win situation,’
Harikrishna said.

On the top board, Harikrishna, playing white, captured a pawn on b7
on the 17th move. Two moves later, he got one more pawn on a7, but
white was forced to give back one pawn on the 27th move.

The game then proceeded to an opposite colour bishops ending with
both sides having lone rooks.

White’s one pawn advantage was not sufficient to give the Indian a
point since Ferenc, a former under-18 world champion, was defending
the position with mathematical precision, and the game ended in a
draw after 50 moves.

In another game, Petrosian, playing white, gained some control on the
seventh file after the 20th move, but the Iranian was able to defend
with the exchange of minor pieces. In the resultant end game with
equal pawns, both players agreed for a draw in the 37th move.

Zhao, who posed a threat to Harikrishna by bouncing back to share the
lead after 12th round, lost to Radoslaw in 49 moves.

On the 13th move Radoslaw, playing black, gave an exchange for a pawn
and was able to hold the white position in an underdeveloped
situation which gained black two more pawns by the 24th move.

Playing an exchange down with three pawns, black’s bishop proved
stronger than the white rook. Unable to prevent promotion on the `a’
and `b’ files, white resigned on the 49th move.

Humpy, the lone girl in the junior boys’ category, defeated Artem
Iijin of Russia in a Kings Indian attack after 30 moves.

Besides Harikrishna, Deep Sengupta and Koneru Humpy, finished in the
top ten.

In the girls’ championship, Korbut sacrificed a pawn on the 11th move
to gain some attack on the rival king. But after a couple of moves,
Alina Motoc, playing white, was able to trade the queens. In the
middle game black gained one more pawn. White tried a mating by the
20th, but black defended it with a counter attack that bore fruit on
the 37th move.

On the top board, WGM Elisabeth Paehtz, who was jointly leading with
Korbut after the 12th round, was shocked by India’s Krutika Nadig in
an English opening in 70 moves, while Eesha Karavade defeated Zhang
Jilin of China in a Ruy Lopez opening in 64 moves.

Paehtz and Karavade finished with 9.5 points each, but the former,
with a superior progressive score, took second place. Karavade,
Nadig, N. Vinuthna and P. Sivasankari did well to finish inside the
top ten.