Poborsky missing for WCup qualifiers against Romania, Armenia

AP Worldstream
Sep 29, 2004

Injured Sparta Prague midfielder Karel Poborsky was missing from
the Czech national team’s roster announced Wednesday by coach Karel
Bruckner for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Romania and
Armenia.

Poborsky injured his calf in Sparta’s Champions League match against
Lyon on Tuesday.

“I have spoken to him and there is a chance that he could be called
up later,” Bruckner said. “But it’s in the realm of theory _ the
diagnosis is two weeks without practice.”

Also missing from the matches on Oct. 9 and 13 will be Juventus
midfielder Pavel Nedved, who announced his retirement from
international soccer on Friday.

That leaves Bruckner with only two healthy starting midfielders:
playmaker Tomas Rosicky of Dortmund and defensive half-back Tomas
Galasek of Ajax.

Another first-choice midfielder, Liverpool’s Vladimir Smicer, is out
with a long-term leg injury.

Czech Republic Roster

Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Petr Cech (Chelsea,
England), Antonin Kinsky (Saturn Ramenskoye, Russia)

Defenders: Rene Bolf (Auxerre, France), Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam,
Netherlands), Tomas Hubschmann (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Marek
Jankulovski (Udinese, Italy), Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow, Russia),
David Rozehnal (FC Brugge, Belgium), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina, Italy)

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jiri Jarosik
(CSKA Moscow, Russia), Radoslav Kovac (Sparta Prague), Tomas Rosicky
(Dortmund, Germany), Stepan Vachousek (Austria Vienna)

Forwards: Milan Baros (Liverpool, England), Marek Heinz
Moenchengladbach, Germany), Jan Koller (Dortmund, Germany), Vratislav
Lokvence (Bochum, Germany)

Czech MEP argues against Turkey’s EU membership

Mlada fronta Dnes web site, Prague
24 Sep 04

Text of commentary by Czech MEP Josef Zieleniec, political leader of
the Association of Independent Candidates and former Czech foreign
minister, headlined “Cradle of dangerous new crisis”, published
by the Czech newspaper Mlada fronta Dnes web site on 24 September;
subheadings as published

Should Turkey become EU member?

No. The issue of whether Turkey should join the EU is quickly turning
into a key problem that will be decisive for the future of the EU. In
comparison with other, albeit important, disputes such as, in the past,
the discussion of the Maastricht Treaty, the introduction of the euro,
and enlargement to the East, or the ongoing debate over the European
constitution, the discussion of Turkey’s membership most concerns
the sense of European integration, and even its very existence.

Estimates of population growth demonstrate that within a few years,
Turkey will have 80 million inhabitants. That means that, if it were
to join the EU, it would become the largest country in the union,
with the greatest share in decision-making. Meanwhile, in terms
of per capita income Turkey reaches hardly 22 per cent of the EU
average, much less than even the poorest states in the current wave of
enlargement. Never before in the EU has there been such an enormous
discrepancy between demographic strength and economic weakness. The
consequences of such a dangerous combination could be inestimable not
only for the overall solidarity of the EU, but also for its ability
to resolve everyday problems.

Borders With an Explosive Region

The EU would have borders with Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, and
Georgia. These are traditionally enormously explosive areas. The
EU can help to stabilize this region from the position of a global
political force, which it already represents. In the future, the EU
will become an even more significant global political force. However,
if it becomes one side in local disputes, it will rather become part
of the problem than part of the solution. Local conflicts in one of
the most explosive regions of the world would become not only European
problems, but through us, also global problems.

A different tradition and culture in combination with the demographic
growth and poverty of Turkey would transform free movement inside the
EU into the most disputed element of European integration. Enormous
Turkish ghettos would arise all over Europe, which would be a source
of constant cultural and social tensions, and of political tension
flowing from these. The result could be the return of aggressive
xenophobia to Europe.

However, the biggest problem represented by Turkey’s possible
entry into the EU does not have an immediate and direct practical
impact. Nevertheless, it is the most ominous threat. The original
meaning of unification was to overcome European nationalism by
opening the way to the formation of a feeling of connection and a
consciousness of a common identity of Europeans. This process is built
on common histories, common values, and a common way of life, and on
the common political culture that is their fruit. The consciousness
of connection and a common identity is the foundation stone of all
the political processes that are ongoing within the EU; without them,
these processes would not make any sense.

The entry of Turkey would entirely repudiate all of this. Europe
would cease to be our wider homeland and would become an enormous
purpose-made unit without an idea and without meaning, similar in many
ways to former empires in the last phases of their existence. Defining
identity in contrast to such a meaningless entity would become the
basis for the growth of new and forceful European nationalism. European
integration, instead of being the basis for resolving age-old European
problems and a definitive stabilizing factor of the continent, would
become the cradle of a new and dangerous European crisis.

Just good friends

Supporters of Turkey’s entry into the EU argue most often by referring
to this country’s geo-strategic significance (by the way, much less
now than during the existence of the Soviet Union) and the benefit
for the stability of the Middle East and the Caucasus. However, the
main result of accepting Turkey would not be stability in these areas,
which is problematic regardless of whether Turkey is accepted or not,
but the guaranteed destabilization of the whole of Europe.

The relationship between the EU and Turkey should be friendly,
intensive, and have special institutional arrangements. However, the
consequences of Turkey’s full EU membership would seriously damage
not only the EU, but also Turkey itself.

Group seeks Armenian bone marrow donors

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Sept 29 2004

Help save a life. The Council of Armenian American Nurses and the
Armenian American Medical Association are planning a Bone Marrow
Donor Drive. This drive is in conjunction with the Armenian Bone
Marrow Registry and the Caitlin Raymond International Registry at the
University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center.

The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is an independent,
non-governmental, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to
ensure that every ethnic Armenian struck with a life-threatening
blood-related illness is able to find hope for long-term survival
through the identification of a genetically suitable bone marrow
match.

Patients are desperately and literally seeking a savior. Parents
of sick children are racing against time to save their child before
it is too late. Someone in our community may hold the life of a child
in his or her hands.

Donors must be: between 18-55 years old; in general good health;
medically insured with medical insurance information available; and
reside or be employed in Massachusetts.

The drive will take place during the annual bazaar of St. James
Armenian Apostolic Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown on Oct. 15
and 16 from 2-7 p.m.

For more information visit the Registry web site,
or contact Marilyn Bazarian at 617-484-1072.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Sun Herald
Posted on Wed, Sep. 29, 2004

Kebabs fire up the flavor

Marinades play big role in recipes

By SHARON THOMPSON

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

Meat on a stick is the world’s oldest form of barbecue. Almost every culture
has its own version: Japanese yakitori, French brochettes, Asian satay,
Peruvian anticuchos, Spanish pinchos morunos, Armenian shashlik and Turkish
shish kebabs.

The origin of skewer roasting is usually tied to the Turkish history of
nomadic and semi-nomadic life, when cooking over open-field fires or in
open-pit ovens was common, according to “A Mediterranean Feast” by Clifford
A. Wright. But “given the obvious simplicity of spit-roasting meat over a
fire, I suspect its genesis is earlier,” Wright wrote.

Skewered meals can be as simple as chunks of meat on a bamboo stick or as
elaborate as colorful brochettes served at fancy restaurants. Gourmet
kitchen stores stock whimsical skewers, although Marsha Norris, sales
manager at Williams-Sonoma, said she recommends the inexpensive wooden
sticks.

“Vegetables or meat tend to stick to the wooden ones a little bit better,”
she said.

Wooden skewers should be soaked 20 to 30 minutes, which delays the burning
of the bamboo.

So what makes the perfect shish kebab? First, there’s the meat. Lamb is
traditional in Central Asia and the Middle and Near East. (Beef is also used
in Iran and the Republic of Georgia.) A marinade of some sort is essential –
first to flavor the meat, then to keep it moist during grilling. Slices of
onion or peppers placed between the cubes of meat add flavor and color. A
brisk fire is needed to sear the meat quickly, while a generous basting with
olive oil or saffron-flavored butter keeps the kebab from drying out,
according to Steven Raichlen, author of “Barbecue Bible” and “BBQ USA.”

Mike Critchfield, an owner of Critchfield Meats in Lexington, Ky., said the
best pieces of beef for skewering are “tenderloin tips, which is filet
mignon as it falls off when I cut the meat.

“A lot of people try to mix chicken and beef,” he said. “That’s not a good
idea. It takes chicken longer to cook than beef,” he said.

Kebabs are a perfect choice for any cookout. You can use meats, seafood,
vegetables and fruits to suit everyone’s tastes. They can be made in advance
so the host or hostess also can enjoy the party.

BUILD-YOUR-OWN

SHISH KEBABS

DIJON-ROSEMARY STEAK

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, stemmed

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes

Whisk together all the ingredients (except the steak) in a bowl. Toss the
steak in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover and marinate in refrigerator
for 2 hours.

CITRUS-TARRAGON CHICKEN

1 orange, zested, then juiced, remainder discarded

1 lemon, zested, then juiced, remainder discarded

1 lime, zested, then juiced, remainder discarded

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ cup canola oil

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

Whisk together all the ingredients (except the chicken) in a bowl. Toss the
chicken in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover and marinate in
refrigerator for 2 hours.

LEMON-GARLIC SHRIMP

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 shallots, minced

1 bay leaf, fresh or dried

2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

¼ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 pound (16 to 20 count) shrimp, shelled and deveined

Whisk together all the ingredients (except the shrimp) in a bowl. Toss the
shrimp in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover and marinate in
refrigerator for 2 hours.

——————————————————————————–

Skewer savvy

Soak wooden skewers in water for 15 to 30 minutes so they won’t burn on the
grill. Wooden skewers should be discarded after use.

Some cooks prefer flat, metal skewers so cubed food doesn’t spin while
turning. If you grill often, consider investing in a set. They are good year
after year, require no soaking and are easier to use than the wooden ones.

Shrimp, scallops and other wobbly bits benefit from the double-skewer
technique: Thread the pieces on a skewer, then run another one through the
pieces parallel to the first, about a half-inch away.

If you are having vegetarian guests, cook the meat and vegetables on
separate skewers so they can pick up a stick of vegetables. If your guests
will be assembling their own skewers, place meat and vegetables in separate
bowls.

– KRT

GENERALS SETTLED ON LIBERATED TERRITORIES

Azg/am
30 Sept 04

Zhirayr Sefilian: There is no Program of Inhabiting Karabakh

Zhirayr Sefilian, of the Defense of Liberated Territories initiative
and veteran of Artsakh war, claims that there is no program
of inhabiting in Karabakh and surrounding territories. He stated
yesterday at the National Press Club that few generals have taken
over thousands of hectares while families from Armenia try to settle
there. Sefilian desisted from mentioning names of the generals.

Serzh Amirghanian, head of the Administration for Migration, Refugees
and Resettlement, doesn’t agree with Sefilian. “Generals are not the
only ones who possess lands in Karabakh. The Frank Muller company
has a bug territory in the south of Karabakh, Lusakert poultry farm
has 3 thousand hectares of maize fields”, Amirghanian said.

Recently the press often touches upon the possibility of liberated
territories being returned. Zhirayr Sefilian thinks that neither
Turkey nor the West are interested in who is controlling Aghdam. “The
Arax river creek is the main concern. The state that will control it,
will control whole of Caucasus”, he says. Turkey is interested in this,
and they try to conquer the creek, Sefilian thinks.

Serzh Amirghanian says that the Arax river creek is also partly
inhabited. 130 families settled in Zangelan, 70 in Jebrail this
year. He says that there are 700-800 families are willing to live in
Artsakh but the government can afford inhabiting only of 200 families.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Armenian prison gets new wards for TB patients

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
29 Sep 04

[Presenter] As part of court and legal reforms, the Armenian
Justice Ministry is cooperating with international and public
organizations. A prison hospital has recently received a large batch
of medical equipment. Today four special wards were commissioned at
the Nubarashen prison for intensive treatment of TB patients. The
prison doctors said that the wards, fitted with new equipment, meet
European standards fully. The upgrading of the wards are viewed here
as an outcome of cooperation between the Justice Ministry and the
International Committee of the Red Gross [ICRC].

[Correspondent, over video of justice minister and wards] Today
the Nubarashen prison is ready to meet [Justice Minister] David
Arutyunyan. The minister inspected four new wards for TB patients. Six
main drugs are provided for the treatment of the disease here.

[Gevork Afrikyan, captioned as chief of hospital’s TB department]
It takes a long time to be cured of TB, but in two months, germs of
the disease are killed.

[Correspondent] Positive changes have taken place at Armenian prisons
as an outcome of the court and legal reforms. Representatives of
international organizations also confirm this fact.

[Arutyunyan] As the justice minister, I am not satisfied with all
these. If I were happy about all these as the minister, I would
be wrong.

[A Red Cross representative] The ICRC and the Justice Ministry have
been cooperating for a long time in fight against tuberculosis
in Armenia. This is a problem not only in Armenian prisons, but
worldwide. The reform in Nubarashen is one of the numerous activities
being carried out in Armenia. By these reforms, we shall organize
effective fight against TB.

[Correspondent] The justice minister believes that it will take 10
years to carry out court and legal reforms in the country.

Javakhk Armenians Complain Of Georgia’s “Educational” Policy

Azg/am
30 Sept 04

Armenian history as a compulsory school subject for Javakhk Armenian
schools was rejected on decision of the Ministry of Education and
Science of Georgia, A-Info news agency of Akhalkalak informs. Armenian
history is a facultative subject in Javakhk’s Armenian schools since
the beginning of this year.

Arnold Stepanian, head of the “Multinational Georgia” NGO, informed
that the Armenian history has not been a compulsory subject, i.e. it
has got no financial support of the sate, in Javakhk since 1991. “We
have been trying to make the subject a compulsory one since long ago
but all in vain”, Stepanian said.

Another decision of the Georgian government says that history
of Georgian will be taught in Armenian in the schools of
Javakhk. Textbooks are already printed. Stepanian said that “no one
has seen the textbooks”. Azg Daily acquired the textbooks printed by
Georgian “Artanuji” publishing house for 9 and 10 grade students. The
border of historic Georgia passes along Sevan lake shore, according
to the textbook.

CHINESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS – SEPT 29, 2004

Asia Pulse
Sep 29, 2004

BEIJING, Sept 29 Asia Pulse – Highlights of major Chinese newspapers on
Wednesday:

PEOPLE’S DAILY

– Chinese President Hu Jintao Tuesday told visiting South African Vice
President Jacob Zumathat that both China and South Africa should earnestly push
forward cooperation in various fields and upgrade the Sino-South African relations
to a higher level.

– Top Chinese leaders and visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan agreed
here Tuesday that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in economic,
technological and other areas.

XINHUA DAILY TELEGRAPH

– Many “cancer-stricken” counties have appeared in Shenqiu County of Henan
Province, central China, as a result of the pollution of the Shaying River that
runs through. Shaying River is the biggest branch of the Huaihe River, one of
the longest and most polluted waterways in China.

– Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Tuesday that China will push forward
steady the reform of the exchange rate mechanism concerning the Chinese
currency, Renminbi, at a meeting with Charles O. Prince, chief executive officer of
the Citigroup and former US Secretary of Treasury Robert Robin.

ECONOMIC DAILY

– Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Tuesday that China will push forward
steady the reform of the exchange rate mechanism concerning the Chinese
currency, Renminbi, at a meeting with Charles O. Prince, chief executive officer of
the Citigroup and former US Secretary of Treasury Robert Robin.

– China will establish a perfect cycle economic legislation system in the
years up to 2010, according to a plan of the State Development and Reform
Commission.

CHINA DAILY

– A wave of measures will be launched to make it possible for China to score
rapid economical develop while no longer exhausting its natural resources, a
senior official said at a national conference on the circular economy Tuesday.

– Foreign insurance companies’ business in China is likely to accelerate
after the full opening-up of the market at the end of this year, said Meng Zhaoyi,
deputy director-general of the International Department of the China
Insurance Regulatory Commission.

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

– The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is likely to take the lead
among Chinese banks in setting up a fund management company.

ARMENIA IS STILL IN BLOCKADE

A1 plus
29-09-2004

Armenia is expecting for a significant freight concerning running
Nuclear Power Plant of Metsamor. Because of actions applied by Russia
towards Georgia within the anti-terrorism struggle the car with the
matter provided for the stations of Nuclear Power Plant remained in
Georgian-Russian frontier.

As a result of negotiations carried on by the Armenian Government an
agreement seems to be made to allow the car to cross the frontier this
evening and to set out to Armenia if the Russian and Georgian frontier
guards manage to find the necessary car among those in the “jam”.

Though the leadership of Armenia holds telephone conversations with
the leaders of Russia and Georgia, the problem remains unsettled. “The
Armenian Authorities are not to eliminate the obstacle”, Armenian PM
Andranik Margaryan said. Solution to “blockade” of Armenia depends
on the negotiations with Georgian and Russian Authorities.

Freight transport of Armenia has become problematic since Novorosiysk
ferryboat is now under construction. So it is advised to choose
another way by Ilyichevsk ferry.

However, it’s not the settlement to the problem, either, as too many
cars are accumulated on Georgia-Russia frontier. Recently about 20
cars were let out to Armenia. But the Georgian side affirms that
there is a problem to let the cars out. There are numerous “Armenian”
cars in the boundary.

General Assembly focuses on drug trade, human rights and economic inequalities

UN News Centre
Sept 29 2004

29 September 2004 – The illegal drug trade, human rights, the root
causes of terrorism and the deep economic inequalities between rich
and poor nations dominated the agenda as the General Assembly’s annual
high-level debate continued today at UN Headquarters in New York.

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Velez said his country is making
advances in reducing the number of murders, kidnappings and terrorist
acts and the production of illegal drugs, but one of its highest
priorities now is to restore the confidence of its citizens in national
institutions. Without that step, any moves to boost economic growth
and stability would be undermined before they began.

Given the deep divisions caused by social and material inequalities,
Mr. Uribe Velez said, it was vital to try to promote strong economic
growth that at the same time is shared equitably by all Colombians.
He said that, to this end, the Government is subsidizing farmers and
peasant associations, increasing enrolments in schools and technical
workshops, and spending greater sums on child nutrition programmes.

Cyril Svoboda, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, told the
Assembly that the undeniably troubled circumstances of Iraq today
should not divert the world’s attention away from other important
concerns, especially Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa and the
Balkans. He stressed the importance of fighting for human rights,
citing treaties against the use of State-ordered torture and the
worldwide campaign to abolish the death penalty.

Guyana’s Foreign Minister S. R. Insanally said cultural diversity is
often overlooked in the race to help impoverished countries achieve
economic development, leading to disastrous results in the long term.
Turning to trade, Mr. Insanally said Guyana’s sugar industry “has
recently been struck a devastating blow” by trade liberalization and
the European Union’s reform of its trade in this commodity. He urged
wealthy nations to give more priority to the needs of poor States.

Foreign Minister Rogatien Biaou of Benin said that when his country
holds the Security Council’s rotating presidency in early 2005,
it will hold a special debate on the phenomenon of child soldiers
in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem. Mr. Biaou also
urged the countries that have previously pledged to help the world’s
poorest nations achieve sustainable development to make good on those
promises – especially on giving official development assistance –
and not just offer hollow words instead.

Describing the fight against illicit drugs as his country’s “topmost
priority,” U Tin Winn, Chairman of the delegation from Myanmar,
said authorities in his country have over the past decade seized
and destroyed drugs worth more than $14 billion. The drug trade is
closely linked to much trans-national crime, he said, adding it was
important for States to work together if they were to defeat the
scourge. Mr. Winn also said allegations of human rights abuses in
Myanmar were “aimed at discrediting the Government for political
purposes.”

In his speech, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov spotlighted
the plight of the world’s least developed countries, saying very few
such States were meeting the target of 7 per cent annual economic
growth that is necessary to achieve one of the key Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) – halving the number of people in extreme
poverty by 2015. Mr. Martynov offered a robust defence of the United
Nations “as the most important collective problem-solving mechanism,”
adding that while it needs reform, it also needs greater support.

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said the global curse of
terrorism will not go away until the breeding ground of deprivation,
poverty and injustice is drained. “This fight must go beyond effective
regional and international cooperation” to include aggressively
tackling the MDGs, he said, or else the inequalities and social
injustices will remain. Mr. Oskanian said it was critical that the
UN work more closely with regional organizations to achieve these aims.

Momodu Koroma, Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone, said his country was
now in a delicate post-conflict phase after civil war split the country
between 1991 and 2002. “This is the phase in which the gains of the
peace effort should be maximized,” he said, adding that traditionally
peacekeepers start “pulling out when the guns fall silent.” Mr. Koroma
emphasized that he does not means that he expects the UN Mission in
Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), whose mandate currently lasts until June next
year, to stay indefinitely.

Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Gábor Bródi told the Assembly that
it was essential that the rights of national, ethnic, linguistic or
religious minorities are protected. “The presence [of such minorities]
within the frontiers of a country is not only an asset, but also a
source of social and cultural enrichment.” Mr. Bródi said Hungary
was alarmed by the treatment of ethnic minorities in its neighbour
Serbia and Montenegro, and called on authorities there to punish the
perpetrators of physical attacks or acts of intimidation.

Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations
with States, said poverty eradication and development must take
priority among the eight MDGs. To do that, the world must adopt a
fairer system of international trade and cancel the debt burdens of
the most impoverished States. Total and general disarmament was also
necessary, he added, if there is to be peace and stability.