Cucumbers a best bet at farmers markets

seattletimes.com
Food
Wednesday, September 08, 2004, 12:00 A.M.

Season: Although often overlooked, cucumbers are incredibly versatile.
Imagine a tangy Greek salad or cumin-scented Indian raita without
their crisp freshness. Cucumbers will be on market tables through
mid-September.

How to select: Farmers markets have an interesting variety of cukes
that may not be familiar. Yellow-green Armenian cucumbers are curved
with paper-thin skins and soft seeds. Be sure to try the Lemon
cucumber, a striped yellow orb, which is sweet and crisp with none
of the bitterness often found in other varieties. Also available are
the traditional slicing and pickling cukes.

Cucumbers should be firm without soft spots or shriveled ends. Avoid
those that are very large because they will be exceptionally seedy
and watery.

How to handle: Because of their high-water content, cucumbers have
a short shelf life but can be refrigerated in the crisper up to a week.

Scrub unwaxed cucumbers lightly; waxed cucumbers should be
peeled. Slice in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds with a small
spoon.

Goes with: Buttermilk and yogurt; dill, mint, tarragon and basil;
tomato, sweet red peppers, green, red and sweet onions; salmon.

Sources: “Field Guide to Produce” by Aliza Green; “Cook’s Thesaurus”
by Lori Alden; Chris Curtis, Farmers Market Association

Cece Sullivan, Seattle Times home economist

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

CENN – SEPTEMBER 8, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Georgia’s Protected Areas Ready Themselves to Market Their Future
Visitors
2. “Healthy Lifestyle” Subject to be Included in Armenian School
Curricula in 2006
3. IFAD New Credit Program to be Approved in December
4. RA Government to Strengthen Control over Armenia’s Biosecurity
5. Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program
6. EIA Reports Submitted to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to
7. Announcement of the Ministry of Environment of Georgia

1. GEORGIA’S PROTECTED AREAS READY THEMSELVES TO MARKET THEIR FUTURE
VISITORS

Immediate Release

Lagodekhi, Georgia – September 6, 2004 – The Protected Areas Development
Project announced the successful completion of a 3 day Marketing
workshop held at Lagodekhi Nature Reserve’s Headquarters in Lagodekhi,
Georgia. Protected Areas directors from Lagodekhi, Akhmeta, Vashlovani
gathered to work on the marketing strategies for their protected areas
so in the near future they may attract both local and international
visitors and at the same time uphold their conviction to protect this
precious national reserves and parks. Protected Areas Development Center
headed by Paata Shanshiashvili, hosted the event and he and his team
were joined by prominent players in the Protected Areas Development
Project such as the Chairman of the State Department of Protected Areas,
Mr.Eugine Asatiani, theChairman of the State Department of Tourism and
Resorts, Mr.Saba Kiknadze. In addition, the directors from both
Borjomi-Kharagauli and Kolkheti National Parks, Mr. Zviad Gotsiridze and
Mr. Marlen Patsatsia shared their experiences with the group about
their parks that have already opened and are being visited.

“Lagodekhi, Vashlovani, Tusheti, Batsara-Babaneuli and Ilto Protected
Areas are part of the Georgia’s national heritage and we are taking
seriously the important job of sharing these areas with Georgians and
the International community alike,” said Mr.Saba Kiknadze,, “How we
market and to whom we market will be of great importance as we get ready
to open the parks and so this workshop has been an important milestone
in our tasks to attract visitors.”

Directors of Protected Areas are promising to their parks’ future
visitors:

“Protected Tusheti Highlands” – walking and horseback riding in the wild
nature, sightseeing of historical – cultural monuments with exposure of
local mountain communities’ household traditions – cooking, folk and
handicraft, accommodations in “bed & breakfast” family hotels or
overnight-stays in wild nature”

“Lagodekhi Protected Area – the oldest Nature Reserve – provides
scientists, families and people interested in cultural and natural
heritage overnight stays in a beautiful place with wonders of nature,
from 350 to 3500 m above see level, diverse and unique flora and fauna,
tertiary period’s elements of nature, and breathtaking views”.

“Wild Savannah of Vashlovani”- vast shallow forest, split canyons,
flood-plain forests and lots of unique species of fauna in vast steps,
fossils from 3-5 millions years of age, archeological monuments from
BCE, and extraordinary adventures in unique packages: rafting down the
Alazani river, enjoying the bird-watching; great accommodations,
legendary wine and cuisine”.

“Also, “Grand Tour” – combining all these Protected Areas offering
unique pleasure to everybody, no matter are you alone or with family, or
friends, because of
o National Parks belong to you
o They are beautiful and unique cultural and natural heritage of Georgia

o They are great for gatherings
o They are affordable
o You are provided with full information about the nature and history of
these places
o Parks are served by professionals, including guides and rangers “.

Contact: Natia Kobakhidze
Georgia Protected Areas Development Project
Tel: (+995 32) 251566
E-mail: [email protected]

2. “HEALTHY LIFESTYLE” SUBJECT TO BE INCLUDED IN ARMENIAN SCHOOL
CURRICULA IN 2006

Source: Arminfo: September 3, 2004

The UNFPA is ready to assist Armenia’s Education and Science Ministry in
introducing the Healthy Lifestyle subject in the curricula of Armenian
schools, says UNFPA country director for Armenia. Anne-Birgitte
Albrectsen.

The subject will be included in Armenian school curricula in 2006. It
will be taught to school-leavers and university students. The subject is
meant to acquaint young people with all the aspects of health care as
well as to raise their sexual awareness. This is a very important
agreement especially as the Armenian Government has adopted a law on
reproductive health, says Albrectsen. She notes that many Armenians are
reluctant to go to the doctor regularly and know very little about
reproductive health.

Among the other authors of the project is UNICEF. The agreement is part
of the UNFPA Plan of Action for 2005-2009. In late 2004 all Armenian
ministries, NGOs, MPs cooperating with UNFPA will be informed of the
measures to fulfill the project. Only then will the plan be ratified by
the Armenian Government. UNFPA provides Armenia with both technical and
consultative assistance. It implements $500,000 worth projects
in the country each year.

3. IFAD NEW CREDIT PROGRAM TO BE APPROVED IN DECEMBER

Source: Arminfo: September 3, 2004

At its general meeting in December, the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) is to approve a draft credit program
worth 15-20mln. USD, Alik Kalantaryan, IFAD Armenia office, told
ARMINFO.

He reported that the program is to be implemented in two directions:
crediting of agricultural business and economically sound restoration of
infrastructures. Kalantaryan pointed out that the program envisages over
10mln. USD for crediting. He added that this component will be realized
with the involvement of working financial organizations
and banks.

The maximum credit amount to be lent at this stage is 150,000 USD for up
to seven years. Kalantaryan reported that if agribusiness development
projects meet the requirements, funds will be provided to banks at the
lowest annual interest rates – 3.5% in case of small credits and 1.5% in
case of big ones. Thus, IFAD specialists calculated that credits will be
lent to agribusinessmen at an annual interest rate of 8%-11%. Also,
leasing operations will be performed.

Thus, it will allow farmers to purchase equipment worth up to 200,000
USD with 20% prepayment. A total of 5mln. USD will be allocated for the
realization of the second component. Kalantaryan added that negotiations
are currently under way with a number of international organizations,
and all preconditions for additional funding exceeding 5mln. USD have
been created. He reported that the program envisages technical
assistance to organizations, for which purpose a total of 300,000 USD
will be allocated. Organizations will render assistance to
agribusinessmen with preparing business plans and marketing. IFAD is
also going to conclude contracts with such organizations, under which
agribusinessmen will pay only 20% of the cost of organization’s
services, with the rest to be paid after banks have lend credits. If the
bank does not approve the credit, IFAD will compensate for the rest of
the funds.

IFAD has implemented a number of programs in Armenia. The fund
implemented its first credit program in 1998-2001, allocating a total of
13.5mln. USD on various agricultural projects. The Fund allocated a
total of 20.2mln. USD for the implementation of its last credit program.
IFAD’s credit line is 15.5mln. USD, the RA Government’s share being
2.4mln. USD. The RA Social Investments Fund allocated 1.1mln. USD and
regional communities 0.8mln. USD. By July 1, 2004, about 14.858mln. USD
had been utilized under the program, over 3.8mln. USD of this in the
first half of 2004.

4. RA GOVERNMENT TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL OVER ARMENIA’s BIOSECURITY

Source: Arminfo: September 2, 2004

The RA Government has decided to strengthen control over Armenia’s
biological security.

At his news briefing, RA Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Artashes
Ziroyan reported that a national coordinating center is expected to be
formed simultaneously with a scientific-technical council, the latter to
be consisted of 17 experts representing 10 institutions and public
organizations. He pointed out that the Government will establish control
over the import of food products and fodder of animal origin in
conformity with the Cartagena Protocol. He said that the center will
examine documents on imported goods and their conformity to the
Cartagena Protocol. Ziroyan stated that no laboratory analysis will be
conducted for lack of funds and equipment.

5. HUBERT HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy has announced Hubert Humphrey
Fellowship program for Georgian citizens for the 2005-2006 academic
year. The Hubert H. Humphrey fellowship program will bring accomplished
professionals from Georgia to the United States at the midpoint in their
careers for a year of non-degree graduate study and related professional
experience.

Attached please find a detailed information and the application form of
the program. Please send this information to your contacts and potential
candidates. Please note that the application submission deadline is
October 8, 2004.

Additional information is available on the following address:

6. EIA REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT OF GEORGIA TO

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), August 28,
2004

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, Ltd. “Evrocement” submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category – Clay
Development and Processing along the Miriani Poultry Enterprise.

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, Ltd. “JS&Neba” submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category – Processign of
the Gunia-kala Deposit in Tsalka Region.

EIA reports are available at the press-center of the Ministry of
Environment (68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of
Environmental Permits and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili
Str., Tel: 25 02 19). Interested stakeholders can analyze the document
and present their comments and considerations until October 12, 2004.

Public hearing will be held on October 12, 2004 at 12:00, at the
conference hall of the Ministry of Environment.

7. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT OF GEORGIA

The Ministry of Environment of Georgia announces competition on granting
the licenses for the following activities:

o Extraction of the mineral waters in Akhaltsikhe region, Pavliani
village;
o Extraction of the “Babanuri” mineral waters of Shuakhevi region;
o Processing and development of the “Vajas Tskaro” mineral waters
deposit in Dusheti region in for extraction the mineral water;
o Processing and development of the “Okhiri” mineral water deposit in
Akhalgori region for extraction the mineral water;
o Processing of the Sadakhlo deposit;
o Development of the Teshenati deposit and therefore processing of the
deposits in villages Bueti, Dzuknuri, Tsuskhvati, of the Tkibuli region;

o Extraction of the inert materials form the river Ksani, Mtskheta
region;
o Research and extraction of the water along the BTC route Kp248
Akhaltsikhe region along the measuring station 80;
o Processing of the “Dado” deposit (Akhalkalaki region) for extracting
the sand.

Deadline for submitting the relevant documentation: September 15, 2004

For the additional information please see: “Sakartvelos Respublica”
(“Republic of Georgia”), August 27, 2004

Also you can receive additional information on the following address:

87, Paliashvilis str., Tbilisi
Tel: +995 32 25 17 22, 25 17 20

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

Khatami calls for expansion of Tehran-Yerevan ties

IRNA, Iran
Sept 8 2004

Yerevan, Sept 8, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami here on Wednesday
stressed expansion of Tehran-Yerevan ties, especially between the
two parliaments.

In a meeting with Armenian speaker Artur Baghdarsyan, Khatami said
Tehran-Yerevan parliamentary cooperation would be effective in
consolidating bilateral ties.

Khatami stressed close links in the destinies of the Iranian and
Armenian nations, saying he was fully confident there are abundant
capacities in both countries and they can tread the path to progress
more speedily by helping each other.

He hoped that during his visit, talks between Iranian and Armenian
officials would attain tangible and meaningful results.

Baghdarsyan voiced pleasure over presence of the high-level Iranian
delegation in Armenia and said his countrymen had long been expecting
the visit.

He referred to age-old friendship and presence of tens of thousand
Armenians outside Armenian borders, including in Iran, saying the
Iranian and Armenian nations` fate are interlinked.

He praised the role of Khatami in expansion of bilateral ties.

Khatami: Armenians have a great impact on human civilizations

IRNA, Iran
Sept 8 2004

Yerevan, Sept 8, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami here Wednesday
said that Armenia`s long history as well as its talented, diligent
and self-confident people have had a great impact on the human
civilizations.

Speaking to reporters, he referred to Iran`s glorious civilization of
the past eras and the Armenians` pivotal role in its development and
said that even today the Iranian Armenians keep on attempting towards
Iran`s independence and progress along with their Muslim compatriots.

“We respect our neighbors and are keen to cooperate with them.
We place special focus on Iran-Armenia ties, which can serve as a
model for those countries intending to establish relations on the
basis of mutual respect.

“Given our commitment to collaborate with Armenia following its
independence, bilateral relations have been improving since 1991,”
he added.

The president referred to the agreements signed mutually on Wednesday
and said that they are beneficial to both sides and will serve to
further broaden cooperation.

The chief executive reiterated the need to promote security and
tranquility in Iran and Caucasus and said that security and stability
in the two sensitive regions will guarantee scientific and cultural
development.

President Khatami voiced Iran`s intention to broaden its economic
and technical cooperation with the world countries and expedite
the development trend by making use of the affordable facilities
and potentials.

He referred to the great number of commonalties between Iran and
the Caucasus and said that it can overshadow some of the differences
of opinion.

The president said that most of the inked documents focused on energy
and communications and their exchange.

“Given that Armenia is located along the North-South Corridor, the
closer the communication between the two countries, the better we
can serve the entire region and the global economy,” he added.

For his part, Armenian President Robert Kocharian referred to President
Khatami`s trip to Armenia as the first visit by an Iranian president
to the country and said that it is therefore a significant historical
event.

He noted that his talks in today`s meeting with his Iranian counterpart
mainly focused on economic matters including energy and added that
based on Armenia`s infrastructures and expertise in the field,
broader cooperation is possible.

President Kocharian expressed confidence that joint projects will
soon assume regional significance.

Iranian, Armenian presidents discuss mutual cooperation

IRNA, Iran
Sept 8 2004

Yerevan, Sept 8, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami who is in Yerevan
at the head of a high ranking delegation conferred on Wednesday with
his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian on expansion of mutual
relations.

In the meeting, President Khatami referred to historical ties between
the two countries and highlighted the role of Iran and Armenia in the
region. He termed interaction between the two countries as interaction
between two histories and two nations that have played an effective
role in the formation of human civilization.

The two sides’ security, stability and developments are interrelated
and for this reason “We should broaden our ties more than ever before,”
he said.

Voicing satisfaction with expansion and deepening of all-out relations
between the two countries, he said “I hope to witness further promotion
of mutual relations in economic, cultural and political areas.”

photo: ISNA

Referring to growing trend of bilateral cooperation in gas, electricity
and transportation fields, he voiced Tehran’s readiness to further
broaden cooperation with Yerevan in petrochemical, auto manufacturing
and agricultural machinery fields and said such cooperation would
foster bilateral relations and meet the interests of the whole region.

“Our region is very sensitive and there is no alternative but to
jointly shoulder responsibility for the development and stability of
the region,” he said.

Regional countries share ample commonalties which could help remove
existing problems and thwart probable dangers, he said.

The Armenian president, for his part, termed the two sides relations
as very close and all opportunities should be seized for broadening
of mutual ties.

The Islamic Republic of Iran plays a very significant and unique
role in the region, he said adding that Yerevan welcomes expansion
of cooperation with Tehran, he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the presence of high ranking Iranian
delegation in Armenia, he expressed the hope that it would bear
fruitful results and lead to consolidation of mutual cooperation.

Calling for timely implementation of agreements signed by the two
sides, he said “the nature of existing cooperation has influenced
our relations as well as the whole region.”

Meanwhile, the heads of Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Commission who were
present in the meeting expressed their views on the fifth commission
session and discussed prospects of mutual cooperation in the fields
of energy, transportation, agriculture, border trade and culture.

Prior to the meeting, the two presidents in a private meeting,
discussed mutual relations as well as regional and international
developments.

Russian terror strike talk seen worrying Georgia
By Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent

Reuters
Sept 8 2004

BERLIN, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Comments from a top general that Russia will
pre-emptively strike “terrorist bases” anywhere in the world will send
a shiver of alarm through former Soviet republics, especially Georgia.

Western analysts said Wednesday’s remarks from Chief of Staff Yuri
Baluevsky carried echoes of the U.S. doctrine in the “war on terror”
of countering threats by launching first strikes, instead of waiting
to be attacked.

But they said Russia’s sharply limited global reach meant the general’s
warning — days after a bloody hostage siege by militants demanding
Chechen independence — would apply in practice to former Soviet
republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia which Moscow still regards
as its sphere of influence.

Beyond that zone, Russia could not launch full-scale military action,
although it might attempt hits on individual militants via operations
like February’s assassination of a prominent Chechen separatist
in Qatar.

“In practice this doctrine can only apply to the countries adjacent to
Russia which are not part of a global alliance,” said Jonathan Eyal,
Russia analyst at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

GEORGIA IN FRONT LINE

Georgia would be in the front line, he said, but neighbouring Armenia,
Azerbaijan and the five Central Asian states could also be seen by
Moscow as legitimate theatres for military action.

Tensions between Georgia and Russia are already high over Tbilisi’s
efforts to reassert control of its breakaway region of South Ossetia,
where it recently accused Russian forces of being involved in attacks
on Georgians.

Russia, which maintains two military bases in Georgia, has periodically
accused Tbilisi of allowing Chechen rebels to operate from the Pankisi
Gorge, which borders Chechnya.

Analysts said Moscow might revive such charges in the climate of
heightened tension since last week’s bloodbath in which at least
326 people — around half of them children — were killed after a
three-day siege at a school in Beslan in Russia’s North Caucasus.

“To some extent the military here are looking to see what advantage
they can take from the mood following the attack down in Beslan,”
said Roy Allison of Chatham House, a London-based think-tank.

He said Baluevsky’s comments were “very provocative” and seemed out
of line with the views of President Vladimir Putin.

It was not clear whether Baluevsky was speaking with Putin’s backing
but such a senior general would rarely express such views without at
least the tacit approval of the president.

ISRAELI BACKING

But they met with understanding in Israel, which has its own long
history of pre-emptive and reprisal strikes against militants both
inside its borders and abroad.

“There is no other choice when dealing with terrorism. This is an
international threat that has to be tackled everywhere and anywhere,”
a senior official said.

Asked if Israel would help, he said: “Israel and Russia have strategic
agreements, which include intelligence-sharing, and I am sure this
issue will come up in our next bilateral meeting.”

According to Israeli intelligence, some Chechen separatists have
trained at camps in Lebanon and have ties with the militant Hizbollah
group there.

There are significant Chechen emigre communities in Jordan and Turkey,
and Russian officials say they have frequently intercepted and killed
Turkish fighters in Chechnya.

Eyal said not even the “most mad general in Moscow” would contemplate
a military strike in NATO-member Turkey.

But he said Russia might well attempt further operations abroad like
the assassination of former Chechen leader Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev in
Qatar in February. A Qatari court convicted two Russian spies of the
murder, in which Moscow denied involvement.

(Additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem)

No small talent

Ventura County Star, CA
Sept 8 2004

Nick Noroian is comfortable with his height — and the ribbing from
teammates — because he’s proven he can stand tall on the football
field

By Joe Curley, [email protected]
September 8, 2004

The Stump. The Load. The Cinderblock with Feet. Nick Noroian has
heard plenty of ’em throughout his football career.

But it is the nickname that his Cal Lutheran University football
teammates and coaches have given him that he admits to being his
favorite.

” ‘4×4’ has to be the best,” said Noroian. “Everyone just seems to
get a kick out of it.”

Like many Kingsmen football players, 4×4 — nicknamed so because he’s
“4 feet tall and 4 feet wide” –is a former two-way prep football
star with an affinity for both the game and his studies.

It’s that he happens to be a 5-foot-4, 230-pound starting defensive
tackle that has him on his way to being a cult hero on the Thousand
Oaks campus.

“It’s been something I’ve had to deal with my whole life,” said
Noroian. “It’s no big deal for me.”

Such dimensions don’t fit the stereotype of an athlete, but Noroian
is fit as a fiddle. He can bench press 340 pounds and he can squat
press 550 pounds. CLU coaches say he’s one of the quickest players on
the team over 10 yards.

And his ability to take a little ribbing from teammates is world
class. He understands that his height just happens to be in the cards
that he’s been dealt, it doesn’t have to be the hand that he plays.

“I’m a big guy, but I’m short,” said Noroian. “I embrace it.

“I don’t have any regrets at all. I can’t. I’m too busy in my life to
worry about being taller.”

Noroian is the shortest member of his Armenian and Swiss family,
including his two sisters, Nicole and Noel. He hasn’t grown since
middle school, when he took a turn as the center on the basketball
team.

“But his size has always been something he’s been able to tackle,”
said Noroian’s father, Chuck, who is 5-8, 280 pounds.

This “4×4” is multipurpose. In his final high school game in Salinas,
the 2001 CIF-Central Coast Section Division I championship game, he
ran for 142 yards and a touchdown as a halfback while piling up eight
tackles, two sacks and an interception at linebacker.

“That was the best game I’ve ever played,” said Noroian.

Listening to Jeff Carnazzo, Noroian’s high school coach at Palmas
High in Salinas, it sounds like Noroian was the smallest, yet biggest
piece of a developing prep football dynasty on the Central Coast.

“He’s a surprise, because when you look at him physically, you don’t
expect what you get out of him,” said Jeff Carnazzo, Noroian’s high
school coach. “But, simply put, I would say he’s the most gutsy
player to come out of this area, the Central Coast, in ages.”

Salinas is a place known for John Steinbeck and the agricultural
industry, but lately it’s become a hotbed for prep football. Palmas
won its first two Division I sectional titles when Noroian was a
junior and senior. The Chieftains won it again this past year, making
it three titles in five seasons.

They even scheduled Bay Area power Concord-De La Salle this season,
in hopes of becoming the team to break the national-record 12-year
winning streak, which ended last weekend in Washington.

“Nick was the player who took his team and carried it on his
shoulders,” said Carnazzo. “He’s set the tone for this program. We
won it again last year and I attribute it a lot to him.”

His highlight film is a classic. It includes plays like “The Mole
Pass,” Noroian’s halfback pass, and games like the time against
Gilroy when he missed the first half with an sprained ankle and came
off the bench to rush for 150 yards in the second half.

“It’s some of the most amazing video that you’ll ever see,” said
Carnazzo. “It’s filled with him bowling over kids (on offense) and
stopping kids behind the line of scrimmage (on defense).

“I stick that tape in and watch it when we’ve got our kids in here. I
say, ‘Watch Nick, this is what we want out of you.’ ”

Carnazzo used it to sell programs like UC Davis, Sacramento State and
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on his star. But when it came time to put
pen to paper, the assistant coaches retreated, saying they couldn’t
make a scholarship commitment to a 5-foot-4 football player. Several
Division III teams, including local school Menlo College, recruited
Noroian, who chose CLU because of his interest in social sciences. He
plans on becoming a teacher and coach.

“He’s got a place in my heart,” said Carnazzo, “I’ll tell you this,
someday he’s going to take over for me here as the head coach. But I
wouldn’t be surprised to see him coach at a higher level.”

Rehabilitation from a knee injury slowed him as a freshman at CLU. As
a reserve linebacker last year, he scored one of CLU’s two defensive
touchdowns on a fumble recovery.

One of the first phone calls new defensive line coach Damon Tomeo,
formerly a graduate assistant at Arizona, made when he was hired
during the summer was to Noroian. As coaches are likely to do at a
fresh job, Tomeo had been scouting his own team and had a glimpse
into the future. He knew he needed a veteran defensive tackle.

“We had a hole and we wanted it filled by a veteran,” said Tomeo.
“Nick is a natural football player. He’s the epitome of what we’ve
got here. Guys that want to play hard, want to win games and do well
in school at the same time. It’s just all rolled in a smaller package
than we normally have.”

Tomeo asked Noroian if he was willing to make a move towards the line
of scrimmage, from linebacker to the defensive line.

“I just told him it was something I was willing to do,” said Noroian.
“Anything to help the team.”

The CLU defensive line has been an important part of the program in
recent years. The Kingsmen led the SCIAC in sacks last season (30)
and defensive end Quinn Longhurst led the conference individually
with 11.

“It’s an honor. We have some guys that are really good on this line,”
said Noroian. “The toughest thing about the transition has just been
putting my hand on the ground and getting out of my stance. It’s been
a change for me.”

But there was no concern on the coaching staff that a 5-foot-4 body
wouldn’t hold up at the point of attack? The undersized defensive
tackle on film must look like a giant bullseye for opposing coaches
to target.

“He’s an athlete. You’d be amazed at the plays he’s capable of
making,” said Tomeo. “He understands body positioning and leverage.
He maximizes his (size) and effort on every play. His tenacity and
relentlessness is off the charts. He just won’t quit.”

CLU tailback Charlie Brown, who has gone up against Noroian in plenty
of drills during training camp, can attest to his ability to get the
job done.

“I’ll be in a hole and I’ll just get blindsided by him,” said Brown.
“He’ll come out of nowhere.”

Brown’s words serve fair warning to CLU’s opponents — overlook this
“4×4” and prepare to be blindsided.

,1375,VCS_137_3167393,00.html

Putin, the prisoner of the Caucasus
by Vladimir Rozanskij

AsiaNews.it, Italy
Sept 8 2004

After the Beslan massacre, an expert analyzes where Russia and the
West is going in the confrontation with Islamic terrorism

Moscow (AsiaNews) – A famous novel by Pushkin tells of the dangers
and perils that Russian travellers could expect in the early
19th century, among the gorges and harshness of those ancient and
mysterious lands that rise as southern guard of the Asian continent.
The novel is entitled “The Prisoner of the Caucasus”, and has never
before seemed so prophetic of the condition in which the president
of that very Russian state, Vladimir Putin, currently finds himself.
His ascent to the head of government and, 5 years ago, to the Russian
Federation itself, had in fact been conditioned by the explosion of
terrorist bombs that had sown so many victims, not only in the lands
of the south, but also in Moscow itself, giving a final blow to what,
by then, was the teetering throne of Yeltsin and clearing the way
for a new “strong man”.

Putin’s leadership was subsequently confirmed, almost by acclamation,
in the general elections of March 2000, effectively making any
political or administrative consultation redundant: in fact, he
and his candidates are absolutely unbeatable; theirs is the same
cast-iron probability of the single-party candidates of Soviet memory.
The reason for such absolute pre-eminence has always been tied
to the deep drama of events: Russia needs to use force to resist
the destructive attack of the forces of evil. Today as yesterday,
the inhumane face of terror stands out against the silhouette of the
Caucasian mountains, and calls all of Russia to unite as one person in
its response, making its leader a banner for revival and liberation.
Certainly, Russian citizens are ever more asking themselves why,
after 5 long years, this dramatic issue has gone from bad to worse,
why it has gone from destroyed homes to devastated cities in the entire
Chechnya, in a ferocious conflict with no holds barred on both sides,
up to the slaughter of hostages in the Dubrovka Theatre of Moscow, and
now even the slaughter of the innocents of Beslan. Grozny, with the
assassination of its leaders, has been a revolving door of generals,
mediators, puppet-governments; draconian measures have been taken
in the entire country to the point that civil liberties have been
limited almost more than in the Soviet period. The ever-present
police continues its surveillance and the use of violence, if not
physical at least psychological, against any passer-by whose skin
is in the least bit olive-tinged. Yet underground train stations
continue to be a place of fear and mutual suspicion, when not of
actual pain and desperation. Certainly, there has been American’s
September 11th, which confirmed what Putin himself has been saying
since 1999: there exists a network of international terrorism that
has declared war on advanced countries, uniting even Russia and
America in a single axis of evil, like at the times of German Nazism.
Wars come along in Afghanistan and Iraq, with all their contradictions
and open questions, making Russians think that, after all, the worst
is elsewhere, and the Americans too are able to pass themselves off
as wicked. Yet there is no respite from dismay, there can never be
enough force to ward off terror, a sense of resignation and anguish
starts to take hold, there is no possible future on the horizon.
And then Beslan, the worst of horrors, worse than the Twin Towers,
worse than any Iraq or any Palestine, mothers that shoot at children.

Resignation is becoming tangible not only in Russia, but in the
entire world where, more than fighting terrorism, there are those
who, by now, are seeking to exploit things in the name of partisan
interests: Russia against America, France against England, the right
against the left. The time has come perhaps to say unequivocally
that there is no clash of civilizations underway, there is no war
of Islam against Christianity, of the poor against the rich or of
moderates against radicals: war is only a tragedy of men against
men, in which the losers are but human beings, the most weak and
defenceless. The Caucasus symbolizes this distraught world; however
much one tries to compartmentalize reality, it is impossible in that
land to draw the line of one against the other, of Orthodox Ossetians
against Muslim Ingush, or Buddhist Kalmuckians, or Jewish Daghestan,
or Gregorian Armenians. There is no limit between moderate Islam
and international fundamentalism, between nationalist Cossacks and
pro-American Georgians. The sociology and history of religion become
a card game to deal out on the green table of cynical international
politics, raising the stakes on the basis of what is convenient for
the arms trade, the petroleum market and the poppy fields, if not
for holding on to the petty seats of some national or continental
parliament. Causes are invented to defend vested interests;
recriminations are made to hide one’s own lies.

Putin’s attackers are trigger happy, this is clear. A bit like
American cowboys, they are not standing by waiting for a smoking gun:
they prefer to shoot first. The Russian President himself has little
faith in the search for dialogue and consensus: he grew up in the
school of unique thought and armed peace; many shortcomings can be
attributed to his colleague in Washington, certainly not a champion of
multicultural tolerance. But, it is hard to imagine that others in
their place would have done better, above all those who preach easy
pacifism and the embrace of diversities, when the problem is losing
one’s own identity in the tragedy of a war that started long ago.
There is no anti-Putin in Russia, there is nowhere in the world an
anti-Bush capable of putting an end to all this horror with the shake
of a hand and calls to mutual understanding. Putin’s speech to the
nation, following the tragedy, made his powerlessness dramatically
clear: in promising yet another security service reform, he called
on citizens of the Russian Federation to give proof of unity and
solidarity. In the name of what, he was no longer able to say, nor
was he able to put on display the anger of early days, when he would
promise to conquer all enemies. Solidarity among people is not a
product of promises or ideals, it needs to be lived day after day,
bowing one’s head in the face of pain, learning from wounds not to
judge, as not to be judged; fighting evil, from whatever side it
arrives, without professing to be the incarnation of Good. He who
said to be so was not, in fact, a prince of the world: He was a Man
on the cross.

OTE boss says restructuring plan afoot

Kathimerini, Greece
Sept 8 2004

Financial results will begin to improve in a year’s time, Vourloumis
says, adding that all company ventures abroad are now profitable

Restructuring is key to the future of OTE Telecom, its Chairman and
CEO Panayis Vourloumis said in a press conference in Thessaloniki
yesterday.

“(OTE’s) recovery will arrive through the restructuring we are planning
and which will affect a lot of activities. This (restructuring) is
not something unheard of, it is something other big fixed telephony
providers have undergone. Provided it starts immediately, it should
begin having an impact on the group’s financial results a year from
now,” Vourloumis said.

OTE, once the monopoly telecoms provider in Greece, has lost close
to 15 percent of the fixed telephony market since its deregulation
in 2000.

Mobile telephony started in 1993 and, while OTE was a late entrant
in the market, its subsidiary, CosmOTE, is a market leader.

OTE’s profits have been falling in recent years and management has
attributed this to three reasons: the competition that has naturally
risen in the fixed telephony segment; the low fees it says it has been
forced to charge its competitors for using its fixed-line network;
and extraordinary costs and write-offs in some of its acquisitions
abroad, especially in Romania.

Vourloumis estimated that profits from fixed telephony will continue
to be weak “for quite some time.”

Asked whether OTE will implement a voluntary retirement program,
Vourloumis replied that its plans for one are still at an early
stage and emphasized that the management will seek the employees’
consensus before proceeding with such a program.

Referring to OTE’s activities abroad, Vourloumis said that all
companies in which OTE participates, either as a majority or minority
shareholder, are profitable.

He referred to the legal tangles in Serbia, where OTE holds 20 percent
of Telekom Srbija, and Armenia, where it holds 90 percent of Armentel,
as “festering wounds.”

“Our strategy is to normalize our relations and to close the wounds
without a loss,” Vourloumis said. He appeared confident that a
solution will be found in Serbia, whereas he did not exclude an
eventual withdrawal from Armenia, where OTE has had to compete
with pirate telephony providers, but “on favorable terms and with
a big profit.” The mobile telecoms firms under CosmOTE’s management
in Albania, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
are “operating smoothly,” Vourloumis said. In Romania, according to
Vourloumis, “Romtelecom is doing well now but certainly OTE will not
recover its losses over the past few years soon.” He added that the
group is considering whether to reactivate their mobile telephony
subsidiary, Cosmorom.

“We must make a decision soon because, if we delay for a few more
months, there will be no place for us in the (Romanian) market,”
he said.

OTE’s chief said that the company’s successful handling of telecoms
services during the Olympic Games had imbued the company “with a new
self-esteem,” which must be used “to recover the ground we lost in
the past few years.”

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 8 2004

BILL “ON STATE SECRET” PASSED
[September 08, 2004, 13:01:59]

At the sitting of the Milli Majlis held on 7 October, as
correspondent of AzerTAj informs, the deputies have made protest
against participation of the Armenian officers in the forthcoming
action of NATO in Baku and have demanded, that Milli Majlis has
expressed attitude to the mentioned question.

Chairman of Milli Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov has noted, that the
Azerbaijan state cooperates with the NATO within the framework of
a number of programs. The organizer of action to be carried out in
September of this year in Baku is the NATO and consequently, official
Baku cannot interfere with the given question. Murtuz Alaskarov has
stated that in this connection the question will discuss with the
head of state and heads of other corresponding organizations.

Further, have been discussed and accepted the bills “On state secret”
(in the third reading) and “On protection and development of the
Azerbaijan carpet art”.