Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 27, 2004, Friday

ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT

SOURCE: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurier, No 32, August 25 – 31, 2004, p.
2

by Samvel Martirosjan (Yerevan)

ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE
DEEPENING CRISIS IN THE RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN THAT THREATENS WITH
FULL-SCALE WAR

The Russian-Armenian military cooperation develops quite dynamically.
Not long ago, Russia lent a sympathetic ear to Armenia’s request
concerning training of up to 150 officers. Complicated situation in
the Caucasus forces the authorities of Armenia to pay unfeigned
attention to national defense. According to official data alone, the
2004 Armenian state budget allocated almost $82 million for military
needs, an almost 10% rise against war spendings in 2003. Estimates of
the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London) show that
in 2002 Armenia was the CIS leader in the arms spendings to GDP ratio
– 6.4%, an equivalent of $162 million.

The CIA claims that as far as this particular parameter is concerned,
Armenia is the 11th in the world; it spent $135 million on its army
in 2001. When the closed parliamentary hearing of fulfillment of the
2003 budget was over not long ago, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh
Sarkisjan said that arms spendings would be increased next year
again. Sarkisjan refused to elaborate but said that the Armenian
national army was initiating a program of rearmament.

It should be noted that the population of Armenia, not exactly a
wealthy country, does not object to these measures taken by national
leaders. The population is perfectly aware of the undeclared war with
Azerbaijan that is under way. Serious clashes are regularly reported
in the areas where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops face each other;
shots have been fired by sharpshooters for a decade (ever since the
cease-fire on the Karabakh front was signed). Moreover, official
Yerevan positions itself as a guarantor of security of Karabakh.

Turkey is another potential enemy. Diplomatic relations with Turkey
have never been established. Ankara is still blocking the border with
Armenia and pursuing an openly anti-Armenian policy. Sociologists of
the Armenian Center of National and Strategic Studies discovered that
47.5% respondents in Armenia believe that the war with Azerbaijan may
be resumed within five years, and 7% more expect a Turkish aggression
within the same span of time.

Figures

Armenian national army is considered one of the most combat ready in
the Caucasus. These days, it is over 60,000 men strong. According to
the CIA, there are 810,000 men in Armenia aged 15 to 59 and almost
650,000 of them are fit for combat. Most experts say, however, that
mobilization resources of Armenia amount to 300,000 men, i.e. almost
10% of the total population (over 3.2 million).

Under the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe, in 2001 Armenia
declared 102 T-72 tanks and 204 armored vehicles (most of them
infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers). With the
military hardware the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe does not
apply to, Armenia has up to 700 armored vehicles. Its artillery
comprises 225 pieces of 122 mm and larger calibers including 50
multiple rocket launchers.

The Armenian Air Force includes five SU-25 ground-attack aircraft,
one MIG-25, 35 helicopters (the latter include twelve MI-24 attack
helicopters), and 3,000 servicemen. Yerevan intends to build up this
component of its Armed Forces. Not long ago, Defense Ministry of
Slovenia proclaimed the sale of ten SU-25s to Armenia (nine SU-25K
one-seaters and one SU-25UBK two-seater). The consignment will cost
Armenia $1 million. Armenia bought two IL-76 military transports from
Russia not long ago. The transports were bought at Russian domestic
prices and made it to Armenia together with Defense Minister of
Russia Sergei Ivanov.

Armenia builds up its Air Force in the hope of making it a match for
the Azerbaijani, but its antiaircraft defense is considered the best
throughout the Caucasus. Armenian antiaircraft defense comprises an
antiaircraft missile brigade and two regiments armed with almost 100
antiaircraft complexes of various models and modifications (Osa,
Krug, S-75, and S-125). Numerical strength is estimated at about
2,000 servicemen. Armenian antiaircraft defense developed in a hurry
in the war over Karabakh when Azerbaijani Air Force regularly and
energetically bombarded Armenian trenches and settlements both in
Karabakh and in Armenia’s own border districts. There was nothing
Armenia could do about it then. By 1993, however, it already had a
formidable antiaircraft defense in Armenia itself and in the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh. Its deployment cut Azerbaijani advantage in the
sky to the minimum.

These days, the Armenian skies are controlled by Armenian and Russian
antiaircraft defense units on joint combat duty since 1999. There are
at least 30 MIG-29 fighters and a regiment of S-300s quartered on the
territory of Armenia.

Allies in the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty

Armenia is a member of the Organization of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty. As such, it participates in all events organized
within its framework. In any case, Russia is Armenia’s oldest and
traditional ally. Ever since the regaining of sovereignty, the tandem
of Moscow and Yerevan has served as one of the few examples of bona
fide military-political cooperation in the Commonwealth. There is
practically no discord between Russia and Armenia in this sphere.

Russia and Armenia together defend the Armenian airspace or, rather,
the southern border of the Commonwealth. Armenian borders with Turkey
and Iran are manned by almost 2,000 Russian bodyguards who serve
shoulder to shoulder with their Armenian counterparts. Yet, it is the
102nd Military Base in Gyumri that is Russia’s major outpost in
Armenia. Unlike Tbilisi or Baku, official Yerevan never brings up the
subject of withdrawal of the Russian troops. When Sarkisjan is asked
the question, he never answers believing it a rhetoric question.
Armenian society regards the Russian troops as a covering force
defending it from the Turkish aggression.

Until recently, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 battle
infantry vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery
pieces, up to 30 MIG-23s and MIG-29s, and a regiment of S-300
antiaircraft complexes. In the last eighteen months, however, a great
deal of military hardware was moved there from Georgia. Armenia gave
the land and objects used by the 102nd Military Base over to Russia
and covers some communal services.

Officer training is another sphere of Russian-Armenian military
cooperation. In the first years of sovereignty when Armenia did not
have military educational establishments of its own, officers of its
army were trained in Russia. Even now when Armenia has a military
college on its own territory, the Armenian officer corps honors the
tradition and is trained at Russian military educational
establishments. On a visit to Armenia in late May, Ivanov said that
600 Armenian servicemen are being trained in Russia. “Armenia asks
for the permission to send 150 servicemen to Russia in 2005, and
Russia gave its consent,” Ivanov said.

It seems that Moscow and Yerevan do not plan to stop. The first
meeting of the joint Russian-Armenian government panel for
military-technical cooperation will take place this autumn. According
to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Russian factories will participate
in the Armenian program of military hardware modernization. He even
said that Russia is prepared to supply the necessary spare parts an
equipment.

Belarus is another ally of Armenia in the Organization of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty. The two countries signed a treaty in
2002. Under the document, Armenia will receive light weapons, armored
vehicles, ordnance, and optical devices in return for spare parts and
gadgets for military hardware. Armenia also intends to have its heavy
military hardware upgraded at Belarusian factories. Lieutenant
General Sergei Gurulev, Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian
Armed Forces, says that the Armenian-Belarusian military contacts
“become systematic and deliberate.”

Do not forget NATO

Greece is Armenia’s best ally in the Alliance. Greece and Armenia
share ancient ties and a common enemy – Turkey. Armenian officers are
trained in Greece. Every now and then Athens puts into motion
military aid programs. In 2003, the two countries signed another
military cooperation accord under which Greece will up the number of
Armenian servicemen trained at the military and military-medical
academies in Athens.

Armenia became a peacekeeper in February. It sent 34 servicemen to
Kosovo where they became an element of the Greek contingent. Armenian
servicemen in Kosovo are paid by the Greeks.

Yerevan has been shifting towards NATO lately, mostly within the
framework of the NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program. Cooperative
Best Effort exercise (the first one where Russia was represented) was
run on the territory of Armenia in 2003.

Armenian cooperation with NATO is mostly declarative for the time
being, but the United States – the country steadily upping its clout
with countries of the region – has far-reaching plans with regard to
Yerevan. In early 2003, the Pentagon announced several major military
programs in the Caucasus. Washington’s military aid to Armenia in
2004 will amount to $5 million even though the US Administration
intended to restrict it to $2 million at first. Armenia and the
United States signed a military-technical cooperation accord in
April. Some articles in the American media imply that the accord
specifies the use of Armenian airfields by the US AF.

Proclaiming complementariness as its foreign political doctrine,
official Yerevan never misses a chance to advance its contacts with
Washington. When the war in Iraq was under way, Armenia remained
neutral. It neither supported the war and America’s action nor
condemned them. These days, however, the parliament and government of
Armenia are working on the legislation that will enable Yerevan to
send servicemen to Iraq. The Cabinet already endorsed the decision of
the Defense Ministry to subscribe to the memorandum “On the command
and settlement of issues in connection with activities of the
international division in the forces of coalition in Iraq”. At first,
Armenia will probably send 10 de-miners and 3 doctors and some trucks
to Iraq.

Moreover, Armenia even permitted the United States to modernize its
communications, one of the most vulnerable items. Yerevan expects to
get communications means from American companies. The deliveries will
be paid for by the White House (the sum amounts to $7 million).
Commenting on it, Sarkisjan said that Russia is quite understanding.
“We are allies. It means that the strengthening of one partner will
benefit the other,” said Sarkisjan. “We initiated the process a year
ago, and I found our Russian colleagues quite understanding.” He said
that from military cooperation with the United States Armenia
expected to up combat potential of its own army.

So, Armenia ups its military might against the background of the
deepening crisis in the relations with Azerbaijan, the crisis that
threatens to deteriorate into another full-scale war. It should be
noted as well that in any conflict the Armenian national army may
count on servicemen from Karabakh. In fact, the Karabakh army even
leaves the Armenian behind in some parameters. Karabakh armed
formations cannot match the Armenian army in manpower (about 20,000
servicemen and mobilization resources at 60,000 men), but they are
certainly ahead of Armenia in heavy military hardware: 316 tanks, 324
armored vehicles, 322 artillery pieces of calibers over 122 mm, 44
multiple rocket launchers, and the antiaircraft defense system that
performed flawlessly in the hostilities in the 1990’s.

Translated by A. Ignatkin

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 27, 2004 Friday 12:35 PM Eastern Time

Russian-Armenian joint military group ends exercises

By Tigran Liloyan

MARSHAL BAGRAMYAN TRAINING CENTER (Armenia), August 27 – A tactical
drill of the Russian-Armenian joint military force ended at the
Marshal Bagramyan Training Center on Friday with shooting exercises.
The training center’s range in located in Armavir, West Armenia,
close to the Turkish border.

The Russian-Armenian joint military force was formed within the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The exercises were aimed to upgrade combat coordination in the joint
military force, drill commander, Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Lt.
Gen. Mikhail Grigoryan told Itar-Tass.

About 1,900 servicemen took part in the exercises. Armenia assigned a
motorized infantry regiment of the second army corpse with attached
tank battalion, artillery battalion, two reconnaissance groups,
sapper company and aviation to the drill, and Russia was represented
by a motorized infantry regiment of the 102nd base in Armenia with
attached artillery battalions.

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov and military attachJ
from the U.S. and Greek embassies in Yerevan watched the exercises.

“Joint military exercises of Russia and Armenia have been held for
the past nine years,” Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said.
“The exercises strictly complied with the training plan for this
year. They did not have any other goals. Next year the exercises will
engage much more forces.”

United Press International
August 27, 2004 Friday 21:01 PM Eastern Time

Kyrgyz scientists seek St. Matthew remains

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 27 (UPI)

A Kyrgyz-Russian expedition is searching Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan
for remains believed to be those of the Apostle Matthew, local media
reported Friday.

Issyk-Kul, 2,250 square miles in area, is a mountain lake in the
north of the country. The Vecherniy Bishkek newspaper refers to a map
dating back to the 14th century that a Russian scientist saw in
Venetia in the middle of the 19th century.

The scientist found an Armenian monastery on the map and read the
legend, according to which the body of St. Matthew, the apostle and
evangelist, was kept in the monastery.

The monastery was built on the north coast of Issyk-Kul before it
disappeared in the lake. People have found various artifacts in the
lake not far from the monastery’s location.

According to the gospels, St. Matthew followed Christ, accompanying
him up to the time of his passion and crucifixion and was one of the
witnesses of his resurrection. He is believed to have died sometime
during the first century A.D.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Associated Press Worldstream
August 27, 2004 Friday 2:24 PM Eastern Time

Olympic Wrestling Results

ATHENS, Greece

Results Friday at the Olympic wrestling competition:

Men
Freestyle
55Kg

Group A
Rene Montero Rosales, Cuba, def. Ghenadie Tulbea, Moldova, 5-0.
Stephen Abas, United States, def. Ghenadie Tulbea, Moldova, 6-1.
Stephen Abas, United States, def. Rene Montero Rosales, Cuba, 4-3.

Group B
Velikov Radoslav, Bulgaria, def. Williams Shaun, South Africa, 13-2,
greater superiority.
Li Zhengyu, China, def. Velikov Radoslav, Bulgaria, 8-6.
Li Zhengyu, China, def. Williams Shaun, South Africa, 5-4.

Group C
Naranbaatar Bayaraa, Mongolia, def. Babak Nourzad, Iran, 6-0.
Babak Nourzad, Iran, def. Kim Hyo-sub, South Korea, 6-4.
Kim Hyo-sub, South Korea, def. Naranbaatar Bayaraa, Mongolia, 4-3.

Group D
Chikara Tanabe, Japan, def. Yogeshwar Dutt, India, 4-3.
Chikara Tanabe, Japan, def. Namig Abdullayev, Azerbaijan, 5-2.
Namig Abdullayev, Azerbaijan, def. Yogeshwar Dutt, India, 6-2.

Group E
Oleksandr Zakharuk, Ukraine, def. Herman Kantoyeu, Belarus, 4-3.
Oleksandr Zakharuk, Ukraine, def. Bauyrzhan Orazgaliyev, Kazakhstan,
3-1.
Herman Kantoyeu, Belarus, def. Bauyrzhan Orazgaliyev, Kazakhstan,
4-1.

Group F
Dilshod Mansurov, Uzbekistan, def. Bashir Ahmad Rahmati, Afghanistan,
11-0, greater superiority.
Mavlet Batirov, Russia, def. Bashir Ahmad Rahmati, Afghanistan, 20-0,
greater superiority.
Mavlet Batirov, Russia, def. Dilshod Mansurov, Uzbekistan, 3-1.

Group G
Amiran Karntanov, Greece, def. O Song Nam, North Korea, 4-3.
Martin Berberyan, Armenia, def. Harun Dogan, Turkey, 5-3.
O Song Nam, North Korea, def. Martin Berberyan, Armenia, 5-2.
Amiran Karntanov, Greece, def. Harun Dogan, Turkey, 10-0, greater
superiority.
O Song Nam, North Korea, def. Harun Dogan, Turkey, Forfeit Injury.
Amiran Karntanov, Greece, def. Martin Berberyan, Armenia, 3-2.

Qualifying
Stephen Abas, United States, def. Li Zhengyu, China, 6-1.
Chikara Tanabe, Japan, def. Kim Hyo Sub, South Korea, 10-0, greater
superiority.
Mavlet Batirov, Russia, def. Oleksandr Zakharuk, Ukraine, 4-0.

66Kg

Group A
Kazuhiko Ikematsu, Japan, def. Fred Jessey, Nigeria, by fall, 1:07.
Baek Ji-kuk, South Korea, def. Fred Jessey, Nigeria, 3-1.
Kazuhiko Ikematsu, Japan, def. Baek Jin-kuk, South Korea, 4-3.

Group B
Leonid Spiridonov, Kazakhstan, def. Evan Macdonald, Canada, 10-7.
Serafim Barzakov, Bulgaria, def. Evan Macdonald, Canada, 11-0,
greater superiority.
Leonid Spiridonov, Kazakhstan, def. Serafim Barzakov, Bulgaria, 5-4.

Group C
Zhirayr Hovhannisyan, Armenia, def. Apostolos Taskoudis, Greece,
12-6.
Apostolos Taskoudis, Greece, def. Ramesh Kumar ., India, 10-8.
Ramesh Kumar ., India, def. Zhirayr Hovhannisyan, Armenia, 3-1.

Group D
Serguei Rondon Pedroso, Cuba, def. Otar Tushishvili, Georgia, 10-0,
greater superiority.
Elbrus Tedeyev, Ukraine, def. Serguei Rondon Pedroso, Cuba, 8-2.
Elbrus Tedeyev, Ukraine, def. Otar Tushishvili, Georgia, Forfeit
Injury.

Group E
Gabor Hatos, Hungary, def. Stefan Fernyak, Slovakia, 3-1.
Omer Cubukci, Turkey, def. Stefan Fernyak, Slovakia, 5-1.
Omer Cubukci, Turkey, def. Gabor Hatos, Hungary, 3-1.

Group F
Makhach Murtazaliev, Russia, def. Artur Tavkazakhov, Uzbekistan, 8-2.
Makhach Murtazaliev, Russia, def. Alireza Dabir, Iran, 4-0.
Artur Tavkazakhov, Uzbekistan, def. Alireza Dabir, Iran, 5-4.

Group G
Jamill Kelly, United States, def. Ruslan Bodisteanu, Moldova, 3-0.
Elman Asgarov, Azerbaijan, def. Ruslan Bodisteanu, Moldova, 7-3.
Jamill Kelly, United States, def. Elman Asgarov, Azerbaijan, 3-2.

Qualifying
Leonid Spiridonov, Kazakhstan, def. Kazuhiko Ikematsu, Japan, 3-2.
Elbrus Tedeyev, Ukraine, def. Apostolos Taskoudis, Greece, 6-2.
Makhach Murtazaliev, Russia, def. Omer Cubukci, Turkey, 6-0.

84Kg
Group A
Majid Khodaei, Iran, def. Anuj Kumar, India, 5-1.
Majid Khodaei, Iran, def. Hidekazu Yokoyama, Japan, 8-1.
Hidekazu Yokoyama, Japan, def. Anuj Kumar, India, 11-5.

Group B
Siarhei Borchanka, Belarus, def. Magomed Kurugliyev, Kazakhstan, 2-1.
Cael Sanderson, United States, def. Magomed Kurugliyev, Kazakhstan,
4-2.
Cael Sanderson, United States, def. Siarhei Borchanka, Belarus, 9-1.

Group C
Lazaros Loizidis, Greece, def. Revaz Mindorashvili, Georgia, 3-1.
Revaz Mindorashvili, Georgia, def. Akesse Vincent Aka, France, 3-0.
Lazaros Loizidis, Greece, def. Akesse Vincent Aka, France, 3-0.

Group D
Davyd Bichinashvili, Germany, def. Jeffrey Cobb, Guam, 10-0, greater
superiority.
Yoel Romero Palacios, Cuba, def. Jeffrey Cobb, Guam, 10-0, greater
superiority.
Yoel Romero Palacios, Cuba, def. Davyd Bichinashvili, Germany, 3-0.

Group E
Taras Danko, Ukraine, def. Mamed Agaev, Armenia, DSQ (Tournament).
Taras Danko, Ukraine, def. Gokhan Yavaser, Turkey, 6-0.
Gokhan Yavaser, Turkey, def. Mamed Agaev, Armenia, DSQ (Tournament).

Group F
Moon Eui Jae, South Korea, def. Mogamed Ibragimov, Macedonia, 4-0.
Gochev Miroslav, Bulgaria, def. Mogamed Ibragimov, Macedonia, 4-2.
Moon Eui Jae, South Korea, def. Gochev Miroslav, Bulgaria, 8-3.

Group G
Sazhid Sazhidov, Russia, def. Matar Sene, Senegal, 17-0, greater
superiority.
Shamil Aliev, Tajikistan, def. Nicolae Ghita, Romania, 4-3.
Sazhid Sazhidov, Russia, def. Nicolae Ghita, Romania, by fall, 2:21.
Shamil Aliev, Tajikistan, def. Matar Sene, Senegal, 6-3.
Sazhid Sazhidov, Russia, def. Shamil Aliev, Tajikistan, 5-0.
Nicolae Ghita, Romania, def. Matar Sene, Senegal, 11-3.

Qualifying
Cael Sanderson, Salt Lake City, def. Majid Khodaei, Iran, 6-5.
Yoel Romero Palacios, Cuba, def. Lazaros Loizidis, Greece, 3-1.
Moon Eui Jae, South Korea, def. Taras Danko, Ukraine, 3-1.

120Kg

Group A
Artur Taymazov, Uzbekistan, def. Marek Garmulewicz, Poland, 10-0,
greater superiority.
Artur Taymazov, Uzbekistan, def. Palwinder Singh Cheema, India, 10-0,
greater superiority.
Marek Garmulewicz, Poland, def. Palwinder Singh Cheema, India, 6-4.

Group B
Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, def. Otto Aubeli, Hungary, 6-0.
Alex Modebadze, Georgia, def. Otto Aubeli, Hungary, 5-0.
Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia, def. Alex Modebadze, Georgia, 5-0.

Group C
Alexis Rodriguez Varela, Cuba, def. Nestoras Batzelas, Greece, 10-0,
greater superiority.
Alexis Rodriguez Varela, Cuba, def. Serhii Priadun, Ukraine, 8-0.
Nestoras Batzelas, Greece, def. Serhii Priadun, Ukraine, 5-0.

Group D
Sven Thiele, Germany, def. Rares Daniel Chintoan, Romania, 4-0.
Aydin Polatci, Turkey, def. Rares Daniel Chintoan, Romania, by fall,
3:19.
Aydin Polatci, Turkey, def. Sven Thiele, Germany, 5-1.

Group E
Kerry McCoy, United States, def. Francesco Miano Petta, Italy, 7-0.
Marid Mutalimov, Kazakhstan, def. Yury Mildzihov, Kyrgyzstan, 3-2.
Marid Mutalimov, Kazakhstan, def. Francesco Miano Petta, Italy, 3-0.
Kerry McCoy, United States, def. Yury Mildzihov, Kyrgyzstan, 4-0.
Francesco Miano Petta, Italy, def. Yury Mildzihov, Kyrgyzstan,
Forfeit Injury.
Marid Mutalimov, Kazakhstan, def. Kerry McCoy, United States, 4-1.

Group F
Alireza Rezaei, Iran, def. Bozhidar Boyadzhiev, Bulgaria, 5-0.
Usukhbayar Gelegjamts, Mongolia, def. Barys Hrynkevich, Belarus, 6-0.
Alireza Rezaei, Iran, def. Usukhbayar Gelegjamts, Mongolia, 3-0.
Bozhidar Boyadzhiev, Bulgaria, def. Barys Hrynkevich, Belarus, 5-1.
Alireza Rezaei, Iran, def. Barys Hrynkevich, Belarus, 7-0.
Bozhidar Boyadzhiev, Bulgaria, def. Usukhbayar Gelegjamts, Mongolia,
3-0.

Qualifying
Artur Taymazov, Uzbekistan, def. Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov, Russia,
7-3.
Aydin Polatci, Turkey, def. Alexis Rodriguez Varela, Cuba, 3-1.

Azg Armenian Daily
Aug 28 2004

GERMAN AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT TO STIR UP OPPOSITION

THE MUSA DAGH TRAGEDY ON THE CNN

ARMENIAN-CHINESE MILITARY COOPERATION

ARTSAKH FACING A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

MASONRY IS A BROTHERHOOD

*********************************************************************

GERMAN AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT TO STIR UP OPPOSITION

Turkish Ruling “Justice and Progress” Party to Respond

At his meeting with Kars deputy mayor Israfil Chakaz on August 24 the
German ambassador Wolf Ruthard Born declared: “As far as I know the
Armenian constitution views Kars and the surrounding territories as
Armenian. The border-gate opening presupposes a resolution in
Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. If Azerbaijan gives up Karabakh then
the border-gate will open.”

The August 25 publication of Turkish Dyunden Bugyue Terjuman
newspaper was the source of this information. The Azg Daily’s
yesterday’s online edition informed readers that the Turkish
newspaper’s information was not checked out. In other words, no other
Turkish newspaper referred to the ambassador’s statement made in
Kars.

But another Turkish newspaper, the Nethaber, touches upon the issue
in its August 26 issue. The paper writes that Eyup Fatsan, deputy of
the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the Mejlis, fiercely opposed to
Mr. Born’s statement. Eyup Fatsan is a deputy president of the ruling
“Justice and Progress” party.

According to the online edition of the Nethaber, the deputy stopped
in Samsun on his way from Ankara to his birthplace Ordu. Here the
deputy responded to Mr. Born’s words that “Armenian constitution
views Kars as Armenian” by calling them “nonsense”. Mr. Fatsan
emphasized that the Republic of Turkey will not allow anyone to
manipulate with the Turkish territories.

Mr. Fatsan goes on saying: “The issues of Turkey’s territorial
wholeness are being often used by France and the USA to reach some
goals in Turkey itself. The Armenians of Turkey belong to the upper
class. Therefore they refute any statement of this kind and any
groundless claim. No matter to whom these words belong, to a German
ambassador or to someone else, they are of no value”.

The Turkish deputy rounds off alluding to Nazi Germany: “I think the
ambassador’s statement expresses his longing for the past. His view
has nothing to do with the views of today’s Germany”.

By Hakob Chakrian

*********************************************************************

THE MUSA DAGH TRAGEDY ON THE CNN

“There Were 2 Million Armenians in Turkey but After War They Reduced
to 100 Thousand”

“Most of the Armenians living in Ottoman Turkey were deported and
killed during the World War I. There was only one village that didn’t
share the destiny of all others”. With these words the CNN’s Inside
the Middle East heading opened its “Armenian’s are back to Turkey”
program.

“The head of the village Perch Kartun don’t know those who he is
kissing but they all are Armenian Christians and came to the village
of Vakf from all over the world”, while the journalist was telling
the story of the only Turkish village spared by the Genocide the
views of Musa Dagh (the Mount of Moses), the church of the village
and the Holy Liturgy were on the screen.

“My name is Betty, I came from Paris”, says the young Armenian whose
parents fled the massacres and found refuge in Paris.

“I am from Los Angeles, my surname is Karapetian”, an old Armenian
says.

“My grandfathers lived in this land. I came to see this land”,
another Armenian says. “They came to pay tribute to thousands of
Armenians who were deported from Turkey at the beginning of the last
century”, the CNN reporter says.

Mesrop Mutafian is the Armenian patriarch of Turkey. “When this
region became a part of Turkey, population here changed. Many Turks
and Muslims came to Hatay and many Armenians left Hatay for Syria and
Lebanon”, the patriarch explains.

“There were 2 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, and after the WW I
was over there remained only 100 of them”, the CNN reporter adds to
the words of patriarch.

The population of six villages of Musa Dagh took refuge in the
mountains in 1915 and was throwing back the Turks’ attacks for 53
days till the French navy came to help. The French and British ships
saved the lives of more than 4.000 Armenians and took them to Port
Said, Egypt. After the war the Musa Dagh and Hatay (Alexandret)
became a part of French-ruled Syria. In 1939 Hatay was returned to
Turkey. The Armenians of Egypt had by the year of 1939 been back to
their homeland. But when the region became a part of Turkey Armenians
from 5 Musa Dagh villages, 5.000 overall, again left their houses
this time for Aynchar, Lebanon.

The Armenian Vakf village, Turkish Vakifl Koyu, is on the Southern
slope of the Musa Dagh looking at the Mediterranean and the Syrian
coast. There are 150 Armenians living in the village. There is a
mosque not far from the village. “This mosque once was a church and
the village was a Christian one”, tells the CNN reporter and adds,
“Armenian culture here is in danger. The last 150 Armenians of the
village are old, the youth departs for city”.

By Tatoul Hakobian

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN-CHINESE MILITARY COOPERATION

On August 26 the Defense Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargisian hosted
the delegation headed by General Major Zian Lichua, deputy chairman
of the Administration for Foreign Relations of the Defense Ministry
of China and the Chinese ambassador to Armenia Tzo Syuelyan.

Underscoring one more time that Armenia and China are sister
countries, the sides discussed issues of military cooperation.
Relations in this field between the two countries are developing.
Today Armenia has 10 graduates of Chinese military educational
centers, the Chinese government is ready to discuss the issue of
providing more places to Armenian servicemen in their educational
establishments.

The Defense Minister of Armenia said that the Armenian-Chinese
relations have reached a point where more bilateral meetings are
needed. The Armenian president’s September visit to Peking will be a
new impulse for these relations.

By the end of the meeting Serzh Sargisian congratulated the Chinese
delegation for the national teams brilliant performance at the
Olympic games in Athens.

*********************************************************************

ARTSAKH FACING A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Slava Asrian, of the Nagorno Karabakh Education, Culture and Sport
Ministry, assures that Artsakh is ready for the new academical year.
Many schools were repaired and textbooks acquired.

By the efforts of the pan-Armenian “Hayastan” fund, the US
Establishment for Armenian Education and a French NGO many schools in
Martakert, Hadrut, Askeran and Martuni have been repaired. Another
school is being repaired in Stepanakert by the support of Luis Simon
Manukian.

Mr. Asrian says that there are still many schools in ruins in the
country. The Ministry is working on a project of school repairing and
preserving.

The government of Karabakh allocated 57 million AMD for school
property last year but the schools are still in need. The schools
feel acute shortage of desks, and the Ministry takes steps to fill up
the gap.

In comparison with past years the schools are more equipped with PCs.
Mr. Asrian noted that all schools of the republic have PCs and that
they look forward to connecting to the Internet.

Concerning the textbooks, we were said that all the necessary
textbooks published by the Republic of Armenia are acquired.

Teacher shortage is only noticeable in the bordering areas.

The new academical year will bring a new subject to Karabakh schools,
the history of Armenian Church. The Artsakh Diocese is to provide the
schools with appropriate textbooks.

By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert

*********************************************************************

MASONRY IS A BROTHERHOOD

In response to the article titled “Hidden Secrets of Masonry” posted
on August 26 edition, Azg Daily received Tim Bryce’s, editor of the
FREEMASONRY, letter. Below we present Mr. Bryce’s letter.

“I just finished reading your article on “Hidden Secrets of Masonry”
by Dr. Cathy Burns. This is, of course a sham, and does not
accurately portray Freemasonry.

The Masons are neither a religion nor a cult. Yes, we ask men if they
believe in a Supreme Being, but this is more or less a litmus test to
see if the person is of good moral character (an atheist cannot
become a Mason). You will find men of all religious denominations in
Masonry.

In my Lodge alone I know Christians, Jews, and Muslims, all
peacefully getting along and enjoying Brotherhood. Under no
circumstances do we try to force our religious beliefs on another. It
is just not what Freemasonry is about. It is just Brotherhood.

If more people practiced Freemasonry it would lead to world peace,
something our zealot opponents simply do not understand.

Sincerely, Tim Bryce, Editor, FREEMASONRY for The Next Generation
Palm Harbor, FL, USA”

ARKA News Agency
Aug 27 2004

Armenian PM welcomes participants to Pan-Armenian Educational Forum

Armenian PM and Danish Foreign Minister discuss modern status of
bilateral relations

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN PM WELCOMES PARTICIPANTS TO PAN-ARMENIAN EDUCATIONAL FORUM

YEREVAN, August 27. /ARKA/. The Armenian PM Andranik Margarian
welcomed the participants to the Pan-Armenian Education Forum. As the
Armenian Government Public and Press Relations Department told ARKA,
in his welcome speech the Head of the Armenian Government mentioned
that during the recent years consecutive steps are being undertaken
in organization of Pan-Armenian cultural, business forums and
assemblies `that are called to consolidate new potential of maximal
support of prosperity of our state and strengthening of
Armenian-Diaspora relations’. In this relation, the Head of the
Armenian Government attached a great importance to holding of
educational forum in the country, expressing confidence that it will
give a deep analyses and evaluation of educational reforms in the
country and there will be held relevant discussions, devoted to
cultural and educational life of the Diaspora. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN PM AND DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS MODERN STATUS OF
BILATERAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, August 27. /ARKA/. The Armenian PM Andranik Margarian and
the Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig M?ller discussed the modern
status of the bilateral relations between two countries. As the
Armenian Government Public and Press Relations Department told ARKA,
during the meeting the sides mentioned necessity of development of
economic relations as well as political cooperation between two
states. In Margarian’s words, mutual visits, the first among which is
the Danish Foreign Minister’s visit can promote this in considerable
extent.
As it is mentioned in the press release, the parties also touched
upon the issue of the EU-Armenia relations. At that, the Danish
Foreign Minister reporting that Denmark is going to become the Member
of the EU Security Council, asked the Head of the Armenian Government
to present its position around eurointegration processes in Armenia
and the regional development. In Margarian’s opinion, appointment of
EU Special Representative in South Caucasus witnesses on the EU’s
increasing interest toward the region. In his words, the June’s
decree of the EU’s summit on inclusion of the South Caucasus states
in the European Neighborhood program is targeted at that. Stressing
the importance of establishing long-term peace and preservation of
the stability in the region, Margarian presented Armenia’s position
toward today’s status and Armenia’s relations with its neighbors.
Touching upon the EU’s cooperation related to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement issue, the Armenian PM once more confirmed the
Armenian Government’s position that the issue should be settled
peacefully and the OSCE Minsk Group support is aimed at this. In his
opinion, implementation of `Enlarged Europe. New European
Neighborhood’ program will be a new stimulus for solution of the
Nagorno Karbakh as well as other regional conflicts.
Margarian also mentioned that the EU-Armenia relations development
promotes also the development of bilateral, mutually profitable,
Armenian-Danish economic relations. At that the priority sphere of
bilateral economic cooperation, in the Armenian PM’s opinion can be
energy sector. In this regard he attached importance to the use of
the Danish experience in creation of alternative sources of energy.
T.M. -0–

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
August 27, 2004, Friday

BUSH’S TWO-ELEMENT STRATEGY

SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, August 26, 2004, p. 5

by Alexei Bogaturov

Four key circumstances define the international environment in which
the United States is planning another round of reforms to the
security structure of the Old World. Firstly, in light of Mideast
events, American politicians have started tacitly acknowledging that
there are some fundamental contradictions between the United States
and the Arab-Muslim world, and they have become afraid of being
dependent on the Arab-Muslim world. Secondly, US economic security
priorities have required a partial shift in energy consumption
towards deliveries from the depths of Eurasia: the Trans-Caspian
region and Russia. Thirdly, Russia’s influence over the global energy
situation has increased; at the same time, Russia has moved to a more
active foreign policy and defense policy. Fourthly, American views of
real threats to US security are decreasing their focus on the
possibility of conflicts in East-Central Europe.

The Americans have realized the inadequacy of the “expanding
democracy” strategy formulated back in 1993. That strategy is based
on “new democracies” arising in place of the erstwhile socialist
bloc: from Hungary and the Czech Republic in the west to Russia and
Kazakhstan in the east. None of these “newly democratic” nations,
save for Belarus, is opposing the West; almost all of them are saying
they want a closer relationship with the West. All the same, the
orientation towards the United States and the European Union is not
absolute for all these countries – only for the Eastern European
countries along the border of the former USSR, and the Baltic states.

Ukraine is acting more cautiously. It periodically declares (as it
recently did) that striving for friendship with the US and the EU is
equally important for Kiev as the wish to cooperate with Russia.
Although such avowals should not be believed without reservation,
it’s still good to see that Ukraine’s leaders have enough common
sense to moderate their pro-Western gestures to a reasonable level,
given the importance of Ukraine’s proximity to Russia and its degree
of economic dependence on Russia. Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
are maneuvering in a similar way (though not as successfully as
Ukraine). The nations of Central Asia are even more inclined to
emphasize the diversity of their foreign policy orientations; they
say that China is important for them, as well as Russia. Moscow
itself also speaks of a multilateral foreign policy. Although
relations with the US (and the EU) essentially play a determining
role for Russia, there is no reason to underestimate the “China
direction.”

In theory, the countries of Central Asia have always had multilateral
foreign policies. But while Russia was mired in its economic crisis
and shaken by the threat of separatism everywhere (in the Yeltsin
era), no one took the “Russia factor” seriously. Although everyone
expected a “Russian revival,” in principle, no one thought it would
happen soon, nor that it would be due to oil – it’s the oil factor
that enables Russia to act on the advantages of its unique position
as a “nuclear oil state.”

These shifts are taking place at an unfavorable time for the US
administration: the war in Iraq isn’t going well for the Americans,
and in domestic politics the Democrats are trying to paint the Bush
administration’s actions in the murkiest possible tones. It would
seem that this is no time for the American president to ponder global
strategy prospects. That makes it all the more remarkable that he is
thinking about them.

The redeployment of American bases and troops abroad is the second
stage (after the democratization of Eastern Europe, and NATO’s
eastward expansion) of a great reconstruction of the system of
America’s political-strategic presence in Eurasia.

Moreover, an important new element has appeared in America’s
strategy. The strategy is ceasing to be anti-Russian in the
traditional sense; it is losing its overt orientation against Russian
interests. Over the past 15 years – despite all the confrontations,
reciprocal grievances, and irritations – Russia and the United States
have made so much progress towards building the foundations of
partnership that the American elite has started to view relations
with Moscow in in a context that’s not so much about renewed
confrontation as it’s about opportunities for cooperation with Russia
– even if this is on terms primarily favorable for Washington. The
intention of the United States to firmly establish itself along the
Ukraine-Georgia-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan belt does not seem
like a simple act of squeezing Russia out of its traditional
influence zone, but the first element in a sophisticated two-element
strategy, with the second element being the conflict-free (though not
problem-free) integration of Russia into the developing system of US
interests in this part of the world.

Both major parts of the American elite are inclined to pursue
partnership with Moscow. This attitude is based on the intention to
use the positional and other advantages of Russia to serve American
interests in the region of Central Eurasia – which the United States
has started to view as a key region for itself. Washington’s actions
combine pressure with invitations to cooperate: Anglo-Saxon
“bargaining ethics.” So we need to maintain our composure and be
persistent in this bargaining process. And it seems to me that this
is what Russian diplomats are preparing to do, regardless of who wins
this November’s election in the United States.

Translated by Sergey Kolosov

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 27, 2004 Friday 1:00 PM Eastern Time

EU should assist Armenia-Turkey normalization – foreign minister

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

The European Union should play a role in the normalization of
relations between Armenia and Turkey, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanyan said at a joint briefing with Danish counterpart Per
Stig Moller on Friday. Armenia is a leg of Moller’s South Caucasian
tour.

EU member countries, including Denmark, can also make a contribution
to better relations between Armenia and Turkey, Oskanyan said. If
Turkey has equal relations with all countries of the South Caucasus,
it will play a special role in the region because it is the only NATO
country bordering on Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and the only
regional state, which enjoys the official status of candidate to the
EU, he said.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 27, 2004 Friday 12:06 PM Eastern Time

Danish foreign minister celebrates birthday in Yerevan

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeler celebrated his birthday in
Yerevan Friday where he arrived during his Caucasian tour.

This tour is caused by growing interest of the European Union to the
countries of this region, the Danish minister said at a meeting with
his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan. Praising highly the
potential of economic development of the South Caucasus the minister
came out in favour of forming normal relations in the region. He
cited the settlement of relations between Denmark and Germany as an
example of positive experience.

At the meeting with the Danish minister Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan called energy a promising trend of economic
cooperation with Denmark. He stressed the importance of using
Denmark’s experience for creating alternative sources of electricity
that Armenia is badly in need of.

According to the premier, the appointment of the EU special envoy on
the South Caucasus testifies to the EU growing interest in the
region. In his view, the implementation of the initiative Enlarging
Europe: new neighbours will give a fresh impetus to the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict and other conflicts.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 27, 2004, Friday

PLAYING MANEUVERS

SOURCE: Kommersant, August 24, 2004, p. 10

by Vadim Tokhsyrov, Ivan Safronov

Maneuvers of the 58th Army began at the testing site Sernovodsky in
South Ossetia, yesterday.

Over 2,000 servicemen and 100 armored vehicles will spend five days
drilling combat tactic under Army Commander Lieutenant General Viktor
Sobolev. Shooting practice is planned too. The 429th and 135th
motorized infantry regiments quartered in Mozdok (North Ossetia) and
Prokhladnoye (Kabardino-Balkaria) are involved in the exercise. A
source from the 58th Army headquarters says that this is the first
exercise on this scale in the region this year. The source emphasized
that the maneuvers “are planned and do not have anything to do with
what is happening in South Ossetia.”

All the same, Tbilisi immediately voiced its concern. Givi
Targamadze, Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the
parliament of Georgia, said that if the Russian military moved in the
direction of the territory of Georgia, “Tbilisi will take measures to
protect the state borders.” Defense Minister Georgy Baramidze called
the exercise an example of non-constructive policy of Russia with
regard to Georgia. The Russian military meanwhile denies any
political undertones in the exercise. Colonel Vyacheslav Sedov of the
Defense Ministry’s PR Department said, “Regimental exercise of the
58th Army cannot have any negative effect on the situation in South
Ossetia because they do not have anything to do with the events
around Tskhinvali.” According to Sedov, the exercise was planned last
year. “I cannot say for Georgia – it may be taking it as an exercise
on a large scale. For Russia, however, it is a routine,” he said.

Yesterday, Moscow had its peacekeepers in Georgia begin an exercise.
The exercise of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Contingent under
Lieutenant General Alexander Yevteev (a planned exercise, that is),
began in West Georgia and Abkhazia, districts of the North and South
security zones. According to what information this newspaper has
compiled, the involved units and formations will drill the process of
bringing up the readiness status, marches to the positions in zones
of responsibility, and prevention of armed clashes. Sources in the
Defense Ministry say as well that peacekeepers will practice
fulfillment of provisions of the mandate of the CIS Collective
Peacekeeping Contingent and Moscow Accord on cease-fire dated May 14,
1994.

“Activeness in maneuvers” of the Russian Armed Forces is not going to
be restricted by that. A command exercise under District
Chief-of-Staff Colonel General Aleksei Maslov begins today on the
Caucasus Military District. 5.5 thousand Reservists are to be
deployed. The Russian-Armenian exercise begins at the testing site
named after Marshal Bagramjan in Armenia. They involve two motorized
infantry regiments (one Russian from the 102nd Military Base in
Gyumri, one Armenian) and aviation – MIG-29 fighters and SU-25
ground-attack aircraft.

It should be noted as well the Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov who
visited Mozdok last week said that “the conflict in South Ossetia
will deteriorate unless the conflict itself is settled by political
and diplomatic methods.” There is no way to say at this point to
which of these methods Russia’s activeness in the Caucasus should be
referred, the activeness that will keep Georgia in the ring of
military exercises for at least a week.