LA Times
Aug 20 2004

8 Held Near U.S. Border on Document Charges

Times Wire Reports

Eight people from Armenia, Iran and Iraq were detained near the U.S.
border on charges that they might have entered Mexico with false
documents, authorities said.

Federal agents and officials staged a raid of the Hotel Continental
Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, Calif., forcing everyone
inside to prove they were in Mexico legally.

The six men and two women were carrying documents that may have been
false.

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Pasadena Star-News, CA
Aug 20 2004

Martirosian bows out to Cuban veteran

Of course, it had to be a Cuban.

That’s the way it’s gone more often than not for the U.S. boxing team
in recent Olympics. Some Cuban fighting gray at the temples schooling
some U.S. boxer fresh from earning his learner’s permit.

The boxing program on that little tropical island remains one of the
hottest in the world. The once great amateur program in the U.S.,
cold as ice.

Since the 1988 Olympics the U.S. has won a grand total of two boxing
gold medals. Meanwhile, Cuba brought home 13.

Nothing is expected to change here. Cuba is favored to advance six
boxers to the finals and the U.S. maybe one.

So it came Thursday afternoon that the USA’s Vanes Martirosian drew
Cuba’s Lorenzo Aragon in his second-round match.

Aragon owns cigars older than Martirosian. He’s 30 and has won two
world championships. One more serious Cuban boxing veteran.

Understand, in Cuba they don’t turn pro. Their best boxers just keep
appearing at Olympics and world championships. They get better and
better until deemed too old and replaced by the next 28-year-old
rookie.

Fidel Castro may be on his last legs, communism crumbling, the Cuban
economy in shambles, but the country’s boxing remains a regular world
leader.

On the surface, Thursday offered the biggest of mismatches. A few
months ago, no one in the U.S. even knew Martirosian. He was 17 years
old and ranked 14th nationally at 152 pounds when he went to trials.

But with two of the top boxers in his weight class disqualified Andre
Berto for throwing Juan McPherson to the ground, forcing McPherson
out with an injury Martirosian turned it on and stunned just about
everyone by winning the welterweight class.

Martirosian was born in Armenia and came to the U.S. at age 4 with
his family. He’s now the pride of Glendale’s swelling Armenian
community, but all logic pointed to his being outclassed against
Aragon.

Martirosian entered the ring first. You figured his knees might be
shaking. He won his first Olympic bout against Algeria’s Benamar
Meskine, but Aragon was a whole other level.

“I wasn’t nervous,’ Martirosian said. “I just love boxing so much, I
can’t wait to get into the ring.’

Martirosian talks about boxing with the kind of enthusiasm most
teenagers reserve for PlayStation 2. And he clearly was not afraid of
the veteran.

But Aragon is a serious veteran, and looked it. Apparently the judges
thought so, too.

He scored early and often with punches that barely seem to graze the
kid. He’d tie Martirosian up, then stick his arms out straight like
it was the kid holding him.

Several times Martirosian was warned by the official from Lestho (a
small South African country) not to hold.

“He was holding and I was getting called for it,’ Martirosian said.
“It was frustrating. He was trying to get into my head, but I stuck
to my game plan.’

He had fought and lost to Aragon once before in May, starting well
but getting a little too excited and allowing the Cuban to score
easily with jabs.

This time out, it went the other way. In the electronic scoring
system in the Olympics, a point is scored for each blow landed,
regardless of its power.

Aragon jumped to a quick 8-2 lead after the first round. Martirosian
scored the first two points of the second, and Aragon the last six.

A 14-4 lead is huge in this four- round format. Still, Martirosian
kept up the pressure and actually won the next round 4-3 and split
the final round.

That ended his dreams of gold, the Cuban advancing with a 20-11
victory.

“I thought he scored more points than he did,’ said U.S. coach
Basheer Aboullah.

“I wanted that one. I thought if he beat the Cuban we could really
build some momentum for the rest of the tournament.’

Aragon, the 2003 and 2001 world champion, acted like it was so much
in a day’s work. At least a Cuban boxer’s work.

“We Cubans are always optimistic because we are the best team,’
Aragon said. “We aim at getting gold at all 11 weight classes.’

Martirosian made Aragon look like a very beatable fighter. He landed
the hardest blow of the bout, staggering Aragon with a right. But the
official warned him for slapping. Must have been some slap.

“He showed me a lot of respect this time,’ Martirosian said. “He knew
I hit hard. I caught him good in the first round.’

Now he gets to play cheerleader for his surviving U.S. teammates.
Typically, boxers use the Olympics as a springboard to a pro career,
but Martirosian now 18 isn’t so sure.

“I’m still young,’ he said. “I’m still going to get better. He’s 30
years old. You might see me in 2008, who knows?

“To me, it’s not about the money. I just love amateur boxing.’

The pros do offer one major advantage, though. No Cubans.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Aug 20 2004

Schiff meets with U.S. troops in Iraq
Congressman is in delegation touring war zones, meeting with
soldiers and political leaders

By Jackson Bell, News-Press

GLENDALE – Iraq is worse off than the last time Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-Glendale) visited it a year ago, but he believes the country’s new
prime minister will stabilize the struggling new democracy.

Schiff, traveling with four other members of Congress, left for Iraq
on Tuesday and met with Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to discuss the
leader’s vision for his country. Schiff also met with troops from
various California cities, including La Crescenta, Montrose and
Pasadena.

“I want to make sure that the money we appropriated in Congress [for
troops] is getting to its intended destination, and see if there is
anything they need that they aren’t getting,” Schiff said Thursday
afternoon in a telephone interview from Jordan. “And to be here on
the ground to get a firsthand sense of what is happening here that is
not filtered through the Pentagon.”

Schiff strongly supports Allawi and believes the prime minister has a
“sober” understanding of what it will take to successfully lead a
democracy, especially when dealing with increased terrorism and
neighboring Iran.

But Schiff has seen changes for the worse in Iraq since he visited
last summer.

“Security continues to deteriorate since I was last here,” he said.
“The violence is more widespread and difficult to confront, and is
impeding the reconstruction.”

Schiff added that mortar was fired about 500 yards from a helicopter
he was riding in.

Regardless, he found “pretty good” morale among the troops he spoke
with, even in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and a report
implicating about two dozen soldiers and civilian contractors.

“I think a great many of them feel betrayed, but it’s the soldier’s
ethic to move on to the next challenge,” Schiff said.

“What I found on this trip – which is similar to my last trip – is
that morale is highly dependent on [soldiers] individually knowing
when they are coming home,” he added. “Those who have a date can get
through just about anything. It’s harder without a date. That’s why
it’s so important to meet our commitment to the troops when telling
them when they are going home.”

Spirits were also lifted when Schiff handed out cards, posters and
banners made by local children from such organizations as the
Armenian National Committee’s Western Region, New Horizons Family
Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank.

Schiff and the delegates will also travel to Afghanistan and
Pakistan, where he will visit more troops and meet with other foreign
leaders, including Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. But
because of security concerns, Schiff cannot say exactly where he is
going next or when he will leave.

Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 20 2004

Aliev threatens military force

According to the newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli, the Azeri President shares
the decisive ambition of Mikheil Saakashvili to restore the
territorial integrity of the country. Ilham Aliev expressed his
readiness to return Nagorno-Karabakh through military force if
necessary, if it cannot be restored through peaceful means.
Such a strong statement provoked a tour of the Caucasus by the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann, Yuri Merzliakov and
Anri Jakolen. Merzliakov stated that Karabakh and occupied lands are
different things, which was seen in Azerbaijan as an attempt of the
Minsk co-chairmen to force their variant of the peace agreement on
Baku, while maintaining Yerevan’s interests. “This time, the
interests of the United States, Russia and France – which form the
Minsk Group – coincided,” stated supporters of Heydar Aliev.
At first sight, such opinion sounds very strange: neither France nor
the United States were fierce supporters of the “young country which
is trying to achieve international recognition,” as the
Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes itself.
Though, it will not impede the American strategists from testing the
Russian-Armenian tandem for solidity. The United States’ Congress has
adopted a decree which approves equal sums of military-financial
assistance for Azerbaijan and Armenia. While Baku would have hoped
earlier for around USD 8 million, Yerevan should have been satisfied
with only USD 2 million. Now both states will replenish their budget
with USD 5 million. The same amount of money is decided to be
allotted as humanitarian aid to Karabakh as well. Moreover,
congressmen supported an initiative to give Armenia USD 65 million
next year.
From: Baghdasarian

Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 20 2004

Postcards from the boardwalk
Kobuleti attracts more and more tourists, but not everybody is happy

By Anna Arzanova

KOBULETI – The number of holiday-makers from across Georgia, as well
as other countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia, flooding to the
Black Sea resort of Kobuleti is on the increase.

Immediately after Aslan Abashidze fled the region, the new government
promoted the region has the new economic wellspring, encouraging
investment, government reform and most of all tourism.

Three months after Abashidze’s ousting, residents see improvements
like new roads and new busses, but also complain of increased crime
and favoritism by the new ruling party. The Messenger joined this
summer’s holiday-makers in Kobuleti to find out more.

Kobuleti resident Gela Verulidze has mixed opinions about the changes
that have taken place since Abashidze’s departure. Every year the
number of tourists is increasing, he says, and this year there were
record numbers.

But he regrets “there are no foreigners,” and suggests this could be
because the sea-side is very dirty and there is a lack of facilities.
“It certainly needs a make-over,” he says.

Although he sees some improvements, he says that today there is more
garbage, and more crime. “There was more cleanliness and less crime
during Abashidze’s period. But now there are more robberies in
Adjara. For example, three cars were stolen recently in Kobuleti.
Such thefts never took place in Kobuleti before.”

Verulidze also complains that the change of government had not
generated jobs. “After Saakashvili came to power many people remained
unemployed. You need to be a member of the National Movement in order
to find work. Otherwise you will have no way out,” Verulidze says.

Restaurants are doing very well this season and have a very large
turnover. “They are earning so much money that the owners can get by
during the whole year until another season comes,” Verulidze says.

Other positive changes include the fact that after Saakashvili became
president, such problems as the lack of electricity and lack of water
were solved. Verulidze also noted that after the Rose Revolution the
new government paved the roads in Kobuleti with asphalt and
rehabilitated the park very well. “There is no problem with
transportation in the region, and the buses are reliable and very
cheap,” he says.

However, Verulidze believes that since the May revolution many people
have been wrongfully arrested. “There are very serious repressions
taking place in Kobuleti,” he claims. “Many people have been detained
here, especially members of the Revival Party.”

Nevertheless, Verulidze expresses his hope for the future, which he
says is shared by all Kobuleti residents. “Everybody here really has
hope of Mikheil Saakashvili and we think that he will look after us
as well as the region. We want the old buildings to be repaired and
Kobuleti to become more clean and tidy and to be put in order,”
stated Verulidze.

Hamaiak Aguzumtsian came to Kobuleti from Armenia where he is USAID’s
advisor in social issues. Asked how why he chose to come to Kobuleti
rather than a resort in Turkey, Greece or elsewhere, he says that one
of the reasons is the ease with which his family can travel to
Kobuleti.

“We cross the Georgian-Armenian border without any problem. We pay
nothing there. The authorities have never sought to take money from
us at the border, either before or after the change of government.
Anyway, we travel very well,” Aguzumtsian says.

Aguzumtsian believes that the situation in Adjara has improved. He
remembered that when they were in Kobuleti the last time, they were
traveling by car, and when the policemen saw the car with Armenian
numbers, they stopped them every 5 minutes and demanded bribes.

Aguzumtsian sees changes for the better in Kobuleti. He also noted
the fact that the flow of the tourists from Armenia has increased
this year. “Many people from Yerevan go to Batumi and Kobuleti. Here
is one plus why the people want to arrive here. A round-trip ticket
cost about USD 50-60 and this of course stimulates people to come
here, instead of other places such as Russia and foreign countries.
It is more expensive for us to go to another country for our
holiday,” Aguzumtsian stated.

Aguzumtsian and his family are in Kobuleti for the second time and
they like the people there. “The people are very friendly in Kobuleti
and the attitude toward Armenian people here is also very good. The
prices here are reasonable as well,” explained Aguzumtsian.

He said that it is more expensive to stay in Yerevan cost then to
have a holiday in Kobuleti. “In Kobuleti we eat in cafes or in
restaurants and we spend USD 600-700 on average during ten days,
including our travel at both ends.”

Aguzumtsian said that they can have a cheap holiday in Yerevan as
well, but there is no sea. There is only lake Sevan, which is too
cold. “We also like very much the park here. It is free of charge,
and is very beautiful. There is good entertainment and it is very
clean and bright. We did not notice such things earlier.”

“But what we do not like is that the beach and sea-side are dirty and
at night it is very dark and there are few facilities. Also, you have
to pay to enter changing-rooms and shower rooms,” he complained.

Aguzumtsian expressed his hope that the current government will solve
this problem in the future. He said that they have a better holiday
in Kobuleti for the money than they would in Yerevan, and what’s
more, but they prefer the sea. “We can say that the situation in
Kobuleti has improved,” he concluded.

In contrast, a tourist from Tbilisi Nana Butikashvili expressed her
dissatisfaction with the situation in Kobuleti. She has been
vacationing in Kobuleti for more than 5 years now and said that,
apart from the fact there are many more tourists this year, she sees
no serious changes in Kobuleti. She only goes, she says, because she
wants to go to the sea, and there is no other choice.

Policemen continue to stop cars with non-Adjaran number plates,
Butikashvili complains. And as for the environmental situation in the
region, she thinks that nothing has improved. “Instead of buying
parks and territories in Kobuleti, it would be better if
Patarkatsishvili set dustbins in Kobuleti. They must put in order the
sea-side and beach and create the best possible conditions for the
people,” Butikashvili says.

She is hopeful, though, that the situation may improve. “We have the
hope that everything will be done in Georgia for the people’s
welfare. Those who want to do something for Kobuleti as well as for
Georgia should not do it for their business but with the aim of
charity. In this case everything will be good here,” she says.

Denver Post, CO
Aug 20 2004

Ridgway rallies around Armenians

By Nancy Lofholm
Denver Post Staff Writer

Post / Shaun Stanley
Members of the Sargsyan family speak about their immigration status
in their Ridgway apartment. From left, 18-year-old Hayk; 20-year-old
Gevorg, a CU student; family matriarch Susan, 52; 30-year-old Nvart
Idinyan; 62-year-old Ruben; and youngest daughter Meri, 27. Ruben and
Meri are slated to be deported by the end of September.

Ridgway – In the bureaucratic view of the Department of Homeland
Security, the six despondent Armenians crowded together on a
rose-colored couch in this small Western Slope town have no right to
be here.

They have no passports, no green cards and no valid visas. And they
have no right to stay in the United States.

But in the eyes of residents of this one-stoplight town now working
to protect the Sargsyans from deportation, they are hardworking,
principled, good-hearted assets to the community and to America.

“To me, they are better citizens than most of us citizens,” said Rob
Hunter, minister at Ridgway Community Church.

By the end of September, two members of the family – patriarch Ruben
and youngest daughter Meri – are due to be deported to Armenia, where
they say they face persecution and possibly death at the hands of the
Russian mafia. They are blamed in Armenia for a scam they say was
carried out by a former family friend.

The remaining family members may face the same fate, but they have
more time to appeal. Even if they win, however, a family bound
tightly by tragedy over the past decade will be split apart.

“It’s like life stopped,” said son Gevorg, a 20-year-old student at
the University of Colorado.

The saga that landed the Sargsyans in western Colorado and in
immigration limbo began in 1994 when Nvart Sargsyan met an American
in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. She was 19 and, by her own
admission, naive.

>From there, the details of the Sargsyan’s story are impossible to
verify, but they and others have sworn to them in immigration
proceedings as they battled U.S. efforts to deport them:

Vaughn Huckfeldt, 53, was a professor at the American University of
Armenia who also claimed to be a well-to-do minister with a nice home
in Colorado. He wore a clerical collar and a large cross. He asked
Nvart to marry him on their third date.

Huckfeldt began telling other Armenians that he could obtain visas
for them to go to the United States, the Sargsyans said. He collected
more than $1,000 each from 10 to 15 families, they said, then left
the country, taking along an 8- months-pregnant Nvart.

Back in Armenia, people who had given Huckfeldt money were hounding
Nvart’s family, accusing them of being part of a scam and demanding
they pay the money back. Eventually, some of them hired Russian
mobsters to threaten the Sargsyans, who sold nearly everything they
had to try and repay the money they say Huckfeldt took from their
neighbors.

Finally, the Sargsyans said, Huckfeldt provided them with visas to
join Nvart in the U.S. They were student visas, but the family
members were unaware that they were required to attend school here –
not work.

With the support of her family, Nvart filed for divorce, claiming
that Huckfeldt had abused her throughout the marriage. Several people
in town supported her claim, but Huckfeldt was never convicted of a
crime.

Huckfeldt responded by writing to immigration authorities, claiming
the family was in the country fraudulently on student visas.

Attempts to locate Huckfeldt through relatives, ex- wives and former
associates were unsuccessful. An ex- wife said he is living in
Latvia.

Former Ridgway Marshal Sherm Williams said he had fielded several
complaints over the years about Huckfeldt, ranging from unpaid loans
to bad-check allegations. But while Huckfeldt lost an array of
small-claims suits over the years, the former professor has not been
convicted of a crime in town.

Meanwhile, the Sargsyans have spent thousands on lawyers and court
fees – money the whole family earned doing jobs few others wanted or
could handle.

“They are some of the hardest working, finest people I have ever
known,” said Deadra Paxton, a waitress who has been acquainted with
the family since they came to Ridgway.

Friends in Ouray County didn’t know how dire the Sargsyans’ situation
was until family matriarch Susan recently broke down as she informed
Ridgway businessman Pete Whiskeman she wouldn’t be able to clean for
him anymore.

Whiskeman and friend Kelvin Kent jumped into action, and a town
joined them. In just one day, townspeople donated $1,500 to a fund
for a family that has never asked for handouts throughout their
ordeal.

“Unfortunately, I think what we have here is a prime example of
overzealous and work- burdened federal judges operating under
extremely harsh and generalized rules of homeland security,” Kent
said.

As they count down the family’s dwindling days together, the
Sargsyans say they still have a hard time believing that in America
there won’t be justice. They haven’t completely given up on that
hope.

“We are waiting for a miracle,” said Gevorg, “like we were waiting
for a miracle in Armenia.”

Putinru.com, Russia
Aug 20 2004

INFORMATION ON RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Armenia is Russia’s strategic ally in the Southern Caucasus and an
important partner within the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO).
The development of military cooperation began on August 21, 1992, in
Moscow when the presidents of Russia and Armenia signed a treaty on
the legal status of Russia’s Armed Forces in Armenia. On March 16,
1995, the two countries’ presidents signed a treaty on a Russian
military base in Armenia for a term of 25 years with an automatic
extension if both sides agree.

There are 2,500 Russian military personnel in Armenia. The Armenia
group of Russia’s Federal Border Service is also deployed in Armenia.
In keeping with a 1972 agreement, the group guards the republic’s
borders with Turkey and Iran.

The Declaration on Allied Interaction was signed in September 2000.

The Agreement on Questions of Joint Planning of Using Troops in the
Interests of Ensuring Joint Security came into effect in January
2002.

On November 11, 2003, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and
Armenian Defense Minster Serzh Sarkisyan signed a plan for military
cooperation in 2004 and two protocols concerning the location and the
allotment of land for the 102nd Russian military base.

In keeping with the new accords, the Russian installations at Guimri
will be combined into a single military complex. The numerical
strength of the Russian base’s personnel is about 3,000. It is
Russia’s largest military installation in the Caucasus.

Russia played the determining role in ceasing the armed conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh in 1994, and
continues to provide assistance in settling the conflict.

Russia is, as before, Armenia’s leading economic partner. According
to Russia’s Statistics Committee, in 2003 the goods turnover between
the two countries increased by 34.5% to reach $203.3 million. Exports
grew by 33.5% to reach $126.2 million, and imports grew by 36.2%
($77.1 million).

Russian exports grew largely because Russia supplied nuclear fuel and
equipment to Armenia for its nuclear power plant, energy carriers,
and rough diamonds. The export of Russian tobacco and chocolate
products dramatically increased. Russia also imported a larger amount
of aluminum, alcohol, and fruit and vegetable produce from Armenia.

Russia, which invested about $180 million in Armenia, is its largest
investor. The Russian investors accounted for 40% of all investments
made in Armenia in 2003.

According to Armenia’s National Statistics Service, Armenia invested
$91.83 million in Russia in 2003, $68.42 million of which were direct
investments in the real sector of the economy.

Russian investments increase by 92.2% compared to 2002, with direct
investments increasing by 9.73 times.

Russia invested in over 400 enterprises registered in Armenia.

Russia is Armenia’s largest creditor. The republic’s debt to Russia
amounts to about $100 million.

The debt emerged mainly because of the Russian deliveries of nuclear
fuel to the Armenian nuclear power plant. Armenia owes over $10
million to Itera for Russian gas.

In March 1999 on the 10th anniversary of a destructive earthquake in
Spitak, Russia signed an agreement with Armenia on providing
humanitarian aid to Armenia and in keeping with the agreement, part
of Armenia’s debt to Russia was written off.

In November 2002, the sides signed an agreement on settling Armenia’s
$93.7 million debt that transferred five Armenian industrial plants
(the Razdan thermal power plant, the Mars factory, the scientific
research institute of automatic control systems, the scientific
research institute of mathematical machines, and the scientific
research institute of materials technology) to Russia.

The fuel and energy sector remains the most promising sphere of
Russian-Armenian cooperation. The Armenian nuclear power plant, which
produces about 40% of all electricity in the republic, is the major
cooperation project in this sector.

Electronics, instrument-making, transportation, engineering, iron and
steel, and chemical production, as well as industrial cooperation and
financial and credit relations are potential areas of future
Russian-Armenian cooperation.

Fifty of Russia’s 89 regions maintain trade relations with Armenia.

About 2 million Armenians live in Russia, Armenian newspapers are
published in Russia, and there are Armenian schools in Russia. The
Union of Armenians of Russia was set up in 2000.

The Russian-Armenian University that has about 1,200 students
enrolled and six departments, is a positive example of cooperation in
the sphere of education. Eleven branches of Russian state and
non-state higher educational establishments operate in Armenia.

The Program of Cooperation in the Cultural Sphere for 2003-2005 was
signed.

Days of Armenia’s Culture were held in Russia in November 2001, and
Days of Russia’s Culture were held in Armenia in April 2004.

In June 2004, the National Television and Radio Broadcasting
Committee of Armenia gave Kultoura (Culture) All-Russian state
television channel a broadcast frequency in the republic.

Work to prepare a number of agreements in the fields of production
cooperation, tourism, encouragement and protection of investments,
and other areas is under way.

Putinru.com, Russia
Aug 20 2004

PUTIN, KOCHARYAN TO DISCUSS SITUATION IN NORTH CAUCASUS

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan will hold talks in Sochi today. They plan to spotlight the
co-ordination of their countries’ efforts to improve the situation in
the North Caucasus.
Russia and Armenia are consistently advocating the peaceful
settlement of the regional problems and are seriously concerned over
the threats of destabilisation in the Transcaucasus, above all owing
to a dramatic deterioration of the situation in South Ossetia (a
self-proclaimed republic in the territory of Georgia).

Putin and Kocharyan will exchange opinions on ways to use the
capabilities of multilateral co-operation and available regional
mechanisms, as well as the peacekeeping potential of the CIS, towards
this end.

They are also to discuss the development of co-operation within the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the
Eurasian Economic Community, where Armenia has the status of
observer.

Russia and Armenia proclaim readiness to fight against all aspects of
terrorism at the bilateral and multilateral level. Their political
interaction in this sphere is complemented with effective practical
co-operation of their law enforcement and security services.

The two presidents will also spotlight the implementation of
bilateral economic and other agreements.

San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Aug 20 2004

Mexico detains 8 from Armenia, Iran, Iraq

By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 20, 2004

Mexican authorities detained eight people from Armenia, Iran and Iraq
at a Mexicali hotel yesterday after exchanging information with the
FBI, Mexican police said.

The six men and two women, one of whom is eight months pregnant, were
found about 11 a.m. by members of the State Preventive Police at the
hotel, in the city’s center.

The continuing threat of a terrorist attack has raised concerns that
terrorists could try to enter the United States from Mexico.

Mexican immigration officials are interviewing the detainees and
examining their documents to determine whether they are in the
country legally. U.S. authorities are interested in learning if any
have ties to groups intent on harming the United States.

Based on initial interviews, most of those being held appear to have
come from Armenia after fleeing religious persecution in Iran and
Iraq, said Alfredo Arenas Moreno, the international liaison for the
State Preventive Police.

The group appears to have flown from Moscow to Mexico City and then
to have made its way north to Mexicali.

Baja California has historically been a conduit for Middle
Easterners, particularly Iraqi Catholics, or Chaldeans, some of whom
try to seek asylum in the United States. It wasn’t clear if any of
the detainees are Chaldean.

One of the detainees appeared to be a smuggler, and another was
overseeing the group’s transportation from Armenia to Mexicali,
according to the State Preventive Police.

Four apparently are legal residents of the United States, and Mexican
authorities were preparing to arrange interviews for the FBI.

Utopiana
L’actualité, août 2004

UTOPIANA
Anna Barseghian Stefan Kristensen
Quai Capo d’Istria 9, 1205 Genève, Suisse
[email protected], [email protected]

t|m+41 76 329 28 30
t|f+41 22 320 98 30

Thierry Fontaine, Hurloir

Installation sonore, proposée dans le cadre de
La Btie – Festival de Genève <;

Dates : 3 – 11 septembre 2004
Lieux : pl. Charles Aznavour, Erevan / pl. des Volontaires, Genève

Hurler depuis l’Arménie et être entendu sur la Place des Volontaires à
Genève : une opportunité offerte grce à un micro installé sur la Place
Charles Aznavour en plein centre d’Erevan. Une intervention artistique
est organisée chaque soir à 18h (heure de Genève). En l’absence de
prise de parole organisée ou spontanée, l?ambiance sonore de l’espace
public sera toujours perceptible.

Avec le soutien de :
Armenian Telephone Company <;
Fondation Armenia (Genève)
Union arménienne de Suisse
Association Courants d’Art (La Réunion)
M. Vahé Gabrache
M. Gilles Clément
M. et Mme Alfred et Claudine Bagdjian.

Curateurs: Anna Barseghian, Nazareth Karoyan, Stefan Kristensen
Programmation à Erevan: Mariné Karoyan
Mise en place technique: association provisoire (André Loz)
Remerciements particuliers à l’équipe du Festival de Genève et à son
directeur, M. Olivier Suter.

Dans un prochain message: programmation définitive des interventions
artistiques.

—

The Screamer

To scream in Armenia and be heard on a square in the center of Geneva:
an opportunity given to anybody thanks to a microphone on the Square
Charles Aznavour in the heart of downtown Yerevan. An artistic
performance is organized every evening at 6pm (GMT +1) from September
3 to 11. When nobody shouts, speaks or sings, the background noises of
the public space will any time be perceptible.

To Be Heard

The Screamer is a device for one way communication. Such a
communication is naturally perceived as a scream or a howling. In the
heart of a festival animating the Genevan cultural life, the Screamer
opens a space of reflection on the relations between the centers and
the peripheries of the world. But due to the reversal of the habitual
communication flows, it also touches on the good old fantasy of the
Orient: in France, one burns “Armenian paper” to purify the air in the
appartments… In the other end, Geneva is a sort of emblem of a
prosperous Occident, which stands for democracy and human rights.
Apart from the artistic perfomances on the program, anyone can take
the microphone and send her or his sounds to the West.

Friday 3.9. Hover, choir
Saturday 4.9. Violette Grigorian, Karen Karslian, poetry
Sunday 5.9. Vahan Artsrouni, songs
Monday 6.9. Sanctus, vocal quartet
Tuesday 7.9. Grigor Khatchatrian, Azat, sound performances
Wednesday 8.9. Ani, string quartet
Thursday 9.9. INZEST, female rock band
Friday 10.9. Jivan Gasparian, duduk
Saturday 11.9. Penetro, electronic music

Project carried out within the Festival de la Bbtie <;.

With the support of Armenian Telephone Company <; ,
Fondation Armenia (Geneva), Union arménienne de Suisse, Association
Courants dArt (La Réunion), Mr V. Gabrache, Mr G. Clément, Mr et Mrs
A. et C. Bagdjian.

Special thanks to Marine Karoyan, Eva Khachatrian, PROVISOIRE

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress