ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN DON’T REGISTER VICTORY IN OLYMPIC GAMES

ATHENS, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Judoist Armen Nazarian (60-kilogram
weight class) first performed in the 28th summer Olympic Games held in
Athens. He won the first single combat, was defeated in the second
one, and receiving injury in the third one dropped out of further
struggle. Shot Norair Bakhtamian passed finals in the competitions on
100-meter shooting from pneumatic pistol, earned 681.9 points and
placed seventh. Swimmer Varduhi Avetisian in the competitions on
100-meter swimming in the brass style was the second in her subgroup
and placed 42nd among 48 participants. Sargis Sargsian dropped out of
struggle from the first round of the tennis competitions. Ivan
Lyubichi (Croatia) beat him with a score of 2:0. Weight-lifter Armen
Ghazarian (62-kilogram weight class) will step onto stage on August 16
late evening.

VAHRAM PAPAZIAN THEATRICAL GROUP OF BEIRUT TO PERFORM “STRANGE MISSIS
SAVAGE” PLAY IN YEREVAN ON AUGUST 17

YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Vahram Papazian theatrical group of
the Armenian Youth Association of Beirut also participates in the “One
Nation, One Culture” first Pan-Armenian cultural festival. Trdat
Avetikian, Chairman of the theatrical group, told NT’s correspondent
that they will perform John Patrick’s “Peaceful Cloister, or Strange
Missis Savage” play, which was staged by RA People’s Artist Yervand
Ghazanchian, at the Yerevan Theater of Musical Comedy after Hakob
Paronian on August 17 in Yerevan. Trdat Avetikian said that within the
framework of the festival the theatrical group will perform with the
same play at the Gyumri Theater after Vardan Achemian on August
18. Vahram Papazian theatrical group was established in 1959. During
its 45-year activities the group had tours not only in different areas
of Lebanon, but in a number of countries of the world. It is the
fourth year in succession that Yervand Ghazanchian, Director of the
Yerevan Theater of Musical Comedy after Hakob Paronian, Chairman of
the Armenian Theatrical Workers’ Union, works with the theatrical
group of Beirut.

VERDICT ON INCIDENT IN “TRIUMPH” CAFE TO BE PRONOUNCED ON AUGUST 17

YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Proceedings started and rapidly
completed on the incident, which took place on March 12, 2004, in
Yerevan’s cafe “Triumph”, at the court of the first instance of the
Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities of Yereva non August 16. The court
presided over by Judge Mnatsakan Martirosian went to the consultation
room to pass the vedict. Those present at the trial were informed that
the verdict will be pronounced on August 17. Defendant Hayk Aramian,
the son of former RA Minister of Urban Development Ara Aramian,
together with his friend Khachatur Khachatrian started an unreasonable
fight with security service employee Artur Gevorgian in the cafe yard
that day. H. Aramian is accused of shooting, deliberately and at the
risk of many other people’s lives, from the illegally kept “Mauser”
revolver and inflicting bodily injuries of medium gravity to three
persons: Aghvan Matevosian, Armen Arsenian and Levon Vardanian. Artur
Gevorgian, another defendant of the case, is accused of starting an
unreasonable fight and stabbing Hayk Aramian and Khachatur
Khachatrian, inflicting to them medium and high gravity bodily
injuries, respectively. Both defendants admitted their guilt, refused
to give evidence asking that their preliminary evidences be considered
as the basis. Although, according to the Criminal Code, in case of a
refusal to give evidence the defendants’ preliminary evidences may be
pronounced in the court, medidation for their announcenent was not
submitted and the defendants were not asked questions. By the way, the
defendants themselves conducted their defense in the court. The
evidences of the victims who did not attend the hearing but who asked
that their preliminary evidences be considered as the basis were not
announced either. Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan in his speech of the
prosecution solicited that Hayk Aramian be sentenced to 6 years, Artur
Gevorgian – to 3.5 years of imprisonment. At the same time, the
prosecutor mediated for the reduction of imprisonment by using a
three-year probation.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/16/2004
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1) ARF Rep. Markarian Concludes Visit to Egypt
2) Martirosyan Gets US Boxing’s Second Win
3) Vatican Stirs Debate on Turkish EU Membership
4) Putin To Meet Ukrainian and Armenian Presidents in Sochi
5) Opening of “One Nation, One Culture” Pan-Armenian Cultural Festival
6) Two Dead As Georgia Ceasefire Crumbles

1) ARF Rep. Markarian Concludes Visit to Egypt

CAIROOn Wednesday, August 11, ARF Bureau representative Hrant Markarian
concluded a four day trip to Cairo. During the visit, Markarian had the
opportunity to address the community and meet with local ARF representatives.
He also announced plans for the establishment of a Middle East Hai Tahd
office,
which will work with the offices located in the United States, Russia and
Europe.

2) Martirosyan Gets US Boxing’s Second Win

ATHENS (AP)–Vanes Martirosyan erased any doubts about the legitimacy of his
spot in Athens, battering Algeria’s Benamar Meskine in a 45-20 victory in the
preliminaries Sunday to earn a second-round match with Cuba’s Lorenzo Aragon.
“I finished like a champion,”said Martirosyan, an Armenian-born 18-year-old
from Glendale, Calif. “I could have won another four rounds, to tell you the
truth. I felt so good out there.”
Martirosyan showed the power and flair of a contender, dictating the fight’s
pace with a stiff jab and opportunistic combinations. He also counterpunched
effectively while landing more shots to the head than almost any competitor so
far at the busy boxing venue, which hosts more than 20 fights every day of the
preliminaries.
Tougher fights still loom for a team that’s thought to be among the
weakest in
the United States’ superb Olympic boxing history, but the boxers believe they
can improve on their mediocre four-medal haul four years ago in Sydney.
“We’re a great team, we’re in great shape and we’re going to bring a lot of
medals home,”Martirosyan said.
Martirosyan was one fight from elimination at the US team trials in February
in Tunica, Miss., but the two top contenders were disqualified when Andre
Berto
threw Juan McPherson to the canvas, injuring McPherson’s neck. McPherson was
medically disqualified, and Berto was banned for his actions.
Though he caught a lucky break, Martirosyan made the most of it by earning an
Olympic spot in the ensuing qualifying tournaments. Berto, from Winter Haven,
Fla., made the Olympics anyway on Haiti’s team–but Martirosyan beat Berto
in a
subsequent tourney.
“A lot of boxing fans and people in our organization were very well aware of
Vanes,”US coach Basheer Abdullah said. “There were a lot of predictions
that he
was going to make this team. He was very, very aggressive today. He dictated
what was happening in the fight.”
Martirosyan was cheered at Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall by his father,
Norik,
a former amateur fighter who moved his family to California when Vanes was 4;
his younger brother, Vatche; his uncle
and his cousin–and a bunch of fans from Glendale who showed up unannounced,
waving Armenian and American flags.
Aragon, whose victory over Greece’s Theodoros Kotakos was stopped on
points in
the third round, will be a stiff test for Martirosyan on Thursday. The 1996
Olympic featherweight is a two-time world champion as a welterweight, and he
beat Martirosyan in the Athens Test Event in May.
But Martirosyan was slugging point-for-point with Aragon until the fourth
round, when Martirosyan says he got overexcited by the prospect of an upset.
“We’re Armenian. We have this thing where we get a little bit out of control
in the ring,”Martirosyan said. “I love this sport so much. The coaches have
told me to calm down, just think about points instead of trying to get the guy
out of there.”
After a slow first minute against Meskine, Martirosyan landed the first of
many shots to the Algerian’s head. Martirosyan then staggered him with a
beautiful left hand early in the third round.
That punch effectively ended the fight. Meskine retreated to full-scale
defense while Martirosyan chased. Martirosyan scored 16 points in the final
round, putting his whole body behind his blows in
a vain effort to flatten Meskine.
Perhaps that Armenian instinct hasn’t completely been coached out of him–and
it will serve him well as a professional.
But first things first: Martirosyan finished third in the Athens Test Event,
and he isn’t keen on keeping that prize.
“I brought that bronze medal back so I could take the gold,”he said.

3) Vatican Stirs Debate on Turkish EU Membership

(EU OBSERVER)–Negative comments by a high-ranking Cardinal in the Vatican
about Turkish membership of the EU have once more stirred the controversial
debate.
In an interview last week with Le Figaro magazine, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
said that Turkey is “in permanent contrast to Europe” and that linking it to
Europe would be a mistake.
To make his point he spoke of the Ottoman Empire’s incursions into the heart
of Europe in past centuries.
Cultural riches should not be sacrificed for the sake of economic riches, The
Cardinal is quoted as saying in Turkish media.
The German, who heads the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, said that Turkey, which is a predominantly Muslim secular republic,
should seek political union with Arab states and not with European countries.
He suggests it “could try to set up a cultural continent with neighboring
Arab
countries and become the leading figure of a culture with its own identity.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the Cardinal’s comments.
“The Vatican is a religious state. We are speaking to and making evaluations
with EU member countries,” said Erdogan, according to Zaman.
All of these comments come ahead of some crucial decision in the EU about
Ankara’s bid to join the bloc.
The European Commission will publish a report in October on Turkey’s
readiness
to join. On the basis of this report, EU leaders will make a decision in
December. But Turkey already has support from some influential countries in
the
EU-including the UK and Germany.

4) Putin To Meet Ukrainian and Armenian Presidents in Sochi

MOSCOW (AFP)–Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with his
Ukrainian and Armenian counterparts this week in the Black Sea resort of
Sochi,
where he is currently on holiday, the Kremlin said Monday.
Putin is due to hold talks Wednesday with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma
and Friday with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, a Kremlin spokeswoman
told
AFP Monday.
Putin’s meeting with Kuchma comes on the heels of a decision by Ukraine to
sign a three-year contract with the Russian-British oil company TNK-BP to
carry
Siberian oil through the Odessa-Brody pipeline.
The move thwarted European hopes that the pipeline would export oil from
Central Asia and the Caspian Sea to Europe, but was welcomed by the Kremlin.
Analysts said the move was the latest in a series that have seen the former
Soviet republic lurch back toward Moscow, after spending most of the
post-Soviet years reaching out toward the West, ahead of presidential
elections
in October 31.

5) Opening of “One Nation, One Culture” Pan-Armenian Cultural Festival

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–On August 15, the opening of the “One Nation, One
Culture” Pan-Armenian cultural festival took place in the National Academic
Theater of Opera and Ballet.
President Robert Kocharian, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan,
and other officials were present at the ceremony.
Greeting the participants, Oskanian called the festival a historic event and
emphasized: “Every generation living in its homeland or the diaspora should
reveal the depth and wealth of one united culture of the national originality
of his origin, should be newly filled with aesthetic and moral spirit of
national and human real values.”
Among the performers were the State Dance Ensemble of Armenia and the
“Barekamutiun” ensemble, dudukist Jivan Gasparian, singers Hasmik Papian,
Hasmik Hatsagortsian, Svetlana
Navasardian, Ruben Matevosian, actors Vladimir Abajian, Hovhannes Babakhanian,
Zhenia Avetisian, as well as other well-known Armenian artists.

6) Two dead as Georgia ceasefire crumbles

TBILISI (AFP)Two Georgian servicemen were killed and other casualties were
reported, officials said, in clashes that left a three-day-old ceasefire in
the
breakaway region of South Ossetia in tatters.
A spokesman for the Georgian interior ministry said the soldiers died after
coming under mortar and automatic weapons fire from irregular forces from the
South Ossetian territory.
The spokesman, Guram Donadze, also claimed that 15 Ossetian fighters were
killed in return fire from Georgian forces, but a South Ossetian spokeswoman
denied any fatalities.
“Fortunately, no one was killed,” in the overnight fighting, South Ossetia
spokeswoman Irina Gagloyeva was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news
agency. She added however that three civilians had been hurt.
RIA Novosti and other Russian news agencies confirmed the deaths on the
Georgian side and said that Georgian forces had also fired shells into a
district of South Ossetia’s main city, Tskhinvali, as well as three other
nearby villages.
A spokesman for the joint Georgian-Russian-Ossetian peacekeeping force in
South Ossetia was quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency as saying that the firing
“came from both sides and involved machine guns, mortars and grenade
launchers.”
The violence came three days after a ceasefire signed by the conflicting
parties as well as Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe went into effect in a renewed drive to defuse the crisis in the
region.
“We can say that the ceasefire has been practically violated,” said
Konstantin
Kochiyev, an adviser to South Ossetia’s self-styled president.
Tensions have soared and clashes have repeatedly broken out in the area over
the past two months as Georgia has stepped up pressure to bring separatist
regions back under its thumb. In June, President Mikhail Shaakashvili won a
local election in Adjara which returned control over the renegade region to
Georgia.
Inhabited mainly by ethnic Ossetians, South Ossetia has enjoyed de facto
independence after an armed conflict with Tbilisi following the break-up of
the
Soviet Union in 1991.
Leaders in South Ossetia have demanded either their own state or else
separation from Georgia and direct governance from Moscow.
Speaking to reporters in Tbilisi, Georgian Defense Minister Georgy Baramidze
warned that the conflict could worsen.
“There is unfortunately a real danger of war breaking out in the region,” he
said.
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said Georgia was calling on the international
community to step in and help break the deadlock.
Georgia wanted the OSCE executive to hold an urgent meeting in the coming
days
on the situation in South Ossetia and President Mikhail Saakashvili would talk
with other leaders about organizing an international conference on the
conflict, he said.
“We are looking for a peaceful resolution,” Zhvania said, adding that he was
prepared to sit down for talks with South Ossetian separatist leader Eduard
Kokoity.
Georgian and Ossetian forces had already traded gunfire and shelling during
the night both Saturday and Sunday, when Tbilisi reported seven Georgian
soldiers had been wounded in the clashes.

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Capital News 9, NY
Aug 15 2004

Church holds Armenian Festival

It was a festival of tradition and culture in Watervliet Sunday.

St. Peter’s Armenian Church held its annual Armenian Festival. The
church has been a staple of the community for more than 100 years and
enjoys sharing their food, music and heritage with the Capital
Region.

Bob Meeson, Parish Council Chairman, said, “We all come together to
enjoy Armenian food, dance and music, and for a good cause — it
helps us keep our church growing and alive.”

A Penny Social Auction was also held to raise funds. Local merchants
and members of the parish donated items that were auctioned off to
those in attendance. The proceeds are going toward building a new
addition to the church.

ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games

Boxing

Men’s Light Welter (64kg) & Welter (69kg) 15 Aug. 2004

ATHENS, 15 August – It may be an indoor venue, but at the Peristeri Boxing
Hall today the stars shone brightly in the hotly contested Welter Weight
(69kg) category.

Making his return to Olympic competition after an eight year absence, Cuba’s
double World Champion Lorenzo ARAGON ARMENTEROS was devastating in his
destruction of local hope Theodoros KOTAKOS (GRE), the referee stopping the
contest midway through round three when KOTAKOS appeared defenceless, and
the Cuban led 34-14.

Vanes MARTIROSYAN (USA) made a solid start for his medal campaign, beating
Benamar MESKINE (ALG) 45-20 to set up what should be a fascinating clash
with ARAGON ARMENTEROS in the round of sixteen on Thursday, 19 August.

MARTIROSYAN will need to be at his very best to beat the Cuban, but going
into this tournament the Armenian born American was confident he could win
the gold medal.

Another Welter Weight to impress was Ruslan KHAIROV (AZE) who showed his
power against Canadian Adam TRUPISH.

A solid right cross at the start of round three opened a nasty cut on the
bridge of TRUPISH’s nose, and on the advice of the ring side doctor, the
referee stopped the fight.

World Championship silver medallist Sherzod HUSANOV started slowly against
Jean Carlos PRADA (VEN), but knocked the Venezuelan to the canvas twice on
his way to a 33-20 points decison.

Oleg SAITOV (RUS), who is chasing his third Olympic gold medal, was his
usual methodical self against Miloud AIT HAMMI (MAR).

He started slowly, but his experience told in the end and he scored a
comfortable points decision.

In the Light Welter Weight (64kg) division, the stand out performance of the
afternoon session came from stylish Bulgarian Boris GEORGIEV, who totally
outclassed Nasserredine FILLALI (ALG).

When the referee stopped the contest late in round two, GEORGIEV had taken a
20 point lead over the Algerian, enough to book a contest against Rock ALLEN
(USA) in the next round.

In the evening session Alexander MALETIN (RUS) was devastating in his
demolition of Saleh KHOULEF (EGY) and must be the boxer everyone in the
Light Welter Weight division fears most.

Willy BLAIN (FRA) was sharp and effective in disposing of Mohamed Ali SASSI
(TUN), but the Frenchman will have a more difficult job in his next round
clash with the ‘Russian Tank’ MALETIN.

Ukrainian hard man Viktor POLYAKOV has also come into medal contention,
after his slugging contest against Gerard O’MAHONY (AUS).

ONS nb/sad

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SportsLine.com wire reports
Aug. 15, 2004

Martirosyan batters Algerian for U.S. boxing’s second victory

ATHENS, Greece — Seven months ago, Vanes Martirosyan was America’s
14th-ranked amateur welterweight — not a typical starting point for
an Olympic boxer.

Martirosyan has turned out to be a whole lot better than almost
anybody expected. With a few more victories, the same might soon be
said about the entire U.S. boxing team.

Martirosyan erased any doubts about the legitimacy of his spot in
Athens, battering Algeria’s Benamar Meskine in a 45-20 victory in the
preliminaries Sunday to earn a second-round match with Cuba’s Lorenzo
Aragon.

“I finished like a champion,” said Martirosyan, an Armenian-born
18-year-old from Glendale, Calif. “I could have won another four
rounds, to tell you the truth. I felt so good out there.”

Martirosyan showed the power and flair of a contender, dictating the
fight’s pace with a stiff jab and opportunistic combinations. He also
counterpunched effectively while landing more shots to the head than
almost any competitor so far at the busy boxing venue, which hosts
more than 20 fights every day of the preliminaries.

Middleweight Andre Dirrell got the United States off to a good start
Saturday with a win in his preliminary bout. Two Americans received
first-round byes, and five more will fight in the next three days
before the second round begins Wednesday.

Tougher fights still loom for a team that’s thought to be among the
weakest in the United States’ superb Olympic boxing history, but the
boxers believe they can improve on their mediocre four-medal haul
four years ago in Sydney.

“We’re a great team, we’re in great shape and we’re going to bring a
lot of medals home,” Martirosyan said.

Martirosyan was one fight from elimination at the U.S. team trials in
February in Tunica, Miss., but the two top contenders were
disqualified when Andre Berto threw Juan McPherson to the canvas,
injuring McPherson’s neck. McPherson was medically disqualified, and
Berto was banned for his actions.

Though he caught a lucky break, Martirosyan made the most of it by
earning an Olympic spot in the ensuing qualifying tournaments. Berto,
from Winter Haven, Fla., made the Olympics anyway on Haiti’s team —
but Martirosyan beat Berto in a subsequent tourney.

“A lot of boxing fans and people in our organization were very well
aware of Vanes,” U.S. coach Basheer Abdullah said. “There were a lot
of predictions that he was going to make this team. … He was very,
very aggressive today. He dictated what was happening in the fight.”

Martirosyan hoped to meet Berto later in the draw, but Berto was
beaten 36-34 in the evening session by France’s Xavier Noel, a former
world champion. Berto, whose parents are Haitian, fought well and
nearly rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth round, but
Noel apparently hung on. The decision was loudly jeered by fans.

Tehran Times
Aug 15 2004

Iran’s Akhoundzadeh Finishes Fifth At Olympic Judo Meet

Tehran Times Sports Desk

TEHRAN (MNA) – Iran’s under-60kg judoka, Massoud Haji Akhoundzadeh,
who had a good start conceded two losses in his last fights, standing
fifth in 2004 Olympic Games in the Greek capital, Athens, Saturday.

He lost to his Georgian opponent in the quarterfinal and was stunned
by a South Korean player, who won by technical fall and ippon in just
one minute.

The Iranian won his opening fight against Jean Claude from Cameroon.

Akhoundzadeh, who rested in the first round won 3-1, sending the
Cameroonian packing.

He snatched his second victory by victimizing Armenian player Armen
Nazarian in the third round later on the day.

Akhoundzadeh disposed of his Greek opponent, booking a berth in the
quarterfinals. MIR-ESMAEILI FAREWELL

World judo champion Arash Mir-Esmaeili pulled out of 2004 Olympic
Games in the Greek capital as he was drawn with an Israeli player,
Ehud Vaks, Thursday.

Iran’s under-66 kg judoka was scheduled to meet a representative from
Israel in the opening round on August 15.

The unlucky Mir-Esmaeili said, “Although I have trained for months
and now enjoy an in-form build, I refused to face my Israeli rival in
sympathy with the oppressed Palestinian people. “I am not upset for
the decision I have made.”

Vice-president of the Iranian Judo Federation Seyed Abdoljalil Razavi
who expressed his deep regret over Mir-Esmaeili’s elimination said
the draw was for the Games is done by computer and nobody can
manipulate it.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 16 2004

Azeri, Armenian journalist teams may play in Moscow

The sixth international football tournament among journalist teams
dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the sports journalism figure Lev
Filatov will be held in Moscow, Russia on September 9-12, the
tournament organizer Alexander Lagutenkov said.
Teams from Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia are
expected to take part in the competition.
The matches will be played on the special pitches on the Luzhniki
Olympics complex.
Best goalkeeper, defender, forward and scoring player will be awarded
and the winning team will receive a special prize named after Lev
Filatov.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Toronto Star
August 15, 2004 Sunday

Starting from the bottom, Armenian man always reached for very top

You know what would be nice? Having a big building named after you.

Imagine it: The (Your Name Here) Building.

Sounds good, eh? But how do you get there? What path can you follow
to someday see your name carved over the door?

Well, it helps to be war hero, prominent politician or arts icon.

But there is another road. A long, hard route paved with ingenuity,
perseverance and generosity. You might call it the Kololian Way.
Here’s how it goes …

We begin in a North York factory office in the summer of 1963, where
Kev Kololian is cooling his heels in the waiting room.

For two months now, he’s been knocking on 10 doors a day, trying to
persuade manufacturers to give him work for the small precision tool
shop he’s set up in a vacant Weston garage.

But, even when he manages to get an audience with the boss, it’s
always the same story. “Nothing right now,” they say. “But we’ll keep
you in mind. We’ll call you …”

Frustrating. But if there’s one thing Kev has learned in his 34
years, it’s to never give up.

Even as a kid in Cairo, this child of refugees from the 1915 Armenian
genocide in Turkey was developing a will to succeed, to reach for the
good things in life.

“I looked around at successful people,” he recalls, “and I asked
myself: ‘Why shouldn’t I do well, too?'”

Bold words for a dollar-a-day shop assistant forced to quit school at
14 to help support his parents, sister and extended family.

But it wasn’t just talk. When the store closed for the day, Kev’s
work continued. Seven hours a night he laboured over his
correspondence school books, hoping to become a radio engineer.

Not that he was a total goody-goody. Like any hot-blooded teen, he’d
get into scraps, try to settle disputes with his fists. Seeing the
wounds and bruises, his father, a school caretaker, had a suggestion:

“Kevork,” he said. “This is not the way. Better you should persuade
people with your words. Win them over with love, patience and
forgiveness.” Kev never forgot that advice.

But he forgot about radio engineering when he took a trip to Germany
at age 20. There, he saw something they didn’t have in Egypt: an
automatic lathe that could transform blocks of metal into precision
machine parts.

Which got him thinking … about his parents’ kitchen cooker. Like
nearly everyone in that part of the world, they had a Swedish-made
Primus gas stove.

And, like everyone else, they needed to replace the burned-out fuel
jet every two or three weeks.

What if Kev could get his own lathe, learn to manufacture the jets at
home and sell them far more cheaply than the imported parts?

Starting with his meagre $1,000 in savings, many 12-hour days and an
overload of enthusiasm, that’s just what he did. By the mid-1950s, he
was happily married, living well and employing 28 staff to operate 20
precision lathes.

A dream fulfilled. What could possibly go wrong?

Remember the Suez crises? Political revolution, coupled with street
riots and overt hostility to Christian Armenians in Cairo forcefully
reminded Kev of the 1915 terrors that had claimed the lives of both
his grandfathers and perhaps 1.5 million of his people.

Which explains how, after giving up his Egyptian home and business at
sacrifice prices, the ex-tycoon finds himself trying to make ends
meet in the summer of 1962 in a $115-per-month apartment at Lawrence
and Dufferin in North York. Pretty rough, eh?

“Not at all,” he laughs. “It was a wonderful time. No money, but no
worries. We were just so happy to be here, to be secure and free.
‘God has blessed this country,’ I said. ‘And we are going to share in
these blessings.'”

Alas, not everyone was willing to share.

Making the rounds to sell his services, Kev got the brush-off from
many secretaries put off by his “foreign” looks and accent.

Buzzing the boss, they’d say: “There’s a guy with a funny name here,
says he makes machine parts.” Which brings us to that waiting room at
Motorola Canada Ltd., where the receptionist is telling Kev: “Mr.
King, our purchasing agent, will see you now.”

So here we go, same old story. Mr. King listens patiently, nods
sympathetically then begins to deliver a familiar message: “We’ll
keep you in mind …”

In that moment, something snaps in Kev. Before he can stop himself,
he demands: “Whazza matter, Mr. King? You don’t have the guts to give
a man like me a chance?”

Gord King looks ready to explode. “Sit down!” he growls, and stomps
from the room.

Minutes later, he’s back with specifications for appliance
components. “Make me 100 of these, 200 of these. We’ll see if you’re
as good as you say you are.”

Kev dashes to his Pellatt Ave. shop and works through the night. Next
day, he’s back at Motorola with the cadmium-plated components. King
can hardly believe it, especially after his quality inspectors
declare the parts perfect.

“Mr. Kololian,” he smiles. “I believe we can do some business.”

Weeks later, Kev tries a new wrinkle. Instead of going hat-in-hand to
the purchasing agent’s office at de Havilland Aircraft, he calls
company president Phil Garrett directly.

Though friendly and courteous, Garrett suggests Kev really should see
one of his mid-management people.

“Okay if I tell him you referred me?” asks Kev.

“Of course,” replies Garrett.

The executive in question, thinking this cheery, energetic fellow is
somehow connected with the boss, gives him an opportunity that leads
to a lucrative contract.

Boom! Kev is on his way.

Over the next decade, as his business and family expand, he leaves
that Dufferin-Lawrence apartment and tiny workshop far behind. Still,
he feels things are not quite right.

Sure, he’s delighted with his financial success.

But what about some payback to this wonderful country that made it
possible?

For starters, he’d like to employ more Canadians in his growing
business.

But where are the home-grown tool-and-die makers and machinists? Why
must so much skilled labour be imported from Europe?

Just as he did at de Havilland, he goes right to the top. Overtures
are made in the 1970s to provincial and federal leaders, including
federal Labour Minister Robert Andras and Ontario Premier Bill Davis.

In time, the seeds Kev plants with the politicians blossom into an
extensive apprenticeship program, which he helps set up in community
colleges such as Seneca, George Brown and Humber, sending hundreds of
skilled, well-paid machinists into the workforce.

Yes, creating jobs is a nice way to salute your country. But after
impulsively buying a handmade Armenian wall rug embroidered with the
lyrics to “O Canada,” Kev finds another.

Why not give it to the nation as a symbolic gift from his people, he
wonders. But who should receive it? Why not go to the top?

Sure enough, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau agrees to meet with Kev
and a delegation from Toronto’s Armenian community. Their
get-together, scheduled for 10 minutes, stretches to nearly an hour.
Long way from that dollar-a-day job in Cairo.

Today, from his handsome home bordering the 11th hole of a
prestigious golf course, the one-time shop assistant oversees a
thriving family and 125 employees supplying sophisticated components
to the aerospace industry.

Still, when you get to be 76, wealth is no longer a goal. “I’d like
to be remembered,” he muses. “Not as a businessman, but as a
humanitarian.”

But who will remember? For more than a quarter-century now, thousands
of children have passed through the portals of a building at the
Armenian Community Centre, which was envisioned, substantially funded
and inspired by a never-say-die guy forced to quit school in Grade 6.

As long as they live, wherever they go, and whatever they do, those
generations will never forget their first school. And the name is
right up there on the wall for all to see:

KOLOLIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

No! It can’t be. But it IS: 50 years since Marilyn Bell, Toronto’s
swimming sweetheart, conquered Lake Ontario.

What was happening in your life on Sept. 9, 1954? And how did
Marilyn’s feat touch you? Send your stories to MARILYN, c/o
Gamester’s People, George Gamester, Toronto Star, One Yonge St.,
Toronto, Ont. M5E 1E6. Fax: 869-4322. E-mail: ggamest @ thestar.ca,
or call 416-869-4874 anytime.

‘God has blessed this country. And we are going to share

in these blessings.’

GRAPHIC: Refugee Kev Kolonian, far left, rose from dollar-a-day shop
assistant to a great businessman and leader in T.O.’s Armenian
community. He presents former prime minister Pierre Trudeau with a
handmade Armenian wall rug embroidered with the lyrics to “O Canada.”