ARMENIAN CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN FESTIVAL “LET’S CHANGE WORLD FOR THE
BETTER” HELD IN “ARTEK”

YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian delegation also
participated in the festival “Let’s Change World for the Better” held
in the “Artek” international camp from July 15 to August 4. Arsen
Soghomonian, Chief of the Department on Youth Policies of the RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, said during the August 10 press
conference that for the fourth year in succession the festival makes
it its aim to contribute to mutual acquaintance with the national
traditions and customs, the establishmnet of friendly relations
between children of different nationalities, creating in different
spheres of art: the decorative-applied arts, vocal, ethnographic,
musical, dance and in the sphere of painting. 20 out of 50 Armenian
children aged 11-15, who submitted applications for participation in
the festival, were selected: members of the “Nane” show-ballet,
participants of the “Melanzh” trio, laureates of the Fund of V.
Spivakov, participants of different international competitions.

According to Narine Topalian, Artistic Director of “Nane”, Armenian
children took an active part in the competitions organized during the
festival and received many diplomas. And the performance of the
“Melanzh” trio so delighted the audience that it was invited to
perform with concerts in the neighboring camps. The Armenian children
also performed with concerts in the yard of the Armenian church of
Yalta. Narine Topalian also said that in “Artek” there were
disagreements with the delegation of Azerbaijan, which treated it
badly with the children from Armenia. But members of the Ukrainian
delegation warned them that “Artek” is a children’s camp, and children
are connected with politics in no way.

FIRST ISSUE OF “LITERARY CRITICISM” PERIODICAL RELEASED

YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The first issue of the “Literary
Criticism” periodical was released upon the initiative of the
Institute of Literary Criticism after M. Abeghian and the Writers’
Union of Armenia. Literary critic Azat Yeghiazarian, editor-in-chief
of the periodical, told NT’s correspondent that the issues of the
history of the Armenian literature and the development of the modern
literature, as well as theoretical problems will be covered in the
magazine. According to Azat Yeghiazarian, the creative activities of a
number of Western Armenian writers weren’t sufficiently studied for
some reason or other. “We are still far from the entire notion about
the Western Armenian literature. One of the main tasks of the new
periodical is to fill this gap,” he mentioned. Articles on Hakob
Oshakan, Byuzand Topalian, Andranik Tsarukian, Kostan Zarian and many
other Western Armenian writers have already been published in the
first issue of the magazine. Azat Yeghiazarian mentioned that the
magazine will also give its pages to young literary critics, as
according to him, “they should continue, develop and deepen all the
traditions that the Armenian literary criticism has, as well as should
advance new ideas and approaches, being grounded on these traditions
and achievements of the world literary criticism ideology.” It should
be mentioned that it is expected that the extracts from the “White
Book” of Avetik Isahakian dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, some
letters of Hakob Oshakan, as well as the memoirs of Maro Alazan on
Yeghishe Charents, Nairi Zarian and other writers will be published in
the second issue of the “Literary Criticism Magazine”.

The Cincinnati Post
Publication Date: 08-11-2004

Olympics

2000 Olympic medals table

Country G S B Tot
United States 39 25 33 97
Russia 32 28 28 88
China 28 16 15 59
Australia 16 25 17 58
Germany 14 17 26 57
France 13 14 11 38
Italy 13 8 13 34
Cuba 11 11 7 29
Britain 11 10 7 28
South Korea 8 9 11 28
Romania 11 6 9 26
Netherlands 12 9 4 25
Uraine 3 10 10 23
Japan 5 8 5 18
Hungary 8 6 3 17
Belarus 3 3 11 17
Poland 6 5 3 14
Canada 3 3 8 14
Bulgaria 5 6 2 13
Greece 4 6 3 13
Sweden 4 5 3 12
Brazil 0 6 6 12
Spain 3 3 5 11
Norway 4 3 3 10
Switzerland 1 6 2 9
Ethiopia 4 1 3 8
Czech Republic 2 3 3 8
Kazakstan 3 4 0 7
Kenya 2 3 2 7
J amaica 0 4 3 7
Denmark 2 3 1 6
Indonesia 1 3 2 6
M exico 1 2 3 6
Georgia 0 0 6 6
Lithuania 2 0 3 5
Sl ovakia 1 3 1 5
Algeria 1 1 3 5
Belgium 0 2 3 5
Sou th Africa 0 2 3 5
Morocco 0 1 4 5
Taiwan 0 1 4 5
Iran 3 0 1 4
Turkey 3 0 1 4
Finland 2 1 1 4
Uzbekistan 1 1 2 4
New Zealand 1 0 3 4
Argentina 0 2 2 4
North Korea 0 1 3 4
Austria 2 1 0 3
Azerbaijan 2 0 1 3
Latvia 1 1 1 3
Yugoslavia 1 1 1 3
Estonia 1 0 2 3
Thaila nd 1 0 2 3
Nigeria 0 3 0 3
Slovenia 2 0 0 2
Bahama s 1 1 0 2
Croatia 1 0 1 2
Moldova 0 1 1 2
Saudi Arabia 0 1 1 2
Trinidad and Tobago 0 1 1 2
Costa Rica 0 0 2 2
Portugal 0 0 2 2
Cameroon 1 0 0 1
Colombia 1 0 0 1
Mozambique 1 0 0 1
Ireland 0 1 0 1
Uruguay 0 1 0 1
Vietnam 0 1 0 1
Armenia 0 0 1 1
Ba rbados 0 0 1 1
Chile 0 0 1 1
India 0 0 1 1
Iceland 0 0 1 1
Israel 0 0 1 1
Kyrgyzstan 0 0 1 1
Kuwait 0 0 1 1
Sri Lanka 0 0 1 1
Macedonia 0 0 1 1
Qatar 0 0 1 1

Pu blication Date: 08-11-2004

SECOND PROGRAM ON SECURITY OF IRRIGATION DIKES OF ARMENIA SIGNED

YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The second credit agreement on
Security of Irrigation Dikes of Armenia of 6.75 mln dollars was signed
between the RA government and the World Bank on August 10. According
to the press service of the RA Ministry of Finances and Economy, the
credit of the Agency of International Development will finance the
work on the improvement of the condition of 47 dikes needy
reconstruction, establishing the system providing control over their
security, as well as necessary exploitation and preservation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CEREMONY OF REQUIEM HELD IN YERABLUR ON AUGUST 7 IN CONNECTION WITH
DAY OF MEMORY OF PERISHED MEMBERS OF ARMENIAN LIBERATION SECRET ARMY

YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The ceremony of requiem was held in
Yerablur on August 7 in connection with the Day of Memory of the
perished members of the Armenian Liberation Secret Army (ASALA).

The ceremony was organized by the “Nemesis” patriotic organization of
revival. On 7 August 1982, freedom fighters Zohrab Sargsian and Levon
Ekmekchian attacked “Esempoga” international airport of Ankara,
demanding that Turkey should recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

During fights lasting about 3 hours, when ammunition were nearing the
end, Zohrab Sargsian committed suicide, and Levon Ekmekchian, being
heavily injuried, was taken prisoner. The Turkish court sentenced him
to death by hanging. According to ASALA member Zaven Petrosian, it is
the memory of these two freedom fighters that August 7 is announced
the Day of Memory of those perished in the up-to-date armed conflict.
According to him, the youth of all the communities of the Diaspora
inspired with the attack of the Turkish airport by Zohrab Sargsian and
Levon Ekmekchian started struggling for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and drew the attention of the international
community to the problem of the Armenian Cause (Hay Dat).

28 FOOTBALL-PLAYERS WITHIN ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM

YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian national team will hold
its first match of the qualifying tournament of the 2006 World
Football Championship with the national team of Macedonia in Skopie on
August 18. French Bernard Kazonie, newly appointed head coach of the
Armenian national team, included 28 football-players within the
national team. Two of them are goal-keepers, seven are full-backs, 8
half-backs, five are forwards. Nine of them perform in the Armenian
Championship, 13 other football-players perform in different foreign
countries. The Armenian national team will start preparation for the
match with the Macedonian national team on August 14.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
Aug 10 2004

Crusader Murmurs in Cyberspace

SELCUK GULTASLI

Don’t mind the fact that Brussels is in a summer hibernation. There
are plenty of scenarios around about the answer to be given to Turkey
in December.

It is understood from the rumors that the special partnership offer,
which was regarded as a serious option in 2002, is no longer an
alternative. The possible answer fluctuates between a “conditional
yes” and Turkey’s expectation, an “unconditional yes,” and the
formula that also foresees the start of negotiations in February or
in March at the latest. The “‘conditional yes” has many formulas
including one close to saying “no,” and one close to an
“unconditional yes.”

The certain deletion of “no” appears to have stirred up Turkey’s
opponents in Europe even more. Internet sites that are against
Turkey, are putting up a great struggle, thinking that they are
losing the battle on the political level.

The answer to be given to Turkey, is one of the most popular topics
on the Internet sites, that publish news about the European Union
(EU). Every news about Turkey receives dozens of e-mails. Turkey’s
opponents have not only stormed these sites with reactions, they have
also established special Internet sites to prevent the EU membership
of Turkey. Some of these sites have prepared drafts of letters to be
sent to EU countries and leaders, to the European Parliament
president as well as important members, and to EU Commission members,
to brief them on why Turkey cannot be an EU member — in their
opinion. In addition, acting in accordance with the idea that
Turkey’s possible membership is one of the greatest ‘disasters’
awaiting Europe, they want all the EU citizens, who possess “European
consciousness,” to act against Turkey and contribute to this
‘beneficial duty’ of opposing Turkey’s bid, by sending a mail at
least.

Most of us are familiar with the expression, “Turkey would the
greatest disaster to befall Europe.” It is therefore not surprising
that those who refer to Turkey as the greatest disaster, declared
immediately thereafter that a new spirit of Crusaders is needed in
the political area. Those who have lost hope in European politicians
are turning to the Crusaders.

It is understood that the Greek Cypriots, Greeks and Armenians are
active on these sites. That only a small number of Turks send mails
to these sites, coupled with fact that they get easily offended,
prevent the Turkish theses from being properly defended.

There is a government in Turkey now, which sincerely defends the EU
target and is doing all the necessary work towards this goal. Up till
now, the multitude of 70 million, who have generally been deep asleep
in Turkey’s relations with the outside world, need to wake up and
take action on the EU issue. It will be very beneficial for Turks who
are literate and who know foreign languages to come together, just
like the opponents have organized themselves, and straight away
launch a citizen initiative that will speed things up towards
December.

IN THIS ISSUE:

*** AAA NGO CENTER ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ITS NGO CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS
PROGRAM

*** PROMOTING PARTICIPATION OF THE DISABLED DURING ELECTIONS

*** CLEANING ACTIVITIES IN STEPANAVAN

*** AWARENESS AND TRAINING PROGRAM IN SHIRAK AND LORI REGIONS

*** PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY. INITIATIVES AND RESPONSIBILITY

*** SUPPORT FOR SOUP KITCHENS

*** NEW PUBLICATION

***WEBSITE LAUNCH: COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN INFORMATION OFFICE

*** ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ROA MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND YOUTH AFFAIRS

*** AAA NGO CENTER ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ITS NGO CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS
PROGRAM

This grants program is aimed at promoting organizational development of
local Armenian NGOs towards their more effective involvement in delivering
social and/or primary healthcare services and information. Of 47 NGOs
applied for the grants program contest, eight organizations have been
selected by the review board. Their projects are aimed at strengthening of
their organization’s human, financial, physical, public relations and
service capacities. The winning NGOs are: Ozone Young Men’s Christian
Association, Maternity Fund of Armenia, Yerevak, Vanadzor Young Men’s
Christian Association, Women’s Rights Center, Gratemed Scientific Medical
NGO, Asup, and Meghvik Children’s and Youth NGO. Funding for the grants
program is provided by the United States Agency for International
Development.

Contact: Margarit Piliposyan
AAA NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 54-40-12, 54-40-13
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

*** PROMOTING PARTICIPATION OF THE DISABLED DURING ELECTIONS

After observation activities on behalf of the disabled during the 2003
elections, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and five
interested NGOs made a statement regarding polling station inaccessibility
for the disabled. The domestic NGOs which were signatories to the
statement – Lusastgh, Paros, Nor Spitak, Liarzhek Kyank and Pyunik – have
developed suggestions and presented them to the National Assembly’s
Committee on Issues of the Disabled. With regard to this, the initiators
organized a roundtable on July 9 with the participation of members of
electoral commissions, and representatives of NGOs and international
organizations to discuss the NGOs’ suggestions and the position of the
National Assembly on incorporating the proposed amendments in the electoral
code. During the meeting, spokespersons presented the issue of the role of
the communities in providing wheelchair accessibility in the polling
station, as well as the participation of mentally disabled, blind and deaf
people in the elections. Upon the conclusion of the roundtable, a working
group was formed. Its members met on July 12 to discuss all of the
suggestions. They prepared a package of suggested amendments to the
electoral code, which was later handed to Artak Arakelyan, Deputy of Armenia
‘s National Assembly (NA) and Coordinator of the Committee on the Disabled
Issues with the ROA NA Chairman.

Contact: Al Decie
IFES/Armenia
9 Alek Manukian St.
Tel.: (374-1) 51-20-51, 51-20-16
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Internet:

*** CLEANING ACTIVITIES IN STEPANAVAN

The Makur Yerevan (Clean Yerevan) project, with the participation of its
volunteers and in cooperation with the Stepanavan Legal, Psychological,
Training and Information Center NGO, carried out cleaning activities in
Loreberd and Ashot Yerkat historical and cultural sites. Dendropark site and
the area adjoining the weaving factory were also cleaned. At the end of the
cleaning project, a literary and musical event was organized to entertain
the project participants. Henceforth, the participants have decided to
devote their time to cleaning activities on the third Saturday of every
month.

Contact: Gerasim Asryan
Stepanavan Legal, Psychological, Training and Information Center NGO
Tel.: (374-56) 3-28-91
E-mail: [email protected]

*** AWARENESS AND TRAINING PROGRAM IN SHIRAK AND LORI REGIONS

The Progress Through Education project of the Asparez Club of Journalists
NGO has come to its end and the results were summarized on July 9. Project
staff presented the three directions of the activities implemented in
Gyumri, Vanadzor, Stepanavan and Alaverdi to representatives of NGOs,
interested international organizations and state structures. These areas
included seminars, TV discussions and social advertising on human rights
protection, local Mass Media, local self-governance and NGO cooperation. As
stated by Project Coordinator Levon Barseghyan, “Such projects are necessary
for information exchange and establishing cooperation between Armenia’s
northern towns.”

Contact: Levon Barseghyan
Asparez Club of Journalists NGO
Gyumri, 96 Pushkin St.
Tel.: (374-41) 2-27-21
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

*** PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY. INITIATIVES AND RESPONSIBILITY

This was the title of the international conference, organized by the
Association of Women With University Education NGO on July 9-11 within the
framework of its Democracy and Peace Center Project. Association heads and
activists, NGO heads, representatives of political parties, National
Assembly Deputies, officials of the ROA President Administration and
Government, political scientists, philosophers, historians, lawyers,
sociologists, economists, psychologists, and representatives of NGOs and
scientific institutions of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russian Federation
participated in the conference. They discussed participatory democracy as a
factor contributing to the establishment of civil society and further
democratization of political life in Armenia and other CIS countries, as
well as issues on forms and initiatives of civic participation, and the
responsibility of citizens and citizen groups in the irrevocable
democratization processes of the society.

Contact: Jemma Hasratyan
Association of Women With University Education NGO
Tel./Fax: (374-1) 58-15-83
E-mail: [email protected]

*** SUPPORT FOR SOUP KITCHENS

Mission Armenia NGO’s Support for Soup Kitchens five-year program, aimed at
addressing nutritional, social and health needs of the disadvantaged older,
disabled persons and extremely vulnerable households, is currently underway.
This USAID-funded program is being implemented in Yerevan and five other
regions of Armenia: Shirak, Gegharkunik, Lori, Syunik and Tavush. The
program objectives are: providing hot, calorie-rich meals, social and
healthcare services, legal, psychological and gerontology-related
consultancies and training. Currently, almost 6,300 vulnerable people
benefit from the program activities through 22 soup kitchens and three
community centers. Concurrently, the NGO initiates activities that are to
promote social partnership, as well as raise public awareness on the given
program and problems which the elderly in our society face. The social
partnership component of the program will promote establishment of
cooperation between parties concerned with finding solutions to the problems
of the elderly. The model developed by Mission Armenia was recently
presented to the Kanaker-Zeytun community’s self-governing body, community
council, local condominiums, NGOs and other structures. As a result of
preliminary discussions with these structures, a social partnership model is
to be developed, which will first be introduced in the Kanaker-Zeytun
community, and later applied in other communities.

Contact: Hripsime Kirakosyan
Mission Armenia NGO
42 Garegin Nzhdeh St.
Tel.: (374 1) 44-47-92; 44-47-93; 44-47-61; 44-47-32
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

*** NEW PUBLICATION

On the initiative of the Caucasus Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations,
the Tradition Of Solving Problems in the Caucasus and Methods of Civil
Society Institutes publication has been published. It is based on materials
from the Traditions of the People Diplomacy and Behavioral Norms in War and
Conflict Conditions in the Caucasus conference. Three chapters of the
publication – Traditions of War and Peace in the Caucasus: View from the
Inside; Self-Consciousness; Possible Activities of Civil Society in the
Caucasus in the Context of Current Conditions – are analytical articles and
reports on historical forms of being, Caucasian identification, traditions,
and localization of the western model of civil society. Opinions and
comments on these topics are also presented.

Contact: Caucasus Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations
25 Demirchyan Cul-de-Sac
Tel.: (374-1) 54-57-27
E-mail: [email protected]

***WEBSITE LAUNCH: COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN INFORMATION OFFICE

The newly-launched website provides information on the
activities of the Council of Europe in general and on CoE in Armenia
activities in particular. This English-Armenian website is both informative
and interactive: while the general materials on the Council of Europe and
Armenia ensure public awareness at large, the daily media digest, press
releases and news/announcements provide up-to-date information on CoE
developments with particular relevance to Armenia. One of the most striking
features of the website is the online virtual library.

Contact: Susan Marukhyan
Council of Europe Information Office in Armenia
10 David Anhaght St.
Tel.: (374-1) 24-38-92
E-mail: [email protected]

*** ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ROA MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND YOUTH AFFAIRS

The Youth Policy Department of the ROA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs
Administration is registering NGOs in order to develop a database of
organizations operating in the Republic of Armenia and dealing with youth
issues. Registered NGOs can post information and announcements about their
activities free of charge in the Skizb (Beginning) newsletter, funded by the
ROA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs. The NGO registration form is
available at the Youth Policy Department of the ROA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Affairs Administration.

Contact:
3rd Government Building, Republic Square, 7th floor
Tel./Fax: (374-1) 52-62-97
E-mail: [email protected]

____________________________________________________________________________
Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for
the NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is
provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Individual NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the
NGOC. The NGO Center is not responsible for the clarity of information
provided by individual NGOs.

Dear Readers,

The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector per any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.

Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.

Thank you.

Contact Information:

In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St.,
Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (3-741) 54-40-12; 54-40-13;
53-92-04
Fax: (3-741) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

In the United States:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZES MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
`ARMENIA / THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES’

Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
August 10, 2004

The Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
will hold an international conference on the theme `Armenia/the South
Caucasus and
Foreign Policy Challenges.’ The conference will be held at the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on October 21-24, 2004.

This unique gathering will bring together some thirty-five scholars,
past and present diplomats and conflict negotiators from over ten
countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran,
Europe, Canada, and the US to discuss the foreign policy problems and
prospects of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia as well as the conflict
resolution processes in the region, with special emphasis on Nagorno
Karabakh.

The conference is being organized by Prof. Gerard Libaridian (Department
of History) under the auspices of the Armenian Studies Program at the
University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with the support of the Center for Middle
Eastern and North African Studies, and is being cosponsored by the
Department of History, the Department of Near Eastern Studies, the
International Institute and others at the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor.

The conference will be open to the general public.

Details will be announced later and can be accessed on the website of
the Armenian Studies Program,

Inquiries can be made by writing to [email protected] or by
calling 734-764-0350.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/10/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Iran Expresses Willingness to Support Azeri Stance on Karabagh
2) Georgia’s South Ossetian Economic Minister Goes Missing Amid Tensions
3) Georgia, Russia Seek Peace Over Rebel Regions
4) Young Armenian Chess Players Return from European Championship With Gold
and
Silver Medals

1) Iran Expresses Willingness to Support Azeri Stance on Karabagh

TEHRAN (AZTAG)–During a recent press conference, Iranian Deputy Foreign
Minister Hamid Reza Asefi confirmed Azeri media reports about Iran’s
willingness to support Azerbaijan’s position on the Mountainous Karabagh
conflict. “[Iranian President] Khatami’s visit to Azerbaijan was very
successful and led to an important stage in the relations of the two
countries,” Asefi noted.
Asefi also noted that President Khatami expressed Iran’s desire for a
peaceful
resolution, which entails the maintenance of Azerbaijan’s territorial control
over the enclave.

2) Georgia’s South Ossetian Economic Minister Goes Missing Amid Tensions

TBILISI (AFP)–The economic minister of Georgia’s separatist region of South
Ossetia, Ruslan Pliyev, is missing after his empty car was found in a river, a
local television news station reported, as cited by Agence France-Presse.
This report comes amid growing tension in the former Soviet republic, with
its
new president, Mikhail Saakashvili, trying to win back control over his
fractured Caucasus state–having toppled the country’s leadership in a
peaceful
“rose revolution” last year. The news station–which has not been
identified–cited undisclosed sources as saying that foul play may have been
involved in the disappearance of Pliyev, who, the station said, is in conflict
with other leaders of the separatist pro-Moscow government in South Ossetia.
Georgian officials have so far made no official comments on the reported
disappearance. Nevertheless, the alleged incident adds to the confusion
surrounding relations between Georgia, the pro-Russian region, and Russia
itself, whose defense minister strongly rejected accusations that Moscow’s
planes are spying on Georgia.
“This is all nonsense and delirium,” Russian defense minister, Sergei Ivanov,
was quoted as saying by Interfax in Moscow. Nevertheless, Georgia’s interior
minister vowed last week to shoot down the next Russian military plane flying
over Georgia. Ivanov’s comments followed a tense meeting with Georgian defense
minister Georgy Baramidze, held in an effort to resolve a growing military
conflict in the corridor between South Ossetia and Georgia, presently guarded
by Russian troops.
The conflict has so far almost totally been reserved to a war of words, but
there has been sporadic gun fire and arrests of various peacekeepers in the
region. The talks in Moscow also focused on Abkhazia, another pro-Moscow
region
in Georgia that serves as a popular summer resort for Russians.
In blistering remarks, Saakashvili threatened last week to sink foreign ships
that enter the region without permission. “Abkhazia is not a place to holiday,
it is a war zone…(Russian) tourists have nothing to do there,” he said,
before leaving for a visit to the US. But, his deputies have since said that
his comments were misinterpreted by reporters, in a move clearly aimed at
appeasing relations with Moscow.
Seen as a young, popular reformer, Saakashvili has vowed to reunify his
fractured republic since toppling the administration of veteran leader Eduard
Shevardnadze in a peaceful revolution last year. He has also developed closer
relations with the West, and his country will soon be home to a key US-backed
oil pipeline that skirts Russian territory, despite being opposed by Moscow.

3) Georgia, Russia Seek Peace Over Rebel Regions

MOSCOW (Reuters)–Russia and Georgia’s defense ministers tried to calm
increasingly shrill rhetoric over two breakaway regions on Tuesday by
promising
to cooperate in the search for a peaceful solution, Russian news agencies
reported. Georgia’s determination to bring South Ossetia and Abkhazia under
central control–spelling the end of a decade of rule by separatists with
support in Moscow–has sparked saber-rattling that over the past few weeks
threatened to turn into bloodshed.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia was ready to hand over two
Soviet-era military bases in Georgia–one in the capital Tbilisi and one in
the
southern town of Akhalkalak.
“In the near future we are prepared to hand them over to the Georgian Defense
Ministry–only the Georgian Defense Ministry–under an agreement,” RIA-Novosti
news agency quoted Ivanov as saying, without giving details of the agreement.
His Georgian counterpart Georgy Baramidze, visiting Moscow for three days,
praised his hosts for their approach.
“Russia’s sincerity in the search for a peaceful solution is very
encouraging,” Itar-Tass quoted him as saying.
“My Russian colleague and I have discussed the situation in the conflict
regions and how to minimize the risks for peacekeepers and peaceful citizens.
No reasonable country could have any interest in inflaming the conflict,”
Baramidze said.
The two also said they hoped to renew contacts between their militaries,
which
Ivanov said “does not need colossal steps–it’s enough just to make an
agreement and stick to it.”
Baramidze said developing Georgia’s air defenses was one potential area of
cooperation.
The apparent thaw comes less than a week after US Secretary of State Colin
Powell called for dialogue between the two sides–despite Moscow warning
Washington not to get involved.
The United States and Russia are rivals for influence in Georgia,
which–despite poverty and a history of ethnic conflict–is strategically
placed as a future conduit for massive Caspian oil resources to the
energy-hungry West.
Georgia’s US-educated President Mikhail Saakashvili, who won a landslide
election in January, has helped to escalate the disputes over the two regions
by insisting they must bow to his rule, surrendering their powers and taxes to
Tbilisi.
He angered Russians last week by saying Georgian forces would sink Russian
tour boats plying the Black Sea coast of breakaway Abkhazia, a popular beach
holiday destination for Russians since Soviet times.
The Vedomosti business daily dubbed him “our Fidel,” comparing him to Cuban
leader Fidel Castro for his hot-headed rhetoric in defiance of the dominant
power in the region.
In a potential twist to the row over one of the regions, Georgian police
found
the economy minister of the unrecognized South Ossetian government dead in a
river on Tuesday. It was not clear if he had crashed his car, found in a
nearby
gully.

4) Young Armenian Chess Players Return from European Championship With Gold
and
Silver Medals

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The European Junior Chess Championship, held in the
Turkish city of Urgup, came to a close with 670 representatives from various
countries having participated in ten tournaments held simultaneously in five
age groups. Armenia participated in the Championship with 14 boys and girls
performing in all age groups.
Ten year-old Robert Aghasarian from Yerevan performed successfully, earning
7.5 out of possible 9 points. He placed first for the highest tournament
coefficients, acquiring the title of European champion and won a gold medal.
Samvel Ter-Sahakian from Vanadzor, the European champion of last year, also
had high standings. He performed in the 12-year age group this year, earning
7.5 points. The chess player earned second place, and was awarded with a
silver
medal.
Fourteen year-old Varduhi Kalashian (fourth place) from Gyumri, 16-year-old
Zaven Andreasian from Yerevan (eighth place), and 18-year-old Liana Aghabekian
from Vanadzor (ninth place) also performed successfully in the tournament.

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