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10/28/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) "Kef For Kerry" Concert Tour Rallies South Florida for Democratic Nominee 2) Four Unrecognized Republics to Hold Exercises in S. Ossetia 3) Livingston: Kerry Tied up with 'Armenian Genocide' Statements 4) UN Panel Recommends Debate on Occupied Azeri Lands 5) Greece Refuses to Cede Any Sovereignty to Turkey 6) International Forum on Armenian Farming, Agribusiness 7) MPs Forced to Learn Armenian Anthem 8) llham Aliyev Ends Checkered Year As President on Wednesday 9) AzerbaijanForBush.com 1) "Kef For Kerry" Concert Tour Rallies South Florida for Democratic Nominee --MA State Rep. Peter Koutoujian; Gwen Graham Among Special Guests --Sen. Graham Set to Cosponsor Genocide Resolution (S.Res.164) FORT LAUDERDALE--Over 200 Armenian Americans from South Florida's Tri-County area (Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties) donned "Armenians for Kerry" and "Armenstock 2004" t-shirts and danced the evening away at the Las Olas Riverfront Sunday, in support of John Kerry's presidential bid, reported the Armenian National Committee of Florida. The concert, organized as part of the nationwide "Kef for Kerry Tour of Battleground States," featured the Cascade Folk Trio and included special guests--Massachusetts State Representative Peter Koutoujian, Gwen Graham, daughter of US Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) representing the Kerry/Edwards Campaign, and ANCA Government Affairs Director Abraham Niziblian. Between musical sets, Gwen Graham reminded the attendees about the Democratic Presidential candidate's strong record on Armenian American concerns and read a special message from Sen. Kerry to the Florida Armenian community. In the letter, Sen. Kerry restated his commitment to proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide. "I want to assure you, as President, I will continue to fight against denial of the Armenian Genocide," explained Sen. Kerry. Following cheers from the crowd, Graham went a step further to announce that her father, Sen. Bob Graham, has also pledged to co-sponsor the Genocide resolution, S.Res.164, making him the first Florida Senator to support a similar initiative. Introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ), S.Res.164 marks the 15th anniversary of the US implementation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. With the addition of Sen. Graham, the legislation will have 41 cosponsors. State Representative Peter Koutoujian (D-MA) electrified the crowd, making a compelling case for Armenian-Americans and all Americans to cast their vote for the Kerry/Edwards ticket. "John Kerry has been a true friend to Armenian-Americans. Whether it has been fighting for recognition of the Armenian Genocide or providing for Karabagh's security, Senator Kerry deserves our vote based on his impeccable record," said Koutoujian. He charismatically emphasized the importance of voting and especially voting for Senator John Kerry, whose twenty years of support for Armenian issues earned him an unequivocal endorsement from the Armenian National Committee of America. "On behalf of the Florida Armenian community, we would like to thank Sen. Graham for his principled stand in support of the Genocide resolution," stated ANC of Florida Chairman Bedo Der-Bedrossian. "As we approach the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we look forward to working with the Florida Senate and House delegation in the 109th Congress to ensure proper US reaffirmation of this crime against humanity. We also greatly appreciate Representative Koutoujian's participation in our Kef for Kerry event. During his two day stay dedicated to rallying Armenian-Americans behind John Kerry, he has attended numerous community events and significantly strengthened the ANC of South Florida's effort to get out the Armenian vote." Community support for the evening was tremendous, primarily due to a far-reaching internet and e-mail campaign and traditional canvassing by Florida ANC activists. Armenian Americans throughout South Florida, both active and new to community affairs, attended the gathering. "I am very happy you found my name," said Florida Atlantic University student Karina Azrumova. "We were thrilled by the turnout of this wonderful event and look forward to expanding our outreach to all facets of the Florida Armenian community as we work to advance the issues of concern dear to our hearts," concluded Bedo Der-Bedrossian. Billed as the Armenian version of Bruce Springsteen's "Vote for Change" tour, the "Kef for Kerry Tour of Battleground States" visited Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania during the final three weeks of October. Modeled after Armenstock 2004, each stop on the tour combines a single musical performance with a political program designed to generate enthusiasm among young activists and bring in hundreds of new fellow passengers onto the Armenians for Kerry bandwagon. The battleground states chosen for the Tour have sizable Armenian communities and are expected to play a pivotal role in the outcome of the presidential election this year. For more information about the Kef for Kerry Tour of Battleground States, visit: The Kef for Kerry tour is made possible by a generous contribution from Dr. Carolann and K. George Najarian. 2) Four Unrecognized Republics to Hold Exercises in S. Ossetia MOSCOW (Interfax)--The Defense Ministries of four unrecognized republics--Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Mountainous Karabagh and Transdniestria--will hold joint military exercises before the end of the year, a source in the Abkhaz Defense Ministry told Interfax on Thursday. "Task groups from the defense ministries will hold joint training for response to armed incursions before the end of this year," the source said. "All these republics do not rule out that the armed forces of countries to which our republics used to belong may try to restore control by force. The most apparent danger exists for South Ossetia and Abkhazia," he said. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are legally provinces of Georgia, but conflicts in the 1990s led to their de facto independence. Azerbaijan lost control of Mountainous Karabagh, and Moldova lost control of Transdniestria at approximately the same time. All of these unrecognized republics are seeking international recognition, while Tbilisi, Baku, and Chisinau are stepping up efforts to restore control over their breakaway provinces. 3) Livingston: Kerry Tied up with 'Armenian Genocide' Statements WASHINGTON, DC (Zaman)--According to the Turkish newspaper Zaman Daily, a founding partner of the firm that officially lobbies in Washington on behalf of the Turkish government remarked that Democratic presidential candidate Kerry has entrapped himself with his statements on the Armenian genocide "I am afraid that if Kerry is elected president, there may be big a change in American policy on the genocide issue," Bob Livingston, the chairman of The Livingston Group is quoted as saying. 4) UN Panel Recommends Debate on Occupied Azeri Lands YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--A key United Nations committee has backed Azerbaijan's calls for the UN General Assembly to discuss the resettlement of Armenian families on Armenian-controlled Azerbaijani territories around Mountainous Karabagh. Meeting in New York on Wednesday, the UN's General Committee voted to recommend the inclusion of the issue on the agenda of the assembly's ongoing session. The move was demanded by Azerbaijan and strongly backed by representatives of Muslim nations, including Pakistan and Turkey, which sit on the panel. The recommendation was considered to have passed, even though only 9 of the 28 committee members voted for it, while 14 others, including a US diplomat, abstained. There were no votes against. The General Assembly now has to decide whether it wants to consider the issue. Azerbaijan's permanent representative to the UN, Yashar Aliyev, reportedly accused Armenians of building settlements on the occupied lands. "Azerbaijan will not tolerate colonization of its territory," he said. Aliyev called for international pressure on Armenia which he said is keen to change "the demographic situation" in the zone of the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. Aliyev's Armenian counterpart Armen Martirosian, opposed a debate on the issue and denied the existence of an Armenian policy of resettlement. A French member of the UN committee, speaking on behalf of the French, Russian, and US co-chairs of the Minsk Group, also spoke out against raising the issue with the General Assembly, warning of "negative consequences" for the peace process. "We state once again that there is no official policy of resettlement," the spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparian, said in a statement earlier on Wednesday. He accused Baku of seeking to deflect international attention from Karabagh's future status. Continued Armenian control of Lachin seems to have been upheld by all peace proposals put forward by the mediators over the past decade. 5) Greece Refuses to Cede Any Sovereignty to Turkey ATHENS (AFP)--Greece said on Wednesday it would not even slightly cede its sovereignty to Turkey, after accusing Ankara of almost daily violations of its air and maritime space in the past few days. "Turkey has its own positions and we stand by our own. We are not going to give up a centimeter of our sovereign rights," deputy government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros told a news conference in Athens. The Greek military authorities on Wednesday reported new Turkish violations on Greek airspace in the Aegean Sea. "Thirteen violations of Greek airspace took place on Wednesday, while three clashes (between Greek and Turkish planes) took place near the Greek islands of Chios, Lesbos, and Limnos," military spokesman Constantin Loukopoulos said. Improved bilateral ties with Greece, a European Union member, is of particular importance to EU candidate Turkey as it awaits a crucial December decision from Brussels on whether it will be given a date to start full membership talks. Although strained ties between the two neighbors have improved significantly since 1999, spats in the Aegean have been frequent for years as Athens and Ankara remain at loggerheads over territorial and air control rights there. The Turkish foreign ministry denied Monday the Greek charges, saying that Turkish ships and planes had been carrying out routine training operations in the area. Greece said it supports Turkey's integration in Europe but has not clarified if it will come out in favor of Ankara`s EU bid in December. 6) International Forum on Armenian Farming, Agribusiness YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--Hundreds of Armenian farmers and agribusiness owners joined experts from 27 countries for an international conference on ways of boosting Armenia's struggling agriculture, which began its work in Yerevan on Thursday. The opening session of the three-day forum was attended by senior Armenian officials and representatives of Western donor agencies and other international institutions. The latter pledged continued assistance to the sector which generates at least 20 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Liz Grande, the head of the United Nations mission in Yerevan said that low-income Armenian farmers can hardly boost their productivity without obtaining machines and other equipment. According to Zareh Izmirlian of the US-Armenian Technology Group, Armenian agriculture can not be competitive without the necessary equipment. "Our overall impression is that Armenian agriculture is not competitive at the moment," he said. At the forum, The World Bank also pledged to continue its financing of the Armenian government's irrigation and rural infrastructure projects. The conference was timed to coincide with an exhibition of various agricultural products by some 60 Armenian firms. Their owners cited a wide range of problems hampering further growth of the sector, that has expanded considerably since the late 1990s. 7) MPs Forced to Learn Armenian Anthem YEREVAN (RFE/RL)Members of Armenia's parliament will be obliged to know the full text of the national anthem by heart under a proposed code of ethics to be debated by the National Assembly soon. The legislation has been drafted by the parliament's committee on legal affairs and formally endorsed by the leaders of parliament's majority. "I think that the deputies must really know it by heart," said Mher Shahgeldian, a senior lawmaker representing the Orinats Yerkir party. Other majority leaders appeared to speak for many of their colleagues when they admitted that their knowledge of the anthem's lyrics leaves much to be desired. "I don't know the full text of the state anthem. It's very difficult for me learn this anthem," said Galust Sahakian, the leader of the Republican Party. "Nobody has the right to teach anyone something by law," Sahakian complained before assuring reporters that he will try to comply with the measure. "That's OK," said deputy speaker Vahan Hovannisian. "He'll learn. It's not that tough." "I knew it even before it was adopted as national anthem," Hovannisian added, referring to the Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland) song the lyrics of which are based on a 19th century verse by Mikael Nalbandian, a prominent Armenian poet. The song was also the national anthem of the first independent Armenian republic that existed from 1918-20, which founded and governed by Hovannisian's Armenian Revolutionary Federation party. The proposed code of ethics, which is meant to prevent deputies from bringing the assembly into disrepute, has already sparked debate due to some of its controversial provisions. Under one of those provisions, lawmakers would not be allowed to publicly comment on criminal cases before court verdicts. Sahakian appeared to be unaware of that despite signing the draft code along with fellow faction leaders recently. "If there is such stupidity [in the code], I will fight hard against it," he said. "Deputies must have a right to make political assessments." The parliament's second vice-speaker, Tigran Torosian, has also expressed serious misgivings about the bill. 8) llham Aliyev Ends Checkered Year As President on Wednesday By Jean-Christophe Peuch On October 31, 2003, 41-year-old Ilham Aliyev formally succeeded his ailing father as president of the oil-rich Caspian republic of Azerbaijan. While taking the oath on the Koran and Azerbaijan's Constitution, Aliyev pledged to bring his country "peace, order, progress, stability, and economic prosperity," and to pursue a path toward democratic reforms. While Aliyev's first year in power has brought some positive changes, he seems unableor unwilling to make a clean break with his father's controversial legacy. PRAGUETo be sure, Ilham Aliyev's mandate started under unfavorable circumstances. The day following his election on October 15, 2003, tens of thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets of Baku to protest the outcome. The protesters called the vote fraudulent and claimed that their candidateMusavat Party leader Isa Qambarhad garnered more votes than any other contender. At least one person was killed in clashes with police. In the following weeks, authorities arrested hundreds of opposition activists, closed Musavat headquarters, and imposed a ban on antigovernment newspapers. Restrictions were subsequently eased. The vast majority of detainees were released after spending a few weeks in jail, where they reportedly endured ill treatment. Seven opposition leaders, however, went on trial for allegedly inciting Baku residents to revolt. On October 22, Azerbaijan's Court for Serious Crimes sentenced them to jail terms of up to five years. International organizations and human rights groups have condemned the ruling and criticized Azeri authorities for failing to grant the defendants a fair trial. For Baku-based political expert Rasim Musabeyov, last week's ruling is characteristic of the new regime. "In this respect, [one sees] little difference between Azerbaijan, Russia, or Armenia. Yet what is even worse is that [Azerbaijan] starts looking like [some] Central [Asian countries]. This is certainly not an innovation brought by the younger Aliyev," Musabeyov said. "The existing system largely owes to the elder Aliyev. Yet, the big difference [between the two men] is that the elder Aliyev felt strong and confident enough to put up with a regime of semi-freedom. But when the younger Aliyev assumed power, the ruling elite became, if not afraid, at least wary and less prone to tolerate that regime of semi-freedom." Critics generally blame Aliyev for not addressing corruption and for failing to bring new blood into Azerbaijan's political elite. As evidence, Musabeyov cites conclusions made by the Freedom House nongovernmental organization. In its 2004 report on civil liberties worldwide, the Washington-based group downgraded Azerbaijan to its list of "not free" nations, down from its previous status of "partly free." Not everyone in Azerbaijan believes Aliyev's human rights record is poorer than that of his father, however. Independent expert Sahin Rzayev of the Moscow-based Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, said that, despite last week's court ruling, the past year has brought some improvements in Azerbaijan's human rights record. Rzayev in particular cites Aliyev's decision to pardon four prominent political prisoners. Iskander Hamidov, Suret Huseynov, Ilqar Safihanov, and Alikram Hummatov had been sentenced to between 14 years and life imprisonment under the elder Aliyev, and the Council of Europe had long pressed for their release. "One has to note that Azerbaijan has fulfilled nearly all its obligations before the Council of Europe with regard to political prisoners," Rzayev said. "Some 923 prisoners have been amnestied. Aliyev signed four pardon decrees and, with a few exceptions, nearly all the political prisoners listed as such by human rights groups have been released by now. Some have remained in Azerbaijan, others have left the country." Rzayev also disagrees with the widespread view that Aliyev is less shrewd and astute than his father. He argues that even after his father's death last December, Aliyev has shown enough political clout to survive infighting among the ruling elite. "[Aliyev] is surrounded by people with whom he can work and whom he trusts. Yet, one can feels frictions and disagreements among the ruling elite," Rzayev said. "Conventionally speaking, one could say the infighting pits 'young reformers' against 'old conservatives.' But it is very difficult to figure out what is really going on because these things are not debated publicly. These frictions started already during Heidar Aliyev's illness, when nobody really knew what would happen next, and they are more acute now." Critics generally blame Aliyev for not addressing corruption and for failing to bring new blood into Azerbaijan's political elite. With a few exceptions, most of Heidar Aliyev's cabinet ministers have retained their jobs, and corruption remains rampant among state officials. Political analyst Musabeyov argues that this is evidence that Aliyev's government differs little from that of his father. "I would say this is a stagnation in Azerbaijan's life," Musabeyov said. "The inertia that used to characterize the final years of the elder Aliyev's rule is continuing under the younger Aliyev." Confronted with such criticism, the government has responded by noting economic improvements over the past year. It claims gross domestic product has increased in recent months, while inflation has been curbed and thousands of new jobs created. But analysts question official figures and say increased national revenues stem largely from favorable circumstances on the world energy market, not from real economic growth. Rzayev says that although hydrocarbons account for some 85 percent of Azerbaijan's export revenues, the recent hike in world oil prices has not benefited the country's impoverished population. "Unfortunately, this [cash flow] does not reach the population. The authorities are placing it on a special stabilization fund," Rzayev said. "Starting from 1 January, retail prices such as that of gas and other energy products will increase. I would say that, for the population, things have deteriorated [compared to the times of Heidar Aliyev]. Life has become even harder, and people have the right to ask why." The government says its oil stabilization fund may be used in the future to finance social projects and improve the country's depleted infrastructure. But with an annual inflation rate estimated at around 20 percent, few in Azerbaijan pay attention to the government's promises. 9) AzerbaijanForBush.com An independent website created by Azeri-Americans--AzerbaijanForBush.com, provides a clear look at Azerbaijan's view on the presidential candidates. The website comes out in full support of President Bush's policies, which it says have supported the independence and security of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It says that President Bush's administration has sought to de-link American aid to Azerbaijan from aid to Armenia, reflecting a belief that each of America's allies should be dealt with on its own merits. It also reports that "President Bush has worked to abolish US sanctions against Azerbaijan instigated by the Armenian lobby in 1992. By contrast, Senator Kerry was a sponsor of that pro-Armenian legislation." In its report card comapring President Bush to Senator Kerry, the website notes that while Bush is not endorsed by any Armenian or pro-Armenian political parties, news organizations, or NGOs, Senator Kerry's campaign is supported by the Armenian political parties in America, including the ARF, which it calls "the notorious Armenian Revolutionary Federation historically supporting terrorism, the Hunchakyan (the Bell)," as well as the Armenian National Committee of America, calling it the "main Armenian lobby and propaganda organization." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Results
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Oct 28, 2004
Rugby union
WELSH PREMIERSHIP
Llanelli 24 Bridgend 3
Rugby league
REPRESENTATIVE MATCH
Cumbria 12 Anzac RL 64
Tennis
ATP ST PETERSBURG OPEN (Russia)
First round: K Beck (Slovak) bt J Vanek (Cz) 6-3 6-2; M Kohlmann (Ger) bt G
Carraz (Fr) 4-6 6-3 6-4; M Youzhny (Rus) bt A Ram (Isr) 2-6 7-6 7-6; S Sargsian
(Arm) bt I Labadze (Geo) 4-6 6-1 6-2; M Safin (Rus) bt A Peya (Aut) 7-6 3-1
ret.
Second round: J Benneteau (Fr) bt G Muller (Lux) 6-4 7-5; G Rusedski (GB) bt
R Stepanek (Cz) 7-6 4-6 6-4; C Saulnier (Fr) bt M Fish (US) 6-7 6-4 6-3; K
Beck (Slovak) bt N Davydenko (Rus) 6-1 6-7 6-4.
ATP SWISS INDOORS (Basel)
First round: B Ulihrach (Cz) bt L Horna (Per) 6-1 ret; I Heuberger (Switz) bt
T Dent (US) 6-2 6-3; M Zabaleta (Arg) bt V Hanescu (Rom) 7-6 5-7 7-6; G
Gaudio (Arg) bt D Norman (Bel) 7-6 6-4; J Haehnel (Fr) bt F Gonzalez (Chile) 6-3
6-4; T Henman (GB) bt A Dupuis (Fr) 6-3 6-4; I Ljubicic (Cro) bt J Ignacio Chela
(Arg) 6-3 6-4; D Nalbandian (Arg) bt M Ancic (Cro) 6-4 6-3; W Moodie (SA) bt
P Starace (It) 6-4 6-4; V Spadea (US) bt F Volandri (It) 6-3 4-0 ret; N Massu
(Chile) bt M Kratochvil (Switz) 6-3 6-2.
ATP STOCKHOLM OPEN
First round: J Johansson (Swe) bt A Garcia (Chile) 6-4 6-2; R Soderling (Swe)
bt T Enqvist (Swe) 7-6 6-3; M Tabara (Cz) bt P Kohlschreiber (Ger) 6-0 6-4; M
Ryderstedt (Swe) bt O Hernandez (Sp) 6-4 6-4; R Sluiter (Neth) bt J Frode
Andersen (Nor) 6-3 6-4; J Bjorkman (Swe) bt W Arthurs (Aus) 4-6 6-4 6-4; A Agassi
(US) bt K Vilegen (Bel) 6-2 6-4.
Second round: O Rochus (Bel) bt J Tipsarevic (Ser) 6-4 7-5; A Pavel (Rom) bt
M Tabara (Cz) 6-3 3-6 6-3.
WTA SEAT OPEN (Luxembourg)
First round: T Golovin (Fr) bt A-L Groenefeld (Ger) 6-2 6-3; M Antonia
Sanchez- Lorenzo (Sp) bt V Ruano Pascual (Sp) 6-4 6-3; K Pesche (Cz) bt C Schaul
(Lux) 6-7 6-2 6-0.
Second round: S Farina Elia (It) bt T Pisnik (Sloven) 6-4 6-0; Golovin bt M
Weingartner (Ger) 6-3 6-4; A Ivanovic (Ser) bt S Asagoe (Jpn) 4-6 6-4 6-1; D
Randriantefy (Mad) bt M Pierce (Fr) 6-4 3-6 6-3.
WTA GENERALI (Linz)
First round: A Sugiyama (Japan) bt M Vento-Kabchi (Ven) 6-0 6-0; M
Domachowska (Pol) bt F Zuluaga (Col) 6-1 6-7 6-4; J Jankovic (Ser) bt P Schnyder (Switz)
6-2 6-2; B Schett (Aut) bt M Sucha (Slovak) 6-4 6-4.
Second round: E Bovina (Rus) bt M Bartoli (Fr) 6-3 6-1; A Jidkova (Rus) bt S
Williams (US) 7-6 6-2; N Petrova (Rus) bt E Likhovtseva (Rus) 6-2 5-7 6-3.
LTA SATELLITE (Nottingham)
Second round: J Goodall (GB) bt S Boretti (Nor) 4-6 6-2 6-4; L Childs (GB) bt
R Hutchins (GB) 6-2 6-4; T Rushby (GB) bt S Sadovich (Can) 3-6 6-3 7-6; D
Sherwood (GB) bt M Smith (GB) 6-2 6-2; M Hilton (GB) bt T Burn (GB) 6-4 6-2; A
Banks (GB) bt M Lee (GB) 4-6 6-4 6-1; J Auckland (GB) bt T Sanna (It) 6-0 6-2; J
Baker (GB) bt G Thomas (GB) 7-5 4-6 6-3.
Baseball
WORLD SERIES
Game Three: St Louis Cardinals 1 Boston Red Sox 4. (Boston lead series 3-0).
WOMEN’S MATCHPLAY (New Zealand)
Final: N Stratford (NZ) bt L Trigwell (SA) 9-6 8-8.
Cricket
Bangladesh v New Zealand
Chittagong
NEW ZEALAND: First innings (overnight: 338-3)
*S P Fleming c Mushfiqur Rahman b Rajin Saleh 202
N J Astle lbw b Mohammad Rafique 39
H J H Marshall c Tapash Baisya b Enamul Haque jnr 69
J D P Oram not out 38
*B B McCullum not out 17
Extras (b9, lb11, w2, nb18, pens, 0) 40
Total (for 6 dec, 152 overs) 545
Fall: 49, 61, 265, 364, 447, 517.
Did not bat: D L Vettori, J E C Franklin, P J Wiseman.
Bowling: Tapash Baisya 17-0-82-0; Mushfiqur Rahman 15-1-68-0; Mohammad
Rafique 55-12-130-3; Enamul Haque jnr 42-4-142-2; Rajin Saleh 19-0-81-1; Mohammad
Ashraful 1-0-5-0; Alok Kapali 3-0-17-0.
BANGLADESH: First innings
Nafis Iqbal c Styris b Vettori 13
Javed Omar not out 45
Aftab Ahmed lbw b Vettori 20
Rajin Saleh c Sinclair b Wiseman 2
Extras (w1, nb1, pens, 0) 2
Total (for 3, 32.3 overs) 82
Fall: 34, 66, 82.
To bat: Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, **Khaled Mashud, Mushfiqur Rahman,
Tapash Baisya, Enamul Haque jnr, Mohammad Rafique.
Bowling: Oram 5-0-20-0; Franklin 3-0-14-0; Vettori 13-7-23-2; Wiseman
11.3-2-25-1.
Umpires: M R Benson and D J Harper.
Chess
36TH OLYMPIAD (Calvia, Spain)
Eleventh round (of 14): Men: Ukraine 3-1 Cuba; Russia 2.5-1.5 US; Switzerland
1.5-2.5 Armenia; Azerbaijan 1-3 Israel; India 3.5-0.5 Canada; Indonesia 1-3
England (M Adams 0.5, N Short 1, J Speelman 0.5, P Wells 1); Spain C 1-3
Scotland; Ireland 1-3 Andorra; Wales 3.5-0.5 Thailand. Leaders: Ukraine 32; Russia
29.5; Armenia 29; Israel 28; India, US 27.5. Also: England 24.5; Scotland 23.5;
Wales 22.5; Ireland 21.5.
Women: Hungary 1.5-1.5 China; India 0.5-2.5 Georgia; Slovakia 1-2 US;
Lithuania 0.5-2.5 France; Mongolia 0-3 England (J Houska 1, H Richards 1, M Buckley
1); Wales 1.5-1.5 Estonia; Ireland 1-2 Tajikistan. Leaders: China 26; Georgia
22; US, Hungary 21.5; France, England 21. Also: Wales 15; Ireland 14.
Ice hockey
ELITE LEAGUE
Challenge Cup: Group B: Nottingham 1 Belfast 2.
Fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
Football
INTERNATIONAL
Mexico v Ecuador (1.0am).
VICTORY SHIELD
Scotland U-16 v Wales U-16 (7.35).
Cricket
SECOND TEST
*Karachi: Pakistan v Sri Lanka (6.0am).

CENN – OCTOBER 28, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Ex-Chief of GIOC to Advise Azeri Oil Company
2. Experts Propose New Method for Energy Tariff Calculation
3. $ 170 mln. Allocates for State oil Company
4. Cooperation Between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Field of Ecology
Impossible
5. Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran Prepare to Synchronize Energy Systems
6. International Energy Agency’s world energy outlook runs out of
control
7. Russia Eyes the Kyoto Market
8. IUCN Welcomes Russia’s Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
9. Regional Winners of 2004 Reuters-IUCN Environmental Media Awards
Announced
1. EX-CHIEF OF GIOC TO ADVISE AZERI OIL COMPANY
Source: Civil.ge, October 28, 2004
Azeri news agencies report that ex-chief of Georgian International Oil
Company (GIOC) Gia Chanturia was appointed as an advisor for the Azeri
State Oil Company. According to the reports Mr. Chanturia would
coordinate on Georgia-related projects with the Azeri company.
Mr. Chanturia presided over GIOC since its inception in 1995 and was
considered one of the closest allies of President Eduard Shevardnadze.
He was in charge of negotiating and implementing the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines. Before the
November 2003 Rose Revolution, it was rumored that Chanturia may succeed
Shevardnadze after his retirement in 2005. Mikheil Saakashvili dismissed
Gia Chanturia on September 9, 2004.
Azeri internet portal Day.Az speculates that an arrest warrant on Mr.
Chanturia was issued in Georgia, but Azeri President Ilham Aliev vouched
for him with Saakashvili, who agreed on the condition that Chanturia
leaves Georgia.
2. EXPERTS PROPOSE NEW METHOD FOR ENERGY TARIFF CALCULATION
Source: Sarke, October 27, 2004
Experts have proposed to review the energy tariff in case of the 7 per
cent change of the lari exchange rate instead of the current 5 per cent,
according to the National Energy Regulation Commission. Temur
Torjanidze, a professor, and Levan Jamberia, a programmer from the
Razmadze Mathematics Institute, have worked out an adequate mathematic
model.
3. $ 170 MLN ALLOCATES FOR STATE OIL COMPANY
Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag,
October 25, 2004
Agreement on allocation of the credit in $ 170 mln will be signed
between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic / SOCAR/ and
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development / EBRD/ in Baku, AzerTAj
correspondent reports.
$110 mln will be spent for financing of 10% share of Shah-Deniz gas
condensate well, as well as $60 mln for trusteeship on the construction
of the Southern Caucasus gas pipeline.
4. COOPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA IN THE FIELD OF ECOLOGY
IMPOSSIBLE
Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag,
October 26, 2004
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the field of ecology is
impossible since the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict is
not settled. Minister of ecology and natural resources of Azerbaijan
Huseyngulu Bagirov at conference of the ministers of environment of the
countries of the East Europe, Caucasus and the Central Asia, which was
taken place in Tbilisi, stated it. Officials have taken part in work of
conference from the European Union, the USA, and also representatives of
some international organizations.
As was informed to correspondent of AzerTAj in the press-service of the
ministry of ecology and natural resources, during discussions around the
question on regional cooperation and presentation of the report
Environment and the initiative of safety on the Southern Caucasus,
prepared by OSCE, UNDP and the Program of the United Nations on
environment, the head of the Azerbaijan delegation, minister Huseyngulu
Bagirov in reply to the offer of the international organizations
concerning cooperation with Armenia, has called them to act from real
positions and has stated that in conditions of absence of safety for
life of people in zone of the conflict there can not be a speech about
the solution of problems of ecological safety in any way. It has been
marked, that as a result of occupational policy of Armenia, serious
damage was caused to the unique nature of region, and natural riches of
Azerbaijan are plundered. Non-alignment of some countries of region to
the conventions regulating ecological questions of trans-national
character prevents solution of available problems, in particular,
connected with the Kur River.
At the conference, also were discussed realization of ecological
strategy for the countries of the East Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
adopted at the Kiev conference of ministers of environment of the
European countries last year. The head of the Azerbaijan delegation who
has acted at the Conference, devoted to questions of partnership of
private and public sectors at realization of strategy, has told about
the successes achieved in Azerbaijan in sphere of preservation of
environment, and on the basis of concrete examples has informed on
synthesis of private and public sectors in the decision of environmental
problems.
During discussion of the questions of partnership between the
countries-participants of strategy and international donors, the
Azerbaijani minister, speaking about donors in solution of environmental
problems, with the purpose to reduce dependence on the donor assistance,
has expressed a wish about more effective utilization of national
resource.
Minister Huseyngulu Bagirov has carried out in Tbilisi also a number of
meetings – with the prime minister of Georgia Zurab Zhvania, minister of
protection of environment and natural resources of this country Tamara
Lebanidze and minister of Moldova – Konstantin Mikhailesku, and also
with heads of the international organizations.
5. AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA, IRAN PREPARE TO SYNCHRONIZE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Source: RFE/RL Newsline, 28 October, 2004
A draft agreement has been prepared that will pave the way for an
exchange of electric power between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran,
Interfax reported on 26 October citing the Azerenergy press service.
Russian Unified Energy Systems (EES) chief Anatolii Chubais discussed
the draft agreement, under which the three countries would provide each
other with power during winter months and in the case of emergency, with
President Aliyev during a visit to Baku last week. ITAR-TASS on 20
October quoted Chubais as telling journalists in Baku that a
Russian-Azerbaijani delegation will travel to Iran shortly in the hope
of finalizing the exchange agreement.
6. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY’S WORLD ENERGY OUTLOOK RUNS OUT OF
CONTROL
Source: ENWL-eng, October 28, 2004
Amsterdam, October 26th 2004 — Greenpeace today criticized the
International Energy Agency (IEA) to fail to properly assess the world’s
energy trends for the next decades in its “World Energy Outlook 2004”
which was presented today. The IEA contradicts its own publications on
energy efficiency and ignores the scientifically recognized need for an
urgent, global shift away from fossil fuels in the interest of
protecting the climate.
“With this report, the IEA sends a dangerous signal to policy makers and
the industry worldwide to continue to massively waste energy, burn
fossil fuels and forget about climate change,” says Jan Vande Putte of
Greenpeace International.
The IEA today presented its annual ‘World Energy Outlook’, which
predicts that if governments stick with the policies in force, the
world’s energy needs will be almost 60% higher in 2030 than they are
now, electricity demand will double and CO2 emissions will increase by
more than 60%.
In IEA’s view, fossil fuels will continue to dominate, with shares of
nuclear power and renewable energy remaining limited. Furthermore, they
neglect their own research on energy efficiency (1) and disregard the
draft EU directive on energy efficiency, which sets an objective of
decreasing energy demand by 1% per year (2).
Aside from their ‘Reference’ scenario, the IEA is presenting an
‘Alternative’ scenario with a decrease of CO2 emissions by 16%, needing
a “technological breakthrough” and a shift to renewable and nuclear
power.
“Despite the ‘Alternative’ scenario, the IEA remains fixated on old and
dirty fossil fuel technologies, and neglects the ongoing boom of
renewable energy technologies,” says Jan Vande Putte. “Wind energy has
been growing at an average of 30% over the last decade and is costs
competitive with coal and cheaper then nuclear power, despite massive
subsidies for both dirty technologies.” (3)
The UK government’s Energy Review estimates that by 2020 wind power
will be the cheapest available electricity source, even beating gas. A
report from Greenpeace and the European Wind Energy Association
estimates that by 2020, more than 12% of the global electricity needs
could be generated by wind. The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC)
(4) estimated that by 2030, renewables could supply 35% of the global
energy needs.
“By massively investing in available renewable and efficiency
technologies and ruling out dirty and expensive nuclear and fossil
fuels, a genuinely sustainable energy sector is possible.” said Jan
Vande Putte. “With an estimated 16 trillion dollars to be invested in
the next 25 years, the world has a clear choice: either put the money in
destruction or in solutions.”
Notes to Editor:
1) IEA, Cool Appliances – Policy Strategies for Energy Efficient Homes
Paris, 2003.
2) 2) European Commission, Proposal for a Directive on the Promotion of
End-use efficiency and Energy Services, COM (2003) 739 final
3) EWEA and GREENPEACE, Wind Force 12. May 2004.
d%20Force%2012.pdf)
4) EREC, Renewable Energy Scenario to 2040. 2004.
cenario%202040.pdf
7. RUSSIA EYES THE KYOTO MARKET
Source: ENWL-eng, October 28, 2004
LONDON, Oct 22 (IPS) – Nobody stands to gain more than Russia through
its move to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement to cut
atmosphere-warming emissions and through that to contain climate change.
Clearly Russian President Vladimir Putin did not wake up one day and
decide to do his bit to cool down a warming atmosphere. Ratification had
its reported opponents within Russia but few can argue that at least for
the next eight years Russia has much to gain and little to lose.
Ratification by the Lower Duma is expected to be approved by the upper
house of Parliament and then by President Putin, all within the next
couple of weeks. That would then satisfy conditions for the Kyoto
Protocol to come into force.
The protocol had been awaiting ratification by at least 55 countries
said to be producing at least 55 percent of greenhouse gases
(principally carbon dioxide and methane that are said to cause global
warming). Russian entry would take it past the barrier.
The Kyoto Protocol would bind signatory countries to reduce emissions to
at least 5 percent below 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012. The
overwhelming view of climate scientists is that this would be too little
to do the climate much good. But a lot of companies stand to gain
through mechanisms agreed to make such reduction possible.
And with companies, countries; and none more than Russia. Its
representative had made sure of that at a meeting in Marrakesh in
Morocco in November 2001. The Marrakesh agreements set out the nuts and
bolts for implementation of the Kyoto targets. The Marrakesh agreements
are more significant than the protocol itself signed in Kyoto in Japan
in 1997.
The principal tools given shape were emissions trading, two other
agreements called joint implementation (JI) and the clean development
mechanism (CDM), and the so-called carbon sinks. Hard bargaining by
Russia at Marrakesh gave it strong advantages in all these.
Under emissions trading a company that is emitting less than its
permissible limit of greenhouse gases can ‘sell’ the excess credit to a
company counted as emitting more. The idea is that the buying company
can find this a cheaper option than introducing technology to reduce
emissions.
Under joint implementation an agreed group of industrialised countries
(what are called the Annex I countries of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change) were allowed to gain credits for reduction
of emissions by implementing reduction measures in other countries on
the same list. In effect this would mean implementation in Eastern
Europe where the cost of implementing such measures would be much less.
Under the CDM credits could be earned for emissions-savings in projects
in developing countries where measures were likely to cost even less
than in Eastern Europe. Carbon sinks was a facility to gain credit
through the existence of forests, on the ground that trees absorb carbon
dioxide and therefore count as contribution towards carbon reduction.
These measures all place Russia in an enviable position. Following a
decline in industrial activity in the 1990s, emissions in Russia have
been calculated – on the basis of data supplied by the Russian
government FB to have fallen to 30 percent below 1990 levels anyway.
That means Russian industry has to do virtually nothing to meet its
reductions target by the end of the first Kyoto reduction period
(2008-2012).
The low recorded emissions translates potentially as a lucrative
industry for emissions trading, that is due to begin within the European
Union (EU) from January next year. It is hardly a coincidence that
Russian ratification means that the Kyoto protocol will take effect at
the same time. Russia would be on the emissions market straightaway for
EU emissions trading and for wider emissions trading among other Kyoto
signatory countries.
Since Russian industry is emitting far less than the quota its officials
have negotiated, large sections of the Russian industry will be in a
position to ‘sell’ their quotas to emit more. Depending on how the
market goes, this could bring significant income for Russian industry
with almost no investment required to upgrade to more
environment-friendly technology.
At the same time Russian industry is well-placed through investments and
partnerships in Eastern Europe through historical associations to claim
reductions in emissions to its credits at a cost far lower than is
likely for Western industry. It can also add to its huge reserves of the
right to emit through CDM projects. Both these provide cheap
opportunities for Russia to develop new environment-friendly technology,
which too it can sell.
Russia finally capitalised on its huge lakes and forest reserves
available to count to its credit by way of carbon sinks. Russian
officials managed at Marrakesh to double the amount of credits it was
assigned for these ‘sinks’ from 17 million tonnes of carbon to 33
million tonnes. The Russian demand was accepted because if it rejected
the Kyoto protocol as the United States had done, the protocol itself
would be seen to collapse.
Russian leaders waited seven years after the Kyoto protocol to move
towards ratification. Because it is only now that the Kyoto protocol is
taking shape as the Kyoto market.
8. IUCN WELCOMES RUSSIA’S RATIFICATION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
Source: IUCN October 22, 2004
IUCN – The World Conservation Union warmly congratulates the Russian
Federation on today’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, the only
international agreement aimed at slowing global warming. Russia’s
ratification has been the key to Kyoto’s coming into force since 2001
when the United States pulled out of the pact. The Protocol stipulates
that it must be ratified by industrialized countries whose combined 1990
emissions exceed 55% of that group’s total. With Russia accounting for
17% of emissions, it was the only country outside of the US who could
push the agreement over that threshold, and bring it into force. “Today
marks a turning point in the history of efforts to tackle climate change
as a global community of nations. We now have a binding international
agreement. It may just be a beginning but the costs of inaction would
have been far higher to the increasingly vulnerable communities around
the world,” said IUCN Director General Achim Steiner.
9. REGIONAL WINNERS OF 2004 REUTERS-IUCN ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA AWARDS
ANNOUNCED
Source: IUCN October 25, 2004
Reuters Foundation and IUCN – The World Conservation Union today
announced the regional winners of the 2004 Reuters-IUCN Media Awards for
Excellence in Environmental Reporting, who will vie for the global prize
of US$ 5,000. Her Majesty Queen Noor, IUCN Patron, will present awards
to these six winners and announce the global winner of the 2004
Reuters-IUCN Media Awards at a ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, on 18
November, during the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress. The regional
winners – representing Latin America, North America and Oceania, Europe,
Asia, English-speaking Africa and the Middle East and French-speaking
Africa – have been selected from some 300 print entries from over 50
countries. A global winner will be chosen from the six regional winners
by a Global Master Jury, comprised of Her Majesty Queen Noor, Mr Geert
Linnebank, Reuters Chief News Editor, Mrs Yolanda Kakabadse, IUCN
President, Mr Dennis Dimick, Senior Editor, Environment and Technology,
National Geographic Magazine, Mr Mario Lubetkin, Director General of the
Inter Press Service, and Ms Denise Ham?, Chair of IUCN Commission on
Education and Communication and CEO of WWF-Brazil.
–Boundary_(ID_dDi6MZjM+RwSLSNVNff4RQ)–

Oct ober 28, 2004
Another Side of the Georgian-Russian Conflict
by Christopher Deliso
balkanalysis.com
When it comes to coverage of the ongoing feud between Georgia and Russia,
the Western mass media have a tendency to draw their testimony from
“official” sources – political leaders, think tank analysts and the
representatives of semi-political organizations such as the OSCE and
Western-funded NGOs. However, with only a few exceptions, the voice of the
common people is rarely heard. This tacit media complicity all too often
invalidates the viewpoint of regular Georgians or Russians as being
irrelevant, while it ends up bolstering the policies of their increasingly
bellicose governments or blessing the programs of allegedly populist
organizations supported from without.
Further, media articles featuring miniature maps of the Caucasus tend to be
political too. That is, while they reveal the jagged borders of far-flung
territories unknown to most outsiders, and the locations of various cities
therein, they tend to pay less heed to the geographical realities –
something which is unfortunate, considering that the history of the entire
Caucasus region has always been shaped by the exigencies of its rugged,
mountainous terrain.
Having had an interest in the country and its key problems for several
years, I endeavored on my latest trip to Georgia to visit other parts of the
country, and get a mixture of opinions that would include the testimonies of
non-official people whose lives are being affected by the decisions of their
increasingly rash leaders.
A nice place to visit: Georgia’s northern terrain is a joy to see – unless
you can’t exit.
Into the Mountains
It is less than a four-hour drive north to reach the Russian border from
Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. But the road is winding and difficult, as it
cuts through mountains that reach their peak in Mt. Kazbek (16,558 feet).
Known as the Georgian Military Highway, this historically strategic route is
marred with crater-sized potholes and disintegrates completely into dirt and
rocks at its summit, the Jvari Pass. At many points, the road is carved out
of sheer cliff faces and contains numerous built-in tunneled underpasses on
the sides – a necessity, owing to the massive snowfall this area gets in
winter. Needless to say, the views are magnificent throughout.
I negotiated this route after enlisting the services of one Tariel
Tabashidze, a 40-year-old agronomist by training who now works as a
translator for German and U.S. companies and individuals. Since the journey
is definitely too challenging for the average car, we took his brother’s
trusty white Lada Niva – the Russian answer to a Jeep. Along the way,
Tabashidze proudly recounted how the very same vehicle had been hired out a
decade ago to BBC reporter Andrew Harding for his forays into neighboring
Chechnya.
Unlike that volatile region, Georgia’s Kazbegi region is a
sparsely-populated oasis of tranquility, featuring abundant wildlife and
medieval stone churches, sprinkled with tiny villages that culminate in the
small town of Kazbegi itself, just a few miles from Russia. The proximity of
the border means that the dilapidated shops in Kazbegi and its outlying
villages are filled with Russian goods. Georgian farmers also send the
majority of their produce north for export. Unlike claims of allegiance with
Russia voiced by secessionists in Georgia’s South Ossetian and Abkhazian
provinces, Kazbegi’s Russian relationship has nothing to do with politics.
Rather, the greater distance and geographical difficulties of communicating
with Tbilisi – especially in winter, when the whole area is snowed under –
mean that the locals must rely on their connections with their much closer
neighbors to the north, and especially the regional center of Vladikavkaz.
For remote mountain villages, having connections with nearby North Ossetia,
over the Russian border, is necessary for survival.
The Border Swings Shut
However, these connections were instantly severed by the tragedy of Beslan
on Sept. 1. In the wake of this deadly terrorist attack, Russian President
Putin ordered the closure of Russia’s border with the south as a security
measure. Yet by early October, when I visited, the Kazbegi border (known as
the Upper Lars crossing) was still closed. Any security risks (had there
really been any) were long ended.
There was another factor to consider here. Almost exactly two years before,
I had traveled via helicopter to another border point – Shatili – which sits
snug on the Chechen part of the Russian border. Here, young OSCE monitors
had, two days earlier, been stopped in a remote place by a dozen heavily
armed Chechens. Luckily for them, the monitors were released, but with the
following warning: “We know all about your little camp. So if you tell the
Russians about us before two days have passed, we will destroy it.”
>>From this and many other accounts, it thus seemed that Russian charges are
justified. At least on their part of the border, Chechen terrorists did
occasionally slip in and out of the Georgian wilds. However, it was also
hard to believe that any such individual would be found standing in line,
waiting to be processed at an official border checkpoint. Whether or not the
Russians decided to close the border at Kazbegi would thus mean little for
state security.
Pressing on to the closed border checkpoint, this old woman planned to camp
overnight until it reopened.
And so even if initially understandable, the Russian border closure simply
made no sense. And, as I found, it has meant trouble for both local
Georgians and travelers trying to pass through. Elderly Makhvala Sargishvili
owns a kiosk located (literally) in a hole in the wall running outside her
tiny mountain village. Crammed inside the shop window were dusty boxes of
outdated Russian provisions. Almost all of her products came from Russia,
but with the blockage at the border she was faced with a real problem. “Life
is not so bad, but not so good, either. This problem with the border is
really difficult for us.”
These comments were shared by three farmers, Giorgi, Emzar, and Vano,
pitching hay in the idyllic mountain village of Kobi. Tomorrow would be
dog-fighting day in the village, they announced; there was simply nothing
else to do for entertainment. “There’s no TV,” said Giorgi, “and nobody has
enough money to get married. There are now 59 couples from these villages
waiting to have a wedding someday.”
Agriculture is the only source of income for these villagers, and a very
seasonal one. Within a few weeks after my visit, they predicted, the snow
would start falling. Now, with the Russian border closed, “we can neither
get goods we need nor export our produce,” lamented Vano. Geography, not
politics or ethnicity, had forced these Georgians to throw in their lot with
the Russian Ossetian population to the north.
“We feel like animals. We have been stuck here for 32 days,” said Isak
Ogosian (right).
The Stranded Armenians
However difficult the border closure was for ordinary Georgian villagers,
those most affected at the time were 25 Armenians who’d had the bad luck of
reaching the border just as the carnage in Beslan was unfolding. Some were
trying to go to Russia for work, others to return to their adopted homes in
Vladikavkaz. None of them were prepared for the ordeal that would leave them
trapped at the border for almost two months.
“We feel like animals,” growled Isak Ogosian, the group’s bearded spokesman.
“We have been stuck here for 32 days. We have to sleep sitting up in the
bus. And, despite our pleas, nobody helps us.”
Among the disconsolate bunch were old ladies, young mothers and small
children. They had little remaining money and supplies, and subsisted only
due to the help of the already impoverished locals. While Georgian media had
paid them a visit early on in the saga, nothing substantial had been done to
ameliorate their situation. The mountain chasms falling into the river – in
any other situation, hopelessly breathtaking – had become a sort of prison.
Indeed, life seemed pretty unhappy for the stranded Armenians. Some people
slept in the rusty old bus, while one old woman prepared some variety of
borscht in a metal pan. A little boy kicked one of the many crushed cans
littering the ground as if it were a soccer ball. Off to one side, a young
man snoring in a sleeping bag competed with a mangy, dozing dog. When they
couldn’t get him to wake up, Isak formed the shape of a cross on his back
with some grass, sending the rest into hysterics. It was a rare uproarious
moment for a dejected and powerless group of forgotten travelers.
“All we want is to go back to Armenia,” said Anna, 22, pictured with
daughter Angelina.
“Nobody gets to go through [the border] except important people,” charged
Elizabeta Abramovna, a retired doctor who moved to Vladikavkaz 37 years ago
with her late husband, then an official in the Soviet government. “Because
of my complaining, everyone knows about me now, the governments and media.
But still nobody helps us.” According to her, the official response to the
travelers’ requests was a perfect example of passing the buck: since the
Georgian side gave them permission to exit Georgia, it was no longer their
problem when the Russians denied them entry. The Armenian officials they had
consulted said there was nothing they could do either.
For a month the Armenians had lived with the vague promise that the border
would soon be open. Nevertheless, this endless waiting had caused some to
give up hope.
“About 12 of them want to just forget it and go back to Armenia [190 km/118
mi. to the south], where they have family,” revealed Isak. “All we need is
about $100 to hire a minibus. This situation is hard, especially for the
children,” he said, nodding at 3-year-old Angelina, an adorable and shy
little girl hiding behind her mother, Anna. “All we want is to go back to
Armenia, just to get at least to the [Armenian] border,” said Anna. “After
that we can find a way, somehow.” And that is how we left them, in the
chilly afternoon preceding yet another spectacular Caucasus sunset.
Yet the saga continued. Only on Oct. 22 was the border finally reopened.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian “hailed” the event as “evidence that
tension in North Ossetia is subsiding after the Beslan events.” In other
words, not only did his government fail to help his own stranded citizens,
but the president went out of his way to toe the Kremlin’s official line on
the reason for the border having been closed in the first place.
For his part, Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili, appearing together with
Kocharian, could only grumble that the border closure “has reminded us once
again that sales markets should be looked for not only in Russia.”
Wonderful. Yet unless Saakashvili proposes to detonate hundreds of miles of
mountain range, it doesn’t seem likely that the north Georgians of Kazbegi
will change their habits.
A woman enjoys the trapped bus’ spacious sleeping quarters.
The Ossetian Question
And why should they? “We have no problem with the Ossetian people,” said my
earnest guide, Mr. Tabashidze. “It is the politicians who create these
conflicts.” His opinion was echoed by villagers we surveyed. “For us, it
should not be a problem to visit a doctor, say, or go in the Russian shops
there [in Vladikavkaz],” said Giorgi the farmer from Kobi. “This is our
normal life.”
Indeed, though the South Ossetian “government” desires to join up with its
kin on the other side of the border – Russia’s North Ossetia, where the
Beslan saga unfolded – there is no wide-ranging ethnic hostility as has been
the case in the Balkans, for instance. The Georgians of Kazbegi, at least,
have long been trading with and visiting the Ossetians just over the border,
and vice versa.
Hostilities often seem to be manipulated by the decisions of powerful
leaders far above and far removed from the areas in question. Indeed, as a
Georgian soldier unlucky enough to be serving in the South Ossetian “neutral
zone” told one recent visitor, “this isn’t between us and the Ossetians.
It’s between us and Russia.”
“We have no problem with the Ossetian people,” said interpreter Tariel
Tabashidze. “It is the politicians who create these conflicts.”
Threats of War
However, the continued brinkmanship between these two major players
is having its predictable local effect. “We will not wait long,”
threatened an unnamed local from the Georgian village of Abasheni, on
the edge of the neutral zone. “We will wait two or three days and then
we will also shoot at [the South Ossetian town of] Tskhinvali.” The
threat follows weeks of agitation from Georgians who claim they are
being targeted by Ossetian paramilitaries during overnight outbursts
of violence. The Georgians blame the Ossetian side for provoking
the attacks, while the Ossetians are equally adamant that it’s the
Georgian army that is inciting them. For his part, the Russian major
general heading the Joint Peacekeeping Force in South Ossetia told
the protesting Georgians that he “cannot control everybody.” The
Georgians question whether Russia is even interested in controlling
their Ossetian charges. In this vacuum of responsibility, however,
“both sides are laying mines despite the pleas of OSCE to stop,”
and talk has again returned to war.
As if to set an example, Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili
last week started a three-week military training course for army
reservists. President Saakashvili – who wants to ban anyone who
hasn’t undergone such training from taking up a civil post – sees
the militarization of Georgian society as indispensable for proving
the unity of the “Georgian nation.” These perhaps ominous developments
occur at a time when the Georgian government is beefing up its military
presence in the conflict area. The Ossetians are likewise digging in.
It was the international shock over Beslan that seems to have hushed
the Georgian government’s warmongering words in September. After
all, the summer months had been “hot,” peaking in late August
with Saakashvili’s memorable declaration that Georgians should
prepare for imminent war with Russia. However, if these recent
developments are any indicator, it appears that sufficient time has
passed to allow for heated words to once again shape the political
discourse. Unfortunately, this will also mean that foreign media
coverage of Georgia remains obsessed with the breathless statements
of officials – and not the common people they allegedly empowered
with last year’s “Rose Revolution.”
–Boundary_(ID_jm+OctOuYp3uA9QGqJy7wQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kyrgyzstan ratifies accord on Collective Security Treaty military cooperation
Kabar news agency
28 Oct 04
Bishkek, 28 October: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has signed the
law ratifying the agreement on the basic principles of military
and technical cooperation between the Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO] member states of 15 May 1992.
The presidential press service says that now the Kyrgyz Interior
Ministry should inform the secretariat of the Collective Security
Council that Kyrgyzstan has fulfilled the internal procedures which
are necessary for the agreement to come into force.
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia [and Tajikistan]
are the CSTO member states.

Ronald Suny: Kocharian Can’t Settle Karabakh Issue
Azg/am
29 Oct 04
Ronal Suny, professor at Chicago University, voiced an opinion
that the current RA President isn’t able to settle Nagorno Karabakh
issue. According to Mediamax, commenting on the terrorist act taken
place at RA Parliament, Suny, expert on Caucasus, said: “Those events
were a tragedy for Armenia, the whole Caucasus, even for the former
Soviet Union, as Vazgen Sargsian and Karen Demirchain were leaders
that could settle Nagorno Karabakh issue and create certain stability
in Armenia, as well as in the South Caucasus. Without these people
the settlement of the region’s important issues reached a stagnancy.”
Answering BBC’s question, who could be the organizer of the terrorist
act, Suny said: “It’s a complicated issue. It seems to me that, anyway,
that was organized by a small group of conspirators. Certainly, there
were people that grew stronger after that, but that was the consequence
of the murder and not its reason. Let’s suppose that Kocharian was
interested in the murder too, as Demirchain and Sargsian were very
powerful persons holding the real power in their hands. Afterwards,
Kocharian remained the only person possessing power. He doesn’t have
serious opponents and enemies, but I think that Kocharian can’t settle
Nagorno Karabakh issue.”
Azg Daily: Ronald Suny says that Kocharian can’t settle Nagorno
Karabakh issue but he doesn’t explain why. On the other hand, the
allies of Vazgen Sargsian and Karen Demirchain, victims of terrorist
act, state that they became the victims of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
as they were against the variant of exchanging the territories. But
Suny says the contrary in his comments, emphasizing that the very
Sargsian and Demirchain could settle Nagorno Karabakh issue.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, October 28, 2004
ARARAT MAGAZINE TO HONOR ANAHID AWARD WINNERS
MEET ERIC BOGOSIAN, DIANA DER-HOVANESSIAN, GREGORY DJANIKIAN AT NOVEMBER 4 NY RECEPTION
NEW YORK, NY-ARARAT, the magazine that for decades has been a forum
for English-language of literature and Armenian American talent, will
host a reception for three winners of the Anahid Literary Award. The
reception will take place on Thursday evening, November 4, at AGBU
headquarters (55 East 59th Street, New York City) at 7:30 pm.
Attending the reception and reading from some of their works will
be New York writer/performer Eric Bogosian, Boston poet Diana
Der-Hovanessian, and Philadelphia writer Gregory Djanikian.
An anonymous donor established the Anahid Literary Award in 1989. The
efforts of the well-known writer and intellectual, Jack Antreassian,
were instrumental in formulating the conditions and creating the
board to administer the award. Mr. Antreassian was also the first
editor of ARARAT. The Armenian Center at Columbia University agreed
to administer the award, which consists of a prize of $5,000. Its
purpose is “to recognize the achievements of American writers of
Armenian descent, to encourage the development of their careers,
and to foster the publication and dissemination of their works.”
On the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the awards, ARARAT
magazine published a special issue devoted to the Anahid award
winners. Now, with this reception, three of the winners have agreed
to meet with the metropolitan area friends of ARARAT and afficionados
of Armenian American literature.
Eric Bogosian is the creator of monologues and solo shows as well as
a playwright and novelist. His solos have received three Obie awards,
a Drama Desk Award, among other honors. His work has had extended runs
Off-Broadway, and performed around the world. Bogosian has appeared
in over two dozen films, including his own adaptation of his play
Talk Radio and Atom Egoyan’s Ararat. In 2004 Bogosian was named a
Guggenheim fellow.
Diana Der-Hovanessian is a groundbreaking translator and poet. She
was a Fulbright professor of American poetry at Yerevan State
University in 1999 and 1994. She has awards from the NEA, PSA,
PEN-Columbia Translation Center, National Writers Union, American
Scholar, Prairie Schooner and Paterson Poetry Center. She has taught
workshops in poetry, translation, and the poetry of human rights at
various universities.
Gregory Djanikian was born in Egypt, and grew up in New York and
Pennsylvania. He began writing seriously while an undergraduate
in college. His prizes include a National Endowment for the Arts
Fellowship, and two from Poetry magazine, the Eunice Tietjens Prize,
and the Friends of Literature Prize. He is Director of the Creative
Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
ARARAT Magazine (), is sponsored by the AGBU and
is proud to present these three Anahid award winners at the November
4th reception. Suggested donation is $10 ($5 for students), and copies
of the Special Anahid Award issue will be available for purchase at
the event. As space is limited, preference will be given to those
who make reservations and pre-pay. Please RSVP by calling Hripsime
212-319-6383, or by email to [email protected].

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – October 28, 2004
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CONCERT IS APPEALING TO FAMILIES
Judging by the brisk ticket sales, many families are already making
plans to attend the Family Christmas Concert sponsored by the Prelacy on
Saturday, December 4, 2004, at 3:00 pm. The joyous concert features Nvair
and her HYEfamily friends, with a special guest appearance by Taline from
California, and Gaghant Baba from the North Pole. The concert will take
place at Florence Gould Hall at the French Institute/Alliance Francaise, 55
E. 59th Street, New York City. Make your family plans now, otherwise you may
find tickets in short supply. Contact the Prelacy offices (212) 689-7810;
the FI/AF Box Office 212-355-6160; or Silva (201) 779-6744.
PRELATE VISITS ARMENIAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
This morning, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, accompanied by
the Vicar, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, went to Brooklyn to visit
Bishop Manvel Batakian, Exarch of the Armenian Catholics in the United
States, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
PRELATE WILL BE IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH ST. STEPHEN PARISH THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, October 31, Archbishop Oshagan will be with the St. Stephen
Church community in Watertown, Massachusetts. During the Divine Liturgy, His
Eminence will consecrate two icons. One is of Saint Stephen, the patron
saint of the church, and of Saint Hripsime, the young Roman nun who with her
superior (Gayane) fled persecution in Rome and arrived in Armenia where she
and her fellow nuns were martyred.
Sunday afternoon His Eminence will preside over the ribbon-cutting of
the new extension of the Kindergarten of St. Stephen Elementary School. His
Eminence will also meet with the Board of Trustees of the St. Stephen School
to discuss fundraising and the overall plans for enlarging the growing
school.
NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ADULT SEMINAR
FOCUSES ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
The E. Kent Swift Mansion, a turn of the century estate in Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, was the beautiful autumn setting for more than 30 people who
attended an ecumenical regional retreat entitled, We Are Family, sponsored
by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), last weekend.
The day began with a morning prayer service, which was followed by
presentations by Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, Dr. Joseph Lombardi, and
Dr. Paul Bombara.
Topics ranged from conflict resolution, the role that anger plays in
family life, components that make a strong family, the principles of a
strong family, and the handling of conflict and discipline of children.
NEW ENGLAND EDUCATORS SEMINAR
ATTRACTS TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
More than thirty educators from Rhode Island and Massachusetts gathered
for the New England Seminar in Providence, Rhode Island, last weekend. The
event was sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) and
hosted by the Mourad School. Following Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian’s opening
prayer, Gilda B. Kupelian, Executive Director of ANEC gave an account of the
pan-Diaspora conferences in Lebanon and Armenia, and presented new audio
visual resources, followed by a lecture on teaching methods for the
non-Armenian speaker.
Nayiri Balanian, chair of ANEC, gave a lively presentation on teaching
Armenian language and culture, with examples of proven techniques that
enhance the learning process. In addition to the teachers, four principals
and two representatives of the Armenian Relief Society were present.
IRANIAN DELEGATION MEETS WITH
CATHOLICOS ARAM I
A high-ranking Iranian delegation met with His Holiness Aram I in
Antelias. A number of concerns pertaining to the Armenian community in Iran,
and the Christian-Muslim dialogue occupied an important portion of the
agenda. The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian,
Primate of the Diocese of Tehran, and Mr. Kevork Vartanian, the Armenian
deputy in the Iranian Parliament.
During the meeting, His Holiness emphasized the importance of interfaith
dialogue and particularly Christian-Muslim dialogue. He said, We are living
in a world where dialogue is no more a question of choice. Globalization,
pluralistic societies and common threats and challenges of new times call
all religions, cultures and nations to engage themselves seriously and
actively in dialogue. Dialogue does not mean to accept the view of the
other. It means to listen to each other and respect each other the way we
are. Hence, I consider dialogue to be of crucial importance for the future
of humanity.
ARMENIAN CHURCH REMEMBERS
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM THIS SATURDAY
The Armenian Church commemorates the life of St. John Chrysostom this
Saturday. John, the patriarch of Constantinople, was given the name
Chrysostom which means “golden mouth,” because of the eloquence of his
sermons. John converted to Christianity in 368 when he was 21 years old. He
renounced a large inheritance and a promising legal career and went to live
in a mountain cave as a hermit, devoting himself to the study of the Bible.
He was eventually ordained and his sermons were soon attracting large
numbers. With the death of the patriarch of Constantinople in 389, John
became the favorite of the people who urged the emperor to appoint John. The
emperor agreed in spite of opposition of wealthy citizens, who disliked John
because of his challenge to wealthy Christians. Eventually the emperor’s
wife led a group of aristocrats and senior clergy against him and he was
forced into exile in Armenia. Amazingly, almost all of his writings have
survived, including hundreds of sermons, letters and treatises.
We should honor Christ in ways of which he would approve. He does not
want golden chalices, but he does want golden hearts. I am not saying that
you should not donate golden chalices, and other precious objects, to your
church; they are no substitute for giving to the poor. The Lord will not
refuse your gift to your church, but he prefers a gift to the poor. In the
case of a gift to the church, only you the donor benefit; in the case of a
gift to the poor, both the donor and the receiver benefit. The gift of a
chalice may be extravagant in its generosity; but a gift to the poor is an
expression of love.
from Sermon 50 by St. John Chrysostom
OOPS! WE GOOFED!
We thank one of our astute readers who noted that we had forgotten to
mention the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, Bayside, New York, as a
member of the Armenian Churches Sports Association, in Crossroads last week.
Our reader tells us that Holy Martyrs has the most championships in the
category of boys and men, and they also recently defeated Watertown HMEM in
the championship game of the ACYOA Archbishop Torkom Manoogian Invitational
Basketball Tournament in Watertown, Massachusetts, over the Columbus Day
weekend.
We apologize to Holy Martyrs and congratulate them on their victory and
sportsmanship.
STUDENTS OF BIRDS NEST ORPHANAGE
VISIT HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Children ranging in age from 3 to 13, residents of the Birds Nest
orphanage attended services at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator
in Antelias, Lebanon, and received the blessings of His Holiness Aram I.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the students performed for His Holiness and
others in attendance. The childrens chorus performed Armenian Church hymns,
as well as national and spiritual songs. On behalf of the children, words of
thanks were extended to His Holiness for his fatherly care. His Holiness
thanked the administrators of the Birds Nest for their devoted service.
SUNDAY IS HALLOWEEN
This Sunday, October 31, is Halloween. By the old Celtic calendar
October 31 was the last day of the year, its night being the time of witches
and ghosts. On the introduction of Christianity it was taken over as Eve of
All Hallows, or Eve of All Saints. In the United States it has become a
totally secular holiday, observed primarily by children who dress in costume
and visit homes seeking trick or treat. We here at Crossroads have always
thought it a curious thing to do. However, having learned this morning that
Americans will spend more than three billion dollars on Halloween this year,
we are most definitely in a minority. Enjoy the day, but be watchful and
vigilant over young children.
FALL BACK
Yes, it is time for the semi-annual adjustment of our clocks. This
weekend most of the country will be returning to standard time (rather than
daylight saving time). That means we need to set our clocks back one hour.
Fall back; spring forward. It will be lighter in the morning, hence a bit
easier to get out of bed. But darker at night for the commute home.
FINALLY, TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, November 2, is Election Day. Congress established Election Day
in 1854, in response to abuses caused by the previous system of electing the
President and Vice-President. (We will save that story for another day).
November was selected because in most parts of the country the harvest
work was complete. Remember that in 1845, most Americans made their living
from agriculture. Tuesday was selected because many people had to travel the
day before to reach their polling place. For many voters this meant at least
an overnight trip on horseback or buggy. Since most people would not travel
on Sunday because of religious reasons, the powers that be did not want
Election Day to be on a Monday, necessitating travel on Sunday. They also
did not want it to fall on November 1 because this was a holy day for Roman
Catholics (All Saints Day) and also because many shopkeepers did their books
for the preceding month on the first day of the month. Thus was born the
formula: The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Of course, for most of us, the original reasons no longer apply. (We
here at Crossroads have not traveled to our polling places by horse and
buggy in years!)
Women were not allowed to vote in the United States until 1920 when the
required number of states ratified the 19th amendment to the Constitution
giving women the right to vote. We at Crossroads always like to point out
with pride that the First Armenian Republic of 1918 gave full voting rights
to women.
The bottom line is this: If you are a citizen of the USA and duly
registered as required by law, exercise your right to vote this Tuesday,
November 2.
Visit our website at

Armenia breaches ceasefire again
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 28, 2004
The situation on the frontline has become tense over the last few days,
as Armenia subjected the Azeri positions to sustained shooting.
On Friday, Armenian units, from their positions in the occupied
Sikhlilar village of Agdam region, opened machine and submachine fire
at the Orta Gishlag village controlled by Azerbaijani troops. The
shooting lasted an hour and stopped after retaliation, ANS said. No
casualties are reported.
Armenian forces fired at the Alibayli village of Tovuz province
several times in the past several days. 30-year-old local resident
Azer Naghiyev was heavily wounded as a result of the shooting.

The president’s life in danger
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 28, 2004
As reported in Akhali Versia, the blast on Heroes Square on October
20 and weapons which were found in the Adjara Music Hall on October
23 have been connected with one name-Mikheil Saakashvili.
The organizers of the blast on Heroes Square left a letter near the
dustbin in the street addressed to “President Saakashvili immediately.”
Nobody knows whether the president has read this letter or not, as the
president himself has not made any comment on this incident. Three
days later, during the visit of Armenian president Robert Kocharian
to Georgia, weapons were found in the Adjara Music Hall, where both
presidents were attending a jazz concert in honor of Kocharian.
According to the Head of the Ministry of State Security’s Legal
Department, it is early to speak about an attempt on the presidents’
lives. “The Ministry of Security will comment on this only after we
have found the owners of the weapons,” he stated.
Former high-ranking official of the Security Service Irakli Batiashvili
spoke regarding the alleged attempt on Saakashvili’s life recently.
Batiashvili says that the president needs to be more careful and to
take appropriate measures to protect himself. “The fact of the weapons
is a very serious issue. I make my statement on the basis of concrete
facts and now will do my best to learn more. My forecast may be much
more serious than you can think,” stated Batiashvili. He said it was
possible that the incident in the nightclub could be a trial run for
a terrorist act, saying “This method is said to be typical of real
terrorist acts.”