OSCE REGULAR MONITORING OF NAGORNO KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN ARMED
FORCES’ CONTACT-LINE IN AGDAM DIRECTION HELD

STEPANAKERT, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). On August 4, the OSCE Mission
held a regular monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed
forces’ contact-line in the Agdam direction. From the positions of the
NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission was led by Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzey Kasprzyk. The
group comprised Field Assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s
Personal Representative Miroslav Vimetal (Czechia) and Yurgen Schmidt
(Germany). The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned
schedule, and no violations of the cease-fire regime were fixed. From
the Karabakh party, representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign
Affairs and Defense accompanied the OSCE monitoring mission. On the
eve, Ambassador Kasprzyk had meetings in the NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Defense Ministry. On August 2, NKR President Arkady
Ghoukassian received Chief of Armenia’s Armed Forces’ Main
Headquarters, General-Colonel Michael Haroutunian. He is invited to
the NKR as an observer of the command-staff trainings of Nagorno
Karabakh Defense Army’s troops units which took place on August
3-12. Issues, related to the current situation and the prospects of
the development of the cooperation between the military departments of
the two republics, were discussed at the meeting in which NKR Defense
Minister, General-Lieutenant Seiran Ohanian took part.

On August 3, NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian received representative
of the Armenian Evangelic Community of America (AECA) in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh Rene Levonian. In the course of the meeting,
Mr. Levonian acquainted the state’s President with the course of
realizing social programs, in particular, construction of
kindergartens in the republic’s regions, summer camps in the towns of
Shoushi and Stepanakert, rendering assistance to the old people’s
homes and other projects realized by the community in
Artsakh. Mr. Levonian noted that the mission headed by him intended to
continue its activity in the NKR for contributing to the republic’s
leadership in solving Nagorno Karabakh’s vital problems. The NKR
President positively evaluated the community’s activity in Nagorno
Karabakh. On August 3, NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian received
Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, Member of the Supreme
Body of the ARF “Dashnaktsutiun” Vahan Hovannissian. Issues, related
to the democratic reforms in the NKR, the role of party organizations
in the process, were discussed in the course of the meeting. In this
connection, Mr. Hovannissian noted the necessity of expanding the
cooperation between the “Dashnaktsutiun” party and the republic’s
authorities, solving the existing problems by joint efforts. Arkady
Ghoukassian expressed the NKR leadership’s concern in the constructive
cooperation with all the political forces of the republic, including
the “Dashnaktsutiun” party.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Aug 4 2004

U.S.: Armenian-American Group Backs Kerry, Snubs Bush
By Andrew Tully

Washington, 4 August 2004 (RFE/RL) — Americans of Armenian descent
number only about 1 million to 1.5 million of the overall U.S.
population of about 280 million people. But Armenian-Americans are
politically active, and their political influence is stronger than
their size would suggest. One prominent group, the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) has formally endorsed Senator John
Kerry’s campaign for the presidency against President George W. Bush.

The ANCA says it doesn’t simply support Kerry. It opposes Bush,
accusing him of not honoring a promise he made when he needed votes
during his first campaign for president four years ago.

In February 2000, Bush was fighting hard for support in Michigan,
which has a small but politically active Armenian population. He
issued a statement saying his administration would recognize that
Armenians were the victims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Turks from 1915 to 1923. “On the Armenian-American issues, coming
from Massachusetts, which has a strong and active Armenian-American
community, over the years he’s [Kerry] had time to develop strong
relationships with that community.” — Chouldjian

Bush eventually won the presidency. But according to Elizabeth
Chouldjian, the ANCA’s communications director, he backed down on
that promise, refusing to endorse the bills that each year come
before Congress that would require the U.S. government to recognize
the Armenian genocide. And that wasn’t all.

“It hasn’t so much been his [Bush’s] silence in terms of not
utilizing the term [“genocide”], but at the same time his
administration’s opposition to genocide legislation, which makes
reference to the Armenian genocide in the framework of honoring the
15th anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the genocide
convention.” Chouldjian said.

Chouldjian points to that and many other actions by the Bush
administration, including a reduction in aid to Armenia, siding with
Turkey and Azerbaijan in their disputes with Armenia, and even trying
to formally designate Armenia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Kerry, on the other hand, has for decades been active on issues
important to Armenian-Americans, Chouldjian said. She points to his
sponsorship of legislation on the genocide issue, on improved U.S.
trade with Armenia. and on supporting Armenia against Turkey and
Azerbaijan.

“On the Armenian-American issues, coming from Massachusetts, which
has a strong and active Armenian-American community, over the years
he’s [Kerry] had time to develop strong relationships with that
community. And over his 20 years as senator, he has consistently been
supportive of every single Armenian-American initiative that I can
point to,” Chouldjian said.

Ross Vartian agrees that Kerry is a far more attractive candidate
than Bush to Armenian-Americans. Vartian is the executive director of
the Armenian Assembly of America, another nationwide advocacy group.
Under its nonprofit legal status, the organization cannot, by law,
formally endorse any political candidates. But Vartian said his
contacts with Armenian-Americans around the country show that they
greatly prefer Kerry to Bush, at least on issues important to
Armenian-Americans.

Vartian told RFE/RL that the ANCA’s endorsement could be a help to
Kerry. “I would say that Armenian-Americans are known to be civically
active and politically active,” he said. “It is something that we are
urged to be by our own community and by our own parents. In terms of
a voting bloc, we aren’t so numerous in any given location that we’re
going to tip the balance unless the races are extremely close, but
being involved in the political process is part of our tradition.”

But Vartian stressed that it will not ensure that every registered
Armenian-American voter will support Kerry. He said that like other
Americans, voters of Armenian descent fall into three general
categories: those who vote strictly in accordance with their party
loyalties; those whose votes are based on issues that are important
to their own community; and those who vote on more general issues.

Vartian said that because of their activism, Armenian-Americans
appear to have disproportionate political influence in that they can
persuade some members of Congress to sponsor legislation they
support. But he said their ultimate influence on elections remains
modest.

“When races are that close, there are probably a hundred different
groups who could make that claim and could make that difference,”
Vartian said. “So, yes, technically, Armenians in Michigan could make
the difference in a very close race. But if it’s true for Armenians,
it’s true for about 99 other groups as well. And that’s why I believe
that when these two major political efforts — Kerry’s and Bush’s —
concentrate on states like this, they don’t leave out anybody,
including the Armenians.”

ON AUGUST 27-29, FIRST PAN-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE ON ISSUES OF EDUCATION
TO TAKE PLACE IN TSAKHKADZOR

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). On August 27-29, the first
Pan-Armenian conference on problems of education existing in the
Armenian school will be held in Tsakhkadzor. Teachers from Armenia and
Spyurk, members of educational and diocesan councils will take part in
the conference. Hrach Tadevosian, the Head of the Spyurk Department of
RA Ministry of Education and Science, told Noyan Tapan that 100 bids
from 20 countries have already been received. According to him, the
participants of the conference will discuss the problems of the
Armenian school, will touch upon the issues of compiling of
educational literature, preparation and retraining of teachers. New
educational programs will be worked out in the future taking into
account the results of the discussions. “There is a vital necessity of
development of Armenia-Spyurk relations, which proceeds from national
and state problems and interests. I hope that this conference will
give an opportunity of defining and rightly organizing the future
activity, as well as strengthening and extending educational and
cultural contacts between Armenia and Spyurk,” H.Tadevosian mentioned.

Newindpress, India
Aug 5 2004

Anand faces Shirov in duel of world champions
Thursday August 5 2004 00:00 IST
PTI

MAINZ (GERMANY): Fresh from his triumph at the Dortmund Sparkassen
chess meet, Viswanathan Anand will battle it out against Grandmaster
Alexei Shirov of Spain in the duel of the world champions at the main
event of the Chess Classic at Rhinegoldhalle here.

A winner here in the last three events, Anand yet again starts as the
favourite to clinch the title.

There will be eight games under rapid chess time control with 25
minutes to both players at the start of the game and an addition of
10 seconds after every move is made. In the event of a 4-4 tied score
tiebreak games will come into effect to determine the winner.

The Mainz organisers have been known to rope in exciting challengers
for Anand and this time Shirov is a natural choice given his ability
to play high quality tactical chess.A runner-up of the world
championship 2001 in Iran, Shirov is referred to as vice world
champion 2001 in this match.

For Anand, Shirov thus far has been an easy customer but the Indian
knows only too well that he cannot be underestimated even though in
match play, Anand has an enviable record against the Latvian born
Spaniard.

In the last two world championships that Anand played in, he beat
Shirov twice — once in the finals in 2000-2001 at Tehran, Iran and
next in the quarterfinals of the Moscow edition in 2001-2002.

“Nothing ever changes in this world, Vishy always beats me,” Shirov
had said after his dismal result against Anand in Moscow.

in the last edition, the Indian ace had beaten world’s top rated
women player Judit Polgar in a hair-raising battle that finally ended
5-3 in his favour. The most remarkable thing about this contest was
that not a single game ended in a draw and Anand struck back after
conceding lead thrice to Polgar.

In 2002, Anand had beaten Ruslan Ponomariov in a real close fight
that ended 4.5-3.5 while in 2001 it was Vladimir Kramnik who was made
to suffer by the Indian via tiebreaker.

Anand, who comes to Mainz after a brilliant victory against world No
3 Vladimir Kramnik of Russia at Dortmund, has had an excellent year
thus far with his victory in the Corus Chess Tournament at Wijk ann
Zee in the Netherlands followed by the rapid section of the Amber
Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament and in June this year he led the
world team to 18.5-17.5 triumph over players with Armenian
connections.

The Chess Classic will have a variety of event and the most popular
of them is the Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random Chess in which
the position of the pieces is changed randomly only a few minutes
before the game. Russian champion Peter Svidler is currently the top
ranked player in this form of the game. This year Svidler will be
challenged by former world junior champion Levon Aronian of Armenia
for the title he won last year.

There will also be an open category in Chess 960, in which Krishnan
Sasikiran will be one of the attractions following his second
position in the category-18 Biel Grandmaster Tournament. Besides
these a few simultaneous exhibitions and the Ordix Open under rapid
chess rules are also scheduled.

THERE WILL BE VACANCIES ON NATURAL-SCIENTIFIC SPECIALTIES OF HIGHER
SCHOOLS OF YEREVAN AND REGIONS

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). As of August 2, 13,958 applicants
took examinations in the higher schools of Armenia, 19% of them
received 19 and 20 points, and 13% received unsatisfactory marks. RA
Minister of Education and Science Sergo Yeritsian said during the
August 3 press conference that a 100% excellent result was registered
on the “Persian language” examination: one applicant who took an
examination on this subject received 20 points. According to the RA
Minister, the high result on the “German language” and “French
language” subjects is registered this year: 42% and 35%, respectively.
In comparison with last year works estimated as unsatisfactory were
more on the subject “History of Armenian People” (28% instead of 22%
of last year). According to the RA Minister, the number of applicants
who didn’t come to the examination decreased by 10% in comparison with
last year. 1,120 works have been appealed from July 20 up to
day. Marks of 963 out of them remained unchanged, and they were raised
in 157 cases. The greatest number of appeals was submitted on the
subject “mathematics” (416 cases) and mark were raised in 46
cases. Marks were increased only in 10 works out of 200 works given
for the repeat appeal (by 1 point). The Minister said that parents
were also present at oral examinations this year for the first time,
as a result the number of appeals decreased sharply. Sergo Yeritsian
also said that the vacancies will remain on the line of
natural-scientific specialties as a result of the competition in the
higher schools of Yerevan and the regions. Additional competitions
will be announced for them. The greatest number of the maximal point
(20 points) made 304 on the “Armenian language-1” subject from July 20
to present. And the number of minimal points (below 8) was registered
on the subject “mathematics” – 484.

ARMENIAN WEIGHT-KIFTERS RETURN FROM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP WITH MEDALS

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). Armenian representative Tigran
Martirosian from Gyumri participated in the European Junior
Championship on Weight-Lifting, which was held in the Norwegian city
of Stavanger. Tigran Martirosian placed first in his weigh class of 62
kilograms and won the title of the European champion. Besides the
European big gold medal the Armenian weight-kifter was awarded with
two small gold medals in “dash” and clean and jerk exercises. Artak
Ghazarian won three silver medals (over 94 kilograms), he won in the
double-event.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/04/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Montana’s Burns Becomes 40th Senate Supporter of Human Rights Measure
2) Press Undermined in Azerbaijan, Reports Human Rights Watch
3) Russian Lawmaker under Fire in Conflict Zone
4) Azeri Official Declares Armenia Will be Azerbaijan’s in Coming Decades

1) Montana’s Burns Becomes 40th Senate Supporter of Human Rights Measure

WASHINGTON, DC–Montana Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) agreed this week to
cosponsor the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164, bringing the number of US
Senators supporting this human rights measure to forty, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
“I am proud to join with 39 of my Senate colleagues in support of S.Res.164,”
said Senator Burns in a statement to the ANCA. “This legislation stresses the
importance of remembering and learning the lessons of past crimes against
humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and the Cambodian
and
Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. Silence in the face
of genocide only encourages those who would commit such atrocities in the
future–a legacy which we cannot afford to pass on to our children.”
“Armenian Americans, in Montana and across the United States, join in
thanking
Senator Burns for his principled stand in defense of the fundamental right of
all people to live free from the terrors of genocide,” said ANCA-Western
Region
Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian, who traveled to Montana in late
July to
meet with members of the state’s Congressional delegation, along with local
community activist Yedvart Tchakerian. “We have been very encouraged, in
recent
months, by the increasing effectiveness of our grassroots outreach in the
Northern Plain states, with Senators from Montana and both North and South
Dakota supporting the Genocide Resolution, and the governors of Idaho,
Nebraska, and Montana issuing proclamations commemorating the Armenian
Genocide.”
The Genocide Resolution marks the 15th anniversary of the US
implementation of
the Genocide Convention and reaffirms the commitment of the American people to
this landmark treaty. It specifically cites the importance of applying the
lessons of past genocides in order to make the world safe from future
genocides. Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ) introduced this
measure in June of last year. Its companion measure in the US House,
H.Res.193,
led by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee
last May and currently has 111 cosponsors. On July 15th, the US House
passed an
amendment, authored by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), which prohibited the
government of Turkey from using US foreign aid dollars to lobby against the
Genocide Resolution.
Support for the Genocide Resolution has been widespread outside of
Congress as
well, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human
rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values,
National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox
Rabbis,
and the National Council of La Raza.
For information about Senator Burns, who serves on the powerful Senate
Appropriations Committee, visit:
<;

2) Press Undermined in Azerbaijan, Reports Human Rights Watch

NEW YORK (HRW)-Azerbaijan’s government should act now to stop the
deterioration
of press freedom underway since the October presidential elections, Human
Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Azeri authorities have
failed to prosecute police responsible for attacks on journalists, imposed
crippling damages in civil defamation suits, and manipulated resources to
pressure independent or opposition media outlets.
“The political crackdown that followed last year’s election has had a
lasting,
harmful effect on press freedom in Azerbaijan, said Rachel Denber, acting
executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia division.
“The government can reverse this by finally acknowledging that police have
used
excessive force against journalists covering demonstrations, and also by
capping the crippling damages often levied in defamation suits.”
Azerbaijan’s October presidential election, which the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe called “fraudulent,” led to massive street
demonstrations and excessive police violence to quell them. In the
aftermath of
the violence, the government then unleashed a crackdown against the political
opposition and the independent and opposition media.
Rapporteurs from the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe’s
Parliamentary Assembly are scheduled to arrive in Azerbaijan today to examine
Azerbaijan’s compliance with its commitments and obligations to the Council of
Europe.
The 18-page briefing paper, based on interviews in Azerbaijan with
journalists, editors, government officials and media rights groups, details
how
the security forces attacked journalists during the demonstrations. While
not a
single security agent was held responsible, the authorities filed charges
against an opposition activist who allegedly assaulted a pro-government
reporter during a demonstration. A journalist for an independent wire service
who was beaten by police at one of the demonstrations was subpoenaed to
testify
in court, but as a witness for the prosecution against opposition members
accused of the post-election violence. His testimony about police severely
beating him did not lead to any action against those responsible.
“Impunity for police violence against journalists gives police a green light
to use violence again,” said Denber.
Among those currently on trial for organizing the street demonstrations is
Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of a leading opposition newspaper, Yeni
Musavat.
Human Rights Watch is calling for his immediate release pending the outcome of
his trial.
The Azeri government abolished pre-publication censorship in 1998, but has
since then imposed considerable informal restrictions on the media, which have
sharpened since last year’s election. Government officials or those closely
connected to the government are invariably the plaintiffs in civil defamation
suits against independent or opposition media. Prohibitive fines imposed on
these outlets have forced them to suspend publication, suggesting that the
courts aimed primarily to cripple or close them.
Television media is overwhelmingly pro-government. The Human Rights Watch
briefing paper describes how the government informally manipulates private
broadcast media, newspaper-distribution networks and printing presses, and
blocks access to information for journalists working for the independent
press.
“Taken together, these are methods of control and intimidation, aimed at
setting unreasonable restrictions on media content without resorting to formal
censorship,” said Denber.
Since the election, the Azeri government has taken some measures to rectify
abuses against journalists. On a joint initiative with the Press Council, a
nongovernmental umbrella group, it established a permanent commission to
prevent and resolve conflict between media representatives and the
authorities.
“The establishment of the permanent council is a welcome step, but it falls
far
short of what’s needed to promote a free and independent media in Azerbaijan,”
said Denber.
Human Rights Watch called on the Azerbaijan’s government to ensure the
founding of a genuinely independent public television station, abolish
criminal
libel, introduce caps on civil libel suits and prosecute those responsible for
attacks on journalists.
The briefing paper, Azerbaijan: Media, the Presidential Elections and the
Aftermath, can be found at

3) Russian Lawmaker under Fire in Conflict Zone

(Civil Georgia/Itar Tass)–Georgian Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava
refuted on August 4, reports that Georgian troops fired on Andrei Kokoshin,
who
chairs the Russian Duma’s Committee for CIS affairs.
According to the spokesman for South Ossetia Special Functions Ministry, the
incident took place in the South Ossetian conflict area, near the village of
Sarabuk. Pliyev said the car was attacked by Georgia.
“According to the information available to us, the passengers in the
car–Andrei Kokoshin and the co-chairmen of the Joint Control Commissions are
alive,” he stated.
After the car came under fire, Georgian interior troops stationed in conflict
zone heavily shelled Sarabuk. The village was fired on from a detour road.
There have been no reports of civilian casualties, the spokesman said.
Georgia refuted the accounts saying that the Ossetian side opened fire “in
the
direction of the Georgian peacekeepers, and the Georgian side responded to
it,”
Ugulava told a press briefing. “This will always happen in case of an attack.”
“I declare with full responsibility, this was a provocation masterminded by
the Ossetian side,” Ugulava said, adding that had Georgia been notified of
Kokoshin’s visit to the breakaway region, it would have ensured his security.
Meanwhile Interfax reported that the Georgian navy is ready to obey President
Mikheil Saakashvili’s order to prevent any vessel–except those on
humanitarian
missions–from entering territorial waters near the self- proclaimed republic
of Abkhazia, Koba Bochorishvili, commander of the Poti marine division of the
Georgian coast guard service, said on Wednesday.
“We did receive the president’s order that vessels that have violated the
border should be stopped in territorial waters near the Abkhaz coasts and that
fire should be opened on them if they disobey orders,” Bochorishvili said.
This
warning also applies to passenger boats that could travel from Sochi to
Sukhumi, he said.
“Fire should be opened on all vessels that enter the Sukhumi port without the
Georgian authorities’ agreement. They should be sunk,” the Georgian president
said at a news conference on Tuesday.
The Russian Foreign Minister reacted sharply on Wednesday in a statement that
said any attempts to inflict damage or infringe the lives of Russian citizens
“will be adequately rebuffed.”
“Official Tbilisi has taken an unprecedented step,” the ministry stated.
“This
warning is addressed also to Russian tourists who make excursion trips by sea
from Sochi to Novy Afon and Sukhumi.”

4) Azeri Official Declares Armenia Will be Azerbaijan’s in Coming Decades

BAKU (RFE/RL)–Armenia will cease to exist as an independent state and its
territory will be incorporated into Azerbaijan over the next three decades, a
senior Azerbaijani military official was quoted as saying, taking
anti-Armenian
rhetoric in Baku to new heights.
“Within the next 25-years there will exist no state of Armenia in the South
Caucasus,” Colonel Ramiz Melikov, the chief spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Defense
Ministry, said, according to the Baku daily “Zerkalo.” “Those people have done
so many nasty things to their neighbors that they have no right to live in
this
region.”
“Modern Armenia is built on historical Azerbaijani lands,” he added. “I think
that in 25-30 years’ times its territory will again come under Azerbaijan’s
jurisdiction.”
Melikov was quoted in an extensive “Zerkalo” article that called on the
Azerbaijani government to promptly restart the war with the Armenians and win
back Mountainous Karabagh. The Azeri leadership regularly threatens to do just
that, complaining about the international community’s reluctance to end
Armenian control of the disputed region. The most recent such threat came from
President Ilham Aliyev last week.
“Zerkalo” said Azeri military officials believe that their troops are
prepared
for renewed hostilities and that “the upcoming war will not be long-lasting.”
“Today the personnel of the Azerbaijani armed forces is not the one that
existed ten years ago,” Melikov said. “We substantially exceed Armenia with
the
size of the population and the number of soldiers. Soon the entire world will
recognize Armenia as an aggressor country. That is why Armenia is now on the
brink of defeat.”
Armenia has repeatedly dismissed such statements from Baku, saying that
Azerbaijan would have long resumed the war without a warning had it been
confident of victory. But its reaction to Aliyev’s latest threats was
unusually
sharp, with the Armenian Foreign Ministry warning Azerbaijan of “disastrous
consequences.”
The armed forces of Mountainous Karabagh Republic, on Tuesday, began a
ten-day
military exercise which officials say will test their combat-readiness during
“defensive and counter-offensive operations.” The war games followed a call-up
of army reservists and will involve the use of live ammunition.
Just last week “Zerkalo” quoted an unnamed Western diplomat in Baku as saying
that the Azeri society and army are not prepared for war and that the West
does
not take its government’s threats seriously.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Aug 4 2004

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES AZERI REPORTS ON TRUCE VIOLATION

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Defense Ministry has
denied another report by the Azerbaijani side on an alleged
cease-fire violation. “This information again does not correspond to
reality,” the Armenian Defense Ministry said.
The ministry denied the report by the press service of the
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The report said: “Between 0055 and 0130
on 2 August [1955 and 2030 gmt on 1 August] units of the Armenian
armed forces from their positions in the south of the occupied
village of Asagi Askipara of Qazax District fired on the positions of
the Azerbaijani armed forces in the east of the same village. There
were no casualties.”.

ArmenPress
Aug 4 2004

AUSTRIAN EMBASSY OFFICIAL SAYS ARMENIA-AUSTRIA LINKS MORE ACTIVE

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS: Economic adviser at Austrian
Embassy in Moscow Johan Kauzli said links between Armenia and Austria
are becoming more active. Kauzli is inYerevan on the occasion of the
pilgrimage of more than 600 Austrians from Linze. He said that this
is his sixth visit to Armenia and recalled his visit during the
Soviet times when Armenia was considered a leading leather industry
republic. Kauzli said progress is visible in Armenia since the
independence especially in construction, service industry and
tourism.
J. Kauzly expressed his satisfaction for the closer links between
Armenia and Austria. He recalled an Austrian business exhibition in
Yerevan a year ago and also informed that Armenian businessmen will
visit Austria in September. In general, business, cultural and
scientific ties rise mutual interests and are prospective.
J. Kauzly noted that Armenian economy can boost only in case of
favorable conditions – open borders and direct routs to different
countries, active integration to international and particularly,
European structures. He voiced his hope that Armenian-Austrian ties
will contribute to that. According to him, Armenian businessmen
clearly understand their challenges and actively engage in solving
them which is marked by a visible economic growth in Armenia.

ArmenPress
Aug 4 2004

PAN-DIASPORA CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN EDUCATION

ANTELIAS, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS: Initiated by His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of Cilicia and organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia,
a Pan-Diaspora Conference on Armenian Education will start its
discussion on Thursday morning, 5 August 2004 in the main hall of the
Theological Seminary, in Bikfaya, Lebanon. The theme of the
conference is “The Armenian Education today in a Diaspora situation”.
Around one hundred intellectuals and experts almost from all
communities in Diaspora will address this timely issue in different
perspectives and contexts.
The Conference will start with a critical and analytical
evaluation of the present estate of the Armenian Education in
Diaspora, and will proceed to identify the emerging concerns and
perspectives. In light of that the Conference will endeavor to
redefine the Armenian Education vis-a-vis the new challenges and the
new realities of the present world. The Conference will conclude its
deliberations by making a declaration, where the major guidelines and
orientations for a new educational policy for the Diaspora will be
outlined.
The minister of Education, the president of the Cultural and
Educational commission of the Parliament and the president of the
Union of the Armenian writers in Armenia will attend this conference.
Because of the unique importance of the Conference and the special
attention that the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia gives to the
Armenian Education, His Holiness Aram I will address the Conference
and take part in its deliberations and actions.