Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 2 2004
AFFA EXPRESSES RESOLUTE PROTEST AGAINST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN
SO-CALLED `NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC’
[August 02, 2004, 22:43:03]
Azerbaijan Association of Football Federations /AFFA/ has issued a
statement expressing resolute protest against football championship
started in the so-called `Nagorny Karabakh Republic’. AzerTAj
accepted the statement that says:
`Internet websites of Armenian and Russian media informed of the
football championship commenced on August 1 in the territory of
Nagorny Karabakh Republic’. Nine local teams and one team from
Armenia will be participating at the illegal championship.
As FIFA and UEFA full member, AFFA expresses resolute protest against
the notorious `Nagorny Karabakh Republic football championship’ and
participation of the team from Armenian town Horadis. Nagorny
Karabakh is occupied Azerbaijani territory. Football clubs of this
region may only compete in the championship of Azerbaijan.
AFFA believes that FIFA and UEFA will prevent this championship
initiated by the Armenian separatists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

United Press International
Aug 2 2004
Analysis:Top Shiite condemns church bombs
By Roland Flamini
Chief International Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) — The most significant voice raised in
condemnation of Sunday’s wave of bomb attacks on Christian churches
in Iraq belonged to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Shiite Muslim
leader.
“We denounce and condemn these terrible crimes,” Sistani declared in
a statement Monday. “We stress the need to respect the rights of
Christians in Iraq and those of other religions, including their
right to live in their own home, Iraq, in peace.” Sistani is
considered the most authoritative cleric in Iraq’s Shiite community
comprising over 60 percent of the population. His quick reaction was
seen as an attempt to distance mainstream Shiites from the bombings.
The bombings — clearly coordinated — were the first open attack on
Iraq’s Christian minority, although the community had been under
mounting pressure for some time. So far, no group has claimed
responsibility, but some Iraqi Christians had privately said Shiite
fundamentalists could have been responsible.
The national security adviser to Iraq’s interim government, however,
blames al-Qaida-linked terrorists. Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, said there was
“no shadow of a doubt that (these attacks) bear the trademark of Abu
Musab al Zarqawi.” The Jordanian-born terrorist who is said to have
links to al-Qaida is blamed for a string of suicide bombings in Iraq.
His group has claimed responsibility for the beheadings of an
American and a South Korean, and the U.S. government has offered a
$25 million reward for his capture.
“It’s clear (Zarqawi and his extremists) want to drive Christians out
of the country,” Rubaie is quoted as saying by the Italian news
agency ANSA. But Iraq’s Christians are going anyway. Once just shy of
a million, the Christian community has dwindled down to about 650,000
because of a steady exodus. Tolerated by the Saddam Hussein regime as
long as they kept a low profile, Iraqi Christians are being driven
out by fears of the present violence and uncertainty about the
future.
The pressure has come from Islamic fundamentalists, according to
Iraqi church sources. Many Christians have received anonymous letters
urging them to convert to Islam. The letters usually include a list
of the consequences of refusal, which include death.
Several Christian businessmen who sold alcohol have been attacked by
Muslim fundamentalists in a recent campaign against alcohol sales in
Iraq. Many of the victims were Armenians, according to reports
published in Iraq, and the first car bomb blast Sunday was outside an
Armenian church in Baghdad.
Also, some Iraqi clerics say Christians have become identified with
the U.S.-led coalition forces, which are mainly from Christian
countries.
The revised death toll from the car bomb blasts outside four churches
in Baghdad and one in Mosul during or immediately after Sunday
services was 11, according to Iraqi authorities Monday. Ten
worshippers died in Baghdad, and one in the northern city of Mosul,
in the Sunni Muslim heartland, 220 miles from Baghdad. A sixth bomb
was found outside another Baghdad church and disarmed by Iraqi
police.
Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II sent a message of condolence to the
Catholic patriarch of Iraq, Emmnuel III Delly. “In this hour of trial
I feel spiritually close to the Iraqi church and Iraqi society, and I
renew my expression of solidarity with the pastors and faithful,” the
pope wrote. He said he would continue to work and pray “so that a
climate of peace and reconciliation will soon return to that beloved
country.”
Vatican sources said Monday that the bombings had alarmed the pope,
who is concerned that a wave of anti-Christian feeling in Iraq could
spread to other Arab countries and turn into a virtual religious war
between Islam and Christianity.
The Russian Orthodox church also issued a statement condemning
Sunday’s attacks. In addition to the Chaldean, Syrian and Assyrian
Catholics in communion with Rome, Iraqi Christian denominations
include Armenian, Syrian and Greek Orthodox churches, Presbyterians
and Anglicans.

RUDOLF KHARATIAN IS GOING TO STAGE “KHACHKAR” BALLET DEDICATED TO
NAREKATSI
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). Rudolf Kharatian, the Artistic
Director of the “Arka” Washington ballet group, is going to stage the
“Khachkar” ballet dedicated to Grigor Narekatsi, the great Armenian
poet and thinker of the middle ages. The music for the ballet was
written by composer Ruben Altunian. The ballet-master who is on tour
in Armenia mentioned at the August 2 press conference that his goal is
to represent the image of Narekatsi, the depth and the human character
of his philosophy to the world by means of a ballet staging. “The
first goal of my arrival in Yerevan is to represent the modern
American ballet in Armenia,” R.Kharatian mentioned. According to him,
he has worked in Armenia for many years, profoundly studied the
peculiarities of the Armenian and Russian ballet schools. In his
estimation, the Armenian ballet school has deep peculiarities, but
today it’s senseless to stage ballet performances only on the national
ground, one should be able to synthesize the modern peculiarities with
the national ones, as the spectator needs the new. We can’t stage
“Gayane” and “Spartak” for many years running. R.Kharatian mentioned
that he has always wanted to enrich the Armenian ballet with new dance
elements, but he has always met obstacles. Receiving an invitation to
work from one of the giants of the Russian ballet school, Vinogradov,
many years ago, Kharatian left for Washington where he etablished the
“Arka” ballet group in 1999. 4 out of 16 members of the ballet group
are Armenians. According to Kharatian, like the other ballet groups of
America his ballet has no state financing, either, so it’s able to
organize only 2-3 concerts a year. Besides, the group gives several
performances in the Central Park of New York, in schools and so
on. All the members of the “Arka” ballet group also work in other
ballet groups. During the 2-day tour the group will represent the
classical, American and modern ballet to the Armenian spectator. And
especially for this tour the group has prepared the “Khachkar” dance
of Komitas and fragments from the “Gayane” and “Spartak” ballets of
Khachatrian. “Arka” is a prize-winner of a number of international
festivals, and 3 years running the group got the grand prix at the
annual ballet competition held in Washington.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT ON TABLE TENNIS HELD IN NKR
STEPANAKERT, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). The international tournament on
table tennis of “the NKR President Cup” is held in Stepanakert
today. According to the NKR Sport Department, sportsmen from Lebanon,
Russia, Georgia and Armenia participate in the tournament.

RA PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KOMI DISCUSS PROSPECTS
OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). The visit of the President of the
Republic of Komi of Russia and a delegation headed by him will
establish a basis for the development of mutually beneficial and
prospective cooperation with Komi.
This was mentioned during the August 2 meeting of RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian with President of the Republic of Komi Vladimir
Torlopov. The interlocutors mentioned that there are already examples
of successful cooperation with the separate regions of Russia, and the
Association of Armenian-Russian Cooperation (“ARADES”, which was
recently established) will contribute to it greatly.
Representatives of the Republic of Komi also participate in the
Association. According to the RA presidential press service, Andranik
Margarian expressed readiness to discuss the proposals directed at the
increase of the volumes of investments made by the economic entities
of the Republic of Komi to the economy of Armenia. The importance of
the organization of an exhibition of Armenian goods in Komi, the
immediate contacts of businessmen of the two countries, the
establishment of joint ventures, as well as boosting cooperation
between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries was
also mentioned during the meeting. Vladimir Torlopov mentioned that
the spheres of stone cutting and jewelry’s art may also be prospective
in terms of the development of cooperation. To recap, about a month
ago, on July 7, after an unofficial meeting of the heads of the CIS
countries held in Moscow RA President Robert Kocharian paid a private
visit to this region of Russia at the invitation of President of the
Republic of Komi Vladimir Torlopov.

COMMERCIAL BANKS ATTRACT MORE THAN YEAR DEPOSITS WITH HIGHEST INTEREST
FROM JULY 22-29
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). In the period from July 22 to 29, the
commercial banks of Armenia attracted more than a year deposits with
the highest interest rate (9%) and 30-day, 60-day and 90-day deposits
with the lowest interest rate (5%). According to the data of the
Central Bank of Armenia, during the same period the commercial banks
extended 180-day, 360-day and more than a year loans with the highest
interest rate (21%) and 30-day loans with the lowest interest rate
(13%). The dynamics of the deposits attracted by commercial banks is
as follows: 22.07.04 29.07.04 30 days 2% 5% 60 days 2% 5% 90 days 8%
5% 180 days 4% 7% 360 days 8% 7% More than a year 8% 9% The dynamics
of the interest rates of the loans issued by commercial banks:
22.07.04 29.07.04 30 days 17% 13% 60 days 25% 20% 90 days 23% 20% 180
days 14% 21% 360 days 20% 21% More than a year 21% 21%

RA PRIME MINISTER AND NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF IRAN TO ARMENIA
EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE OF TREATY ON CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS
PIPELINE CONCLUDED IN MAY
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). Armenia attaches great importance to
bilateral relations with Iran, as well as the widening of multilateral
relations. Contacts on high level and mutual visits contribute to it
essentially. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian said about it on
July 30, receiving newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Iran to Armenia Ali Reza Haqiqian. Congratulating
the Ambassador with the beginning of his diplomatic mission, Andranik
Margarian, in particular, expressed hope that the tradition of the
successful Armenian-Iranian relations will also continue in the period
of his tenure in Armenia. The sides stressed the importance of the
visit of President Mohammed Khatami to Armenia scheduled for September
8-9, 2004. According to the RA government’s press service, Andranik
Margarian and Ali Reza Haqiqian stressed that multilateral cooperation
between Iran and Armenia meets the interests of the two peoples, as
well as it is advantageous for the region on the whole. The Ambassador
of Iran emphasized that both the peace in the region and
intra-political stability and the economic development of neighboring
Armenia is of great importance to his country. The interlocutors
stressed the great importance of, in particular, the signing of the
treaty on the construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, the joint
construction of the Kajaran tunnel and an HPP on the Arax river. They
highly estimated the work of the 4th joint sitting of the
Inter-Governmental Economic Commission held in Tehran on December
9-11, 2002, and the importance of the documents signed at the sitting.
Andranik Margarian wished the new Ambassador every success in his
mission in Armenia and promised to contribute to his work.

GOSHAVANK UNDER THREAT OF DESTRUCTION
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). The monastic complex of Goshavank
(Getikavank) is completely accident-prone. Artsrun Hovsepian, Director
of the Historical-Cultural Center, told NT’s correspondent that the
state of the complex sharply worsened after the 1988 earthquake, and
the restoration work hasn’t been carried out here for about 300
years. Only in 1961, the roof was partially renewed (but in a wrong
way), as a result inscriptions made with a cochineal paint (vordan
karmir) started being destroyed of rains. According to Artsrun
Hovsepian, these inscriptions contain historic information about
medieval Armenia. “The destruction of the inscriptions made with this
paint will be an irretrievable loss for the history,” said
A. Hovsepian. It was also mentioned that a museum, which has 10
exhibits, was opened at the temple in 1985. But today the museum is
situated in a timber house. According to A. Hovsepian, the Fund on
Goshavank Saving will be established upon the initiative of several
interested people in the near future. This Fund will find means for
the restoration of the complex. According to preliminary calculations,
about 260,000 dollars will be necessary for this purpose. The
Goshavank complex consists of seven constructions, including the
Cyclopean wall built in the first century, several churches, a chapel
and a vestibule. The first filigree khachkar (cross-stone) is
preserved in Goshavank. In 1184, Mkhitar Gosh, great medieval thinker,
philosopher, lawyer, first Armenian fabulist, created the first
Armenian code of laws, which left a deep trace in the development of
the world juridical thought. The great philosopher of the Middle Ages
established the Supreme Theological University here in 1198, where
along with other subjects they were taught art of wall
inscriptions. Great representatives of the Armenian literary and
spiritual though Kirakos Gandzaketsi, Martiros Sarkavag and Vanakan
Vardapet studied in this theological center.

CENTER AFTER SAKHAROV JOINED COLLECTION OF SIGNATURED FOR PROTECTION
OF YEREVAN GREEN ZONES
YEREVAN, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian Center of Human Rights
Protection after Andrey Sakharov also joined the collection of
signatures organized for protection of the green zones of Yerevan by
the Armenian Ecological Benevolent Foundation. According to the
Center, “besides the RA government, the current and former Mayors, the
Head Architect, who are responsible for the formed situation, all the
Yerevan population should be responsible, as they let apology for
rulers cripple our city owing to their silence and indifference.” The
Center of Human Rights Protection thinks that “all the guilty persons
should be called to account for the formed situation.”

RESIDENTS OF TAPATSGHUR GET NO COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH
CONSTRUCTION OF BAKU-TBILISI-JEYHAN OIL-PIPELINE
AKHALKALAK, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). On July 28, special troops of the
Ministry of Interior of Georgia were brought to the village of
Tapatsghur of the Borzhom region. The reason of the anxiety is the
fact that the residents of Tapatsghur may hamper the construction of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil-pipeline.
According to the A-Info agency, the residents of this Armenian village
have got no compensation in connection with construction of the
oil-pipeline by now. This was motivated by wrong distribution of
lands. In June the Supreme Court of Georgia transferred solution of
the issue to the regional court of Borzhom, which decided to give
monetary compensation to the whole village and not to a part of
it. But no compensation was given to the village even after the court
decision. The residents of Tapatsghur tilled with indignation threaten
to prohibit beginning of the construction of the oil-pipeline.