Georgian president appoints new governors, nominates Abkhazia coordinator
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
28 Sep 04
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has appointed three new regional
governors. At a news briefing held in Tbilisi on 28 September,
broadcast live by Georgian Imedi TV, Saakashvili also nominated
former deputy security minister Irakli Alasania the new head of the
Tbilisi-backed government of Abkhazia in exile. The president said that
Alasania, whose father was executed by Abkhaz separatists in 1993,
would be “Georgia’s main spokesman on the Abkhazia issue” and would
“coordinate all our activities” with respect to the breakaway region.
Asked about relations with Russia, Saakashvili said Georgia had no
secrets from the Russian secret services when it came to the fight
against terrorism. He went on to say that prospects for co-operation
on Abkhazia were good. He also touched on the controversial bill on
broadcasting, saying that no restrictions will be imposed on private
channels “as long as he is president”. The following is an excerpt
from the news briefing broadcast by Imedi TV; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
Three new governors appointed
[Imedi TV interrupts its broadcast to go live to the president’s news
briefing held in the State Chancellery]
[Saakashvili] Greetings. I have not held this kind of news briefing
for a long time, so I think there are many topics to talk about. First
of all, I want to say that we have made several decisions with respect
to the regions of Georgia and our regional policy.
Since the [November 2003] revolution, we have managed to achieve
many positive results. Pension and salary arrears have been repaid,
for the most part. Only about 50m [lari] of pension arrears remain
outstanding. [Passage omitted]
I should say that I am not dissatisfied with the work of the governors
in Samegrelo or Imereti Regions. In Samegrelo, Leri Chitanava has
managed to neutralize almost all paramilitary groupings. You may also
remember rallies staged by refugees, associated with the Saposto Banki
[Post Bank] and injustice. These problems no longer exist, he managed
to put this system in order. Generally, he is a good man, we should
appreciate this, and we will not lose him. The same goes for [Davit]
Mumladze [in Imereti]. [Passage omitted]
Now we need new energy. We need personnel changes. These people
have accomplished their main role at the first stage, from the point
of view of stabilization. Now we need personnel changes which will
create a basis for steady economic growth. This will not be a simple
task. [Passage omitted]
We have made the decision to appoint a new governor of Samegrelo,
Gigi Ugulava, who until now has been deputy minister of security. He
acquired most substantial experience before that too, when he worked
in the Justice Ministry. I think this is a very good appointment. This
region, Samegrelo, which has a great potential and energy, should
open up. Samegrelo has suffered more than other regions during the
past few years. The new governor should be a slave of Samegrelo, so to
speak. He must do everything to revive this unique region of Georgia,
which needs extraordinary attention because it suffered the most during
the civil war. Gigi [Ugulava] received a very good education, both in
Georgia and abroad, he speaks several foreign languages. This is very
important for contacts: foreign, domestic and business contacts. He
also knows the security structures very well, which is very important
there [in Samegrelo], and I think he will be a good governor.
In Mtskheta-Mtianeti, we are appointing Giorgi Khachidze, Goga
Khachidze. We have just summoned him back from the army. During the
last few weeks, he has been staying in a camp of reservists. While some
other garrulous politicians of ours want to defend our motherland with
their tongues, Goga and his friends from the parliamentary majority,
including some senior people, have been waking up at six o’clock in the
morning, running 10 km, and training in various disciplines of which
I, as a civilian, have little knowledge. So we summoned him back and
we are appointing him the new governor of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. I think
that Goga is a good choice. He is very honest, he has an absolutely
untainted reputation, and he is an idealist, which is a necessary
quality for all our appointments made after the revolution.
In Imereti – I repeat once again that I am grateful to [Davit]
Mumladze, I believe that he has worked very well, he has resolved
many issues in the region which was almost ruined in economic
terms. [Passage omitted] However, I think that we need to start a
new stage there. Therefore, I believe that Gia Getsadze, who has been
first deputy minister of internal affairs, [Irakli] Okruashvili’s first
deputy, will be a good replacement. I selected him according to the
same criteria: He has experience of working in the law enforcement
structures, he speaks foreign languages, he has had contact with
business structures and knows how they work, and he has an absolutely
untainted reputation.
New head of exiled government nominated
You know that the main topic for me, as well as for the Georgian state,
is the topic of Abkhazia. This does not mean that we will be able to
resolve this problem tomorrow. We cannot, because the current level of
Georgia’s economic development and the current level of development
of the Georgian state, and other factors associated with the state
is not adequate – because of many years of destruction – to resolve
all our problems of territorial integrity, and the main problem, the
problem of Abkhazia. This will require years of preparation, this will
require the unity of the entire nation, not that disgusting squealing
which we can hear so often and which is aimed at sowing pessimism
and defeatism. But today the majority of the Georgian nation – and
I mean all nationalities – is united as never before and understands
that everything – the reduction in the level of corruption, economic
progress, stabilization and consolidation of the state organization –
serves one purpose, the unification of Georgia.
We need a structure that will work on the Abkhazia issue day and
night. The [Tbilisi-based] Council of Ministers of the Autonomous
Republic of Abkhazia is this kind of structure. To tell the truth, this
council has not been distinguished by its level of activity. I want
to tell you straightforwardly that some of its representatives were
distinguished by their enormous appetites and by misappropriating the
funds allocated for refugees. Now we are going to turn this structure
into a compact body. There is no need to have many staff there.
This will be a structure which will coordinate all our activities
on Abkhazia.
You know that yesterday we presented the family of Zhiuli Shartava
[Tbilisi-backed prime minister of Abkhazia executed by Abkhaz
separatists after they captured Sukhumi in September 1993] with the
order of hero of the nation. Gen Mamia Alasania, another hero, died
together with Zhiuli Shartava. This fearless man had also decided to
stay in the besieged Government House [in Sukhumi], and honourably –
and you can see this in footage which has been shown many times –
gave his life for his country. He was a prominent representative of
our law enforcement structures.
His son, Irakli Alasania, used to work in our embassy in America, and
he was a very good and competent employee. Then he worked as deputy
security minister and effectively supervised the Pankisi operation. He
carried out very important operations in Pankisi. Now he is deputy
secretary of the National Security Council. I would like to say that,
apart from personal sympathy, I have no close relationship with
Irakli. My mother is also Alasania, but you should not think that
there is some kind of [changes tack] – I am sure that some rascals
will emerge and start shouting that I am appointing my relatives to
top positions. This is not the case. There is no ministerial post
for my relatives. But every possibility is open for Irakli. We are
entrusting him with coordination of this entire direction. I think he
will coordinate both economic and diplomatic activities with respect
to Abkhazia as well as some law enforcement activities. You know that
the crime situation there is very serious.
We are reorganizing the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia. Hopefully,
the approval of this decision will not be delayed [in the
Tbilisi-backed Supreme Council of Abkhazia]. I will ask them to call an
extraordinary session tomorrow and approve Irakli Alasania. I believe
that, at this time, there is no better person than Irakli to work
on this issue. This is a person whose heart is in Abkhazia. This is
a matter of personal dignity for him. This is a matter of personal
dignity for me as well, but in his case it is more so because his
dearest family member sacrificed his life for this cause. So, this
is the main goal of his dignity, future and life. Therefore, we are
entrusting these duties to this man, and you should know that he will
be Georgia’s main spokesman on the Abkhazia issue in general.
This is what I wanted to say with respect to these personnel changes.
Tough line with BP benefits Georgian resort
I also want to speak about another issue. There has been some squeaking
recently, with several politicians saying that we have created tension
in relations [with the West] by imprudently raising the issue of
oil pipeline safety. They were alleging that our relations with our
friends deteriorated last summer because of this.
These politicians, who are not particularly smart in politics,
as always, were proved absolutely wrong. Following several months
of very tense talks, we have practically reached an agreement with
British Petroleum – details remain to be finalized – under which
Georgia will receive an additional tens of millions of dollars. We
would not have received this money without this agreement.
I have promised Borjomi residents – this is under my personal control
and mainly concerns the Borjomi valley – that we will build a very
good recreational park in Borjomi next year. It will be ready next
May and will serve the whole of Georgia. We will import very good
roundabouts and build a kind of mini-Disneyland. I will do this. I
personally promised this.
We will build hotels there and will turn Borjomi into a top-level
resort. Present-day ruins that look like bomb-sites [changes tack] –
Let people be confident. The unions have already softened following
my warning and are ready to hand over [facilities] after refusing
to do so for 12 years. They be returned to the Georgian people. We
will build a world-class resort there next year. I, like many of us,
spent my childhood in Borjomi and I want it to be the same as then,
ten times better than then, and not to be in ruins as it is today. I
want Georgians, and not only Georgians, to return there.
For the first time [in recent times], the number of tourists
in Ajaria has doubled this year, mainly thanks to Armenians and
Azerbaijanis. Armenians and Azerbaijanis have started going there
because the traffic police are no longer extorting money from them. By
the way, I am putting up posters along the road with hotline telephone
numbers and an appeal in several languages to telephone if stopped
by police. A controller will arrive there by helicopter at once,
tie up the policeman and deliver him to an appropriate place. The
groundless stopping of cars on Georgian roads is history. This has
resulted in an increase of tourists in Ajaria.
At least four times as many tourists will go to Borjomi next year
as this year. We will do this using budget resources, as well as the
proceeds from the agreement with the oil companies, which we reached
thanks to our principled position and despite the opposition of local
critics. Therefore, it has been proved once again that we were right
and they were wrong.
That’s all. Do you have any questions?
[Passage omitted; next question indistinct]
Private TV companies have nothing to fear
[Saakashvili] Georgia is proud to have independent television. Georgia
is the only country in the CIS where independent television does
exist. This is our main achievement. I brag about this when I am
abroad.
Georgia has returned to the world arena; Georgia is back on the
world map. CNN and Euronews have included Tbilisi in their weather
forecasts for the first time. It is true that it took a lot of effort
and asking, but they have finally done this. That is to say, they have
recognized us as part of the world and part of Europe. Our television
stations are our pride.
On the other hand, the public channel is absolutely irreplaceable. The
public TV channel is working on a weekly Moambe news bulletin in
the Abkhaz language. One day it will be in Abkhaz, the next day it
will be in Ossetian, the third day it will be in Azerbaijani, on the
fourth day it will be in Armenian and on the fifth day it will be in
Russian, as it has been [sentence as heard]. Which private channel
will do this? This is a commercially unprofitable project. Likewise,
there will be educational programmes. I want the Patriarchate to have
a programme speaking about Orthodox Christian issues. Perhaps there
should be similar programmes on other religions.
In this situation, it is wrong to write off the public channel. I do
not know exactly what issues are being debated, but I know one thing
that I heard on television. It was alleged that limitations were being
imposed on free television. No-one intends to impose restrictions on
television as long as I am president because this [free television]
is very good for me. It is thanks to you that I am sitting here and
speaking to my people. Therefore, I think that these issues will be
decided in parliament. There are smart people in parliament and they
will make the right decisions.
[Switches to Russian] Please. [Question in Russian; indistinct]
No secrets from Russia on terrorism issues
[Saakashvili, in Russian] First of all, I should say that for us
terrorist is not a general term. We know their names. The majority of
Chechen field commanders have the blood of ethnic Georgian residents
of Abkhazia on their hands. These people are not our friends. May God
save us from this sort of friend and we will manage to rid ourselves
of our enemies.
We are co-operating with the Russian Federation at all levels. Our
state security minister met the director of the FSB [Russian Federal
Security Service] and the director of the Foreign Intelligence
Service recently. We do not have any secrets from the Russian special
services when it comes to fighting terrorism. We are very open to
co-operation. We conduct joint flights over our borders. Joint patrols
of the border began on our initiative so that not a single armed man
can cross either from Georgia into Russia or from Russia into Georgia.
We, too, want to protect ourselves against them. Georgia is even more
vulnerable, even weaker, even less protected against terrorism than
Russia. All the more so, because these people are not our friends,
they are our common enemies. Each one of them is our enemy.
Therefore, I think that if the Russian special services have any
information they should help us as well. We are helping them in
all possible ways to get rid of all sorts of elements. The sooner
Russia establishes order on its territory, the more peaceful nights in
Georgia will be. This is for sure. This is what I can say. Therefore,
cooperation between us is getting better and I think that in this sense
[Russia] has not complained to us recently.
Counts on Russia’s cooperation on Abkhazia
[Question in Russian; indistinct]
[Saakashvili, in Russian] Let’s be direct. Let’s be direct and
say that whatever tricks are used, whatever passports are issued,
whatever steps are taken, Abkhazia is part of Georgia [reference to
Russian passports issued to residents of Abkhazia].
It has been part of Georgia for the past 2,000 years, is part of
Georgia and will be part of Georgia as long as Georgia exists. The
sooner we agree with our Abkhaz brothers on co-existence within a
single federal state in which they will have the broadest rights as
a constituent part of the federal state the better for everyone. We
do not recognize any artificial enclaves created by means of issuing
passports. We are ready to take into account the rights of all Russian
citizens in Georgia, but not those of artificially created enclaves. We
think there is great potential for cooperation on this issue between
Russia and Georgia. Let’s hope that it will be so.
[Switches to Georgian] Thank you very much for your attention.
[Question; indistinct]
[Saakashvili] [The chairman of the Tbilisi-based Supreme Council of
Abkhazia Temur] Mzhavia has nothing to do with it. I expressed my
support for Mzhavia at the previous meeting.
Thank you.
[Presenter] This was a live link up with the State Chancellery,
where the Georgian president held a special briefing.

Poborsky missing for WCup qualifiers against Romania, Armenia
AP Worldstream
Sep 29, 2004
Injured Sparta Prague midfielder Karel Poborsky was missing from
the Czech national team’s roster announced Wednesday by coach Karel
Bruckner for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Romania and
Armenia.
Poborsky injured his calf in Sparta’s Champions League match against
Lyon on Tuesday.
“I have spoken to him and there is a chance that he could be called
up later,” Bruckner said. “But it’s in the realm of theory _ the
diagnosis is two weeks without practice.”
Also missing from the matches on Oct. 9 and 13 will be Juventus
midfielder Pavel Nedved, who announced his retirement from
international soccer on Friday.
That leaves Bruckner with only two healthy starting midfielders:
playmaker Tomas Rosicky of Dortmund and defensive half-back Tomas
Galasek of Ajax.
Another first-choice midfielder, Liverpool’s Vladimir Smicer, is out
with a long-term leg injury.
Czech Republic Roster
Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Petr Cech (Chelsea,
England), Antonin Kinsky (Saturn Ramenskoye, Russia)
Defenders: Rene Bolf (Auxerre, France), Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam,
Netherlands), Tomas Hubschmann (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Marek
Jankulovski (Udinese, Italy), Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow, Russia),
David Rozehnal (FC Brugge, Belgium), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina, Italy)
Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jiri Jarosik
(CSKA Moscow, Russia), Radoslav Kovac (Sparta Prague), Tomas Rosicky
(Dortmund, Germany), Stepan Vachousek (Austria Vienna)
Forwards: Milan Baros (Liverpool, England), Marek Heinz
Moenchengladbach, Germany), Jan Koller (Dortmund, Germany), Vratislav
Lokvence (Bochum, Germany)

Czech MEP argues against Turkey’s EU membership
Mlada fronta Dnes web site, Prague
24 Sep 04
Text of commentary by Czech MEP Josef Zieleniec, political leader of
the Association of Independent Candidates and former Czech foreign
minister, headlined “Cradle of dangerous new crisis”, published
by the Czech newspaper Mlada fronta Dnes web site on 24 September;
subheadings as published
Should Turkey become EU member?
No. The issue of whether Turkey should join the EU is quickly turning
into a key problem that will be decisive for the future of the EU. In
comparison with other, albeit important, disputes such as, in the past,
the discussion of the Maastricht Treaty, the introduction of the euro,
and enlargement to the East, or the ongoing debate over the European
constitution, the discussion of Turkey’s membership most concerns
the sense of European integration, and even its very existence.
Estimates of population growth demonstrate that within a few years,
Turkey will have 80 million inhabitants. That means that, if it were
to join the EU, it would become the largest country in the union,
with the greatest share in decision-making. Meanwhile, in terms
of per capita income Turkey reaches hardly 22 per cent of the EU
average, much less than even the poorest states in the current wave of
enlargement. Never before in the EU has there been such an enormous
discrepancy between demographic strength and economic weakness. The
consequences of such a dangerous combination could be inestimable not
only for the overall solidarity of the EU, but also for its ability
to resolve everyday problems.
Borders With an Explosive Region
The EU would have borders with Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, and
Georgia. These are traditionally enormously explosive areas. The
EU can help to stabilize this region from the position of a global
political force, which it already represents. In the future, the EU
will become an even more significant global political force. However,
if it becomes one side in local disputes, it will rather become part
of the problem than part of the solution. Local conflicts in one of
the most explosive regions of the world would become not only European
problems, but through us, also global problems.
A different tradition and culture in combination with the demographic
growth and poverty of Turkey would transform free movement inside the
EU into the most disputed element of European integration. Enormous
Turkish ghettos would arise all over Europe, which would be a source
of constant cultural and social tensions, and of political tension
flowing from these. The result could be the return of aggressive
xenophobia to Europe.
However, the biggest problem represented by Turkey’s possible
entry into the EU does not have an immediate and direct practical
impact. Nevertheless, it is the most ominous threat. The original
meaning of unification was to overcome European nationalism by
opening the way to the formation of a feeling of connection and a
consciousness of a common identity of Europeans. This process is built
on common histories, common values, and a common way of life, and on
the common political culture that is their fruit. The consciousness
of connection and a common identity is the foundation stone of all
the political processes that are ongoing within the EU; without them,
these processes would not make any sense.
The entry of Turkey would entirely repudiate all of this. Europe
would cease to be our wider homeland and would become an enormous
purpose-made unit without an idea and without meaning, similar in many
ways to former empires in the last phases of their existence. Defining
identity in contrast to such a meaningless entity would become the
basis for the growth of new and forceful European nationalism. European
integration, instead of being the basis for resolving age-old European
problems and a definitive stabilizing factor of the continent, would
become the cradle of a new and dangerous European crisis.
Just good friends
Supporters of Turkey’s entry into the EU argue most often by referring
to this country’s geo-strategic significance (by the way, much less
now than during the existence of the Soviet Union) and the benefit
for the stability of the Middle East and the Caucasus. However, the
main result of accepting Turkey would not be stability in these areas,
which is problematic regardless of whether Turkey is accepted or not,
but the guaranteed destabilization of the whole of Europe.
The relationship between the EU and Turkey should be friendly,
intensive, and have special institutional arrangements. However, the
consequences of Turkey’s full EU membership would seriously damage
not only the EU, but also Turkey itself.

Group seeks Armenian bone marrow donors
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Sept 29 2004
Help save a life. The Council of Armenian American Nurses and the
Armenian American Medical Association are planning a Bone Marrow
Donor Drive. This drive is in conjunction with the Armenian Bone
Marrow Registry and the Caitlin Raymond International Registry at the
University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center.
The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is an independent,
non-governmental, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to
ensure that every ethnic Armenian struck with a life-threatening
blood-related illness is able to find hope for long-term survival
through the identification of a genetically suitable bone marrow
match.
Patients are desperately and literally seeking a savior. Parents
of sick children are racing against time to save their child before
it is too late. Someone in our community may hold the life of a child
in his or her hands.
Donors must be: between 18-55 years old; in general good health;
medically insured with medical insurance information available; and
reside or be employed in Massachusetts.
The drive will take place during the annual bazaar of St. James
Armenian Apostolic Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown on Oct. 15
and 16 from 2-7 p.m.
For more information visit the Registry web site,
or contact Marilyn Bazarian at 617-484-1072.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Sun Herald
Posted on Wed, Sep. 29, 2004
Kebabs fire up the flavor
Marinades play big role in recipes
By SHARON THOMPSON
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Meat on a stick is the world’s oldest form of barbecue. Almost every culture
has its own version: Japanese yakitori, French brochettes, Asian satay,
Peruvian anticuchos, Spanish pinchos morunos, Armenian shashlik and Turkish
shish kebabs.
The origin of skewer roasting is usually tied to the Turkish history of
nomadic and semi-nomadic life, when cooking over open-field fires or in
open-pit ovens was common, according to “A Mediterranean Feast” by Clifford
A. Wright. But “given the obvious simplicity of spit-roasting meat over a
fire, I suspect its genesis is earlier,” Wright wrote.
Skewered meals can be as simple as chunks of meat on a bamboo stick or as
elaborate as colorful brochettes served at fancy restaurants. Gourmet
kitchen stores stock whimsical skewers, although Marsha Norris, sales
manager at Williams-Sonoma, said she recommends the inexpensive wooden
sticks.
“Vegetables or meat tend to stick to the wooden ones a little bit better,”
she said.
Wooden skewers should be soaked 20 to 30 minutes, which delays the burning
of the bamboo.
So what makes the perfect shish kebab? First, there’s the meat. Lamb is
traditional in Central Asia and the Middle and Near East. (Beef is also used
in Iran and the Republic of Georgia.) A marinade of some sort is essential –
first to flavor the meat, then to keep it moist during grilling. Slices of
onion or peppers placed between the cubes of meat add flavor and color. A
brisk fire is needed to sear the meat quickly, while a generous basting with
olive oil or saffron-flavored butter keeps the kebab from drying out,
according to Steven Raichlen, author of “Barbecue Bible” and “BBQ USA.”
Mike Critchfield, an owner of Critchfield Meats in Lexington, Ky., said the
best pieces of beef for skewering are “tenderloin tips, which is filet
mignon as it falls off when I cut the meat.
“A lot of people try to mix chicken and beef,” he said. “That’s not a good
idea. It takes chicken longer to cook than beef,” he said.
Kebabs are a perfect choice for any cookout. You can use meats, seafood,
vegetables and fruits to suit everyone’s tastes. They can be made in advance
so the host or hostess also can enjoy the party.
BUILD-YOUR-OWN
SHISH KEBABS
DIJON-ROSEMARY STEAK
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, stemmed
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
Whisk together all the ingredients (except the steak) in a bowl. Toss the
steak in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover and marinate in refrigerator
for 2 hours.
CITRUS-TARRAGON CHICKEN
1 orange, zested, then juiced, remainder discarded
1 lemon, zested, then juiced, remainder discarded
1 lime, zested, then juiced, remainder discarded
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup canola oil
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
Whisk together all the ingredients (except the chicken) in a bowl. Toss the
chicken in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover and marinate in
refrigerator for 2 hours.
LEMON-GARLIC SHRIMP
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
¼ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 pound (16 to 20 count) shrimp, shelled and deveined
Whisk together all the ingredients (except the shrimp) in a bowl. Toss the
shrimp in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover and marinate in
refrigerator for 2 hours.
——————————————————————————–
Skewer savvy
Soak wooden skewers in water for 15 to 30 minutes so they won’t burn on the
grill. Wooden skewers should be discarded after use.
Some cooks prefer flat, metal skewers so cubed food doesn’t spin while
turning. If you grill often, consider investing in a set. They are good year
after year, require no soaking and are easier to use than the wooden ones.
Shrimp, scallops and other wobbly bits benefit from the double-skewer
technique: Thread the pieces on a skewer, then run another one through the
pieces parallel to the first, about a half-inch away.
If you are having vegetarian guests, cook the meat and vegetables on
separate skewers so they can pick up a stick of vegetables. If your guests
will be assembling their own skewers, place meat and vegetables in separate
bowls.
– KRT

GENERALS SETTLED ON LIBERATED TERRITORIES
Azg/am
30 Sept 04
Zhirayr Sefilian: There is no Program of Inhabiting Karabakh
Zhirayr Sefilian, of the Defense of Liberated Territories initiative
and veteran of Artsakh war, claims that there is no program
of inhabiting in Karabakh and surrounding territories. He stated
yesterday at the National Press Club that few generals have taken
over thousands of hectares while families from Armenia try to settle
there. Sefilian desisted from mentioning names of the generals.
Serzh Amirghanian, head of the Administration for Migration, Refugees
and Resettlement, doesn’t agree with Sefilian. “Generals are not the
only ones who possess lands in Karabakh. The Frank Muller company
has a bug territory in the south of Karabakh, Lusakert poultry farm
has 3 thousand hectares of maize fields”, Amirghanian said.
Recently the press often touches upon the possibility of liberated
territories being returned. Zhirayr Sefilian thinks that neither
Turkey nor the West are interested in who is controlling Aghdam. “The
Arax river creek is the main concern. The state that will control it,
will control whole of Caucasus”, he says. Turkey is interested in this,
and they try to conquer the creek, Sefilian thinks.
Serzh Amirghanian says that the Arax river creek is also partly
inhabited. 130 families settled in Zangelan, 70 in Jebrail this
year. He says that there are 700-800 families are willing to live in
Artsakh but the government can afford inhabiting only of 200 families.
By Tatoul Hakobian

Armenian prison gets new wards for TB patients
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
29 Sep 04
[Presenter] As part of court and legal reforms, the Armenian
Justice Ministry is cooperating with international and public
organizations. A prison hospital has recently received a large batch
of medical equipment. Today four special wards were commissioned at
the Nubarashen prison for intensive treatment of TB patients. The
prison doctors said that the wards, fitted with new equipment, meet
European standards fully. The upgrading of the wards are viewed here
as an outcome of cooperation between the Justice Ministry and the
International Committee of the Red Gross [ICRC].
[Correspondent, over video of justice minister and wards] Today
the Nubarashen prison is ready to meet [Justice Minister] David
Arutyunyan. The minister inspected four new wards for TB patients. Six
main drugs are provided for the treatment of the disease here.
[Gevork Afrikyan, captioned as chief of hospital’s TB department]
It takes a long time to be cured of TB, but in two months, germs of
the disease are killed.
[Correspondent] Positive changes have taken place at Armenian prisons
as an outcome of the court and legal reforms. Representatives of
international organizations also confirm this fact.
[Arutyunyan] As the justice minister, I am not satisfied with all
these. If I were happy about all these as the minister, I would
be wrong.
[A Red Cross representative] The ICRC and the Justice Ministry have
been cooperating for a long time in fight against tuberculosis
in Armenia. This is a problem not only in Armenian prisons, but
worldwide. The reform in Nubarashen is one of the numerous activities
being carried out in Armenia. By these reforms, we shall organize
effective fight against TB.
[Correspondent] The justice minister believes that it will take 10
years to carry out court and legal reforms in the country.

Javakhk Armenians Complain Of Georgia’s “Educational” Policy
Azg/am
30 Sept 04
Armenian history as a compulsory school subject for Javakhk Armenian
schools was rejected on decision of the Ministry of Education and
Science of Georgia, A-Info news agency of Akhalkalak informs. Armenian
history is a facultative subject in Javakhk’s Armenian schools since
the beginning of this year.
Arnold Stepanian, head of the “Multinational Georgia” NGO, informed
that the Armenian history has not been a compulsory subject, i.e. it
has got no financial support of the sate, in Javakhk since 1991. “We
have been trying to make the subject a compulsory one since long ago
but all in vain”, Stepanian said.
Another decision of the Georgian government says that history
of Georgian will be taught in Armenian in the schools of
Javakhk. Textbooks are already printed. Stepanian said that “no one
has seen the textbooks”. Azg Daily acquired the textbooks printed by
Georgian “Artanuji” publishing house for 9 and 10 grade students. The
border of historic Georgia passes along Sevan lake shore, according
to the textbook.

CHINESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS – SEPT 29, 2004
Asia Pulse
Sep 29, 2004
BEIJING, Sept 29 Asia Pulse – Highlights of major Chinese newspapers on
Wednesday:
PEOPLE’S DAILY
– Chinese President Hu Jintao Tuesday told visiting South African Vice
President Jacob Zumathat that both China and South Africa should earnestly push
forward cooperation in various fields and upgrade the Sino-South African relations
to a higher level.
– Top Chinese leaders and visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan agreed
here Tuesday that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in economic,
technological and other areas.
XINHUA DAILY TELEGRAPH
– Many “cancer-stricken” counties have appeared in Shenqiu County of Henan
Province, central China, as a result of the pollution of the Shaying River that
runs through. Shaying River is the biggest branch of the Huaihe River, one of
the longest and most polluted waterways in China.
– Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Tuesday that China will push forward
steady the reform of the exchange rate mechanism concerning the Chinese
currency, Renminbi, at a meeting with Charles O. Prince, chief executive officer of
the Citigroup and former US Secretary of Treasury Robert Robin.
ECONOMIC DAILY
– Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Tuesday that China will push forward
steady the reform of the exchange rate mechanism concerning the Chinese
currency, Renminbi, at a meeting with Charles O. Prince, chief executive officer of
the Citigroup and former US Secretary of Treasury Robert Robin.
– China will establish a perfect cycle economic legislation system in the
years up to 2010, according to a plan of the State Development and Reform
Commission.
CHINA DAILY
– A wave of measures will be launched to make it possible for China to score
rapid economical develop while no longer exhausting its natural resources, a
senior official said at a national conference on the circular economy Tuesday.
– Foreign insurance companies’ business in China is likely to accelerate
after the full opening-up of the market at the end of this year, said Meng Zhaoyi,
deputy director-general of the International Department of the China
Insurance Regulatory Commission.
CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL
– The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is likely to take the lead
among Chinese banks in setting up a fund management company.

ARMENIA IS STILL IN BLOCKADE
A1 plus
29-09-2004
Armenia is expecting for a significant freight concerning running
Nuclear Power Plant of Metsamor. Because of actions applied by Russia
towards Georgia within the anti-terrorism struggle the car with the
matter provided for the stations of Nuclear Power Plant remained in
Georgian-Russian frontier.
As a result of negotiations carried on by the Armenian Government an
agreement seems to be made to allow the car to cross the frontier this
evening and to set out to Armenia if the Russian and Georgian frontier
guards manage to find the necessary car among those in the “jam”.
Though the leadership of Armenia holds telephone conversations with
the leaders of Russia and Georgia, the problem remains unsettled. “The
Armenian Authorities are not to eliminate the obstacle”, Armenian PM
Andranik Margaryan said. Solution to “blockade” of Armenia depends
on the negotiations with Georgian and Russian Authorities.
Freight transport of Armenia has become problematic since Novorosiysk
ferryboat is now under construction. So it is advised to choose
another way by Ilyichevsk ferry.
However, it’s not the settlement to the problem, either, as too many
cars are accumulated on Georgia-Russia frontier. Recently about 20
cars were let out to Armenia. But the Georgian side affirms that
there is a problem to let the cars out. There are numerous “Armenian”
cars in the boundary.