Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
28 Jul 04
Armenian aide warns Azerbaijan against solving Karabakh problem by
force

Yerevan, 28 July: “The fact that [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev
spoke about a possible military solution to the Karabakh problem in
his address to Azerbaijan’s ambassadors abroad is a matter of serious
concern,” Gamlet Gasparyan, press secretary of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, told a press conference in Yerevan today.
According to Mediamax news agency, Gasparyan said that Ilham Aliyev’s
statement “testifies to the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities
have no desire to solve the Karabakh conflict in a peaceful way and
link their hopes with a military solution to the problem”.
“We have repeatedly stated that the consequences of any attempt to
solve the Karabakh problem by force will be catastrophic for the
whole region and first of all, for Azerbaijan,” the press secretary
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANS TV, Baku, in Azeri
28 Jul 04
Azeri Defence Ministry reports truce violation by Armenian troops

The Armenian armed forces fired using assault-rifles and machine guns
from their positions in the east and southeast sectors of the village
of Aygepar in [Armenia’s] Berd District on the positions of the
Azerbaijani army in the village of Alibayli in Tovuz District for 30
minutes at 2330 on 27 July [1830 gmt], the Defence Ministry press
service has said.
>From 2355 to 0010 [from 1855 to 1910 gmt] on the same night, the
Armenian armed forces fired from their positions 2.5 km southeast of
the village of Berkaber in [Armenia’s] Idzhevan District using
assault-rifles and machine guns on the positions of the Azerbaijani
army in the village of Qizil Hacili in Qazax District. The enemy was
silenced by retaliatory fire. There are no casualties.

Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian
28 Jul 04
Court sentences ex-officer for life for torturing Azeri POWs in
Karabakh
Baku, 27 July: The trial of Rauf Eyvazov presided over by judge
Mammadbagir Zeynalov ended at the Grave Crimes Court today. The court
found him guilty of high treason and handed down a life sentence
under Article 174 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code.
The investigation has established that in 1991 Rauf Eyvazov was
serving in a military unit in Baku. After taking 10 days of leave, he
went to Xankandi [Stepanakert, capital of Nagornyy Karabakh]. There,
in the village of Karkicahan, he was recruited by the Armenians and
attached to Azerbaijani POWs. Five days later Eyvazov returned to
Baku. Having retired from the military, he got married and moved to
Russia with his family.
In 1997 he returned to Baku and started visiting a centre for the
rehabilitation of the handicapped where a former POW recognized him.
In 2001, Eyvazov was convicted of fraud, while this time he was
arraigned for high treason.
During the trial Eyvazov pleaded not guilty and rejected the
accusations of high treason.

Business Wire (press release), CA
July 28 2004
July 30 Hearing for Final Settlement in New York Life/Armenian
Genocide-Era Beneficiaries

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 28, 2004–
MEDIA NOTE: Plaintiffs’ attorneys Brian S. Kabateck, Vartkes
Yeghiayan, Mark J. Geragos and William Shernoff will make statements
and take questions immediately after the completion of the hearing
outside the courthouse.
One of the longest ongoing legal sagas in U.S. history is coming
to an end Friday, July 30. After 89 years of off again-on again legal
wrangling, a hearing for final approval in the New York Life/Armenian
Genocide-era beneficiaries’ settlement will be held:
Friday, July 30, 2004
9:30 a.m.
United States Judge Christina A. Snyder
Courtroom 5
United States District Court
312 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, California
The court is expected to give final approval to a $20 million
settlement in Martin Marootian, et al., v. New York Life Insurance
Company, Defendant, Case No. C99-12073 CAS (MCx).
Prior to 1915, New York Life sold life insurance policies to
thousands of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. New York Life
policyholders were among the 1.5 million Armenians massacred during
the Genocide. Many of the policy heirs were unable or unaware that
they may be entitled to insurance benefits. While New York Life was
able to find and pay many beneficiaries, the insurance company
acknowledged its records indicated an estimated 2,300 policies sold
to
Armenians prior to the Genocide remained unpaid.
“This is the first time a court anywhere in the U.S. or possibly
the world has formally recognized the Armenian Genocide and the
trauma
and turmoil that resulted,” says Brian S. Kabateck, one of the
attorneys representing the plaintiffs, who himself is of Armenian
descent and lost family in the Genocide. “All of us are crusaders,
especially the three Armenian lawyers who took on the case. While
this
settlement is not reparation for the Genocide, as lawyers, we can
help
bring recognition to the Genocide through claims for unpaid insurance
benefits and stolen property that date back to 1915.”
Other attorneys for the plaintiffs are Vartkes Yeghiayan, Mark J.
Geragos and William Shernoff. “By making these claims, heirs will
receive the benefits due them,” says Kabateck, “but more importantly,
it’s a significant step that further recognizes the Armenian
Genocide,
something that the United States and Turkey still refuse to do.”
The court had given preliminary approval to the settlement in
January. A three-member Settlement Fund Board, with members appointed
by California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, will approve
claims. The board will also be responsible for distributing $3
million
of the settlement to nine Armenian charitable organizations. The
class
includes Armenians living in the United States and abroad.
Notification of the final settlement will be advertised in
newspapers in the United States, France, Argentina, Russia, Lebanon
and Armenia. Information will also be available at:
Beneficiaries will have six
months to file a notice of claim. The board will then contact
beneficiaries with instructions for completing the appropriate claim
forms.
The following Armenian organizations will share equally in the $3
million fund. If heirs do not come forward for policy benefits, more
money will be distributed to additional charities.
Armenian Church of North America Eastern Diocese
New York, New York
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church Eastern US and Canada
New York, New York
Armenian Church of North America Western Diocese
Burbank, California
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Los Angeles, California
Armenian Apostolic Catholic Exarchate
For Armenian Catholics in the US & Canada
New York, New York
Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc.
Paramus, New Jersey
Armenian Relief Society, United States Chapter
Watertown, Massachusetts
Armenian General Benevolent Union
New York, New York
Armenian Educational Foundation
Glendale, California

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
July 28, 2004, Wednesday
PREVIEW: Gardner is ready for another gold – minus one toe
Athens
Rulon Gardner, who scored one of the biggest upsets in Olympic
history by beating Russian wrestling icon Alexander Karelin for
super-heavyweight gold at Sydney 2000, will be back in Athens – minus
one toe. Gardner suffered serious frostbite when left stranded in
freezing temperatures for 17 hours in a snowmobile during a blizzard
in 2002. Doctors feared that he would lose all his toes but managed
to save nine of them. The 2001 world champion Gardner returned to the
greco-roman version of his sport and managed to qualify for the
American Olympic team earlier this year despite further injury
setbacks such as a dislocated wrist and shoulder problems. “It is a
miracle that I am here again. I thank the Lord for allowing me
another chance to follow my dream. I am proud to represent my country
and all it stands for,” he said. Gardner gained worldwide fame four
years ago with a 1-0 victory over Karelin, who had won gold at the
previous three Games and had not lost a fight in 13 years since 1987.
In other events, Armen Nazaryan of Bulgaria looks to become the fifth
three-time gold medallist in the sport’s Olympic history after
claiming the 1996 (for Armenia) and 2000 titles in the greco-roman
60kg division. Russia hope for freestyle gold from 2000 champion
David Musulbes (130kg) and the 1996 winner and five-time world
champion Buvaisa Saitiyev (74kg). The Athens field also features Ali
Salman, one of a few Iraqi athletes. Other strong teams are Turkey
and Iran, and the women make their wrestling debut in Athens a mere
2780 years after the sport first appeared in Olympic competition at
the ancient Games in Olympia. Recognized as the world’s oldest
competition sport, with records of bouts dating back as far as 3000
BC, wrestling was a highlight of the ancient Olympic Games which
started in 776 BC. While valued then as a form of military exercise
without weapons, it remained a main event when the modern Games began
in 1896. Greco-Roman wrestling was resurrected from ancient Greek and
Roman styles, with opponents only allowed to use their arms and upper
bodies to attack and grapple. Freestyle wrestling was added to the
Games in 1904, allowing wrestlers to use their legs for pushing,
lifting and tripping, and holding opponents above and below the
waist. The 18 events will take place at the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
from August 22 to August 29. dpa jb gb ct

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
July 28, 2004, Wednesday
Majority of Lithuanians would welcome further E.U. expansion
Vilnius
More than 60 per cent of Lithuania’s population welcome further
expansion of the European Union according to a new poll, the Foreign
Ministry reported Wednesday. The ministry cited a survey carried out
by Vilmorus public opinion and market research centre in mid-July.
“Two thirds of Lithuanian population are in favour of the expansion
of the European Union,” the survey published Tuesday said. According
to the poll, some 62 per cent of respondents supported expanding the
E.U., while 12 per cent were against and the remaining 24.8 percent
were undecided. Ukraine topped the list of countries that would be
welcomed as new members in the current 25-member bloc. Lithuanians
also supported E.U. membership for Turkey, Croatia, Moldova and
Georgia in the near future, but were more reluctant regarding the
accession of neighbouring Belarus, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan
in the near future. The Baltic republic joined the E.U. on May 1.
Main sceptics included people between 40-49 years of age, those with
university education, and people living in Lithuania’s five largest
municipalities. Some 1,005 Lithuanian residents aged 18 and over were
polled in 18 cities and 58 villages. The margin of error was 3 per
cent. dpa egs pw

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 28, 2004 Wednesday 12:15 PM Eastern Time
Putin, Kocharyan discuss relations
By Mikhail Petrov
MOSCOW
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with
his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan on Wednesday to discuss a
wide range of issues.
During the conversation, which was held on Armenia’s initiative,
Putin and Kocharyan discussed the development of relations between
the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 28, 2004 Wednesday 12:15 PM Eastern Time
IFC, Armeconombank sign deal to develop business
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN, July 28
Armeconombank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed
a two million credit agreement on Wednesday to develop small and
medium-size business, and housing mortgage credits.
Armeconombank managing director Ashot Osipyan said the credit will be
provided in two tranches – 150,000 U.S. dollars for the development
of small and medium-size business and about 30,000 U.S. dollars for
housing mortgage for the period of five years.
The director of IFC Central and Eastern Europe Department, Mr. Edward
Nassim, said this is the first time when the IFC provides a credit to
a commercial bank in Armenia.
This proves that the situation in the banking sector improves, he
added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Stampa
July 28, 2004
“”Non uccidere”” nel secolo del genocidio
Tosatti Marco
Marco Tosatti ROMA Non uccidere: “”I dieci comandamenti””,
l’inchiesta televisiva di Luca De Mata, in programma oggi su Raiuno,
si occupa di quello che e’ stato forse uno degli imperativi piu’
disattesi nel secolo scorso. Una violazione che, adesso, sta tornando
ad assumere una veste religiosa, cercando in un dio la
giustificazione al delitto. Il secolo scorso e’ stato il secolo dei
genocidi: da quello armeno, perpetrato dal governo laico e agnostico,
anche se formalmente mussulmano, di Istanbul, e che uso’ anche l’odio
religioso anticristiano per i suoi fini, al genocidio rwandese, un
massacro etnico, di cui la puntata di oggi offre immagini inedite e
agghiaccianti.
Ma e’ naturalmente, per ragioni di attualita’ drammatica, sul
fenomeno del terrorismo suicida in nome di Allah che si fissa
l’obiettivo del regista, nel tentativo di comprendere le ragioni di
chi e’ disposto a sacrificare la sua vita, e quella di persone
innocenti, in nome di Dio. Un fenomeno sconosciuto, siano a qualche
anno fa; e che dopo l’11 settembre sembra sia diventato una delle
modalita’ belliche possibili nel mondo islamico (fino a quel momento
poche realta’ come quella delle “”Tigri Tamil”” lo praticavano. De
Mata ha raccolto voci discordanti, nel mondo che segue il Profeta. In
Burkina Faso, il responsabile dei giovani della moschea di Ouahigouya
ha detto: “”Io sono andato volontario in Iraq come tanti altri
giovani Islamici da tutto il mondo. Sono andato per fare la guerra.
Pronto a combattere e a morire, ma non certo a suicidarmi per
uccidere. L’Islam non chiede il suicidio-omicida. Spero che i
credenti musulmani e cristiani trovino la via della collaborazione””.
Non tutti sono d’accordo su questo punto; e per riuscire ad afferrare
la difficolta’ di una spiegazione, bisognerebbe comprendere con
quanta sofferenza nel mondo islamico viene vissuto il concetto di
“”thulm””, oppressione. Al Cairo Mohammed Abddullatif, un editore ha
dichiarato che “”il suicidio, come e’ detto sia nei Comandamenti che
nel Corano, e’ proibito. Ma ci sono dei casi particolari come, ad
esempio, in Palestina: i cosiddetti kamikaze. Proibire ai bambini di
andare a scuola, fermare la gente per strada, privare le persone del
necessario, tutto questo fa sentire ai palestinesi che non c’e’
speranza per il loro futuro. Non possono proteggere i loro figli.
Allora i palestinesi che vivono tutto questo sentono che per poter
proteggere la vita dei loro bambini, delle loro madri o dei loro
padri devono sacrificarsi e suicidarsi assieme ai suoi nemici. Fanno
questo per garantire la vita dei loro figli.
E’ per questo che non possiamo affermare che cio’ che fa un
palestinese e’ un omicidio o un suicidio. Egli pensa che in questo
modo protegge la vita degli altri e, sacrificandosi, da’ la vita agli
altri che soffrono””.
E’ solo l’esempio di un problema che e’ molto piu’ complesso di
quanto appaia a prima vista, e che vive di posizioni molto diverse,
come quella dell’imam Ibraim Reda, che dall’Egitto afferma: “”Noi non
siamo predicatori di terrorismo. Noi siamo predicatori di pace. Noi
tendiamo la mano agli Occidentali colti per costruire una civilta’
basata sul dialogo, cosi’ come qui in Egitto. In questo modo potremo
distruggere il terrorismo che nasce dalla poverta’ e
dall’oppressione””. Poverta’ e oppressione che sono largamente
alimentati dal Nord del mondo.
Un capitolo a parte e’ quello dedicato alla pena di morte legale;
praticata in molti paesi, e, nel mondo occidentale, anche dagli Stati
Uniti.
Richard C. Dieter, Direttore esecutivo del Centro sulla pena di morte
ricorda: “”Nei 25 anni da quando la pena di morte e’ stata
reintrodotta negli Stati Uniti 111 persone sono state trovate
innocenti e liberate dal braccio della morte, completamente
scagionate. Queste 111 persone erano credute da tutti colpevoli ed
sarebbero potuto essere giustiziate. E molte sono arrivate vicino all’esecuzione””.

Caucasus Reporting Service
Karabakh Election Battle
Unexpectedly strong contest in mountainous territory too close to call.
By Ashot Beglarian in Stepanakert (CRS No. 244, 28-Jul-04)
Nagorny Karabakh is experiencing an unusually lively election campaign for
the mayor of its main city, Stepanakert.
Five candidates are fighting for the post, employing Karabakhi television
and a new independent newspaper to advertise themselves to voters, in the
most important contest in the region’s August 8 municipal elections.
As always, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry in Baku has issued a protest at
the conduct of elections in the republic, which is internationally
recognised as being part of Azerbaijan. And, as always, the Armenian
authorities in Karabakh have rejected the accusations.
In a statement the Nagorny Karabakh foreign ministry declared, “We proceed
from the understanding that only legitimately elected authorities possess
the necessary powers and bear responsibility for the fate of the people who
live on the territory entrusted to them.”
The election marks something new for Karabakh because three of the
candidates are in different ways connected to officialdom and there is no
clear favourite in a territory where one contestant usually wins a
resounding victory.
Originally, there were ten candidates, but the field has now narrowed to
five, after two were denied registration and three pulled out. Most
observers are agreed that the ballot comes down to a fight between two men,
Pavel Najarian, a former deputy mayor of Stepanakert, and Eduard Agabekian,
chairman of the committee on social issues in the Karabakh parliament.
Najarian was one of the participants in the 1988 movement for secession from
Azerbaijan and has a reputation of being an experienced business
professional, having managed the local buildings material plant, one of the
most successful factories in Karabakh in recent times.
He is also the favourite because he is generally believed to have the
support of the local authorities.
Agabekian is a popular politician with the reputation of being a brave
member of parliament who speaks out for the democratisation of society. He
is one of the founders of a recently-formed political organisation,
Movement-88, whose aim is to “revive the spirit and national consciousness
of 1988, the beginning of the Karabakh movement for self-determination”.
The current mayor Amik Avanesian is also running for re-election, although
he lacks the public and political support he once had and few rate his
chances. Most residents of the city say in his time in office he has done
almost nothing to deal with their problems.
Both leading candidates have been busy trying to win hearts and minds.
Najarian has made a point of saying that the spiritual as well as the
physical welfare of Stepanakert is important.
“Stepanakert needs a church, which will allow people to have firm faith in
the nation and themselves,” he said. “I am deeply worried about the sickness
that has stricken our society – people’s indifference to what is around
them. To cure that sickness people have to have a healthy spiritual and
social way of life.”
Agabekian says he will fight for “the supremacy of the law” in Stepanakert,
before which “everyone ought to be equal, irrespective of their social
position, merits and party allegiance”, suggesting he will, if elected, be
an independent mayor.
The responsibilities of the mayor and of the government are blurred and one
of the other candidates, Iosif Adamian, a well-known local businessman and
wine-maker, argues that the mayor’s office needs to be restructured and made
more autonomous.
“The office of mayor is not a gift and not a weapon for different groups,
but an organ which is the guarantee of social justice and citizens’ rights,”
he said.
David Karabekian, a university lecturer, noted that “many legal questions
connected with the activity of the local authorities and their relations
with the central republican authorities have not been worked out. The legal
vacuum not only makes possible pressure from above but various kinds of
bureaucratic arbitrary rule with all its accompanying side-effects:
corruption, protectionism and so on.”
The new mayor will have to deal with a wide range of problems to do with
housing, jobs and utilities. Avanesian is promising, if re-elected, to build
700 new houses.
Despite the lively campaign and assurances from the central electoral
commission, many Stepanakert voters are wary of the candidates and their
promises and believe the outcome is all but predetermined.
“I believe that the candidate who has the current authorities behind him
will win,” said local resident, Karen Arakelian, formerly a refugee from
Baku, reflecting the views of many. ” [Although] I don’t think there will be
any crude breaking of the electoral rules.”
Ashot Beglarian is a freelance journalist based in Nagorny Karabakh.