zawya
Zaitounah Museum new addition to Tunisian heritage
By Naceur M’tir
SOUSSE, Tunisia, July 12 (KUNA) — The Zaitounah (olive) Museum which was
opened recently in the eastern city of Sousse is considered a new addition
to the Tunisian cultural heritage due to the pivotal role the olive tree
plays in the lives of Tunisians and the population of the Medieterranean
region.
The two-storey building is bulit accoring to the ancient Islamic
architecture and depicts the various historic stages through which the olive
tree has gone in Tunisia thousands of years ago.
Visitors of the museum will see life-size photos and designs of people and
tools used in the planting of olive trees, harvesting, cleaning and storage
of olives before extracting oil from it.
The museum, the first of its kind, also shows visitors a complete picture of
the role of olive oil and its daily uses, be that in diets or in treatment.
On motives behind establishing this museum, its rector Aly Gadira told KUNA
that the oilve tree is not only a source of economic wealth, but also a
symbol of peace and vital part of the Tunisian society since ancient times.
Gadira said that it also aims at preserving the heritage of this “blessed”
tree for future generations, noting that this tree remained steadfast before
the various civilizations which ruled Tunisia over some 3000 years like the
Berbers, Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards and Turks.
He said that the most ancient documented sources available report that the
olive tree was brought into Palestine from Armenia 4000 BC and then taken by
the Phoenicians to Greece and later to North Africa, particularly Tunisia.
Since the ancient times, olive oil was the choice of the elite and notables
in Tunisia and other countries of the region. It was used in religious
rituals, as a massage oil, producing perfumes and for other medical
purposes.
According to the latest figures, there are an estimated 55 million olive
trees stretching from the country’s north to south and covering an area of
nearly 1.6 million hectares or 30 percent of Tunisia’s farmlands.
Tunisia is the world’s second largest producer and exporter of olive oil
after EU states, mainly Italy and Spain.
Article originally published by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) 12-Jul-04

Interfax
July 13 2004
Armenian president meets with Minsk group co-chairmen
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk group on settling the Nagorno- Karabakh
conflict from Russia, the U.S. and France, the presidential press
service told Interfax.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the current status of issues
surrounding the settlement, the message says.
On July 13, the international mediators will visit Nagorno-Karabakh
to meet with the Karabakh authorities, and on July 15, they will
leave for Baku.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said last week that the
co-chairmen will familiarize themselves with the situation during
this visit. “I think that during this visit the co-chairmen will not
make any new suggestions to the sides, as the recent meetings of
presidents and foreign ministers of the two countries have not yet
given the co-chairmen a foundation for creating new suggestions on
settling the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,” Oskanyan said.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov told journalists on
Monday that the visit of the OSCE Minsk group’s co-chairmen may have
a positive effect on the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement.
“They [the co-chairmen] have not visited the region for six months.
We think that the co-chairmen should visit the region. They are in
Yerevan today, and they will visit Azerbaijan tomorrow. It is very
important that the co-chairmen discuss the situation at the site. We
will see what they come to Azerbaijan with after meeting the Armenian
president and the foreign minister,” Mamedyarov said.
Mamedyarov said that he does not expect any concrete suggestions from
the co-chairmen, who were permitted by Baku to visit Nagorno-
Karabakh. Mamedyarov said, however, that the co-chairmen’s visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh would give them a chance to familiarize themselves
firsthand with the situation in the conflict zone.
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas in
bitter fighting with Armenia which began in the 1990s. The UN
Security Council has denounced the occupation of Azerbaijani lands
and demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territory.
Co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk group representing the United States,
Russia and France are attempting to resolve the conflict.

Cyprus Mail
July 13 2004
Two neighbours arrested in connection with woman’s murder
By Katya Diogenous
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering Lyudmila Zipir,
34 from Ukraine, who was found dead in her apartment in Limassol on
Sunday.
Zipir was found by police after her employer called concerned at her
failure to turn up for work on Saturday and Sunday.
Police yesterday arrested Armen Grigorian, 25 from Armenia, and
Dionysis Tokalides, 26 from Georgia, who lived next door to Zipir.
They were taken to court yesterday and given an eight-day remand.
Zipir’s employer told police the victim had repeatedly complained
that the two men used to harass her with sexual innuendoes. He had
even visited the men on several occasions to ask them to leave her
alone.
When police arrested the two suspects, they appeared to have
scratches on their bodies as well as streaks of blood, believed to
belong to the victim. Blood was also found in the apartment building.
Police noticed there had been no forced entry into the apartment via
the front door, but that the balcony door connecting the victim’s
apartment with that of the suspects was closed but not locked.
The suspects deny any involvement in the murder, but cannot give a
clear story or confirm where they were at the time of the murder.
Zipir had lived in Cyprus for three years and worked in a bar in
Limassol. Pathologist Panicos Stavrianos, said the girl’s bruised
naked body was found on her bed in a pool of blood. He confirmed her
death was criminal.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 13 2004
EU Wants To Prevent Drug trafficking from Armenia
By Ruzanna Stepanian 13/07/2004 15:51
The EU and UN will provide Armenia with special equipment worth
140,000 euros ($173,661) for the Bavra, Bagratashen and Meghri border
checkpoints and Zvartnots International Airport to stop the possible
smuggling of drugs from Armenia to Western Europe.
Since 2001 the EU has allocated the three South Caucasus states 5
million Euros within the special program designed to fight illegal
drug trafficking. Armenia alone has received over 1.5 mln euros from
EU funds.
“Though Armenian officials do their best to prevent Armenia from
becoming a transit country for drug trafficking, this doesn’t mean
that those involved in drug trafficking will not use Armenia for this
purpose,” said the Paris Customs Service deputy chief Joel Mencue,
who met journalists today in Yerevan. Mencue is visiting Armenia to
help organize training courses for Armenian customs officers.
An official from the Armenian Police Drug Fighting Department, Artyom
Azoyan, told RFE/RL heroin and opium are being smuggled to Armenia
mostly from Turkey, Iran, Russia, and Central Asian countries such as
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
There has been only one case of heroin seizure in Armenia this year.
Armenian custom officials recently seized at least one kilogram of
Iranian heroin. Armenian cannabis and hashish, which are the most
popular drugs among Armenian drug addicts, are not in demand on the
foreign drug market because of their poor quality. “The quality of
Armenian cannabis is too poor for buyers abroad,” Azoyan told
RFE/RL.” Up to 100 kilograms of hashish and tens of tons of cannabis
are seized annually in Armenia. According to Armenian officials,
these drugs are mostly produced in the Armavir, Gegharkunik and
Ararat regions.
According to the police officials, a matchbox of cannabis is worth 5
thousand drams (about $10) in Armenia, while a gram of heroin can be
purchased for no less than $150. According to official data, there
are about 20,000 drug users in Armenia, though police officials
believe that real number of drug addicts is 10 times higher than the
official statistics. On the other hand, Armenian officials insist
that the figure of 200,000 is too high and unrealistic.

Zaman, Turkey
July 13 2004
French Armenians to Protest Erdogan
Armenian Associations in France are busily preparing a series of
protests to greet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he
begins a three-day visit to Paris on July 19.
The Coordination Council of Armenian Associations in France, FRA
Tasnaksutiun and ADL Ramgayar associations invited Armenians to
protests to be held against Erdogan in Paris and Marseille on July
20. An announcement from the groups points out that Erdogan will come
to France seeking support for Turkey’s European Union (EU)
membership.
“We are not able to accept the EU membership of a Turkey that refuses
the claims of genocide. We cannot allow Erdogan to misinform the
public and run a public relations campaign,” says the announcement.
The associations claim that Ankara is running a large scale
propaganda campaign aimed at showing that Turkey has fulfilled the
Copenhagen Criteria. In response, the associations are calling upon
Armenians to join in the ‘No to Turkey’ campaign.
Erdogan is set to meet with French President Jacques Chirac, Prime
Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin as well as the leaders of political
parties and businessmen during his visit.
07.13.2004
Ali Ihsan Aydin
Paris
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
AGBU SPONSORS WORKSHOP ON CIVIL SOCIETY AT UN CONFERENCE
New York–Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) will sponsor an
important workshop, entitled, “Overcoming Obstacles as a Prerequisite
to Growing the Economy and Community” at the United Nations 57th
Annual DPI/NGO (Department of Public Information and Non Governmental
Organization) conference, which will be held from September 9-10,
2004. The theme of this year’s United Nations conference is
“Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action.”
Initiated and organized by AGBU’s NGO representative, Adrienne
Alexanian, who also represents AGBU on the conference planning
committee, the workshop will focus on landmine eradication and other
problems faced by post-war societies and will compare partnering
ventures in Afghanistan, Armenia and Cambodia to eliminate landmines,
as well as civil society projects to promote economic and social
growth.
“I am happy to help organize the first AGBU-sponsored workshop at the
annual UN conference,” Alexanian said. “It is not only crucial that
Armenian organizations promote issues vital to the interests of
Armenia, but also network with other non-Armenian NGOs to garner
support for issues of mutual concern.”
Workshop speakers will include Jeff Masardjian, Executive Director of
Armenia Tree Project, Heidi Kuhn, Founder and President of Roots of
Peace, an organization established to continue Princess Diana’s work
in the field of demining, and Sally Mackle, Chairman of the
International Service Committee of Seattle Four Rotary.
This event is made possible through the generous support of the
Cafesjian Family Foundation and is co-sponsored by the Human Rights
Committee, Peace Action, Rotary International and the World Federation
for Mental Health.
AGBU is the largest Armenian non-profit organization and promotes
Armenian heritage around the world. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization. It was established in 1906 to preserve and
promote the Armenian identity and heritage through educational,
cultural and humanitarian programs. AGBU supports and operates
schools, centers and offices in 23 countries around the world and
serves some 400,000 Armenian annually.
For more information on AGBU, please visit

allAfrica.com
$200 for Winners
New Vision (Kampala)
July 13, 2004
Posted to the web July 13, 2004
Phillip Corry
Kampala
UGANDA’s Davis Cup tennis team will earn $200(sh0.35m) if they beat Rwanda
in their Euro/Africa Group IV qualifiers in Moldova.
“Please beat Rwanda and I will give the entire team $200 for that,” John
Nagenda, presidential advisor on media and public relations said while
seeing off the team at Mosa Courts. “I wish you well. Carry the national
flag with pride.”
The team was hosted by sponsors Mosa Court apartments. Celtel Uganda, Jesa
Dairy Farm, and CAA are the other sponsors.
Other companies that helped them in their cause include MTN Uganda, UTL
Uganda, Spear Motors, Ultimate Security, NCS and MOES.
The team left on Saturday for Moldova where they play in the Euro/Africa
Group IV qualifiers.
They will compete against Armenia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Botswana, Malta,
Mauritius, Moldova and Rwanda.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sydney Morning Herald
AOC uncovers tale of the disappearing weightlifter
By Roy Masters
July 14, 2004
Weighty matter: Sergo Chakhoyan sets a world record at the Goodwill Games.
Photo: Angela Wylie
The Australian Olympic Committee suspects Australia’s sole male weightlifter
nominated for the Athens Olympics, Sergo Chakhoyan, went into hiding for
three-and-a-half months before finally being tested for drugs on July 8 in
Armenia.
Acknowledging difficulties in obtaining details of Chakhoyan’s overseas
address, AOC president John Coates said: “Clearly, there were some issues
concerning the provision of his whereabouts information and we should wait
for the results of his tests.”
The AOC has deferred an announcement on Chakhoyan’s selection in the team
for Athens until his tests results are known.
The Australian Sports Drug Agency has told the AOC it has asked the Austrian
agency which tested Chakhoyan, 34, to expedite the analysis at a Vienna
laboratory, with the test results expected late this week.
Chakhoyan, who represented Armenia at the 1996 Atlanta Games, is rated No.1
in the 85-kilogram class and won gold in the snatch at last year’s world
championships in Vancouver, and bronze in the clean-and-jerk.
An Australian resident since 1997, he briefly stopped in Melbourne to
celebrate before heading to Armenia before Christmas.
The AOC investigated his situation following a directive from the World
Anti-Doping Agency that all potential athletes for Athens declare their
whereabouts and be tested from March 31.
When the Australian Weighlifting Federation told the AOC on June 23 that
Chakhoyan would be missing the national championships in Melbourne from June
26 for “personal and family reasons”, the search intensified.
The AOC wrote to AWF president Sam Coffa on June 24 requesting information
on Chakhoyan’s location and it took another two weeks to find him.
Coffa denies the AWF was unhelpful, saying: “There was no vital information
withheld, willingly or unwillingly. His whereabouts have been known to
everybody for months and they most certainly must have been on the ASDA
database, otherwise they couldn’t have found him.”
Chakhoyan tested positive at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane in September
2001 and completed his mandatory two-year suspension last year.
In Vancouver, he claimed his second world title, having won in the same
weight category while representing Armenia in 1994. He came fifth at the
Sydney Olympics representing Australia.
Coates reflected doubts over Chakhoyan in a letter to ASDA chief executive
John Mendoza on July 9, referring to “recent ASDA concerns regarding the
whereabouts information supplied in respect of weightlifter Sergo Chakhoyan,
who was eventually tested in Armenia overnight”.
The AOC said it had been notified that ASDA had “no doping matters in
progress concerning any potential members of the 2004 Australian Olympic
team”.
However, Customs has been asked to check its records on all Australian
athletes from 2000, 2002 and 2004 teams.

Interfax
July 13 2004
Russia, Armenia to discuss military-technical cooperation in fall
Moscow. (Interfax) – Russia and Armenia plan to hold the first
session of a joint military-technical cooperation commission in
September and October 2004, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov
said, following discussions with his Armenian counterpart, Andranik
Markarian, on Tuesday.
“There are not bad prospects for the development of military-
technical cooperation,” Fradkov said. “There is desire and potential
for expanding this cooperation,” he said.
The matter primarily implies involvement of Russian enterprises in
the modernization of military equipment and weapons that the Armenian
army possesses, Fradkov said. In addition, Russia is prepared to
supply the Armenian armed forces with essential spare parts and
equipment, he said.
Armenian cadets are also studying at Russian military colleges, he
said.

Interfax
July 13 2004
Russia, Armenia negotiating cooperation in gas field
Moscow. (Interfax) – Russia and Armenia are nearing completion on a
draft agreement on cooperation in the gas field, Russian Prime
Minister Mikhail Fradkov told the press on Tuesday following a
meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian.
The two sides discussed cooperation in the construction of new
pipelines, he said.
“The outlook in this field is not bad,” Fradkov said. In particular,
Russian gas can be supplied to third countries through pipelines
crossing Armenia, he said.