FIFA Rankings List
.c The Associated Press
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) – FIFA Rankings of national teams for June released
Wednesday (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Brazil, 835 points (1).
2. France, 813 (2).
3. Spain, 792 (3).
4. Czech Republic, 762 (11).
5. Netherlands, 748 (5).
6. Mexico, 743 (4).
7. United States, 735 (9).
8. England, 733 (13).
9. Italy, 729 (10).
10. Turkey, 723 (5).
11. Argentina, 722 (5).
12. Portugal, 715 (22).
(tie). Germany, 715 (8).
14. Greece, 710 (35).
15. Denmark, 706 (15).
16. Cameroon, 702 (12).
(tie). Ireland, 702 (14).
18. Nigeria, 697 (16).
19. Sweden, 686 (18).
20. South Korea, 670 (20).
21. Iran, 664 (19).
(tie). Saudi Arabia, 664 (24).
23. Croatia, 662 (20).
24. Japan, 660 (23).
(tie). Belgium, 660 (17).
26. Russia, 655 (31).
27. Poland, 653 (26).
28. Senegal, 651 (26).
29. Paraguay, 650 (25).
(tie). Costa Rica, 650 (26).
31. Morocco, 646 (33).
32. Romania, 638 (31).
(tie). Uruguay, 638 (29).
34. Egypt, 637 (29).
35. Tunisia, 634 (33).
36. Colombia, 622 (37).
37. Ecuador, 616 (37).
38. Norway, 613 (36).
39. South Africa, 610 (39).
40. Jordan, 605 (42).
41. Bulgaria, 602 (40).
42. Slovenia, 598 (41).
43. Iraq, 582 (45).
44. Finland, 578 (42).
45. Switzerland, 577 (47).
46. Mali, 576 (46).
(tie). Zimbabwe, 576 (48).
48. Serbia-Montenegro, 574 (44).
49. Jamaica, 565 (51).
50. Venezuela, 562 (50).
51. Bahrain, 559 (57).
52. Australia, 556 (49).
53. Latvia, 555 (53).
54. Honduras, 553 (55).
(tie). Qatar, 553 (54).
56. Kuwait, 552 (59).
57. Algeria, 550 (52).
58. Oman, 548 (63).
59. Scotland, 545 (55).
60. Israel, 544 (57).
61. Wales, 541 (60).
62. Ivory Coast, 539 (69).
63. Trinidad and Tobago, 536 (77).
64. China, 535 (65).
(tie). Thailand, 535 (61).
66. Chile, 534 (65).
(tie). Cuba, 534 (80).
(tie). Slovakia, 534 (61).
69. Congo DR, 532 (65).
70. Libya, 525 (82).
71. United Arab Emirates, 523 (76).
(tie). Ghana, 523 (89).
73. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 522 (64).
74. Zambia, 521 (77).
75. Peru, 518 (72).
(tie). Iceland, 518 (65).
77. Ukraine, 515 (71).
78. Hungary, 514 (74).
(tie). Angola, 514 (85).
80. Uzbekistan, 513 (83).
(tie). Burkina Faso, 513 (73).
82. Estonia, 512 (75).
83. New Zealand, 510 (80).
84. Syria, 508 (83).
85. Belarus, 507 (86).
86. Austria, 502 (70).
(tie). Kenya, 502 (79).
88. Guinea, 501 (92).
(tie). Guatemala, 501 (87).
90. Canada, 495 (95).
91. Haiti, 486 (88).
92. Macedonia, 484 (93).
93. Turkmenistan, 481 (90).
94. Albania, 480 (91).
95. Togo, 474 (94).
96. Indonesia, 472 (97).
97. Republic of Congo, 468 (107).
98. Rwanda, 467 (100).
99. Bolivia, 463 (97).
100. Vietnam, 461 (96).
(tie). Uganda, 461 (97).
102. El Salvador, 447 (104).
103. Malawi, 446 (101).
104. Cyprus, 443 (102).
105. Georgia, 437 (102).
106. Panama, 435 (120).
107. Sudan, 433 (105).
108. St. Kitts and Nevis, 431 (120).
109. Botswana, 430 (115).
(tie). Lebanon, 430 (109).
111. Moldova, 426 (108).
112. Northern Ireland, 425 (110).
113. Liberia, 420 (106).
114. North Korea, 418 (125).
115. Lithuania, 414 (110).
116. Barbados, 411 (113).
117. Singapore, 408 (114).
118. Armenia, 407 (116).
119. Azerbaijan, 401 (112).
120. Benin, 398 (122).
121. Gabon, 395 (122).
122. Malaysia, 390 (118).
(tie). Mauritius, 390 (118
(tie). Tahiti, 390 (117).
125. Swaziland, 384 (124).
126. Mozambique, 382 (126).
127. St. Lucia, 369 (128).
128. Madagascar, 367 (127).
(tie). Solomon Islands, 367 (130).
130. Lesotho, 366 (128).
131. Fiji, 362 (133).
132. Malta, 361 (131).
(tie). Palestine, 361 (132).
134. Cape Verde Islands, 347 (146).
(tie). Yemen, 347 (135).
136. Tajikistan, 344 (136).
(tie). Faeroe Islands, 344 (134).
138. Grenada, 331 (138).
139. Ethiopia, 330 (137).
140. Maldives, 316 (141).
(tie). Sri Lanka, 316 (139).
142. Vanuatu, 315 (142).
143. India, 314 (143).
144. Kazakhstan, 313 (140).
145. Hong Kong, 306 (145).
146. Gambia, 302 (144).
147. Myanmar, 294 (147).
(tie). Suriname, 294 (154).
149. Andorra, 287 (148).
(tie). Namibia, 287 (149).
151. Burundi, 277 (150).
152. Sierra Leone, 276 (151).
153. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 273 (163).
(tie). Liechtenstein, 273 (152).
155. Taiwan, 270 (153).
156. Kyrgyzstan, 263 (158).
157. Bangladesh, 252 (155).
(tie). Luxembourg, 252 (156).
159. Chad, 244 (157).
160. Nicaragua, 238 (161).
161. Eritrea, 237 (159).
162. Bermuda, 233 (164).
163. Antigua and Barbuda, 231 (162).
164. Papua New Guinea, 228 (160).
165. Equatorial Guinea, 217 (164).
(tie). Tanzania, 217 (166).
167. Dominica, 215 (168).
168. San Marino, 214 (167).
169. Netherlands Antilles, 210 (171).
(tie). Dominican Republic, 210 (172).
171. Seychelles, 202 (169).
172. Niger, 201 (170).
173. Laos, 198 (175).
(tie). Mauritania, 198 (173).
175. Nepal, 196 (174).
176. Pakistan, 192 (176).
177. Samoa, 178 (177).
178. Central African Republic, 173 (178).
179. British Virgin Islands, 169 (179).
180. Belize, 161 (180).
181. Guyana, 154 (181).
182. Tonga, 145 (182).
183. Cayman Islands, 141 (183).
184. Cambodia, 137 (184).
185. Mongolia, 135 (185).
186. New Caledonia, 119 (186).
187. Macao, 113 (187).
(tie). Guinea-Bissau, 113 (188).
189. Bhutan, 108 (189).
190. Cook Islands, 101 (190).
191. Philippines, 99 (191).
192. Bahamas, 98 (192).
193. Somalia, 95 (193).
194. SIao TomDe e PrDincipe, 90 (194).
195. Brunei, 75 (195).
196. Aruba, 71 (196).
197. Anguilla, 66 (197).
198. Afghanistan, 63 (198).
199. Djibouti, 50 (199).
200. U.S. Virgin Islands, 47 (200).
201. Puerto Rico, 35 (201).
202. Turks and Caicos Islands, 26 (202).
203. American Samoa, 19 (203).
204. Guam, 17 (204).
205. Montserrat, 6 (205).
07/07/04 13:18 EDT

Azerbaijan should step up democratic reforms, EU envoy says
Turan news agency
7 Jul 04
BAKU
Janez Potocnik, commissioner in charge of the EU’s European
Neighbourhood Policy, held a news conference today to sum up the
results of his two-day visit to Azerbaijan. The aim of his trip to the
South Caucasus was to discuss with the country’s leaders the European
Neighbourhood Policy and further steps which have to be
taken. Potocnik’s mission aims at encouraging conflict resolution and
strengthening regional cooperation. Reports on every country will be
submitted to the EU following the visit.
The situation will be analysed in autumn and the European Neighborhood
Policy plan will be worked out in spring 2005.
In Baku Potocnik held meetings with the president, parliament speaker,
prime minister, foreign minister and opposition party leaders.
He said that democratic development, human rights, freedom of press,
struggle against corruption and a settlement of the Karabakh conflict
were discussed at the meetings. In his opinion, the development of
democratic principles, the implementation of energy projects and the
anti-poverty programme, and the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
will draw Azerbaijan closer to the EU.
Azerbaijan has a great development potential, he said. “A civil
society is developing but the process should be more rapid. Reforms in
the political and economic spheres will draw Azerbaijan closer to
Europe,” he said.
He added that the EU intends to allocate Azerbaijan 30m euros every
year under TACIS programme.
As for Karabakh, Potocnik said that the peaceful solution to the
problem is the “only acceptable one”.

KUSC to Feature “Three Times Three” Trios by Beethoven, Khachaturian,
and Babadjanian this Sunday evening July 11, 2004
KUSC.org
July 8, 2004
When: 8:00-9:00 p.m. on KUSC this Sunday evening, July 11, 2004.
What: TCS 110 “Three Times Three” trios by Beethoven, Khachaturian and
Babadjanian
Specifics:
1.) Arno Babadjanian: Trio — Sarkis Baltaian, piano / Aroussiak
Baltaian, violin / Garik Terzian, cello Chamber Music Marathon Concert:
11-26-01, Newman Hall
2.) Aram Khachaturian: Trio — Jee-Won Lee, piano / Jennifer Heilig,
violin / Levi Tracey, clarinet Chamber Music Marathon Concert: 4-23-02,
Newman Hall
3.) L. v. Beethoven: Trio in B-flat, Op. 11 — Daniel Williams, clarinet
/ Ruslan Birukov, cello / Pavel Petrov, piano Chamber Music Marathon
Concert: 4-28-03, Newman Hall

Le Télégramme
7 juillet 2004
Musique persane : deux virtuoses au Relecq
Avec le début du mois de juillet, la saison musicale a véritablement
commencé à l’abbaye du Relecq.
Avec le début du mois de juillet, la saison musicale a véritablement
commencé à l’abbaye du Relecq. Dimanche, pour le concert de Sorouch
Izadi et Djalal Akhbari, près de 150 personnes ont été subjuguées par
la musique de la Perse ancienne.
Né en Iran en 1940, Djalal Akhbari est établi en France depuis 1978.
Ce musicien virtuose a suivi l’enseignement des grands musiciens
iraniens et a fait du centhour (instrument millénaire de la Perse
Antique) un instrument à audience internationale. Après avoir étudié
et approfondi son répertoire vocal en Iran auprès de grands maîtres
de chant, Sorouch Izadi enseigne le chant en Autriche depuis 1979.
Dimanche, par sa maîtrise vocale et son timbre de voix remarquable,
elle s’est faite l’ambassadrice de cette musique persane. Par le
timbre transparent et la puissance sonore dégagés par le centhour,
Djalal Akhbari a transporté son auditoire au-delà de l’immensité du
désert.
Durant plus d’une heure, les deux musiciens se sont fait plaisir et
ont aussi fait rêver leur public dans lequel se trouvaient quelques
Iraniens mais aussi des touristes ou les habitués de ce rendez-vous
dominical.
Dimanche place à une autre période et à une autre région avec les
chants sacrés anciens d’Arménie avec l’ensemble Mesrob Mashtots,
début du concert à 18 h, entrée 20 EUR et 17 EUR.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 7 2004
AZERBAIJAN ARMY – MOST POWERFUL ARMY ON SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
[July 07, 2004, 11:04:22]
As was informed by AzerTAj, this idea was stated by Minister of
Defense of Azerbaijan, colonel-general Safar Abiyev at the meeting
with the delegation headed by the Latvian defense ministry’s state
secretary Edgars Rinkevics.
The visitor has conveyed greetings of Minister of Defense of his
country, noting that the Ministry of Defense of Latvia and Azerbaijan
have undertaken first steps in the direction of bilateral links, they
have wide experience in the field of cooperation with the NATO, and
after signing the agreement with the Ministry of Defense of
Azerbaijan these relations even more will go deep.
Colonel-general Safar Abiyev has told: `It is a great honor to
cooperate with the Ministry of Defense of the state being a full
member of the NATO. At the Istanbul summit of the NATO it has been
declared the further plans. Certainly, it will strengthen cooperation
between she NATO member-states and partners.
Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan has had with the visitor exchange
of opinions on creation of our Armed Forces, reforming of military
educational institutions and conducted reforms. He has told:
`Azerbaijan during ten years closely cooperates with the NATO within
the framework of the PfP program. Now, representatives of our Armed
Forces are trained in the higher military schools of some of world
states. Today the Azerbaijan Army is the most powerful army on the
Southern Caucasus’.
Answering the question of the visitor on prospects of settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, the Minister has
told: `The conflict should be solved on the basis of norms of
international law. In this connection, 4 resolutions of Security
Council of the United Nations have been adopted. The US State
Department, the Council of Europe, the European Union, and also
presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have expressed the
opinion concerning occupation of the Azerbaijani lands by Armenia. We
trust, that this process even more will extend, and the truth will
triumph. The position of the Azerbaijan state in settlement of the
conflict is final, and it will not cede a sod of its lands to the
enemy.
Then, discussed was the current military-political situation in
regions of the Southern Caucasus and Baltic countries.

Messenger.ge, Georgia
July 7 2004
Russia’s policy regarding South Ossetia remains unknown
Recent events show that Georgia is going to continue putting pressure
upon Tskhinvali separatists with the aim of restoring its territorial
integrity in the region. It is still not known, however, how Russia
will conduct itself in this respect. President Mikheil Saakashvili
claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin promised him that Russia
would not interfere in Georgia’s internal affairs. However, Russia’s
true intentions regarding South Ossetia remain to be seen – too often
during Shevardnadze’s administration Russia said one thing but did
the other.
Just two days ago President Saakashvili signed a document determining
the status of the Adjaran Autonomous Republic. According to the
president this is a historical document and the issue of the status
of Adjara has now been decided once and for all. Georgia in reality
faced losing Adjara, but this was prevented by the support of
friendly countries and the efforts of the Georgian people.
The Batumi velvet revolution was the first successful step toward
Georgia’s reintegration. Saakashvili has stated that he will not
tolerate separatist enclaves within his country’s territory, and sees
South Ossetia as his prime target.
To protect himself from the humanitarian-aid “attack” of the Georgian
authorities, the leader of the separatist regime Eduard Kokoiti has
begun digging trenches and putting all the region’s armed-forces on
high-alert. Kokoiti’s combativeness very much depends upon the
Russian position. But this position remains unknown. While the
Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep respect” for Georgian
territorial integrity over the weekend, a high ranking Moscow
official Mayorov would not answer a simple question put by the
Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava – which two countries are
connected by the Roki Tunnel?
The Roki tunnel connects Russia with Georgia in South Ossetia, and
Mayorov’s refusal to openly answer this question could thus be
understood as Russia not considering South Ossetia as part of
Georgia, unless this was an initiative of Mayarov himself. Russia may
have “deep respect” for Georgia’s territorial integrity, but
diplomats still wonder if that includes South Ossetia?
Many thought that the relationship between Georgia and Russia would
have been clarified during the resent Putin-Saakashvili meeting.
Despite the announcement of a simplified visa regime, the meeting
left many more issues unanswered. October is now named as the date to
finalize a Georgian-Russian agreement. Saakashvili announced that
President Putin will visit Tbilisi in October, when the signing of a
framework agreement between the two countries is also planned.
The Russian media has speculated that Putin’s meeting with
Saakashvili on Saturday was rather reserved. This was mainly
explained by the NATO Istanbul summit communiqué again calling for
Russia to remove its military bases from Georgia and by Saakashvili’s
categorical tone during the same summit.
Whatever the speculation, it seems certain that Russia is not
entirely happy with Georgia’s expressed desire to integrate with NATO
and the European Union. Also, Moscow does not want to withdraw its
military bases from Georgia. Russia would rather have Georgia taking
a more pro-Russia stance, rather than pro-Western, like Armenia, in
which case Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus would be
protected and secured.
For instance, Georgia asks Russia to jointly control the Roki Tunnel
so as to stop the smuggling of goods from Russia to Georgia, whereas
Moscow demands that Georgia join CIS-wide customs system which will
completely change the status of smuggled goods. So the positions of
the countries differ radically.
It may be that Saakashvili really received a promise from Putin of
non-interference in Georgia’s internal affairs, but that could be a
mousetrap for Georgia. It could encourage
Georgia to become involved in a local conflict, which could be very
damaging for a poor country such as Georgia and would hinder Georgia
from its movement towards the West. This possible conflict, moreover,
would give grounds to Moscow to refuse fulfilling its commitments on
withdrawing its troops from Georgia.
“Positional ballots” around South Ossetia are underway, and most
probably one should not expect a third “Rose Revolution” in this
region in the near future. However, time is not currently against
Georgia. As President Saakashvili said, in one year Georgia will be
stronger. Maybe only after the October Putin visit will it become
clearer to Georgia how to conduct its relations with Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 7 2004
Oskanian Discusses Karabakh On Russia Visit
By Aza Babayan in Moscow 07/07/2004 11:01
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and economic issues figured prominently
during Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian talks with senior Russian
officials in Moscow on Tuesday.
Oskanian met with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and
high-level lawmakers on a rare visit to the Russian capital which
some observers in Yerevan link to the renewed international efforts
to find a solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute.
`We discussed the Karabakh problem and can talk about some positive
movements there,’ Lavrov told a joint news conference with his
Armenian counterpart. He cited the recent series of meetings between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers as well as the `more
active’ work of the Russian, French and U.S. co-chairs of the OSCE’s
Minsk Group.
Both Lavrov and Oskanian would not go into details of their
discussions on Karabakh. The latter said only that he is `very
satisfied’ with the results of the talks. `This shows that the agenda
of our dialogue is quite extensive and deep,’ he said.
A separate statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry said Oskanian
briefed Lavrov on his trilateral meeting in Istanbul last week with
the Azerbaijani and Turkish foreign ministers. Turkey is seen as
trying to overcome Azerbaijani opposition to the reopening of its
border with Armenia with efforts to facilitate a Karabakh settlement.
The statement said Russian-Armenian commercial ties was another major
topic of the Moscow talks, with both sides agreeing on the need for
`restoring transport communication’ between the two allied states.
`The Russian side promised to keep the issue at the center of its
attention,’ it said, underscoring Armenia’s long-running efforts to
restore rail communication with Russia via Georgia’s breakaway
republic of Abkhazia.
Oskanian was also cited as calling for a `prompt revival’ of the five
state-run Armenian enterprises that were handed over to Russia last
year as part of a swap agreement to settle Yerevan’s $100 million
debt to Moscow. Critics have questioned the Russians’ ability to
breathe a new life into those enterprises, claiming that the deal has
only deepened Armenia’s economic dependence on its former Soviet
master.
Unlike President Robert Kocharian who seems to take every opportunity
to confer with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Oskanian has not
been a frequent guest in Moscow since being appointed foreign
minister in 1998. Tuesday’s meetings marked his first official visit
to the country.
They also led to a surprise revelation that Lavrov, who was the
Kremlin’s longtime representative to the United Nations before
becoming foreign minister recently, has ethnic Armenian roots. `I
have Armenian blood,’ he told journalists. `My father is an Armenian
from Tbilisi.’

Baku Today
July 7 2004
US Ambassador Visits Nakhchivan
U.S. ambassador Reno Harnish arrived in Azerbaijan’s autonomous
republic of Nakhchivan Tuesday on a two-day visit.
On the first day of the visit, Harnish met with Vasif Talibov,
chairman of the Nakhchivani parliament. The current political and
economic situation in the autonomous republic reportedly topped the
agenda of the meeting.
The U.S. ambassador is also expected to discuss Nakhchivan’s poor
human rights record with the authorities of the autonomous republic.
Local and international rights groups, opposition parties as well as
media representatives complain about violation of basic human rights
and freedoms in Nakhchivan.
Several members of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), an
alliance of local branches of opposition parties, have been refusing
food since June 21 in protest of police harassments.
Turan reported that Talibov told the U.S. ambassador about reforms
carried out in Nakhchivan over the recent years. Talibov also lamented
that the people of Nakhchivan cannot export their products to other
regions of Azerbaijan because of a 12-year-long blockade by Armenia.

Sydney morning herald, Australia
July 7 2004
Weightlifting hit by new doping claims
New doping allegations threaten to disrupt Australian weightlifting
on the eve of the Athens Olympics.
The Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has launched an
investigation after being told by the Australian Sports Drug Agency
(ASDA) Tuesday that an unnamed lifter had refused to take a drug
test.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to hear the case
next week.
Australia’s Olympic weightlifting team is due to be named on Friday.
Caroline Pileggi and Armenian-born Sergo Chakhoyan are expected to be
named as the only two weightlifters on the Australian team.
“There is an incident that is causing us some concern which is being
looked at right now,” said AWF president Sam Coffa, who would only
identify the athlete as being an AWF member.
The average penalty for such an offence is a two-year ban.
The Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission
are monitoring the situation and have offered to help the federation
present its case against the athlete, who is contesting the charge.
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Coffa said that once the investigation was complete, the findings
would be made public, regardless of whether the athlete in question
was guilty or not.
“Innuendos and rumours have a life of their own and they develop
legs. Somebody will say something and somebody will say something
else, and I believe it’s unhealthy,” Coffa said. “If there is a
doping case we immediately make a public statement and if it’s the
other way around and someone has been wrongly accused we will say
that too.”
Caroline Pileggi (+75kg) is expected to be the sole Australian
women’s representative and has an outside chance of winning an
Olympic medal.
The 25-year-old, who claimed gold when women debuted in the sport at
the Commonwealth Games in 2002, has overcome shoulder problems which
kept her out of last year’s world championships.
She competed at the Oceania championships in Fiji in May and the
selection trials two weeks ago in Melbourne.
Armenian-born Sergo Chakhoyan (85kg) missed those events to train in
the country of his birth.
He looms as the man to claim Australia’s second ever Olympic gold
medal, 20 years after Port Lincoln fisherman Dean Lukin made the
breakthrough.
Chakhoyan was suspended in 2001 for two years for using steroids.
The latest allegations involving Australian weightlifting come after
Anthony Martin last month accepted a two-year ban for testing
positive to banned substances.
Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner Seen Lee will appeal a
two-year ban for testing positive in May to the diuretic furosemide.

Glendale news press
LATimes.com
July 7 2004
Defendants discuss deals in murder trial
Selection of jurors starts today in teen’s stabbing, beating case.
Accused men might make pleas.
By Gary Moskowitz, News-Press
LOS ANGELES – The day before a retrial for accused killers Rafael
Gevorgyan and Karen Terteryan, their attorneys spent most of their
time debating last-minute plea bargains and preparing family members
for what might happen the second time around.
The men are accused in the beating and stabbing death of Hoover High
School student Raul Aguirre in 2000.
Last week, Terteryan was willing to accept an offer of 23 years and
eight months in prison. He is accused of stabbing Aguirre in the
heart during a fight. Gevorgyan, who is accused of hitting Aguirre on
the head with a crowbar, declined a plea bargain last week for 16
years in prison, and maintained his position Tuesday.
If convicted of murder, both men could face sentences of 25 years to
life in prison. The first jury deadlocked on charges against the men.
Gevorgyan, during Tuesday’s pretrial hearing, told the judge he
wanted to waive his right to a jury trial and have the judge hear the
case. When the judge questioned him about that decision, Gevorgyan
changed his mind and opted for a jury trial.
“My client is innocent, and the fact that he agreed to go with a jury
trial is proof of that,” said Andrew Flier, Gevorgyan’s attorney. “As
far as I’m concerned, I won a murder trial today. My client did not
kill anyone and is innocent of murder charges.”
Aguirre was 17 on May 5, 2000, when he tried to intervene in what
police say was a gang fight between a former co-worker of Aguirre’s
and Terteryan and Gevorgyan. Investigators have said Aguirre was not
a gang member.
Shepard Kopp, who is Terteryan’s attorney in the retrial, declined to
comment on whether his client was still interested in a plea deal.
“We are talking about trying this case, and that’s it,” Kopp said. He
added that the defendants might have the chance to accept plea
bargains today, before jury selection begins.
Gevorgyan’s aunt, Olga Manedjian, said she felt confident in her
nephew’s decision to go to a jury trial. Manedjian and other family
members held their hands to their faces in anticipation as Gevorgyan
made his decision to go to trial.
“He thinks it’s better, and it is his only hope,” Manedjian said. “I
was thinking he might take a deal, but he knows better than I do. I
know this is hard for him, but I think we should go to trial, too.”
During Tuesday’s pretrial hearing, Deputy Dist. Atty. Darrell Mavis
said he plans to use a taped conversation between the defendants as
they sat in the back of a police car after their arrest. The tape was
introduced during the first trial but the jury did not hear the tape
because questions arose about its translation from Armenian.
Mavis also plans to introduce new DNA tests that allegedly show
Aguirre’s blood on the crowbar that Gevorgyan is accused of wielding.
Gevorgyan testified during the first trial that he did not swing the
crowbar or hit Aguirre with it.
On Tuesday, Flier argued that the tape should not be admitted as
evidence because it is almost inaudible.
“We thought the tape was useful before, and still is now,” Mavis
said. “We decided it wasn’t going to be in the best interest of our
strategic efforts before, but it will become more clear as we try
this case again.”
Judge Michael Johnson will conduct oral questioning of about 75
jurors in the next two days.