Cubans, Russian continue to dominate in Olympic boxing
.c The Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Experienced teams from Cuba and Russia continued
to impress in Olympic boxing Saturday, with each country sending three
more fighters to the quarterfinals.
Cuba now has 10 boxers in the final eight, while Russia has nine.
Yan Bhartelemy Varela, Yuriorkis Gamboa Toledano and Yordani Despaigne
Herrera all won Saturday for Cuba, while Sergey Kazakov, Georgy
Balakshin and Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov advanced for Russia.
Despaigne will next face Andre Dirrell of the United States in the
75-kilogram category.
Though Americans haven’t fared well against Cuban boxers in the past,
Dirrell owns a win over Despaigne in the Olympic test event in Athens
in May.
“It doesn’t matter who I get in there with,” Dirrell said. “I just
follow my game plan.”
Also, Iraqi boxer Najah Ali lost his 48-kg bout to Aleksan Nalbandyan
of Armenia, ending the improbable run of Iraq’s only Olympic boxer
after just one victory.
Ali was outpointed 24-11 in the second-round match, but he still
provided a dramatic conclusion to his 10-month journey from a job in a
Baghdad furniture factory to the bright lights of Athens, where he
carried the flag of the reconstituted Iraq team.
The diminutive Ali struggled to reach his taller opponent while
falling behind in the first 2 1/2 rounds, but he then cut Nalbandyan’s
mouth with a punch. He spent the final round frantically attempting to
open the cut wide enough to get the Armenian fighter disqualified, but
was unsuccessful despite an exciting chase.
“I only needed one punch – one punch,” Ali said with a shake of his
head.
08/21/04 16:32 EDT

Edmonton Sun (Alberta, Canada)
August 21, 2004 Saturday Final Edition
HISTORY CHANNELLING;
THAT’S THE GRECIAN FORMULA FOR THESE OLYMPIC GAMES
BY DAVE ‘CRASH’ CAMERON, EDMONTON SUN
The Olympics are all about history.
The first to be documented was held in ancient Greece in 776 BC.
Coroebus, a cook from Elis, won the sole event – a run of
approximately 192 metres (210 yards).
The competitors were naked. But it is not known whether Coroebus also
cooked in the nude.
The Olympics were shut down in AD 393 by a Roman emperor because he
didn’t like its “pagan influences.”
This is the first case of political meddling messing up the Games.
The first “modern” Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, revived by a
French aristocrat named Pierre de Coubertin.
Born in 1863, he was only seven when France was overrun by the
Germans during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Some historians
believe that de Coubertin attributed the defeat of France not to its
military skills, but rather to the French soldiers’ “lack of vigour.”
This would not be the last time that the French were to be labelled
“weenies.”
Approximately 300 athletes – all male, all clothed – competed in
1896. (Susan Nattrass didn’t qualify for the Canadian team because of
her gender.)
There were nine events: swimming, cycling, track, fencing, shooting,
weightlifting, gymnastics, wrestling and lawn tennis.
CBC’s Don Whittman had to cover all nine events by himself.
Our man Terry Jones filed his first-ever column.
He dubbed it “the greatest Olympics ever.”
– – –
I’m just kidding, of course.
Jonesy didn’t cover his first Olys until Paris in 1900.
– – –
It is an honour and a pinnacle for athletes to make the Olympics. The
same is true for members of the media.
While this is Jonesy’s 13th Olympics (not kidding), TSN’s Farhan
Lalji is working his first.
“I just got married a month ago and now I’ll be gone for a month,” he
told me before boarding the 12 hours worth of flights to Athens. “My
wife’s loving that.
“But I’m looking forward to it. This is why you want to work for a
national network – to get the opportunity to do something like this.
“A lot of people have concerns about terrorism. For me, honestly,
that’s one thing I’m not concerned about. I’m more concerned about
the heat and the logistical headaches.
“I don’t do well in the heat,” said the B.C. boy.
“It’s events like this that define you as a reporter. I know for me,
the best job next to mine, outside of sports, is to be an
international correspondent.
“The Olympics are always going to be a big deal regardless of the
politics and the socioeconomic conditions around it.
“The Olympics are still the Olympics, and it’s still going to be
centre stage. There’s not another event I’d rather cover.”
– – –
My new pal James Sharman, host of the most excellent Sportsworld on
The Score (Ch. 80, weekdays at 3:30 and 5 p.m.), isn’t in Athens, but
the native of England has a strong perspective since he covers many
of these sports more than the once-every-four-years.
“I think internationally the Olympics still enjoy that ‘romantic
appeal.’
“Certainly in Europe and Australasia the so-called ‘pure sports’ such
as track and field have a massive following. The Golden League events
in Europe are capacity-filled, atmosphere-rich spectacles, and,
indeed, the top stars are household names.
“It seems in North America only the record holders at the ‘glory’
events are known.
“I think this has as much to do with the marketing of sports in North
America. It is truly a big-league continent.The amount of money
ploughed into the marketing of the NBA, MLB, NFL, and, to a lesser
extent, the NHL, brings those athletes into our living rooms every
time we turn the TV on.
“Team sports are where it’s at over here.
“You can sell a million L.A. Lakers jerseys, but try selling a Haille
Gebreselassie vest”
– – –
In his column in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (the Star-Trombone as
he calls it), Karl Weiner appears impressed by the sense of history
in Greece after visiting the narrow Panathinaiko stadium, the site of
the 1896 Games on a spot where a previous stadium stood in 334 BC.
You may have seen Panathinaiko when it was used for the celebration
in June following Greece’s underdog win of the Euro 2004 soccer
tournament. It is also where the Games’ marathon run will end.
“It is the world’s Fenway Park, the globe’s Rose Bowl, the friendly
confines of ancient dreams and echoes,” Weiner said.
“I’ve been to Yankee Stadium, the Los Angeles Coliseum, Notre Dame’s
football stadium, the tiny gem of a football stadium at St. John’s
and the old Maple Leaf Gardens.
“Panathinaiko is as good as it gets.”
– – –
Why not? The first athletes were naked.
Overcome with Olympic fervour I bought my first issue of Playboy in
years. Not since Hugh Hefner … well, actually, Hef hasn’t changed,
has he?
But times have. If these athletes had posed like this years ago …
oh, the scandal. Likely, their tickets to Athens would have been
cancelled.
But I bought the magazine for the articles. Honest.
– – –
Think our team sucks?
Armenia hasn’t won a medal since AD 388.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
August 21, 2004, Saturday
19:56:17 Central European Time
Kazakov moves into last eight, Jongjohor loses to Gamboa
The quarter-final lineup for the light flyweight Olympic boxing
tournament was completed Saturday, with the likes of world champion
Sergey Kazakov of Russia and Yan Bhartelemy Varela qualifying easily.
Earlier, world flyweight champion Somjit Jongjohor crashed out on
points after a desperate final round that included a point deduction
for holding.
Kazakov had little trouble dispatching the last Mexican boxer in the
tournament, Raul Castaneda, winning easily on points by 40 points to
16.
Next up for Kazakov is Namibia’s Joseph Jermia, victor over
Australia’s Peter Wakefield.
Zou Shiming of China also had no problems reaching the last eight,
defeating Endalkachew Kebede 31-8 on points but will need to be at
his best against Aleksan Nalbandyan of Armenia if he is to have any
hope of a medal.
In other action, Korea’s Hong Moo Won caused a surprise by beating
world championship bronze medallist Harry Tanamor of the Phillippines
42-25 on points while gold medal hope Varela beat Thailand’s Suban
Pannon 23-14.
Earlier, world flyweight champion Somjit Jongjohor fell to Cuba’s
Yuriorkis Gamboa while middleweight Andre Dirrell gave the U.S.
reason for cheer with a stoppage win over Nabil Kassel of Algeria.
The U.S. boxing team had lost four of its last five fights before
Dirrell exploded into action, caused an early standing-eight count
for Kassel, and building up a 12-3 lead at the end of the first
round. The referee stopped the contest after the second round ended
as Dirrell had built up a 20-point lead.
“I knew he was slow and I knew I had him where I wanted him after
that first left hand landed,” said Direll, who now takes on Cuba’s
Yordanis Despaigne in his quarter-final bout.
Earlier, compatriot Ron Siler lost on points 36-17 to Azbekistan’s
Tulashboy Doniyorov in the flyweight division.
Jongjohur also crashed out after appearing to be on course for a
place in the last eight as he led going into his final round against
Yuriorkis Gamboa.
But the counterpunching Cuban outscored him 10-2 in the final round
as Jongjohor was docked a point after three cautions for holding.
“I did not begin well. My tactics were not right and I was not
fighting the proper way,” said Gamboa afterwards. “But I won and that
is what matters.”
Gamboa now meets twice European champion and world championship
bronze medallist Georgy Balakshin of Russia, who defeated
Kazakhstan’s Mirzhan Rakhimzhanov on a point score of 29:20.
Germany’s Rustamhodza Rahimov had to survive a fierce last round
onslaught from Colombia’s Oscar Escandon, when he was twice knocked
to the floor, before prevailing 25-15 on points.
Waiting for Rahimov in the last eight will be Paulus Ambunda of
Namibia, an easy 39-19 points winner over Venezuela’s Jonny Mendoza,
who had to take two standing eight counts.
Sydney bronze medallist Jerome Thomas of France eased past Juan
Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic and the former world champion
now meets Azbekistan’s Tulashboy Doniyorov, a 36-17 victor over U.S.
boxer Ron Silver as the Americans’ misery in the ring continued.
Fuad Aslanov of Azerbaijan was made fight all the way by Georgia’s
Nikoloz Izoria and now meets Poland’s Andrzej Rzany who overwhelmed
Hicham Mesbahi of Morocco. dpa gb ms sc

The Times (London)
August 21, 2004, Saturday
Round the world in a caravan
by Hugh de Wet
In the Sixties, motor caravanning took off, with basic camping
equipment fitted into converted VW vans being very popular. These
days motor caravans come complete with luxury touches and the
benefits of modern engines, but few people have been as adventurous
as Alan Johnston was …
Mr Alan Johnston, aged 44, a teacher who sold his old house to buy a
new one in Wimbledon, found himself with about £5,000 to spare.
Uncertain about how the money could best be used, he bought a
motorised caravan and set off, with his wife and three small adopted
children, on a trip around the world.
The Johnstons have just returned to Britain after three years. They
covered more than 80,000 miles by road, plus about 15,000 miles by
sea, visiting 19 countries from Belgium, through Europe to Russia and
on through Iran, Afghanistan, India, Malaysia and Thailand to Japan,
then crossing to the United States and Canada, before recrossing by
sea to France and returning home.
Mr Johnston still has a substantial part of the £5,000 to spare.
In the summer of 1965 Mr Johnston, then teaching at the Bishop Bell
county primary school at Crawley, West Sussex, bought the compact
motorised caravan -a van with built-in eating and sleeping
accommodation -for £1,100, and £200 worth of spares.
“During the trip we lived for less than £50 a month,” he told me.
“Somebody has estimated that we did the trip for less than a dollar a
person a day.”
Shipping their vehicle between continents turned out to be the only
major item of expenditure. The vehicle, weighing some three and a
half tons fully loaded, and powered by a 1600cc engine, traversed
some of the world’s highest mountain passes and completed the trip
without any major overhaul. It broke down only once in the United
States when the coil failed.
When they set off, Mr Johnston was 41, his wife, Josephine Maria, 36,
and their three Anglo-Indian children, Anna, Tim and Lee, whom they
adopted through the Dr Barnardo’s organization, five, four and two
respectively.
“Some people were appalled when they heard that we intended taking
our children into places like Afghanistan and Iran,” Mr Johnston
said. “But we found the entire trip extremely pleasant. Not once was
there a dangerous incident.”
They spent about a month in Russia and then found that they could not
cross from Armenia into Iran because of a cholera epidemic.
“The border had been sealed because the Russians were afraid of the
epidemic spreading across into their country,” Mr Johnston said.
“We spent about a week waiting in Armenia. The Russians were
wonderfully hospitable. Then we were told we could cross into Iran.
“Although it was a Sunday, a Russian bank manager appeared and
changed our surplus roubles into Iranian money. Then we were given an
escort of Russian Army officers up to the border crossing-point at
Djoulfa. On the other side of the padlocked gates a group of Iranian
officers was waiting to receive us.
“The Russians were affable; they delivered speeches, shook hands with
the Iranians, and then both parties unlocked the gates
simultaneously; it appeared that the crossing-point was seldom used.”
In Iran the family weathered the cholera epidemic with the aid of
giant antibiotic capsules which they were forced to take in copious
quantities.
“We know of people who have been robbed and even murdered while
travelling in the Far East, but I think that in most cases these
people behaved imprudently,” Mr Johnston said. “In Iran and Pakistan
we slept in police stations or airport buildings and were quite safe.
In India we used the rest houses.
India is an extremely gentle country, and we spent about a year
there. “In Pakistan, after negotiating the Khyber Pass, the Johnstons
were invited to dinner at the imam’s home at Peshawar.
“The Imam’s stately home was full of animals,” Mrs Johnston said.
“They believe in keeping close to nature, and we had chickens and
goats running about and huge tame storks peering over our shoulders.
We called the place ‘the Stork club’ after that.”
After the dinner, Mr Johnston found his van crammed with women and
children from the palace, all eager to be taken for a drive. He
eventually took them on a jaunt through Peshawar, under strict
instructions that the vehicle’s curtains remained drawn and that no
lights should be used, as the women were in purdah.
The Johnstons have returned to their home at Wimbledon which they let
while on their tour. Mr Johnston takes up a teaching post at a
Wandsworth secondary school with the satisfaction of knowing that his
children -the eldest is now eight – have a flying start over their
contemporaries when it comes to geography, languages, and general
knowledge.

Associated Press Worldstream
August 21, 2004 Saturday 4:13 PM Eastern Time
Olympic boxing results
ATHENS, Greece
Results Saturday from the Olympic boxing competition:
48 Kg
Round of 16
Joseph Jermia, Namibia, def. Peter Wakefield, Australia, 29-20.
Sergey Kazakov, Russia, def. Raul Castaneda, Mexico, 41-16.
Alfonso Pinto, Italy, def. Carlos Jose Tamara Paternina, Colombia,
49-35.
Atagun Yalcinkaya, Turkey, def. Jeyhun Abiyev, Azerbaijan, 23-20.
Zou Shimming, China, def. Endalkachew Kebede, Ethiopia, 31-8.
Aleksan Nalbandyan, Armenia, def. Najah Ali, Iraq, 24-11.
Hong Moo-won, South Korea, def. Harry Tanamor, Philippines, 42-25.
Yan Bhartelemy Varela, Cuba, def. Suban Pannon, Thailand, 23-14.

The Associated Press
August 21, 2004, Saturday, BC cycle
Olympics Weightlifting Results
ATHENS, Greece
Final results Saturday of the weightlifting event from the Summer
Olympics:

Men
85Kg
1. George Asanidze, Georgia, (2, 177.50-391; 3, 205.00-452), 382.50
kg. -843 pounds.
2. Andrei Rybakou, Belarus, (1, 180.00-397; 8, 200.00-441),
380.00-838.
3. Pyrros Dimas, Greece, (3, 175.00-386; 4, 202.50-447), 377.50-832.
4. Georgios Markoulas, Greece, (7, 167.50-369; 1, 205.00-452),
372.50-821.
5. Yuan Aijun, China, (8, 167.50-369; 2, 205.00-452), 372.50-821.
6. Aliaksandr Anishchanka, Belarus, (5, 170.00-375; 6, 200.00-441),
370.00-816.
7. Tigran Martirosyan, Armenia, (6, 167.50-369; 5, 200.00-441),
367.50-810.
8. Song Jong Shik, South Korea, (10, 160.00-353; 7, 200.00-441),
360.00-794. U.S. finisher
10. Oscar Chaplin III, Savannah, Ga., (12, 160.00-353; 11,
190.00-419), 350.00-772.

Washington Times
Aug 22 2004
Week in Review
By David W. Jones
Chemical attack?
There was something curiously understated about the report of an
apparent chemical attack on villagers in the Sudanese province of
Darfur, which ran on Tuesday’s front page.
For one thing, the word “chemical” was never used by any of the
villagers. They simply described in matter-of-fact terms how one day,
instead of the usual bombs, the planes dropped plastic sacks filled
with a flourlike substance that made them sick and killed their
livestock.
“I came across the story just talking to the villagers in Shegek
Karo about their experiences during the bombing,” reporter Levon
Sevunts explained in a subsequent e-mail.
“They didn’t even realize what they were telling me was extremely
important. For them, it was just another of many ways the Sudanese
government had tried to kill them.”
Mr. Sevunt’s report was the first we had seen since the Darfur
story broke into the headlines this year to suggest the Sudanese were
using chemical weapons in the conflict.
That made it a big story, but also one on which we wanted to be
very careful of our facts – especially because Mr. Sevunts, a
freelance correspondent in the region for the Toronto Star, had filed
to us only a couple of times before.
But the innocent quality of the villagers’ stories gave the story
the ring of truth, and we were impressed by the fact that Mr. Sevunts
had carefully avoided making any unsubstantiated charges. He simply
recounted the stories the villagers had told him.
We had staff reporter David R. Sands in Washington make some
additional phone calls.
He learned that the British Broadcasting Corp. had reported the
use of chemical weapons in southern Darfur in 1999, and was told by a
specialist at the International Crisis Group (ICG) that there had
been unconfirmed reports of chemical-weapon use in Sudan for a
decade.
The ICG specialist, John Prendergast, also called for an
international investigation of all such charges. At that point, we
felt we had not only solid grounds for the story, but perhaps even an
obligation to run it.

Security concerns
One thing that troubled us: Mr. Sevunts, in his original story,
said representatives of Human Rights Watch had been to the village
and taken a sample of the powder to be analyzed. But when we called
Human Rights Watch from Washington, their spokesman was not aware of
the incident.
This might just be a case of poor communications between
headquarters and the field, common enough in situations like this.
When we queried Mr. Sevunts, he provided the name of the person who
took the sample and suggested another explanation.
“I think the HRW are denying it for the same reasons I had to
hold it for several days – security,” he wrote.
“But I couldn’t hold the story any more,” he said. On his way
back, he had run into reporters from competing organizations
traveling to the same village “and I wasn’t sure whether they got the
story, too.”
“So I filed at the first opportunity I got to recharge batteries
on my laptop and close enough to the Chadian border that I knew I
could make a run for it if the Sudanese came after us.”
We also did a bit of research on Mr. Sevunts – an easy enough
matter, thanks to Google. We knew he had worked several years for the
well-regarded Montreal Gazette, but not much more.
The Google search showed that he was Russian-born, that he had
lived in Armenia for a while, and that he had some remarkable
adventures during the fighting in Afghanistan at the end of 2001.
Mr. Sevunts “was once a soldier in the former Soviet Union,” says
a “blog” from that period by Kevin Sites, a freelance television
reporter for NBC and CNN. “That is probably why he is alive today. He
knows about war. Has been shot at before.”
That sounds like just the kind of guy we like to have reporting
from a conflict zone.

-David W. Jones is the foreign editor of The Washington Times.
His e-mail address is [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Oregonian, OR
Aug 22 2004
Immigrants from war-torn Bosnia, Soviet Armenia and Vietnam bring a
bit of their homelands to their lives here through their ethnic delis
GABRIELLE GLASER
The shopkeepers arrived in Portland from the world’s most anguished
corners: Vietnam, Bosnia, Soviet Armenia. Like the waves of
immigrants who founded and shaped this country, they came in search
of a life where death and oppression were distant stories, not a
daily reality.
Picturesque Portland has delivered on that wish. But for refugees
fleeing war, life here is neither simple, nor as richly hued as it
was in their homelands.
In their hearts they will always be strangers, catering to people
who, like themselves, yearn for the smoky cafes of the former Ottoman
Empire, the bright colors and pungent smells of Saigon’s open-air
markets, or a slab of sesame flatbread fresh from an Armenian brick
oven.
In their unassuming shops, small islands between hair salons and rug
stores, they marry the sometimes-incongruous demands of business and
nurturing. Nothing can ever really compensate for longing, but food
from home can soften it.
Here are some tales from around the city — and around the globe.
NAM PHU’O’NG
Phat Nguyen stands behind his state-of-the-art cash register and
sighs. His small store on Sandy Boulevard is a long way from the
dense jungles of South Vietnam, where he fought as a soldier
alongside U.S. troops. Nguyen, 54, spends his days ordering frozen
shrimp and squid, delicate eggplants and fresh coriander, but his
thoughts turn swiftly from the mundane to the ponderous. “I think
always of war,” he says softly above the hum of his giant freezers.
“It is in my heart.” At night, after the shop closes, he switches on
news of another war. “I hear of a young soldier dying, and I think of
his brothers, sisters, his parents, his wife,” he says.
His own three brothers were killed in the fighting; three sisters
remain in Vietnam. Resettled, Nguyen lives with his third wife and
two young children.
“War destroys every family it touches,” he says. “Two marriages,
gone.” He sweeps his hand through the air.
Like many others who fled Vietnam on rickety boats, Nguyen, who left
Saigon in 1980, was among those who suffered for his allegiance to
the U.S. “I had to leave,” he says.
So did Chuong Nguyen, 62. During the war he served as a South
Vietnamese army officer, and trained with the U.S. Army in Georgia.
He was imprisoned by the Vietcong for six years. Now, he works as a
machine operator for Siltronic Corp. “I was lucky to get out,” he
says, and excuses himself to look for fish sauce.
Phat Nguyen shrugs, then steps into his aisles crowded with rice
cookers, floormats, green tea candy and canned lychees. The one thing
his customers miss the most — exotic Southeast Asian fruit — is
unattainable. Because of import laws, Nam Phu’o’ng can carry only
frozen and canned varieties. “In Vietnam we eat fruit all day long,”
he says.
Some solace exists, though, in the form of giant durians piled in a
corner freezer. The spiked, basketball-sized fruit, little-known
outside Asia, is often hailed as the “King of Fruit,” and is prized
for its sweet, smooth, yellow flesh. (It is also known for its
distinctive odor, which is often compared to that of overripe
cheese.)
He picks up the knobbed globe. “This cannot take away sadness but it
has a good taste,” he says. “For good memories.”
ANOUSH
If you by chance are in the market for some ouzo-flavored jam from
Greece, some sea buckthorn juice from Georgia, a Moldovan tarragon
drink or some dried jumbo limes from Syria, Avetis Nor-Ashkarian is
your man.
He is the owner and proprietor of the Anoush Deli in Portland’s
Gateway district, and everyone in Stumptown from behind the former
Iron Curtain seems to be his friend. For that matter, so are locals
in the area, who line up daily for the giant gyros that Avetis — his
full name means “good news” and “new world” in Armenian — provides
daily. (He himself disdains them, eating them only when he is
desperate. “So messy,” he says.)
For Avo, as he is called, is something of a neatnik, with pressed
shirts, spotless trousers, and Old World manners in his native
tongues, English and Russian.
Nor-Ashkarian, 42, arrived in the U.S. in 1980 in the midst of the
Cold War, and just before tensions between Soviet Armenia and
Azerbaijan erupted into armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an
ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan.
He has had many metiers: first as a dental technician in California,
and later as a phlebotomist at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
(he refers to this as his “vampire phase”). But perhaps history —
Armenians have been involved in the spice trade for centuries —
helped set the stage for his current endeavor.
Each day, scarved grandmothers and burly contractors enter the
pristine shop with throaty Russian singers blaring from the speakers,
and thrust tiny slips of paper into his hand. They search for nuts,
or cheese, or yogurt. And judging by his array of sour cherry
preserves — there are more than 17 different labels — sour cherry
jam.
“Sour cherries are serious business,” Nor-Ashkarian says. “It has to
be this brand, or that brand, but absolutely not this one.”
He has learned the hard way that substituting a product he thinks
might work is not a wise idea. Customers will come to retrieve their
goods, with money hard-earned as electricians or nurses, stone masons
or telephone repairmen, only to shake their heads or purse their lips
and say, “Of course not that kind, either.”
Beer — there are a dozen brands — often summons the biggest
emotions. “You cannot imagine the disappointment if the right one is
not here,” he says.
Romanian-born Ana Alexandru, 67, stops to buy puff pastry she will
fill with cheese. Victor Chika, 71, picks up some Ukrainian sunflower
oil. American brands are inferior, he says. “No flavor!”
The bell sounds, and Nor-Ashkarian is off to dish up Bulgarian feta
for a homesick Sofia native. Then he glides to the small tables with
a tray of gyros for some chiropractic students.
On the wall behind him are three large laminated maps. On either
side, bright blue oceans complement orange and green continents. In
the center, though, is Nor-Ashkarian’s new world, and everyone
else’s: It is a giant map of Portland, with streets in minute detail.
TASTE OF EUROPE
The anchor of Muhamed Mujcic’s corner store, A Taste of Europe, on
Southeast Hawthorne, is a bright red espresso maker. Mujcic, who fled
Bosnia in the midst of the war in Yugoslavia, cheerfully presses
coffee for customers with an expert hand. His demeanor betrays a
lingering sadness for his former life in the town of Banja Luka,
where he was surrounded by extended family and had a prosperous
business. “We had a beautiful life there,” Mujcic says, nibbling from
an espresso-soaked sugar cube.
Muhamed, his wife Vesna and their two daughters, Jasminka and Vanesa,
were among thousands of Muslims driven out of Bosnia by Serb-led
militias in the campaign of ethnic cleansing. In 1994, the Mujcics
arrived in Portland, where they were sponsored by Muhamed’s brother.
Muhamed, 56, set up his store in 2000. In a town where rhythms seem
driven by the barista’s hiss, he has a varied clientele: tattooed
Portland twentysomethings wander in as they chat on their cell
phones. Eastern Europeans, many from the former Yugoslavia, walk in
purposefully, first for a handshake, then coffee. They stand,
chatting, in the back of the store, beneath vivid oil paintings by
Jasminka and tapestries of Bosnia.
Amer Filipic, 37, is a psychiatric nurse at Adventist Medical Center,
and stops by each day before his afternoon shift. “This is the best
coffee,” he says, draining his small cup. “It is fuel for my soul.”
Mujcic cheers up at the sight of his friend. “Good coffee, good
chocolate, good beer!” he calls out. “Those are necessities.” He
waves his arm past rich chocolates with orange,
strawberry-and-pepper, and marzipan filling. He shows dozens of teas,
mostly from Bosnia. One, though, is universal: “To Lose Weight Tea,”
it says simply.
He imports several types of coffee, all of it lacking the bitter
taste some commercial American brands are known for. “In Bosnia, we
began drinking coffee 400 years ago. For us it is no fad, it is our
culture.”
Jasminka looks on, her face solemn. “We’re in this country now,” she
said. “But when you step outside this door, you are always reminded
that you are different.”
Behind every war, of course, are lives, and losses. Muhamed’s family
has suffered more than its share: Though his three brothers escaped
Banja Luka, they died prematurely here. “Heart attacks, brain
attacks,” he says. “In Bosnia my family always lived to be old.”
The results of war, he says, are the same everywhere. “The biggest
losers are the smart, honest people.”

Doghouse Boxing, Canada
Aug 22 2004
Darchinyan Ready to go to War with Pacheco
Interview by Anthony Cocks, Site Editor (August 22, 2004)

IBF #1 flyweight Vic `Raging Bull’ Darchinyan, 21-0 (16), is
expecting fireworks when he steps into the ring to challenge IBF
champion Irene `Mambaco’ Pacheco, 30-0 (23), for his crown on ESPN2
Friday Night Fights on Sept 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Speaking exclusively to Doghouse Boxing via his cell phone three days
before flying out to the United States, Darchinyan said that he was
happy with his preparation and the hard sparring that he received
from other world rated Team Fenech fighters.
`Training’s been very good, beautiful,’ said the 28-year-old
Armenian-born Australian. `I have good sparring partners, very, very
good. Sparring Hussy (Hussein), Lovemore (Ndou), Skinny (Hussein).’
Ndou in particular has been supplying Darchinyan with some quality
rounds, with the 140lb contender’s ability to fight effectively from
the southpaw stance.
`Exactly. He has been fighting southpaw, very similar to Pacheco. And
he’s giving me good sparring and I’m happy for the sparring. I’m
getting very good as the fight gets closer,’ he said.
Darchinyan, who earned his title shot by twice stopping former WBC
minimumweight interim world champion Wande Chor Chareon and winning a
ten round unanimous decision over former Pacheco victim Alejandro
Felix Montiel, will have his work cut out for him against the rugged
33-year-old Columbian, but he remains undaunted by the task at hand.
Although he admits fighting against another southpaw won’t be easy,
Darchinyan is confident that with the work he has put in in the gym
it won’t present too many problems for him.
`No, of course it’s not easier because I’m used to fighting
orthodox,’ he explained. `I’ve done it in the amateurs many times,
many fights in southpaw and I’m ready for southpaw. Not very
difficult for me, southpaw.
`I don’t think it will be a problem. I am ready for southpaw, it’s
not a big problem for me.’
With both heavy-handed lefties boasting knockout ratios above 76%,
it’s fair to assume that it will be an explosive contest for as long
as it lasts. The 2000 Olympian refutes any suggestion that he will
try to counterbox the aggressive Pacheco.
`No, no, no, I go aggressive like my name `Raging Bull’,’ laughed
Darchinyan. `I go destroy him.’
So does that mean we can expect the fight to finish within the
distance?
`I can’t say,’ said Darchinyan thoughtfully. `But no, I don’t think
so. I look forward to finishing early, but I can’t say. He’s a good
boxer, too.’
Darchinyan believes that the time Pacheco has spent out of the ring
between bouts could come back to haunt him. Since Darchinyan turned
professional in late 2000, he has logged 21 bouts. In the same
timeframe Pacheco has fought just four times.
`It’s very, very bad for a boxer,’ Darchinyan said. `A boxer needs to
have a few fights every year. Last time he fought against Damaen
Kelly nearly ten months ago. I think a boxer needs more fights in a
year and it’s not good for him, you know. He’s not ready now, maybe.’
Darchinyan sees the combination of possible ring rust and Pacheco’s
dislike of fighting off the back foot as the keys to victory on
September 3.
`I want to start from the first round, go forward all the time,
punching. Keep him going backwards. I’ve seen his last few fights and
nobody is pushing him. He likes to push forward, punching. I don’t
think he’s ready for a boxer who can push him back,’ he said.
In November 2000 South African Masibulele Makepula was unlucky not to
walk away with the IBF championship when he pressured Pacheco for
twelve full rounds only to lose a majority decision that most
ringside observer felt he deserved to win. Darchinyan admits he will
be looking to implement a similar game plan against the 11-year pro.
`I have this tape too. I saw it… that’s why I say he’s had a very
bad fight with him. Everyone thinks Makepula beat him, but they give
it to him,’ he said.
Darchinyan, who will be sparring one of the greatest southpaws of the
last decade in Mark `Too Sharp’ Johnson in the States, weighed 55kg
three weeks prior to the biggest fight if his life, but he doesn’t
anticipate the additional four kilos will be hard to lose in the
Miami heat.
`Training in the Miami summer it will be easy to lose, I think,’ said
Darchinyan. `It’s not a big problem. I already done it last year
three times. I fought at 50.8kg.’
If you enjoy watching little men fight who punch well above their
weight, then make sure you tune in to ESPN2 Friday Night Fights on
September 3 because flyweight matchups don’t come any better than
this.

Zaman, Turkey
Aug 22 2004
Russia’s ‘Ambiguous’ Caucasus Policy Worries Georgia
Georgia continues to try and find a common language with Russia after
relations between the two countries became strained because of the
crises in Georgia’s Abkhazia, Adzharia, and South Ossetia; however,
Tbilisi is concerned that Moscow does not have a clear policy for the
Southern Caucasus.
International Abkhazia Initiative Group President David Cabaridze
spoke to Zaman about the situation. “Russia does not have a clear
policy in the Southern Caucasus. Is stability or instability needed
there? On one side, they say they support the territorial integrity
of Georgia. On the other side they support the separatist movements
against Georgia.”
Cabaridze, who is also a Russian citizen, claims that there is no
clear attitude among the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Defense
Ministry and intelligence institutions. “We never know with whom we
will sit and speak. The Russian President calls it a ‘usual’ thing;
however, the others act differently. It is impossible to reach a
consensus.”
Cabaridze indicated that even though Russia’s ambiguous policies
pushed Georgia closer to the West, a stable Georgia is one of
Russia’s objectives. According to Cabaridze, a stable Georgia would
allow Russia to establish a railway link to its ally Armenia. A
stable Georgia would also serve as an example for the rest of the
Caucasus.
Cabaridze pointed out that the international community has come to
Georgia’s aid. “For example, the boots of our soldiers are from
Turkey, and their uniforms, worth 9 million euros, are from Italy.
The UK, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel and the US also help. We do not
conceal this.” Russian sources report that the Georgian army will be
equipped with Israeli made Tavors instead of the classic Kalashnikov
(AK-47).
Cabaridze explains that the problems in the region could be solved
through a determined attitude of Russia. On the other side, Russian
President Vladimir Putin maintains that the problems of the Caucasus
could be solved through mutual concessions.
08.22.2004
Mirza Cetinkaya