Month: October 2006

ARMENIANS ARE HOSTAGES IN RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS

A1+
[06:58 pm] 03 October, 2006

Today Vahan Hovhannesyan, NA deputy speaker referred to the
Russian-Georgian relations and the difficulties Armenia might face
in case the Russian-Georgian antagonism deepens. He said, "I think
this is not the first case when Russia ignores the Armenian interests.

They expect a comprehensive approach by us. But I cannot understand
their position as in my opinion Russia, our military partner, willingly
or unwillingly, joins Armenia’s blockade".

Vahan Hovhannesyan maintains that release of the Russian officers
and their exile to Russia will significantly facilitate the Russian
stance towards Georgia. "As for the Georgians they might try to take
their revenge on Russia in other way, I cannot predict", says Vahan
Hovhannesyan.

Armenian-Russian intergovernmental session will be convened in the
nearest future where alongside with a number of issues, the Armenian
future will be discussed regarding the deterioration of Russian –
Georgian relations.

Asked about the Armenian-Georgian relations, taking into consideration
the fact there are a lot of Armenians are in custody in Georgia for
their attempt to enter Georgia illegally, Mr. Hovhannesyan answered,
"Our citizens have violated the Georgian law and we can do nothing on
this score". Tomorrow Dashnaktsutyun faction will arouse this question
in the National Assembly as "We don’t want to leave our citizens in
Georgia as hostages because of the discord among other countries".

AN AZERI AIRPLANE IN "ZVARTNOTS"

A1+
[05:37 pm] 03 October, 2006

Today at about 11:30 a.m. airplane TU – 134 belonging to the Azeri
aviation "Azal" landed in "Zvartnots".

This information is located on the airport’s website and it has
aroused a great interest.

Gevorg Abrahamyan, head of the press service of "Zvartonots", told
A1+ that the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs arrived in Armenia on that
very plane.

By the way, today we got other information as well. If anyone dared to
come to Armenia from Moscow today he would counter a great difficulty
as all the tickets were sold out in advance. This can be explained
by that fact that Georgians try to get to their country via Armenia
taking into account the Russian-Georgian conflict.

The airport representatives informed A1+ that they continue their
routine by usual schedule and they haven’t fixed a rush of Georgians
to Armenia by planes. They haven’t countered cases when the Georgian
residents try to use Armenia as a transit zone to get to Georgia.

EU COMMISSIONER WARNS AZERBAIJAN AGAINST STEEP RISE OF MILITARY SPENDING

Armenpress
Oct 03 2006

BAKU, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: EU External Relations Commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner warned Azerbaijan that its plans to drastically step
up its military spending may result in further escalation of situation
in the volatile region, reminding that the European Union wants the
tension in the South Caucasus to ease as soon as possible.

Finish foreign minister Erki Tuomioja, who visited Baku as head of
EU Troika delegation, expressed hope that the Karabakh conflict will
be solved peacefully.

On Monday Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan will
never sign a peace agreement that would not meet the national interests
of the country.

"As a president, I will never sign it," he was quoted as saying by
Azeri news agencies. He also said that under a 2007 draft budget,
Azerbaijan’s defense expenditures will grow 17.8 percent to reach
900 million U.S. Dollars.

Trend news agency said in Baku the Finnish foreign minister whose
country holds now the rotating EU presidency, praised the OSCE Minsk
group for its efforts to help Armenia and Azerbaijan end their dispute.

Sunday, October 01, 2006
*****************************************
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
**************************************
Yervant Odian ends his novel, THE COUNCILMAN’S WIFE, abruptly in 1915 by saying most of his fictional characters, who had tried to inflict fatal damage on each other’s reputation, were arrested, jailed, and hanged. Those who survived ran away and joined the Russian army. The rest were allowed to stay in Istanbul on condition they refrain from getting involved in community affairs. One good thing about major catastrophes, Odian seems to be saying here, is that they solve all petty internecine problems.
*
Odian died in 1926 and had no way of knowing that in our Soviet phase we would behave, and to some extent we continue to behave today in both the Homeland and the Diaspora, as though we had learned nothing from our tragedy of 1915 – nothing except to bitch about Turks.
*
Odian had a sharp eye for Armenian doubletalk. Everyone in THE COUNCILMAN’S WIFE speaks about his honor in whose defense he is more than willing to behave in a dishonorable manner.
*
It is to be noted that the Soviets allowed the publication of Odian’s complete works, except his COMRADE PANCHOONIE, which is a savage attack on the misuse of language, political rhetoric, and Communist humbuggery. In one of his letters to the Central Committee (which ends, like all his other letters, with the words, “Send us a little money”) Panchoonie writes:

“We are all Armenians, we are brothers. Why can’t we live together? Why must we fight?” that filthy bourgeois kept repeating, not being able to comprehend that conflict is the basic condition of life, that class conflict is essential to socialist victory, and that it is impossible to do any good at all without at least a little bloodshed…. In vain did I repeat that violent class conflict must be waged between us, that they had to use against us every evil means at their command – betrayal, false accusation, force; without these it would not be possible to have a dirty bourgeois class, the existence of which was essential if we were to wage our noble revolutionary struggle against it.
#
Monday, October 02, 2006
************ ********* ********* *********
ON FREE SPEECH
************ ********* ********
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), English economist
and philosopher: “We can never be sure that the
opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false
opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would
be an evil still.”
*
HOW TO JUDGE A NATION
************ ********* ********* *****
Jean-Francois Revel (1924-2006), French essayist
and critic: “One can measure how civilized a
nation is by its willingness to consider itself
an object of ridicule or contempt.”
*
On Freud: “Since time immemorial all men have had
an Oedipus complex except Oedipus.”
*
On French influence: “When the sun of France was
at its zenith, I wonder why the world did not die
of sunstroke.”
*
FROM MY NOTEBOOKS
************ ********* ********* ********
As I grow older I become increasingly aware of my
shortcomings and the good qualities of those I
held in contempt.
*
When a man of power ceases to think of himself as
a servant of the people, he becomes a tyrant.
Where there is power there will also be abuse of
power. I never had much power to abuse but on
those extremely rare occasions when I did, the
temptation to abuse it was irresistible and I
don’t remember to have ever made any effort to
resist it.
*
As sinners we don’t mind confessing to other
sinners. What we mind is confessing to hypocrites
who pretend to be better than we are.
*
Remember me? The more correct question should be:
Do you consider me worth remembering?
*
When I was young I had a solution for every
problem. I must have been an unbearable pain in
the ass. Some of my readers are eager to inform
me that I still am. In a year or two I may agree
with them.
*
On more than one occasion I have been taken to
task for my negativity. What could be more
negative than six centuries of subservience to
Turks followed by a series of massacres? And yet,
I wasn’t even born when these things happened.
Have we fallen so low that all talk of reality
has become negative?
*
Speaking of his Nazi past, Guenter Grass said, “I
was too young to be guilty.” I have every reason
to suspect, had Germany won, he would have
bragged about his service to the nation.
#

Tuesday, October 03, 2006
*****************************************
FAMILY, HONOR, MORALITY
****************************************
As a humorist, Yervant Odian (1869-1926) could be screamingly funny, but he could also be a realist in the manner of Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Zola (all of whom he translated into Armenian). The intent of his two major novels, THE COUNCILMAN’S WIFE and FAMILY, HONOR, MORALITY, both written shortly before the Genocide, is not to amuse or entertain but to expose the hypocrisy, arrogance, and moral bankruptcy of wealthy Armenians who parade as pillars of society and benefactors.
When an impoverished widow with a sick daughter, following the advice of friends and neighbors, applies for financial support to an Armenian benevolent institution in Istanbul, she is told she must wait two or three weeks until her case is thoroughly investigated. When she explains that she has no source of income or savings, not even enough money to buy coal with which to heat her room (it’s winter), she is told by Ghougas effendi, the central character of FAMILY, HONOR, MORALITY, and one of the pillars and benefactors mentioned above: “Impossible, no way, can’t be done! We have rules and regulations here. No investigation, no money. We don’t know who you are and where you come from. You could be lying to us. We must first make sure what you are telling us is true. We are not in the habit giving away money to whoever walks in here, understand? For all we know you could be a whore.”
Ghougas effendi, like most of Odian’s fictional characters, is the quintessential Ottomanized Armenian. He sprinkles his speech with Turkish words, expressions, and proverbs, among them “pij,” “pezeveng,” “khaltakh,” (freely translated: bastard, pimp, floozy).
It is to be noted that, in addition to being a great novelist, Odian was also an investigative reporter. He invented nothing. To his contemporary readers, all his fictional characters had real and recognizable counterparts.
When he is publicly exposed as a fraud, a liar, and a rapist, Ghougas effendi muses: “Let them bark all they want… After I make a few generous financial contributions to the hospital, orphanage, and to a few newspapers, I will be once more a respected pillar of society.” Which is exactly what happens.
I challenge anyone to read FAMILY, HONOR, MORALITY and say he is proud to be an Armenian.
#
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
************************************
NOTES AND COMMENTS
********************************************
The most effective counterargument is not questioning the common sense and decency of an adversary but mentioning a fact, no matter how marginal, that has been ignored.
*
I never say anything about my fellow men that I am not prepared to say about myself. Lying to others is bad enough. Lying to oneself is infinitely worse.
*
Suicide is a luxury the very poor can’t afford because they are too busy trying to survive.
*
In a corrupt democracy as soon as you throw one set of rascals out, another set moves in. Very often voting consists in rejecting a barrel of rotten apples for the sake of another.
*
To write means barking up the wrong tree in a desert.
*
If you think you know better, sooner or later you will run across someone who knows better.
*
Never underestimate the strength of underdogs and the weakness of top dogs.
*
The worst thing a mathematician can say about the work of another mathematician is, “That’s not math – it’s religion.”
*
Only after we reject all role models we may discover our true selves. Role models, even the very best, have the validity of hearsay evidence.
#

SEN. ENSIGN RAISES CONCERN OVER RECALL OF US AMBASSADOR

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 3 2006

According to the information DE FACTO Information-Analytics Agency
got at the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), in remarks
delivered on the Senate floor, John Ensign (R-NV) has shared with his
colleagues his "justifiable concern" regarding the circumstances of
the Administration’s controversial recall of the U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia, John Marshall Evans.

"We appreciate Senator Ensign’s expression of concern regarding the
circumstances of Ambassador Evans’ recall and value his leadership in
working toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We share the Senator’s view that
it is simply unacceptable to dismiss a U.S. Ambassador over the failure
of our government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide."

The Nevada Republican, in a September 29th speech, described as
"unacceptable" reports that, "the recall of Ambassador Evans revolves
around the failure of our Government to officially recognize the
Armenian genocide." A long-time leader of Senate efforts to secure
official recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Senator stressed
that, "The bigger issue is not that of an appointment of this or any
official who recognizes his duties and will be diligent in carrying
them out but of acknowledging the genocide as part of an appropriate
foreign policy."

AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE SITTING

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 3 2006

On October 2 a sitting of the Standing Committee on State and Legal
Affairs of the National Assembly took place. The Chairman of the
Committee Mr. Rafik Petrosyan informed, that as the Government
considers the draft laws on Alienation of Property for Public and
State Needs, on making amendments to the Land Code of the Republic
of Armenia, on making amendments to the Civil Code of the Republic
of Armenia urgent, it has suggested to the President of the National
Assembly that they should be put on the agenda of NA big session
and four-day sittings, their adoption in a period of one month being
required.

The draft law was presented with a first reading by the Minister
of Justice Mr. Davit Harutyunyan, who said that the constitutional
basis of alienating property for public and state needs is exclusively
the public interest that has priority over the interest of the owner
of alienated property. Mr. Davit Harutyunyan also touched upon the
decision of the Government on alienating the property, the process
of executing the alienation by court, the rights of the owner,
transitional provisions etc.

The MPs made a suggestion of organizing parliamentary hearings
regarding the draft law between the first and the second readings,
which was approved by the Committee. With a positive conclusion the
NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs suggested having
the draft laws on Alienation of Property for Public and State Needs,
on making amendments to the Land and Civil Codes of the Republic of
Armenia on the agenda of the big session and four-day sittings with
of the National Assembly.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN: ARMENIA SHOULD BE ON FRIENDLY TERMS WITH BOTH TURKISH STATES

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

"There is necessity to dialogue with Armenia," Turan Morali, Turkish
ambassador to Azerbaijan told journalists, APA reports.

He said Azerbaijan and Turkey should negotiate with Armenia and it
in turn should be on friendly terms with both Turkish states. The
ambassador also added that they should use all possible means to make
Armenia negotiate.

"We feel no hostility against Armenia. We will further continue our
policy," the diplomat said.

TURKEY CONCERNED WITH STATEMENTS BY FRENCH PRESIDENT – TURKISH AMBASSADOR
Author: S.Agayeva

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

Turan Moraly, the Turkish Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Ambassador to
Azerbaijan told journalists that Turkey is very concerned regarding
the statements made by France’s leadership. They contradict the
existing historic, friendly and mutually profitable relationships
between Turkey and France, Trend reports citing the local television
channel ANS. He was commenting on the last statement made by the
French President Jacques Chirac, who called on Turkey to recognize
the Armenian genocide and open its borders with Armenia.

Turkey is ready for open channels of communication with Armenia,
but on condition that Armenia stabilizes its relationships with the
Turkic-speaking neighbors," the diplomat stressed.

LITTLE BIG MAN VIC DARCHINYAN DEFENDS IBF TITLE
by David A. Avila

The Sweet Science
Oct 3 2006

IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan may look crude, unskilled and
small to the average eye, but to opponents he’s a monster.

Darchinyan, a 5-foot tall dynamo, faces flyweight challenger Glenn
Donaire (16-2-1, 9 KOs) and promises to take on his brother Nonito
Donaire too, but that will have to wait until the Aussie strongman
defends his world title at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on
Saturday. The fight will be televised live on Showtime.

"I know Glenn is sparring with his brother (Nonito). I am coming
after him too," says Darchinyan (26-0, 21 KOs) menacingly like a
Halloween hobgoblin.

Now 30 years old, Darchinyan knows his time at the top of the
flyweight heap is running short and he’s desperately seeking the
spotlight. Earlier attempts to lure popular fighters into the ring
have failed.

At one time it was felt the ethnic Armenian southpaw would get a
shot at Mexico’s extremely popular Jorge Arce, but that fighter, who
was a huge hit as a reality television star in his native country,
has moved up in weight.

"Where is Darchinyan?" asked Arce jokingly after disposing of Hawk
Makepula a week ago in four rounds. "I’ll fight him right now."

Darchinyan, who is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, has a bull’s
eye on Arce. But first comes Donaire.

"I wanted to fight Donaire because he challenged me," said Darchinyan,
who finds it difficult to get opponents after knocking out eight of
them in a row dating back to 2003. "He said he can beat me."

Donaire, who has fought many times in Southern California fight cards
and has a big Filipino following, feels confident that his technique
can withstand the hurricane of punches that Darchinyan’s opponents
usually encounter.

"The guys that have fought Darchinyan have been intimidated," Donaire,
26, says. "I won’t be."

Also on the card will be the younger Nonito Donaire (15-1) accepting
a fight with veteran Oscar "Pajarito" Andrade of Mexico (35-24-1),
who makes a living out of upsetting young aspiring prizefighters.

Nonito, 23, has plenty of speed and above average defense, but his
troubling hands seem to break down too often.

Andrade has a list of youngsters that he upset in his career – such
as Heriberto Ruiz, Trinidad Mendoza and Jorge "Speedy" Gonzalez –
and despite his pedestrian-looking record, hasn’t lost a fight since
2004 and that was by majority decision to Roger "Speedy" Gonzalez.

Chicago pay-per-view card

Near Chicago, the massive Nikolai "The Russian Giant" Valuev
defends his WBA heavyweight title against Monte "Two Guns" Barrett
on Saturday. The fight card will be televised on HBO pay-per-view
from the AllState Arena.

Valuev made a visit to Los Angeles a month ago to drum up support
for his first fight on American shores. Few in this country have ever
seen him perform in a boxing ring.

"I like this country. I’d like to fight here more," said Valuev at
a popular Los Angeles hotel.

His opponent Barrett was not impressive in his last title opportunity
a year ago against Hasim Rahman. He seemed listless and cowed by the
heavy-handed Rahman. He may be petrified against the 7-2 giant Valuev,
the biggest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

Also on the same fight card is Poland’s Tomasz Adamek meeting
Australia’s Paul Briggs in a battle for the WBC light heavyweight
world title. It’s a rematch. Their previous encounter ended in a
majority decision for Adamek a year ago.

Famoso retiring?

Carlos "Famoso" Hernandez may be retiring after losing by unanimous
decision to Kevin Kelley last Thursday in San Antonio. It might have
been his Alamo.

Kelley used a steady jab and angles to keep Hernandez from getting a
bead on him. After 10 rounds including a second round knockdown from
a right hook, Kelley gained all three judges favor.

Hernandez said he is probably going to retire but it’s not official.

If a large payday comes his way there is a chance that El Salvador’s
only world champion boxer could accept.

icle/4431/little-big-man-vic-darchinyan-defends-ib f-title/

BETE BACK IN ARMENIA SQUAD
by Khachik Chakhoyan

uefa.com, Switzerland
Oct 3 2006

Cameroon-born goalkeeper Edel Bete has returned to the Armenia squad
for the UEFA EURO 2008~Y qualifiers against Finland and Serbia.

Erzrumyan in form Coach Ian Porterfield has recalled the AFC Rapid
Bucuresti custodian while FC Ararat Yerevan’s fine run of league form
has persuaded the Scot to give midfielder Artur Minasyan and striker
Nshan Erzrumyan – who has scored 13 league goals this season – their
first international call-ups. Porterfield will have to do without
injured trio Romik Khachatryan, Artavazd Karamyan and Aratashes
Bagdasaryan for the Group A games and midfielder Hamlet Mkhitaryan
has been omitted as he is currently without a club.

Armenia squad Goalkeepers: Gevorg Kasparov (FC Pyunik), Felix Hakobyan
(FC MIKA), Armando Hambartsumyan (PFC Slavia Sofia), Edel Bete (AFC
Rapid Bucuresti).

Defenders: Karen Dokhoyan (FC Krylya Sovetov Samara), Robert Arzumanyan
(FC Pyunik), Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Valery Aleksanyan (FC
Pyunik), Aleksander Tadevosyan (FC Pyunik), Armen Tigranyan (FC
Pyunik), Yegishe Melikyan (FC Stal Alchevsk), Jose Bilibio (Club
Deportivo Espoli).

Midfielders: Karen Aleksanyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau), Agvan Lazarian
(FC Pyunik), Arman Karamyan (FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt), Levon Pachajyan
(FC Pyunik), David Grigoryan (FC MIKA), Artur Minasyan (FC Ararat
Yerevan), Samvel Melkonyan (FC Banants).

Forwards: Armen Shahgeldyan (FC MIKA), Edgar Manucharyan (AFC Ajax),
Aram Hakobyan (FC Banants), Ara Hakobyan (FC Stal Alchevsk), Nshan
Erzrumyan (FC Ararat).

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