Month: August 2008

BOOKS: SWEET AND SOUR
by Dilip Bobb

India Today
August 4, 2008

Based on real life stories, a book manages to capture the mood of
the period when the Chinese lived and flourished in Calcutta.

The Last Dragon Dance: Chinatown Stories by Kwai-Yun Li Penguin Price:
Rs 199, Pages: 122

Calcutta has played host to a number of emigre communities attracted to
the city for reasons of economics, history, politics and geography. The
most visible were the Chinese, the Armenians and the Jewish community.

While the Jews and Armenians were relatively affluent and concentrated
in the area around Park Street, the Chinese, numbering some 30,000
the largest took up jobs that came naturally to them and the
locals shunned: leather tanneries for shoemaking, hairdressing,
furniture-making and eateries.

(It was at his Calcutta restaurant on Park Street that Nelson Wang
invented Manchurian Chicken.) Calcutta was probably the first city in
India to have an official Chinatown where tiny outdoor stalls manned
by oversized women served up some mouth-watering Chinese cuisine.

It was even called Sun Yat Sen Street. A large number of Chinese
owned or worked in the tanneries in Kangra which supplied shoes and
leather goods for the row of shops in Bentinck Street while the rest
migrated to Bow Bazaar in north Calcutta, a lower middle-class enclave.

By the 1950s, they had become an integral part of the city’s cultural
and commercial landscape while preserving their distinct identity
and customs.

The Indo-China conflict and West Bengal’s economic decline that started
in the late ’70s proved a turning point for the community. Hostility
and mistrust forced a gradual exodus, and the closure of the tanneries
by the state government in 2002 for environmental reasons proved the
final nail in the coffin.

Today, there are less than 3,000 Chinese left in the city. Marx and
Mao clearly did not make for compatible bedfellows. Kwai-Yun Li was
one of those who left Calcutta for Canada when she was 22, eventually
to become a writer.

She was, however, born and brought up in the city and this is her
account of the Chinese emigr e experience in Calcutta, based on real
life stories and anecdotes.

Though a slim volume and somewhat disjointed, Li manages to capture
the mood of the time through the lives and experiences of families
and individuals who were representative of the Chinese community,
some sweet, some sour.

Belonging to the latter category is her account of the trauma the
Chinese community went through in the aftermath of the Indo-China
conflict when midnight knocks by the West Bengal Police were an
everyday occurrence.

Many of them were deported to China and others were interned in
special camps on suspicion of being spies for the Chinese government,
even though none of the Chinese living in Calcutta had any interest
in the politics of Mao Tse Tung and Chang Kai Shek.

Largely, however, the stories are to do with the personalities
and idiosyncrasies of the people she writes about aunts, uncles and
friends, while accurately bringing out the unique flavour of the city
in that era.

Although a subject of limited interest, Kwai-Yun’s effort straddles
the line between fact and fiction, and much like Nelson’s famous
Manchurian Chicken, has been adapted to suit the Indian palate. But
unlike Nelson’s creation, it is unlikely to find acceptance beyond
what is now Kolkata.

NEW RELEASES

Italian Khana by Ritu Dalmia Random House Price: Rs 750, Pages: 239

A celebrity restaurateur-chef who specialises in Italian cuisine,
Dalmia’s first cook book answers all questions about cooking authentic
Italian food in Indian kitchen along with details about regional
specialties and accompaniments.

The China Price: The True Cost of Chinese Competitive Advantage by
Alexandra Harney Penguin Press Price: $15, Pages: 336

An engrossing tale of Dickensian industrialisation, the book explores
the hidden price tag for China’s economic juggernaut. Packed with
sympathetic portraits of Chinese workers, it is a perceptive take on
the world’s workshop.

Trees of India by Pippa Mukherjee Oxford Price: Rs 195, Pages: 99

A part of the four-book Nature Guide series, it is an introduction
to everything you wanted to know about common Indian trees. Others in
the series include Butterflies of India, Fishes of India and Seashore
Life of India.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN INFLATION REACCELERATES IN JULY
by Venla Sipila

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
August 4, 2008

Armenian consumer prices increased by 10.7% year-on-year (y/y) in
July, ARKA News reports, quoting the latest figures from the Armenian
National Statistical Service. Thus, inflation accelerated compared
with the respective June and May results of 9.6% y/y and 9.9% y/y,
climbing back to match its April rate. Food price inflation accelerated
to 12.9% y/y after registering an already elevated rate of 10.1% y/y
in June. Service tariffs also continued their rapid gains, rising by
11.1% y/y in July, while prices of non-food goods increased by 6.9%
y/y. Measured month-on-month (m/m), Armenian consumer prices retreated
by 2.2% in July, after falling by 0.5% m/m in June and rising by 1.3%
m/m in May. The clear fall in July was brought about by a significant
decrease in the cost of food in m/m comparison. Consumer prices have
increased by 4.5% cumulatively during the January-July period, while
the annual inflation rate of the first seven months of the year came
in at 9.2% y/y.

Significance:The reacceleration of annual inflation is discouraging,
while the clear m/m fall in food prices in July represents welcome
news. It still seems likely that the official inflation target of 4%
(with 1.5% on either side) this year will prove too optimistic. The
Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has fought rapid inflation by several
consecutive interest rate rises, the latest taking the policy rate
up by 25 basis points to 7.25% in July (see Armenia: 3 July 2008:
). A further rise may follow the publication of July inflation
data. However, with the effect of interest-rate increases remaining
limited in the undeveloped financial environment, the key means for
curbing inflation for the CBA remains letting the dram appreciate
considerably, as robust remittances and investment inflows continue
to boost foreign currency inflows. Indeed, in addition to strong
inflation pressure from the cost side via increased energy and food
prices, demand-side factors also continue to play a role in boosting
Armenian inflation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently
stated that fiscal restraint would be crucial in containing near-term
inflationary pressures (see Armenia: 23 June 2008: ).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENTEL DEALT $1US-MIL. FINE FOR INTERNET DOMINANCE
by Michael Lacquiere

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
August 4, 2008

Armenian fixed-line incumbent Armentel has been fined around 300
million dram ($1US million) for abuse of its dominance of the domestic
internet market, reports ARKA. The fine was imposed by Armenia’s
State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition, whose chief,
Armine Hakobyan, reported that it was handed out as a result of the
"unequal conditions for providers and operators" created by Armentel’s
‘Hi-Line’ internet service. The service offers cheap internet, but
Armentel has not leased its lines to rivals to enable them to provide
similar services. The operator now has 15 days to settle the matter.

Significance:The fine represents success for rivals, such as Arminco,
CrossNet and Web, which have frequently complained of a lack of
access (seeArmenia: 29 July 2008:). While Armentel had insisted
that it would respond to all applications for network sharing from
local internet service providers, news of the fine is a positive
step forward for the country’s internet market, indicating that,
as well as measures to liberalise the marketde jure, the regulator
is willing to act in order to ensure thatde factoliberalisation also
occurs. The process of equalising competition will take some time,
but progress is undoubtedly being made.

NO BREAKTHROUGH IN LATEST ROUND OF KARABAKH TALKS – AZERI FOREIGN MINISTRY

Turan news agency
Aug 4 2008
Azerbaijan

No breakthrough was made at the latest meeting of the Azerbaijani
and Armenian foreign ministers in Moscow on 1 August, a spokesman
for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has said.

"If there had been any progress, we would have spoken about a new
situation in the talks. At present, this is not the case," Xazar
Ibrahim was quoted by Turan news agency as saying on 4 August.

He said that Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
had remained unchanged. It maintains that Armenian troops should pull
out of Nagornyy Karabakh and the surrounding districts of Azerbaijan
and the IDPs should return home, the spokesman said.

Speaking about the status of Karabakh, Ibrahim said that it would
be determined after relations between the two communities were
improved. Asked to comment on the statement by the US co-chairman
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, that the status of Nagornyy
Karabakh should be determined by voting either through a plebiscite or
a referendum of the people in that region, Ibrahim said that Bryza’s
statements "are never based on reality".

DARCHINYAN BLASTS HIS WAY BACK TO THE TOP; EARNS SECOND WORLD TITLE

BraggingRightsCorner
http://www.braggingrig htscorner.com/darchin080208.html
Aug 3 2008
FL

TACOMA, Wash. (Aug. 3, 2008) – "The Raging Bull" Vic Darchinyan
promised a highlight reel knockout and delivered one bone-crunching
left hand after another. The Armenian-born Australian stopped Russia’s
Dimitri Kirilov in the fifth round to earn the IBF junior bantamweight
championship, his second career world title, Saturday on SHOWTIME.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast originated from the Emerald
Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.

In the co-feature, undefeated super middleweight Andre Dirrell,
of Flint, Mich., took out brawler Mike Paschall of Baltimore, Md.,
inside four rounds to remain unbeaten.

Former flyweight world titlist Darchinyan was coming off two
disappointing fights in his last three outings. Having been knocked
out by Philippine Nonito Donaire 13 months ago, and battling to a draw
against Zcy Gorres in February, Darchinyan was looking to impress on
the way to regaining his status as world champion.

"I have learned a lot from my last few fights," said Darchinyan. "I
was very focused and ready for this fight. I never under estimate
my opponents."

Kirilov, who had never been stopped in 33 professional fights,
could not handle the destructive power that Darchinyan brought to
the 115-pound fight.

Darchinyan used a consistent jab as a range finder and mixed in
monstrous straight left hands and a few uppercuts. From the outset,
he landed one big punch after another.

Early in the fifth, the accumulation of punches took its toll and
Kirilov went down for the first time. After regaining his feet,
Darchinyan pounced and sent Kirilov down again just seconds
later. Referee Earl Brown reached the count of 10 at 1:05 of the fifth.

"I would like to have a rematch with Donaire," said Darchinyan, who
improves to 30-1-1 with 24 big knockouts. "But who ever they put in
front of me, Christian Mijares, Fernando Montiel, it doesn’t matter. I
love to fight."

The game Kirilov (now 29-4-1, 9 KOs) spoke to SHOWTIME reporter
Jim Gray immediately after the fight. "I feel okay physically. I am
disappointed that I lost the fight. I took the wrong approach. Freddie
Roach was telling me to move to my left and throw combinations,
but I couldn’t get off. I couldn’t do the work that I normally do."

In the 168-pound bout, Dirrell handed Paschall his first professional
defeat. Dirrell landed a near-perfect straight left hand in the
fourth that opened up a deep gash on Paschall’s forehead and sent
him sprawling to the canvas.

After Paschall beat the count, he was checked by the ringside
physician. Despite Pascall’s plea for one more round, referee Bobby
Howard stopped the fight on the advice of the doctor.

"I started slower than I usually do," Dirrell said. "He kept throwing
that lazy jab and I was lining up the straight left the whole night. I
was finally able to land it, a perfect punch, right over the top."

Through three rounds, the judges had the fight scored 29-28 for
Dirrell. The ShoBox alum improves to 16-0 with 11 KOs and is looking
forward to a world title fight.

"I’d like to fight one or two more fights, preferably against a
top-10 contender," said Dirrell. "Then I’ll be ready for a world
title shot. I am more mature now and feel stronger than ever. It is
my dream to fight for a title."

Undefeated super middleweight contender Andre Ward of Oakland, Calif.,
was ringside in support of Dirrell, former teammates on the 2004 US
Olympic team.

Saturday’s exciting SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will replay
on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME® 2.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive
behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast
information and more, please visit SHO.com/sports.

–Boundary_(ID_M/n4WlitHfTtm4sVaF nkYg)–

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ARTISTS DENIED VISAS

KUTV
Aug 3 2008
UT

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) Almost 80 percent of 300 foreign artists
invited to attend an international youth conference in Bountiful have
been denied travel visas.

Officials from the International Organization of Folk Art said that
despite their repeated trys, including letters from Utah’s Republican
U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, just 65 of the 300 invited artists have
obtained visas.

"The story I hear consistently from the people that go in to get their
visas . . . they say, ‘Why are we treated so rudely when we go in and
why does the interviewer not look at the documents we have taken in
with us?’ " said George Frandsen, North America’s regional executive
secretary of the International Organization of Folk Art.

David Donahue, spokesman for the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the
State Department, says the department recognizes the importance of
cultural exchange. However, Donahue says U.S. law presumes a visa
applicant won’t return to his or her home country.

"In the end, the office is going to have to make the decision, from
the information each applicant provides them: ‘Will this particular
applicant, at the end of the conference or cultural event, return to
their home country?’ " Donahue said.

The folk art organization seeks to preserve native cultures and
languages and had ties to the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization.

This year’s first-ever youth conference is being held in conjunction
with this week’s 20th Annual Bountiful-Davis Summerfest International.

Frandsen said he had no idea the bureaucratic nightmare he would
encounter. Artists from Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, China,
Cuba, Guyana, Iraq, Iran, Laos, North Korea and Tunisia, some of whom
had performed in the U.S. before, had visas rejected.

Mohammed Kazouz, a professor specializing in traditional Algerian
dance, and two other performers made two 1,000-mile round trips to
the capital city of Algiers to get a visa. Each time he said he was
accused to being paid to help other artists defect.

Frandsen said he tried to convince the director of a five-member
Armenian dance troupe to reapply.

"She absolutely refused," said Frandsen.

Hatch said his office has long helped the Bountiful event bring
international dancers to Utah. In 2007 he also sponsored a bill to
allow performers to obtain visas more quickly.

"Increasing demand for these visas and the heightened sensitivity to
immigration issues has made it more and more difficult to secure the
visas needed for this event," the senator said. "However, I continue
to work with the appropriate embassies to secure the necessary visas."

TURKEY CAN BRIDGE THE US-IRAN DIVIDE
By Manik Mehta

Gulf News
/10234111.html
Aug 4 2008
United Arab Emirates

Turkey’s relations with the US went through a rollercoaster,
last October, when the US Congress passed a resolution on Armenia,
describing the killings of Armenians during the First World War in
the Ottoman empire as "genocide". This had angered Istanbul which
was already riled by the war in Iraq from where the Kurdish Workers’
Party (PKK) launched attacks on Turkey.

However, US-Turkish relations considerably improved, particularly after
the warm welcome to Turkish President Abdullah Gul during his visit
to Washington earlier this year. The ensuing strategic cooperation
between the two sides is a manifestation of what Gul called a "new
chapter" in bilateral relations.

Although Turkish public opinion is unfavourable against the US, the
strategic cooperation has, meanwhile, resuscitated the relationship
between the two Nato partners. Kurdish nationalism is Ankara’s
Achilles’ heel; it has brought Turkey closer to Iran which has its own
Kurdish problem and has found a common cause with Turkey. Additionally,
both sides have a vibrant trading and economic relationship.

While critics fear that closer Turkish-Iranian ties will
have ramifications for US-Turkish relations, others see an
opportunity. Turkey’s close ties with Iran should be used to persuade
the latter to renounce its nuclear programme which is causing a lot of
concern to the US and, particularly, Israel which has been the target
of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s belligerent outbursts.

US-Turkish contacts have recently intensified on Iran’s nuclear
programme. President George W. Bush’s National Security Adviser,
Stephen Hadley, met Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan in July
in Ankara – just before Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
arrived in Turkey – to send, apparently, a carrot-and-stick message on
Iran’s nuclear programme. Subsequently, US and Iranian representatives
met, for the first time in three decades, at the six-nation meeting
in Geneva to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme.

Indeed, Mottaki sounded unusually conciliatory, even calling
the presence of Undersecretary of State William Burns, the third
senior-most American diplomat, at the talks as "a new positive
approach". Turkey has apparently played a quiet role in Mottaki’s
moderate reaction which was a far cry from Ahmadinejad’s fiery
rhetoric. Though glaring fundamental differences between the two
will persist, an atmospheric improvement, with some help from Turkey,
could bring both sides on "talking terms".

Iran’s testing of two separate rounds of long-range ballistic missiles
in early July has also unnerved not only the United States and Israel,
but also the Gulf Arab states. The missile firing was intended to send
different messages to different audiences. The missile tests warn the
West that Iran, which has strengthened its presence in the Strait of
Hormuz, could target oil shipments from the Arabian Gulf ports and deal
a crippling blow to the Western and also the oil-driven Arab economies.

They were also aimed to silence Iran’s domestic critics, frustrated
with the regime’s ruinous economic policies, by whipping up nationalist
fervour and take the wind out of the critics’ sail.

Rapprochement

According to some American strategists, Turkey would be willing
to bring about the rapprochement between the US and Iran, and thus
prevent a military conflict. On the other hand, the hardcore Iranian
leadership would prefer making concessions on the nuclear issue to
Muslim Turkey rather than directly to the US.

Indeed, some Americans argue that by allowing it a face-saving
withdrawal, Iran could be persuaded to eventually abandon its
nuclear programme. The Iranian people desperately want an end to the
West-backed sanctions against their country which is treated like a
pariah at every international venue because of their unpopular regime.

Indeed, the regime knows this and also the fact that it will not
be able to stop for long the tide of public disenchantment with its
dogmatic attitude. This is a good time for the US to take more Turkish
help and resolve the stalemate with Iran.

KARABAKH TALKS SEEN AS POSITIVE

The Moscow Times
Aug 4 2008
Russia

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan struck a positive
tone and pledged to keep talking about a possible peace deal for the
frozen conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh after they met for talks in Moscow
on Friday.

"If we feel we have found a common platform, then nothing is
impossible," Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said afterward.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said Friday’s meeting
had proved useful and that consultations should be continued in a
similar format.

"There are sensitive issues. We are trying to create all the conditions
for the continuation of negotiations," he added.

The closed-door talks were facilitated by Russia and were attended
by U.S. and French diplomats. They mark a new attempt to end deadlock
over the conflict in the sensitive Caucasus region.

Karabakh, an Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan, broke away
following a war soon after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The
region, backed by Armenia, claims full independence but is not
internationally recognized.

A cease-fire was agreed on in 1994, but Nagorno-Karabakh and a vast
surrounding area are under separatist control.

SLICK VIC WINS NEW BELT

WA today
Aug 4 2008
Australia

VIC Darchinyan joined the ranks of Australia’s greatest boxers
yesterday by demolishing Russian Dimitri Kirilov to win a world title
in a second weight division in Tacoma, Washington.

The Sydney-based power puncher dominated the fight with his harder
shots and knocked the champion down twice in the fifth round.

The Armenian-born fighter, who relocated to Sydney in 2000 after the
Olympics, improved his professional record to 30-1-1 with 24 knockouts.

Darchinyan said he was always confident he would win at least one
professional world title after joining the paid ranks.

Kirilov, 29, could not continue after the second knockdown and had
his fourth defeat in 34 professional fights, dropping to 29-4-1.

He simply could not match the power of the 32-year-old Australian who
yesterday added the International Boxing Federation super-flyweight
crown to that organisation’s flyweight title which he won in 2004. A
delighted Darchinyan became only the second Australian citizen to win
a world title in more than one weight class, following Jeff Fenech
who captured championships in three different divisions.

Darchinyan said he did not consider himself to be on the same level
as Fenech or Australia’s former undisputed junior-welterweight world
champion Kostya Tszyu, but hoped to be ranked alongside them by
ultimately unifying the super-flyweight division.

The ambitious Australian wants to eventually move up in weight and
win a title in a third weight class.

He said his main target now was World Boxing Association and World
Boxing Council super-flyweight champion Cristian Mijares. Mexican
Mijares, 26, is set to defend his titles against Thailand’s Chatchai
Saskul in Mexico on August 30.

Fighting under his first trainer from Armenia, Darchinyan said his
plan had been to work the jab early before throwing in some uppercuts
in the fifth round.

He always felt in control.

"Everyone is saying it is one of my best performances," Darchinyan
said afterwards. "Showtime (US cable television network) is very
happy with me and so is my American promoter Gary Shaw. I think it
is one of my best performances."

Darchinyan will travel to Armenia for a break before returning to
Australia next month. Following a fight with Mijares, he wants to
unify the division by dethroning Mexico’s World Boxing Organisation
titleholder Fernando Montiel, then look at moving up in weight.

â- Ghana’s Joshua Clottey won the vacant International Boxing
Federation welterweight title by stopping Zab Judah in the ninth
round in Las Vegas yesterday.

Clottey won his fifth-straight fight, capturing the vacant title
previously held by Antonio Margarito.

Referee Robert Byrd halted the fight in the ninth round with Judah
bleeding from a cut over his right eye.

The match was stopped and turned over to the judges’ scorecards. Two
judges scored the bout, 86-85, while the other judge had it, 87-84,
for Clottey. Clottey lost in his only previous title bout to Margarito
in December, 2006.

The vacancy for the IBF belt was created when former champion
Margarito relinquished the belt in order to face Miguel Cotto —
after the Mexican stopped the unbeaten Cotto last week to claim the
World Boxing Association title.

–Boundary_(ID_395TeMZ/DSoUab1CLKscAg)–

IRAN, ARMENIA MULLING RAILROAD PROJECT

Fars News Agency
Aug 3 2008
Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and Armenia are to create a working group to
coordinate the construction of a railroad that would link the two
neighbors.

Yerevan is conducting feasibility studies on three areas as
construction points for the Armenian part of the railroad namely
Eraskh, Vardenis and Gagarin.

Armenian Minister of Communication and Transport Gurgen Sargsyan was
quoted by press tv as saying that the country prefers the third point,
a 397-kilometer railroad linking the central cities of Gagarin and
Gavar to Martuni and Jermuk which lie further south.

About 80 kilometers of the railroad will run through Iran as far as
the northwestern city of Marand.

Russia has also voiced interest in cooperating with Iran and Armenia
in constructing the railroad and talks are underway between the three
countries, he added.

Sargsyan had earlier estimated the cost of construction of the railroad
to be around $2 billion.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress