Author: Babajanian Karo

DENIS HAUGHEY: AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT GIVE A MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
by Oksana Musaelyan

arminfo
Wednesday, December 7, 13:41

ArmInfo’s exclusive interview with Denis Haughey, ex- chairman of
the Social Democratic and Labour Party (UK)

You have an expanded experience in peacekeeping. Once you headed a
delegation on peace talks in Northern Ireland. In the spring of the
current year you were in Armenia. What is your assessment of the
negotiations on Karabakh? At what stage are the parties and what
difficulties have they faced?

In spring 2011 I visited Armenia and saw just one side of the
conflict. I haven’t been either in Stepanakert or in Azerbaijan. I
am sure that many people in Armenia realize that it is impossible
to maintain the current situation in Karabakh. A solution should be
found. Many people in Azerbaijan also think that the situation cannot
be satisfactory and should be resolved.

Since the 1990s, the balance of forces between Armenia and Azerbaijan
has changed due to the fact that various economic dynamics has
developed in the countries. I hope this will not embolden Azerbaijan
to resolve the conflict.

Do you mean a military resolution?

Yes, I’d like to state with all confidence that a war is unable to
resolve such a problem as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The war will
only worsen the situation and create new problems, it will waste
time and destroy the lives of all the following generations. After
all, the party will have to admit that they should think over other
solutions to the conflict.

Considering your experience of a mediator and concerned person, do
you think that the mediators are able to thrust the parties forward
a solution not desirable to them?

The situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan is certainly different
from that situation in Northern Ireland. I know that Armenians
have a big Diaspora, which is an important political factor in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The Irish community of the United States played a big role in the
Northern Ireland peace process. President Clinton sent a mediator,
Senator George Mitchell, who greatly contributed to the settlement
of the conflict.

International mediation is important for peace talks as friendly
states can have a favorable influence on the process even though they
may have different vision of its outcome.

Conflicting parties often blame each other, which does not help
preparing them for a consensus…

Well, the approach when one party is believed to be right, while the
other – wrong, is not right. In any conflict there are two parties
and both are sure that they are absolutely right and their claims are
legal. So, if one wants to solve a conflict, he must stop identifying
himself with one party.

Nagorny Karabakh is not involved in the peace process. Is such tactics
justified or effective?

If you strive to find an acceptable solution for all parties, then each
party involved in the conflict should participate in the peace process.

The negotiations will have limited opportunities for the progress
until the people of Karabakh are provided with a platform and until
their voice is heard. Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan for a long time
and could have had close ties with Azerbaijan. But the people living
in Karabakh are Armenians and associate themselves with Armenia.

Northern Ireland experienced a similar situation, when most of the
residents were British, and the rest of them identified themselves
as Irish. They came to an agreement which satisfied both parties. The
Azeri and the authorities of Azerbaijan consider Nagorny-Karabakh to
be part of their territory. I’d suggest that a solution having a point
of contact with this statement is found. One should find a framework
to adjust to the reality. The people in Nagorny-Karabakh identify
themselves as Armenians, therefore this framework should include the
relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia and give certain own autonomy.

These are thoughts aloud of a third party. I have no absolute solution
that could be prescribed.

SPIRITUAL LEADERS WON’T SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 7, 2011 – 13:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Spiritual leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan
won’t be able to significantly affect Karabakh settlement, according
to CIS States Institute Yerevan subsidiary director.As political
analyst Alexander Markarov told a news conference in Yerevan, “in
current situation, the spiritual leaders can affect public opinion,
promoting approximation of views of the countries’ civil societies.

However, direct influence would be impossible, as resolutions of this
sort are taken on political level.”

On November 29-30, Yerevan hosted the meeting of CIS countries’
spiritual leaders. Spiritual leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan
adopted a joint declaration, expressing the adherence of the parties
to peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict.

EFFECTIVE COORDINATION RESULTS IN THE CREATION OF APPLICABLE LAWS
Hasmik Dilanyan

“Radiolur”
07.12.2011 13:48

A two-day international conference on “Effective Cooperation:
Challenges and Developments” kicked off in Yerevan today. It has
been organized by the Armenian Ministry of Economy and the HAUS
Finnish Institute of Public Management within the framework of the
Twinning Project.

Opening remarks were offered by First Deputy Minister of Economy
Karine Minasyan, the coordinator of the project. She noted that
“effective coordination results in the creation of applicable laws,
which, in turn, help save time and means.”

Karine Minasyan underscored that “such laws will allow making the
Armenian business environment more attractive for both Armenian and
foreign investors.”

TENTATIVES GENOCIDAIRES DE LA TURQUIE AU KARABAGH
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 7 decembre 2011

Par Hayk Demoyan

Directeur de l’Institut du Genocide Armenien

A au moins a trois reprises dans l’histoire, la Turquie a commis sur
la region armenienne du Karabagh des actes de nature genocidaires
qui relèvent d’une politique d’extermination et de deportation de
sa population armenienne. Sa posture actuelle qui conditionne tout
processus de normalisation de ses relations avec l’Armenie a des
prealables relatifs a des concessions sur le Karabagh, procède de
cette meme logique qui plonge ses racines dans l’histoire.

La première tentative

L’expansion des frontières de l’Empire Ottoman dans le Caucase remonte
au 16ème siècle. Sur le chemin des côtes de la Mer Caspienne, les
armees turques se sont heurtees a une forte resistance des Armeniens
de l’Artsakh (Karabagh) et ont eu a subir de nombreuses defaites face
a la resistance des Armeniens du Karabagh. En 1725, le sultan Ahmet
III (1703-1730) a prononce une fatwa speciale pour exterminer les
Armeniens du fait de leur resistance effective contre les Ottomans,
en ordonnant de les tuer tous, pour avoir attire les Russes dans le
Caucase et barrer ainsi la route aux Turcs qui voulaient acceder a
Bakou. La confession du general turc Saleh, qui avait ete capture
par les Armeniens au Karabagh, confirme que le projet du Sultan etait
l’extermination totale des Armeniens. Il disait : ‘le sultan a donne
l’ordre d’exterminer les Armeniens et les Perses (les Shia’s, note de
HD), après que les troupes du Tsar russe aient occupe ces côtes de la
mer (la Mer Caspienne), et c’est ainsi que nous devions les attaquer.

Nous devions eliminer les Armeniens, enfonces entre nous comme un
coin. Nous devrions detruire tout obstacle se trouvant sur notre chemin
et ouvrir la route. Si ce n’etait a cause de vous (les Armeniens),
nous serions deja entres a Derbend et a Bakou qui sont a nous depuis
les temps anciens.” – Relations Armeniens-Russes, Erevan, 1967,
vol. II, partie II, document 315 (n russe).

Ce document du 18ème siècle revèle l’approche turque de la
‘non-obedience’ des Armeniens, lesquels, selon les propres termes des
Turcs, etaient comme un coin enfonce entre Istanbul et les regions
turcophones de l’est. Ayant subi au Karabagh des pertes par milliers,
soldats et officiers, les tentatives du sultan d’annexer ela region
et d’y maintenir les troupes turques se sont soldes par un echec. Il
s’agissait de la première tentative de genocide contre les Armeniens
du Karabagh. Elle n’a pas reussi, mais ce n’etait qu’un debut…

La Deuxième Tentative

La deuxième tentative de destruction de la population armenienne du
Karabagh s’est deroulee lorsque les troupes ottomanes envahirent
le Caucase pendant la Première Guerre Mondiale, puis creèrent
artificiellement un etat qu’elles baptisèrent ‘Azerbaidjan’ du nom
d’une province du nord de l’Iran, avec le projet d’annexer cette
dernière a la Republiqe d’Azerbaidjan nouvellement creee. Mais cela
n’aura pas ete le seul exemple des manoeuvres turques pour construire
cet etat.

La proclamation de la ‘Republique d’Araz’ et de la ‘Republique
du Caucase du Sud-Est’ a suivi la creation de l’Azerbaidjan avec
l’intention de soutenir l’expansionnisme turc (Il existe un exemple
moderne de cette politique avec la creation de la Republique de
Chypre du Nord turque après l’invasion de Chypre en 1974). La campagne
caucasienne de l’armee ottomane a eu pour resultat la prise de Bakou
et l’horrible massacre de la population armenienne en septembre 1918.

Ayant pris Bakou, les forces ottomanes lancèrent une nouvelle campagne
militaire contre la cette fois ‘facile’ resistance armenienne
au Karabagh. Le ministre de la defense Enver, qui etait l’un des
architectes du genocide des Armeniens en 1915, donna l’ordre a son
cousin Nouri, commandant des forces en Azerbaidjan, “de nettoyer
l’Azerbaidjan des Russes et des Armeniens, de facon a assurer la
continuite des territoires Turcs-turcophones” ( !) – FO 371/3388,
dossier 1396, n° 173495, le Directeur du Renseignement militaire n° B.

I/565 (MI2), secret, au Secretaire d’Etat aux Affaires Etrangères, date
du 18 octobre 1918, voir Jacob Landau, Pan-Turquisme, de l’Irredentisme
a la Cooperation, Londres, 1995. P.55.

Une semaine après cet ordre, la Turquie reconnaissait avoir perdu
la Première Guerre Mondiale. Une defaite qu’elle a precisement subi
au Karabagh, quand un detachement de l’armee ottomane chargee d’une
expedition punitive vers des villages du sud de cette zone tombèrent
dans une embuscade de villageois armeniens qui coûta la vie a 400
de ses soldats. La fin de la Grande Guerre et le retrait des Turcs
ont donc empeche le deuxième acte du Genocide. Plus tard, grâce a
l’entente entre Bolcheviques et Kemalistes, le Karabagh fut annexe
a l’Azerbaïdjan sovietique en 1921.

La Troisième Tentative

Nous ne soutiendrons pas que la troisième tentative etait le resultat
direct d’une politique d’extermination des Armeniens du Karabagh. Mais
le fort soutien des Turcs a l’Azerbaïdjan dans ses actes de deportation
et de crime contre l’humanite nous autorise a soutenir qu’Ankara
s’est directement impliquee dans une nouvelle tentative de genocide
contre les Armeniens du Karabagh. Elle n’a pu cependant cette fois
que prendre acte des defaites humiliantes de Bakou de 1992-1994.

L’ingerence de la Turquie dans le conflit du Karabagh, son soutien
ouvert a la guerre menee par l’Azerbaïdjan, a positionner ce pays comme
partie au conflit plutôt qu’a sa solution. L’implication turque dans
le conflit comprend les elements suivants : menaces d’intervention
militaire, pression par la demonstration de ses forces armees,
blocus des transports et de l’energie impose a l’Armenie ; soutien
militaire fourni a l’Azerbaïdjan ; developpement d’initiatives tendant
a former une coalition anti-armenienne et isolement de l’Armenie au
plan de l’information ; action des groupes de pression en faveur
de l’Azerbaïdjan auprès des organismes internationaux. (Voir Hayk
Demoyan : Turkey and Karabagh Conflict. Erevan 1995).

La permanence des menaces militaires et des tentatives d’extension
du conflit, le blocus de l’Armenie et les actes pour l’isoler des
politiques regionales et internationales ont engendre un danger reel
pour elle comme pour le Karabagh. Faisons un bilan. Il ressort des
faits historiques rappeles ci-avant que le Karabagh a donc constitue
a plusieurs reprises le receptacle et la cible d’une politique
genocidaire poursuivie successivement par les Sultans, les Jeunes
Turcs et les Kemalistes-Republicains. De plus, il apparaît que l’etat
azerbaïdjanais, cree de toutes pièces par la Turquie ottomane, a fait
sien le modèle turc de gestion demographique. Celui-ci consiste a
resoudre les problèmes des minorites par les deportations, les tueries
de masse. Des methodes susceptibles d’apporter l’homogeneisation
ethnique necessaire a la formation d’Etat-nation juge “plus sûrs”. Les
etats nations turcs et Azerbaïdjanais se sont selon cette doctrine
construits sur l’extermination d’autres nations, les minorites ayant
toujours ete apprehendee comme une menaces pour le futur de ces
deux etats.

Des realites decrites dans ce qui precède il ressort que 1. La Turquie
est a l’origine de l’apparition de la question du Karabagh par ses
tentatives de creer un etat azerbaïdjanais tout en s’efforcant d’y
inclure cette region peuplee d’Armeniens 2. La Turquie est l’une des
parties au conflit et soutient ouvertement l’Azerbaïdjan.

Les actes genocidaires a trois reprises et l’echec de la Turquie
au Karabagh face aux Armeniens qui le peuplent constituent un messge
clair a Ankara : la Turquie doit reconnaître le Genocide commis contre
les Armeniens et beaucoup d’autres nations avec sa “pax ottomanica”,
et donc la reecriture de l’histoire est necessaire si l’on veut
‘zero problème’ avec sa propre histoire et sa memoire, la realpolitk
n’etant d’aucune aide dans la crise d’identite nationale actuelle.

Traduction Gilbert Beguian

LE PARTI HERITAGE MECONTENT DE LA REPONSE DE SERGE SARKISSIAN
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 7 decembre 2011

Le parti Heritage a durement critique le President Serge Sarkissian
pour avoir traite avec dedain son chef et rejetter ses propositions
en vue d’ameliorer le processus electoral dans le pays et eviter la
fraude potentielle.

S’exprimant devant les medias Serge Sarkissian a dit que la declaration
du chef du parti Heritage n’etait pas prevenante et n’etait pas
destinee a ameliorer les processus politiques en Armenie, mais ” plutôt
etait faite pour mettre en peril le processus qui a deja ete lance “.

” Comme vous le savez, nous sommes entres dans un mecanisme et notre
but est de conduire de très bonnes elections. Je voudrais souligner que
les deux dernières elections – presidentielle et parlementaire – ont
ete evaluees par les moniteurs internationaux comme ” principalement ”
correspondant aux standards internationaux. Notre but est d’eliminer
le mot ” principalement ” c’est-a-dire avoir des elections qui
correspondent entièrement aux standards internationaux.

A cette fin, nous avons presente de multiples changements dans le
Code Electoral, qui a ete approuve par nos partenaires europeens et
d’autres pays. Cela signifie que nous avons non seulement l’intention
mais faisons aussi des pas concrets ” a dit Serge Sarkissian.

” Je crois que l’objectif de cette declaration est simplement de
salir et d’endommager ce processus. Cependant, je pense que rien
ne peut nous changer de cette voie. Nous avancerons fermement et ne
conduirons pas seulement des elections de la meilleure facon possible,
mais aussi tous les processus politiques – calmement, tranquillement,
ne faisant aucune agitation, ne tenant pas compte des gens pleins
de haine, ne tenant pas compte, je ne dirais pas de leur evaluation,
parce qu’ils n’ont aucun droit de faire des evaluations, mais de leur
avis. En meconnaissant leur poison, meconnaissant leur but vicieux,
nous ferons de notre mieux pour tout ameliorer et je crois que chacun
aura l’occasion de le voir ” a-t-il ajoute.

En reponse aux remarques faites par le chef de l’Etat le parti Heritage
a publie une declaration le decrivant comme ” un partisan ” et juegeant
indigne son intervention contre Hovannisian en tant qu’individu et
ancien ministre des Affaires Etrangères de la Republique d’Armenie,
contre le parti Heritage et l’opposition dans son entièer et le plus
notablement contre le peuple armenien et son citoyen moyen “.

” Cette sorte de comportement et lancer des etiquettes n’est pas
compatible avec le statut de chef de la nation. Une telle reponse
manifeste que les autorites armeniennes ne renoncent pas et ne vont
pas s’abstenir de pratiques vicieuses d’utiliser des ressources
administratives et publiques, d’etablir un monopole au niveau des
partis sur le peuple et l’Etat, d’imposer des conditions inegales
pour la competition pre electorale et electorale, de contraindre
les fonctionnaires publics, d’encourager la fraude electorale par
le système de la majorite, de manipuler les listes des electeurs
particulièrement avec la reference aux absents et d’engager l’armee
et l’eglise dans la politique ” dit la declaration.

” C’est precisement par ces methodes desobligeantes que des
administrations ont reussi a gagner les elections au cours des 16
dernières annees ; ils ont noirci et ont denigre la reputation du
pays et l’ont mene au bouleversement national et au carnage. Nous
sommes profondement inquiet que le president voit les elections
presidentielles de 2008 d’une facon positive et revendique qu’ils ont
en grande partie correspondu avec des standards internationaux. Cela
implique que nous pourrions revoir les [violences post-election]
du 1er mars [2008]. ”

L’heritage a indique que Serge Sarkisian ” peut toujours corriger
son erreur ” et ” au lieu de lancer des attaques absurdes et sans
signification “.

” Dans la lettre et l’esprit il doit prendre des mesures immediates
pour resoudre ces problèmes en suspens, faire des elections acceptables
pour tous et garantir les resultats electoraux dans la Republique
d’Armenie ” a dit le parti.

HILLARY CLINTON: US SUPPORTS THE MINSK GROUP EFFORTS

armradio.am
06.12.2011 13:59

U.S. supports efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group on settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
addressing the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vilnius.

Hillary Clinton stressed the necessity of ongoing talks between Armenia
and Azerbaijan for establishment of peace and stability in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict zone, as it was stated by the Presidents of Russia,
France and U.S. in Deauville.

“Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and Dmitry Medvedev adopted a
traditional statement on the Karabakh conflict settlement on the
sidelines of G8 summit in the French resort. The three Presidents
firmly called on the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to demonstrate
political will and finalize the basic principles of a peace agreement,”
the Secretary stated.

DES SOUTIENS POUR RAGIP ZARAKOLU
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 6 decembre 2011

You know that, for a long time, we have been contemplating a working
team to canalize any activities, campaigns, visits and so on concerning
Ragýp Zarakolu’s arrestment from a single center in Turkey.

In this connection, the Association of Turkish Publishers, the Writers’
Trade Union of Turkey and Turkey PEN have been negotiated.

As a result of these negotiations, we had a strong impression that
these three non-governmental organizations will support all activities
and do’s to be conducted for Zarakolu. Additionally, Muzaffer Erdoðdu,
a member of the Committee for Freedom of Thought, Association of
Turkish Publishers and owner of Pencere Publishing House, declared
his will to work in coordination together with us. The Human Rights
Association declared their overt support in this context and Hulusi
Zeybel from this Association proposed to collaborate in person with
us. Finally, the Kadýkoy Initiative for Freedom of Thought stated
their overt support to our activities.

The commission which was set up with these three organizations’
support is composed of Ali Sait Cetinoðlu, Attila Tuygan, Erol Ozkoray,
Hacý Orman, Sennur Baybuða and Sinan Zarakolu. All communications,
plannings and suggestions will be shared to the public through them
and the foreign connections will be carried out by them.

The commission has the following program :

1- First of all, a delegation comprised of the representatives of
these non-governmental organizations, the writers and journalists
will visit Zarakolu in a shortest time. A step will be taken in this
direction on Monday by Lawyer Sennur Baybuða ;

2- The notebook including the signatures and writings entered
during TUYAP Book Fair for the sake of support to Zarakolu will be
immediately expanded and published as a book with the Writers’ Trade
Union’s contribution.

3- Various writers will be invoked to write articles in the Zarakolu’s
column of the newspaper ;

4- Views and ideas will be bounced off with the delegations from
abroad and announced to the media. The delegations from abroad will
be provided with at least coordination services during their contacts
and meetings.

5- Mainly, the best efforts will be made in order for Zarakolu not
to be forgetten during his arrest, and the fact that his arrest is
injustice and extralegal will be kept on emphasizing and proclaiming.

‘ARMENIAN DIASPORA SEEKS TO HARM AZERBAIJANI-AMERICAN RELATIONS’

news.az
Dec 5 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews MP and political scientist Sahib Aliyev.

US President Barack Obama has renominated Matthew Bryza for the post
of the ambassador in Azerbaijan. What has caused the principal position
of the US presidential administration related to Bryza’s candidacy?

As is known, in the United States ambassadors are appointed for
terms of from 2 to 5 years. However, just a year ago Bryza was
appointed the US ambassador in Baku. In other words, it can be said
that Bryza has just started to execute the direct functions of an
ambassador and his replacement will not respond to the interests
of the US administration. Additionally, considering the fact that
Bryza is well familiar with the region, I think there is nothing
extraordinary in that the US administration again nominates him for
the ambassador position.

Representatives of the Armenian diaspora in the United States often
admitted that Bryza is not a pro-Azerbaijani diplomat though hampering
its appointment as the ambassador in Baku. What has prompted such a
principal position of the Armenian diaspora?

In reality, the campaign Armenian diaspora holds against Bryza damages
not him but the United States. The real cause of such an activity of
the Armenian diaspora is to damage the US-Azerbaijani relations.

As is known, the position of the US envoy in Azerbaijan has been
vacant for long. Armenian diaspora did not want Bryza to be appointed
the ambassador and sought to maximally protract this process so that
to affect the Azerbaijani-American relations.

Matthew Bryza’s activity as assistant Deputy Secretary of State of the
United States and co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group showed that he is
neither pro-Armenian nor pro-Azerbaijani. His work at the indicated
positions demonstrated that he is just protecting the US interests
in the region.

Does the reaffirmation of Bryza as the US ambassador in Azerbaijan
have any importance for official Baku?

Bryza’s appointment as the ambassador represents a specific interest
for Baku. This interest is related to the fact that Bryza is well
familiar with the problems of the region and geopolitical games. In
addition, Bryza is aware of the importance Azerbaijan represents to
the United States. In this respect, it is possible to say that Baku
must be interested in Bryza’s reappointment as the ambassador since
he mainly brings objective and true information about events in the
region to the government. I have to note that the loyalty official
Baku demonstrates to Bryza’s candidacy is based on the factor of his
being well-familiar with the problems in the region.

What major changes have occurred in US-Azerbaijani relations during
Bryza’s activity as the US ambassador in Baku?

Definite changes occurred in the US-Azerbaijani relations within a
year. If we compare the level of relations between Azerbaijan and the
United States a year ago and the current period, we will see that
Bryza has attained positive changes. In other words, significant
warming has occurred in the relations between the United States and
Azerbaijan occurred in the year of Bryza’s activity as an ambassador.

All the time, the West’s attempt to intensify in Karabakh conflict were
seen during his stay. The United States and Europe also demonstrated
efforts to unite in process of Karabakh settlement.

Additionally, the attempts to intensify the Southern stream project
were also seen during the year. Naturally, I won’t say that all the
positive facts I have listed are directly tied to Bryza. It is not
like that. But I certainly believe that Bryza anyway played a definite
role in achieving positive changes in the region.

Do you believe that in case of reappointment as the US ambassador
in Azerbaijan Bryza will continue playing the same positive role
in development of US-Azerbaijani relation which he demonstrated up
to this?

The US foreign policy is defined by the president and the State
Department rather than ambassadors. But I have to note that the
activity of Bryza, who is well aware of problems in the region and has
a right view on Azerbaijan for the United States will remain positive.

ARMENIA RECEIVES HUMANITARIAN AID WORTH $ 51.1 MILLION IN 2011

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 5 2011
Russia

>From January until October 2011, Armenia received 3858.3 tons of goods
totaling $ 51.1 million or 18.9 billion drams in humanitarian aid,
News-Armenia quotes the National Statistical Services as saying.

39.5% of humanitarian aid has arrived in Armenia from the USA. The
share of China is 22.1%, Switzerland – 6.2%, France – 3.8%. The
CIS countries have provided 4.3% of the humanitarian aid in 2011,
including 2.6 % provided by Russia.

AAP Newsfeed, Australia
December 4, 2011 Sunday 2:26 PM AEST

BOX: Darchinyan loses world title bout

by Peter Mitchell

ANAHEIM, California Dec 3

Australian boxer Vic Darchinyan has lost a unanimous points decision
in his bantamweight world title unification bout to Panama’s Anselmo
Moreno.

The 35-year-old Sydney-based IBO champion was the short-priced
favourite heading into the bout at Anaheim’s 19,000 seat Honda Center
indoor arena, south of Los Angeles, and had vowed to knock Moreno out.

But the crafty Moreno, 26, was too elusive, ducking Darchinyan’s
wild blows and peppering Darchinyan with accurate jabs and bodyshots
to retain his World Boxing Association title.

It is Armenian-born Darchinyan’s third loss at bantamweight after
moving up to the division in 2009 from the super flyweight and
flyweight classes where he dominated.

Darchinyan drops to a 37 win (27 KO), four loss, one draw
professional record.

Moreno, promoted by boxing great Oscar De La Hoya, improves to a 32
win (11 KO), one loss, one draw record.

Darchinyan plans to fight a mixed martial arts bout next year.