SARGSYAN BRIEFS SAHAKYAN ON RESULTS OF TALKS WITH ALIYEV
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2009 18:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Monday with NKR
President Bako Sahakyan to discuss the current stage of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement process and the ways to overcome the
consequences of the global financial crisis.
President Sargsyan also briefed on the outcomes of his talks with
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
AZERI MILITARY STRONGER THAN ARMENIAN, BRITISH THINK-TANK`S REPORT SHOWS
ws_id=10352
04-02-2009 04:45:12
An assessment of the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia – the two
South Caucasus republics locked in long-standing conflict – has been
drawn up by a London-based think-tank in its annual report evaluating
military potential of 170 countries worldwide.The Military Balance 2009
report released by the International Institute for Strategic Studies
says Azerbaijan has an army of about 67,000 men, while Armenia`s army
has only 42,000, or about 35 per cent less.
According to the report, Azerbaijan also surpasses Armenia for the
number of reserve forces available for mobilization, with 300,000
against 200,000 in the neighboring country. Most of the weaponry used
by the two militaries is Russian-made.
Moreover, Azerbaijan commands three times more tanks and armored
vehicles than Armenia, possessing 320 and 470 items respectively. As
for BMP combat vehicles, the difference is rather insignificant with
127 against 104.
The report also noted that Azerbaijan has 47 warplanes, a three-fold
supremacy over Armenia. Both countries have mostly MIG-25, SU-24 and
SU-25 fighter jets.
Besides, Azerbaijan has six up-to-date drones of the Aerostar and
Orbiter models. Armenia has no such aircraft, at all.
With regard to rocket launchers, the report estimated that Grad
facilities account for most of both countries` arsenal, but Azerbaijan
also has 12 more up-to-date Smerch launchers, which were granted to
the disposal of the Soviet troops in 1989.
Regarding anti-tank weapons, Azerbaijan has about a ten-fold supremacy
over Armenia.
The two countries fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance
of international law.
Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.
Azerbaijani military expert Arif Yunus says Azerbaijan`s military
power is indeed greater than that of Armenia. He pointed out, however,
that Azerbaijan`s land is under occupation, and if the Azerbaijani
army moves to free Upper Garabagh and adjacent districts, it could
face tremendous losses.
According to Yunus, this projection is not only because of military
theories, as the attacker should have at least three times more power
than the defending side, but also because the relief of Garabagh has
peculiarities that could favor Armenian forces.
"Since Garabagh is a mountainous area, at times it is possible to block
a tank`s movement by means of just several mines. Operating warplanes
in the mountains is also complicated. Possibly, there wouldn`t be major
problems for the Azerbaijani troops in the Aghdam and Fuzuli districts,
but the task could prove daunting in mountainous areas. Therefore,
it`s not the quantity but the quality of the Azerbaijani troops that
should be the main factor here and, in that sense, the capacities of
the two countries are about the same," the expert maintained.
Yunus also stressed that the British think-tank had not taken into
account the military forces controlled by the self-proclaimed regime
operating in Upper Garabagh.
Further, he recalled the recent transfer of Russian arms and military
equipment, worth $800 million to Armenia, that has drawn fire from
Azerbaijan and sparked controversy. He alleged that if military action
breaks out with Azerbaijan, it is not ruled out that Russian forced
based in Armenia might provide assistance to the Armenian military.
It is considered important that the International Institute for
Strategic Studies indicated that there are 3,000 Russian forces in
Armenia, along with 74 tanks, 18 modern MiG-29 warplanes and, finally,
S-300 rockets.
Azerbaijan keeps secret the quantity of its arms, but the
commander-in-chief, President Ilham Aliyev, has repeatedly said the
country`s military stands ready to liberate the occupied territories
any time.
SERZH SARGSYAN AND BAKO SAHAKIAN DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS
Noyan Tapan
Feb 9, 2009
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues regarding the current stage
of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations process were discussed
at the February 9 meeting of RA and NKR Presidents Serzh Sargsyan
and Bako Sahakian. S. Sargsyan presented the NKR President with the
results of his Zurich meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
According to the report of the RA President’s Press Office, issues
related to joint steps to resist the world financial-economic crisis
and work being done in that direction were also discussed at the
meeting.
Armenian Community to attend Bahman 22 rallies
Tabriz, East Azarbaijan prov, Feb 8, IRNA ` The Armenian Community of
Iran will take part in the rallies on February 10 to mark the
anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution, it was announced on
Sunday.
Armenian Prelacy of Azarbaijan, Nishan Topouzian, made the announcement
in a statement issued on Sunday.
He reiterated that members of the provincial Armenian and Assyrian
minorities will massively participate in the Bahman 22 rallies to
commemorate the 30th anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution.
The statement further noted that the minority, along with their Muslim
countrymen, will celebrate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic
Revolution.
The move will prove to the world the solidarity of Armenians and
Assyrians living in Iran with their Muslim brethren, it added.
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 8 2009
`Ergenekon investigation to strengthen Turkish democracy’
Pierre Lellouche, a member of the French Parliament from the ruling
Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), has said that he believes the
Ergenekon case will strengthen Turkey’s democracy and disagrees with
claims that Turkey is moving away from the West.
Noting that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip ErdoÄ?an were alike in many ways, Lellouche said he
believed the two leaders understand each other much better than in the
past. Lellouche emphasized that military relations between the two
countries must be improved and supported Turkey’s efforts in the
Armenian case. The parliamentarian expressed his dream that Sarkozy
and President Abdullah Gül would open the land border between
Turkey and Armenia.
During the 17th International Security and Cooperation Conference in
Belek last week, sponsored by the Turkish Atlantic Council, Lellouche
provided his insights on current events in Turkey, including
Ergenekon, Davos and the Armenian case.
President Sarkozy has indicated that the EU presidency has changed
him. Is this also valid for Sarkozy’s stance on Turkey? Will Sarkozy
one day say the people of Cappadocia are a part of the European world?
That is a question you should ask him. I don’t think his position has
changed on the presidency. There are two important facts about the
presidency. First it was a fair presidency vis-Ã -vis Turkey. He
didn’t create any problems for Turkey. The process of opening chapters
continues, and certainly the French presidency did not raise any
particular problems for Turkey.
Except for the word "accession," which came up at the last minute.
Yes, but no one can say that there was anything anti-Turkish during
the French presidency. It was a fair and balanced presidency. Also, as
you know, the presidency was dominated by the economic crisis and the
crisis in Georgia and the situation in the Middle East. Both in the
case of Georgia and in the Middle East, he had to work with Prime
Minister ErdoÄ?an, and I think they understand each other much
better than in the past. In strange ways, they are very similar. They
are the same age, they are both very good speakers and strong
leaders. On the bottom line, there was no attempt at the part of
France to stop or derail Turkey’s process, anyway. Yes, he has his
personal view on the future of where Turkey will or will not be, but
history will show us that. This whole process will take time. Anyway,
the main point is that it is up to Turkey to show that it will take in
the value system, the legal framework of the European Union. That it
is for the Turkish people, not the EU to do. That is why it is going
to take time.
But was it necessary for Sarkozy to add an additional five chapters
when the commission had decided to suspend eight chapters for Turkey?
He has his own views. I can’t tell you that I or anyone has been able
to change it. However, his view may evolve given the relationship with
Turkey. My own belief is that the end of the process really depends on
the ability of the Turkish people to accept the changes. We shouldn’t
do anything to prevent or hamper that. I don’t think France is doing
that. In certain sectors of Turkish society, I have many Turkish
Francophone friends who are disappointed by the attitude of
France. But at the end of the day it is not the French people that
will make the changes inside Turkey. When the changes are made, the
question of Turkey’s entry will not be even a question. If there is
doubt, and God knows that in the last few years there were many
doubts, such as about the scarf issue, the place of religion, the
place of the army, the Constitutional Court, etc. Although Turkey is
moving in the direction of Europe, all this shows that the political
system in Turkey is not yet stabilized. These are issues that are
resolved in the rest of Europe but not in Turkey.
Aren’t Sarkozy and other European leaders aware that any negative
signal coming from Europe is exploited by anti-European and
anti-democratic forces to hamper the reform process in Turkey?
I am aware of that, and that is why I have fought very strongly in my
own country to avoid any signal that would be anti-Turkish. For
example, you know when there was legislation on the reform of the
constitution, which would have singled out Turkey? I fought against it
in my party because first I thought it was not dignified of the French
constitution to single out one country as a problem case and second I
understand the damages it causes inside Turkey.
Will Turkey not be exploited in the coming parliament elections in
France?
Of course, some people will try to exploit Turkey, but I will
certainly fight any tendency to do that. Some people will argue that
this process is out of hand and is hurting French interests by using
the economic crisis, the euro, the enlargement process and Turkey as
part of the enlargement process. But this is a game of domestic
politics. Much of what happened in Davos is domestic politics as well.
Armenian legislation has been dropped
I think 2009 is a very important year for the future of French-Turkish
relations. What about the Armenian legislation waiting to be ratified?
The Armenian legislation has been officially dropped. I think it is a
good thing that it was dropped because it would have really damaged
relationships. It would have made it impossible for example to have
any ministerial visits and any economic compacts because some
extremists would have used the law to sue any Turkish visitor in
France. Fortunately, it was stopped.
Do you think France and Turkey have been competing in terms of their
roles in the Middle East?
I don’t think it is competition. I think there is room in a situation
as complicated as this for different actors to play. There is room
also for America to come back into the Middle East peace process. So
all this influence is compatible; they are not adversarial or
competitive. They are fighting in the same direction. It is very
important that the Palestinians and Israelis hear the same message
from different quarters. It is important to have countries such as
Turkey and France that can speak to both sides. Before Sarkozy, we
were so tilted toward the Arab side that we were not heard on the
Israeli side. You have to be heard on both sides, and ErdoÄ?an
has to be careful not to lean too much toward one side because he will
not be heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But, overall, I do not see
competition. I see positive and parallel works. In the summer
ErdoÄ?an and Sarkozy worked together in Syria and came together
in Egypt recently to work on the crisis in Gaza.
There were comments that Sarkozy was in the region just because he was
concerned about the prospect of the Akdeniz union project ending?
I wouldn’t say that. I think we had to stop this terrible situation in
Gaza. But I think the Mediterranean union is a real need. We need to
build a working relationship between Europe and the Mediterranean area
and the Middle East countries. So far the attempts that were made by
the EU, such as the Barcelona Process, did not produce the kind of
converging interests — economic, political, strategic interests — we
need to build. Europe needs to be able to stabilize and look at the
way the world is organized. Europe has not been able to create a
community in its region the way America and Japan have. Europe needs
to build a community of interest with the south Mediterranean, or else
we will be flooded with immigration. Africa will triple its population
in the next 40 years. If we do not find jobs for these young people,
they will come to Europe. We will have a problem of security, poverty
and internal conflict. This Mediterranean union is the first serious
attempt since decolonization to build a community of
interests. ErdoÄ?an understood the importance of this, and that
is why he came. This is not a garage for Turkey; it is something that
is needed for all of us.
Why is France returning to NATO’s military wing? What has changed
since the 1960s?
Everything has changed. I just finished a book on this that is going
to be published at the end of March. There were there reasons that
brought France to move out of NATO in 1966: nuclear weapons,
non-integration and political control by the French over its
forces. All this changed with the end of the Cold War. Since 1990 we
have been dealing with a whole different world. The alliance is
essentially denuclearized. NATO has essentially become an
expeditionary force. Forces are sent under the decision of sovereign
governments. When you raise capacities in NATO for an operation under
the UN, you ask the government to provide forces so the decision is
already a national decision. All Gaullist principles are shared by
everyone; it is a national decision. Certainly during the operation,
the rules of engagement under an integrated command are national. For
example, the Turkish government does not fight in Afghanistan; they
are in a non-fighting role because that is how the Turkish government
decided.
So the distinction between what the French said in 1966 and what they
do today is gone because essentially NATO has become completely
Gaullist. Two French generals were leading in Afghanistan and Kosovo,
the two biggest NATO operations. We were the second contributor in
forces. Some say France wants to build a European force parallel to
NATO, but Sarkozy has decided to go into NATO. This will show that
European forces are not trying to undermine NATO forces.
Do you see Turkey as an obstacle for integration of EU security policy
and NATO?
Absolutely not. There is the unresolved issue of Cyprus; I understand
how difficult the issue is. But I think it is in the interest of
Turkey, which is one of the largest military players in Europe, to
play a full role both in NATO and in the European Union component. It
would be self-defeating for Turkey to be tempted to use a veto to stop
this.
Speaking of NATO, do you think the Ergenekon case will be good for
Turkish democracy?
Of course. First, I don’t see any relation between Ergenekon and NATO
because NATO is a collection of democratic countries in which the
armies are under political control. In fact when we enlarged to the
east, the first thing we did was make a Partnership for Peace. In the
Partnership for Peace, we teach new democracies to get the military
under the control of political rule. There are extremist groups that
can infiltrate into the military, but I am confident the Turkish
democracy will continue to strengthen. The fact that this small group
was identified shows that there are safeguards in the system. It is an
ongoing process of consolidation of the institution. The construction
of democracy is never finished because no one is immune from every
crisis. During times of crisis, extreme leftists can infiltrate the
police and political parties to exploit the crisis.
There are growing concerns, especially after Davos, that Turkey is
drifting away from the West and moving closer to the Iran-Syria
axis. Do you feel this way?
I do not think so. Turkey is being what it is: a bridge between Europe
and the Middle East. It has a very active diplomacy in the Middle
East, the Gulf and the Caucasus. I think the Turkish government is
playing its cards quite well vis-Ã -vis the Caucasus and
vis-Ã -vis the Middle East. The nomination of my friend Egemen
BaÄ?ıÅ? as the chief negotiator shows Turkey still
wants to be involved in Europe. The Turks defines themselves as a
bridge between Europe and the Middle East, and I don’t think they are
drifting away economically or politically. They are very much
European. I think Turkey has a link with the Muslim world, which is
very normal and in fact very useful for Europe and also has links with
Israel. I think Turkey is playing her cards quite well.
Is it paradoxical to say Turkey is distancing itself from the West
when Western values are settling in Turkey?
I understand the worry. There is a constant fight inside Turkey to
stabilize the identity of Turkey. It is going to take time. That is
why the process with Europe is long and difficult.
I am not shocked that Turkey has ties with the Middle East and Muslim
world. This is good for both Turkey and Europe. France also has ties
with the Arab and Muslim world. If our neighbors were at war, Europe
would also become concerned with them. There is no need to
over-dramatize the issue. I am confident Turkey will continue to play
its EU cards. The reform process is very important for democratic
stability in Turkey, the role of the army and separating state from
religion.
Why did Sarkozy appoint a special Turkish envoy?
Because at the time it was very tense.
Is the mission in Turkey completed?
It is not over yet. I think we need to make some progress on the
military side because bilateral military relations are close to
zero. The problem France has with Turkey is not only Sarkozy. After
the war, the French moved away from Turkey; it is a long problem, not
just yesterday morning. So we need to reconstruct the
relationship. Maybe the crisis with Sarkozy will eventually bring an
awakening to the importance of two countries to each other. Of course,
the Armenian diaspora did not help. But you have to understand that
many of these people suffer from the memories of that time. It is very
important that Turkey restart relations with Armenia. My dream is that
President Gül and President Sarkozy will open the land border
between Armenia and Turkey.
08 February 2009, Sunday
CELÄ°L SAÄ?IR Ä°STANBUL
Agence France Presse
Feb 8 2009
Boxer Darchinyan stops Arce to retain undisputed super flyweight title
ANAHEIM, California (AFP) ‘ Vic Darchinyan pummelled Jorge Arce into a
technical knockout after 11 rounds to retain his undisputed super
flyweight world title.
The Armenian-born Australian Darchinyan dominated from the start,
taking the fight to two-time champion Arce in every round with no
seeming concern for the Mexican challenger’s dangerous
counter-punches.
The third round saw a welter of big punches from both
fighters. Southpaw Darchinyan kept pushing, landing straight shots and
uppercuts through the middle rounds that left Arce with both eyes
swelling.
Arce was clearly fading – his legs shaky and his attack all but gone
by the 11th, when he also had a bleeding cut over his right eye.
At the end of the round, referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight on the
advice of ring doctor Paul Wallace.
"I told you, I’m going to punish him, and I’m going to finish him,"
said Darchinyan, who improved to 32-1-1 with 26 wins inside the
distance.
"I think you could see in round 11, when the round finished, he was
almost ready to go down.
"I wanted a clean knockout, not a technical knockout, but, still, I’m
happy with my fight."
He defended his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and
International Boxing Federation belts.
Darchinyan is the first fighter to hold all three titles in the
115-pound class.
Arce fell to 51-5-1 with 39 knockouts and suffered the second knockout
of his career.
The build-up to the bout was marked by trash-talking on both sides,
but Darchinyan was respectful in victory.
"He surprised me," he admitted. "I didn’t expect him to fight like he
did. He proved he was tough and a good fighter. I hit him with some
good shots and he kept coming."
Darchinyan had captured the IBF title in February of 2008 with a
fifth-round knockout of Russian Dmitri Kirilov.
Nine months later he claimed the other two belts with a victory over
Mexico’s Cristian Mijares.
Immediately after the bout, the battered Arce said he didn’t think the
fight should have been stopped.
"I don’t know why the doctor stopped the fight," he said. "Going into
the last round, a fighter has a puncher’s chance."
But he was later taken to hospital after experiencing breathing
problems.
Tiburcio Garcia, Arce’s trainer told AFP that the fighter was alert,
and the hospital trip was a "precautionary measure".
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, February 6, 2009
AGBU President Meets With Cypriot President & Government Officials
During his visit to Cyprus on January 22, 2009, the President of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Berge Setrakian, accompanied
by Mr. Benon Sevan, was received by the President of the Republic of
Cyprus, H. E. Demetris Christofias, and the President of the House of
Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, H. E. Mr. Marios Garoyian.
Mr. Setrakian used this opportunity to brief them on the Organization’s
activities and the challenges that it faces in the 21st century for the
maintenance and perpetuation of the Armenian identity in both the
Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia. He also discussed the future
prospect of the Melkonian property in Nicosia.
The Cypriot President and the House Leader expressed their support and
friendship toward the Armenian people and their commitment to further
strengthen the positive relations between Cyprus and the Republic of
Armenia. They also conveyed their full understanding of AGBU’s
objectives and the importance of the Organization’s focus on its
programs for strengthening the relationship of the worldwide communities
with Armenia.
Furthermore, they expressed their appreciation to Mr. Setrakian that
AGBU was considering the development of a project in Cyprus for the
benefit of all Cypriots as a token of gratitude toward the government
and the people of the Republic of Cyprus for their longstanding support
of the Armenian community.
The following day and at the suggestion of the Cypriot President, Mr.
Setrakian met with H.E. Dr. Andreas Demetriou, Minister of Education and
Culture. Also in attendance were House Representative Takis
Hatzigeorgiou and Nicos Peristianis, Executive Dean of the University of
Nicosia. During this meeting, the development of educational projects of
mutual intent were considered and discussed.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians on five continents.
ARMENIA NOT GOING TO BUY WATER CANNONS FROM TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2009 17:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is not going to buy water cannons from
Turkey.
"The Armenian police did not request the State Purchases Agency for
procurement of water cannons from a Turkish firm," Vasak Tarposhyan,
head of the Agency, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
Earlier, Nurol Machinery and Industry Inc., a Turkish firm in
the defense business, announced that it is preparing to sell
vehicle-mounted water cannons to Armenia.
"Armenia contacted us. Talks have been going on for some time now,"
Nurol Machinery’s deputy marketing manager Tanju Torun said during a
demonstration for the firm’s new six-wheeled Ejder (Dragon) armored
personnel carrier.
DARCHINYAN, ARCE BOUNCE BACK
by Jake Donovan
FOXSports.com
xing/story/9178006/Darchinyan,-Arce-bounce-back
Fe b 5 2009
The foundation was laid nearly three years ago for this weekend’s
battle of little big men. Small only in stature, but full-fledged
heavyweights when it comes to knocking ’em out and talking trash.
Vic Darchinyan and Jorge Arce are two of the few in the sport who
are equally entertaining in and out of the ring.
After almost three years of hurling insults at one another and
basically everyone else in the sport, a dream fight at the lower
weights becomes a reality. Showtime Championship Boxing kicks off
its 2009 season with a gem when Darchinyan puts his multiple super
flyweight titles on the line against his longtime rival Arce in
Anaheim, Calif., (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET).
There has always been genuine disdain between the two, but a great
fight needs more than just a little trash talk to sell to the
masses. There was many a boxing fan that longed for the fight in
2006, and believed the fight would never happen after both suffered
humiliating losses a year later.
What a difference a little patience makes.
Both fighters hit the comeback trail and kept winning. With
the results often coming in highlight reel fashion, interest was
suddenly renewed. The matchup went from interesting to perhaps the
most significant fight to be made in the junior bantamweight division
the moment both fighters scored knockout wins in their last respective
fights.
It was what went down that November night that makes this weekend’s
collision well worth the wait.
When this matchup was first discussed, both fighters held titles in
separate weight classes, but the balance of star power was heavily
one-sided. Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 knockouts) was an established
flyweight titlist, but was far more cult favorite than ticket seller.
On the other hand, Arce (51-4-1, 39 knockouts) was being groomed as
HBO’s next darling, with four fights coming in the form of pay-per-view
undercards and Boxing After Dark headliners, as well as a co-feature
slot on a Showtime pay-per-view card in October 2005.
Boxing fans clamored for a bout between the two, but the economics
heavily favored Arce — so much so that the Mexican had the freedom
to pick and choose his battles, deciding that Darchinyan needed
to bring more to the table than just trash talk in order to "earn"
the right to fight him.
In the ring, Darchinyan most certainly did his part. An Armenian
based out of Australia, but who now calls Glendale, Calif. home,
he was enjoying regular appearances on Showtime — four straight in
a span of less than 12 months. All told, all seven of his flyweight
title-fight wins ended inside the 12-round distance, even if one
went to the scorecards on a technicality. But it was his promoting
of his October ’06 bout with Glenn Donaire that ended in a knockout
that earned further accolades among boxing fans.
The fight served as the co-feature to the rubber match between Joel
Casamayor and Diego Corrales. Darchinyan scored a knockdown and won
every round handily when Donaire, fighting with a broken jaw since
the third round, was given the green light by the ringside physician
to bow out of the contest six rounds into the evening. Darchinyan
believed his opponent quit after growing tired of absorbing punishment,
which in his mind should’ve resulted in his ninth straight knockout.
The rulebook read different, instead deeming the fight a technical
decision. Darchinyan still won, his 27th straight without a loss
at the time, but he was hardly in celebratory mode. Nor was he able
to celebrate win No. 28, a 12th round stoppage of Victor Burgos in
which his opponent slipped into a coma and was immediately brought
to a hospital for emergency treatment.
While Burgos’ health would change for the better, both Darchinyan
and Arce would see their luck turn for the worse.
Arce was on a hot streak of his own, winning 27 straight from 1999
through January 2007. The last win of that run was a 12-round decision
over Julio Roque Ler, snapping a streak of eight straight knockouts
after his opponent spent nearly the entire bout fighting as if lasting
the full 12 was his only goal of the night.
Leading up to that fight, the Mexican celebrity was better known
for his ability to thrill the crowd, draw blood (often his own)
and close the show. The former lineal junior flyweight champion was
doing so while leapfrogging weight classes, moving up to flyweight
in 2005 before setting his sights on the super flyweight division
later in 2006.
Two straight HBO-televised wins led to a shot at a super flyweight
alphabet title against Cristian Mijares. Arce and his handlers
believed at the time that it would be one more win to put that much
more distance between him and Darchinyan, and any other fighter at
or around the 115-pound division looking for a jackpot fight.
Twelve rounds later, they were proven very wrong. It didn’t even take
that long, though, to realize that Arce was never going to win the
fight. Unheralded at the time, Mijares put on a boxing clinic from
the outset, and fought to close the show down the stretch, though
Arce was able to remain upright. It was perhaps the only thing he did
right that April ’07 night, dropping a lopsided decision, and forced
to rebuild without the benefit of a major network along for the ride.
Darchinyan and his handlers thought the moment would prove to be
their proverbial last laugh, but his world came crashing down just
three months later. A title defense against Nonito Donaire couldn’t
have proven more disastrous, losing every round before landing on the
wrong end of the year’s best knockout and biggest upset. A left hook
separated him from his senses, so much that he had no recollection
of being knocked out in the post-fight interview.
Next up for both was a trip on the comeback trail. Arce’s tour has
been limited to independent Top Rank PPV undercard appearances, save
for a couple of bouts on TV Azteca. Five straight wins have come of
it, though none against particularly notable competition and one in
which he was lucky to escape with the decision, in his disputed April
’08 win over David Lookmanhanak.
Arce’s ninth-round knockout of Rafael Concepcion last September was a
reminder of what the Mexican was capable of when forced to deal with
adversity. The bout turned out to be a Fight of the Year contender,
with Arce overcoming several rough moments to come on strong down the
stretch to force a stoppage. The same could be said of his last bout,
though in more condensed fashion, as he began slow before picking up
steam and stopping Isidro Garcia last November.
The win was his fifth straight, but it — much like his comeback as
a whole — paled in comparison to what Darchinyan would achieve that
same night and throughout 2008.
A 12th-round knockout of Federico Catubay came four months after the
worst possible night of his career, a confidence builder to get a
head start on his 2008 campaign.
His year ended almost as soon as it began, trading knockdowns with Z
Gorres and looking shaky early on before gathering his composure to
seemingly outfight the Filipino over the course of their 12-round
bout a year ago. The judges and an uncooperative referee helped
change that equation, with several knockdowns going ignored as the
brash Armenian was forced to settle for a split-decision draw.
A rematch was ordered, but Gorres was forced to pass after being placed
on the injured list from the brutal war. Gorres’ loss was Vic’s gain,
in ways far greater than anyone could imagine.
Darchinyan went on to receive a title shot, with the winner said to
come back around for a fight with Gorres. Darchinyan faced Dimitry
Kirilov in August, dominating the Russian before knocking him out in
the fifth round of their Showtime headliner.
With a belt back around his waist, Darchinyan wasn’t content on
settling for title defenses. Bigger game was what he demanded, and
what he received in a November unification match with top-rated super
flyweight Cristian Mijares. Three belts were on the line in what
rated as possibly the division’s biggest fight since Johnny Tapia’s
narrow points win in his grudge match with Danny Romero more than a
decade prior.
Most boxing experts polled before the fight had Mijares winning
handily, and staking his claim as a major contender for Fighter of
the Year honors.
The fight was won handily, and a Fighter of the Year nominee emerged
from the rubble. Only it wasn’t Mijares. Darchinyan defied the odds
in a big way, once again jumping out to an early start. Mijares hit
the deck in the opening round, and was dominated throughout, winning
just one round on each of the three scorecards before getting laid
out in the ninth.
With the win, Darchinyan became the first three-belt champion in the
history of the super flyweight division. It can be argued that he
also becomes the lineal champion by default; the top threat, Fernando
Montiel, is now contending as a bantamweight, having claimed to no
longer being able to make weight.
In the meantime, Darchinyan makes as notable a first defense of the
three unified titles as you can ask. Arce may be on the wrong side of
his prime, but his popularity has hardly waned. Still high among his
country’s favorite stars, the free-swinging Mexican boasts a fighting
style that will always be in high demand.
Darchinyan’s colorful blend of punching power and genuine disdain for
anyone that dares share ring space will always allow him to enjoy a
no-middle-ground, love-him-or-hate-him relationship with boxing fans.
Once upon a time, those traits were enough to get boxing fans talking
about this fight in the mythical matchup sense. With plenty at stake
in this fight — Darchinyan’s titles and standing as the world’s
best junior bantamweight, Arce’s possible last chance to add to his
lengthy résumé, it’s enough to generate network interest, as well
as enough money to get both to agree to make it a reality.
Add all of it together, and come fight night, it makes all of it well
worth the wait.
HELLO TO ARMS
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
14:47:26 – 04/02/2009
It is really difficult to understand why the government decided to
give arms to court ushers. The minister of justice Gevorg Danielyan
confesses that there was not such a precedent that would force the
government to give arms to ushers, for them to defend the courts from
assaults. In other words, no one has ever made an armed assault against
the court to make the government decide that in order to prevent such
assaults in future they should arm court ushers. But in this case a
question occurs: why the government announces such an intention and
presents a bill to the National Assembly.
Moreover, the fact that the minister representing the government says
that it is a step for the future causes deep worry. The point is
that if there is no precedent which would force to make a decision
on arming court ushers, but they do it for the future, this means
that the government is planning such actions connected with a court
process or the behavior of the court in general, which from the point
of view of the government will really force some groups of people or
the society to make an armed assault against the court.
It is difficult to have another opinion about the decision of the
government. Otherwise why should the government arm court ushers for
the future? The opinions voiced during the parliamentary discussions
that the government just needs another law enforcement body do not
seem grounded. The problem is that the government does not need law
enforcement bodies now, in other words there is no need to increase
the number of such bodies. The government does not need armed people
today and probably will not need them tomorrow.
On the other hand, it is not the first time that some intention of
the government lacks logic or the government can not clarify to the
public the basis of its intentions. There is also the fact that in
this situation of almost zero legitimacy any intention and step of
the government, even if it is honest and without a hidden intention,
nevertheless causes doubt among the public. And this is the most
problematic and dangerous matter in the case of an illegitimate
government. The actions, even the good ones, of an illegitimate
government may cause negative expectations among the public. In other
words, it is very difficult for an illegitimate government to do even
good things.
Consequently, if the arming of court ushers is just an intention of
the government, which does not have any hidden aim, it causes the
negative response of the public, moreover if the point is about
arming a group. In that situation the government should probably
avoid such decisions. The point is that in the present situation when
in the country the economic crisis adds to the political one, the
government should try not to make such decisions which would not be
clear or would cause doubt among the public, as this will make lack of
confidence in the government deeper and deeper, though it seems that
there is no place to go deeper any more. And in this case it will be
just impossible for the government to carry out an anti-crisis policy,
if the government intends to follow such a policy at all.
Is it so urgent and important to arm court ushers that the government
lacking public confidence is ready to have such a conflict with the
public, especially in such a situation like the present one? May be
the government does not even have an anti-crisis policy and that is
why the government does not bother about giving additional reason
for lack of confidence.