Author: Chilingarian Babken

RA FM AND US STATE SECRETARY DISCUSSED PRESENT STATE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

arminfo
2007-03-06 08:50:00

The present stage of negotiations for the Karabakh conflict peaceful
settlement were discussed by RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and
the US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice the day before in Washington.

As the Department of Information and Press of RA FM told ArmInfo, the
issues of development of bilateral relations were discussed during
the meeting. The importance of the US Government-developed Program
"The Millennium Challenges" in the realization of the Program for
poverty eduction in Armenia’s rural districts was noted. V. Oskanyan
has introduced the preparatory works for this Project implementation
to C. Rice. The meeting participants also touched upon the coming
parliamentary elections in Armenia, having noted the importance
of compliance of elections with the international standards. The
regional problems, the present state of the Armenian-Turkish relations
and the USA mediatorial initiatives for their settlement were also
discussed. The same day, V. Oskanyan held a number of meetings in
the US Congress.

DARCHINYAN: SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

ITV.com, UK
March 5 2007

Andy Warhol once famously predicted that ‘In the future, everybody
will be famous for 15 minutes’.

Vic Darchinyan would probably settle for half of that.

The Australia-based Armenian stretched his unbeaten pro record to
28-0 by stopping grizzled Mexican Victor Burgos at the weekend.

It was another exciting performance by Darchinyan, who really should
be a household name by now given his tremendous power and crowd
pleasing style.

The reason he isn’t has nothing to do with his menacing persona, a
boxing skills deficiency or because of any fault of his promotional
team.

It’s because of his size.

Put simply Darchinyan is a little man striving for recognition in an
industry where, rightly or wrongly, big is beautiful.

If the heavyweight division is the Premiership then flyweight,
where Vic currently plies his trade is, in terms of pulling power,
the Unibond League.

And that’s a real tragedy because a fighter like Darchinyan should
be cherished.

He punches like nobody’s business, has a chin like a concrete breeze
block and is only concerned with testing himself against the best
out there.

His promoter Garyy Shaw reckons that if boxing had more fighters like
the IBF champ it wouldn’t be in the sad state it is in now and it’s
difficult to disagree.

The man they call ‘Raging Bull’ didn’t turn pro until he was 24,
but he’s not wasted much time since.

Less than four years after turning over he knocked out the previously
unbeaten Colombian Irene Pacheco to claim the IBF belt.

He has made six successful defences since, winning them all inside
the distance.

If he was three stone heavier he would be known around the world but
as things stand he has to be content with the occasional autograph
request while out and about in Sydney, where he now lives.

Listening to him speak ahead of the Burgos fight and in interviews
immediately after you get the impression that Darchinyan is not
motivated by money and truly believes that boxing is a sport and not
a business.

He wants to test himself against the best out there and for that he
should be applauded.

The best fight out there now would be to move up to super-flyweight
and get it on with Jorge Arce.

Arce is everything Darchinyan isn’t.

A flash, personable Mexican who has his own chat show and who came
into the ring for his last fight on a horse!

However one thing both men do have in common is the ability to fight
and a contest between the two would be guaranteed mayhem, though boxing
politics means that the fight won’t be happening anytime soon (Shaw and
Arce’s promoter Bob Arum are currently involved in a legal wrangle).

Arce said in his post-fight interview that he wants to move up some
three divisions, box new super-bantamweight boss Rafael Marquez,
beat him and then mix it with Filipino buzzsaw Manny Pacquiao.

Such talk may be a tad over-ambitious, but his attitude is so
refreshing and there are several overpaid, overhyped heavyweights
out there who would do well to take a leaf out of little Vic’s book.

As the old saying goes, ‘It’s not the size of the dog in the fight,
it’s the size of the fight in the dog’.

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A1+

PETER SEMNEBY GOT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM ARMENIA
[07:04 pm] 02 March, 2007

`I come to Armenia as often as I can talk on the regional issues,
like Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, implementation of the European
Neighborhood policy, as well as the relations of Armenia with its
neighbors. This time I am here in connection with the upcoming
parliamentary elections which are, of course, of great importance’,
Peter Semneby, EU special Envoy for the South Caucasus told A1+ today.

As for the current pre-election campaigns in Armenia and the fact that
the Opposition is deprived of air-live broadcasting, Mr. Semneby said,
`It is important that these elections are conducted according to all
the rules, i.e. they are free and fair. It is important for both
Armenia and the European Union as Armenia is a part of European
neighborhood policy. I am aware that the opposition is deprived of
broadcast and I know that there are many complaints on this score. I
am discussing also bringing up all those issues with government
officials but fundamentally it is up to election observers to make
judgments on these issues.’

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
March 3 2007

Fernando Award winner Arabian earns praise

BY RICK COCA, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 03/02/2007 10:11:32 PM PST

UNIVERSAL CITY – In 1973, then-Superior Court Judge Armand Arabian
stared down a sexist mandate that required he inform a jury to
consider a woman’s rape claim with caution and decided enough was
enough.

The requirement had been in effect in California since 1856 and was
inspired by the 16th-century commentary of an English judge.

"How can I in good conscience say (to a jury), `Rape is an allegation
easily made’?" Arabian said.

So he didn’t.

Although he called his decision to not give jurors in the Rincon-Pi
eda case the legally required instruction an "act of judicial
heresy," that moment of rebellion led to the California Supreme Court
voting unanimously to revoke the antiquated guideline.

Following that decision, Arabian became one of the pre-eminent
rape-law reformers in the country, introducing legislation to protect
victims’ rights.

For that and other efforts, including a six-year stint as a
California Supreme Court justice, Arabian was named the 2006 Fernando
Award winner, given out annually to the San Fernando Valley’s
outstanding volunteer.

About 250 people attended the 48th annual dinner Friday night at the
Sheraton Universal in Arabian’s honor, including attorneys Gloria
Allred and master of ceremonies Robert Shapiro, who helped win an
acquittal for O.J. Simpson.
"He’s unique among the judges because not only did he enforce the law
as a Superior Court judge, interpret the law as a Supreme Court
justice, but in a landmark decision, changed the law for rape
victims," Shapiro said.

Arabian said his efforts to improve women’s rights in rape and sexual
assault cases were inspired by hearing family stories as a child
about the horrors of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, particularly the
sexual abuses suffered by women at the hands of Turks and Kurds.

"Some women were made slaves, others were raped and some women had
their babies bayoneted while still in the womb," he said. "And that
wound is still in my heart today. … I had it in my head that I
would be sensitive to the `unrightable wrong’ (of rape), and
Rincon-Pi eda was that opportunity."

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel called Arabian "more than
a judge."

"He’s been a community activist," she said. " … He’s a role model
for the people in the San Fernando Valley."

Brad Rosenheim, president of the Fernando Award Foundation, said
Arabian is more than deserving of the award.

"He has a long, long history of involvement in the San Fernando
Valley in a number of different causes as a volunteer going beyond
his judgeship," Rosenheim said.

Each year, selecting the winner can prove difficult for the more than
100 potential voters because the finalists are always so deserving,
he said.

"One of the truly unique things about the San Fernando Valley is it’s
a large community, but it has a very local nature," Rosenheim said.
"And I think one of the reasons that’s the case is there are so many
people who put in time and effort to make it such a special place,
and that’s what we try to promote."

TBILISI TO HOST TURKISH AND ARMENIAN PHOTO EXHIBITION

International Journalist’s Network
Feb 28 2007

Acquainting Georgian citizens with the people of Turkey and Armenia
is the goal of a photo exhibition to be held in Tbilisi form February
28 to March 7.

Supported by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, Anadolu Kultur, the
Embassy of Switzerland in Tbilisi and the Swiss sponsored Caucasus
Media Institute in Yerevan, Georgia, the exhibition is the result of
a joint project involving Turkish and Armenian photojournalists.

The Ambassador of Switzerland in Tbilisi will open the exhibition at
the National Library in Tbilisi on February 28.

For more information, visit
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rticle&ID=306034

A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES OF SPHERE REWARDED WITH DIPLOMAS OF RA HEALTH CARE MINISTRY ON OCCASION OF 15th ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN ARMY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 27 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. 8 employees of the health care
sphere and 2 medical centers were rewarded with diplomas of the RA
Health Care Ministry for showing high-quality medical assistance to
servicemen and freedom-fighters in border regions and on the occasion
of the 15th anniversary of the Armenian Army. RA Health Care Minister
Norayr Davidian handed the diplomas on February 27. The Minister
attached importance to the doctors’ role in formation and development
of the Armenian Army. In the words of Ghukas Ulikhanian, the Chairman
of the Armenian Pharmaceutical Association, similar initiatives give
possibility to once more remember those people’s heroic deeds.

GEORGIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS TO BECOME EXEMPLAR MODEL FOR OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHER STATES – SAAKASHVILI

Arminfo
2007-02-26

The Georgian-Turkish relations may become an exemplar model for
our relations with other states too, Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili declared.

"Today, the current Georgian-Turkish relations may become a model of
the Georgian Foreign Policy with other states", Mikheil Saakashvili
declared at yesterday’s press conference.

Mikheil Saakashvili reminded the successfully developing business
ties, the condition of the Associations of countrymen, as well as
the principle of open borders between Georgia and Turkey.

"We don’t only cooperate with Turkey. The joint overall human space
is being created", the President noted.

Saakashvili declared that several millions of immigrants from Georgia
playing a significant role in the political and economic life of
Turkey resided in Turkey.

Mikheil Saakashvili expressed his content with the Georgian-Turkish
economic relations and the development of business ties between the
two states.

"We have got the best experience with Turkey", Saakashvili stated and
pointed out that several years ago the bilateral relations weren’t
so beneficial.

"Three years ago I met with Turkish businessmen working in Georgia
and I had to listen to a lot of complaints. And now during my last
visit to Istanbul, I should recognize that I was afraid of meeting
with businessmen. But everyone talked only good things and there were
a lot of gratitude. This means that the business-making in Georgia
has become easier", Mikheil Saakashvili declared.

The Georgian President pointed out that the decision on introducing
non-visa regime with Turkey had got its result. Last year over 1 000
000 citizens of Georgia had crossed the border with Turkey.

"The interstate relations are accompanied with these or those problems,
but the basic thing is that correct trends and dynamics should be
selected", Mikheil Saakashvili pointed out.

ACCORDING TO RAZMIK DAVOYAN, NO NEED FOR CULTURAL VALUES EXISTS TODAY IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Feb 26 2007

YEREVAN, FERUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. "There is a nihilistic approach
to our culture today. The worthless flood came and swept over our
valuable culture but failed to destroy it," writer Razmik Davoyan
said during the February 23 discussion at the Urbat Club. According
to him, there are some people who benefit from saying that neither
culture nor values exist today. This mentality has formed in the
society and discredits intellectuals: "Now there is no demand for
intellectuals, only the category "intellectual" exists, with some
trying to use it." The speaker pointed out the current lack of demand
for cultural values, which is also evident from reading cultural pages
of newspapers where one can seldom find serious analyses or articles
on culture because nobody needs such articles. "This is the problem
of demand. An intellectual can speak about some cultural problem or
other, however, at present he is not considered to be interesting or
modern," the writer said. In his opinion, "demand is regulated by the
state. Nobody says that we need culture, no such demand was made. If
such demand is absent, who is going to create it?" In the writer’s
words, today culture is necessary for those "who are not involved
in politivs, who stand aside, not intervening in anything." Speaking
about the upcoming parliamentary elections, Razmik Davoyan noted that
the pre-election campaign is like believers who pray in the square
and rob the temple after reaching it.

According to him, for those who demand system changes, the problem
is "literally, to move from an outskirt to the center." At the
same time he said that he will nominate his candidature only in
case of considering the list of other nominees as satisfactory. "I
have never regarded being an ARF member as party work. Being an ARF
member has been an ideological task for me since my student years,"
Razmik Davoyan stated.

More trouble for BP as gas scheme is halted
By Terry Macalister

The Guardian
February 5, 2007

BP has run into trouble with another of its prestige projects, the latest in
a spate of misfiring schemes.

The $4.2bn (£2.1bn) Shah Deniz gas field and associated pipeline in
Azerbaijan that is expected eventually to supply gas to Europe has been
forced to stop production just weeks after it came on stream.

BP will be under pressure from the City to explain the latest problems when
it reports flat annual profits to analysts tomorrow. The company will unveil
income of around $21bn – considerably lower than Shell’s $25bn – and has had
its reputation tarnished by a string of high-profile setbacks in the US.

Problems with the Shah Deniz scheme come on top of the Prudhoe Bay leaks and
potential production delays from the Atlantis and Crazy Horse fields in the
Gulf of Mexico. They all came under the control of chief executive elect
Tony Hayward in his role as head of exploration and production, though he
has now handed on the job to his deputy, Andrew Inglis.

Mr Hayward is to take over from Lord Browne, who has decided to step down
early this summer after taking responsibility for a wider range of problems
in the US, including the Texas City refinery fire and propane-trading
irregularities.

The Shah Deniz scheme started to produce gas at the end of December – three
months later than hoped – but was forced to close in January. The Azeris
then announced that the field had resumed output only to admit that it had
been forced to shut down again with no definite date for supplies to be
resumed.

A spokesman for BP insisted yesterday that Shah Deniz had never restarted.
"We would like to have this all up and running but it is not unusual for a
new project to need something to be done," he explained. "We have discovered
a problem with the well and as a precautionary measure we have shut it down
while we sort it out."

Shah Deniz is operated by BP, which also has a 25% ownership stake with
other partners, including Statoil of Norway (25%) and Total of France (10%).
It was meant to bring gas into Europe without having to traverse countries
seen as politically unreliable such as Russia or Iran.

Around 8.6bn cubic metres of gas would be produced every year from a Caspian
Sea field and be transported by a pipeline built alongside the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) link that carries oil from the region.

The $4.2bn price tag is attached only to the first phase of the project,
which would see four wells drilled at Shah Deniz and a pipeline built. There
are grander – and much more expensive – ideas to increase the size of the
whole scheme.

The shutdown has already caused problems for Georgia, which has been forced
to buy emergency gas supplies from Russia at a very high price. Georgia is
desperate to lose its energy – and political – dependence on Russia and saw
Shah Deniz as an opportunity to do this.

It is a further embarrassment for BP, whose incoming chief executive
admitted before Christmas that the company was often trying to do too much
for too little.

"The mantra of ‘more for less’ says that we can get 100% of the task
completed with 90% of the resources, which, in some cases, is OK and may
work, but it needs to be deployed with great judgment and wisdom," Mr
Hayward told staff in the US. "When it isn’t, you run into problems."

Yesterday the BP spokesman denied his words had any relevance to Shah Deniz.
"I do not think this falls into that category," he said.

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PanARMENIAN.Net

Debate on Turkish influence on Genocide denying historians to be held in London
23.02.2007 17:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenia Solidarity (an independent organization,
formerly known as Wales-Armenia Solidarity), The Voice of New
Generation and the British-Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group
informed that British Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon calls for debate
on Turkish influence on historians denying the Armenian Genocide. He
made this statement in a letter to Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett,
who had forwarded to him an inquiry as to the government’s position on
the Armenian Genocide, independent French journalist Jean Eckian told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

`Whether some historians are under Turkish influence or not is itself
a matter for debate,’ Hoon said. Presumably, these are the historians
who insist that evidence for Genocide was `not sufficiently
unequivocal.’

`It is only two months since the Minister for Europe agreed that `over
a million Armenians were killed in the massacres of 1915′. We are
confident that the Minister will be informed that the government’s
refusal to equate the killing of "over a million Armenians in the
massacres of 1915"(the government’s words) with genocide as defined in
the UN 1948 Convention defies all known forms of logic. Our response
to this will be to invite him to debate the extent of Turkish
influence on notorious denialist historians such as Heath Lowry,
Justin McCarthy and Norman Stone. Prominent UK historians will be
invited to the debate, which will be held in the House of Commons
April 24 following our presentation of compelling evidence for the
Genocide. The public is also invited,’ says the statement issued by
Armenia Solidarity, The Voice of New Generation and the
British-Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group.