Author: Hovhannisian John

FOUR PLAYERS THE GALAXY SHOULD BE CHASING

Los Angeles Times
Nov 5 2008
CA

If Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena shows up at the Home Depot Center on
Saturday night to watch Chivas USA in its must-win playoff game
against Real Salt Lake, he might want to take along his notebook. Or
his checkbook.

Real Salt Lake has exactly what the woeful Galaxy lacked in 2008 —
a spine.

If Arena could persuade these four players to trade Utah for
California, it would give the Galaxy strength from back to front and
make it a vastly improved team next season:

Goalkeeper: Chris Seitz, 21, is the backup to starter Nick Rimando,
but the former University of Maryland player from San Luis Obispo has
all the tools. He has represented the U.S. at the under-18, under-20
and under-23 levels, was the backup to starter Brad Guzan at the
Beijing Olympics, and, at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, is an imposing
presence in the nets.

Central defender: Jamison Olave, 27, has been a revelation for
Real Salt Lake this season and is a major reason why the team is in
the playoffs. From Medellin, Colombia, Olave has seven years of pro
experience and won a Colombian league championship with Deportivo Cali
in 2005. Physically powerful and with good mobility and positional
sense, Olave has everything the Galaxy needs. Better still, he is
only on loan to Real, making him perhaps more easily available.

Midfielder: Kyle Beckerman, 26, is as underrated a player as there
is in Major League Soccer, given his talents. He has made three
appearances for the U.S. national team, two of them at last year’s
Copa America in Venezuela, but he should have far more caps. The
dreadlocked Beckerman is a feisty competitor with a keen soccer brain,
and is a tireless worker. Originally from Denver, he is in his ninth
MLS season and is the type of hustling, ball-winning midfielder the
Galaxy sorely lacks.

Forward: Yura Movsisyan, 21, has shot to prominence in recent weeks
by scoring back-to-back, 90th-minute goals, the first of which earned
Real Salt Lake its playoff spot in the final regular-season game and
the second of which defeated Chivas USA in the playoff opener. But
the former Pasadena High and Pasadena City College standout is about
more than that. He has size, he has speed, he can play centrally or
out wide, and he has a natural goal-scoring instinct. His Armenian
heritage won’t hurt in the stands either. The Galaxy has not had a
good Armenian player since the days of Harut Karapetyan in the 1990s.

To get any or all of four players, the Galaxy would have to give up
something, and Arena doesn’t really have much to offer. A 12-for-4
trade?

Whatever it takes, the Galaxy has to make major moves, and these four
players would be an excellent start. What do you think?

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO MEET IN VIENNA 6 NOV

Trend News Agency
Nov 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 November /Trend News corr. N.Abdullayeva/ The
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will meet in Vienna on 6 November.

After the meeting, the co-chairs will hold a joint news conference,
OSCE said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan and
Russia’s Dmitriy Medvedev signed a declaration at the end of their
meeting in Mein Dorf castle near Moscow on 2 November.

Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan decided to make joint
efforts to normalize the situation in Caucasus and requested Foreign
Ministers to make efforts to solve the [Armenian-Azerbaijani]
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The countries keep on peace negotiating. OSCE Minsk
Group co-chaired by USA, Russia, France is engaged in peace settling
of the conflict.

NKR PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES OBAMA ON VICTORY

armradio.am
06.11.2008 15:50

On 6 November President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
sent a congratulatory letter to President-elect of the United States
of America Barack Obama, Central Information Department of the Office
of the NKR President reported.

The letter reads as follows:

"On behalf of the people and authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of being elected
as the 44th President of the United States of America. Your victory
is an epoch-making event both in American history and world democracy.

Artsakh rates highly the role of the United States in the peaceful
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and the annual
financial assistance provided by the USA to the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic.

I am confident that with your interest and support in solving issues
the Armenian people face, under the new Administration the ties
between our countries will become much stronger and more diversified.

I congratulate you once again and wish peace, happiness, robust health
and prosperity to you and all your relatives and friends"

ARMENIAN DEPUTY: "YEAR OF 2009 IS A TIME OF PROGRESS IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT"

Today.Az
s/politics/48710.html
Nov 3 2008
Azerbaijan

"If Azerbaijan accepts the right of Nagorno Karabakh people for
creation of their own statehood, all other issues will be settled
quickly and successfully", said secretary of the parliamentary faction
of the Prosperous Armenia party, joining the coalition of powers,
deputy Aram Safaryan.

"Armenian side has stated through the past years that the OSCE Minsk
group is an optimal format for conduction of talks on the Karabakh
settlement and fixing this fact in the Moscow declaration is a great
achievement. The progress is that we have no differences on this
point with Azerbaijan", said the deputy.

"I think the mission of the Russian President was to gather the
Presidents of the two countries together and lead them to formation
of good will that the talks must continue. In this context I consider
that 2009 is a time of progress in the negotiation process for the
principles – Madrid principles, format – OSCE Minsk Group, co-chairs –
Russia, United States and France have been fixed along with the sides’
readiness to settle these issues in the framework of international
law", said Safaryan.

The deputy noted that if Azerbaijan accepts the right of Nagorno
Karabakh people for creation of their own statehood, all other issues
will be settled quickly and successfully otherwise the process will
reach a deadlock.

Commenting on the rumors, discussed in the Armenian society about
possible deployment of the peacekeeping contingent on the areas,
adjacent to the self-declared Karabakh, Safaryan reminded that
the program of "Flourishing Armenia", also fixed the need for the
international guarantees of Karabakh security.

"We are for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of
three principles: the right of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination
is recognized, Nagorno Karabakh must have a land border with Armenia
and the rights of the Karabakh people must be protected by the
international organizations, leading countries of the world and so
on. If this implies deployment of any forces, which will guarantee
Karabakh security, this is normal. But I can not say anything
definite, as I am unaware about the subject of talks", concluded
the parliamentarian.

PEACEFUL SOLUTION FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Radio Netherlands
Nov 2 2008

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a peaceful
solution to the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The two
leaders, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and Azerbaijan President
Ilham Aliyev were invited by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to
discuss the issue in Moscow.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh seceded from
Azerbaijan with support from Armenia. Around 35,000 people lost their
lives in the ensuing conflict.

Nagorno-Karabakh, where mainly ethnic Armenians live, now operates
independently, with support from Armenia. Officially Armenia and
Azerbaijan were still in a state of war, because no peace treaty had
been signed.

MULTINATIONAL CONTINGENT PREFERABLE AS PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2008 18:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In case of an agreement between Yerevan and Baku,
the publics in Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan will be informed of
it, the RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said.

Commenting on the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces in
Nagorno Karabakh, Minister Nalbandian said that a multinational
contingent would be preferable to secure international presence there.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES PROGRAM OF COUNTRY’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMEMT

Noyan Tapan
Oct 30, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. At the October 30 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the Program of Sustainable Development
of the Country.

Accoridng to the RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtian, this
fundamental document specifies the strategy of the country’s
development through 2021.

The minister said that it will be aimed at poverty reduction and
human development.

The program’s indices are based on those of Eastern and Central
European countries. In particular, it is envisaged that in 2009 per
capita GDP will make a sum in drams equivalent to 4.2 thousand USD,
in 2012 – 5.8 thousand USD, in 2015 – 7.7 thousand USD, and in 2021 –
12.6 thousand USD. The material poverty level will make 12% in 2012,
10% in 2015, and 7% in 2021.

The extreme poverty level will be below 2% in 2012, and below 1.2%
in 2021.

T. Davtian said that the allocations to the health care and education
sectors will make up 3.6% and 4.5% of GDP respectively. In his words,
it is envisaged reaching the level of the EU’s new member states by
various indices in 2017.

MIATSUM WAS FOUNDED

Lragir.am
17:01:05 – 31/10/2008

The independence of Armenia and the liberated united Artsakh are the
irreversible reality. We reassert our determination for protection
of integrity of the liberated Armenian territory, settlement of the
liberated territories and building of a constitutional and democratic
state. This is the message of the founders of the Miatsum (Unification)
initiative Zaruhi Postanjyan, Jirair Sefilyan, Tigran Khzmalyan, Alek
Yanigomshyan, Griselda Ghazaryan, Hrant Ter-Abrahamyan, Seda Melikyan,
Alexander Kananyan. On October 30 they stated at the Iravunk de facto
press club that their purpose is to protect the liberated territories
and to draw the attention of the public to the worrying aspects of
the current phase of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

The authors of the statement believe that any concession of territories
will destroy the current military and political pattern, distort
the balance of forces, and bring about the military aggression of
Azerbaijan.

"Any government of Armenia must give up on the impossible intention
of endangering the integrity of the liberated territories of Armenia
and destroying the defense of the country for the sake of holding on
to government levers and illegal economic monopolies. The Armenian
political sphere must display a sober and thoughtful behavior to
prevent any internal and external encroachment upon the territorial
and military security of the country," the founders of Miatsum
state. They also announce that the authenticity of any assertion of
the government not to return the liberated territories of Armenia are
in direct correlation to the effectiveness of the policy of settlement
it conducts.

The founders of the initiative also stated that Armenia must recognize
the independence of Karabakh within the borders following the ceasefire
in 1994, followed by unification with Armenia.

"We made a concession when we agreed in 1994 on the present line of
demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The change of borders
will result in another war because the security of every inhabitant of
Artsakh is at stake," Zaruhi Postanjyan, a member of the initiative,
stated.

DARCHINYAN: ONLY ONE VIC-TOR

SecondsOut
.cgi?STORY_NAME=boxing/08/10/29/manual_085429.html
Oct 29 2008

Vic Darchinyan has vowed to "deliver" and become the undisputed
world super-flyweight champion when he meets Cristian Mijares on
Saturday night.

The Armenian fighter will bring the IBF title to the ring in Carson,
California, while Mijares puts his WBA and WBC belts on the line.

However, Darchinyan says there is only one winner with Mijares about
to find out that he is moving up to a different level.

Darchinyan said: "He (Mijares) is a very good fighter, but when he
feels my punches he will feel different. He’s fought some tough guys,
but no-one like me.

"I know when I’m talking that I will deliver. I’m going to be too
much for him. He’s overrated.

"I think I am the best fighter he has ever, and will ever, fight. His
style is an amateur style."

Darchinyan, who has knocked out 24 of his 32 opponents and lost only
once, is also unconcerned by Mijares’ southpaw style.

"I’ve fought southpaws before. It’s no different for me," he added.

"I’m going to do some boxing. You’re going to see how fast and smart
I am on Saturday."

And the 32-year-old believes both his fans – and the Mexican’s –
will be won over by his display.

"On Saturday, you’re going to see a different Vic Darchinyan. I won’t
try to take him out with just one punch. You’re going to see a much
smarter Vic on Saturday night.

"In my one loss (to Nonito Donaire last year) my opponent didn’t beat
me, I beat myself. You won’t see any of that against Mijares. I’m
going to prove that I am focused to be the undisputed world champion.

"The Mexican fans are going to support me because they are going to
see a warrior. They like to see warriors and they will see it in me.

"People pay the money and they want to see exciting fights. I’ll give
it to them on Saturday."

SABINA FREIZER: AZERBAIJAN SHOULD NOT BE PROUD OF ITS MILITARY BUDGET

De Facto
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, 29.10.08. DE FACTO. Azerbaijan should not be proud of its
military budget, since Armenia is also developing economically and
can increase its military expenses. Sabina Freizer, Director of
the International Crisis Group Caucasian Project, stated it at an
interview with the Voice of America, Hayastani Hanrapetutyun reports.

"A decisive stage is starting in Karabakh talks. Tension increases
in the region, and Russia is trying to prompt leaders of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to a peace agreement to restore its authority. No one wishes
to create a third hotbed of confrontation in Caucasus. Everyone thinks
of a peaceful settlement. Unless current favorable situation is used
Prague process can be completely held up. It will be very difficult
to resume it.

So, the efforts of all parties are required", Sabina Freizer noted.

As for Armenian-Turkish relations, the expert has positively estimated
Turkish President’s visit to Yerevan. "The establishment of relations
between Turkey and Armenia is not only useful for these countries,
but also for the whole region", Freizer stated and added that the
rapprochement should be appreciated, especially, in the context of
the Karabakh conflict. According to Freizer, Turkey can be a useful
mediator in the process.