Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Baku says NATO role in Karabakh possible
Nov 26 2004 3:26PM
BAKU. Nov 26 (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – The Azerbaijani authorities said
that NATO may play a role in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“NATO’s participation in resolving the conflict may become possible. In
our opinion, using this organization’s resources would be helpful,”
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told a workshop
organized by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Baku on Friday.

Vasquez Defends IBF Junior Featherweight Championship Against Simonyan
BoxingTalk
Nov 27 2004
Press release: International Boxing Federation Association junior
featherweight champion Israel Vasquez defends his title under the
Sycuan Ringside Promotions banner for the first time when he meets
undefeated and No. 1-ranked contender Art Simonyan Tuesday, Dec. 28,
at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, Calif.
The world championship card will be held in the Spotlight Showroom
at the Sycuan Resort & Casino.
Tickets for this championship card are on sale 24 hours daily in the
gift shop at the Sycuan Resort & Casino. Tickets also can be ordered
by calling 619-445-6002 or 619-659-3380 24 hours daily.
This is the fifth boxing card presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions
since it burst onto the international boxing scene earlier this year.
The IBF 122-pound championship will be a belated birthday gift for
one these two boxers.
Vasquez turns 27 on Christmas Day while Simonyan becomes 29 on Dec.
27.
Vasquez, originally from Mexico City but now living in Los Angeles,
won the IBF junior featherweight championship in his most recent bout,
March 25 in Los Angeles, when he stopped Jose Luis Valbuena in the
12th round.
Vasquez has a record of 36-3 with 26 knockouts. He has a mark of
16-1 dating back to 1999, that lone loss coming in a bout for the
World Boxing Council super bantamweight championship during 2002.
Simonyan, who was born in Armenia but now lives in Glendale, Calif.,
has a record of 14-0-1 with seven knockouts. He earned the right to
challenge Vasquez with a 12-round decision over Fahsan Por Thawatchai
in a title elimination bout May 21 in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered by many to be the
fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during February,
but already has presented world championship bouts on premium cable
networks.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable,
including, in addition to Vasquez, IBF lightweight champion Julio
“The Kidd” Diaz, World Boxing Organization junior featherweight
champ Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman, former World Boxing Association
cruiserweight king Orlin “Night Train” Norris and highly regarded
welterweight Antonio Diaz.

Radical group’s picket thwarted by police
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 26 2004
On Thursday morning more than 50 GLO members attempted to hold a
protest action outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel to disrupt the 58th
“Rose Roth” seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in protest
against the planned participation of Armenians in the event.
The action was prevented by the police and some of the protesters were
taken to police precincts in the Sabayel district, but were released
after a warning.*

Armenian opposition parties oppose plans to send troops to Iraq
Associated Press Worldstream
November 25, 2004 Thursday 3:34 PM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia’s opposition parties said Thursday they
would interrupt their boycott of parliamentary sessions to oppose a
government plan to send troops to Iraq during its expected discussion
in parliament.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian pledged 50 troops in September,
but the final decision on sending troops is to be made by the
Constitutional Court and parliament.
The Constitutional Court is expected to rule within the next few
days. In case of the Court’s positive conclusion, it will be up to
parliament to decide whether to dispatch a team of bomb disposal
experts, doctors and transport specialist to Iraq.
Deputy leader of the opposition National Unity party, Aleksan
Karapetian, said Thursday that by sending troops to Iraq, Armenia
would endanger the 25,000-person Armenian community living in the
Middle Eastern country.
Leader of the Justice opposition alliance Viktor Dallakian said
they would break their boycott of parliament sessions and would
“categorically” oppose sending Armenian soldiers to Iraq.
Two dozen opposition deputies have been boycotting parliamentary
sessions since February to protest last year’s re-election of
Kocharian, a vote the opposition charges was marred by widespread
irregularities.
Pro-government parties make up a majority in the 131-member
parliament. However, the leader of one of the pro-government factions,
Galust Saakian, also expressed opposition on Thursday to the plan to
commit troops to Iraq. He said the idea would not be backed by the
Armenian people.
The former Soviet republic has sought to portray the decision to send
troops to Iraq as a way to boost ties with Europe.

Azerbaijan urges UN intervention
tvnz.co.nz
Nov 24, 2004
Azerbaijan urged the UN General Assembly to intervene in a long and
bitter territorial dispute with neighboring Armenia over its breakaway
Nagorno-Karabakh region.
But France, Russia and the United States, which have been trying to
resolve the dispute on behalf of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, asked the assembly to stay on the sidelines
and not interfere with their efforts.
Talks “can only progress in an atmosphere of confidence between
the parties. Anything in the direction of building confidence and
of avoiding a division of the General Assembly is helpful,” said
U.S. envoy Susan Moore, speaking on behalf of the OSCE initiative
led by Paris, Moscow and Washington.
Rival claims have hung for years over tiny, mountainous
Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan suffered a humiliating defeat in a 1988-94 war with Armenia
over the region after its inhabitants tried to break from Azeri rule.
An estimated 35,000 people were killed and one million refugees fled
to Azerbaijan, where they remain. At the same time, thousands of
ethnic Armenian refugees fled to Armenia.
A cease-fire ended the conflict but the dispute persists despite
international efforts to broker a deal.
Azerbaijan’s foreign minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said his government
had decided to take the issue to the General Assembly because Armenia
was pursuing an “illegal settlement policy” by flooding the disputed
area with Armenians, with an eye to annexing the enclave.
He called on the assembly to adopt a resolution affirming its
“continued strong support” for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
and the right of Azeri refugees to return to their former homes in
the enclave.
But Armenian Ambassador Armen Martirosyan said Azerbaijan’s proposal
was aimed at torpedoing the OSCE-sponsored negotiations.
The assembly put off a vote on the draft resolution until an
unspecified later date.

US MILITARY IN AZERBAIJAN
PanArmenian News
Nov 22 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As reported by Independent Military Observer Russian
newspaper on November 19, over 50 NATO servicemen, mostly Americans,
were quartered in the village of Chukhanly of the Salyani region
of Azerbaijan in a training center belonging to Azeri the Defense
Ministry. According to the newspaper, beginning with the next year, the
US military are going to implement in Azerbaijan a program analogous
to the one carried out in Georgia. Member of the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry press service Ilgar Verdiyev confirmed the information to the
journalists, stating, however, that the foreign servicemen are arriving
in Azerbaijan only for the participation in concrete projects aimed at
Partnership for Peace NATO program realization. Yet head of the press
service Ramiz Melikov completely refuted the information and said that
he does not possess any data of the US instructors who are allegedly to
train Azeri soldiers. At the same time Azeri Foreign Ministry Deputy
Araz Azimov does not rule out the possibility of stationing US mobile
forces in Azerbaijan. Former high rank official of the Azeri Defense
Ministry Uzeir Jafarov holds the opinion that the Azerbaijan-NATO
cooperation long ago exceeded the limits of Partnership for Peace
program. In Jafarov’s words, the program similar to the Georgian
one is in active preparation in Azerbaijan at present and will to
all appearances be launched in 2005. However Azerbaijani FM Elmar
Mamedyarov stated that “Azerbaijan is not negotiating on dislocating
foreign military bases in its territory”. “A military base is a
stationary object that cannot be deployed during one night. Multi-stage
negotiations are needed for it”, the Minister noted. As expert of
the East-West Center of Political Research Azer Rashidoglu told the
newspaper reporter, the EU is expected to unanimously speak against
the US anti-Iranian operation. (The complete version of the article
read at ). To remind,
the hearsay on using the Azeri territories for probable US military
operations against Iran revived recently. As for stationary military
bases in Azerbaijan, according the Pentagon new military doctrine
on mobile bases, there will be no need in them. Thus, nominally,
military bases in their classical meaning might not exist.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TROUPE OF SUNDUKIAN THEATER COMES BACK FROM U.S. WITH NINE VALUABLE DIPLOMAS
OF GRATITUDE
YEREVAN, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). From October 23 to November 7,
the National Academic Theater after Sundukian was on a jubilee tour in
the US in connection with the 80th anniversary of its foundation. The
Sundukian troupe performed Levon Shant’s “Old Gods” and American
playwright Ray Coon’s “Night Feast” plays at the famous “Alex” and
“Academy-Police” auditoriums of Los Angeles.
Vahe Shahverdian, Artistic Director and head producer of the theater,
said during a press conference that the tour was a great success, and
nine valuable diplomas of gratitude, including the diplomas given by
the US Senate, the Governor of California, the municipal authorities
of Los Angeles to the troupe are the evidence of this fact. “Old Gods”
received an especially enthusiastic welcome, that’s why Levon Shant’s
this work was performed instead of two announced performances of
“Night Feast”.
V. Shahverdian noticed that the tour was finished with the jubilee
celebration held at “Academy-Police” on October 29. Representatives
of foreign embassies, two members of the Armenian higher orders of
clergy, the RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, the American
high-ranking officials, Armenian philanthropists from the Diaspora
were also present there. It was also noticed that the tour was widely
covered by the Diasporan and American press.
According to V. Shahverdian, the tour was held at the private
invitation of the Armenian- American Cultural and Musical-Theatrical
Union, but then it turned to an arrangement of state level due to
its quality and good organization. The organizers also invited the
troupe of the theater to give performances in th e US next year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Priority objective for economic development
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
November 19, 2004
During the recent period, Armenia has been experiencing economic
and political stability which enables development of a mid and long
term strategies.
However, there are some obvious arguments here. Supporters of active
constructive policy, justly referring to the failures of the market,
unjustly propose increasing of role of the government, especially in
branch industry policy. On the opposite side, neo-liberals propose
to continue liberalization of the market.
These parties have more in common than they admit. Both stand on the
role of institutes (in the first case Рstate, in the second ̢~@~S
market). However, both views are dubious from practical policy
standpoint for the reasons of actual need to change the available
policy or lack of resources.
Anyway, how can we contribute to proportional development of the two
institutions? Note that only in case of successful balance we can
have prosperous and competitive economy.
We single out the following basic approaches: first, unification
approach of government and market. This means a strategy that would
enable establishment both of the state and the market. Second,
effective use of knowledge. Institutional reforms take time. If
knowledge is properly used, the reforms may speed up.
Third, approach of institutional innovations. It takes turning
knowledge into behavior of economic stakeholders and the society to
make the knowledge work, to make it demanded by the market. This is
about social education.
In other word, issues number one for the development of the Armenian
economy is the development of the knowledge “industry”. This is a
pledge for transition to a competitive market.
Creative usage of market and technological knowledge enable solution
of many transitional issues. On the other hand, without development
of the knowledge “economy” it will be difficult to provide desired
economic and consequently strategic-political security level.
–Boundary_(ID_QYWEuljQON7+/igX58r43Q)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Monde
19 novembre 2004
Giresse et Casoni ne regrettent rien de leurs difficiles exils
caucasiens ;
par Paul Miquel
RIEN NE les prédestinait à s’expatrier là-bas, dans le Caucase. Ils
ont pourtant choisi l’exil. Fin avril 2004, c’est Alain Giresse qui a
ouvert la voie en acceptant le poste de sélectionneur de la Géorgie.
« Les tractations ont commencé l’année dernière, se souvient-il.
J’étais en stand-by, et Michel Platini m’a mis en contact avec le
président de la Fédération géorgienne, Merab Jordania. » Quelques
mois plus tard, Bernard Casoni l’imitait en devenant entraîneur de
l’Arménie. « J’ai signé un contrat d’un an au début de l’été,
explique l’ex-défenseur de l’Olympique de Marseille. Ici, il y a tout
à construire, c’est une expérience passionnante. »
Eloignés l’un de l’autre de seulement 300 kilomètres, Alain Giresse
et Bernard Casoni ont un cahier des charges relativement similaire :
aider leur jeune équipe à se comporter honorablement lors des
qualifications du Mondial 2006, responsabiliser les joueurs du cru,
insuffler un soupçon de professionnalisme auprès des dirigeants
fédéraux locaux, accélérer le mûrissement footballistique des
esprits. Et, si possible, gagner des matches. Des défis que d’aucuns
jugent insurmontables. Après son match nul (2-2), face au Danemark,
mercredi 17 décembre, la Géorgie pointe à la 6e place du groupe 2 ;
l’Arménie, tenue en échec (1-1) par la Roumanie, est dernière du
groupe 1.
« LA VIE Y EST DIFFICILE »
« La Géorgie n’est pas le Qatar, s’amuse Alain Giresse, en faisant
référence aux nombreux Français qui ont récemment signé dans les pays
du Golfe. Ici, il n’y a pas de pétrole. Les conditions économiques
sont dures. La vie y est difficile. » Alain Giresse confesse qu’il a
« longtemps réfléchi avant d’accepter ce poste », mais qu’il « ne
regrette rien ». « Parler de qualification est assurément prématuré,
observait-il avant le match face au Danemark. Si la Géorgie gagnait
son ticket pour le Mondial allemand, ce serait un miracle.
Personnellement, j’ai surtout été embauché pour faire progresser
l’équipe. »
En Arménie, où il réside environ quinze jours par mois, Bernard
Casoni avoue avoir les mêmes visées. « Il a fallu tout remettre à
plat, indique le technicien méridional. Avant d’entrer dans le vif du
sujet, j’ai voulu instaurer un certain état d’esprit dans mon groupe,
faire comprendre à mes joueurs que porter le maillot national était à
la fois un honneur et une charge. »
Pendant tout le mois de septembre, Casoni a aussi épluché les
effectifs de L1, L2, National et CFA, à la recherche de joueurs de
qualité ayant une ascendance arménienne. Résultat des courses ? «
Rien, répond-il dans un soupir. Il y avait bien une petite colonie du
côté de Valence, mais aucun joueur ne répondait à mes exigences. J’ai
donc décidé de composer mon équipe avec des locaux. Je préfère des
gars rugueux qui se battent à 130 % plutôt que des stars de la
diaspora qui jouent les divas en Russie ou en Pologne. »
Ainsi, les deux tiers de sa sélection sont issus du championnat
arménien, composé de huit équipes et dominé par le Pyunik Erevan, où
évoluent ses deux joueurs-clés : le gardien de but d’origine
camerounaise Edel Apula Edima Bete et le buteur Edgar Manucharian,
qui serait suivi de près par les recruteurs de l’Ajax Amsterdam.
« Contrairement à Bernard Casoni, 90 % de mes hommes jouent dans des
championnats européens de qualité, souligne Alain Giresse. C’est une
chance, car les douze équipes du championnat géorgien ont un niveau
médiocre. » L’ancien joueur du carré magique des Bleus a décidé, lui
aussi, de jouer sur la corde patriotique. Il est aidé en cela par
Guia Gourouli, son traducteur qui a porté le maillot du Havre dans
les années 1990. « Même si beaucoup viennent du Dinamo Tbilissi, mes
joueurs sont exilés partout en Europe, explique- t-il. Quand ils
reviennent ici, ils veulent participer balle au pied à la
reconstruction de l’identité nationale. »
Alain Giresse peut aussi compter sur l’expérience de Kakha Kaladze,
défenseur au Milan AC, pour tirer son groupe vers le haut. En
attendant, la plus belle victoire de la sélection géorgienne (7-0)
date de 1997. C’était face à l’Arménie. « Je compte bientôt organiser
un match amical face à l’Arménie de Bernard Casoni », glisse Alain
Giresse. Sur le banc, ce jour-là, les deux Français pourront parler
du pays.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Nov 18 2004
Settlement of Armenians in Garabagh may rekindle conflict – Foreign
Minister

Armenians are being illegally settled in the occupied Azeri lands,
which may provoke a conflict in the future, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said.
“Armenians are being illegally settled in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. The aggressor regime provides loans and financial aid to
these settlers so that they stay there and official Baku is
well-aware of this.”

The minister also said that after all this lawlessness Azerbaijan has
finally achieved putting the issue on discussion at the United
Nations. However, the extensive settlement of Armenians in Upper
Garabagh signals that another conflict may be in the offing, he
underlined.
“Presume that real results are achieved in peace talks and displaced
persons are returning to their lands, while these areas are populated
by Armenians.”
Mammadyarov added that this represents a threat of rekindling the
conflict.