Author: Kalashian Nyrie

WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS YEREVAN OFFICE MOVES TO NEW BUILDING

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The active cooperation
of the World Armenian Congress (WAC) Armenian Office will assist
development of Armenia and the Armenian people’s unification round the
"one nation, one ideology" slogan. Ara Abrahamian, the Chairman of the
WAC and Union of Armenians of Russia made such a statement on March
3, during the official ceremony dedicated to moving of the Congress
and Union Yerevan office to a new building. The office was moved to
a newly built building in the center of Yerevan. In A.Abrahamian’s
words, the Congress plans to have 9 representations in the marzes of
Armenia and two representations in the cities of Washington and Los
Angeles, the United States of America, in the nearest future. For
building of the Yerevan office, A.Abrahamian expressed gratitude to
benefactor Samvel Karapetian, the Chairman of the Union of Armenians in
Kaluga. In A. Abrahamian’s words, the role of Diaspora is irreplaceable
at present in the sense of social-economic development of Armenia,
investment issues, charity actions as well as just solution of the
Nagorno Karabakh problem and Armenian Genocide recognition. Levon
Ananian, the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, a founder
member of the World Armenian Congress mentioned that he attached
importance not only to the symbol of opening the office but also to
continuation of previous works of the Congress. "Those values are
not yet appraised at its true worth in the atmosphere of today’s
disagreement, the future must still say the word of its estimation,
but one who has an eye, sees, one who has ear, listens, who has
ability of estimating, value," L.Ananian said. Atom Mkhitarian,
the Chairman of the Association of Youth Organizations of the World
Armenian Congress expressed confidence that the newly opened office
will become a place of implementation of national goals.

IN LAUSANNE, DOGU PERINCEK GOES ON TRAIL FOR DENYING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CLAIMS

Hurriyet, Turkey
March 6 2007

A delegation of 160 people, included former President of Northern
Cyprus, Rauf Denktas, has gone to Switzerland to show support for
the head of Turkey’s Workers’ Party, Dogu Perincek, who is on trial
there for publicly denying Armenian allegations of genocide.

Perincek, who is being tried in Lausanne, was joined in court by a
large group of academicians, historians, retired military officials,
and politicians from Turkey, who left Istanbul on a specially chartered
Turkish Airlines flight for Geneva. Speaking prior to departure at
Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, Denktas told reporters "Thousands of our
Armenian siblings live here under good conditions.

Workers come from Armenia to make a living here, and do so. So
friendship between Turkey and Armenia is necessary on both sides. But
friendship cannot be based on lies and slander."

The general leader of the Turkish Workers’ Party, Dogu Perincek is
on trial in Switzerland for calling Armenian allegations of genocide
in Turkey "an imperialist lie" during a 2005 demonstration in Lausanne.

Reports say Perincek left Turkey for his trial in Lausanne carrying
90 kilos worth of Russian and Armenian documents with him.

PPA MEMBER SMBAT YEGHIAZARIAN PRESENTS SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS TO PARTY CHAIRMAN

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Smbat Yeghiazarian, the Secretary of
the Abovian territorial office of the People’s Party of Armenia (PPA)
stated that he has information that party head Stepan Demirchian
has negotiated with the authorities still from September, 2006,
to guarantee five per cent of votes for the PPA at the future
parliament. He promised to present the facts during the coming
days. The "Haykakan Zhamanak" (Armenian Time) daily writes about it.

"The party betrayed its principles today. Stepan Demirchian has never
had independence. One can say he has always been led. The party today
betrayed its members," Smbat Yeghiazarian stated on the previous day,
after the serious scandal promoted in the PPA Abovian territorial
office, which finished with the latter’s resignation. NA PPA deputy
Grigor Haroutiunian who was present at the precedent, qualified these
accusations addressed to St.Demirchian as absurdity, adding that the
PPA has never betrayed and will never betray its principles. In PPA
Political Council member Ruzan Khachatrian’s opinion, Yeghiazarian
spoke only after the party list was read. In her words, there are many
people deserving the first place of the list, but nobody responded
in this way.

But before it S.Yeghiazarian mentioned that his statement has no
relation with that lists. He insisted that he proposed to make staff
changes to take the party out of the hard state and S.Demirchian was
against it. In his words, Demirchian, maybe, prepares to go to the
elections without the PPA.

G.Haroutiunian stated that they convened a council sitting, and the
council did not receive S.Yeghiazarian’s resignation application. In
S.Yeghiazarian’s words, his application was not accepted as all the
council member arose the issue that if he would leave they would leave,
too. "But I will not take any step with a similar person. I will
not subject to the council decision. I have nothing to compromise,"
S.Yeghiazarian stated.

SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS: DARCHINYAN, COTTO, MARQUEZ AND MIRANDA, ALL PREVAIL
By Tom Donelson: Showtime and HBO held dueling slugfests

EastsideBoxing.com
March 5 2007

In Showtime first bout, Victor Burgos challenged Vic Darchinyan
for Darchinyan flyweight title. Darchinyan fights with one punch,
the straight left from his southpaw style but that left hand has power.

This is a flyweight who punches like a heavyweight. Every punch is
thrown with mean intention and his hand is quick enough to make his
style successful. When he hit you, it is like being hit with a 2 by
4 club.

Burgos strategy was box and counter punch but as the fight continued,
Darchinyan’s power became the decisive factor. Burgos was the smaller
fighter and it often looked liked a child fighting a grown up. Burgos
looked dwarfed when facing Darchinyan and his punches did very little
damage to the Armenian. The difference of power could be seen. When
Burgos hit Darchinyan; not much happened. When Darchinyan hit Burgos,
Burgos moved backed from the power. By the third round, Burgos faced
suffered welts. And his face showed Darchinyan power as Burgos face
became more swollen as each round progressed. During the twelfth round,
Burgos leg wobbled from one of those nasty Darchinyan’s left and he
staggered around. Burgos did not appear to know where he was.

The referee, sensing that Burgos was hurt and possible injured, stopped
the fight. Burgos ended up in the hospital as the culmination of
punches took their tool. Darchinyan’s left consistently hit Burgos
face all night. The miracle was that Burgos even made it to the
twelfth round.

In the Edison Miranda-Allen Green fight, this was supposed to be the
shootout at the Middleweight corral but Miranda’s power forced Green
into a prudent fight plan.

Miranda fights with reckless abandon and his offense is his defense
but he is becoming a smart fighter. Against Green, he kept his right
to neutralize Green left hook. The only time he did not, he ended up
on his butt from a quick Green left hook in the eighth round. This
was Green highlight as Miranda right hand nailed Green repeatedly.

For the first seven rounds, Miranda pressured Green and his right often
overwhelmed Green ineffectual left jab. Green looked for opportunity
to counter and when it came in the eighth round, Green nearly won
his fight. In the ninth round, Miranda regain his momentum and in the
tenth round, he showed why he is one of the world best Middleweight.

Despite being ahead on points, Miranda wanted a knock out and he jumped
on Green with the idea of ending the fight. One key moment in the tenth
came when Green threw a right but a Miranda right came whistling past
and nailed Green. Green staggered backward and Miranda immediately
went after Green. Green went down after a Miranda combination nailed
the American, ending with a signature Miranda right. Miranda continued
the onslaught and the only thing that saved Green from being knocked
out was the clock.

Miranda is one of the premier Middleweights and on this night, he
sent a message to all of the champions including Jermaine Taylor that
Miranda is a force to be reckoned with.

Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez fought for Vazquez 122 championship
belt. Marquez was the king of the 118 pounds. For the first two rounds
and two minutes of the third round as his all round skills kept Vazquez
off balanced, or until Vazquez left hook send Marquez sprawling on
the canvas. The fourth saw a return of the Marquez skills coming to
the forefront but each round were close as both fighters exchanged
left hooks and sharp right. Rafael Marquez advantage lay with his left
jab and right hand following his left jab. Vazquez advantage was his
fierce left hook but Marquez more varied attack carried the day.

While Vazquez left hook knocked Marquez down, it was a Marquez left
jab followed by his right that broke Vazquez nose. Vazquez breathing
became labored as both men went after each other in a frantic pace.

The pace took its toll as Vazquez could not come out for the eighth.

Marquez won a title in his second weight division. The king of the
118 pounds now is the king of the 122 pounds.

Miguel Cotto is a tough left hooking body hitting machine. Cotto may
be a Puerto Rico fighter but the man loves to hit the body like a
young Julio Caesar Chavez. Oktay Urkal put up a tough fight but he
did not have firepower to hurt Cotto. Urkal best punch appeared to
be his head as he butted Cotto, even opening up a cut in the process.

Cotto kept coming forward throughout the fight. And in the eleventh,
Urkal corner put a stop to the proceeding after Urkal lost a point
deduction. His corner knew the score through Puerto Rico’s open
scoring system. So they ended the fight and allowed their fighter to
fight another day. After watching Burgos being beaten nearly to death
and forced to go to hospital, maybe the Urkal team decided that they
will protect their fighter. Cotto is now positioning himself as one
of the best welterweights and his next bout with Jab Judah will be a
money maker. Cotto has one thing in his favor, he is a big draw. If
he gets past Judah in June, then he has more big money bouts and the
welterweight is becoming a deep division.

The Hindu, India
March 3 2007

Armenian church to resume service

Susan Muthalaly

CHENNAI: The Armenian church on Armenian Street here will possibly
resume worship service by next year, after a decade-long interregnum.
The oldest surviving church of its kind in India is set to be
renovated and restored with an estimated Rs.1.5 crore grant from the
Armenian Church Trust in Kolkata, and guidance from the Indian
National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II,
from the Holy Etchmiadzin , on a personal visit to India, dropped by
on Friday, and expressed his desire to restart the service.

The Armenians were once a rich community that made significant
contributions, economic and cultural, to the city. Now there are only
275 registered Armenians in India.

They originate from the southwest Asian country of Armenia.

The Catholicos suggested that students from the Armenian College and
Philanthropic Academy, Kolkata, be distributed across the country
once they finished their studies.

Photo: AWAITING RENOVATION: The Armenian Church at Parrys Corner in
north Chennai.
8670100.htm

Sabah, Turkey
March 3 2007

Lie of Akdamar

The headline of Hürriyet newspaper "Erdoðan will open Akdamar as a
gesture for Armenian bill" was refuted.

Referring to the article stating that the Prime Minister Erdoðan has
postponed the opening of Van Akdamar Church to March 29, the
resources of the prime ministry said: "No such opening exists in
Erdoðan’s programs."

Lie of Akdamar

The article at the headline of Hürriyet newspaper stating that
Erdoðan will open Akdamar Armenian Church in Van on March 29 as a
meaningful response to the Armenian genocide claims to be voted at
the US House of Representatives was refuted. The Prime Minister will
attend the "Clear Internet" Campaign conference at that date.
Referring to the article stating that the Prime Minister Erdoðan has
postponed the opening of Van Akdamar Church to March 29, the
resources of the prime ministry said: "No such opening exists in
Erdoðan’s programs."

ARMENIA TO DEVELOP RELATIONS WITH POLAND

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 1 2007

YEREVAN, February 28. /ARKA/. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
met with Poland’s Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga in Yerevan.

The President’s press service said that during the meeting the sides
highly estimated the present level of bilateral relations and pointed
out that there is a good potential for development.

Kocharyan said that Armenia is interested in wide-ranging relations
with the hugest country of Eastern Europe which has the biggest
economy in the region.

For practical purposes, he pointed out the necessity of some
institutional steps, in particular, to finish the formation of the
Armenian-Polish intergovernmental commission as soon as possible.

Kocharyan pointed out the importance of the bilateral cooperation
within the frames of Armenia’s Euro-integration policy. The main
development resource is the existence of effective reforms. "We strive
for fully and effectively using the possibilities enabled by the EU
‘New Neighborhood’ policy. In this context, we consider Poland one
of our main partners," said Kocharyan.

In her turn, Fotyga said that it is her first official visit to the
region and it coincided with the 15th anniversary of establishing
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Poland. Fotyga expressed
confidence that as a result of the visit the friendly relations
between the countries will go on enlarging and developing, including
new spheres of cooperation.

The sides also discussed the regional issues, the relations of
immediate neighbors and the present situation of the Karabakh conflict
settlement.

USE OF FORCE IN IRAN WOULD THREATEN CENTRAL ASIA – CSTO

RIA Novosti
17:01|01/ 03/ 2007

DUSHANBE, March 1 (RIA Novosti) – A possible military operation
against Iran would jeopardize the security of the Central Asian states,
the head of a post-Soviet security group said Thursday.

Iran has been at the center of international concerns since January
2006 over its nuclear program, which some countries, particularly the
United States, suspect is geared toward nuclear weapons development.

Reports in the Western media say the U.S. could start a war against
Iran at any moment.

"Air strikes on Iran will not stop its nuclear program," Nikolai
Bordyuzha, general secretary of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, told a news conference after a meeting with Tajik
President Emomali Rakhmonov.

Russia, a key economic partner of Iran, has consistently supported
the Islamic Republic’s right to nuclear power under the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has resisted the imposition of
harsh sanctions.

Russia is building a nuclear power plant in Bushehr in southern Iran,
a project worth $1 billion, on a contract signed in 1995.

Bordyuzha said the situation in Afghanistan also threatens the Central
Asian countries, adding that NATO has shown no interest in cooperating
with the CSTO in the country.

Afghanistan has regained its position as the world’s top drug producer
since U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001. Illegal drug
production and trade is the only source of income for many in the
war-torn southwest Asian nation, and is a major source of financing
for Islamist militants.

CSTO members – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – use the organization as a platform for
fighting drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime, and have
pledged to provide immediate military assistance to each other in
the event of an attack. The bloc has a Collective Rapid Reaction
Force deployed in Central Asia, and is continuing to build up its
military forces.

Two CSTO members, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, share borders with
Afghanistan and are major trafficking routes for drug smugglers from
the country. Heroin and other drugs from Afghanistan have also flooded
Russia and other ex-Soviet states since the 1990s.

TURKEY’S PRESSURE ON AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CONCERNING RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS HEIGHT OF CHUTZPAH

Arminfo
2007-03-01 14:35:00

Turkey’s pressure on the American Jewish community concerning the
resolution on the Armenian Genocide is the height of chutzpah, the
editorial staff of the Jewish press daily writes. We are certainly not
insensitive to the significance of Turkey’s support of Israel. But
the Turkish government’s attempt to capitalize on that support by
pressing the American Jewish community to oppose a Congressional
resolution that condemns as "genocide" Turkey’s murder of a million
and a half Armenians during World War I strikes us as being the height
of chutzpah.

As The New York Sun reported, on February 5 the Turkish foreign
minister met with representatives of several major Jewish groups
and "made a hard sell" against House Resolution 106, which now has
176 co-sponsors. The Turkish official reportedly appealed to the
participants by noting – outrageously, we think – the uniqueness of the
German genocide against the Jews. The Turks do not deny that between
1915 and 1917 they conducted a devastating military campaign against
the Armenians and that thousands of Armenians were killed on forced
marches. They claim, however, that the hapless Armenians were a fifth
column, often armed and working on behalf of the Russian army in World
War I. But the American ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time,
Henry Morgenthau, wrote in his memoir, "I am confident that the whole
history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this."

The orders for the deportations of the Armenian families in 1915 "were
merely giving a death warrant to a whole race," he wrote. Anyone who
seriously and objectively considers those events cannot but conclude
that there was a calculated and purposeful effort to exterminate
the Armenians. After all, approximately 1.5 million perished. That
said, we understand that opposition to House Resolution 106 does not
necessarily signify lack of sympathy with the victims, or, indeed,
sentiment against the concept itself. Not buying into an initiative
on someone else’s schedule is not always an indicator of nefarious
motives at play. We also have no doubt that some would argue the
Jewish community should oppose the resolution if only to preserve the
aura of uniqueness surrounding the destruction of European Jewry in
the Holocaust. And this, perhaps, was the point the Turkish foreign
minister was trying to make in his presentation to Jewish leaders.

But acknowledging as genocide the systematic murder of a million and a
half human beings of a particular ethnic heritage in no way detracts
from recognition of the Holocaust as a uniquely monumental evil in
the blood-soaked annals of human history.

ARMENIAN SOCIETY PASSES FROM MODEL OF FAMILY HAVING MANY CHILDREN TO MODEL NOT SECURING EVEN SIMPLE REPRODUCTION, AGHVAN VARDANIAN STATES

Noyan Tapan
Feb 28 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Though small positive movements were
fixed in Armenia during the recent years, however, serious challenges
of the social-demographic character, particularly, aging of the
population, negative balance of migration, degradation of traditional
families, destruction of national values arose. Aghvan Vardanian, the
RA Minister of Labour and Social Issues stated about it at the February
28 discussion of the draft "On RA State Demographic Policy Conception."

In his words, during a period of time even less than one cycle of
generaion change, the Armenian society passes from the model of family
having many children to the model of family, with 1-2 children,
not securing even simple reproduction. A.Vardanian mentioned
that self-regulation of the country’s demographic situation is
not realistic: the only way to reach it is active, purposeful and
consistent state interference. The Minister stated that for that
purpose the "RA State Demographic Conception" was worked out at
the Ministry which will be soon presented to the RA Government’s
affirmation.

In A.Vardanian’s words, it is proposed to use strategy for introduction
of approaches fixed in the conception, according to which, security
of family reproduction, strengthening of family, restoration of the
system of national values must be considered primary.

According to the observation of Garik Hayrapetian, the UN Population
Fund representative, demographic problems, with different expressions,
today exist in many countries. Those are displayed in some countries
in the way of the population’s overgrowth and territorial and vital
security problems arising of it, and in other countries is the
opposite. In his words, Armenia belongs to the number of countries
of the second group.