Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

Boxing: Eastman puts judges in dock as he loses title
By JOHN RAWLING

The Guardian – United Kingdom; Jul 18, 2005

Howard Eastman, “the Battersea Bomber”, faces an uncertain future after
losing his European middleweight title to the undefeated German-based
Armenian Arthur Abraham in Nuremberg.

He has called for a rematch but it seems unlikely he will get it even
though he claimed to have been robbed by the judges. “The judges here
in Germany are from a different planet,” the 34-year-old Londoner
said after the fight had been scored 119-110, 116-112 and 115-113 in
the challenger’s favour.

“This is like daylight robbery. It is ridiculous and a shame to
professional fighting. The officials at ringside were watching a
different fight. It’s like you have to be a German to win a decision
here or you have to kill the guy.

“He never hurt me. No fighter has ever hurt me in my life. I did
enough to win the fight. He might be strong and raw but he is not in
my league. I want a rematch in London.”

It was the third defeat of Eastman’s career, the others coming in
world title fights against William Joppy and, this year, Bernard
Hopkins. And on each occasion he has claimed the judges made errors
of judgment. Now, with his promoter Mick Hennessy no longer having a
contract to broadcast his fights on BBC Television, it seems unlikely
he will be given home advantage even if he gets the chance to face
the rugged Abraham for a second time.

Abraham is a powerful, aggressive fighter who is developing a following
in Germany and it seems more likely he will now build towards his own
world-title shot. The 25-year-old has won all 17 of his professional
appearances and won this fight through his constant aggression and
work rate, with Eastman seeming some way short of his best.

On the same bill Belfast’s Brian Magee seemed to have more
justification than Eastman for complaining about the judging as
he lost a controversial split decision in a fight for the vacant
European super-middleweight title against Vitali Tsypko of Ukraine.
In a battle between two southpaws Magee seemed to dominate the spindly
6ft 3in champion but two judges scored 115-114 to Tsypko, the third
making Magee the 115-114 winner.

Magee had been offered a September World Boxing Organisation
world-title challenge against the Welshman Joe Calzaghe in Belfast but
had rejected terms offered by the promoter Frank Warren and elected to
travel Germany instead for a contest he believed would be worthwhile
as a calculated risk to give him greater bargaining power to secure
a lucrative deal for a Calzaghe fight.

But now, with plans at an advanced stage for Calzaghe to defend his
title in Cardiff on September 10, Magee’s position seems to be weaker
and defeat may have cost him the chance of a world-title shot.

‘WE HAVE GREAT TALENT FOR FILMMAKING’

People

Azg/arm
19 July 05

Canadian-Armenian actress Arsine Khanjian never says “your” while
speaking about problems in Armenia but always “our”. She expressed
pain over the fact that less films were shot in Armenia in recent
years. She certainly knows the reason of this tendency, and she
offers new solutions telling that it is unacceptable to stagnate and
lag behind modern cinematography. Arsine is well aware of the best
Armenian films shot at Hayfilm studio in Soviet times, she heard
opinions of famous film critics abroad and agrees with them that
that was the heyday of Armenian film industry. “Those films are few
because Armenia is a small country but their quality is very high.
The talent of creating powerful films could not fade away. We are the
same people only we don’t have the possibilities of those years. I
can confirm that there are many gifted filmmakers in Armenia today
but they lack the digital systems that are used all over the modern
world. In North America, for one, anyone creative can write a scenario
and shoot a film. In Armenia, we don’t need to spend millions and open
a Hollywood-like film studio but instead we need to create a digital
system and enable filmmakers to use their small sums to shoot films. It
will certainly bring out talented people who film make Armenian cinema
known to the world as Sergey Parajanov, Artavazd Peleshian and Henrik
Malian did. Cinema is a cultural warfare for our nation, which can be
accompanied with huge success. But, unfortunately, this way of thinking
is not specified neither in state institutions nor in the circle of
filmmakers because we are fearful that the country is not ready for
that yet. Perhaps those reasons are somehow justified but we need to
find a way out as we have great talent for filmmaking”, Arsine says.

Arsine Khanjian, who took part in most respectable film festivals
including Oscar, was impressed by the Golden Apricot film festival
and the opening ceremony at the Opera House. “I can say this was one
of those nice and easy-going openings. I had to close my eyes not to
see poor decoration of the stage at the opening ceremonies in
countries with mighty film industry”, she says.

Arsine Khanjian has great inner strength, endless humor, sincere and
contagious laughter. She explains why Atom Egoyan does not speak
Armenia, “I am a guilty Armenian woman, guilty mother, guilty in one
word. When I got acquainted with Atom Egoyan everybody expected that
he will learn fluent Armenian in a short while but he does not till
today though he understand pretty much. I felt obliged to teach him
Armenian at first but then I thought if his parents did not teach him
why should I”.

It was rather easy for Arsine to learn Armenian as she grew up in
Armenian community of Lebanon. Whereas in Canada it’s very difficult
to keep one’s national identity and language; one needs enormous
efforts to do that. “For that reason I could not teach Armenian
neither Atom nor our 12-year-old son Arshile. We keep the Armenian
soul by all means but it’s very difficult to keep the language as
everybody around speaks foreign languages. My son does not attend an
Armenian school but studies Armenian twice a week and know the Lord’s
Prayer and sings Our Fatherland (national anthem)”.

By Ruzan Poghosian

NKR PARLIAMENT TO RECEIVE CONSTITUTION DRAFT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 15 2005

STEPANAKERT, July 15. /ARKA/. The draft Constitution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) is to be submitted to the
NKR Parliament in October-November 2005, NKR President told
a press-conference. He said that the draft is ready, but “some
clauses are still to be discussed”. Ghukasyan proposed considering
the viewpoints of the political forces that gained victory in the
recent parliamentary elections in NKR, as well as present-day trends
in Armenia.

“We strive for the NKR Constitution to be the most democratic and
corresponding with European and international standards”, Ghukasyan
said. A.A. -0–

Steven Mann: Karabakh Conflict May Be Settled By Year-End

Baku Today
July 16 2005

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh may be settled
by the year-end, the US co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group
told a news conference in Yerevan.

“Major progress is observed in the conflict resolution over the past
year, which enables a conclusion that the conflict will be settled
by the year-end. But we do not know for certain that this will happen.”

Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said the parties are currently
trying to work out the ‘elements’ forming the basis of the conflict
resolution.

“The parties have compromised indeed and real opportunities came
about for the conflict settlement.”

The French mediator Bernard Fassier said the upcoming parliamentary
elections in Azerbaijan and a referendum due in Armenia should not
affect the negotiating process ‘in theory’, but it is unknown whether
this will be the case ‘in practice’.

Azeri pundit links speculation on breakthrough in Karabakh talks to election

ANS TV, Baku
14 Jul 05

Azerbaijani analyst Eldar Namazov has said that none of the Karabakh
settlement proposals put forward so far is in Azerbaijan’s interests.

Commenting on the current status in the Nagornyy Karabakh negotiations
in an interview with the Azerbaijani commercial TV station ANS,
Namazov said that the authorities have failed to bolster up the
country’s position at the negotiating table by means of economic and
political development. Eldar Namazov is one of the leaders of the New
Policy election bloc and former head of the presidential secretariat.

He dismissed suggestions of a possible breakthrough in the negotiations
before the November 2005 parliamentary election in Azerbaijan and also
ruled out the possibility that the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
might sign a peace accord during a 26 August meeting in Kazan.

“I am a little sceptic about the heated debate in the run-up to
the election. We have seen this before. When a presidential or
parliamentary election is forthcoming, both sides create the impression
that the conflict will be resolved today or tomorrow,” Namazov said.

“We have repeatedly come across situations of this kind in the run-up
to elections. But it emerged afterwards that there is nothing going
on. Diplomats will not have a real plan on the table until Azerbaijan
turns into a democratic and strong country,” he said.

Other settlement proposals

Namazov, who was personally involved in the Karabakh talks until his
resignation in November 1999, also described the background to the
current situation in the talks and the previously mooted proposals,
including prominent Russian academic Sakharov’s proposal in the 1980s
to stage self-determination referenda both among ethnic Azeris living
in Armenia and ethnic Armenians living in Azerbaijan, and the attempts
to resolve the conflict by building the main oil export pipeline
via Armenia.

Dozens of various options to resolve the conflict have been put forward
so far, Namazov said. When asked to reveal some of the proposals that
were not made public earlier, Namazov pointed to the idea put forward
by some EU politicians that South Caucasus countries form a union
modelled as the EU and then file a collective EU membership bid. This
might solve territorial disputes in both Georgia and Azerbaijan and
preserve their territorial integrity, Namazov said.

Touching on the agreements reached during the Key-West talks between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in 2001, Namazov said: “As far
as I know, there was nothing in our favour there.”

He also criticized the idea of giving Azerbaijan an overland link
with its Naxcivan exclave in return for allowing Armenia to keep
control of the Lacin corridor which connects it with Nagornyy Karabakh.

“When talking about a territorial swap, people have to understand that
this is a wrong expression. No-one is going to give us an inch of their
territory. An issue is the opening of a corridor which will be under,
say, international control. In return, they want to take away our
historical lands. Therefore, I believe that it is not worth discussing
the territorial swap option at all,” the politician told ANS TV.

Namazov also commented on the plans to conduct a referendum in
Nagornyy Karabakh.

“I am aware of this even though I am not taking part in the
negotiations. I sometimes meet Armenian experts at conferences and
unofficial discussions. I generally know what they want. They want
the stage-by-stage settlement to play into their hands. This proposal
suits Azerbaijan but they are saying that the lands should be vacated
and economic cooperation established at the first stage, provided
that the Armenians will hold a referendum in Nagornyy Karabakh, say,
in five years,” Namazov said.

He condemned the referendum idea in the breakaway region.

“What referenda can one hold on an occupied and ethnically cleansed
territory?”

Domestic woes to blame for Karabakh

“If there is no unity in the country and corruption is rife, it means
that we have wasted our opportunity. In fact, diplomats do not resolve
problems. A diplomat can be very skilful but there must be some force
behind him. Azerbaijani diplomats will be successful when Azerbaijan
turns into the strongest country of the region and, for instance, the
Azerbaijani Defence Ministry’s budget is equal to the entire state
budget of Armenia,” Namazov said. Azerbaijan has economic potential
but must undergo democratic changes to realise it, he said.

“Unfortunately, Azerbaijani oil has failed to impact on the Karabakh
issue. The only reason for that is our domestic problems,” he said.
Namazov thinks the Azerbaijani authorities have used the country’s oil
to persuade foreign countries to turn a blind eye to election-rigging,
political prisoners and corruption.

“Because of our shortcomings – corruption, human rights abuses and
election-rigging – we have failed to turn into a strong country. A
country is strong when there is national unity, when the relationship
between the authorities and the opposition is based on the law, when
the authorities and the opposition are united on national issues and
there is economic growth. Azerbaijan has so far failed to achieve
this,” he said.

BCBG-Max Azria To Buy Alain Manoukian?

FRANCE

Just-Style.com
13 Jul 2005

The owners of French clothing group Alain Manoukian are considering
selling off the company to French-US consortium BCBG-Max Azria this
month according to French media reports.

The Manoukian family is said to be in discussions over a possible sale
of its shares, which make up 62 per cent of the group’s capital.

Alain Manoukian, which specialises in medium/upscale clothing, slimmed
down its net loss to 2.8 million during 2004 from 10.7m the year before.

AKHALKALAKI ARMENIANS TURN TO GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES FOR HELP

Azg/arm
15 July 05

Recently Akhalkalaki Armenians made a statement, calling for the
Georgian authorities to release the created tension that based on the
policy of the local administration that is determined in exiling
Armenians from the region. The Armenians expressed deep concern about
the case of illegally firing the headmaster of the Akhaltskha Armenian
school and appointing Robert Muradian, who isn’t respected by the
Armenian community, instead of him. The especially emphasized the
social-economic situation created in Samtskhe -Javakhk.

By Ruzan Poghosian

NATO officials, Armenian delegation discuss partnership plan

Arminfo
13 Jul 05

YEREVAN

The military-political coordinating council and political council of
NATO held a joint meeting with an official Armenian delegation at the
NATO headquarters on 12 July.

The sitting was convened at the initiative of NATO for additional
discussions concerning the action plan within the framework of
Armenia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO, the
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service has told Arminfo new agency.

The sitting was presided over by the special representative of the
NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert
Simmons.

The Armenian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosyan, Deputy Defence Minister Lt-Gen Artur Agabekyan, the head
of the Armenian mission in NATO, Samvel Lazarian, and military
representative David Tonoyan.

Kirakosyan and Agabekyan clarified the political aims of IPAP, as well
as reforms in the sphere of defence. Representatives of NATO
positively evaluated the document drawn up by the Armenian side, asked
the Armenian delegation several questions and heard out their
comments.

Before the sitting, the Armenian delegation met NATO Assistant
Secretary-General for Defence Policy and Planning John Colston and
Robert Simmons. The IPAP document was first discussed at a NATO
sitting on 16 June 2005 with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
in attendance.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, July 8, 2005

Contact: Raffe Deirmenjian
Tel: (818) 324-3940

ANCA OF WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HONORS REP. BRAD SHERMAN

— Community Gathers to Show Appreciation for Congressman’s Steadfast
Support of Armenian Issues

GRANADA HILLS, CA – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
supporters and friends gathered together at the home of Nishan and
Nairi Bostanian to honor San Fernando Valley Congressman Brad Sherman
on June 3, 2005. The Congressman has been a tireless advocate of
issues of concern to the Armenian American community over the years
and has actively pursued these issues in the halls of Congress
throughout his tenure representing the 27th Congressional District in
California.

Congressman Sherman enthusiastically greeted the attendees and
outlined his longstanding support of Armenian issues. He began by
thanking the ANCA and the Armenian American community for their hard
work and vigilance in the area of genocide recognition and support for
the Republic of Armenia.

“One of the first things I did when I was elected to Congress was to
join the Armenian Caucus,” stated Rep. Sherman in his remarks. “Since
that time I have worked and will continue working side by side with
the Armenian community and the ANCA to ensure that the Republic of
Turkey comes to terms with its genocidal past,” he said.

Ara Papazian, Chairman of the West San Fernando Valley chapter of the
ANCA thanked the many supporters who came to meet and spend an evening
with Congressman Sherman. Papazian stressed the importance of Armenian
Americans becoming politically active in their communities and
establishing relationships with their elected officials.

Steven Dadaian, who chairs the Western Region Board of Directors of
the ANCA, summarized the Congressman’s many achievements on behalf of
the Armenian American community in Congress and thanked him for his
unrelenting support of Armenian issues and in the strengthening of the
Republic of Armenia.

“Nine years ago Brad Sherman, while a candidate, made a promise to our
community to support our causes,” reminisced Dadaian. “Not only has he
honored his promise, but he has been in the forefront in advocating
the Armenian Cause,” he stated.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a
broad range of issues.

Editor’s Note: Photo attached. Photo caption: ANCA of West San
Fernando Valley chapter members with Rep. Brad Sherman.

Azeri group protests at OSCE mediators’ Karabakh visit via Armenia

ANS TV, Baku
11 Jul 05

A group of the Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] members have
staged a protest action outside the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
against a visit by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to Karabakh via
Armenia and the Minsk Group’s inactivity. During the protest the KLO
members shouted slogans – Those going to Karabakh via Armenia are
serving the Armenian policy! We say no to the friends of aggressor
Armenia!

The police dispersed the protesters who staged the unsanctioned
action.

[Video showed the protest, protesters airing slogans]