Author: Toneyan Mark

CHINESE TOP LIGHT FLYWEIGHT ZOU, U.S. BET YANEZ ADVANCE BUT TANAMOR FALLS
Norman Vergara

AHN
August 13, 2008 9:40 p.m. EST

Beijing, China (AHN) – China’s Zou Shiming, the only boxer with
previous Olympic experience in Beijing, stamped his class against
Venezuelan Eduard Bermudez 11-2 to reach the Round of 16 in the light
flyweight division Wednesday night at the Workers’ Gymnasium.

The host nation’s only gold bet in the division moved on to the next
round against Frenchman Nordine Oubaali, who nipped his Uzbekistani
foe Rafikjon Sultonov 8-7.

While Zou coasted to a searing win, his old rival Harry Tanamor of
the Philippines suffered a crushing loss against Ghana’s Manyo Plange
6-3. Tanamor, the silver medalist in last year’s world championships,
was in disarray early on and was a shadow of his earlier self that
appeared in the Chicago event.

The defeat gives Zou almost a clear path in duplicating his gold-medal
finish in the worlds. In Athens four years ago, Zou copped the
bronze medal.

In other light flyweight matches held Wednesday night, Winston Mendez
Montero carved out a 9-3 beating of Kenya’s Suleiman Bilali. Thai
Amnat Ruanroeng bombed out Jack Willie of Papua New Guinea 14-2 and
American Luis Yanez held off Spaniard Kelvin de la Nieve 12-9.

Yanez’s victory came almost a month after he was reinstated to the
USA Boxing Olympic team. He next faces Mongolian Purevdori Serdamba
in the Round of 16.

The rest who made the next round include Ukrainian Georgiy Chygayev,
Cuban Yampier Hernandez, Irish Paddy Barnes, Ecuadorian Jose Luis
Meza, Namibian Japhet Uutoni, Polish Lukasz Maszczyk, Kazakh Birzhan
Zhakypov and Armenian Hovhannes Danielyan.

In heavyweight action, world champion Clemente Russo of Italy secured a
place in the quarterfinals by beating Belarus’ Viktar Zuyev 7-1. Russo
will face Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in the last eight.

The United States’ Deontay Wilder also advanced by defeating Algerian
Abdelaziz Toulbini, and Frenchman John M’Bumba likewise moved on
after nipping Colombian Deivi Julio Blanco.

GM SO DRAWS GEORGIAN IM, TIES FOR 8TH IN WORLD JUNIOR CHESS
By Marlon Bernardino

Cebu Daily News
15:05:00 08/12/2008
Philippines

Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So (Elo 2577) salvaged a fighting draw
to Georgian International Master (IM) Tornike Sanikidze (Elo 2486)
in the eighth round of the 2008 World Junior Chess Championship for
Boys and Girls in Gaziantep, Turkey, on Sunday.

So, currently the world’s youngest GM at 14, increased his running
total to 5.5 points in three wins and five draws to share 8th to 14th
places along with ninth round opponent Ukrainian IM Martyn Kravtsiv
(Elo 2555), who also drew his eighth round match against Armenian IM
Hrant Melkumyan (Elo 2507).

National Master (NM) Haridas Pascua (Elo 2174), on the other hand,
bowed to Indian IM Arun Prasad Subramanian (Elo 2492) to remain at
4.0 points. His next round opponent will be Lithuanian Fide Master
(FM) Matas Narmontas (Elo 2369).

Meanwhile, Chinese GM Li Chao (Elo 2590) bounced back in contention
by demolishing English GM David Howell (Elo 2561) to create a two-way
tie for the lead with German IM Arik Braun (Elo 2533), who drew his
match against Azerbaijan GM Eltaj Zafarli (2527).

Li and Braun, have so far tallied identical 6.5 points.

OVER 3,900 CRIMES RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-JUNE 2008

ARKA
Aug 11, 2008

YEREVAN, August 11. /ARKA/. 3,998 crimes were recorded in Armenia
in January-June this year – 8.6% reduction against the same period
of 2007.

The RA National Statistical Service reports that 1,087 minor crime
cases were recorded in the period. Cases of grave and extremely grave
crimes were 2,824 and 87 respectively.

According to the report, in 49 cases arms and ammunition was used in
committing the crime.

259471&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
A ug 10, 2008 23:40 | Updated Aug 10, 2008 23:46

Analysis: Russia sends a message to the West
By TOVAH LAZAROFF

Georgia lost a foolhardy gamble in thumbing its nose at its powerful
neighbor Russia, which this weekend bombed Georgian cities and wrested
control of its breakaway province of South Ossetia, according to
Israeli Russian experts.

Russia had seen a "golden opportunity" to teach Georgia and its
neighbors a lesson to "behave properly," said Hebrew University
Russian expert Yitzhak Brudny, as he explained how a small military
flare-up between Georgia and South Ossetia had turned into a major
military exercise for Russia and drawn world attention away from the
Olympics in Beijing.

With all eyes turned toward China, Georgia’s pro-Western President
Mikheil Saakashvili had hoped he could respond harshly to a skirmish
with South Ossetia on Friday and try and regain control of the
separatist province, said Russian expert Amnon Sella of the
Interdisciplinary Center at Herzliya.

"It backfired on him because Georgia, which has a very small army,
can’t take on Russia," which had obviously been prepared for such a
move given its swift response, said Sella.

"Saakashvili is a young president who is not well seasoned in
international affairs," said Sella. He had hoped the international
community and in particular the West would support Georgia’s moves in
South Ossetia and that Russia would not respond, he added.

Saakashvili, explained Brudny, has a reputation for being a "hothead"
who does not always think through what he is doing.

Instead of responding diplomatically, Russia, which has granted
passports to most South Ossetians, sent combat troops into South
Ossetia and attacked Georgia from the air.

The bombardment was a way for Moscow to kill a few birds with one
stone, Brundy and other academics said.

It showed both Georgia and the West that Russia was a regional
superpower to be reckoned with, said Brudny. The message was: "We are
going to use force, we are not going to tolerate a hostile regime on
our borderland."

"Russia wants to maintain the status quo, meaning they wield influence
over the region," including a monopoly on sources of energy, said
Sella. Running through Georgia is the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipline, the
second largest in the world for the transport of crude oil, he said.

By flexing its military might against Georgia, Moscow paid the West
back for its recognition of Kosovo’s independence; a move that Russia
had opposed, said Brudny.

In addition, he said, Russia hoped that its violent response would
mark the beginning of the end of the Saakashvili government, which
seeks to join NATO and had moved the country away from Russia in favor
of the West. Moscow would like to see a pro-Russian government replace
Saakshvilli, he added.

Russia is nervous because NATO is expanding into its back yard with
both Georgia and the Ukraine seeking membership at the same time that
NATO is putting an anti-missile system in eastern Europe, specifically
in in Poland and Chechnya, said Zvi Magen, a former ambassador to
Russia and the current chairman of the Institute for Eurasian studies
at the IDC in Herzliya.

While the system is supposedly aimed at protecting Europe from Iran,
the Russians are still uneasy about it, he added.

Saakshvilli, in a way, had been "ambushed" by the larger forces in
play here, said Magen. For some time now Russia had been in opposition
to the West in its region, but had been able to do little more than
verbally protest – this was an opportunity for it to flex its muscles,
said Magen.

In this way, he added, it also sent a message to the American
administration that will replace Bush in January: Russia is not a
force to be ignored.

ARMENIA-DIASPORA COLLABORATION PROVISION PROJECT DRAFTED

Panorama.am
20:37 08/08/2008

In these days Hrayr Hovnanyan, the president of Armenian Assembly
in the USA had a meeting with Hranush Hakobyan, the president of
Diaspora State Committee. During the meeting various questions of
Armenia-Diaspora collaboration have been discussed.

Mr. Hovnanyan expressed his gratitude towards the President of Armenia
for the initiative to establish Ministry of Diaspora. He expressed
his hope that the new ministry is to carry out various projects by
the close participation of All Armenian Organization of Diaspora
and added that Armenian Assembly of America is ready to fulfill
different projects.

Mrs. Hakobyan said that the project of Armenia-Diaspora provision
has been already drafted; the project of the Ministry’s legislation,
the structure is also ready.

14 CASES OF DROWING RECORDED IN ARMENIA SINCE EARLY 2008, AS A RESULT OF WHICH 12 PEOPLE DIE

Noyan Tapan

Au g 6, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Since early 2008, 14 cases of drowning
have been recorded in Armenia, as a result of which 12 people died
and 3 people suffered. The RA minister of emergency situations Mger
Shahgeldian said at the August 6 press conference that the number of
drowing cases did not increase as compared with last year.

According to the minister, it is impossible to take rescue actions in
all Armenian reservoirs (their number makes about a hundred). However,
all water rescuers are ready to act ay any moment. It was stated
that work is being done to train water rescuers and provide them with
outfits and equipment.

TURKEY HOPES KARABAKH CONFLICT SIDES WILL REACH AGREEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.08.2008 18:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey supports the OSCE Minsk Group activities for
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ali Babacan said.

Turkey’s possible accession to the EU won’t influence the settlement
process, according to him.

Babacan also reminded about the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting in Saint
Petersburg.

"Democratic changes in the region, events taken place during the
past years should be taken into account. We support the process
in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Groups and hope that the sides
will reach agreement," the Turkish Minister said, Radikal Turkish
newspaper reports.

GEORGIA SHOULD OFFER RUSSIA, EUROPE AND U.S. TO COME TO GEOPOLITICAL COMPROMISE

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.07.2008 22:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some people in Georgia erroneously think that joining
NATO will resolve all problems, Georgian political scientist Joumber
Kirvalidze said.

"Actually, we will immediately undertake the problems Americans
experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran and will immediately become
a target for Islamic fundamentalists. Thanks to our wise ancestor,
Muslims respect us as noble and courageous nation," he said.

"Nevertheless, I think that Georgia should not dispatch forces to
Islamic states, no matter who patrons peacekeeping operations. We
should remember that the Islamic world surrounds us. Those who attempt
to alienate Georgia and Russia are imposing a fatal game on us. Some
"farseeing" politicians suppose that Russia will decline soon and
the issue of autonomies will be resolved in our favor."

Russia’s policy is Achilles’ heel for Georgian politicians, according
to Kirvalidze. "Those wishing Georgia welfare should alleviate
tensions. Some figures trying to get dividends from the U.S.-Russia
confrontation are far from being politicians. I am surprised to hear
some intellectuals saying that Russia is a hostile country. The fact is
that Russian intelligentsia treats us just the opposite way," he said.

"To re-unite Georgia we should offer Russia, Europe and U.S. to come
to geopolitical compromise on the basis of the international law,"
Kirvalidze said, Free Georgia reports

FAILED STATES INDEX 2008: ARMENIA MORE FAVORABLE STATE THAN AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.07.2008 13:52 GMT+04:00

Finding it crucial to closely monitor weak states – their progress,
their deterioration, and their ability to withstand challenges –
the Fund for Peace, an independent research organization, and FOREIGN
POLICY presented the fourth annual Failed States Index 2008. Using 12
social, economic, political, and military indicators, the institutes
ranked 177 states in order of their vulnerability to violent internal
conflict and societal deterioration. To do so, we examined more than
30,000 publicly available sources, collected from May to December
2007, to form the basis of the index’s scores.

The list of 35 failed states is topped by Somali, while 15 states
with Norway at the head form the zone of welfare and stability of
state institutes.

Among the post soviet republics Uzbekistan ranks 26, Tajikistan –
38, Kyrgyzstan – 39 and Turkmenistan – 46. Moldova, ranking 50 is
the most unstable state in Europe. Belarus ranks 53, Georgia – 56,
Azerbaijan – 64, Kazakhstan – 101, Ukraine – 108 and
Armenia – 109.

The list of stable states includes 34 states ranking from 128
to 162. Romania (128), Latvia (136) Estonia (139), Lithuania
(143). Mongolia (133), OAE (138), Poland (145), Greece (147), Czechia
(149), South Korea (153), Italy (154), Germany (155), France (158),
UK (160), U.S (161) and Portugal (162).

The states ranking from 163 to 177 are the most stable and favorable
for living. Japan (163), Belgium (164), Luxembourg (165), Netherlands
(166), Canada (167), Austria (168), Australia (169), Denmark (170),
New Zealand (171), Iceland (172), Switzerland (173), Ireland (174),
Sweden (175), Finland (176) and Norway (177).

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

30 July 2008

VERY REVEREND FATHER VARDAN NAVASARDYAN RETURNS TO THE HOLY SEE

Sydney, Australia – On Monday Very Reverend Father Vardan Navasardyan left
his position in the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and returned
to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin under the Pontifical Order of His Holiness
Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Father Vardan served in the parish of Sydney for almost three years and was
embraced by the Armenian community. He has invigorated the young generation
of our community, building bridges between church and youth having
established the Bible Study Youth Group (BSYG), youth choir and theatrical
group. In July 2006, he led a youth group from Sydney on a pilgrimage to
Armenia which also focussed on ministry opportunities. He has inspired
young Australian-Armenians to value their ancestral heritage and embrace
their Christian faith.

During his tenure, Father Vardan served as Parish Priest of the Church of
Holy Resurrection and was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese by the
supreme authority of His Holiness. He engaged with the broader Armenian
Community through various events and opportunities.

There has been much speculation on the unexpected and sudden departure of
the Reverend Father and this communiqué serves to clarify the exact
circumstances of his leaving.

In early July, the Church Council of NSW eagerly initiated the process to
renew Father Vardan’s contract (due to expire in September 2008) to ensure
the continuation of his tenure in our parish. An official request was made
to His Holiness Karekin II by the Primate of the Diocese, His Eminence
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian to grant the extension of Father Vardan’s
ministry in Sydney and on 21 July, 2008 a letter was received from His
Holiness granting the extension.

Subsequently, on 24 July, 2008 a second letter was received from the
Catholicos of All Armenians recalling Father Vardan Navasardyan to the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin based on a request made by Father Vardan
himself.

The sudden and hasty departure of the Reverend Father has surprised everyone
in the community including the Primate, Clergy, Diocesan and Church
Councillors. Understandably, this has left community members shocked and
disappointed, seeking answers and regrettably, spreading unfounded rumours.

The fact is Father Vardan chose to leave and do so in a speedy manner for
reasons that are his alone. What is rightful and left for us to do, is be
respectful of his decision.

The Reverend Father made it very clear that he wanted to leave on a happy
note reflecting on what he had achieved in the parish and certainly without
sombre memories. A testimony to this was clearly reflected in the
Appreciation Evening held on Sunday night by the BSYG. What was to be a
normal Sunday gathering of youth for bible study and fellowship and on this
particular night, an occasion for an intimate farewell, became a community
event of appreciation and support for the valuable work undertaken by Father
Vardan. The newly formed youth choir performed songs and the executive
committee members of BSYG each provided uplifting personal testimonies and
group acknowledgements of how Father Vardan had impacted their lives
bringing them closer to their Church and to God.

Before his departure to the airport on Monday morning, Father Vardan
received the blessing and farewell of the Primate wishing him well in his
future ministry.

Father Vardan was met at Sydney International Airport by the Primate’s
representative Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian, Church Council
representatives, community members and a group of youth who wanted to bid
their final farewell to the Reverend Father. His final message to the youth
was to remain steadfast to their Church and ensure the beacon that has been
lit in their souls remains alight and fruitful in Church life always.