Author: Vardanian Garo

ARMENIAN TYCOON HOSPITALIZED AFTER MOSCOW SHOOTING
By Hovannes Shoghikian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 26 2007

An Armenian wealthy businessman and pro-government parliamentarian
was in critical condition on Wednesday after being assaulted in a
luxury Moscow hotel in unclear circumstances.

A spokesman for the governing Republican Party (HHK) said Tigran
Arzakantsian, owner of one of Armenia’s largest brandy companies,
was shot and stabbed in the lobby of the Metropol Hotel in the early
hours of the morning.

"According to our information, the attackers were two Caucasian-looking
men," the spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, told RFE/RL. "They both fled
the scene."

Sharmazanov cited reports that the incident resulted from a gambling
dispute in an exclusive casino located at Metropol. The casino
management refused to confirm or deny this when contacted by RFE/RL.

"According to eyewitnesses, a fight broke out in the casino among
three of the guests" shortly after 4:00 a.m. (0000 GMT)," the Russian
news agency Interfax quoted a police official as saying. "During the
fight, one of the participants twice shot his opponent, who has been
hospitalized…. Doctors are fighting for his life," the official said.

"It was in the casino of the hotel," another unnamed Russian police
official told the AFP news agency. "Two unidentified attackers came
up to him and stabbed him several times. He fought back, then one of
them shot him in the arm. Then they ran away."

Arzakantsian underwent urgent surgery at a Moscow hospital where he
was taken with serious wounds immediately after the assault. "He
is still in the surgery room," the chief hospital doctor, Viktor
Kaznacheyev, told RFE/RL by phone at noon. "I can’t say anything else
ay this point."

"The operation is over," Sharmazanov said later in the day. "Doctors
consider Mr. Arzakantsian’s condition to be severe."

Arzakantsian, who was reelected to the Armenian parliament on the HHK
ticket last May, had already been hospitalized in the Russian capital
after being beaten up at another local casino in March 2006. Reports in
the Armenian press likewise linked the incident to a gambling dispute,
saying that the 41-year-old businessman lost as much as $800,000 on
a single night and failed to pay up. He denied those reports.

The latest incident coincided with a visit to Moscow by an Armenian
government delegation headed by Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

Arzakantsian was reportedly present Sarkisian’s meeting with Armenian
university students there held on Tuesday evening. Both Sharmazanov
and a government spokeswoman in Yerevan said he was not a member of
Sarkisian’s delegation.

The five-star Metropol Hotel is located only steps from the Kremlin,
and has hosted celebrities and heads of state from singer Michael
Jackson to Chinese President Hu Jintao.

ABBAS ABBASOV: THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO ENVIED EVEN MY SUCCESSFUL RESIGNATION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2007

I served my country and people, I was not a thief

Abbas Abbasov, former First Deputy Prime Minister interviewed by APA

– Why did you resign from the post of First Deputy Prime Minister
and presidency of the Wrestling Federation?

– I served my people and state for 15 years. I was tired, that’s why
I offered, my resignation. This is a civil way. I have no problems,
I have not quarreled with anyone. I have very excellent relations with
everybody, I was awarded "Istiglal" order, there is no higher order
than this… I am satisfied with my life and my children. I am free
now, I get up whenever I want, meet whoever I want. I myself offered
my resignation from the post of federation president. I was offered
honorary presidency, and I agreed. Life is dialectical, nothing is
constant. Today you hold the microphone and ask questions, someone
else may hold the microphone for you tomorrow. One should be vigorous
and understand life. Life is beautiful, one should live it properly.

I am far from intrigues and I want everyone to know it.

– What was the reaction when you offered your resignation?

– My resignation was not so easy. Mr. President did not want me
to resign. But 15-year rigid schedule tired me. I think that every
person should choose his own way himself. I chose my way and the state
appraised it. I was awarded and respected. I am not less respected
now as an ordinary citizen.

– You are not so active in the ongoing socio-political processes…

– Why do you think so? I am serving Azerbaijan and it will be so till
the end of my life.

– Are you satisfied with your son Aydin Abbasov as a parliamentarian
and vice-president of Wrestling Federation?

– Every father gives advice to his son. My son should serve his people
and state like me. He watches the competition as a vice-president. He
gives and has to give help. This is the duty of everyone, who loves
his motherland. I could have minded my own business, since I am no
more president of the federation. But it is my civil duty to closely
watch the world championship within a week, I should do this.

– You were linked to mafia…

– Those who hate me did this. It seems that somebody is interested
in this. This is life. It can not be good for everybody… There
were people who envied even my successful resignation. How could it
be that Abbas Abbasov resigned, and with so great respect… This is
natural. My aim is to serve my people and state.

– There were rumors about your relations with Dagestanis…

– I have relations with the whole world. And it will be so till the
end of my life. One should be sociable.

– Who did not like you?

– As I already mentioned, everybody may have adversaries. People may
be envious. My enemies are those who order articles in newspapers.

You know better how articles are written in the newspapers. State
newspaper never writes anything bad about me…Only opposition
newspapers do such things. But they should write correctly. If the
fact is confirmed, they can write. There is no need to insult, write
indecent words until court makes decision.

– How do you assess imprisonment of journalists?

– I am uninformed about it. I have no time to look at anything.

– But how are you informed about articles written about you?

– My friends call me and say that they read something bad about me.

And I ask them what have they read, and they say content of article.

My reaction is: let them write….

– Your resignation was linked with coup d’etat occurred before
parliamentary elections…

– I regard that political figure has personal ambitions and it can
not be higher than his head. They should serve to policy of the state
and desire of nation. There is law, state, statehood, Constitution.

No one can pretend to me on my 15-year contributions. I have always
lived as free Azerbaijani citizen. I am living freely at present.

– You prefer to live in Moscow, do not you…

– No, I am in Azerbaijan. Why should I live in Russia? But I visit
Russia, sometimes live in France, Italy, Spain. I live wherever I want.

– Have you apartment in the above-said countries?

– No. I live in hotels there. If I go there for walk, then I should
live in hotels.

– But it is natural if anyone who took high post for a long time has
house abroad….

– I always served my country, nation, I was never engaged in
plundering. Those who were engaged in plundering can have houses,
apartments abroad. But I have no such opportunity.

– What is your assessment on the policy pursued in Azerbaijan at
present?

– I regard that our government functions normally. It is already 3
years that GDP is no less than 35% in the country. There is no such
growth in any country. And it shows that government functions normally,
economic relations have been established and integration policy is
carried out successfully. Therefore I regard that there is no need
for additional explanations, libel, spot. I can only say that we have
one enemy and it is Armenia who occupied our regions. Every honest,
diligent man should deal with this problem. The nation should unite. I
will never oppose my nation, my state. I will say anything which I do
not like. I agree with everything today. I have no any problem. And
I always see respect, care. I have no any claim.

– You were responsible person in the establishment of relations
between Azerbaijan and CIS for a long time. How do you assess existing
relations between Russia and Azerbaijan?

– We have good relations with Russia. Our compatriots living there face
no problem. They are only required to observe rules of the country
they live. No Azerbaijani is insulted and withdrawn in Russia. Some
forces such cases to occur. But it will not happen, because policy
of the state is in right direction. Georgia and Russia have no normal
relations, therefore Georgians are treated badly there. But Azerbaijan
and Russia have normal relations.

– Do interstate relations depend on personal relations?

– All the issues are linked with personal relations first of all. If
you do not like me, you would never contact with me.

ARMENIA PM WITH CONCRETE PROPOSALS IN MOSCOW TO BOOST COOPERATION

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 25, 2007 Tuesday

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said at a meeting with his
Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov here on Tuesday that he arrived in
Moscow with several "concrete proposals" and projects, which should
contribute to further development of bilateral cooperation.

Business, including big business, also began participating actively
in the development of economic partnership now, the Armenian premier
said. "Our economic relations are broadening and coming to the level
of political relations," Sarkisyan believes.

The Armenian prime minister congratulated his Russian counterpart
"on the appointment on such a high post."

For his part, Viktor Zubkov thanked Serzh Sarkisyan "for warm
congratulations." "We are glad to see you on the Russian land,"
he greeted the Armenian premier.

The talks between Russian and Armenian premiers became Zubkov’s
first international meeting in the capacity of the prime minister,
a source in the Russian government told Itar-Tass. "This testifies to
those important role, which Russia plays in international policy with
this country, and that Armenia is a strategic and long-term partner
of Russia in the Caucasus," the source said.

Armenians walk out on Human Rights Committee

By Steven Ryan
GateHouse News Service
New! Tue Sep 25, 2007, 01:13 PM EDT

Needham –

Dialogue between the Human Rights Committee and local
Armenian-Americans apparently broke down at a meeting Thursday night,
Sept 20.

Frustrated descendents of the Armenian Genocide walked out on the
committee when it appeared unlikely it would recommend suspending ties
with the Anti-Defamation League before the national organization
discusses its stance on the genocide at its annual meeting in
November.

"A month has gone by, and we’re no further along," said Charles
Sahagian of Hunting Road, before walking out. "We, the discriminated,
sit here for word from the perpetrator. For shame what has transpired.
[The committee] has forfeited its right to represent me on human
rights issues."

The Needham Human Rights Committee sent a letter in early September
expressing the town’s intention to end participation in ADL programs –
including No Place for Hate, which the organization co-sponsors with
the Massachusetts Municipal Association – if the organization doesn’t
unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide and support
Congressional legislation doing the same.

The genocide, which the Turkish government denies, saw the mass
deportation and murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire
during the World War I era. The ADL has yet to respond to the letter.

"We have to give other people time to respond," said committee member
Sandra Walters. "It’s a process."

The committee agreed to follow up with the ADL to confirm receipt of
the letter and to send a second letter clarifying that the November
meeting would be the tipping point for when they would make a decision
on whether they would sever ties.

There was also a motion before the committee, set forth by committee
member Mark Smith, to instead suspend ties with the ADL until November
and re-evaluate the situation then.

"The letter was the right thing to do," Smith said. "Not hearing back,
we should take the next step and not wait until November. My little No
Place for Hate sweatshirt – I just can’t wear it anymore."

The motion was voted down, with Smith and committee member Olly Harari
casting dissenting votes.

"Is this a practical issue rather than a moral issue?" Harari said.
"We need their programs, but they need us to be in their programs. We
are a human rights committee, and we must listen to the people whose
rights have been violated."

Needham’s main involvement with No Place for Hate revolves around
student-led activities at the high school during the month of March.
The town also works with the ADL through the World of Difference
anti-bullying program at Pollard Middle School.

Before the vote, the meeting teetered on the brink of chaos, as those
in attendance interjected comments during the board’s discussion,
believing eye contact and rhetorical questions from committee members
were cues to respond.

"We agree with you on everything, except severing ties," said
committee Chairwoman Debbie Watters, which elicited groans from those
in attendance. "We’re neighbors. This is the first time we’re dealing
with something this controversial."

Then, after offering to read the initial letter sent to the ADL for
those who did not attend previous meetings, more people walked out.

"You can tell this is difficult for us," Watters later said. "We would
appreciate your respectful presence."

After the meeting, Needham Armenian-Americans vowed not to attend the
next Human Rights Committee meeting, tentatively scheduled for Oct.
10, and to appeal directly to the Board of Selectmen.

"This committee is not doing what it’s supposed to do," said Dorothy
Esperian of Great Plain Avenue.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association, the other co-sponsor of No
Place for Hate, designated Needham a No Place for Hate town in 2000
through the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen could end that designation
with or without input from the Human Rights Committee. Members of the
board said they would not consider taking such unilateral action.

In the past two weeks, Newton and Belmont dropped out of the No Place
for Hate program. Watertown, where the issue first took hold, was the
first community to end ties, while Arlington, which had not yet been
designated a No Place for Hate community, pulled out of the
certification process.

"Are we going to be one of the last ones?" said Gary Najarian, of
Lexington Avenue, before the committee voted Thursday night. "Are we
going to fall in line or are we going to be leaders?"

Over the past couple of months, the ADL fired Regional Director Andrew
Tarsy after he publicly acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. He was
rehired on Monday, Aug. 27. In between the firing and rehiring, the
ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman, issued a statement claiming
the "consequences" of the tragic events of more than 90 years ago were
"tantamount" to genocide. Armenians feel the wording circumvented
acknowldegement of the genocide, and the ADL has not budged on not
supporting the Congressional legislation.

Steven Ryan can be reached at [email protected].

Source: 938

AZERBAIJAN, USA MAY STRIKE DEAL ON RADAR STATION BYPASSING RUSSIA – EXPERT

Day.az website
10 Sep 07
Baku

"Vafa Quluzada: ‘Could you imagine 10 or 15 years ago that Russia
would voluntarily leave Georgia and Azerbaijan and hand over the
Qabala radar station to the Americans into the bargain?’"

Day.az has interviewed political expert [and former foreign policy
adviser] Vafa Quluzada.

[Correspondent] Mr Quluzada, as is known, the Russian and US
presidents, Vladimir Putin and George Bush, have agreed again in
Sydney to continue talks on the joint use of the Qabala radar station,
and at the end of this week, the radar station will be visited by
experts from the two countries. We would like to know whether these
negotiations will lead to a final decision regarding this station?

[Quluzada] All talk about the Qabala radar station means that the two
countries have some sort of agreement on this issue. However, this does
not mean that the Americans intend to give up their plans to deploy
missile defence systems in the Czech Republic and Poland. As is known,
Putin has suggested using the Qabala radar station jointly in exchange
for the USA giving up its plans to deploy its missile defence systems
in these countries, i.e. the sides keep to their opinions. Moreover,
I do not rule out that the USA itself will reach an agreement with
Azerbaijan bypassing Russia and install its own modern missiles here.

To be honest, who needs such a ramshackle station as Qalaba? This
station is obsolete. For this reason, out of politeness, the Americans
will continue their negotiations with Russia at the level of experts
for some time. Moreover, Russia does not mind becoming a junior partner
of the USA on the issue of Iran. The more tensions around this country,
the more overtures Russia will make to the USA.

Russia has already suspended its work in Bushehr and already tends to
support a new resolution on Iran. This means that Russia is turning
into an ally of the USA in this issue.

[Passage omitted: Details of commentaries by Russian experts]

[Correspondent] Armenia is an outpost of Russia and Georgia of the
USA. In this case, whose outpost are we?

[Quluzada] Good question. I think that Azerbaijan will soon become a
reliable outpost of the USA and NATO in this region. This cooperation
is a key to its survival as an independent state.

[Correspondent] Do you anticipate an upsurge in Islamic fundamentalism
in Azerbaijan? Iran used to be an outpost of the USA in the region,
and we all know what happened afterwards. Could this fate await our
country as well?

[Quluzada] No, because the spirit of radicalism is not typical of
Azerbaijanis at all. Moreover, 70 years of godlessness have left a deep
mark on our country. For this reason, there are no staunch Islamists
in Azerbaijan, and our people still have the ideas of Marxism and
Leninism on their mind.

In Iran, Islamic values have always been held in esteem. For example,
in Palestine and Iran mothers are happy when their sons die for the
holy faith. Can we see anything like that in Azerbaijan? For this
reason, it will take Islam three or four generations to become a real
ideology in Azerbaijan.

[Passage omitted: Comments on the situation in Armenia]

[Correspondent] How long will Armenia remain dependent on Russia?

[Quluzada] Russia is an empire, and it still lives with its imperial
way of thinking. This thinking is disappearing together with the
empire. Although this empire has collapsed, it is still breathing.

For this reason, it is keeping its troops in Armenia, is trying
to topple the government in Georgia and is carrying out sabotage
against Azerbaijan, Ukraine and the Baltic countries. That’s to say
the Russian empire is dying painfully. This will continue till its end.

But a holy place is never empty. The dying empire will be replaced
by others soon. Sooner or later, the West will take control of all
these countries. Could you imagine 10 or 15 years ago that Russia
would voluntarily leave Georgia and Azerbaijan and hand over the
Qabala radar station to the Americans into the bargain? We have all
witnessed this already. And we will soon see it leaving Armenia.

Naharnet, Lebanon
Beirut, 23 Sep 07, 15:59

Nine Years of Lahoud in Office

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, whose mandate expires
in November, has insisted on serving his full extended
term despite pressure from a majority that considers
him a puppet of neighboring Syria.
Backed by Damascus and its Lebanese allies, mainly the
Shiite militant group Hizbullah, he has resisted a
barrage of calls for his resignation and been snubbed
for the past two years by most Western states.

When his term expires on Nov. 24, the 71-year-old
former army chief, known for a perennial smile and
year-round suntan which triggers critics to claim that
he spends most of his time at the beach, will complete
nine years in office.

He was elected president in 1998 and had been due to
step down in 2004, but the country’s then powerbroker
Syria pushed through parliament a controversial
constitutional amendment extending his term for three
more years.

His own Maronite church strongly opposed his
re-election and the anti-Syrian ruling majority and
Western officials have since boycotted him.

He in turn has refused to recognize the legitimacy of
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora’s government following
the November resignation of six pro-Syrian ministers.

Lebanon has been in political limbo since the February
2005 murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri, which
forced Syria to end its 29-year military presence in
the country.

Four top Lebanese generals close to Lahoud have
already been jailed under the international
investigation into Hariri’s murder in which senior
Syrian officials have been implicated. Syria denies
any links with the assassination.

Born January 12, 1936, Lahoud hails from the mountain
town of Baabdat, east of Beirut. He comes from a
Maronite family that has produced cabinet ministers,
MPs, military men and magistrates.

His mother and wife are both of Armenian descent and
he has three children. His eldest son was a member of
parliament between 2000 and 2005.

Lahoud entered the political arena after a long
military career.

He first enrolled in military school in 1956 and
became a naval officer in 1959 before earning a
maritime engineering degree in Britain and completing
military training in the United States.

After his return to Lebanon, he was promoted to
commander in the 1970s and held several senior
positions at the defense ministry before becoming
commander-in-chief of the army in November 1989.

His troops took part in the October 1990 Syrian-led
military offensive that ended the rebellion of
then-Prime Minister General Michel Aoun, who was later
forced into exile in France.

Ironically, the two men are now in the same opposition
camp.

After the end of the 1975-1990 civil war, Lahoud
succeeded in reuniting and rebuilding the Lebanese
army, which had splintered during wartime into feuding
Christian and Muslim factions.

He gave cautious backing for Hizbullah’s fight against
Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon that led to a
unilateral Israeli withdrawal in May 2000 during his
first mandate.

However, he took no steps to assert Lebanese military
control over the south until an Israeli offensive in
July-August 2006 forced Hizbullah to end its military
presence on the borders with the Jewish state.

Parliament first elected Lahoud as president in
October 1998. He promised then to establish a state of
law and to put an end to endemic corruption in public
life.
But he was unsuccessful, hampered by the cronyism that
lies at the root of Lebanese society.(AFP-Naharnet)

InTheNews.co.uk, UK

Scolari gets four-match ban

Thursday, 20 Sep 2007 14:03

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been banned for four matches
after being found to have assaulted a Serbian player at the end of
last week’s Euro 2008 qualifier last week.

The match in Lisbon on September 12th ended in a 1-1 draw, which
somewhat dented the Portuguese side’s qualifying hopes.

But the incident between Scolari and Ivica Dragutinovic overshadowed
the result, as the Portugal coach appeared to aim a punch at the
opposing player after the final whistle.

In addition to his four-game ban, which prevents him "from exercising
his function as coach" according to Uefa, Scolari has been handed a
12,000 (£8,400) fine.

For Portugal’s final four Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan in October and at home to Armenia and Finland in November,
he will be prevented from entering the dressing room, the tunnel, the
technical area or going onto the pitch.

He will also be prevented from communicating with his team.

Dragutinovic has received a two-match ban for improper conduct for his
part in the incident. He will be suspended for Serbia’s qualifying
matches against Armenia and Azerbaijan next month.

Both men have three days in which to appeal against the decision

PETER BALAKIAN AND DEBORAH LIPSTADT

New York Jewish Week, USA
09/21/2007

Turkey Must Acknowledge Its Past

In the wake of the Turkish government’s anger over the Anti-Defamation
League’s recent decision to acknowledge as genocide the extermination
of more than a million Armenians in 1915, crucial issues concerning
human rights, historical memory, and ethics have come to light.

Turkey’s ambassador to Israel, Namik Tan, told The Jerusalem Post
(Aug. 27) that Israel must force the ADL to retract its acknowledgement
of the Armenian genocide, that failure to do this would be a stab in
the heart of the Turkish people and that the Turkish people do not
distinguish between Israeli Jews and Diaspora Jews on this issue. Tan
also said that recognizing the Armenian genocide will mean that
"my ancestors have done something inconceivable," and it will set
off "a campaign against Turkey and the Turkish people." Though he
subsequently tempered his language, this was a very harsh attack with
overtones of classic views of Jewish power.

Turkey has told Israel and various Jewish organizations that if they
favor a congressional resolution acknowledging the genocide it will
not bode well for Israel’s relationship with Turkey or for Turkish
Jews. It is true that Turkey is the only Muslim nation willing to
maintain a close diplomatic relationship with Israel and remains the
only Muslim country that allows a small Jewish community to live in
relative freedom. We know that Turkey is pressured by internal factions
and by other Muslim nations to sever ties with Israel. And it is also
clear how fragile and tenuous, despite seeming quite comfortable,
Jewish life in Turkey is.

Nevertheless, it is equally crucial that historical denial of genocide
be addressed in an uncompromising fashion. While historians are taught
to be skeptical, it is absurd to be skeptical or neutral about events
of the magnitude of the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust, which
are attested to by reams of documents and material evidence as well
as testimonies by victims, perpetrators and bystanders. Neutrality
or skepticism in the case of these two tragedies constitutes denial,
which is the final stage of genocide in that it seeks to demonize
the victims and rehabilitate the perpetrators.

The broad and international record on the Armenian genocide has been
created by an international body of dispassionate scholarship for
decades, and notably, affirmed by The International Association of
Genocide Scholars in repeated statements that note that this history
is not controversial anywhere in the world but in Turkey. Raphael
Lemkin, the noted legal scholar who lost 49 members of his family
in the Holocaust, invented the concept of genocide, in part, on the
basis of what happened to the Armenians in 1915.

The main actor here, however, is Turkey. It is time for Turkey to end
its nine-decade campaign to erase the Armenian genocide. It is time
to stop bullying and attempting to coerce states and organizations
that engage history honestly. Such a campaign is immoral.

By passing the resolution (H.R. 106) before it, Congress must make
it clear to Turkey that, even as we welcome its alliance with the
United States in so many arenas, the time for this denial is over.

Turkey’s calls for a commission of historians to resolve this issue are
disingenuous, especially for a country that has a law that makes it
a crime to "insult Turkishness," under which scholars and publishers
who have spoken about the Armenian genocide have been prosecuted and
even killed. It is wrong and unbecoming for the Jewish community to
participate in what can best be described as a charade, i.e. the notion
that the jury of historians is "still out" on this issue. Imagine if
Germany had taken a similar stance with the Holocaust. While hindsight
may be 20/20, it is regrettable that the Jewish community telegraphed
a message to Turkey that this is a matter of debate and negotiation.

We understand Turkey’s difficulty in acknowledging these dark episodes
in its past. However, acknowledging this crime would, rather than
spawn a campaign against Turkey, as ambassador Tan claims, prompt
applause from the international community. It will be a sign that
Turkey can critique its past honestly. The most effective way for a
country to resolve its criminal past is to acknowledge the criminal
act, try to make some form of recompense and become a force in trying
to prevent the repetition of such events. Germany has, with varying
degrees of success, achieved that. It is time for Turkey to do the
same with the Armenian genocide. And it is time to stop threatening
a small vulnerable Jewish community or the one other parliamentary
democracy in the Middle East for acknowledging historical truth.

The time has come for the U.S. Congress to join more than 20 other
countries, the Vatican, the European Parliament and other world
organizations, in affirming the Armenian genocide. Given that H.R. 106
is a nonbinding resolution with no "teeth in it," the hysteria over
the resolution has reached a point of absurdity. It is time for Turkey
to acknowledge the moral perspective of other countries, and time to
move on.

Peter Balakian is professor of the humanities at Colgate University
and the author of "The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and
America’s Response," which won the Raphael Lemkin Prize. Deborah
Lipstadt is professor of Holocaust studies at Emory University and
author of "History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving,"
which won the National Jewish Book Award.

AFFA SECRETARY GENERAL ELKHAN MAMMADOV WISHED NATIONAL TEAM VICTORY

Azeri Press Agency
19 Sep 2007 19:24

Today AFFA secretary general Elkhan Mammadov held meeting with
U-19. The AFFA official interested in personal problems of the national
team, members and ordered proper directions. He said the match with
Armenia is of special importance wishing the team victory over its
opponent. The secretary general stressed that the qualifying matches
are of great interest.

The matches of U-19 will take place in Lvov. U-19 will face the Scots
on September 27. The historical match between Azerbaijan and Armenia
will be held on October 2.

CATUBAY SAY HE’S READY TO DISPOSE DARCHINYAN
By Dong Secuya

PhilBoxing.com
Philippines
Wed, 19 Sep 2007

Journeyman Federico Catubay, who has been tagged by former world
flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia as a mere tuneup
in their upcoming fight on Oct. 20 in Sydney, declares that the
Armenian-born Aussie will be in for a big surprise come fight night.

"I’ve studied his tapes and I know how to beat him because his
style fits my style perfectly," said Catubay who has been caught by
PhilBoxing in his early morning jog together with other ALA boxers
at the Cebu Asiatown IT Park on Monday where superstar Manny Pacquiao
also runs every other day.

"This is the opportunity of my life and I don’t want to miss it,"
Catubay said adding that his manager, well-known promoter Sammy
Gello-ani, has promised him "a world title fight if I get past
Darchinyan."

Catubay (20-13-3 11KOs), whose chances of beating Darchinyan is
considered a long shot, said that they will leave for Australia early
next month to acclimatize himself with the place concluding that
"I have not trained as hard as this one all his life."

The ALA boxers after doing their rounds jogging at the Cebu IT Park.

The erstwhile unbeaten and flamboyant Darchinyan (28-1 22KOs) lost his
last fight and his IBF and IBO world titles in a stunning upset against
Filipino-American Nonito Donaire in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 7.