Category: News

Doghouse Boxing, Canada
April 6 2004

Boxing is Alive Down Under
By Anthony Cocks (April 6, 2004)

‘Vic `Raging Bull’ Darchinyan

Talentworks in association with matchmakers Fightbiz International
have announced the second installment of the Southern Storm series to
be held at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium in Melbourne, Australia
on April 16. The six bout card will feature some of Australia’s
finest pugilistic talent including IBF #4 ranked middleweight Sam
`King’ Soliman, IBF #1 ranked flyweight Vic `Raging Bull’ Darchinyan
and Australian heavyweight cult hero `Big’ Bob Mirovic.

Soliman will be making his third appearance in the ring for 2004 and
the seventh defense of his IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight title against
seasoned campaigner Nico Toriri of Indonesia. Toriri is no stranger
to our shores, having battled Danny Green, Kevin Kelly and Darren
Obah on Australian soil in the past. Soliman has won twelve fights on
the trot since his disputed loss to Anthony Mundine with his last
three victories coming by way of stoppage. With Soliman’s next fight
scheduled to take place in the USA under the auspices of his
stateside promoter Dan Goossen for the IBF number one position, a
victory here is imperative. Toriri will be eager to circumvent
Soliman’s world title aspirations.

Darchinyan is looking to stay busy against tough Indonesian Falzona
Fidal while he waits for his opportunity to challenge Columbian
knockout artist Irene Pacheco for his IBF flyweight championship, a
bout that is tentatively scheduled to take place next month. A savage
puncher with knockout drops in either hand, the Armenian born
southpaw is a pocket dynamo who fully deserves the moniker `Raging
Bull’.

Fireworks are expected when former Australian junior welterweight
champion Steve Marks attempts to avenge his 2002 stoppage loss to the
man who relieved him of his national crown, former Sydney Olympian
Fred Kinuthia. Kinuthia is no pushover and has shared the square
circle with numerous quality opponents including world class
operators Philip Holiday, Lovemore Ndou and Junior Witter as well as
former domestic champions Naoufel Ben Rabah and Michael Katsidis.

Tim Bell will face Brown Enyi in what promises to be an explosive
contest at the middleweight limit. Both fighters are coming off
losses and will be keen to see their name posted in the winners’
column. The rugged Bell may have his work cut out for him against
Enyi, who has substantially more professional experience and has
faced some high quality opposition including PABA champion Stuart
Moller, Australian champion Sakio Bika, IBF Pan Pacific Light
heavyweight Champion Jason Delisle and PABA Light heavyweight
Champion Paul Murdoch.

Also on the card will be crowd favourite `Big’ Bob Mirovic squaring
off against New Zealand’s Bob Gasio in a heavyweight battle scheduled
for six rounds. In another six round bout junior welterweight Lance
Gostellow will be looking to keep his unbeaten record intact with win
number three against the infamous TBA.

The first Southern Storm was a cracker of a night and fight fans can
expect more of the same on April 16. Tickets prices range from $50 to
$170 and are available from Ticketmaster7 by phoning 13 6100. For
table bookings, phone 0417 888 188. Get in quick because this event
is expected to sell out.

Ndou Headlines at Panthers World of Entertainment

Blaster Promotions have put together another exciting eight fight
card set to take place at Sydney’s new Mecca of boxing, Panthers
World of Entertainment in Penrith, on April 16.

Headlining the card will be IBF #6 / WBC #10 Lovemore Ndou making his
third ring appearance for 2004 as he defends his IBF Pan Pacific
Junior Welterweight title against unbeaten Brazilian Antonio
Mesquita. Ndou’s five fight win streak was brought to a halt in
February of this year when he stepped in on short notice for the
injured Kostya Tszyu and dropped a disputed points decision to
Sharmba Mitchell for the IBF Interim Junior Welterweight championship
over twelve hotly contested rounds.

31 year-old Mesquita is a heavy-handed fighter who will be looking to
take Ndou out early. The Brazilian banger has 21 knockouts in 28
contests with all of his stoppage victories coming before the seventh
round. This fight is not expected to go the distance.

In the main support bout talented former Australian cruiserweight
champion Lawrence Tauasa will do battle against American Troy Beets
for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title. A gifted boxer with decent
power, Tauasa has fought Australia’s best cruiserweights and has won
his last seven bouts. Beets, a 29 year-old southpaw fighting out of
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has been in the ring with heavyweight
prospects Malcolm Tann and Roman Greenburg.

IBF Pan Pacific Champion Jason Delisle will defend his belt against
37 fight veteran Justin Clements. The tough-as-nails Delisle has won
two on the trot since suffering only his second loss at the hands of
current WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion Danny Green back in
June of last year. Clements, who turned professional in 1991, holds a
respectable record of 28-7-2 (7 KO’s).

Also on the card Chris Hamilton will do battle with Gary Comer for
the vacant Australian Junior Middleweight title. Unbeaten in five
professional contests, Hamilton was originally slated to fight on the
same date in Toowoomba on Uppercut Promotion’s `Triple Treat’ card,
but was unable to secure an opponent. Southpaw Comer will be the
toughest test of Hamilton’s short career.

Rounding out the card will be an eight round super middleweight
stoush between Brett Culey and Allen Rellish; a lightweight eight
rounder featuring Johnny Shiffiraw and American Richard Best; a six
round welterweight contest between Craig Parke and Rueben Martyn; and
a junior welterweight battle between Mick Mlacic and Filipino Arnel
Porras also over six rounds.

Ticket prices start at $45.00 and can be purchased directly from
Panthers World of Entertainment by phoning 1800 061 991. Table
bookings can be made by calling Roy Alexander on 0414 512 101 or Tony
Caradonna on 0402 766 511.

`Triple Treat’ in Toowoomba Postponed

The ‘Triple Treat’ card originally scheduled for Friday, April 16 at
the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba, Queensland has been postponed. The
show was to feature brothers Mick and Matt Shaw, along with former
amateur standout Chris Hamilton, all in Queensland title fights.
Hamilton was removed from the card when the opportunity arose to
fight for the Australian junior middleweight title. The fight night
was still set to go ahead, but when Mick Shaw injured his hand at
work, Uppercut Promotions decided to postpone the event rather than
offer a sub-standard card.

`Uppercut Promotions are disappointed to announce the postponement,
however to remain true to our goal of offering quality boxing events
utilising local fighters, it was decided that with two of the three
main events being sidelined it was the best option available,’ said
Glenn Azar, spokesman for Uppercut Promotions who contacted Doghouse
Boxing.

A new date is expected to be announced shortly and all tickets that
have already been sold will be honoured on the night.

EUobserver.com, Belgium
April 6 2004

Georgia sets out its European credentials

Corruption and border conflicts threaten to slow Georgia’s progress
towards Europe
(Photo: Texas University)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Georgia is on an irreversible course to
Europe, the country’s President told EU leaders today.

Visiting Brussels on Tuesday (6 April), Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili, attempted to set out the Caucasian republic’s
geopolitical stance.

“We are not pro-American, we are not pro-Russian, we are Georgian, we
are European”, he said speaking in the European Parliament.

Since independence the country has struggled to steer a course
between getting the US on board and antagonising its supremely
influential neighbour, Russia.

Although still very much in the his early days as president, Mr
Saakashvili has so far tried to balance these conflicting demands on
Georgia’s independence.

In its three-month tenure his government has done its best to woo the
EU into including the Caucasus into the Union’s wider Europe policy,
which he hopes will create enough breathing room for the country to
manoeuvre of its own accord.

But he is faced with considerable challenges.

Rampant corruption and border conflicts threaten to slow progress
towards Europe.

On top of this, many in the EU who are hostile to Turkey’s membership
bid fear that acceptance of the Caucasus as part of wider Europe
sends out the wrong signal to Ankara.

So far, neither Georgia nor their neighbours Armenia and Azerbaijan
have been included in the EU’s policy which will see the Union’s
neighbours developing economic and political ties.

And the domestic constraints are just as pressing.

Experts say the authors of the ‘velvet revolution’ which unseated
Edward Shevardnadze and which was backed by the vast majority of
Georgians will need to produce results soon, if their support is to
be maintained.

Mr Saakashvili said that the country could receive “asymmetrical”
trading terms with the EU in order to promote economic growth.

He also hinted that Georgia’s trade with Poland and the Baltics would
be hit by enlargement and said the EU should look at redressing this.

Written by Andrew Beatty

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 6 2004

MEETING WITH US EMBASSY OFFICIALS AT SPAA
[April 06, 2004, 18:39:15]

The meeting with chief of department of the U.S. embassy to
Azerbaijan Mrs. Caryn McClelland has been held at the State Public
Administration Academy / SPAA / under the President of Azerbaijan.

Addressing the meeting dealing with U.S-Azerbaijan relations, Rector
of the academy, honored worker of science, Prof. Seyfaddin Gandilov
told of the work done towards development of ties between the two
countries. At the same time, he updated the audience on the efforts
to apply the international experience in public administration.

Mrs. Caryn McClelland has highly rated Heydar Aliyev’s political
course now continued by President Ilham Aliyev in relation to
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to her, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group USA will
further support the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Finally, the guest responded to questions from the participants.

EUpolitix, Belgium
April 6 2004

Georgia key to Europe’s security interests

Europe’s security and progress in the fight against terrorism depends
on forging closer ties with Georgia, the country’s President Mikhail
Saakashvili said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee,
Saakashvili said only Georgia’s `unequivocal membership’ of Europe’s
new `neighbourhood’ policy, with possible future EU membership, would
guarantee stability in the region.

A new strategy for stronger relations with the an expanded EU’s new
neighbours will be unveiled in May and the future status of the
former Soviet state and other Caucasus countries in the plan is not
yet known.

`Europe can only guarantee its future when it embraces its
neighbours,’ Saakashvili told MEPs.

`A safer and more prosperous union cannot be done by creating new
borders or dividing lines.’

As well as providing Europe with greater energy security and new
markets, Georgia was a `frontline partner in the fight against
terrorism’ and a `net contributor to lasting European stability,’ he
argued.

Saakashvili, who has built himself the reputation of a crusader
against corruption and a champion of economic recovery and market
reforms, was given a warm welcome by MEPs.

The 36 year old US-educated lawyer, currently the youngest president
in the world, has also won the praise of US President George W Bush
for vowing to turn his poverty-stricken nation into a western-leaning
democracy.

As one of the leaders of the `rose revolution’ – a series of public
protests that forced former President Eduard Shevardnadze to resign
in November – Saakashvili swept to power in January with 96 per cent
of the vote.

Since coming to power, he told MEPs, his administration had cracked
down on criminal bosses and mafia-like structures within the
government, evicting five corrupt ministers from their posts.

`Fighting corruption is a top priority of my government and I am
confident we will succeed,’ he said.

And the pro-Western leader stressed that EU membership was not
outside of Tbilisi’s radar screen, arguing that there was not much
difference between Romania and Bulgaria – who hope to join the EU in
2007 – and Georgia.

`Perhaps we should wait two or three years before seriously debating
future membership of the EU…but we must keep an eye on that
possibility,’ he said.

`European identity is very clear. We are Europeans and we understand
that we should behave as Europeans in a peaceful fashion.’

But European Commission chief Romano Prodi was less committal about
Georgia’s prospects for future membership.

Following a meeting with President Saakashvili, Prodi said the EU
would concentrate on developing ties under a political and
cooperation agreement (PCA) but made a point of refusing to comment
on membership possibilities.

He said the commission in May would make recommendations to EU
leaders on relations with Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia under its
new neighbourhood policy.

The EU was also commited to pouring in financial aid to the country,
he stressed, pointing to a 30 million programme to assist reform,
with 3.6 million dedicated to reforming the judiciary.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

April 6, 2004
___________________

YOUNG CHILDREN SEND IN DESIGNS FOR EASTER

Dozens of children submitted Easter card designs to the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) for a contest run through the Sunday
and Armenian schools.

The cards were judged in three age groups: under 10 years old, between 10
and 15, and 15 and older. A winner and runner-up from each age group are
featured on the website.

The first place designs came from: Rina Manucharova, 16, of the mission
parish in Charlotte, NC; Aleksander Manucharov, 12, from Charlotte, NC; and
Ani Hollisian, 8, from the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA. Each
winning artist will receive a gift from the St. Vartan Bookstore.

Also featured on the website are three second-place e-card designs by:
Elizabeth Demaria, 15, from the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY;
William (BJ) Kress, 10, from the St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ; and
Michael Manucharov, 8, from the mission parish in Charlotte, NC.

“These colorful designs capture the spirit of the Easter season, when we
rejoice that truly Christ has risen,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese. “Through our website, we can all share in the joy
expressed by these children’s drawings.”

The winning designs became electronic-postcards on the Diocesan website.
The free cards can be sent via e-mail to family and friends. To send your
free card, click here:

The next design contest is for Mothers’ Day. The designs must be sent to
the Diocese by the parish schools by April 20, 2004. The designs are
blindly judged at the Diocesan Center.

# # #

ABS CBN News, Philippines
April 6 2004

Pacquiao flattens Armenian sparmate

By DOMINIC MENOR
TODAY Correspondent

Manny Pacquiao, on the road to his Las Vegas mega-buck fight on May
8, has left another sparring mate by the Los Angeles wayside as he
knocked down Armenian Art Simonyan in a six-round training session
over the weekend at the Wild Card Gym.

According to , Pacquiao caught Simonyan with a
single punch — a left straight–in the first round.

But being aware of the shortage of sparring opponents, the report
said that Pacquiao `decided against going for the kill when he could
have easily scored a knockout any time he wanted.’

Sources said Simonyan, who sports a 13-0-1 win-loss-draw card, has
not been knocked down in his professional career.

Early last week, Pacquiao handed out damage to another Armenian,
Kahren Harutyunyan, who was reportedly at ringside together with a
growing number of Filipinos and Mexicans who watched the
Pacquiao-Simonyan exercise.

Harutyunyan suffered a bruised left rib and was required to undergo
two x-ray check-ups for broken bones.

Pacquiao even had to ask for extra cash from his business manager Rod
Nazario `to pay for the hospital bills of Harutyunyan.’

Simonyan actually survived the six-round battle. And after the final
round had ended, Simonyan kicked Pacquiao from behind, to which
Pacquiao `playfully responded with … a back kick which narrowly
missed [Simonyan’s] head.’

Lito Mondejar, Pacquiao’s chief cornerman and one of the owners of
Pacquiao’s mother gym in Manila, said that Pacquiao was `pleased with
his training and was very focused on his fight with [dual champion]
Juan Manuel Marquez [of Mexico].’

Wild Card Gym owner Freddie Roach gushed at his ward’s progress,
saying, `Manny is easy to deal with. He assimilates everything that
you teach him and he learns things very fast.’

Roach, voted Trainer of the Year in 2003 by Ring Magazine, had
earlier warned the General Santos southpaw not to look past Marquez,
the titleholder of the International Boxing Federation and the World
Boxing Association.

Pacquiao, who has made open his plans to fight sometime in July,
another Mexican, the legendary Erik Morales, forced Roach to caution
Pacquiao.

Morales is the current World Boxing Council super-featherweight
champion.

Pacquiao, who is through to his second week of training since leaving
for Los Angeles in March 20, has now finished 18 rounds of sparring
sessions, scheduled every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

He does gym work and calisthenics every Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday.

After every sparring session, Pacquiao, Mondejar and Pacquiao’s
Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez study Marquez’s fight tapes and has
actually observed several weaknesses in his opponent’s style.

`Makikita na lang niya sa laban ang inihahanda naming,’ said
Pacquiao. `Magaling sa counter-punching pero papasukin namin siya.’

Nazario, L&M gym part-owner Moy Lainez and the rest of Team Pacquiao
are scheduled to join their ward in Los Angeles after the Holy Week
break.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
April 6 2004

Armenia: Political Standoff Deepens As Opposition Snubs Government
Offers
By Jean-Christophe Peuch

President Kocharian is likely to face increased pressure

Confrontation between the Armenian government and the opposition
deepened yesterday as the country’s two main opposition political
groups said they would proceed with plans to step up pressure on
President Robert Kocharian in a bid to secure his departure. The
announcement came as several opposition activists were being detained
in connection with an investigation into recent anti-Kocharian
rallies across the country.

Prague, 6 April 2004 (RFE/RL) — Addressing reporters in Yerevan
yesterday, the leader of the opposition Justice (Artarutyun)
alliance, Stepan Demirchian, said he and his allies were calling
supporters to massively demonstrate against President Kocharian in
Yerevan on 9 April. Demirchian said the planned rally was set to mark
the beginning of a massive nationwide anti-government campaign.

Justice, which has been regularly boycotting parliamentary sessions
in recent months, accuses the Armenian leader of “usurping power” and
“clamping down on freedom of expression.”

At the core of the dispute are last year’s presidential and
legislative polls, which saw the victory of Kocharian and his allies.
Justice and other opposition groups claim the vote was rigged and
insist that the president be put to a national vote of confidence.
The government has denied any wrongdoing in the elections.

Anxious to avoid a political crisis over the disputed elections,
Armenia’s Constitutional Court last year signaled the constitution
could, in principle, be amended in a way that would allow for a
national referendum on confidence. But government supporters in the
National Assembly (parliament) rejected the idea, saying it had no
legal basis.

One of the three partners in the ruling coalition, the Dashnaktsutyun
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, yesterday demanded that the
opposition cease to question Kocharian’s legitimacy. In return, the
nationalist party said, Justice and its allies should be given seats
in the National Security Council to have a say in domestic affairs.

A Dashnaktsutyun statement said only dialogue would help prevent what
it called “open confrontation.”

But Justice leader Demirchian yesterday rejected the offer, saying
the opposition would accept nothing less than the confidence vote.

“How could we possibly talk about dialogue when opposition members
are being arrested? Arrests are actions inherent with a junta. A real
dialogue would have been to call for a national referendum on
confidence [in Kocharian]. However, there is still room for
introducing constitutional amendments that would pave the way for
such a referendum,” Demirchian said.

Demirchian went on to say the opposition was determined to pursue its
anti-Kocharian campaign regardless of offers made on behalf of the
government and despite counter-steps taken by the authorities.

“I understand the fears of Dashnaktsutyun. The situation in the
country is indeed tense. But the opposition has never asked for any
government post,” Demirchian said. “What we want is that
constitutional order in the country be restored.”

On 31 March, the Prosecutor’-General’s Office in Yerevan launched
criminal proceedings against Justice and its allies, which it blamed
for a series of recent unsanctioned rallies that purportedly called
for a violent change of regime and using what it said was “offensive
language” against senior government officials.

The Prosecutor-General’s Office yesterday said Suren Sureniants of
the opposition Hanrapetutyun (Republic) party — a leading member of
the Justice alliance — was arrested in connection with the
investigation.

Hanrapetutyun spokesman Artak Hakobian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service
that Sureniants was arrested in a village nearby Yerevan and brought
to the capital for questioning. The Prosecutor-General’s Office said
no formal charges had been brought against him yet.

Hakobian also said opposition activists were being detained in many
Armenian regions.

“Today we’ve been receiving phone calls from our people in Yeghvard,
Charentsavan, Stepanavan, Vanadzor, and Gyumri. People are being
either summoned or taken to the police. Some of them are being
released, some are being put into custody,” Hakobian said.

Addressing reporters in Yerevan today, police chief Nerses Nazarian
said nearly 40 opposition activists have been apprehended. He did not
say whether charges were brought against them or how long they would
remain in custody.

Meanwhile, representatives of ruling coalition parties have justified
the detentions.

Dashnaktsutyun member Vahan Hovanessian yesterday said authorities
“have the right to take necessary steps to isolate people
transporting weapons and other instruments that could be used in
possible clashes.”

Republican Party member Tigran Torosian told RFE/RL’s Armenian
Service that harassment of the opposition will stop once it ceases
its anti-Kocharian campaign.

Opposition activists yesterday took to the streets of central Yerevan
to demand that the president step down and that a national referendum
be organized.

Estimates put the number of participants at between 3,000 and 8,000.

Media reports say unidentified youths smashed cameras belonging to
several journalists at the rally near the Matenadaran Library. Also,
eggs and stones were thrown at the protesters from nearby balconies.
No serious clashes were reported, however.

National Unity party leader Artashes Geghamian, who led yesterday’s
protest, claimed the authorities were unwilling to compromise with
the opposition.

“Had authorities called off police from the Matenadaran area, agreed
to come with us to meet with voters, or shown their goodwill [in any
other from], that would have been a starting point for cooperation.
But instead, they attempted to close bridges and roads leading to
Yerevan,” Geghamian said.

Despite uneasy relations stemming from last year’s presidential
polls, Geghamian and Justice leader Demirchian recently forged an
alliance aimed at securing Kocharian’s ouster.

(Ruzanna Khachatrian and Armen Doulian of RFE/RL’s Armenian Service
contributed to this report.)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 6 2004

AZERBAIJAN ARMED FORCES READY TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITH US ARMED
FORCES
[April 06, 2004, 23:17:50]

On 6 April, defense minister of Azerbaijan, colonel-general Safar
Abiyev met wit the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Mr. Reno Harnish,
defense minister’s press service told AzerTAj.

Greeting the Ambassador, the defense minister highlighted on his
visit to the United States. He, in particular, expressed his consent
with the step-by-step settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict
proposed by the US defense minister D. Ramsfeld during his meeting
and creation by Congressman Kurt Weldon of the `Koros’ working group
to support Azerbaijan.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev exchanged views with Mr. Reno Harnish on
his other meetings as well, and noting that he was satisfied with
conclusions of the visit in the whole, said: `The Armed Forces of
Azerbaijan are always ready to develop cooperation with the US Armed
Forces’.

Ambassador Reno Harnish congratulated the defense minister on his
successful visit, noting that this visit serves the interests of both
countries and therefore is useful.

Then, the Ambassador and the defense minister had comprehensive
exchange of views on the prospects of the US-Azerbaijan military
links. Ambassador Reno Harnish expressed his satisfaction with the
proposals of the US defense minister D. Ramsfeld on step-by-step
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, saying that the US
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Rudolph Perina would be replaced
with Ambassador Steve Mann. We are convinced that he will give new
impetus to the negotiations, the Ambassador stressed.

Touching upon the activity of the units of the Azerbaijan Armed
Forces in the peacemaking operations, colonel-general Safar Abiyev
said that the Azerbaijan side, as a member of the anti-terror
coalition, is going to continue participation at these operations and
keeps under control activity of these units.

Parties have also dwelt on the preparation process of the
`Cooperative Best Effort-04′ field trainings due in Baku current year
and ways of resolution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev said: ` In settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict, the justice cannot serve the aggressor. The
justice is: the occupied lands of Azerbaijan should be liberated’.

Ambassador Reno Harnish stated: `We want to reach peaceful and long
term settlement of the conflict. On your return from the United
States, you have stated that the war can begin in every moment’.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev said: `Internal situation in Armenia is
very tense. In case of losing control over the situation, the leaders
of Armenian state can begin the war. Besides, they think of how to
impede construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. As a
defense minister, I see it and warn the public. We must be always
ready to defend territorial integrity of our state’.

Eurasianet Organization
April 6 2004

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES CARRY OUT PREEMPTIVE ROUNDUP OF OPPOSITION
ACTIVISTS
4/06/04

In an apparent effort to preempt an opposition campaign to force “the
departure of the illegitimate regime,” Armenian authorities have
conducted a roundup of opposition activists in recent days.
Opposition leaders vow to continue with plans to stage massive
protests designed to force the resignation of President Robert
Kocharian. Meanwhile, the building threat of political violence has
prompted a member of Armenia’s governing coalition to issue a call
for dialogue between the opposing political forces.

According to representatives of the opposition alliance, which
comprises the Justice bloc and the National Unity Party, at least 200
supporters have been arrested across Armenia since April 1. The
government has rebuffed efforts by opposition leaders to obtain an
explanation for the mass detentions. The opposition maintains the
government has no probable cause to make the arrests.

On March 31, the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office announced that
it was launching a criminal investigation into the opposition’s
protest plans. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Officials have denounced the opposition for striving to foment unrest
in Armenia. According to a report by the Armenpress news agency,
approximately 40 opposition members are facing criminal charges for
“making public calls for a change in the constitutional order” of
Armenia.

On April 5, the two main opposition leaders – the Justice bloc’s
Stepan Demirchian and the National Unity Party’s Artashes Geghamian –
held a rare joint news conference, during which they confirmed their
intention to use mass protests as a means to unseat Kocharian. Both
opposition leaders insist the Kocharian administration stole the
presidential and parliamentary elections held in 2003. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The first mass rally is
scheduled to be held April 9. Opposition leaders remain tight-lipped
about details concerning the protest in hopes of keeping the
government off balance.

At the news conference, Demirchian characterized Kocharian’s
administration as a “junta” that sought to “frighten the opposition”
into abandoning its protest strategy, the Noyan Tapan news agency
reported. A joint opposition statement assailed Kocharian for
ignoring a Constitutional Court recommendation, issued in the
aftermath of the contentious presidential vote, that urged a
nationwide referendum of confidence in the administration by April
16. “The [Kocharian] regime … rejected the well-known decision of
the Constitutional Court on the conduct of a referendum on a vote of
confidence,” the statement said. “There is only one way out, i.e. the
regime that has usurped power must go.”

If what occurred at a National Unity Party rally on April 5 is any
indication, Kocharian’s government appears prepared to use force to
confront any opposition protest action. At the rally, Geghamian as he
urged the crowd to join “the quest to overthrow Armenia’s
unconstitutional authorities,” the Arminfo news agency reported. As
he spoke, the opposition party leader was repeatedly pelted with eggs
hurled by people believed to be Kocharian partisans.

The rally was also marred by brawls, initiated by what local reports
described as thugs “with shaven heads.” Witnesses reported that a
sizeable riot police contingent was present, but did nothing to
intervene when goon squads clashed with opposition activists. The
apparently pro-government young toughs also went after journalists,
in particular photographers, smashing equipment and physically
assaulting many media representatives.

The Kocharian administration’s hard-line stance towards the
opposition is evidently sowing dissension in the ranks of the
government coalition in parliament. On April 5, the Dashnaktsutiun
Party (Armenian Revolutionary Federation), which is one of the three
coalition partners, issued a statement that expressed alarm that the
“internal political situation in the country is reaching a critical
point of open confrontation.”

The Dashnaktsutiun statement placed the bulk of the blame for the
rising tension on the “intolerant radical behavior of the
opposition.” But it also suggested that the Kocharian
administration’s efforts to exclude the opposition from the political
process had contributed to the creation of a confrontational
atmosphere. The statement went on to call on Kocharian to engage the
opposition in a substantive dialogue.

“There should be no winners and losers in this dialogue,” the
statement said. “Either we all win and ensure the rapid and stable
development of the country, or we all lose and face devastating
consequences.”

“It is necessary to effectively use this period [before the
opposition protests begin] for voluntary compromises,” the statement
continued. “Otherwise the entire responsibility for the confrontation
will fall upon those who will lose the opportunity to reach an
agreement.”

ArmenPress
April 6 2004

DOZENS OF OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prosecutors announced
Monday opening criminal cases against dozens of opposition activists
on charges of calling for violent actions to overthrow the
authorities and offensive language directed at authorities.
Prosecutors said they have arrested more than 40 opposition
activists.
One of the arrested is Suren Sureniants, a senior member of the
radical opposition Hanrapetutyun party. Prosecutors said
investigation into these cases will be open and transparent.