BOOK REVIEW: LIBERATION MOVEMENTS
Ronnie H. Terpening

Library Journal Reviews
School Library Journal Reviews
May 15, 2006

Steinhauer, Olen Liberation Movements Minotaur: St. Martin’s Aug.
2006. c.304p. ISBN 0-312-33204-1 [ISBN 978-0-312-33204-4 ]. $24.95. M

This fourth entry in Steinhauer’s (The Bridge of Sighs ) Eastern Bloc
crime series deposits us in the late summer of 1968, as “the flowers
of Prague’s spring” are being crushed by the Warsaw Pact’s invading
tanks. In a nearby unnamed country, Brano Sev of the Ministry of
State Security, the protagonist of 36 Yalta Boulevard , is now a
colonel in his late fifties. He and his officers, Capt. Gavra Noukas
and homicide inspector Katja Drdova, all have secrets to hide and a
major crime to solve. Armenian hijackers have blown up an airplane
en route to Istanbul, aboard which was a fellow officer of Armenian
origin. Was the Ministry involved in the plane’s destruction? Is
there a connection to a crime committed seven years earlier? To find
the answers, Gavra and Katja must confront their own demons. Using
alternating time lines, reverse chronology, and disrupted sequence,
Steinhauer again displays his masterful manipulation of character,
plot, and reader expectations. Tightly entwined story lines, compact
scenes that evoke a grim world while capturing character subtleties,
and a style pared to the essential make this a fast, intriguing read.

Highly recommended. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/06.]- Ronnie H.

Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson

Publishers Weekly Reviews May 15, 2006

Liberation Movements

Liberation Movements Olen Steinhauer. St. Martin’s Minotaur, $24.95
(304p) ISBN 0-312-33204-1

Steinhauer’s dazzling fourth book in his series about various police
and intelligence agents in an unnamed Communist-era Eastern European
country gives a large role to Brano Sev, the seriously conflicted
spy who starred in the previous entry, 36 Yalta Boulevard (2005). Sev
sums up the new book’s theme when he says to a younger subordinate,
“Intelligence work is precisely what it says-it’s about intelligence.

We are not murderers.” There’s some irony here: we know that Sev has
killed several people himself. But there’s also an unexpected note of
humanity, as Sev supervises the investigation by two junior agents
of a murder in Russian-occupied Prague in 1968 that’s later tied to
a plane hijacked by Armenian terrorists on its way to Istanbul in 1975.

Another new element is the Turkish capital, alive and yeasty compared
to the drab, restricted home city of 36 Yalta Boulevard . And the
emergence of a major female character-a homicide investigator looking
for personal justice-shows how a skilled writer working at the top
of his form can keep a series from faltering.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN AND ROBERT SIMMONS DISCUSS ISSUES OF DEEPENING ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 24 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Within the framework of
the Individual Partnership Actions Plan (IPAP), issues of cooperation
of the NATO and Armenia were discussed at the May 23 meeting of
RA National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tigran Tororsian with the
delegation headed by Robert Simmons, the NATO Secretary’s General
Special Representative.

As for prospects of the cooperation, the NA Deputy Speaker mentioned
that it will continue both in the NATO PA and in a wide sense as
it is one of the main components of securing the security system of
Armenia. Attaching importance to meaning of constitutional amendments
from the viewpoint of deepening democracy, protecting the human rights,
formation of a complete complex of counterbalances and suppressions
of the state government system as well as solution of the securiy
problems of the country, Tigran Torosian considered natural presence
of political components at the IPAP and expressed a hope that the
cooperation with the NATO may assist successful solution of the
Eurointegration problems and improvement of regional relations,
overcoming conflicts.

Holding of the coming state elections in correspondence with the
democratic standards, future widening of the Individual Partnership
Actions Plan were mutually attached importance to. R.Simmons attached
importance to the role and meaning of the Parliament in the issue
of relations with the North Atlantic Alliance, mentioning both
work of the Armenian delegation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
and important role of people’s diplomacy. He is here to give an
intermediate estimation to the IPAP, and finds that the program has
positive developments, and the Parliament may have an active role in
its continuous character. According to Simmons, the IPAP is a document
that may be completed and developed as it has protection of democratic
values in the basis. In the opinion of the NATO Secretary’s General
Special Representative, the alliance may assist development of the
Armenia-Turkey relations.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
as for the state created at the Parliament of Armenia, Tigran Torosian
mentioned that re-arrangement of political forces will not influence
in any way on the foreign policy of Armenia and mutual relations
with the NATO, issues of implementation of the IPAP. It was also
mentioned that to deepen the cooperation, a commission headed by the
President of the republic on coordinating cooperation of the Republic
of Armenia with European structures has been created recently what
will considerably assist implementation of the IPAP.

ALEXANDER ABRAHAM, A STAR IN THE MAKING
by Luca De Franco

The Sweet Science
May 24 2006

Alexander Abraham is one of the most promising light middleweights
fighting in Germany. He is under contract with Sauerland Event and
that gives him many opportunities to prove just how talented he is.

In two and a half years as a professional, Alexander built a record
of 16 wins (12 KOs) and 1 draw. He is the brother of IBF middleweight
champion Arthur Abraham (21-0 with 17 KOs) and that’s part of the
reason why he is already famous in two countries. As a matter of fact,
when they came back to Armenia after Arthur’s win over Kingsley Ikeke
(KO 5) for the IBF belt, the landing of the plane was broadcasted
live by Armenian television. In Germany, Alexander has fought in
almost every arena; the major ones being Berlin, Magdeburg, Erfurt,
Kempten, Hamburg and Mannheim. He also fought in Italy last year,
where he drew with Sylvain Gomis over 6 rounds. Alexander got revenge
on December 11, 2005 in Hamburg: a unanimous decision after 8 rounds. I
met Alexander Abraham at Sauerland Event’s training center located in
Kienbaum (one hour from Berlin, with another 30 minutes added because
of the traffic) and interviewed him with Media Director Heiko Mallwitz
serving as translator.

Alexander, when did you get started in boxing?

When I was a little boy, in Armenia. For 10 years, I fought among
amateurs in many European countries. I competed in the lightweight
and light welterweight divisions. When my parents moved to Germany,
I kept on fighting and winning here.

Who was your idol?

Mike Tyson. I liked him also because he let his fists do the talking
in the ring. That’s what a professional boxer should do. I don’t
approve the fighters who turn themselves into clowns.

Wouldn’t you do some showbiz if it meant fighting in America?

I would like to fight in America and I understand that showbiz is
important there, but I’m a fighter not an entertainer. I would just
participate to the press conference and pose for the photos.

You scored many KO wins. Do you consider yourself a power puncher?

I consider myself a technical boxer, but I can knockout everybody.

How did you decide to sign with Sauerland Event?

Three years ago, I was training with my brother in a boxing camp
in Kassel (near Frankfurt) and our mentor Luther Kanenberg called
Sauerland Event and told them: “I got two Armenian brothers: they
are talented, maybe you can use them as sparring partners.” Sauerland
Event invited us to their gym and asked us to spar with IBF/WBA super
middleweight champion Sven Ottke. They liked our style and offered
us a contract. Our trainer is the legendary Ulli Wegner.

Who is the world champion of a major organization that you would like
to fight?

WBO light middleweight champion Sergei Dzinziruk, his style is
perfect for me. I’m not saying that I would take him lightly: he is
an excellent boxer, can punch and he is physically very strong. In
fact, he also won the European title and has a perfect record of 31-0
(21 KO). He is from Ukraine, but he fights in Germany for another
organization.

HAGEN DOERING DISCUSSES THE ABRAHAM BROTHERS

Nobody can talk about Alexander and Arthur Abraham with more knowledge
that Sauerland Event Sports Director Hagen Doering.

Mr. Doering, were you surprised by the success of these guys?

No, because I brought them to the team. When Luther Kanenberg called
me, I told him to send the kids here in Berlin and asked our chief
trainer Ulli Wegner to keep an eye on them. I watched the training
sessions every day and after just one week I decided to sign them.

This happened in 2003. I believed so much in Arthur’s skills that I
put him against Hector Javier Velazco (who was 31-4-1) in 2005; maybe
it was too early for such a fight, but Arthur won by 5th round KO.

That’s why I was sure that he would defeat Kingsley Ikeke for the
vacant IBF middleweight title. Ironically, it also happened in 5
rounds. Arthur proved to be a fighting champion, successfully defending
the title against Shannan Taylor and Kofi Jantuah (on points, both
times). Three title matches in five months, all of them won, need no
further comments.

Do you think that Alexander can become world champion?

Yes, he can. He is as talented as his brother, but Alexander needs
more time to prepare for a major bout. When he is ready, he will
fight for the world title and win it.

THE PRIDE OF ARMENIA Alexander Abraham Born on July 14, 1981 in Yerevan
(Armenia) Real name: Alexander Abrahamyan Hometown: Berlin (Germany)
Stance: Orthodox Trainer: Ulli Wegner Manager: Sauerland Event Record:
16 wins (12 KOs) and 1 draw Division: light middleweight Arthur
Abraham Born on February 20, 1980 in Yerevan (Armenia) Real name:
Avetik Abrahamyan Hometown: Berlin (Germany) Stance: Orthodox Trainer:
Ulli Wegner Manager: Sauerland Event Record: 21 wins (17 KOs) in 21
matches Middleweight Titles: WBA international champion in 2004 IBF
world champion since December 10, 2005.

photo
-article/3834/alexander-abraham-star-making/

FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS BREAK FREE
Richard Beeston, London

The Times
25may06

ONE of the last vestiges of the Soviet Union appeared to be crumbling
yesterday, when four former republics signalled they would be pulling
out of the organisation established to keep the Kremlin connected
with its lost empire.

At a meeting in Kiev, the leaders of the pro-Western states of
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine pledged to form their own
association to promote democratic values.

They also hinted they would leave the Commonwealth of Independent
States, which was created 15 years ago as a group representing most
of the former Soviet republics.

While the CIS never fulfilled any great economic or political function,
its very existence was supposed to reflect Moscow’s continued influence
from Eastern Europe to the Caucasus and on to Central Asia.

But ties between the Kremlin and some of its former client states
have deteriorated with a wave of democratic movements that swept
pro-Western leaders into power in Georgia and Ukraine and encouraged
anti-Russian sentiment in Azerbaijan and Moldova.

The new group, to be called the Organisation for Democracy and Economic
Development, will be based in Kiev.

It will rival the CIS, which is based in Minsk, the capital of
Belarus, where it is headed by Vladimir Rushailo, a tough former
Russian interior minister.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said: “Our citizens are giving
us a mandate to develop strong, democratic and successful states.”

The move is seen as a huge snub to Moscow, which has not been invited
to join.

It faces the prospect of being left in a CIS of eight states including
Belarus, regarded as the last dictatorship in Europe; Armenia; and
the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan.

The splits within the CIS ranks have been growing in recent months.

Moscow, which backed Mr Yushchenko’s opponent in the Ukrainian
elections, clashed with Ukraine this year when it suspended gas sales,
causing an energy crisis across Europe in the middle of winter.

The Kremlin has also argued openly with Tbilisi over Russian support
for two breakaway regions in Georgia and its reluctant withdrawal of
troops from the country.

Moscow’s recent decision to ban the import of Georgian and Moldovan
wine, on the spurious ground that they contain pesticides, has further
strained ties.

Azerbaijan has provoked the ire of Moscow by developing close ties
with the US and building an oil pipeline to pump crude from the
Caspian Sea to Turkey, bypassing traditional Russian control over
energy supply routes.

Moldova signalled yesterday that it might be the first country to
quit the CIS.

President Vladimir Voronin said the issue would soon be debated in
parliament, where the move was likely to be approved.

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said his country was also
debating the value of remaining in the CIS, and that the question of
withdrawal would come up before parliament in a few months.

“Many in Georgia have been very critical of the CIS, of its
performance, of its efficiency, and we, as a government, are
accountable to the people’s concerns,” he told Britain’s The Times
during a visit to London.

He said Georgia had attempted to make the CIS more efficient and
capable of dealing with important bilateral disputes, such as the
Russian wine ban, but that the CIS was incapable of addressing
real issues.

“What is the sense in having an organisation that fails to discuss
basic issues that affect the countries concerned?” Mr Nogaideli said.

“It seems to me that Russia itself is not interested in the CIS,
in reality. They want to keep it as an organisation, but they don’t
want it to be an effective and functional organisation.

“Russia only keeps it for prestige.”

RUSSIA AND ARMENIA EQUALLY INTERESTED IN BALANCE OF FORCES IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia and Armenia are equally interested in
maintenance of balance of forces in the South Caucasus, strengthening
of stability and security in the region, President of the Union of
Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan said. “Russia is not indifferent
about the situation in the region and the role of Armenia. Armenia is
certainly not indifferent either. Moreover the Armenians of Russia
can do much for strengthening stability in the South Caucasus,”
Abrahamyan said. The UAR leader positively assesses the decision on
conveyance of a part of military equipment to the 102nd Russian base in
Gyumri. “Armenia made a proposal targeted at prevention of misbalance
in the region and it’s good that it is being implemented,” he said.

He also informed, he is unaware of investments made by
Russian businessmen of Armenian origin into the defense sector
of Armenia. “However the Union of Armenians of Russia is actively
working within the Russian military units deployed in Armenia. In
part, we provide computers, TV sets, home equipment and arrange
various cultural events,” Abrahamyan said, reported Interfax.

SOME FORCES INTERESTED IN XENOPHOBIA IN RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leader of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara
Abrahamyan considers that measures for struggle against xenophobia
and crime through national hatred should be worked out in Russia. “The
society jointly with politicians should develop a line and mechanisms,”
he said at a press conference in Moscow.

In his opinion, special attention should be paid to the bringing up
of schoolchildren.

At the same time he remarked that certain forces in Russia and
interested in availability of such problems in Russia. “The existence
of nationalist organizations means that somebody wishing instability
supports them,” Abrahamyan stated. He proposed to proceed to resolving
the problem via organization of round-table discussions with the
participation of public figures, law enforcers and media. “Armenians
have lived in Russia since the 9th century. This is our home,” he
said adding that there are no anti-Russian moods in Armenia.

ROMANIAN FM: THERE IS HOPE FOR PROGRESS IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan “strives for just and stable peace in
the region and prefers the stepwise settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. In his words,
first the Armenian armed forces should abandon the territories around
Nagorno Karabakh where the refugees will return immediately. At
the second stage the displaced persons should return to Shushi and
other towns. “Only after that the status of Nagorno Karabakh can be
considered,’ he said.

Judging from the sequence sounded by the Azeri FM no progress can be
expected in the conflict settlement in the near future. “The Armenian
side demands guarantees for the right to self-determination of the
Nagorno Karabakh population in exchange for releasing the territories
around Karabakh. Return of Lachin and Shushi is not discussed. Return
of Kelbajar is doubtful. The positions of the sides have not come
closer for a centimeter,” New Time Baku-based newspaper says.

For his part Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu remarked
that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was many times discussed by the
CoE. “Presently a hope for progress appeared. Political dialogue is
of utmost importance at the current stage of the talks. The meeting of
the Presidents may contribute to the alleviation of tension,” he said.

AZERI NEWSPAPER EDITOR HELD HOSTAGE THREE FOREIGNERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ People’s Tribune newspaper editor-in-chief Sharif
Salmanov his acquaintance Aynura Allahverdiyeva, who held hostage
Turkish citizen Yilmaz Mahmoud, Bolgarian citizen Kocheva Ivanovna and
her 7-year-old daughter Marchella Penova, were detained. The local
prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal case; investigation is
being carried out, reported APA news agency.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: “ISSUE OF RPA WAS TO KEEP INDEPENDENCE, TO PRESERVE COUNTRY FROM INNERPOLITICAL PROBLEMS”

Noyan Tapan
May 24 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. “It was important for me and our
party during those years to assist securing of the innerpolitical
stability in our newly-independent state and to strengthen the
state by developing the economy, to increase fighting ability of our
army year by year and to fasten security of the country,” RA Prime
Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia Andranik
Margarian mentioned during the internet conference of the “Azg”
(nation) newspaper.

According to him, “we have lost numerous friends on the way to
independece, among them, during the years of the Soviet dictatorship,
and protection of that independence reached at too high price,
preserving the country from different intrigues and intriguers,
innerpolitical shocks has always been an important issue for us,
and our steps were addressed to that puprose.”

According to the RA Prime Minister, the Government today has a problem
to reduce the level of poverty in the country by developing the
economy, to create possibilities for a prosperous life. The Poverty
Overcoming Strategic long-term program has been worked out on that
purpose and has been in the process of implementation for already
many years. All the spheres are analysed in the program in details,
existing problems, ways of their solution are mentioned, and a schedule
is adopted which is being implemented at a rapid pace. It was mentioned
that the RA Government put a task at present to review the program
by the means of reducing the terms or increasing the indexes. “All
our main problems, anti-corruption struggle, reforms of the state
government system, improvement of the business and investment sphere,
etc., are summed up in the IPAP,” the RA Prime Minister emphasized.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS’ STATEMENTS DON’T INSPIRE OPTIMISM, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 16:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statements by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs on
the development of some new solution variants of the Nagorno Karabakh
problem do not inspire optimism, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov stated.

“By producing such statements, the Co-chairs desire only to
raise the importance of their activities before the public,” said
Azimov. “Undoubtedly, they need to vindicate their activities, and
therefore, we hear about new ideas every time. It is obvious that
they need to inform and direct the public opinion,” said Azimov.

He stressed that there are some issues the solution of which will
be possible only after certain steps for the Karabakh conflict
settlement. “These steps should be submitted to Azerbaijan in a clear
form,” Azimov remarked.

According to him, these steps first of all are related to the release
of Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno Karabakh. “All these steps
should be taken in a stepwise manner, and only then official Baku
may express its position on other questions,” said Azimov, reported
Trend news agency.