* Armenian-born Australian wins IBF title
* Darchinyan stops Sikali
* Darchinyan stops Sikali in 8th round
* Darchinyan Retains IBF Flyweight Title

***************************************************************************
Armenian-born Australian wins IBF title

AP Worldstream
Mar 27, 2005

Armenian-born Australian Vic Darchinyan retained his International Boxing
Federation flyweight title with an eighth-round stoppage of South African Mzukisi
Sikali at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Center on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Darchinyan, who was making his first defense of the title he
won in December, was leading by one point on two of the judges’ cards and by
three on the third at the time of the stoppage.

It was the unbeaten Darchinyan’s 23rd consecutive win and his 18th by
knockout.

Sikali lost for the sixth time in 38 bouts.

***************************************************************************
DARCHINYAN STOPS SIKALI

EastSideBoxing
March 27 2005

27.03.05 – By Tony Nobbs: IBF Flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan made
a successful first defence and added the IBO title by stopping South
African Mzukisi Sikali in an entertaining “unification” at the State
Sports Centre in Homebush on Easter Sunday night. In a battle of left
handers, it was Darchinyan’s vaunted power that told in the end and
Sikali, who looked to be wilting in the seventh round pulled a “no
mas” at 2 min 22 seconds of round eight. He’d been hurt through the
round and a short right uppercut was the last punch of the fight.

Not an action packed slugfest but a good match between a still
progressing champion and a skilful but slow veteran. Sikali did a
good job standing in front of Vic and making him miss but his
counters lacked the pep to seriously fluster Sydney’s Armenian
Olympian who loaded up just about everything as usual and dug in some
telling shots to the body and uppercuts to the head. The visitor was
only going to take stiff punishment had he continued. Both fighters
ended up with cuts and swelling and ‘the victor’ looked to be tiring
in the fifth before turning it back on.

Darchinyan won the IBF title from long time champ Irene Pacheo via
eleven round TKO December last and called out WBA title holder
Lorenzo Parra after the fight. He has been the flag bearer for Team
Fenech fighters in world title bouts.

In the undercard action IBF light welter Pan Pac Champ Lovemore Ndou
knocked out Jesar Anjeras The Philippines in round two. A left to the
body. The visitor had gone eight with Noefel Ben Rabah, the West
Australian hope who has been calling Ndou out for a long time.

Nadel Hussein needed just 36 seconds to dispose of Tanzanian Obete
Ameme. Two left rips and Ameme fell along the ropes. This was
Hussein’s first bout back since dropping a lack lustre unanimous
decision for the WBC 122 lb belt
in the Barrera-Morales 3 chief support.

2004 Australian Olympic boxing team captain Jamie Pittman dominated a
game Peter Brennan over six. All judges had it 60-52. Southpaw super
middleweight Pittman looks classy but there is still a lot of work to
be done.

In a battle of 21 year olds, Jnr lightweight Ahmed Elomar, from the
impressive Billy Hussein stable outpointed once promising Filipino
Rolando Gerongco in a willing six rounder. The tough Rolando, who
weighted lightweight, has lost six straight (some close decisions)
and is in desperate need of a win to get his career going again or
risk the danger of becoming a plodding trial horse.

Former amateur star Chris Hamilton knocked out once dangerous Sam
Setu in round three. A southpaw left did the job. Middleweight
Hamilton had around 3 ½ kg pull in weights.

***************************************************************************
Darchinyan stops Sikali in 8th round

SecondsOut
March 27 2005

IBF/IBO champion Vic Darchinyan

by Paul Upham at ringside:

IBF world champion Vic Darchinyan 23-0 (18) continued to establish
himself as a real force in the flyweight division and added the IBO
world title to his collection when he defeated South African Mzukisi
Sikali 29-6-2 (17) by 8th round TKO on Sunday night at the State
Sports Centre in Homebush, Australia. A sustained barrage of power
shots from the Armenian born Australian citizen eventually wearing
Sikali down.

“I trained very good for the fight and Sikali was very tough,” said
Darchinyan, in the ring after the win. “He takes some good shots.
When I hit him with some good punches, I was surprised when he didn’t
go down. I was waiting for him to hit the canvas, but he kept coming
back. I was surprised how he finished the fight because he is very
fit.”

29 year-old Darchinyan, making the first defence of his IBF title,
after stopping long-reigning former champion Irene Pacheco last
December, was in his usual crouching stance in the 1st round ready to
pounce. Sikali was more upright, making him appear much taller, even
though the two left-handers were of similar height. It was a slow
start by both men in the 1st round until Darchinyan opened up with a
series of left hands that had the crowd cheering. There was little
offence from Sikali in the first two rounds. Standing right in front
of Darchinyan, Sikali was attempting to make Darchinyan miss and then
counter him with right hands. Darchinyan looked very determined in
the ring and was getting angry with himself from missing punches.
Trainer Jeff Fenech in the corner yelling to him, “No angry man Vic.”

33 year-old Sikali’s best round was the 3rd, which he won by cranking
up his work rate and landing some nice combinations while making
Darchinyan miss as he leaned back out of range. Sikali sustained a
cut above his left eye in the 4th round from a Darchinyan right hand,
but both fighters were willing to stand toe to toe and exchange.
Darchinyan’s punches being more powerful and effective.

“Raging Bull” Darchinyan started to tire in the 5th round, while
Sikali looked fresh and started to come forward more regularly and
winning the round. Sikali showed his durability, taking a number of
heavy punches in the 6th round, but Darchinyan then came back to his
corner and said, “I’ve got him now.”

Darchinyan sustained a cut on his left eyelid from a Sikali punch and
blood trickled down the Armenia’s face, but it was only a minor
concern as the end for Sikali looked close at hand. The accumulated
punishment from Darchinyan finally took its toll in the 8th round. A
hard right uppercut caused Sikali to turn his back and walk to his
corner on unsteady legs, signalling he had enough and prompting the
referee to wave off the contest at the 2:28 minute mark.

In the main support bout, IBF Pan Pacific junior welterweight
champion Lovemore Ndou defeated Filipino Jesar Ancajas by 2nd round
knockout with a vicious left hook to the body. Junior featherweight
Nedal “Skinny” Hussein registered his fourteenth career 1st round
knockout with a 36 second stoppage of Tanzania’s Oboto Ameme. 28
year-old Hussein used his signature left hook to the body to leave
Ameme writhing in agony on the canvas and unable to beat the count.

At super middleweight Athens Olympian Jamie Pittman won a unanimous
six round points decision over Peter Brennan. The fight of the night
was between Ahmed Elomar and Ronaldo Granco at junior lightweight. It
was a real street fight with both men warned by the referee for
punching after the bell and on the breaks. Elomar prevailed to win a
unanimous six round points decision.

Also on the card, Chris Hamilton TKO3 Sam Setu at middleweight, Lance
Gostellow TKO4 Jamie Waru at welterweight and Mark Hipwell W4 Ryan
Waters.

Paul Upham
Contributing Editor

***************************************************************************
Darchinyan Retains IBF Flyweight Title

The Associated Press
03/27/05 11:32 EST

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) – Vic Darchinyan stopped Mzukisi Sikali in
the eighth round Sunday to retain the IBF flyweight title.

Darchinyan (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Armenia now living in Australia,
was leading on all three judges’ cards when he knocked out Sikali
(32-6).

Darchinyan won the title in December with an 11th-round technical
knockout of Irene Pacheco.

***************************************************************************
This regional compilation was contributed to by:
Katia Peltekian
Mihran Keheyian
Ruben Sulahian

–Boundary_(ID_tzpTDsr6RizO41lDlE7KUQ)–

* Dutch Czech mate
* Football: England Defeats N. Ireland in European World Cup Qualifier
* French Folly Boosts Republic
* Group-by-group analysis of European World Cup qualifiers
* Armenia edge Andorra 2-1 for first World Cup win
* Ljungberg On Song For Sweden
* WC Qualifying: Armenia too strong for Andorra
* World Cup 2006 qualifying review
* Traditional European powers take control of UEFA qualification
* Soccerway, Netherlands
* World Cup qualifying results and fixtures
* Armenia beats Andorra 2-1 in World Cup qualifying
* Armenia edge Andorra 2-1 for first World Cup win

***************************************************************************
Dutch Czech mate

Special Broadcasting Service, Australia

Sunday, March 27, 2005

LATEST NEWS

PA

Dutch midfielder Philip Cocu (in white) tussles with a Romanian opponent in
Bucharest

Netherlands retained pole position in World Cup Qualifying European Zone
Group One with a win in Romania while Czech Republic defeated Finland in a
thriller.

Netherlands recorded as impressive 2-0 win over Romania in Bucharest,
although the win was tainted by an injury to Arjen Robben mid-way through
the first half.

A goal in the first minute of the match by Phillip Cocu and in the last five
minutes from debutant Ryan Babel made sure of the win, which keeps the Dutch
a point clear in the group after the Czech Republic beat Finland 4-3 to move
into second ahead of Romania.

It was a dream start to the game for Marco van Basten’s travelling army,
edging in front after just 45 seconds when veteran midfielder Cocu beat
Tiberiu Ghioane in the air to head home from a Robben corner.

Romania nearly equalised in the 10th minute but Viorel Moldovan’s header
from eight yards out was saved by keeper Edwin van der Sar.

The visitors looked the more dangerous creating good scoring opportunities
on rapid counterattacks by Robben and Dirk Kuijt, but were dealt a blow on
22 minutes when Robben had to leave the game with a calf injury that looks
set to force him out of the Armenia game on Wednesday.

Early reports suggest an even longer lay-off could be Robben’s fate.

“He has something wrong with his calf. It’s mysterious and they (the
doctors) are looking into it,” Van Basten said.

“Robben’s injury looks quite bad – he probably won’t play against Armenia
and it looks like a longer injury.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy headed narrowly wide for the Dutch just after the half
hour as they went in search of the second before the break.

However, it was the home side who came out all guns blazing after the break.

They went close in the 55th minute when Daniel Pancu fired a powerful low
shot from just inside the area but Van der Sar held onto the effort.

Pancu also went close from a free kick five minutes later but his shot went
just wide.

Netherlands retook control of the game when Kuyt and Van Nistelrooy fired
dangerous shots on goal, but their efforts were denied by goalkeeper Bogdan
Lobont.

And it was Robben’s replacement, Babel, who made it 2-0 in the 85th minute
with a low shot to the near corner after a counter-attack had caught the
Romanian defence off guard.

And although Pancu had twice gone close earlier in the half van der Sar was
never placed under any real danger and the Oranje ran out worthy winners.

Romania now go to Macedonia on Wednesday and coach Victor Piturca will be
looking to bounce back to keep their chances of qualifying for the World Cup
in 2006 alive after slipping to third in the group with this defeat.

A late goal by Vratislav Lokvenc snatched victory for the Czech Republic in
a seven-goal encounter against Finland to give Karel Bruckner’s side a
massive boost.

Lokvenc would not have been playing had leading Czech goalscorer Jan Koller
not suffered a thigh injury playing for Borussia Dortmund last week, but
Koller’s stand-in struck with just three minutes remaining to prove his
worth.

The Bochum target-man played in attack alongside Liverpool’s Milan Baros,
who gave the hosts an early lead before Tomas Rosicky put them in control
just after the half-hour.

Jari Litmanen replied immediately after the break but Jan Polak restored the
Czechs’ two-goal cushion before the hour.

However, Finland came back once more to equalise through Aki Riihilahti and
substitute Jonatan Johansson, yet Lokvenc’s late effort would ultimately
leave the battling Finns empty-handed.

Bruckner was also without Tomas Galasek and Zdenek Grygera through injury
but that did not stop his side getting off to a flying start.

It took Baros just seven minutes to open the scoring with his first goal of
the qualifying campaign after Rosicky had dispossessed Joonas Kolkka and
delivered a low cross for Baros to convert past Finland goalkeeper Jussi
Jaaskelainen.

Lokvenc then went close with a 19th-minute header, before Rosicky netted his
10th international goal with a 30-yard free-kick after 34 minutes.

Finland were earlier handed a lifeline when home keeper Petr Cech dropped
the ball in the 22nd minute after collecting a cross, but Shefki Kuqi missed
from 10 yards.

The visitors were level in the 46th minute though, when Litmanen volleyed
home his first goal in eight internationals from Riihilahti’s left-wing
cross.

With 58 minutes gone, the pressure on the home side was eased by Polak, who
has benefited from the injuries to Galasek and Grygera to earn a recall to
the national side after five years.

The midfielder scored on his return in last month’s friendly win over
Slovenia and made it two-in-two following a superb solo run and accurate
assist from Rosicky.

Crystal Palace midfielder Riihilahti beat Chelsea keeper Cech last weekend
in England’s Premiership and pounced on a poor header by Sami Hyypia to
repeat the feat and give Finland hope in the 73rd minute.

With only their third shot of the half, Finland then levelled with their
third goal of the half. A minute after coming off the bench, Johansson
capitalised on a rare error by Rosicky in the 79th minute to score.

But just as Finland thought they had salvaged a point, Lokvenc dashed their
hopes with his 10th international goal, a powerful drive from the edge of
the box.

Czech Republic will now look to consolidate their place against Andorra on
Wednesday, but it’s a long wait for Finland to try to revive their World Cup
dream – their home clash with the Dutch isn’t until June 8.

A second-half goal from Romik Khachatrian was enough to seal a 2-1 victory
for Armenia in the basement battle with Andorra.

The Armenians therefore picked up their first win in the qualifiers and
after taking a shock point in their last match with Romania will travel to
the Netherlands for their next test in great spirits.

Their French coach Bernard Casoni will have been delighted with his team’s
performance as they were missing both captain Harutyun Vardanian and
top-scorer Artur Petrosian through injury.

However Andorra have now dropped to the bottom of the group pile at the
expense of their rivals and their week is unlikely to get better for the
minnows from the Pyrenees when they host the Czech Republic in midweek.

It was all Armenia in the first-half and it was no surprise when they took a
32nd minute lead as Ara Hakobian beat Andorra goalkeeper Koldo Alvarez.

The home side then missed a good chance to extend their lead nine minutes
later as midfielder Artavadz Karamian’s header just shaved the post.

Andorra had only managed a single shot on target in the first period so it
came as something of a shock as they levelled the scoreline in the 57th
minute.

Justo Ruiz’s powerful free kick hit the post and bounced back to create
havoc in the home penalty area.

Fernando Silva was alert to the opportunity and was first to reach the ball
heading home past keeper Roman Berezovsky.

But Armenia were not to be denied and Khachatrian grabbed the winner in
spectacular fashion in the 73rd minute.

The midfielder smashed in a long-range rocket from more than 30 yards from
goal that left Alvarez with no chance.

Andorra, despite this setback, will at least take something from this
qualifying group when they are inevitably eliminated.

Earlier in the competition they beat FYR Macedonia in what was their first
ever victory in a competitive international in their short footballing
history.

***************************************************************************
Football: England Defeats N. Ireland in European World Cup Qualifier
By VOA Sports

Voice of America
March 26 2005

26 March 2005

England’s national football (soccer) team has defeated Northern
Ireland, 4-0, while the Czech Republic edged Finland, 4-3 in European
qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

All of England’s goals came in the second half, with Joe Cole scoring
for the home side in the 47th minute. Michael Owen added a second
goal in the 52nd minute. Northern Ireland’s Chris Baird knocked the
ball into his own goal to give England a 3-0 lead, and Frank Lampar
of England added the fourth score in the 62nd minute.

Also in Group-6, Austria scored a 2-0 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Ivica Vastic scored in the 82nd minute and Martin Stranzl added the
second Austrian goal four minutes later.

In Group-1, the Czech Republic needed an 87th-minute goal from
Vratislav Lokvenc to beat Finland, 4-3 in Teplice. The Czechs lead
the group with 12 points. Also in Group-1, Armenia defeated Andorra,
2-1, in Yerevan, with Ara Hakobian and Romik Khachtrian scoring for
the home side. Fernando Silva scored for Armenia.

In Group-3 play, Russia defeated Liechtenstein, 2-1 in Vaduz, thanks
to goals from Alexander Kerzhakov (23rd minute) and Andrei Kariaka
(37th minute). Also in Group-3, Slovakia defeated Estonia, 2-1, in
Tallinn.

In Group-8, Sweden shut out Bulgaria, 3-0, in Sofia. Fredrik
Ljungberg scored two goals for Sweden, including a 90th minute
penalty. Erik Edman added Sweden’s other goal.

A total of 17 qualifiers are on the schedule in Europe, Saturday. In
European qualifying, the winner of each group and the two best
second-place teams earn automatic berths to next year’s World Cup.
The six other second-place teams are drawn against each other for
playoffs to earn three berths to the tournament.

***************************************************************************
French Folly Boosts Republic
By Jamie Gardner, PA Sport

Scotsman, UK
Sunday, 27th March 2005

“PA” News
Sat 26 Mar 2005
10:03pm (UK)

The Republic of Ireland clung on to top spot in World Cup qualifying Group
Four as France were held to a goalless draw by Switzerland.

Ireland were denied victory against Israel in Tel Aviv by an injury-time
equaliser, but France were similarly frustrated as they failed to find a way
past the Swiss at the Stade de France.

Ireland, Israel and France are still locked together, now on nine points,
with Les Bleus travelling to Israel for another qualifier on Wednesday
night.

Poland look set to fight England all the way for top spot in World Cup
qualifying Group Six after drubbing Azerbaijan 8-0 in Warsaw.

They kept within a point of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men, who face the Azeris
at St James’ Park on Wednesday, and possess superior goal difference.

On this evidence England’s task in midweek should not be too onerous and the
Poles won at a canter with a hat-trick from Tomasz Frankowski, two for
substitute Marek Saganowski and one each for Kamil Kosowski and Jacek
Krzynowek. An early own goal from Aftandil Hadzhiev helped Poland on their
way.

Holland held on to top spot in Group One with a 2-0 win over Romania in
Bucharest, overcoming the loss of Arjen Robben to injury after just 21
minutes.

PSV Eindhoven veteran Phillip Cocu scored the first for the Dutch in the
opening minute and Robben’s replacement Ryan Babel added a second five
minutes later.

The Czech Republic moved up to second in the group as they overcame Finland
4-3 in an extraordinary match in Teplice.

Liverpool striker Milan Baros put the home side ahead in the seventh minute
and Borussia Dortmund star Tomas Rosicky made it 2-0 after 33 minutes.

Veteran former Liverpool forward Jari Litmanen pulled one back for the Finns
a minute into the second half but the two-goal cushion was restored by Jan
Polak (58).

Finland did not give up though and pulled back to 3-3 with two goals in six
minutes from Crystal Palace midfielder Aki Riihilahti and Charlton’s Jonatan
Johansson, before Vratislav Lokvenc scored the winner three minutes from
time.

Armenia moved above Andorra at the bottom of the group with a 2-1 win in
Yerevan.

Arsenal forward Freddie Ljungberg grabbed two goals and Tottenham defender
Erik Edman scored the other as Sweden cruised to a 3-0 away win over
Bulgaria in Group Eight to stay top of their pool.

Croatia claimed a comfortable 4-0 win over Iceland to keep within two points
of the Swedes with a game in hand. Rangers striker Dado Prso scored the last
of his side’s goals in the final minute.

Bolton midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos scored Greece’s third as the
European champions cut Group Two leaders Ukraine’s lead to three points by
beating Georgia 3-1 in Tbilisi.

In the same group, Denmark saw off Kazakhstan 3-0 in Copenhagen, while
Turkey beat Albania 2-0 in Istanbul with both goals coming in the first five
minutes.

Belgium came back from the shock of conceding a first-minute goal to beat
Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in Group Seven. Rangers midfielder Thomas Buffel
scored the fourth for Belgium with Hamburg striker Emile Mpenza scoring two.

Slovakia moved level on points with Group Three leaders Portugal after a 2-1
win in Estonia, while Russia stayed within three points of the top two by
beating Liechtenstein by the same score in Vaduz.

***************************************************************************
Group-by-group analysis of European World Cup qualifiers
Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:42 PM GMT

Reuters, UK
March 26 2005

LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) – A group-by-group analysis of Saturday’s
European World Cup qualifying matches:

GROUP ONE

The Netherlands edged ahead in the very tight group with a priceless
2-0 win over second-placed Romania in Bucharest, a defeat that sent
the Romanians down to third place.

The Czech Republic moved above the Romanians on to 12 points — one
behind the Dutch, after their thrilling 4-3 win over Finland, who are
fourth on nine.

The Netherlands should consolidate their position with a win over
Armenia on Wednesday. The Armenians though had reason to cheer on
Saturday moving off the bottom with a 2-1 win over Andorra.

– – –

GROUP TWO

European champions Greece continued their improvement with a 2-1 win
in Georgia that lifted them on to 11 points, three behind leaders
Ukraine who did not play. Denmark and Turkey also maintained their
push towards the finals with the Danes beating Kazakhstan 3-0 in
Copenhagen and Turkey overcoming Albania 2-0 in Istanbul.

Three fascinating ties on Wednesday could prove more of a pointer as
to who might ultimately qualify, with Ukraine playing Denmark, Greece
playing Albania and Georgia hosting neighbouring Turkey.

– – –

GROUP THREE

Slovakia won 2-1 in Estonia to pull level with Portugal on 13 points
at the top of the group — before playing Portugal at home in
Bratislava on Wednesday.

Russia stayed in contention with the leading pair by overcoming a
plucky Liechtenstein side 2-1 in Vaduz to take their total to 10
points from five matches before their visit to Estonia on Wednesday.

Portugal warmed up with a 4-1 friendly win over Canada.

– – –

GROUP FOUR Two draws between Israel and Ireland (1-1) and France and
Switzerland (0-0) left the order unchanged between the four teams
looking to qualify.

Ireland, France and Israel all moved on to nine points from five
matches while Switzerland moved on to six from four, but Switzerland
should gain three more points on Wednesday when they host Cyprus, 2-1
winners against Jordan in a friendly on Saturday.

Israel, who scored a stoppage time equaliser to deny the Irish
victory in Tel Aviv, host France on Wednesday in a crucial match for
both teams following France’s third successive home goalless
qualifying draw.

– – –

GROUP FIVE Italy consolidated their leading place with 12 points from
five matches after beating Scotland 2-0 in Milan in the only match
played. Norway, in second place with seven points from four games,
should close the gap again on Wednesday when they travel to Moldova.

Slovenia, beaten 1-0 in a friendly by World Cup hosts Germany on
Saturday, must beat Belarus on Wednesday to stay in the hunt.

– – –

GROUP SIX The top three teams beat the bottom three to leave England,
Poland and Austria in a three-way battle for the top two places, with
England leading the way after their 4-0 victory over Northern
Ireland.

Poland’s spectacular 8-0 win over Azerbaijan — their biggest win for
nearly 42 years — and Austria’s 2-0 win over Wales effectively split
the group in half and the gap is likely to grow even wider on
Wednesday when England play Azerbaijan, Austria play Wales again in
Vienna and Poland host Northern Ireland. – – –

GROUP SEVEN Belgium beat Bosnia 4-1 in the only match played and
although that lifts them only up to fourth in the six-team group, it
does keep their faint hopes alive.

The picture should become a little clearer after Wednesday when
Bosnia play Lithuania, Belgium travel to no-hopers San Marino and the
leading two, Serbia & Montenegro and Spain meet in Belgrade.

– – –

GROUP EIGHT Leaders Sweden took a giant step towards the finals with
a convincing 3-0 win in Sofia over Bulgaria, who started the day in
second place but ended it in third after Croatia later beat Iceland
4-0.

Sweden, who have now won six successive qualifiers away from home —
one short of Germany’s record — do not play on Wednesday but are
almost certain to pick up another three points when they host Malta
in June.

Croatia, who were far too strong for Iceland, will go top of the
group on Wednesday, if, as expected, they beat Malta at home.

***************************************************************************
Armenia edge Andorra 2-1 for first World Cup win
Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:34 PM GMT

Reuters, UK
March 26 2005

YEREVAN, March 26 (Reuters) – Armenia recorded their first victory in
their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, beating fellow outsiders
Andorra 2-1 in a Group One match on Saturday.

Midfielder Romik Khachatryan, who plays for Greek first division side
OFI Crete, scored the winner from close range seven minutes from time
to send the home crowd wild.

Ara Hakobyan put the Armenians 1-0 up with a cracking shot iafter 32
minutes but Fernando Silva equalised for the visitors shortly after
the break.

The win allowed bottom-of-the-table Armenia to draw level with
Andorra on four points from six matches and one point behind
fifth-placed Macedonia, who were not playing on Saturday.

None of those teams have a chance of reaching the finals, but all
want to avoid finishing bottom of the group when it ends in October.

***************************************************************************
Ljungberg On Song For Sweden

SportingLife, UK
March 26 2005

Sweden’s stranglehold at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Eight
was strengthened with a superb 3-0 win at closest rivals Bulgaria.

Attacking midfielder Freddie Ljungberg was the Swede’s
tormentor-in-chief, opening the scoring in the 17th minute before
closing the game out with a last-minute penalty.

Tottenham left-back Erik Edman had already sealed the points with the
second in the 73rd minute as Bulgaria.

Armenia picked up their first victory in Group One as they edged out
fellow strugglers Andorra 2-1 at the Hanrapetakan Stadium.

Ara Hakobian put the hosts ahead in the 32nd minute but they were
pegged back when Fernando Silva scored 12 minutes after the break.

Romik Khachatrian was the match-winner for Armenia with a 73rd-minute
strike as his side climb above their vanquished opponents at the foot
of the table.

***************************************************************************
WC Qualifying: Armenia too strong for Andorra

SoccerWay, Netherlands
March 26 2005

World Cup 2006

YEREVAN, March 26 (SW) – In the first European qualifier played on
Saturday, Armenia achieved their first win of the campaign over
Andorra, it was however, anything but easy.

32 minutes had been played in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, when Ara
Hakobian put the hosts ahead. However, Andorra levelled in the 57th
minute to force Armenia to start over again. In the 73rd minute, the
decisive goal came from Romik Khachatrian, to give the home team a
2-1 win.

In other Group 1 matches on Saturday, the Czech Republic host Finland
in Teplice, while the Dutch play away to Romania.

***************************************************************************
World Cup 2006 qualifying review

BBC Sport, UK
March 26 2005

England 4-0 N Ireland
Wales 0-2 Austria

England sustained their place at the top of Group Six with a thumping
4-0 home victory over Northern Ireland.

A Joe Cole shot opened the scoring and Michael Owen hit a second
before Chris Baird’s own goal and Frank Lampard’s deflected shot
sealed the win.

Wales’ hopes look slim after Ivica Vastic and Martin Stranzl scored
late goals to secure Austria a 2-0 victory.

Second-placed Poland can close the gap on England if they beat
Azerbaijan in their game which kicks off at 1700 GMT.

GROUP 1
The battle of the bottom two nations ended in a first victory for
Armenia, who moved above Andorra after beating them 2-1.

Ara Hakobyan put Armenia and Fernando Silva equalised but Romik
Khachatryan scored an 83rd-minute winner.

***************************************************************************
Traditional European powers take control of UEFA qualification

Sports Network
03/26 17:11:41 ET

Bucharest, Romania (Sports Network) – Heavyweights such as Holland, England,
Italy and Sweden all continued to improve its positions Saturday with
comfortable victories in UEFA World Cup qualifying.

The Netherlands was able to walk into Romania and post a 2-0 victory in
hostile conditions. Philip Cocu and Ryan Babel scored for Marco van Basten,
whose squad now leads Group 1 with 13 points after five matches.

Babel scored his first goal for the Dutch in his first game. Cocu headed
home an early corner from Arjen Robben, who was later forced to leave the
game due to injury. The Chelsea standout has struggled all season with
various injuries.

The Czech Republic and Armenia also won in Group 1 action Saturday. The
Czech side was able to hold off Finland, 4-3, in a wild contest. Vratislav
Lokvenc scored the decisive goal just three minutes from time. Armenia beat
Andorra, 2-1, to earn its first win in six tries.

England exploded for all its goal in the second half of a 4-0 victory over
Northern Ireland in Group 6 action. The Three Lions received strikes from
Joe Cole, Michael Owen and Frank Lampard to remain unbeaten in qualifying
action. An own goal by Northern Ireland accounted for the game’s other
strike.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side now has 13 points, one ahead of second-place
Poland, which crushed Azerbaijan by a score of 8-0. Austria shut down Wales
in Cardiff, 2-0. Two late goals allowed Austria to keep pace with the top
two, but it still sits four points back of Poland and five behind England.

Sweden had little trouble in its Group 8 match against 10-men Bulgaria in
Sofia. Freddie Ljungberg scored twice in the 3-0 victory, which allowed the
Swedes to remain atop its group, two points ahead of Croatia. The Croats
easily defeated visiting Iceland, 4-0. Bulgaria dropped five points behind
Sweden and three behind Croatia.

Italy, meanwhile, received two strikes from Andrea Pirlo to lead the Azzurri
to a 2-0 win over Scotland in a Group 5 game at the San Siro. Italy now sits
comfortably atop its group with 12 points from five matches.

The only power that did not earn three points Saturday was France.
Switzerland held Les Bleus without a goal in Paris during a scoreless draw.
Israel scored a goal in extra time to earn a 1-1 draw at home against
Ireland in Group 4 action. France, Israel and Ireland all remained even on
points with nine.

To no surprise, Greece, Turkey and Denmark each posted Group 2 victories.
Greece won at Georgia, 3-1; Turkey scored twice in the first five minutes of
a 2-0 victory over Albania; Denmark easily disposed of Kazakhstan, 3-0.

Slovakia and Russia both earned 2-1 road triumphs in Group 3 games. Slovakia
won at Estonia and Russia won at Liechtenstein.

In Saturday’s final UEFA game, Belgium cruised to a 4-1 victory at home over
Bosnia Herzegovina in Group 7 action.

03/26 17:11:41 ET

***************************************************************************
Soccerway, Netherlands

WC Qualifying: Holland beat Romania, Czechs escape versus Finland

[WC Qualifying: Armenia too strong for Andorra]

World Cup 2006

BUCHAREST/TEPLICE/YEREVAN, March 26 (SW) – The Netherlands are a step closer
to qualification for the 2006 World Cup following an away win against
Romania, while the Czechs escaped at home versus Finland. Earlier, Armenia
defeated Andorra.

Marco Van Basten’s team had a perfect start in the Romanian capital, as
Phillip Cocu headed home from a corner after only 41 seconds. The Romanians
were unable to pressurize the Dutch lead, and a goal from the young Ryan
Babel in the 85th minute decided the match, 0-2.

Only downside for the Dutch was the substitution of Arjen Robben, who
suffered an ankle injury in the first half.

Earlier, Liverpool striker Milan Baros put the Czech Republic ahead in the
7th minute, and Borussia Dortmund’s Tomas Rosicky added a second goal in the
34th. Jari Litmanen got one back for Finland, but things seemed to have been
decided when Jan Polak restored the gap of two, in Czech favour, after 58
minutes.

The Finnish visitors refused to give up however and goals from Aki
Riihilahti in the 73rd, and Jonatan Johansson in the 79th gave the game a
new balance. But the decision came in the 87th minute when Vratislav Lokvenc
saved the day for the Czechs, scoring for 4-3.

32 minutes had been played in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, when Ara Hakobian
put the hosts ahead. However, Andorra levelled in the 57th minute to force
Armenia to start over again. In the 73rd minute, the decisive goal came from
Romik Khachatrian, to give the home team a 2-1 win.

The Netherlands lead in Group 1, with 13 points from 5 matches, while the
Czechs are second with 12. Romania take the third place with 10 points from
6 matches, followed by Finland (9), Macedonia (5) and Armenia and Andorra,
both with 4 points.

copyright © Jonathan Roorda

***************************************************************************
World Cup qualifying results and fixtures

The Guardian – United Kingdom
Mar 26, 2005

Group One

P W D L F A Pts

Holland 4 3 1 0 10 3 10

Romania 5 3 1 1 10 5 10

Finland 5 3 0 2 10 6 9

Czech Republic 4 3 0 1 6 2 9

Macedonia FYR 6 1 2 3 6 7 5

Andorra 5 1 1 3 2 11 4

Armenia 5 0 1 4 2 12 1

Previous results: Aug 18 Romania 2 Finland 1, Macedonia 3 Armenia 0. Sept 4
Finland 3 Andorra 0, Romania 2 Macedonia 1. Sept 8 Armenia 0 Finland 2, Andorra
1 Romania 5, Holland 2 Czech Rep 0. Oct 9 Czech Rep 1 Romania 0, Finland 3
Armenia 1, Macedonia 2 Holland 2. Oct 13 Andorra 1 Macedonia 0, Armenia 0 Czech
Rep 3, Holland 3 Finland 1. Nov 17 Macedonia 0 Czech Rep 2, Armenia 1 Romania
1, Andorra 0 Holland 3. Feb 9 Macedonia 0 Andorra 0.

Remaining fixtures: Today Armenia v Andorra, Czech Republic v Finland,
Romania v Holland. Wednesday Andorra v Czech Republic, Macedonia v Romania, Holland
v Armenia. Jun 4 Armenia v Macedonia, Czech Republic v Andorra, Holland v
Romania. Jun 8 Czech Republic v Macedonia, Finland v Holland, Romania v Armenia.
Aug 17 Romania v Andorra, Macedonia v Finland. Sept 3 Andorra v Finland,
Armenia v Holland, Romania v Czech Republic. Sep 7 Finland v Macedonia, Czech
Republic v Armenia, Holland v Andorra. Oct 8 Finland v Romania, Czech Republic v
Holland. Oct 12 Andorra v Armenia, Holland v Macedonia, Finland v Czech Republic.

Group Two

P W D L F A Pts

Ukraine 6 4 2 0 11 3 14

Greece 5 2 2 1 7 5 8

Denmark 5 1 3 1 7 6 6

Turkey 5 1 3 1 6 5 6

Albania 5 2 0 3 3 7 6

Georgia 4 1 2 1 5 5 5

Kazakhstan 4 0 0 4 2 10 0

Previous results: Sept 4 Turkey 1 Georgia 1, Denmark 1 Ukraine 1, Albania 2
Greece 1. Sept 8 Kazakhstan 1 Ukraine 2, Georgia 2 Albania 0, Greece 0 Turkey
0. Oct 9 Ukraine 1 Greece 1, Turkey 4 Kazakhstan 0, Albania 0 Denmark 2. Oct 13
Denmark 1 Turkey 1, Kazakhstan 0 Albania 1, Ukraine 2 Georgia 0 Nov 17
Georgia 2 Denmark 2, Greece 3 Kazakhstan 1, Turkey 0 Ukraine 3. Feb 9 Albania 0
Ukraine 2, Greece 2 Denmark 1.

Remaining fixtures: Today Denmark v Kazakhstan, Georgia v Greece, Turkey v
Albania Wednesday Georgia v Turkey, Greece v Albania, Ukraine v Denmark Jun 4
Albania v Georgia, Turkey v Greece, Ukraine v Kazakhstan Jun 8 Denmark v
Albania, Greece v Ukraine, Kazakhstan v Turkey Aug 17 Kazakhstan v Georgia Sept 3
Georgia v Ukraine, Turkey v Denmark, Albania v Kazakhstan Sept 7 Ukraine v
Turkey, Denmark v Georgia, Kazakhstan v Greece Oct 8 Ukraine v Albania, Denmark v
Greece, Georgia v Kazakhstan Oct 12 Albania v Turkey, Greece v Georgia,
Kazakhstan v Denmark.

Group Three

P W D L F A Pts

Portugal 5 4 1 0 20 3 13

Slovakia 4 3 1 0 15 3 10

Russia 4 2 1 1 10 8 7

Latvia 5 2 1 2 10 12 7

Estonia 5 2 1 2 8 11 7

Liechtenstein 5 1 1 3 8 14 4

Luxembourg 6 0 0 6 4 24

Previous results: Aug 18 Liechtenstein 1 Estonia 2, Slovakia 3 Luxembourg 1.
Sept 4 Estonia 4 Luxembourg 0, Russia 1 Slovakia 1, Latvia 0 Portugal 2. Sept
8 Luxembourg 3 Latvia 4, Slovakia 7 Liechtenstein 0, Portugal 4 Estonia 0. Oct
9 Luxembourg 0 Russia 4, Slovakia 4 Latvia 1, Liechtenstein 2 Portugal 2. Oct
13 Latvia 2 Estonia 2, Luxembourg 0 Liechtenstein 4, Portugal 7 Russia 1. Nov
17 Liechtenstein 1 Latvia 3, Luxembourg 0 Portugal 5, Russia 4 Estonia 0.

Remaining fixtures: Today Estonia v Slovakia, Liechtenstein v Russia.
Wednesday Estonia v Russia, Latvia v Luxembourg, Slovakia v Portugal. Jun 4 Estonia v
Liechtenstein, Portugal v Slovakia, Russia v Latvia. Jun 8 Estonia v
Portugal, Latvia v Liechtenstein, Luxembourg v Slovakia. Aug 17 Liechtenstein v
Slovakia, Latvia v Russia. Sept 3 Estonia v Latvia, Portugal v Luxembourg, Russia v
Liechtenstein. Sept 7 Liechtenstein v Luxembourg, Latvia v Slovakia, Russia v
Portugal. Oct 8 Russia v Luxembourg, Slovakia v Estonia, Portugal v
Liechtenstein. Oct 12 Luxembourg v Estonia, Portugal v Latvia, Slovakia v Russia.

Group Four

P W D L F A Pts

Rep of Ireland 4 2 2 0 6 1 8

France 4 2 2 0 4 0 8

Israel 4 2 2 0 6 4 8

Switzerland 3 1 2 0 9 3 5

Cyprus 5 0 1 4 4 11 1

Faroe Islands 4 0 1 3 2 12 1

Previous results: Sept 4 Republic of Ireland 3 Cyprus 0, Switzerland 6 Faroe
Islands 0, France 0 Israel 0. Sept 8 Faroe Islands 0 France 2, Israel 2 Cyprus
1, Switzerland 1 Republic of Ireland 1. Oct 9 Cyprus 2 Faroe Islands 2,
Israel 2 Switzerland 2, France 0 Republic of Ireland 0. Oct 13 Cyprus 0 France 2,
Republic of Ireland 2 Faroe Islands 0. Nov 17 Cyprus 1 Israel 2.

Remaining fixtures: Today Israel v Republic of Ireland , Switzerland v
France. Wednesday Israel v France, Switzerland v Cyprus. Jun 4 Faroe Islands v
Switzerland, Republic of Ireland v Israel. Jun 8 Faroe Islands v Republic of
Ireland . Aug 17 Faroe Islands v Cyprus. Sept 3 Switzerland v Israel, France v Faroe
Islands. Sept 7 Republic of Ireland v France, Faroe Islands v Israel, Cyprus
v Switzerland. Oct 8 Switzerland v France, Israel v Faroe Islands, Cyprus v
Republic of Ireland . Oct 12 Republic of Ireland v Switzerland, France v Cyprus.

Group Five

P W D L F A Pts

Italy 4 3 0 1 7 5 9

Norway 4 2 1 1 6 3 7

Slovenia 4 2 1 1 4 3 7

Belarus 3 1 1 1 8 5 4

Scotland 3 0 2 1 1 2 2

Moldova 4 0 1 3 1 9 1

Previous results: Sept 4 Slovenia 3 Moldova 0, Italy 2 Norway 1. Sept 8
Norway 1 Belarus 1, Moldova 0 Italy 1, Scotland 0 Slovenia 0. Oct 9 Scotland 0
Norway 1, Belarus 4 Moldova 0, Slovenia 1 Italy 0. Oct 13 Italy 4 Belarus 3,
Moldova 1 Scotland 1, Norway 3 Slovenia 0.

Remaining fixtures: Today Italy v Scotland . Wednesday Moldova v Norway,
Slovenia v Belarus. Jun 4 Belarus v Slovenia, Norway v Italy, Scotland v Moldova.
Jun 8 Belarus v Scotland . Sept 3 Moldova v Belarus, Slovenia v Norway,
Scotland v Italy. Sept 7 Norway v Scotland , Moldova v Slovenia, Belarus v Italy.
Oct 8 Norway v Moldova, Scotland v Belarus, Italy v Slovenia. Oct 12 Belarus v
Norway, Slovenia v Scotland , Italy v Moldova.

Group Six

P W D L F A Pts

England 4 3 1 0 7 3 10

Poland 4 3 0 1 10 5 9

Austria 4 1 2 1 8 8 5

Northern Ireland 4 0 3 1 5 8 3

Wales 4 0 2 2 5 8 2

Azerbaijan 4 0 2 2 1 4 2

Previous results: Sept 4 Northern Ireland 0 Poland 3, Azerbaijan 1 Wales 1,
Austria 2 England 2. Sept 8 Austria 2 Azerbaijan 0, Poland 1 England 2, Wales 2
Northern Ireland 2. Oct 9 England 2 Wales 0, Austria 1 Poland 3, Azerbaijan 0
Northern Ireland 0 Oct 13 Azerbaijan 0 England 1, Northern Ireland 3 Austria
3, Wales 2 Poland 3.

Remaining fixtures: Today England v Northern Ireland , Poland v Azerbaijan,
Wales v Austria. Wednesday Austria v Wales , England v Azerbaijan (St James’
Park), Poland v Northern Ireland . Jun 4 Azerbaijan v Poland. Sept 3 Northern
Ireland v Azerbaijan, Poland v Austria, Wales v England . Sept 7 Azerbaijan v
Austria, Poland v Wales , Northern Ireland v England . Oct 8 England v Austria
(Old Trafford), Northern Ireland v Wales . Oct 12 Wales v Azerbaijan, England v
Poland (Old Trafford), Austria v Northern Ireland .

Group Seven

P W D L F A Pts

Serbia-Mont 4 3 1 0 10 0 10

Spain 4 2 2 0 8 1 8

Lithuania 4 2 2 0 6 1 8

Bosnia-Herz 2 0 2 0 1 1 2

Belgium 3 0 1 2 1 5 1

San Marino 5 0 0 5 0 18 0

Previous results: Sept 4 Belgium 1 Lithuania 1, San Marino 0
Serbia-Montenegro 3. Sept 8 Lithuania 4 San Marino 0, Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 Spain 1. Oct 9
Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 Serbia-Montenegro 0, Spain 2 Belgium 0. Oct 13 Lithuania 0
Spain 0, Serbia-Montenegro 5 San Marino 0. Nov 17 San Marino 0 Lithuania 1,
Belgium 0 Serbia-Montenegro 2. Feb 9 2005 Spain 5 San Marino 0.

Remaining fixtures: Today Belgium v Bosnia-Herzegovina. Wednesday
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Lithuania, San Marino v Belgium, Serbia-Montenegro v Spain. Jun 4
San Marino v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro v Belgium, Spain v Lithuania.
Jun 8 Spain v Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sept 3 Bosnia-Herzegovina v Belgium,
Serbia-Montenegro v Lithuania. Sept 7 Lithuania v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium v San
Marino, Spain v Serbia-Montenegro. Oct 8 Belgium v Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina v
San Marino, Lithuania v Serbia-Montenegro. Oct 12 San Marino v Spain,
Lithuania v Belgium, Serbia-Montenegro v Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Group Eight

P W D L F A Pts

Sweden 4 3 0 1 14 2 9

Bulgaria 3 2 1 0 9 4 7

Croatia 3 2 1 0 6 2 7

Hungary 4 2 0 2 5 8 6

Iceland 4 0 1 3 4 10 1

Malta 4 0 1 3 1 13 1

Previous results: Sept 4 Iceland 1 Bulgaria 3, Croatia 3 Hungary 0, Malta 0
Sweden 7. Sept 8 Sweden 0 Croatia 1, Hungary 3 Iceland 2. Oct 9 Sweden 3
Hungary 0, Malta 0 Iceland 0, Croatia 2 Bulgaria 2. Oct 13 Bulgaria 4 Malta 1,
Iceland 1 Sweden 4. Nov 17 Malta 0 Hungary 2.

Remaining fixtures: Today Bulgaria v Sweden, Croatia v Iceland. Wednesday
Croatia v Malta, Hungary v Bulgaria. Jun 4 Bulgaria v Croatia, Iceland v Hungary,
Sweden v Malta. Jun 8 Iceland v Malta. Sept 3 Sweden v Bulgaria, Iceland v
Croatia, Hungary v Malta. Sept 7 Hungary v Sweden, Bulgaria v Iceland, Malta v
Croatia. Oct 8 Bulgaria v Hungary, Croatia v Sweden. Oct 12 Sweden v Iceland,
Malta v Bulgaria, Hungary v Croatia.

***************************************************************************
Armenia beats Andorra 2-1 in World Cup qualifying

AP Worldstream
Mar 26, 2005

Ara Hakobian and Romik Khachtrian scored a goal each Saturday, and Armenia
beat Andorra 2-1 in a European World Cup qualifying match.

Hakobian beat Andorra goalkeeper Koldo Alvarez in the 32nd minute, and
Khachtrian scored the winner for Armenia with a 30-meter drive in the 74th.

Fernando Silva briefly leveled for Andorra at Vazgen Sarkisian Stadium.

Armenia and Andorra are tied for last place in Group 1 with four points. It
was Armenia’s first win in six matches.

Armenia midfielder Artavazd Karamian missed a chance to add to his team’s
lead in the 41st minute when his header shaved the post.

Andorra managed just one shot on goal before the interval.

In the 57th minute, Justo Ruiz’s powerful free kick hit the right post and
bounced back into the box. Silva was first to reach the ball and headed in the
equalizer.

***************************************************************************
Armenia edge Andorra 2-1 for first World Cup win

Reuters.uk, UK

Sat Mar 26, 2005 5:34 PM GMT

YEREVAN, March 26 (Reuters) – Armenia recorded their first victory in their
2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, beating fellow outsiders Andorra 2-1 in
a Group One match on Saturday.

Midfielder Romik Khachatryan, who plays for Greek first division side OFI
Crete, scored the winner from close range seven minutes from time to send
the home crowd wild.

Ara Hakobyan put the Armenians 1-0 up with a cracking shot iafter 32 minutes
but Fernando Silva equalised for the visitors shortly after the break.

The win allowed bottom-of-the-table Armenia to draw level with Andorra on
four points from six matches and one point behind fifth-placed Macedonia,
who were not playing on Saturday.

None of those teams have a chance of reaching the finals, but all want to
avoid finishing bottom of the group when it ends in October.

***************************************************************************
This regional compilation was contributed to by:
Katia Peltekian
Sebouh Z. Tashjian
Toros Babikian

–Boundary_(ID_6Prp34Vvz9kk+qY6agg2vg)–

French mission to Israel

Jewish Telegraphic Agency
March 25, 2005

French politicians are traveling to Israel.

The participants on the trip, which includes France’s trade minister,
Patrick Devedjian, will arrive in Israel on Sunday. Also on the trip
are 400 Jews who can trace their roots to Constantine, Algeria, who
will have a reunion with former residents of the city now living in
the Jewish state.

Houston Chronicle, TX
March 27 2005

Kremlin worried over latest uprising

Kyrgyzstan president’s ouster could spell trouble for authoritarian
Soviet republics
By ALEX RODRIGUEZ
Knight Ridder Tribune News

BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN – The latest democratic uprising to claim a
former Soviet republic had Moscow buzzing with trepidation: How many
more dominoes can fall?

ADVERTISEMENT

With Kremlin ally Askar Akayev ousted from power in Kyrgyzstan, a
debate in Russia has ensued over whether the fever for democracy can
take root in the rest of Central Asia or reach harsh, autocratic
regimes such as Alexander Lukashenko’s in Belarus.

Analysts say the Kremlin is finding itself increasingly powerless to
stanch the creep of democracy into former Soviet republics it still
covets. “It’s unfortunate that yet again in the post-Soviet space,
political problems in a country are resolved illegally and are
accompanied by pogroms and human victims,” Russian President Vladimir
Putin said in a visit to Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.

For the United States, the Kyrgyz uprising could potentially provide
an anchor of democratic stability in the volatile Central Asia
region.

In a little less than a year and a half, three former Soviet
republics ~W Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan ~W have undergone
revolutions seeded by anger over rigged or flawed elections.

Experts say the thirst for genuine civil society in the remaining
former Soviet republics is powerful and enduring.

“I think there are strong chances that the opposition might succeed
in countries neighboring Kyrgyzstan,” said Zeyno Baran, a Central
Asia affairs analyst for the Washington-based Nixon Center.

In the former Soviet republics, dissent is often silenced with
torture or imprisonment.

In Turkmenistan, where Saparmurad Niyazov has declared himself
president for life, political opposition virtually does not exist.

Uzbekistan’s president, Islam Karimov, heads a virtual police state
with a history of jailing political opponents and suppressing
religious freedoms.

Oil-rich Kazakhstan is an unlikely venue for change: Though regarded
as authoritarian, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has made strides
improving his country’s economy.

Calcutta Telegraph, India
Sunday, March 27, 2005

First drop for cancer centre

A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta, March 26: Siddhi Wohra’s parents had collected over Rs 10 lakh
from philanthropists for her bone marrow transplant.

The couple – both doctors – could not save their 15-year-old daughter. But
they will not let the money go waste. The Wohras will donate the sum for the
construction of a new cancer hospital in the city.

The 500-bedded hospital, part of Dr Devi Shetty’s dream of building a health
city here, is his fourth major project after the Rabindranath Tagore
International Institute for Cardiac Sciences, Shankar Netralaya and the
Armenian Church Trauma Centre.

In a live video-conference from Bangalore today, Shetty spoke to the Wohras.
“We want the world to know that the money has been donated for a noble
cause,” Swati, Siddhi’s mother, told him.

The hospital, to be built on a 20-acre plot, will be the nerve centre for
both cancer and bone marrow transplant.

“The construction work will start in a few months…. We are hopeful that in
two years’ time the hospital will be ready,” said Udayan Lahiri, the project
administrator.

Zaman Online

NATIONAL 03.26.2005 Saturday – ISTANBUL 09:37

Armenian Riot Under European Directive

By Erdal Sen
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com

As a result of a lengthy examination of the Ottoman archival documents
in order to rebuff the so-called Armenian genocide allegations,
crucial important evidence has been revealed.

During the studies conducted under the guidence of theTurkish Prime
Ministry State Archive General Directorate, documents that have
been discoved indicate that the Armenians organized themselves on
Ottoman territory in preparation for a revolt. The document is in
the form of a letter written 23 years ago. It was dated August 9,
1892 and sent from the General Secretariat of Marsilia and London to
the Adana Armenian Archbishop with the revolution plan given in detail.

The letter notes that Armenians spread throughout many countries would
send support and all details including the type of clothing to be worn
during the rioting expected to take place in the revolt was given. The
letter is recorded with the reference number: BOA.HR. SYS.2789/8
in the archive. Cutting the lines of communication, burning down
public buildings, and killing top level civil servants were among
the list of actions recorded in the letter as part of the launch of
the Armenian revolt.

According to the letter, some European countries oriented the
Armenians against the Ottomans and the Director Associate Professor
Yusuf Sarinay defends that the contents of this letter should be
revealed. He added that there are many similar letters in the archive
and that he is now attempting to collect all related Ottoman documents:
“We have published the Armenian-French relations in three volumes
and the Armenian-British relations in two volumes. Right now, we are
working on publishing the volumes on Armenian-Russian relations. We
are continuing the classification of the Ottoman archive.”

Ankara

Zaman Online

INTERNATIONAL 03.26.2005 Saturday – ISTANBUL 09:39

Government Success in EU, not in Iraq

By Zaman
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com

Fifty percent of Turks believe that “they are surrounded by enemies”.
According to a survey distributed by the Metropoll Strategic and Social
Researches Center, 38.9 percent of participants sees the US as “the enemy”
and 14.7 percent view it as Greece.

According to the results of the survey, Germany with 7.8 percent and
Azerbaijan with 7.7 percent were equal first as friends of Turkey. 75
percent of participants thought positively about the European Union (EU),
and 53 percent were positive about Palestine. Those countries that are
perceived negatively include Israel, Armenia, the US and Greece. The
Metropoll Company completed in March 2005 work relating to Turkish Foreign
Policy. The survey administered by conducting face-to-face interviews in the
city centers of Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir,
Konya, Malatya, Samsun, Tekirdag, and Trabzon to total of 2,642 people.

The survey results have revealed interesting discoveries with regard to
Turkey’s EU bid, with US, Russian, Iraq, and Cyprus policies. The
government’s foreign policy performance was viewed by 73.5 percent as
successful; while the policies pursued in regard to the EU received the most
support with 78.1 percent. This was followed by the policies regarding
neighboring countries at 61.7 percent, the Turkish Republics with 56.8
percent, the US 55.9 percent, the Middle East and Islamic counties with 55.7
percent. According to survey results, the only foreign policy issue that the
government was found to be unsuccessful, is Iraq. Metropoll has interpreted
the results as the public expect the government to execute policy peacefully
but; more actively. As 45.9 percent of the participants think that Turkey
would not gain full membership of EU, 38.2 believe it is the other way
around. While 66.3 percent of the participants claimed that in Turkey’
present condition it is not ready for EU membership. While 43.8 percent
oppose the recognition of Greeks in Cyprus, 42.9 are in favor, while 68.4
percent of the participants are against Turkey’s withdrawal of troops from
Cyprus. The only party that dominated those electorates that is in favor of
a troop withdrawal from Cyprus, is DEHAP (Democratic People’s Party) with
46.5 percent.

Ankara

Voice of America

Ousted Kyrgyz President Arrives in Moscow

By Anya Ardayeva
Moscow
26 March 2005

Askar Akayev (File photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered his help to the new
Kyrgyz leadership. Meanwhile, reports in Moscow say that ousted Kyrgyz
President Askar Akayev has taken refuge in Russia.

Kyrgyzstan’s interim leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, says he spoke to the Russian
leader on the phone, and was offered help.

Mr. Bakiyev says the Russian president expressed interest in what was
happening in Kyrgyzstan, and asked if any help from Russia was needed to
stabilize the situation. Mr. Bakiyev said he was grateful to the Russian
leader for showing concern and extending the hand of friendship to
Kyrgyzstan’s new leadership.

Vladimir Putin

Speaking in Yerevan, Armenia, on Friday, Vladimir Putin said the opposition
leaders in Kyrgyzstan who have formed an interim government were known well
in Russia, as they have worked in Kyrgyzstan’s government in the past, and
have contributed to developing relations between Moscow and Bishkek. He said
Russia was ready to do everything to further develop the relations between
the two nations.

Mr. Putin also said that the change of power in the central Asian nation was
a result of weak leadership and multiple social and economic problems in the
country.

The Russian leader said he was sorry that, once again, in the territory of
the former Soviet Union, political questions are solved, “in an unlawful
way,” and are accompanied by what he called pogroms and human casualties. He
called for Kyrgyzstan’s interim leaders to bring the situation in the
country under control.

The Russian president also said that ousted Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev
was welcome to come to Russia.

Mr. Akayev fled the country on March 24, as opposition supporters stormed
government buildings and took control of the capital, Bishkek. On Saturday,
the Interfax news agency reported, the Kremlin confirmed that the ousted
Kyrgyz leader had arrived in Russia. Mr. Akayev has said that he is still
Kyrgyzstan’s legitimate president. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the opposition leader
appointed by parliament to lead an interim government, said he would run in
a June election to replace Mr. Akayev as president.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Who lost the Russian empire? History will keep seat warm for Putin
by Christopher Boian

Agence France Presse — English
March 27, 2005 Sunday 1:09 AM GMT

MOSCOW March 27 — When history looks back coldly to determine “Who
lost the Russian empire?” it will surely reserve a seat for Vladimir
Putin, a leader propelled into the Kremlin on vows to revive a great
power but who by his own admission faces unforeseen challenges in
doing so.

Mikhail Gorbachev is still blamed by many Russians for the demise
of the Soviet Union, the 20th century’s incarnation of the Russian
empire. Boris Yeltsin is still reviled by many Russians who believe
he carelessly sold his country down the river in the decade that
followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Yet though still widely popular, it is Putin who during his five
years in power has presided over a precipitous decline in Russia’s
ability to influence the course of events in the part of the world
it has long dominated and continued to overshadow for more than a
decade even after the Soviet collapse.

And few seem more acutely aware of this irony of destiny than the
Russian president himself who has in recent months all but spelled
out that his country faces a paradox in which the only way to restore
its own power for the future is to consign the power long lorded over
neighbors to the past.

On Friday, the 52-year-old Putin, commenting on the regime change
in the ex-Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan following a revolt there,
went further than perhaps any Russian leader has in the past three
centuries in admitting that Moscow’s capacity to impose its will in
the vast portion of the planet once occupied by the Soviet Union was
more limited today than thought even a decade ago.

He said the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the body set up
in the immediate aftermath of the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union
and regarded to some degree by Moscow and its allies as a loose
replacement for the bloc, was really only a “useful club” designed
to facilitate the “civilized divorce” of ex-Soviet republics.

“If someone expected particular achievements in all areas of the
CIS, they have not occurred and could not have occurred,” Putin said
Friday at a news conference in Yerevan, the capital of the former
Soviet republic of Armenia.

“The processes following the breakup of the Soviet Union were different
than the goals that were initially declared” for the CIS, which groups
12 of the 15 former Soviet republics (the three Baltic states did not
join) and which until recent years held regular policy-coordinating
summits.

Through much of the 1990s and the early years of the present decade,
Russia in particular sought to use the CIS as a forum for promotion of
Moscow-directed plans for retaining close policy coordination among
members on everything from defense and economic issues to social and
political reforms.

“The CIS did not cope” with that objective, Putin admitted bluntly.

Other leading political voices in Russia and elsewhere in the former
Soviet Union are mindful of the rapidly-loosening bonds between Russia
and its once tightly-controlled republics stretching from the borders
of the European Union to the borders of China, though their views
vary widely.

Gennady Zyuganov, the leader of the Russian communist party, warned
Saturday that if something were not done quickly then the currents
today eroding the vestiges of Russia’s empire will soon go to work
on dissolving the coherence of Russia itself.

“If we don’t do something, this process will spread throughout
the post-Soviet space and will eventually break up Russia itself,”
Zyuganov was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying at the start
of a congress of communists from Russia and the ex-Soviet republic
of Belarus.

Yulia Tymoshenko, the new prime minister of Ukraine and a key leader
of the “orange revolution” there that ousted a pro-Moscow regime late
last year, saw things differently, asserting that more revolutions in
the former Russian empire lay ahead and would only enhance people’s
ability to “live free”.

“When and in what country it will occur next is difficult to predict,”
Tymoshenko told reporters in Kiev. “But it will definitely happen
again.”

The Soviet Union, a political-social experiment unprecedented in scale
that survived for 74 years, was however only the latest incarnation
of a Russian empire whose foundations date back to the 16th century
and that comprised much of the Caucasus and Central Asia, strategic
regions where great powers have for centuries competed — and continue
to compete — for control.

Perhaps the most telling public comments from Putin on the monumental
challenge his country faces as it cedes influence outside its borders
in order to retain control within came last September 4, the day
after the horrific Beslan school massacre.

“There have been many tragic pages and painful events in the history of
Russia,” Putin said in a nationally-televised address then. “We have to
admit that we have failed to understand the complexity and the danger
of the processes emerging in our country and in the entire world.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 26, 2005 Saturday Home Edition

Language of Jesus’ era nearly gone;
Scholars work for the survival of Aramaic

by CRAIG NELSON

Malula, Syria — The words of the Lord’s Prayer coming from George
Rezkallah’s mouth are somehow more melodic and less throaty than the
Arabic that is spoken in the Holy Land and most of the Middle East.

Rezkallah is speaking Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and here in
this windy village of canyons and churches in the Syrian desert —
one of only a handful of enclaves in the world where Aramaic is still
spoken — the 67-year-old teacher and other residents are struggling
to keep the language from dying.

“I still go to the fields and vineyards around here and ask shepherds
and farmers to tell me words and to use them in songs, proverbs and
stories,” said Rezkallah, who commutes to Damascus weekly to teach
Aramaic at a church in the capital’s Christian quarter.

“It’s important the language remain alive, and I and others do our
best to keep it alive. But its future isn’t good,” he said with a
sigh.

The language’s name is derived from “Aram,” Noah’s grandson. A
Semitic language closely related to Hebrew and Arabic, Aramaic is at
least 3,000 years old, and for more than a millennium, it was the
Middle East’s lingua franca.

In Syria, Aramaic’s decline began in the seventh century, when the
Christian, Aramaic-speaking territory fell to an Arab invasion, which
brought a new language as well as a new religion, Islam.

In the Middle East, Aramaic has been surpassed by Hebrew in what is
modern-day Israel and by Arabic and Farsi elsewhere. Experts guess
there are about 800,000 Aramaic speakers, with the number shrinking
by the year.

The surviving speakers are confined to tiny pockets in Iran and
southern Armenia, as well as here in Malula and two nearby villages,
Rezkallah said. Some scholars add hamlets in Turkey and Iraq to that
list.

Even in an Aramaic stronghold such as Malula, the language is
undermined in the most conspicuous ways, said the Rev. Toufic Eid,
the superior at Malula’s Convent of St. Serge and St. Bacchus.

Eid said construction of an Aramaic-language institute in Malula has
foundered, and not even the masses in Malula’s Greek Catholic and
Greek Orthodox churches are said in Aramaic.

However, the accomplices in Aramaic’s slow death are the same
culprits poised to vanquish more than half of the world’s estimated
6,000 languages in the next 50 years — mobility and economic
progress.

Until 1960, there were no roads to Malula, and until 1970, there were
no schools. Now, children here are taught Arabic, French and English
in state-run classrooms.

Mass food production means that to survive, Malula’s residents do not
have to work in the fields, where the vocabulary was passed on and
learned in previous generations.

The dying out of farming and shepherding of animals has been a hard
blow to Aramaic, for it is those occupations that gave the language
most of its vocabulary and imagery.

“When these jobs vanish, so do the words connected with them,” said
Rezkallah, citing the biblical story of Jesus reviving the widow’s
son from the dead.

“The words that Jesus used to tell the boy to rise are the same words
that shepherds still use to urge baby sheep to get up,” he says.

The other key sign of Aramaic’s weakening hold on Malula’s 3,000
residents sprouts from atop almost every one of the town’s homes —
a TV satellite dish, receiving channels from across the region.

The impending disappearance of Aramaic strikes an especially deep and
saddening chord to the people of Malula. Something besides words,
they say, will be irrevocably lost if Aramaic disappears.

“A language connotes a way of logic and a way of thinking, so it’s
important to know the language Jesus spoke. It helps us understand
the circumstances of his life,” Eid said.

He and others argue that there is intrinsic merit in keeping alive
the language through which the spiritual insights of Christianity
were first expressed. There is also value, they say, in maintaining
the tongue that during formative centuries molded the religious ideas
of the three great monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity
and Islam.

For still others, it is a deeply spiritual matter, connecting them to
their parents and grandparents, as well as their faith.

“It is the language of Jesus and has been created in me. I can’t
forsake myself, so how could I forsake the language?” said Rita
Wahbeh, 23, who guides visitors through the convent, built in the
fourth century and named after two Roman soldiers who converted to
Christianity and were executed in 297 after refusing to worship Roman
gods.