Integration most effective way to fight terrorism – Kazakh president

Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty
18 Jun 04

Astana, 18 June: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev thinks that
integration is the most effective way to fight against new threats.

“I am deeply convinced that the further strengthening and broadening
of integration cooperation is the most effective way to fight against
new threats,” he said speaking at an international forum entitled
“Eurasian integration: tendencies of modern development and challenges
of globalization” in Astana today.

Nazarbayev referred to extremism, terrorism and consequences of
globalization as new threats.

The Kazakh president noted “time had shown that the idea of setting
up a Eurasian union was vital and of great demand”, which he himself
had put forward 10 years ago.

“It has not remained only a theoretical postulate but was really
carried out in practice,” he said.

Nazarbayev sees great possibilities in this initiative for the social
and economic modernization of Former Soviet Union countries and their
limited entry to the system of world economic relations.

The Kazakh president noted “the fruitful operation” of the EAEC
[the Eurasian Economic Community of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia and Tajikistan – the former Customs Union] and the Collective
Security Treaty Organization [CSTO]. He also rated positively the
process of the setting up a Single Economic Space.

“I am confident that the further development of integration
associations between our countries will be successful,” Nazarbayev
said.

“A constructive cooperation in the framework of our integration
structures should help to attract other countries of the Eurasian
space to the number of their [integration organizations] members. And
this, first of all, will be a serious basis for the strengthening of
influence of Eurasian integration on the regional, continental and
global scales,” he said.

At the same time, Nazarbayev hopes that the forum devoted to Eurasian
integration “will help to understand and fairly assess achievements
and determine further prospects of integration processes in the former
Soviet Union space”.

In this connection, the president called on the scientific community
“to make maximum efforts to determine the further strategy, its
stages, modern mechanisms and instruments in order to implement our
common idea”.

Nazarbayev thinks that the Former Soviet Union countries “need
a new ideology to develop the society based not only on economic
pragmatism but on common unique, historical and cultural roots,
and close cooperation between our peoples”.

The forum was attended by the Russian, Belarusian, Armenian, Tajik
and Kyrgyz presidents, who are currently in Astana.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Friday, June 18, 2004

GREATER NATO ROLE SEEN IN CAUCASUS
The United States expects to see greater Caucasus involvement by the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a result of the upcoming NATO Summit
in Turkey, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway said this Thursday.
According to Ordway, as part of its stepped up role, the alliance and its
individual members are set to cooperate more closely with the Caucasus
states on issues such as peacekeeping operations and military reform.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in
Washington earlier this week, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian noted that
Armenia’s cooperation with NATO “is increasing and deepening every day,
every month.” Oskanian said that Armenia’s ties with NATO are now on par
with those of Georgia and Azerbaijan and that they should continue to
develop “in tandem” so as to avoid creation of Cold War-like dividing lines
in the region. Oskanian also noted that Armenia’s security cooperation with
Russia did not preclude his country from developing complementary security
relationships in the West.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Affairs Jean Fournet similarly
told the Azeri press this week that he saw no differences in NATO’s
partnership with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. “Each of these states have
some links with Russia that could cause potential difficulties,” Fournet
said. “However, it is also a fact that we have close relations with
[Armenia]… and good, developing relations with Russia.”

The NATO official further cautioned against exaggerated optimism for
alliance membership. “Our doors are open. But joining NATO is a long
process… requiring significant reforms,” he said. In addition, “the South
Caucasus has a reputation of a problematic region with unsettled
conflicts… While NATO does not intend to become involved in conflict
resolution, the alliance can provide post-settlement aid.” (Sources:
6-14; 525ci Gazet 6-17; Arminfo 6-17)

U.S. REPORT ADDRESSES TRAFFICKING ISSUES IN ARMENIA, REGION
While Armenia and its neighbors do not fully comply with U.S.’ minimum
standards on fighting trafficking in persons, their governments “are making
significant efforts to do so,” says the U.S. State Department report
released this week. The annual report ranks countries on a three-tier system
from full compliance (Tier 1) to no efforts to comply (Tier 3). The State
Department established a special office on trafficking based on the 2001
Trafficking Victims Protection Act, championed by Congressmen Chris Smith
(R-NJ) and Sam Gejdenson (D-CT). The Act mandates U.S. aid sanctions to
countries repeatedly placed in the Tier 3 category.

Armenia, along with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Turkey, are listed in
Tier 2. But Armenia, unlike these states, is not included in the Tier 2
Watch List and appears to have a comparatively less serious trafficking
problem. Of all Eastern European and former Soviet states, only the Czech
Republic, Lithuania and Macedonia are ranked in Tier 1.

As Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told the Washington Times this
week, there have been some unintended benefits for Armenia due to blockades
by Azerbaijan and Turkey. While causing economic difficulties and inflating
transportation costs, the blockades also kept Armenia off the major routes
for organized crime groups involved in trafficking in persons and narcotics.
As another State Department report issued last March suggested, drug
trafficking is a significantly smaller problem in Armenia than in its
neighboring states, but could potentially exacerbate should borders with
Turkey and Azerbaijan open.

According to earlier reports by the Observatoire Geopolitique des Drogues
(OGD), a Paris-based monitoring group, past and present government officials
in Turkey and Azerbaijan have had long-standing links to Europe-bound opium
and heroine trade from Afghanistan and Pakistan. This month Indian press
claimed that Azerbaijan might even be willing to host Dawood Ibrahim, one of
the top Indian crime bosses living in Pakistan and under U.S. pressure to
leave. Last October, the U.S. Department of Treasury designated Ibrahim, a
major narcotics dealer, a “terrorist supporter” for his reported funding of
Islamic radicals such as al Qaida. (Sources: OGD Annual Report Oct. 98;
Armenia This Week 6-20-03, 3-5; The Telegraph of India 6-4; U.S. State
Department Trafficking in Persons Report 6-14; Washington Times 6-17)

AZERBAIJAN SEEKS ‘ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY’ SUPPORT ON KARABAKH
A ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
held this week in Turkey made another blanket endorsement of the Azerbaijani
position in the Karabakh conflict. OIC is the world’s only major
intergovernmental organization that has for years succumbed to Azerbaijani
lobbying on the issue. OIC countries, led particularly by Turkey and
Pakistan, also have endorsed similar Azeri efforts at the UN. Both Turkey
and Pakistan have provided military support to Azerbaijan.

The Azeri officials have succeeded in including its ostensibly non-religious
conflict with Armenia and NKR into the “Islamic agenda” at the OIC’s Summit
in Malaysia last October. In return for support against the purported
“Armenian aggression,” Azeri leaders have endorsed such “Islamic causes” as
Turkish-occupied Cyprus and Pakistani-occupied Kashmir. Earlier this year,
Azerbaijan’s religious leader Allahshukur Pashazade also condemned the
Israeli assassination of the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization.

Starting in the early 1990s, the Azeri government forged ties with Islamic
radicals from throughout the Middle East, including some 2,000 recruits from
Afghanistan, to fight against Armenians in Karabakh. Following the war, many
of them stayed in Azerbaijan forming a basis for creation of local al Qaida
cells. By late 1990s, according to a U.S. indictment, al Qaida operatives
were sufficiently entrenched in Azerbaijan to coordinate terrorist bombings
against U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. While in recent years, Azeri
security agencies have cracked down on groups tied to al Qaida, their
elements are believed to have remained in the country. (Sources: R&I Issue
Brief “Azerbaijan and Islamic Terrorism” 9-10-01; Dawn (Pakistan) 1-14-02;
NG.ru 10-17-03; Azertaj 10-21-03; Zerkalo 3-23; Arminfo 12-23-02, 3-24;
Anadolu 6-16)

ARMENIA’S POLITICAL SEASON CONCLUDES
The Armenian opposition leaders wrapped up for the summer their efforts to
oust President Robert Kocharian after holding last Wednesday their smallest
yet public demonstration in Yerevan. Unlike past opposition protests, the
city government sanctioned this week’s rally. Also, by last week,
law-enforcement agencies dropped charges against most of about fifteen
opposition activists prosecuted for their alleged efforts to overthrow the
government through popular protests. The protests have been diminishing in
size and regularity since April.

Last year’s presidential candidates Stepan Demirchian and Artashes Geghamian
and former Prime Minister Aram Sargsian, who led the protests, promised to
“regroup” and to continue their efforts later this year. They gave no
indication they would return to talks with the three-party coalition
government, which broke down last month. The talks began following the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) resolution calling on
both the government and opposition to make compromises and begin dialogue.
The PACE Rapporteur for Armenia Jerzy Jaskiernia (Poland) noted last week
that the government has implemented some of the PACE recommendations and
urged it to continue reforms.

Last month, Armenia’s coalition government offered the opposition minority
in parliament veto rights over election legislation, constitutional reform
and anti-corruption efforts. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS) in Washington last Monday, Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian said that the coalition’s offer remains on the table.
Oskanian further expressed hope that the opposition will take up this offer
in the next several months and that “eventually [the opposition leaders]
will realize that they need to be engaged for the sake of the country.”
(Sources: Armenia This Week 3-12; 4-9, 23, 30; 5-14; Eurasia.net 6-9;
6-14; RFE/RL Armenia Report 6-14, 16; Regnum.ru 6-16)

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Armenia to help in Iraq reconstruction
Published 6/18/2004 3:35 PM

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) — Armenia is the latest country to join President
Bush’s “Coalition of the Willing,” in rebuilding Iraq.

In an interview with UPI earlier this week, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian said his country would contribute, albeit in “a very symbolic” way.

“We are ready to become engaged in rebuilding Iraq, but our resources are
very modest, so it’s going to be a very modest contribution, nevertheless,
the willingness is there.”

Armenia, Oskanian said, will be contributing doctors, medical personnel and
experts to help clear mines, as well as trucks, drivers and technicians. The
force amounts to about 100 people.

The minister said he believes all neighboring countries in the region should
contribute to the normalization of Iraq. Iraq’s Armenian community is
comprised of roughly 25,000 people.

Copyright © 2001-2004 United Press International

Uneasy Talk About Peace: Karabakh and Armenia face different problems advisor says
By Zhanna Alexanyan, ArmeniaNow reporter

armenianow.com
June 18, 2004

A political advisor to Karabakh president Arkady Ghukassyan says he
sees a “new situation” evolving in efforts to strike a peace agreement
with Azerbaijan.

Speaking at a seminar in Yerevan Manvel Sargsyan said: “It is not
accurate to talk about the conflict the way it was talked about a
year ago.”

Sargsyan said that while the Minsk Group has been successful in
enforcing the 10-year cease fire between Azerbaijan and Karabakh, its
negotiating efforts have stagnated. The Minsk Group, the advisor said
“has expired”.

Manvel Sargsyan. The advisor says that in the past year the interests
of European Union and Council of Europe have intensified and that the
“European structures” approach a settlement from the standpoint of
human rights and rule of law.

This approach, he said, is a renewed pro-active attitude toward
settlement in an atmosphere in which ceasefire had seemed to be the
final conclusion of Minsk negotiations.

Sargsyan’s comments came during a seminar sponsored by the National
Citizens Initiative, attended by journalists, politicians, political
scientists and government officials. And his words were not all easily
received, especially when Sargsyan described Armenian policy toward
Karabakh as “a mess”.

Stating that the “Karabakh problem also belongs to Armenia,” at the
same time Sargsyan expressed an opinion that situations and problems
are different for Armenia and Karabakh.

“For Armenia it is a matter of safety of a population residing
outside its territory while for Karabakh it is a matter of achieving
self-determination and becoming an independent state,” Sargsyan
said. “If it concerns territorial factors, then Karabakh can solve
that matter with Azerbaijan.”

Asked if he represented the view of official Stepanakert, Sargsyan
replied: “The president of NKR presents the official position of
Karabakh, however, what I said is not too far away from that.”

Leaders of Armenia’s political community reacted sharply to Sargsyan’s
characterization of Armenia policy.

“We have always been taking Karabakh and Armenia as one territory,”
replied leader of the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan. “But
according to your statements it turns out that we only help Karabakh
(but not participate in its survival). If we thought this way then
we would lose the war.”

Journalists, politicians, political scientists reacted to Sargsyan’s
analyses Participants at the seminar speculated that Sargsyan’s
comments and audience responses would draw fire from officials both
in Stepanakert and in Yerevan. The political advisor’s opinions,
some say, reflect a budding division between Karabakh and Armenia
which, before now, had only been spoken about in private.

While maintaining that changes in European attitudes are shifting,
Sargsyan also noted that: “None of the representatives has concretely
explained what it means, however, we believe there is a change which
concerns primary problems of the conflict.”

Sargsyan pointed to a visit to Karabakh earlier this year by Terry
Davis on behalf of the Council of Europe as an indication that
interests has increased on behalf of the European community.

“The line of direct connections has begun and it was interesting that
approaches of all European representatives are the same,” Sargsyan
said. “It is Terry Davis’ well-known thesis, about which he spoke
in Baku, that he is not interested in territories, he is interested
in people.”

Sargsyan also pointed out that there has been no involvement in the
peace process by Russia in the past year. And the advisor speculates
that Russia’s silence is evidence of an agreement between Russia and
the Europeans, to allow the latter more influence.

Cloned: Armenia goes Arabic over wildly popular soap opera
By Marianna Grigoryan ArmeniaNow reporter

armenianow.com
June 18, 2004

Questions of whether Armenia is ” Middle East”, “Central Asian”,
“EurAsian” , etc. might find an answer every day at noon and 6:30 p.m.

If the popularity of the Arabic-centered television serial “Clone”
is an indication, Armenia is crazy for the East.

In Yerevan, the soap opera is having an influence on fashion, on music,
and, probably, on household dinner times.

“Clone” is a Brazilian-produced serial set in 1980s Morocco, about
a love affair between a Brazilian man and an Arabic girl, about a
cloned boy, about the differences between Eastern and Western morals
and manners, about the bright life of the East, followed by bright
Arabic dances and stories of the Koran. Essentially, the ingredients
for 45 minutes, five times a week (10 if you count rebroadcast), of
distracting Armenian viewers from anything except what will happen
to Lucas, Jade, Said, Uncle Ali, Latifa and others.

The program, which is shown in 20 countries, first appeared in Armenia
in February of this year. Now, according to the chief translator
(“Clone” is taped in Portuguese) for the Armenian version, 80 percent
of the republic’s soap opera fans tune in.

“When watching it one has to be stable mentally in order not to
be carried away by Islam and not to become attracted by eastern
customs,” translator Vahe Mkhitaryan says, joking. “However, not
everyone manages to do that. We, too, have become half Islamic.”

Which is okay with sellers in Armenia’s bazaars, where Arabic “slave
rings” and other jewelry have become a fad, and Arabic music is
in demand.

In some yards in Yerevan, children greet each other with ” Salam
Aleikum,” and the reply of “Aleikum Salam,” just like in the show. Some
are “learning” belly dancing, mimicking the moves from characters in
the soap opera.

Dressmakers are feeling the impact of “Clone” madness.

“During each series we always receive orders of clothes like the ones
its characters wear,” says dressmaker Nektar Bagratunyan . “Thank God,
I haven’t yet received an order of a yashmak, but at markets there
already are dresses with yashmaks on mannequins. We receive orders of
long eastern style dresses which are made from falling and sometimes
sparkling fabric.”

So are Armenian girls going Arabic?

“If during the previous series girls tried to look like Brazilian
characters with their curly hair, then after this series people are
trying to copy everything beginning with clothes and decorations up
to dances and words,” says Manushak Soghomonyan, 16, who is wearing
Arabic jewelry. “I want to be like them, too.”

Among popular items is a “slave” ring, a piece of jewelry that
connects the finger with the wrist by a chain and typically decorated
with stone.

For from 1,500 to 3,000 drams (about $3 to $6), merchants assure
customers the buyers can look just like the TV characters.

And with the image goes the music . . .

Clone jewelry “We don’t even manage to place the cassettes with
the music from ‘Clone’ on the displays and every tradesman sells at
least 50 tapes per day which could seem something impossible for us
before,” says

Armen, a tapes seller at Malatia-Sebastia market.

“We’re very pleased with those who show the series, since thanks to
it we have had an opportunity to make some good money,” he says. “I
don’t remember something like this happening before. It seems like
people are hypnotized and it doesn’t have an age limit.”

Shake Galstyan, 23, says the soap opera is a cultural education.

“Everything is presented in such a nice and interesting way that you
always want to listen to stories of the Koran and get to know the
customs of the Islamic world,” she says.

“Proaganda,” says Father Shahe Hyrapetyan, of St. Sargis Church. “This
series is directly against our religion and faith.”

Maybe. But it is religiously being observed 10 times a week on
television and in the markets of Armenia.

U. S. Department of State
18 June 2004

OSCE a Champion of Media Freedom in Armenia, U.S. Says
Remarks by Charge d’Affaires Douglas Davidson to OSCE Permanent Council

The OSCE Office in Yerevan, under the leadership of Ambassador Vladimir
Pryakhin, has demonstrated an “outstanding commitment” to promoting OSCE
principles in Armenia, U.S. Charge d’Affaires Douglas Davidson told the OSCE
Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria, June 18.

Pryakhin has “rightly raised concerns with the authorities over violence and
harassment against journalists, as well as the loss of licenses of two
independent broadcasters,” Davidson said, adding that the United States has
raised both issues in bilateral discussions with Armenia.

Other issues that the OSCE Office in Yerevan has dealt with effectively,
Davidson noted, include freedom of assembly, monitoring alleged human rights
abuses, and fostering political dialogue between the government and the
opposition. He spoke after a presentation by Ambassador Pryakhin.

Following are Davidson’s remarks:

(begin text)

United States Mission to the OSCE
Vienna

RESPONSE TO THE REPORT BY OSCE HEAD OF OFFICE IN YEREVAN VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN

As delivered by Charge d’Affaires Douglas Davidson to the Permanent Council
June 18, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The United States is pleased to welcome Ambassador Pryakhin back to the
Permanent Council and we thank him highly for his comprehensive report on
the activities of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

In less than a year since taking on the Head of Office position, Ambassador
Pryakhin has quickly and energetically engaged on a number of issues that
are important to the OSCE. We commend him and his staff for their
outstanding commitment to promoting OSCE principles.

There are, Mr. Chairman, too many areas in which the Office is carrying out
meaningful work for me to list them all or discuss them here. I would
however, like to take particular note of, and commend the Ambassador and his
staff for, the following particular items:

To begin, let me say that Ambassador Pryakhin has been a champion of media
freedom. He has rightly raised concerns with the authorities over violence
and harassment against journalists, as well as the loss of licenses of two
independent broadcasters. These are issues the United States has also raised
both bilaterally and here in the Permanent Council. His continuing
monitoring of media freedom and his coordination with the Special
Representative on Freedom of the Media demonstrates Ambassador Pryakhin’s
commitment and that of his Mission staff to OSCE principles in this area.

Ambassador Pryakhin is to be commended for playing a constructive and
neutral role in encouraging dialogue to resolve the political impasse
between the government and the opposition parties. It is our hope that all
parties will resume a dialogue soon.

The Office’s engagement on the issue of freedom of assembly has been
significant. We welcomed the National Assembly’s passage in April of the new
law on public gatherings, which was drafted at the suggestion of, and with
input from, the OSCE Office in Yerevan. While the law’s passage is a
positive step, we now urge the Armenian authorities to heed the Office’s
recommendations to revise the language in order to bring it fully in line
with OSCE standards.

The United States is pleased to see the Office is continuing to conduct
activities in the area of police assistance and judicial reform, which are
key to strengthening democratic institutions and respect for human rights.
The United States provides substantial bilateral assistance in these areas,
thus reinforcing the efforts of the Office.

We also appreciate the OSCE Office’s record on receiving and conveying
complaints on alleged human rights abuses. In his report, Ambassador
Pryakhin has noted the establishment earlier this year of an Ombudsman’s
office in Armenia. We very much hope that this institution will now take on
the role of receiving and handling human rights complaints.

We also appreciate the OSCE Office’s ongoing assistance to the Armenian
government towards the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution
1373, as well as other international counter-terrorism agreements.

In sum, Mr. Chairman, the United States wished to congratulate Ambassador
Pryakhin and his staff for the fine work they are doing in all three OSCE
dimensions. We wish him well as he continues to face a wide array of
challenges. We would like to say to the Ambassador and his staff, please
keep up the good work!

I thank you very much.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

Kansas and Armenia Partnership

WIBW, KS
June 18 2004

AP

State officials today are celebrating a partnership between Kansas
and the government of Armenia.

Since 2003, Kansas has been partnered with Armenia through a national
program that links states with developing nations. Though the history
of Armenia goes back thousands of years, the country has been free
for only 14 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Earlier this year, members of the Kansas National Guard, including
Adjutant General Tod Bunting, traveled to Armenia to visit with
their counterparts.

In April, Governor Sebelius signed a proclamation designating today
as Kansas-Armenian Partnership Day. A ceremony was scheduled for this
morning at the State Defense Building in Topeka.

A delegation from Armenia is expected to come to Kansas in the
coming months.

Kansans, Armenians forge partnership to aid former Soviet nation
By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press

Kansas City Star
June 18 2004

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas and Armenia are working to share information
and skills through a budding partnership between the Kansas National
Guard and southwest Asian nation that is struggling to develop in
the post-Soviet era.

At a ceremony Friday at the State Defense Building in Topeka, a
delegation of Armenian Americans and National Guard officials marked
the program’s progress.

“We really want this to be a two-way street, where we learn as much
from them that they learn from us,” said Col. Joe Wheeler, plans,
operations and training officer for the Kansas National Guard.

The Armenian relationship, which began in 2003, replaces the shared
duties Kansas had with California to assist the Ukrainian government.
Wheeler said exchanges were planned between the two nations’ military,
civilian government and civilians themselves.

Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, state adjutant general, returned from Armenia
in late May. He said while the country has a history that is centuries
old, Armenia is a developing country that is seeking greater standing
in the world 14 years after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

After becoming part of the Soviet Union in 1920, Armenian leaders
remained at odds with Azerbaijan, an Islamic neighbor, over disputed
territory. The two countries began fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh
region in 1988 and fighting escalated in 1991 when the both countries
were independent from the Soviets.

Bunting said the concept of “citizen soldiers” embodied by the National
Guard is foreign to Armenians, where people are used to being servants
of the government.

“Through this program, it is we the people of Kansas who are reaching
out in a spirit of cooperation to the people of Armenia to show them
who we are and how we live.”

A common interest in both countries, he said, was emergency response.
While Kansas has its tornadoes, Armenia is prone to earthquakes and
sharing response techniques could prove beneficial.

Armenia is the size of Maryland with a population close to the 2.6
million of Kansas. While the Sunflower State has its plains of wheat,
Armenia is a rocky country, known for its apricots, tomatoes and
mountains. There are about 480 Armenian Americans living in Kansas.

One of them, Alex Kotoyantz of Junction City, said several issues,
including the long-standing tensions with Turkey, divide Armenians
and their neighbors. Millions of Armenians were killed in what is
considered a genocide attempt by the Turks during their war.

He said Armenian Americans continue to provide millions of dollars
in economic support to their homeland as the economy struggles.

“The mentality is tough to break away from,” he said.

BOXING: DON’T DREAD OUR JUDGES
Watt tells Abelyan he’ll get fair crack at crown
By Anthony Haggerty

Glasgow Daily Record, UK
June 19 2004

RING legend Jim Watt last night accused William Abelyan of piling
pressure on the judges ahead of tonight’s world title clash with
Scott Harrison.

Armenian Abelyan insists home-town bias could rob him of his chance
of taking the WBO featherweight title from the Scot in front of 6000
fans at Braehead.

But Watt swears Mexican Manuel Medina’s points win over Harrison last
year is proof that a foreign fighter can score an upset in Glasgow.

And he said: ‘The judge who voted for Harrison that night has virtually
been told he’s not welcome back in the country to officiate which is
right because Medina won,no question of that.

‘It’s gamesmanship from Abelyan’s camp. They’re trying to put pressure
on the judges.

‘I saw Bernard Hopkins doing it a couple of weeks ago and it worked
for him.

‘Abelyan has sparred with some tough guys and held his own and he
looks to have a cool head so I don’t think he will be affected by
boxing away from home.’

Watt reckons Abelyan will pose a tough challenge but insists the
champion will win through.

The former world lightweight king said: ‘They have based their plans on
moving around and trying to confuse Harrison in the ring using angles.

‘They know that Scott’s strength lies in his physical strength and
aggression and they will look not to match that but nullify it.
Harrison likes a brawl to get involved in combat but Abelyan will
have the first Medina fight in mind when the Mexican came and danced
around and hurt him and won.

‘I hope Abelyan does not do the same because he is a harder puncher
than Medina ‘Harrison wasnot right physically that night and he
followed Medina around the ring but he has learned from that and in
the return when he regained the title we saw a different fighter.’

Watt insists the fear of another loss in front of his own fans and
the damage that would do to his career will be a driving force for
Harrison.

He said: ‘Defeat would be a total disaster because Abelyan is theNo.1
contender and Scott knows he won’t get a rematch if he loses.

‘If Abelyan leaves town with the title, he doesn’t have to come back
and Scott is back in the queue.

‘He’ll have to start facing people such as Injin Chi and Juan Manuel
Marquez, who are tougher routes to a title than Abelyan.’

But Watt tips the Cambuslang fighter to triumph.Hesaid: ‘Abelyan can
box with different styles he’s not one dimensional.

‘However, Scott’s the one with experience at the top level so he is
a comfortable favourite and I expect him to win clearly.

‘It will go the distance but I expect Scott to winand look good
doing it.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Quick start not enough for Abelyan
By Bob Mee

Daily Telegraph, UK
June 19 2004

Scott Harrison faces a tricky defence of his World Boxing Organisation
featherweight title against No 1 contender William Abelyan at Braehead
Arena, Glasgow, tonight.

Injuries to both fighters have delayed this fight for three months
and Harrison has also had the distraction of a criminal court case.
The Scot was cleared of an assault charge in the last fortnight.

Harrison’s taciturn, single-minded determination should enable him
to put those issues aside but he could need all his discipline and
patience to wear down a swift, tricky, hit-and-run left-hander.

In the first half of the 12-round fight the champion could have
trouble pinning down Abelyan and might have to rely on a late stoppage
win. But Harrison has no doubts. “I don’t think this is a tough fight,”
he said. “I just see him running all night.”

The Armenian is full of confidence but to win the fight he has to
outbox Harrison, whose experience should tip it his way.

Harrison faces easy fight before brutal talks
By John Rawling

The Guardian, UK
June 19 2004

Audley Harrison is expected to record the 17th win of his undefeated
professional career against Poland’s Tomasz Bonin at the Alexandra
Palace tonight, then resume negotiations with the promoter Frank
Warren over a challenge against the British and Commonwealth champion
Matt Skelton.

Harrison hopes for an equal split in the profits, and has said: “I
want to win the British title. Matt Skelton is a York Hall [Bethnal
Green] fighter, but Audley Harrison brings more to the table than
that. I am asking for 50-50, which I think is fair and reasonable.”

In a letter to Warren, Harrison suggested a joint operation between
his own A-Force promotions and Warren’s Sports Network, but Warren
angrily rejected the offer last night.

“With respect, who the hell does Audley Harrison think he is?” he
said. “He has just been dropped by the BBC and he has no television
deal with Sky or any other company.

“I have the TV contract and Matt Skelton is the champion. Sky have no
interest in signing Harrison so if he wants the fight he can take it
on Matt Skelton’s terms. I am in the business of looking after him,
not Harrison.”

Harrison, 32, has a huge height and reach advantage over Bonin, 26.
The Pole’s record, undefeated in 26 fights, seems impressive, but
closer inspection shows his opponents have been dismal and Harrison
should retain the little-regarded WBF title with few problems.

An altogether more meaningful contest at the Braehead Arena in
Renfrew pits the WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison against his
mandatory challenger, William Abelyan, a US-based Armenian. The size
and strength of Harrison, the Scottish title-holder, could be decisive.

The world light-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu has been stripped
of his WBA belt after saying he would fight Sharmba Mitchell for the
IBF belt in November instead of the WBA challenger Vivien Harris.
Harris could now face Britain’s Ricky Hatton with the WBA title
at stake.