Author: Chaltikian Arsine

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Feb 7 2009

Darchinyan confident he’ll ‘punish’ Arce

By Robert Morales, Boxing Columnist
Updated: 02/07/2009 12:35:47 AM PST

Vic Darchinyan never speaks in glowing terms about his opponents. It’s
not his style.

"You’re going to see big punches from me, fast and strong," said
Darchinyan, who tonight will defend his three super flyweight titles
against Jorge Arce of Mexico. "I’m going to make (Arce) look dumb and
stupid.

"From the first round, I don’t care. I am going to slow him down and
punish him every round. I’m going to play him like a cat and mouse and
show how dumb he is. He is going to be covering himself after the
first 20 seconds."

Showtime will televise the card from Honda Center in Anaheim.

Darchinyan has said time and again that he doesn’t respect his
opponents. His credo is: let them know what they are in for.

"I don’t underestimate my opponent," said Darchinyan, of Australia via
Armenia. "But with any opponent I tell you what I will do with them. I
believe any opponent I fight, I will dominate and destroy."

He spoke like that prior to his Nov.1 title unification fight against
Mexico’s Cristian Mijares, a slick left-handed fighter who many
thought had a chance to beat Darchinyan. But Darchinyan, a left-handed
power hitter, dominated Mijares from the opening bell and led, 79-72,
on all three scorecards before knocking out Mijares in the ninth
round.

"Even with Mijares, I told him that I was going to break him down and
smash him, and I did," Darchinyan said.

Darchinyan has become one of the most devastating punchers in the
lower-weight classes. He has ruffled some feathers along with the way
with the disdain he has shown his opponents. But Darchinyan backs up
his words with conclusive – and painful – results. "I think Vic is
misunderstood," said his promoter, Gary Shaw. "A lot of people call
him cocky. But the truth is, he is a very confident fighter."

Darchinyan is so confident, he said he eventually wants to take on a
certain Filipino superstar who has become very popular of late.

"I want to move up and fight Manny Pacquiao," Darchinyan said. "But I
will take my time. I’m not going to rush it."

Darchinyan fights at 115 pounds. Pacquiao will fight Ricky Hatton at
140 pounds on May 2.

Shaw said Darchinyan is underrated. Probably the most respected
pound-for-pound poll is put out by Yahoo.com. The panel consists of 32
veteran boxing writers from around the world. Darchinyan is not in its
top 10, sitting at No. 12.

"He should be in the pound-for-pound lists and he should be at the
top," Shaw said. "He’s knocked out almost all of his opponents, and he
deserves that."

Had Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs) not been stopped in the fifth round by
Nonito Donaire in a flyweight title fight in July 2007, he probably
would be in the top 10 of every respected pound-for-pound poll.

Darchinyan moved up to super flyweight after the loss to Donaire and
has gone 3-0-1 with three knockouts. But a 12-round draw with Filipino
Z Gorres in his second fight at super flyweight did nothing to enhance
Darchinyan’s pound-for-pound standing.

However, the impressive victory over Mijares has Darchinyan knocking
at the door. But he will have to get by Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs), who
doesn’t figure to be holding that door wide open.

Arce, at 29, is 3 1/2 years younger than Darchinyan, who turned 33
last month. But Arce has had 56 fights compared to 33 for Darchinyan.

Many of Arce’s bouts have been of the bruising variety. He also
suffered a one-sided loss in April 2007 to Mijares, who was destroyed
by Darchinyan.

But that could make Arce that much more dangerous tonight.

Arce, an entertaining fighter from Mexico, has a lot of pride, and he
wants to show himself as well as his followers that he is still an
elite commodity.

"I know this is a fight that will bring back my credibility," said
Arce, a former light flyweight champion who also has won interim
titles in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions.

"I know a lot of people don’t think I’m at this level anymore," Arce
said, "but this will give me the chance to prove that I am. I’m going
to prove everyone wrong. I think I will knock (Darchinyan) out."

Arce, who has fought at as high as 118 pounds, believes he will be the
bigger fighter tonight. The super flyweight limit is 115 pounds, but
Arce said he could weigh as much as 130 at fight time.

One thing’s for sure: this should be a barnburner. The way these two
go about their business, it can’t miss.

"People want to see something good and anytime they see a fight I am
in, they always enjoy it," Arce said. "That’s what I do, I fight, and
people love the way I fight.

"They want to see fighters fighting, not dancing. They want to see
blood, I’ll give them blood. I love that. If it gets on me, I get more
motivated and excited. … I want the fans to see a lot of blood and a
lot of hitting. If I go down, I’m going to get up and I hope he does,
too."

MOSLEY HITS SLOPES AFTER BIG VICTORY: It seems that "Sugar" Shane
Mosley of Pomona can’t get enough of Big Bear Lake. He just spent
about two months up there training for his Jan.24 ninth-round stoppage
of Antonio Margarito, yet Tuesday he was there snowboarding.

Mosley had just finished another day on the slopes. It was 3p.m., and
the welterweight world champion who shocked the world with his
destruction of Margarito was enjoying life.

"I’m getting better at my jumps now," Mosley said of his snowboarding
prowess. "I’ve been snowboarding about seven years. I’m getting real
good, so I can go with the real good snowboarders."

His win over Margarito figures to give him a place among the real good
fighters of the past 50 years. Mosley had already won championships in
three weight classes and had done enough to warrant induction into the
International Boxing Hall of Fame.

But Mosley, 37, beat the 30-year-old Margarito from pillar to post. As
Cassius Clay said after his first win over Sonny Liston in 1964,
Mosley "shook up the world."

"Like I’ve been saying, this is my era," Mosley said. "All the Sugars
had different eras. Sugar Ray Robinson had his era, Sugar Ray Leonard
had his era.

"This is my era right now. I want to make a big impact out of it. I
want to get all I can out of this and do all I can do. I think I rate
pretty high."

Mosley was asked how the win over Margarito compares to his June 2000
split-decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya. Like the win over
Margarito, that fight with De La Hoya was at Staples Center.

Mosley said both fights carried tremendous significance, and he wasn’t
really able to separate them – although some might say the win over
Margarito was Mosley’s best victory because when he fought De La Hoya
both were in their prime.

Mosley was thought to be past his when he tore up Margarito, who is in
his prime and was coming off his biggest victory – an 11th-round
technical knockout of Miguel Cotto. However, Mosley did mention a
common denominator that was interesting – and true.

"In both fights, people said I was not strong enough, that I was
quick, but not strong enough to weather the storm of Oscar and
Margarito," Mosley said. "I was stronger in both fights."

AZERI MILITARY STRONGER THAN ARMENIAN, BRITISH THINK-TANK’S REPORT SHOWS

AzerNews Weekly
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

An assessment of the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia – the two
South Caucasus republics locked in long-standing conflict – has been
drawn up by a London-based think-tank in its annual report evaluating
military potential of 170 countries worldwide.The Military Balance 2009
report released by the International Institute for Strategic Studies
says Azerbaijan has an army of about 67,000 men, while Armenia`s army
has only 42,000, or about 35 per cent less.

According to the report, Azerbaijan also surpasses Armenia for the
number of reserve forces available for mobilization, with 300,000
against 200,000 in the neighboring country. Most of the weaponry used
by the two militaries is Russian-made.

Moreover, Azerbaijan commands three times more tanks and armored
vehicles than Armenia, possessing 320 and 470 items respectively. As
for BMP combat vehicles, the difference is rather insignificant with
127 against 104.

The report also noted that Azerbaijan has 47 warplanes, a three-fold
supremacy over Armenia. Both countries have mostly MIG-25, SU-24 and
SU-25 fighter jets.

Besides, Azerbaijan has six up-to-date drones of the Aerostar and
Orbiter models. Armenia has no such aircraft, at all.

With regard to rocket launchers, the report estimated that Grad
facilities account for most of both countries` arsenal, but Azerbaijan
also has 12 more up-to-date Smerch launchers, which were granted to
the disposal of the Soviet troops in 1989.

Regarding anti-tank weapons, Azerbaijan has about a ten-fold supremacy
over Armenia.

The two countries fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance
of international law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving
the conflict.

Azerbaijani military expert Arif Yunus says Azerbaijan`s military power
is indeed greater than that of Armenia. He pointed out, however, that
Azerbaijan`s land is under occupation, and if the Azerbaijani army
moves to free Upper Garabagh and adjacent districts, it could face
tremendous losses. According to Yunus, this projection is not only
because of military theories, as the attacker should have at least
three times more power than the defending side, but also because the
relief of Garabagh has peculiarities that could favor Armenian forces.

"Since Garabagh is a mountainous area, at times it is possible to block
a tank`s movement by means of just several mines. Operating warplanes
in the mountains is also complicated. Possibly, there wouldn`t be major
problems for the Azerbaijani troops in the Aghdam and Fuzuli districts,
but the task could prove daunting in mountainous areas. Therefore,
it`s not the quantity but the quality of the Azerbaijani troops that
should be the main factor here and, in that sense, the capacities of
the two countries are about the same," the expert maintained.

Yunus also stressed that the British think-tank had not taken into
account the military forces controlled by the self-proclaimed regime
operating in Upper Garabagh.

Further, he recalled the recent transfer of Russian arms and military
equipment, worth $800 million to Armenia, that has drawn fire from
Azerbaijan and sparked controversy. He alleged that if military action
breaks out with Azerbaijan, it is not ruled out that Russian forced
based in Armenia might provide assistance to the Armenian military.

It is considered important that the International Institute for
Strategic Studies indicated that there are 3,000 Russian forces in
Armenia, along with 74 tanks, 18 modern MiG-29 warplanes and, finally,
S-300 rockets.

Azerbaijan keeps secret the quantity of its arms, but the
commander-in-chief, President Ilham Aliyev, has repeatedly said the
country`s military stands ready to liberate the occupied territories
any time.

NEITHER PACE NOR OMBUDSMAN SAW PROGRESS

A1+
[07:34 pm] 05 February, 2009

"The PACE Monitoring Committee is keeping an eye on the Republic of
Armenia and that implies our defeat. This means that the situation of
human rights is not good in Armenia," told "A1+" today RA Ombudsman
Armen Harutyunyan.

He doesn’t think that the PACE Resolution 1643 on Armenia is a victory.

"Even if they haven’t applied sanctions, we still have problems
because human rights protection is not at a sufficient level."

As for the statements made by the authorities according to which the
PACE noticed progress in the fulfillment of Resolutions 1609 and 1620
and that is why it did not suspend the Armenian delegation’s voting
rights, Harutyunyan said:

"The PACE didn’t see any progress and I didn’t see any progress
either. It is clearly stated in Resolution 1643 that they haven’t
applied any sanctions because Armenia has decided to make changes to
articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code to solve the propositions
stated in Resolutions 1609 and 1620."

Armen Harutyunyan underscored that the issues raised in Resolutions
1609 and 1620, which the Armenian authorities haven’t done anything
to solve, are included in Resolution 1643. The human rights defender
wasn’t able to say what effect the changes to articles 225 and 300
of the Criminal Code would have on the "Case of Seven" and the cases
of other political prisoners, for that matter.

"It is unacceptable to continue to impede the legal proceedings
in court, but refusal to stand up is not a reason for removing the
culprits."

Harutyunyan believes that the judge could have fined the culprits of
the "Case of Seven" who refused to stand up and continue the case.

The Ombudsman’s office continues to visit the penitentiaries, but
only one of the cases of violence in the cells has been followed-up on.

"According to the official version, Grigor Voskerchyan was not
smacked, but pushed and the one responsible for that has received
a warning. We have registered acts of violence in cell 36 of the
Nubarashen penitentiary, but people are scared and remain silent."

The Ombudsman will present his annual report in March in which he
will present in detail the state of human rights in Armenia which,
in a word, is critical.

AZERBAIJAN BREACHES CEASEFIRE REGIME AGAIN – KARABAKH MINISTRY

Interfax
Feb 2 2009
Russia

The ceasefire regime was breached again along the Azeri-Karabakh
contact line in the small hours of Monday morning and later in the day,
said the Defense Ministry of the unrecognized republic.

"Various types of firearms were used in the assault on Karabakh army
positions in the southern Goradiz area, the eastern Kuropatkino area,
the northeastern Talish area and the northern Gulistan area," the
ministry told Interfax.

Karabakh servicemen had to respond, and the gunfire ceased, the
ministry said. None of the Karabakh servicemen were hurt.

Another gunfire exchange on the Azeri-Karabakh border was reported
on January 26. Two Karabakh servicemen were killed, and Azerbaijan
also had losses.

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON RESOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION

Trend
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Armenia have different approaches on resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The latest round of talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in Zurich showed the sides still have different approaches
on resolving the conflict, although certain progress has been made,"
head of the International Relations Department of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov told Trend News on Feb. 4.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh
Sarkisyan met to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Zurich on
Jan. 28.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

Talks must continue to resolve the conflict, Mammadov said.

He added that it is too early to speak of any serious progress.

The presidents have made progress understanding several key principles,
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza told Trend news in a telephone
conversation.

"The meeting between the presidents was positive and constructive. They
made progress on several key issues," Bryza said.

VIGEN CHALDRANYAN SHOOTING NEW FILM ON PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN INTELLIGENTSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2009 15:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian director Vigen Chaldranyan shooting a new
film on problems of the Armenian intelligentsia.

"Maestro" is dedicated to everyday life of Armenian intellectuals,
Mr. Chaldranyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The first run of the film is expected in autumn 2009.

TO KEEP VILLAGES INFORMED AND TO CLARIFY STATE POLICY

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
February 02, 2009

On January 31, the Prime Minister called a working conference with the
participation of Government members. The Prime Minister charged those
present with a task to participate in the community meetings envisaged
for February and to listen to the accounts rendered by community heads.

Ara Haroutyunyan is dissatisfied with the regional administration
and community heads’ work on rendering the state programmes to
the population in time and properly. The major part of villagers is
unaware of the programmes implemented by the state. This is confirmed
by the questions raised at the meetings of the Republic Heads with the
inhabitants. The Prime Minister anticipates changes for the better in
state policy preaching from the participation of Government members
in the community accounting meetings.

It was noted at the conference that the low level of the farmers’
awareness hinders from the implementation of agricultural
programmes. They refuse to cultivate land and avoid agricultural
works contrary to the support provided by the state. The Prime
Minister charged the Government members with a task to give thorough
clarifications of the arrangements implemented by the state to the
inhabitants. Especially, an emphasis will be put on agricultural
programmes.

The Minister of Agriculture Armo Tsatryan presented to the participants
of the conference the important arrangements to be implemented in the
sphere of agriculture in 2009. The state will continue to spur grain
production, 350 mln drams will be allotted to fallowing works. Support
will be given to those cultivating maize and to the tenants fallowing
state reserve lands. 3 thousand tons of nitric fertilizer and about
300 tons of potato plantings will be rendered to land users in the
form of interest-free credit. Credit means will be allotted to the
development of cattle-breeding, and rendering new village machinery in
leasing order will continue. Credit means are anticipated for storing
up and reprocessing agricultural products, for developing industrial
infrastructures. After the Stepanakert milk industrial complex starts
anew, milk reception and freezing centres will be created.

The stable system of irrigation will allow to irrigate 12 thousand
hectares of arable land. The Prime Minister clarified once more
that together with comprehensive programmes the state cannot get
engaged into community problems as well. The reconstruction works of
houses and roads, and other works should be carried out at their own
expense. According to the assurance of the Head of Government, the
direct contacts of Government members with villagers will contribute
to the process of revealing the problems existing in communities
and presenting the state policy to the inhabitants in a correct and
literate way.

A schedule, according to which representatives of the Government will
pay visits to villages during the forthcoming days, was affirmed.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

February 3, 2009

The Introductory Press Conference of the New ACNIS Director

Yerevan–As the newly-appointed director of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies (ACNIS), well-known analyst Richard
Giragosian held a press conference today at the "Hayatsk" press-club,
with many journalists, as well as representatives from radio,
television and other media outlets in attendance.

ACNIS director Richard Giragosian presented an overview of the future
strategy, plans and activities for the coming months while also
answering a number of journalists’ questions.

"During its rich 15-year history, the Center has garnered a clear
reputation as a prominent, unbiased and neutral independent research
institute both within Armenia and throughout the Armenian Diaspora, an
achievement that will only be enhanced in the future," Giragosian
said.

In his opinion, it is the neutrality of the Center that has ensured
its unique position as a foremost research institution in Armenia. As
a leading "think tank" in Armenia, the Center conducts a wide range of
strategic research and analysis of significant public policy issues of
specific relevance to Armenia. ACNIS strategic research and analysis
covers five main program areas: public policy, economics,
international and regional studies, national security studies, and
global and regional trends.

In accordance with the Center’s commitment to transparency and
analytical integrity, all of the Center’s reports, events, and policy
recommendations will be freely open and available to the public, civil
society and all political parties, groups and organizations.

Founded in 1994, by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2008, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT DUE IN MOSCOW TO PARTAKE IN CSTO AND EURASEC SITTINGS

armradio.am
03.02.2009 14:55

The delegation headed by the President of the Republic of Armenia,
Serzh Sargsyan, will leave for Moscow to participate in the special
sittings of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Interstate Council of the Eurasian
Economic Community (EurAsEC) to be held in Moscow on February 4.

The Republic of Armenian currently presides over the Collective
Security Treaty Organization and has a status of an observer at
EurAsEC.

The delegation headed by President Sargsyan comprises the Secretary
of the National Security Council of Armenia, Arthur Baghdasaryan,
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan, other officials.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AND PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY MEET

ArmInfo
2009-01-30 11:15:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan met Prime Minister of
Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Davos.

As the presidential press service reports, the parties emphasized
importance of a break in settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations
which took place after September 6 meeting of the Armenian and Turkish
presidents. The tendency has got continuation due to the further held
meetings of the two countries’ foreign ministers. S. Sargsyan and R.

Erdogan positively assessed the results of their first meeting and
charged the Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers to make additional
efforts to normalize the bilateral relations.