Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Polish Press Agency
March 17, 2004 Wednesday

Sejm MPs, Bagdasarian discuss international affairs

Warsaw, March 17

Head of the Armenian National Assembly
Artur Bagdasarian met in Warsaw on Wednesday the presidia of the
Sejm foreign affairs and European committees to discuss
international policy and bilateral relations.

Foreign affairs committee head Jerzy Jaskiernia told PAP
the talk focused on Polish-Armenian cooperation in trade,
science and culture with both sides acknowledging huge potential of
their countries that fell short of the actual state.

According to Jaskiernia, Bagdasarian said both countries
should establish closer inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Head of the Sejm European committee Janusz Lewandowski said
that Armenia showed clearly its European aspirations.

The Armenian guest also met with Sejm Speaker Marek
Borowski and Foreing Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. He is also to
be received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski and PM Leszek
Miller.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
March 16, 2004, Tuesday

Surabaya’s Mandarin Oriental Majapahit Hotel the best thing in town

By Peter Janssen, dpa

Surabaya, Indonesia

Surabaya – Indonesia’s second largest metropolis – is a classic
example of modern Asian urban ugliness. With its estimated 3.5
million people, Surabaya offers visitors horrendous traffic, plenty
of concrete office buildings, a plethora of shopping malls and a
collection of international hotel chains that can be found in just
about any other bustling Asian city. Unique to Surabaya, however, is
the Mandarin Oriental Majapahit Hotel, arguably the classiest
“historic” hotel remaining in Indonesia. The Majapahit was built in
1910 by Lucas Martin Sarkies, son of Martin Sarkies, eldest of the
famed Sarkies brothers who launched some of Southeast Asia’s finest
hotels. The Sarkies, including brothers Martin, Tigran, Aviet and
Arshak, were Armenian merchants who in the 1880s starting building
classy hotels in the main entrepots of England’s former colonies in
Southeast Asia. Their first establishment was the Eastern & Oriental
Hotel in Penang, built in 1884, followed by Raffles in Singapore,
1887, and finally by the Strand in Rangoon, now Yangon, in 1901.
Those three Sarkies’ “gems” still stand today, embodying the good old
days of colonial splendour in their respective cities. All three have
undergone extensive renovations, under new owners, (the Sarkies went
bust in the late 1930s), to position themselves as five-star
establishments catering to tourists and businessmen with a taste for
the past at today’s prices. Less well known within the Sarkies’
historic hotel chain is Surabaya’s elegant Majapahit Hotel, a
veritable oasis of quietude and greenery in what has always been a
busy, noisy port city. Lucas Martin Sarkies originally called the
establishment the “Oranje Hotel”, sensibly catering to its chiefly
Dutch clientele. In 1936, an Art Deco style lobby was added to the
hotel in an apparent effort to modernize the property, which accounts
for its rather drab frontage today. Luckily the rest of the hotel was
spared. The Majapahit was extensively renovated in 1996 after being
bought in 1993 by the Sekar Group of Indonesia and the Mandarin
Oriental group of Hong Kong. Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental, which
owns the posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong and superlative
The Oriental in Bangkok, now holds 25 per cent of the Majapahit plus
the management contract. The interior of the Majapahit was completely
renovated between 1994 to 1996 at a cost of 35 million dollars, but
the building itself was left untouched as it is a protected historic
site. Luckily for preservationists, the hotel represents more than a
nostalgic throwback to Dutch colonial times. The Majapahit hotel
secured itself a mention in Indonesian history on September 19, 1945,
when a group of Dutch expats raised their flag on the hotel’s main
flagpole to symbolize the retaking of Indonesia as a colony after
World War II. The gesture outraged the Surabaya citizenry, who
stormed the hotel and raised Indonesia’s red and white flag of
independence over its Art Deco lobby instead. Historians claim this
incident sparked the Indonesian independence movement, earning
Surabaya the nickname of the “City of Heroes.” While many historic
Dutch buildings in post-1945 Indonesia have been torn down to make
way for the new, the Majapahit has been preserved thanks to its
revolutionary past. However, in its post-renovation incarnation,
prices have not been set to attract the hoi polloi. “We are the most
expensive hotel in Surabaya, but we’re also the best value hotel in
the Mandarin Oriental chain,” said Gerd Knaust, general manager of
the Mandarin Oriental Majapahit Hotel. The Mandarin Oriental, owned
by the Jardines trading conglomerate of Hong Kong, currently boasts
11 hotels in Asia, three in Europe and nine in the Americas. Prices
at the Majapahit start at 550,000 rupiah (65 dollars) for their
“standard” rooms, of which the hotel has only four. The remaining 146
rooms are suites, including the two-storey, 800-square-metre
Presidential Suite, which claims to be the biggest of its kind in
Asia. Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and her predecessor
Abdurrachman Wahid have been recent guests, but not too many other
country or company presidents are visiting Surabaya nowadays.
“Unfortunately, the big investment is missing in Indonesia at the
moment, so why should a CEO from a multi-million dollar company come
to Surabaya when there are no multi-million dollar investments,”
noted Knaust. To keep the hotel occupancy rate at its current 45 per
cent average, the Majapahit has been catering more to the Indonesian
market which is less prone to the lure of nostalgia than their
European counterparts. “I prefer the Shangri-La but one of my friends
from Holland likes to stay at the Majapahit because of the nostalgia
thing,” said Winarto, a Surabaya-based businessman. dpa pj blg bw

Senior US official comes to Azerbaijan with “concrete” proposals, analyst
says

Sarq, Baku
16 Mar 04

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is expected to visit the
South Caucasus countries in a few days. The US official is also
expected to hold talks with the presidents of the three countries of
the region during his visit. It is also said that the goal of the
visit is to discuss bilateral relations and regional problems.

This visit by Armitage can be assessed as yet another step by the West
and the USA which have recently increased their interest in the
region.

The director of the Centre of Political Innovations and Technologies,
political analyst Mubariz Ahmadoglu, thinks that the major goal of the
US official’s visit to the region has to do with Azerbaijan.

“There is an issue that the USA has always kept in the focus of
attention. At the moment it is the settlement of all regional
conflicts. Apart from the conflicts in Georgia and Azerbaijan, the USA
is also interested in regional integration. There are almost no
uncertainties in Georgian-US relations. What is not certain is that it
is difficult to predict [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili’s
steps. But this is not of great concern for the USA. So, Georgia is
not a problem,” Ahmadoglu said.

He said that interestingly, ahead of Armitage’s visit, US officials
had made several statements in connection with the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Thus, it cannot be ruled out that Richard
Armitage will address regional leaders, in particular the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents, with concrete proposals on the settlement of
this problem.

“He will also try to get more precise answers to his proposals from
the sides,” Ahmadoglu said.

[Passage omitted: there might be other proposals on regional
integration]

Ahmadoglu believes that the USA is interested in the strengthening of
Azerbaijan. “There can be statements on human rights and
democracy. But the USA accepts the incumbent authorities. The White
House will boost both economic and geopolitical and military
cooperation with Azerbaijan,” the analyst said.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 9, 2004 Tuesday

Russia, Armenia extend agreement on regulating voluntary migration

By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN, March 9

Russia and Armenia have extended an inter-governmental agreement on
regulating the process of voluntary resettlement by another five
years.

The relevant protocol was signed by Coordinator Minister Ovik
Abramyan and Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia Anatoly Drykov, in the
Armenian capital on Tuesday.

According to Dryukov, the agreement has proved its viability and
importance over the past few years. For his part, head of Armenia’s
Migration Department Gagik Yeganyan recalled that both states had
agreed to create favorable conditions for voluntary resettlement of
their citizens. It is particularly important at present, as Armenians
begin to return to their Motherland, Yeganyan emphasized.

The extension of such an agreement will encourage this process, he
added.

The Russian-Armenian voluntary migration agreement was signed on
August 29, 1997.

Yeganyan said an Armenian delegation would leave for Russia next
week. It will meet with ethnic Armenians in order to explain to them
terms of resettlement.

According to imprecise data, some 800,000 Armenians left the republic
after it proclaimed independence. They mostly settled in Russia.

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku, in Azeri
9 Mar 04

Azerbaijan, Armenia reach broadcasting accord

[Presenter] The Azerbaijani Communications and Information Technology
Ministry has taken an important step to prevent the broadcast of
Armenian TV stations in Azerbaijan. The Armenian TV stations, which
conduct anti-Azerbaijani propaganda in western districts of
Azerbaijan, have agreed to stop their broadcasts.

[Correspondent] Starting from today [9 March], Armenian TV will stop
its illegal broadcasts in Qazax. Agstafa and Tovuz districts. The
Azerbaijani and Armenian ministries of communications signed a
protocol on this during talks in Moscow which were mediated by
Russia. Under the protocol Armenia will stop broadcasting on
Azerbaijan’s channels No 22, 23 and 27.

However, this will not stop completely Armenian TV stations’ invasion
of Azerbaijan. Since the talks concerned only broadcasts from
Armenia, the use of the radio transmitting station in Susa was not
discussed, Qulam Abdullayev, senior expert of the communications
ministry, has said.

[Qulam Abdullayev] The station in Susa is internationally listed as
Azerbaijan’s. Hence, we only demanded that measures related to
Armenia-based stations be taken. We did not discuss Nagornyy Karabakh
with them at all.

[Correspondent] Whether the protocol is abided by, will be verified
through monitoring. Should Armenia breach the terms of the agreement,
the issue will first be raised in a meeting of the regional
communications body, and later, with the International
Telecommunications Union [ITU].

Incidentally, another complaint may be lodged in the ITU regarding
Iranian TV stations. In order to avert this, Iran’s TV channels have
to stop illegal broadcast in Azerbaijan.

[Abdullayev] Iran is not a member of the regional communications
body, but it is a member of the ITU. Iran has submitted its list to
the ITU and this issue will be raised with the ITU.

[Correspondent] Abdullayev said that Azerbaijan will conduct talks
with Iran. The Azerbaijani ministry intends to purchase new and
powerful equipment to completely resolve the issue. The ministry will
soon submit to the government a state programme it has drafted to
raise funds for this.

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan, in Armenian
9 Mar 04

Armenian regions hit by floods

[Presenter] Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today told President
Robert Kocharyan about measures which are being taken to liquidate
the consequences of the recent natural disaster. Various regions of
Armenia were flooded as a result of a sharp change in temperature and
very hot weather, which is unusual this time of the year. The floods
and strong winds damaged mainly Tavush Region. One person died. At
the present moment commissions were set up in regions to assess the
damage. They will submit proposals on how to assist the families
affected by the floods. The power, water and communications systems,
which have been damaged by the floods, are now being repaired.

[Passage omitted: recap of the above]

[Correspondent] As a result of strong winds in Tavush Region the
roofs of houses and buildings were damaged and villages were left
without electricity. The floods and strong winds have badly damaged
Tavush, Gegarkunik, Kotayk, Aragatsotn and Shirak regions. More than
100 houses and a bridge were destroyed in Aparan.

The regions were left without electricity and communications and with
polluted drinking water. The disaster caused damage to the capital’s
economy. The level of water in Razdan river rose by almost 2.5
meters.

The mayor ordered a special commission be set up to assess the
damage. The deputy mayor of Yerevan, Vano Vardanyan, said that roads,
green areas, constructions and bridges were damaged. He noted that
the commission will assess whether any more damage was done. The
damage will be assessed within the next five days and the government
will be told about the results.

Tereza Kasyan, Aylur.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 11, 2004

Russia, Armenia prolong agreement on resettling citizens

By Natalya Slavina

MOSCOW

The Russian government has approved on Thursday a proposal of
prolonging the period of validity of the agreement between Russia and
Armenia on regulating the process of citizens’ voluntary
resettlement, journalists learnt at the Department of Government
Information.

This five-year agreement was signed on August 29, 199.

The agreement defines the procedure of resettling citizens of the two
countries and protects their property rights.

The government has decided to prolong the given agreement for the
next five years.

Boxing Talk
March 12 2004

Hobson Puts British and Commonwealth Titles on Line
By Curtis McCormick

March 12, 2004; Cruiserweight Mark Hobson headlines Ringside
Promotions big Saturday night fight card from the Huddersfield Sports
Centre in Huddersfield, England as he defends his British and
Commonwealth titles against opponent Tony Moran. In the main
co-feature Commonwealth Flyweight champ Dale Robinson challenges IBO
Super Flyweight king Jason Booth over twelve scheduled rounds. Also
on the card is former Commonwealth light middle champ Michael Jones
as well as prospects Kevin Anderson and Danny Wallace. Sky TV
broadcasts the action live in the UK on Sky Sports One starting 8PM.
Boxingtalk.com caught up with Mark and his trainer/co-manager Chris
Aston as they were preparing to defend both the British and
Commonwealth titles against a dangerous six foot seven opponent.

Mark Hobson returns to the ring for the first time since beating Rob
Norton this past September and in the process added the British title
to the Commonwealth belt he already owned. This time around Hobson,
21-3-1 (10), faces a tall order. Opponent Tony Moran is a six foot
seven inch cruiserweight and is on an eleven fight winning streak.
Hobson, six foot five himself, isn’t concerned however, despite
enduring the longest layoff in his seven year professional career.
“It’s been six months since I last fought but I’ve been in the gym,”
he said. “I was supposed to fight in December but had to pull out
with the flu after training a good four weeks. As soon as I knew this
one was on I was back in training straight away. I was never really
out of the gym anyway but the rest I took when I was sick probably
did me good. I feel fit, strong and I’m just ready to get in there.”

The man making sure the British and Commonwealth champion goes into
this fight in top condition, trainer and co-manager Chris Aston,
enlisted a variety of sparring partners to participate in Hobson’s
training camp and liked the results. “Everything has been superb in
regards to Mark’s preparation,” he said. “We’ve been sparring a kid,
Bagarat Ohanyan, who’s been boxing in the states. He’s had five
fights in Las Vegas, won them all, with four by knockout. He’s from
Armenia, was the world amateur champion and is a serious handful.
He’s a good fighter and a heavyweight so Mark had to keep it together
and box cleverly.”

“It was superb sparring but it wasn’t ideal for this fight to be
honest because Mark will be facing a guy six foot seven and Ohanyan
is about six foot two. I have two kids in the gym, Neil Dawson at six
foot five and an unbeaten cruiser, and Pinky Burton who’s fighting
for the British Masters Cruiserweight title, that were better suited
stylewise to preparing Mark to fight Tony Moran. So, we did get some
good sparring in plus real top quality work in with Ohanyan.”

Tony Moran, 11-2 (4), is a former British karate champion who’s won
his last eleven fights after losing the first two of his career. The
thirty year old from Liverpool is coming off of his biggest victory
to date, a fourth round stoppage over Matthew Ellis this past
October. Ellis was former British amateur champion at heavyweight and
is the only fighter on Moran’s resume to possess a winning record.
“I’ve never fought anyone taller than I am and with me at six-five
and Moran at six-seven, it’s probably the tallest cruiserweight fight
in history (laughs),” said Hobson. “It’ll be a puzzle to solve but
I’m looking forward to it. I want to keep pressure on him from behind
a strong jab, keep him on the back foot, be aggressive and make him
work. I don’t think he’s been past six rounds before and it may take
a couple of rounds until I figure him out but at some point I will.
I’m going to go after him from the first round on and if he makes it
into the later rounds, fair enough, but at some point I’ll land some
of my bigger stuff and hurt him.”

The cruiserweight division is one of the more competitive in Britain
today as three main figures have stirred the imagination of fight
fans across the country. “I want Mark to go out and dominate Moran,”
said Aston. “He’s a double champion and I want him to make a
statement because in this country they tend to be talking about David
Haye and Enzo Macarrinelli alot and I think Mark is the better
fighter out of the three. We sparred with David Haye and
Maccarinelli, I’ve seen one or two chinks in his armor already. He’s
a bit left hand happy and his chin looks suspect, as does Haye’s.”

“These guys all have weaknesses and Mark is a hard enough puncher
with the right hand to get respect from anybody. He had Rob Norton
down three times and he’s still the only fighter to have ninety four
fight veteran Paul Bonson down on the canvas. The fight I really want
for Mark, though, is against Carl Thompson for the IBO title. I think
that would be the perfect fight for Mark and I’m hoping that his
promoter Barry Hearn and manager Tommy Gilmour can put something like
that together.”

Mark Hobson earned his titles the hard way and has no intention of
letting anyone share the top of the hill. With a fight against WBO
champion Johnny Nelson a long shot due to competing promotional
outfits, as well as Nelson likely being at the twilight of his
career, Hobson knows that his main competition will likely come from
Haye, Maccarinelli and Thompson. “I think that David, Enzo and Carl
are all fantastic punchers and good boxers but I don’t think they can
take it as good as they can give it,” he said. “It remains to be seen
but Haye was definitely knocked out in the amateurs by a guy I
certainly wouldn’t say was fantastic. Maccarinelli was knocked out as
a professional and so was Thompson, so the writing is on the wall.”

“I don’t know if I’ll end up fighting any of them, because there’s so
many different factors and roadblocks involved. There’s a lot of
water that has to flow under the bridge before those fights are going
to happen. I’m just going to concentrate on this fight against Moran
because there’s no point in me saying I want to fight Carl Thompson
next if I go out and lose this one. I want to make sure I win on
Saturday night and look good doing so. If I keep doing that the big
fights will come anyway. All you have to do in boxing is keep winning
and it all will come to you.”

Boxingtalk.com would like to thank Mark Hobson, Chris Aston and John
Wischhusen for making this article possible.