Author: Kamalian Hagop

EastsideBoxing.com
Dec 28 2004

Vazquez vs Simonyan for IBF Jr Featherweight Title on Dec 28th

27.12.04 – International Boxing Federation Association junior
featherweight champion Israel Vazquez defends his title under the
Sycuan Ringside Promotions banner for the first time when he meets
undefeated and No. 1-ranked contender Art Simonyan Tuesday, Dec. 28,
at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, Calif. The world
championship card, promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions in
association with Banner Promotions, will be held in the Sycuan
Showcase Theatre at the Sycuan Resort & Casino. The card starts at 6
p.m. (Pacific) with doors to the Sycuan Showcase Theatre opening at
5:30..

Also on the card will be five other fights, featuring a women’s bouts
and three boxers from the San Diego area.

The IBF 122-pound championship will be a belated birthday gift for
either Vasquez or Simonyan.

Vazquez turns 27 on Christmas Day while Simonyan becomes 29 on Dec.
27.

This is the fifth boxing card presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions
since it burst onto the international boxing scene earlier this year.

Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered by many to be the
fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during
February, but already has presented world championship bouts on
premium cable networks.

Tickets for this championship card, priced at $100, $200 and $250,
are on sale 24 hours daily in the gift shop at the Sycuan Resort &
Casino. Tickets also can be ordered by calling 619-445-6002 or
619-659-3380 24 hours daily.

Vazquez, originally from Mexico City but now living in Los Angeles,
won the IBF junior featherweight championship in his most recent
bout, March 25 in Los Angeles, when he stopped Jose Luis Valbuena in
the 12th round.

Vazquez has a record of 36-3 with 27 knockouts. He has a mark of 16-1
dating back to 1999, that lone loss coming in a bout for the World
Boxing Council super bantamweight championship during 2002.

Simonyan, who was born in Armenia but now lives in Glendale, Calif.,
has a record of 14-0-1 with seven knockouts. He earned the right to
challenge Vazquez with a 12-round decision over Fahsan Por Thawatchai
in a title elimination bout May 21 in Elk Grove Village, Ill.

`Simonyan is a tough fighter and he’s strong,’ says Vazquez, `but I’m
motivated and anxious to fight.’

The undercard bouts include heavyweight Shawn Ross of San Diego
against undefeated Bernard Gray of San Francisco; heavyweight Jay
Horton of Pomona, Calif., against James Harling of Long Beach, Calif;
cruiserweight prospect Shane Johnston of San Diego against Moses
Matovu of Los Angeles; and veteran welterweight Francisco Maldonado
of El Cajon, Calif., against Mauricio Borquez of Culiacan, Sinaloa.

In the women’s bouts undefeated featherweight Crystal Hoy of Las
Vegas faces Sarah Huntman of Los Angeles.

Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable in
addition to Vazquez, including WBO junior featherweight champion Joan
`Little Tyson’ Guzman, IBF lightweight champion Julio `The Kidd’
Diaz, former World Boxing Association cruiserweight king Orlin `Night
Train’ Norris and highly regarded welterweight Antonio Diaz.

France Discusses Chirac’s Surprise Turkey Support

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 17 2004

French President Jacques Chirac is being fiercely criticized for his
open support of Turkey prior to the historic European Union (EU)
summit in spite of French public opinion and opposition by Chirac’s
own party.

The leader of the coalition partner representing France’s
center-right, the Union for Public Movement (UDF) party, Francois
Bayrou, accused Chirac of ignoring the government’s position and
acting like a monarch in his support of Turkey’s EU membership bid.
Bayrou told RTL radio yesterday: “I listened to what the President
said with sadness and anger. This is a monarchy. And many French
people do not want to live under a monarchy, even if it is a
presidential one. In any other country, such an important decision
could not be made by a single person in such a unilateral way.” Alain
Madelin, a former government minister and deputy in the UMP also
reacted to Chirac’s speech describing the president’s decision as
unilateral that was not based on any democratic debate or vote. He
called the decision the “bankruptcy of democracy.” Nicolas Sarkozy,
UMP leader and potential rival for the French presidency in 2007,
said Chirac has created “incontestable difficulty” and said, “I have
to calm certain things.” UMP Parliamentary Group Chair Bernard
Accoyer, explained that a consensus had been reached within the party
regarding the beginning of negotiations with Turkey and that the
majority is against Turkey’s membership.

Armenians pleased with Chirac

The Armenian Diaspora living in France is pleased with Chirac’s
televised speech on Wednesday (December 15). In a historic statement,
Chirac used the word “drama” instead of the expression “Armenian
Genocide” and said Turkey would one day respect the Armenians’
“collective memory.” Harout Mardirossian, President of the Committee
for the Defense of the Armenian Cause, said Chirac described the
issue of “Armenian Genocide” as “a problem between Turkey and
Armenia” a few months ago and said they are pleased with Chirac’s
statement.

12.17.2004
Ali Ihsan Aydin
Paris

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS ON TURKEY TO EXPLICITLY RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

STRASBURG, December 16 (Noyan Tapan). The European Armenian Federation
for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) welcomed the adoption by the
European Parliament of three strongly worded measures calling on
Turkey to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. These measures
were actively supported by the Brussels-based Federation, which
represents more than two hundred Armenian associations across Europe.

The provisions were added, on the eve of the December 17th vote of
the European Council on opening European Union membership talks with
Turkey, as amendments to a Parliamentary report on Turkey’s progress
toward accession to the European Union. This report, prepared
by Camiel Eurlings (PPE/The Netherlands) was passed by a vote of
407 to 262. Significantly, the report stressed, in Paragraph 55,
that, “the opening of negotiations will be the starting point for a
long-lasting process [.] and does not lead ‘a priori’ and automatically
to accession.” An amendment to the report suggesting that Turkey be
granted a “privileged partnership” rather than actual membership in
the European Union was rejected by a secret ballot.

The Eurling Report made specific reference to Armenian issues in eight
separate paragraphs, with three dealing specifically with Armenian
Genocide recognition. Amendments on the Genocide were brought to
the floor by four political groups (EPP, PSE, ALDE, United Left,
Independence/Democracy), respectively by Mr. Toubon (EPP/France),
Mr. Poignant (PSE/France) and Mrs. Carlotti (PSE/France), Mrs. De
Sarnez (ALDE/France), Mr. Wurtz (United Left/France) and Mr. Belder
(IND/DEM / Netherlands).

In the end, the European Parliament urged Turkey to “promote the
process of reconciliation with the Armenian people by acknowledging
the genocide” and called on the European Council and Commission to
demand this country to “formally acknowledge the historic reality”
of the Genocide.

The European Armenian Federation welcomed the adoption of the Eurling
Report and the three amendments clearly articulating the European
consensus that Turkey must acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. “On
the eve of the European Summit, heads of state must, as they chart a
course for the future, take into account the democratic will of the
European electorate and our elected representatives in the European
Parliament,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European
Armenian Federation. “This is a tremendous victory for Europeans who
want to preserve European values in the face of Turkeyâ~@~Ys ongoing
denial of the Genocide,” she continued.

Since the European Parliament resolution of 1987, which set the
recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition to the
consideration of Turkish accession to the Union, the European
Parliament has continuously restated this principled position in
successive resolutions. This message was reinforced earlier this week
by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called on Turkey to
recognize the genocide against the Armenians. “The clear consensus
within European circles remains: Turkey cannot join the Union without
giving up its ultra-nationalist and aggressive policy towards Armenia,”
explained Tchoboian. “European Armenians urge the upcoming meeting
of the European Council to reflect the will of the European public,
to honor this vote of the European Parliament, and to respect the
European values on which the European project is based,” concluded
the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

“Armenian Americans join with the European Armenian Federation and
Armenians across Europe in welcoming this historic vote reaffirming
the international consensus that Turkey must recognize the Armenian
Genocide, lift its blockade of Armenia, and abandon it hostile policies
toward Armenia and the Armenian people,” said Aram Hamparian, the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director. “The
strong support for these measures across the European political
spectrum has resonance around the world, including here in the United
States, where a growing number of American legislators are growing
tired of increasingly strident – often desperate – Turkish efforts
to dictate U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide.”

–Boundary_(ID_Ws4HaOWjY5vQBS2SkbP7iw)–

Armenian tragedy

The Guardian – United Kingdon
Dec 15, 2004

* Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the deaths of 1.5 million
people between 1915 and 1923, when the Ottoman empire was breaking
up. It says they were massacred or died in epidemics during their
forced deportations from eastern Turkey to Syria and Mesopotamia.

* Ankara flatly denies the genocide, says the death count is
exaggerated and that those Armenians who died were just some of many
victims of the geo-strategic turbulence of the time.

* In 2001 the French parliament recognised the killings as genocide,
sparking huge protests. A motion was tabled in the Turkish parliament
accusing France of genocide during Algeria’s 1955-62 war of
independence.

El Pais, Espana
December 14, 2004

El tabu de la matanza de armenios

J. C. SANZ

Madrid

Mucho mas que la invocacion del conflicto sobre la identidad nacional
de los kurdos -mas de 15 millones de personas que el aparato
kemalista siempre ha calificado con desden como los “turcos de las
montanas”-, la menor alusion al genocidio armenio saca a la luz el
peor tabu, la secreta mala conciencia de la moderna Turquia. “Nuestra
posicion es bien conocida. No reconocemos ningun supuesto genocidio
ni nunca lo reconoceremos”, zanjo ayer la cuestion un portavoz del
Ministerio de Exteriores en Ankara.

La verdad oficial en Turquia es que no existieron las matanzas de
cientos de miles de cristianos ordenadas por el sultan Abul Hamid II
a finales del siglo XIX, ni mucho menos que el regimen
ultranacionalista de los Jovenes Turcos desencadenara a partir de
1915 una solucion final para exterminar a 1,5 millones de armenios.

Los historiadores turcos sostienen que solo hubo enfrentamientos
entre tropas turcas y grupos cristianos aliados con el enemigo en la
I Guerra Mundial, y que la muerte de unos millares de deportados
armenios en los desiertos sirios no se debio a un programa deliberado
para la eliminacion de un grupo etnico.

Por eso cuando Francia, donde la comunidad de origen armenio tiene
unos 300.000 miembros, dio hace tres anos fuerza de ley a la
existencia del genocidio armenio, el Gobierno de Ankara no vacilo en
retirar a su embajador en Paris.

Una activa diaspora armenia, que ha dado artistas como el cantante
frances Charles Aznavour o cineastas como el estadounidense Elia
Kazan o el canadiense Atom Egoyan, se ha encargado mantener viva la
memoria del genocidio, por lo demas incuestionado por los
historiadores occidentales.

Pero lo cierto es que la armonica convivencia de siglos -la mayoria
musulmana integro a cristianos armenios y griegos o judios sefardies
en Estambul y las ciudades de la costa mediterranea- paso
definitivamente a la historia con el nuevo Estado fundado en 1923 por
Mustafa Kemal, Atatuerk, a la caida del Imperio Otomano.

Associated Press Worldstream
December 13, 2004 Monday 2:06 PM Eastern Time

French minister: Turkey must come clean with its Ottoman record in
Armenia

ROBERT WIELAARD; Associated Press Writer

BRUSSELS, Belgium

France will insist Turkey acknowledge its record regarding the
killing of Armenians in the early 20th century if it wants to join
the European Union, France’s foreign minister said Monday.

EU leaders holding a summit on Thursday and Friday are to discuss
setting a start date for negotiations for Turkey to join the
25-nation bloc.

“In the course of the accession negotiations, France will ask for a
recognition of the tragedy at the outset of the 20th century,” Michel
Barnier said.

Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians as part of a 1915-1923 campaign to force them out
of eastern Turkey. At that time, Armenia was part of the Ottoman
Empire.

Turkey remains extremely sensitive to the issue. It denies the
genocide, says the death count is inflated and that Armenians were
killed or displaced along with others as the Ottoman Empire tried to
quell civil unrest.

Barnier was careful to avoid using the term “genocide,” but said that
“Turkey must reconcile itself with its past.”

Barnier said that “The European (unification) project is built on
reconciliation,” citing Germany and France, two EU members with a
rich history of wars that led to enormous loss of life.

Under EU rules, countries can only join if they are democracies, have
functioning market economies and live in peace with their neighbors.

Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations at the moment
because of past friction.

They are also at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region within
Azerbaijan that has been under ethnic Armenian control since a war
that ended in 1994 without a political settlement. Azeris and Turks
share close ethnic ties, although recently Turkey has expressed a
willingness to improve relations with Armenia.

French-Turkish ties became strained in 2001, when French parliament’s
recognition of the killings as a genocide sparked a boycott of French
goods and an exclusion of French companies from Turkish defense
contracts.

Armenia looking for alternative sources of energy to close nuclear plant

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Dec 04

[Presenter] The European Union is helping Armenia create the necessary
conditions for the closure of the Metsamor nuclear power
plant. Armenia has to provide itself with alternative sources of
energy before the closure of the power plant. However, it is not easy
to preserve security in this sphere as there are no gas reservoirs in
the country.

The programme on upgrading the Abovyan gas reservoirs is estimated at
27m dollars. It is planned to allocate these funds as a credit within
the framework of the European Union’s TACIS programme.

[Correspondent] The programme on creating a system of safe natural gas
supplies within the planned closure of the Metsamor nuclear power
plant envisages first of all the replacement of obsolete equipment at
the Abovyan underground gas reservoirs. A total of 50 new pieces of
equipment have already been installed at three underground gas
reservoirs.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

[Ashot Hovsepyan, deputy executive director of the AyRusgasard gas
company] The aim is to increase the number of such stations and
provide all of Armenia with such stations within one or two years. The
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will also be involved in the system.

[Correspondent] Successful first steps have been taken to establish a
safe system of natural gas supplies. The final aim in spending
millions of euros is to close down the nuclear power plant. However,
the main condition for closing down the power plant is to find
alternative sources of energy.

[Areg Galstyan, Deputy Energy Minister] Natural gas is the most
important source of energy for us, because the country’s heating
system is based on natural gas.

[Karen Karapetyan, executive director of AyRusgasard gas company] We
have to do this work irrespective of the existence of the nuclear
power plant.

[Passage omitted: Repeating the same ideas]

PHOTOGRAPHER AWARDED

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
11 Dec 04

On December 8 NKR president Arkady Ghukassian awarded the medal
`Gratitude’ to the Canadian Armenian photographer Hrair Khatcherian
(Bazeh). The honour was conferred on him for his contribution to the
cultural development of NKR, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary
of the national liberation movement in Artsakh. Hrair Khatcherian
thanked the head of the Karabakh republic for such a high appreciation
of his work. According to him, Artsakh is a source of inspiration not
only for him but also other representatives of art of the Diaspora.
The Canadian photographer presented the NKR president with one of his
works. After the ceremony of awarding we talked to the famous
photographer Bazeh known and loved by many in Karabakh. `I was born in
Lebanon in 1961. In 1982 I left for America to get education and in
1984 I settled down in Canada. Whyin Canada? Well, it just happened
so. In 1988 the Karabakh movement began. I was working for the
Armenian newspaper `Horizon’. One day therewas a meeting before the
Soviet embassy where the representatives of our community repeated `
Karabakh is ours, Karabakh is ours’. I went up to them and asked them
what was Karabakh. They said it was a territory which was ours, in the
20s Stalin had given it to Azerbaijan, now the people of Karabakh
seceded and declared independence. But nobody explained to me who the
people of Karabakh were. Idecided to come here and find it out
myself. 1992. No electricity. The airport does not work. The Lachin
corridor is bombed. Somehow we got to Shushi where I met excellent
guys. Unfortunately, many of they would get killed. But we becamevery
close. And three days later we went to Martuni, the border, saw the
soldiers who were of different ages, from 16 to 60.’ `You understood
then who is a Karabakh man?’ `Yes then I understood. I though if I had
left my wife and two daughters in Canada and come here I made a big
sacrifice but then I understood that I was the smallest of
them. People fought with weapon, I fought with my camera. I took
pictures of communities, churches, people and the war. I returned to
Armenia and promised to come back in 1993. But I could not. I fell
seriously ill. Doctors said I would die in 10 days. I promised that if
I went out of the hospital I would go and take pictures of the
Armenian churches of the world. It happened. In 1994 I returned to
Karabakh, already liberated. I decided not to take pictures of war any
more. It was a year of repose and return. I photographed the revival
of life. I came back again in 1996, in 1997, in 1998 and so on. In
1997 Archbishop Mesrop Ashchian, who, unfortunately, is not with us
any more, sponsored the publication of my first colour album headlined
‘Artsakh: Photographic Trip’. The album consists of four parts: the
country, the people, the struggle and the architecture. In 2002 we
created a new album, this time black and white, dedicated to the ten
years of liberation. There were a lotof exhibitions, numerous pictures
on web sites, in brief, a lot of work was done. In a way I became an
ambassador between Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora.’ ` After all
this does the Diaspora know what Karabakh is and who the people of
Karabakh are?’ `Most people know very well, and it is owingto people
who have been here at least once. My aim is to retain the connections
between Armenians as long as possible. I think there are no borders
between Armenians and all is our motherland. I feel good in Karabakh,
and in Armenia, and in West Armenia. When I am in Canada my soul
suffers as I have work to do here. Soon a new album will come out
which is entitled `Armenia and Artsakh in Bazeh’s Eyes’ (` Armenia and
Artsakh in Hawk’s Eyes’). I took the pictures included in it from a
helicopter. From above it is quite different. I want to show the
people of Karabakh that our motherland is beautiful indeed and not
only in the eyes of Armenians. We will by all means present the album
and exhibit the works in Artsakh. The second album is also ready. It
will be entitled `Yerkir’ (`Country’ ) and will be devoted to our
pilgrimage with Mesrop Ashchian to West Armenia. And the third album
will be the largest; it will include 360 pictures. It will be devoted
to the Armenian churches of the world. I have already been to 43
countries. It is the pilgrimage I have been going on after my
illness.’ `And why Bazeh?’ (In Armenian this word means `hawk’.) Ido
not know. This name is with me since I was 13. Perhaps God knows why
he gave me that name. Through my photos I want to thank the people of
Karabakh that they managed to defend the land of us all. I do my best.

NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
11-12-2004

ARCHBISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL 2004 SHOWCASED DURING GATHERING OF
BOSTON-AREA PARISHIONERS

BOSTON, December 9 (Noyan Tapan). On Wednesday, December 1, more than
70 Armenians from local parishes throughout the Boston area attended a
reception, during which they were introduced to the Archbishop’s
Annual Appeal 2004 and the future plans of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern).

According to the Press Office of the Diocese, the reception, hosted by
The Guleserian Family at the Sheraton Commander Hotel in Cambridge,
MA, was one of many regional receptions being organized to give
parishioners a chance to meet with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate; members of the Diocesan Council; and representatives from the
Diocesan staff.

The evenings are a chance for parishioners to get a better
understanding of what the Diocese does to further the Armenian
Christian faith, and why donating to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal
2004 makes a difference.

“People appreciated the Primate’s presence there, and the ability to
ask questions,” said John Amboian, vice chair of the Diocesan Council,
who attended the reception. “And they came away saying it was very
informative. They really learned how those funds will be
utilized. Some people think, when they give to something like the
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal that it will be used to pay rent or
utilities. But the point is that’s not right. We’re using those funds
to expand our programs and ministries that serve our parishes.”

The discussions on Diocesan programs and ministries focused on efforts
targeting six areas: building a better understanding of our faith,
engaging young people, supporting emerging Armenian communities,
providing continuing education and leadership training for clergy and
lay leaders, finding new ways to communicate with every Armenian, and
building a foundation of stewardship in all our parishes.

Christopher Tashjian, a member of the Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America (ACYOA) Central Council, told the attendees
how he personally has benefited from programs and ministries operated
by the Eastern Diocese thanks to the continuous support of the
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.

The reception is just one of several planned throughout the Diocese
this winter. The Primate and Diocesan leaders already met with
parishioners in Chicago. They will gather in New Jersey on December
10; at the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY, on December 16;
and at the St. John Church in Southfield, MI, on January 20. Other
events are being planned.

“We want to meet with the faithful and answer their questions and hear
their suggestions,” said Archbishop Barsamian. “We want to show them
how the Diocese, thanks to their support, is working to make the
Armenian Church a vital part of each Armenian’s life.”

The receptions are not just for donors, but are open to every
Armenian.

IFEX, Canada
Dec 9 2004

ARMENIAN, AZERI JOURNALISTS FORGE DIALOGUE AMIDST CONFLICT

Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in the Caucasus region that has seen
heavy fighting in the past between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is a place
that provokes fiery debate and even deep-seated hatred among citizens
of both countries. Local journalists compare it to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and governments on both sides use the
media to stoke fear and fan the flames of ethnic tension.

But despite a decades-long divide between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
journalists are working together in small but remarkable ways to
promote more fair and balanced media coverage, reports the Committee
to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

In its latest issue of “Dangerous Assignments,” CPJ documents several
cross-border initiatives, including the use of non-traditional media
to promote civic dialogue and fill an “informational vacuum” that
lies between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Radio Van, an Armenian broadcaster, features talk shows that allow
listeners to discuss “hot topics,” including Nagorno-Karabakh,
environmental problems and minority rights. Denied government
permission to broadcast beyond the capital, Yerevan, the station uses
its website to reach more listeners.

On , a website launched by the
Yerevan-based Region Centre, more than 150 journalists from the
Caucasus exchange ideas and opinions in online forums. The website
gives journalists a chance to publicise their work online and conduct
“cross-border interviews” with government officials and other
newsmakers. Journalists must pledge to uphold media ethics when
reporting.

Meanwhile, local press clubs in Yerevan and the Azeri capital, Baku,
organise joint press conferences by satellite, during which
journalists from both countries interview politicians and government
leaders, discuss the news and then report what they learn in their
own media.

While some say these initiatives may not have much influence because
of government control over the media in both countries, others
believe cooperation will go a long way in defusing tension and
dispelling stereotypes. “Fair information has the power to make us
change our perception and to make rational decisions, while unfair
information reinforces stereotypes, stirs up anger and leads to
stupid decisions,” says John Boit, regional director for Internews.

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