Author: Kharatian Ani

BOXING: DARCHINYAN PUTS TITLES ON LINE AGAINST ARCE

Agence France Presse
Feb 5 2009
France

ANAHEIM, California (AFP) — Armenian-born Australian Vic Darchinyan
and Mexican challenger Jorge Arce have been warming up for their
super flyweight world title showdown on Saturday with a flurry of
verbal jabs.

Darchinyan will be fighting for the first time since his ninth-round
knockout of Cristian Mijares in November – a bout in which Darchinyan
went into the ring a 6-1 underdog and emerged with the World Boxing
Association, World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation
super-flyweight belts.

Darchinyan became the first fighter to hold all three titles in
the 115-pound class, and the relentless southpaw promised another
explosive effort against Arce.

"I’m not looking to knock him out in the first round. He is a tough
fighter and I know he is here to give me a tough fight – so this
might go a couple rounds," said Darchinyan, who boasts a record of
31-1-1 with 25 wins inside the distance.

"But once I hit him – and before he realizes what hit him – the fight
will be over."

Arce, a two-time world champion himself, says Darchinyan won’t be
able to back up that prediction.

"Darchinyan?s greatest strength is his mouth. His biggest weakness
is his chin," scoffed Arce, who brings a record of 51-4-1 with 39
knockouts. "I hope he stands there and fights for a while so I can
really hurt him."

And Arce, 29, pooh-poohed pre-fight predictions based on the fact
that Darchinyan dominated Mijares – the fighter who handed Arce his
last defeat, by unanimous decision in 2007.

"People think because I lost to Mijares and Darchinyan beat Mijares
that Darchinyan will automatically win our fight," Arce said. "But
that’s not how it works. Styles win fights."

ISRAELIS URGE TURKISH PM TO MAKE STRONGEST CALL TO SOOTHE CONCERNS

Hurriyet
Feb 5 2009
Turkey

TEL AVIV / JERUSALEM – Israeli people are extremely concerned that
Turkey’s harsh reaction to the Gaza operations could turn into a real
threat against Jews and expect Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to step
in to reduce the tension.

Turkey is among the countries which made harshest criticism against
Israel’s Gaza operations that killed more than 1,300 people and
injured at least 5,000 others.

In the latest incident that raised tensions, Erdogan stormed out of
the Gaza session with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Davos last
week after the moderator did not give him the floor to speak. The
incident is unlikely to have a negative impact on the relations of
the two historic allies, but has created unease among Turkey’s Jewish
community, as well as Israeli nationals.

An Israeli journalist told Hurriyet that Erdogan’s reaction recalled
the criticism of former French President Jacques Chirac’s regarding
the Jenin incidents.

"But what is important here is to give the strongest message to
the Turkish people that this reaction has nothing to do with the
Jewish community in Turkey and the Israeli people. Otherwise similar
approaches, such as like the banner ‘Dogs, Armenians and Jews cannot
enter’ (hung in a protest), will spread throughout Turkey," said Arad
Nir, foreign editor and anchor with Israel’s Channel 2, the country’s
largest private broadcasting station.

Israelis reacted with the cancellation of 60 percent of planned tours
to Turkey’s tourism centers. Around 600,000 Israeli visited Turkey
in 2008.

"I have been going to Turkey for the last five years. But I am thinking
of not going this year. My friends are saying severe harassments
target Jews in Turkey," taxi driver Amir said.

MAJOR CONCERN HOSPITILITY

Mass demonstrations have been held in Turkey to protest Israel’s
Gaza operation.

Although there is no incident of violence against Jews in Turkey,
some banners or slogans chanted in protest have created major concerns
among the Jewish community who warned the Turkish government to act
to prevent anti-Semitic activities. Turkey sees anti-Semitism as a
crime against humanity.

"We, the Israelis, are used to being welcomed in Turkey with ‘Shalom
Ahi’ (Hello, brother). This should not be lost. Our major concern is
the hostility against Israelis in Turkey," Channel 2’s Nir added.

Protecting some 23,000 Jews living in Turkey is "a sacred legacy"
of the Ottoman Empire, said Nesim Guvenis, the vice president of the
Union of Jews from Turkey in Israel.

"My fear is that if hostility emerges and intensifies against those
people (Jews in Turkey), then people will be forced to leave. Frankly,
they are really scared. Mr. Prime Minister Erdogan uses people’s jargon
while he is making his harshest criticism and this sparks hatred. But
later he uses diplomatic jargon while calling for calm. In order to
prevent any reactions he should have used the same jargon with the
people," Guvenis added.

BACK-DOOR DIPLOMACY

The Israeli security forces had kept Turkish diplomats waiting in
Tel Aviv airport for two hours, another sign of the unease among the
people of the Jewish state. Turkish diplomats in Israel have been
working hard to correct the misunderstandings.

Officials from both countries have been pursuing "silent diplomacy"
to ease the tension. One of the important issues on table is President
Abdullah Gul’s visit to Israel.

Gul had postponed his Israel visit alongside with a couple of others
early in January due to an ear complaint that prevented him from
flying. Diplomatic sources say the visit was not cancelled but
postponed.

Both Israeli and Turkish media reported that diplomats have been
holding back door diplomacy since Erdogan’s tantrum in Davos. The
countries see each other as strategic partners and the incidents did
not have any impact on this view, diplomats say.

The Israeli people are trying to understand whether Erdogan’s reaction
is something related to domestic politics or something else, said
Jerusalem Post correspondent Haviv Retig.

"Turkey is the most important strategic partner of Israel. Both
countries need each other. Turkey is the first country that Israel will
knock on the door of at a time of a crisis. We have to overcome this
crisis and look ahead. I think the political and economic cooperation
between the two countries will improve strategically," Retig added.

DARCHINYAN-ARCE WORKOUT PICS!

Fight News

Feb 5 2009

Three of the four fighters who will be featured on Saturday’s excellent
doubleheader on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING participated in a workout
Wednesday that was open to the media and public. It was held at the
TKO Boxing Gym in Santa Ana, Calif. Click on the image below for
more photos…

In what will be a slugfest from start to finish, Vic Darchinyan will
defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Council
(WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight belts against
Jorge Arce in Saturday’s main event live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT,
delayed on the west coast).

The once-beaten, hard-hitting Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs), of Sydney,
Australia, by way of Armenia, will be making his first defense since
unifying the 115-pound division with a one-sided ninth-round knockout
over Mexico’s Cristian Mijares Nov. 1, 2008, on SHOWTIME.

A winner of five in a row and 31 out of his last 32, the popular,
crowd-pleasing Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico,
is the current WBA interim super flyweight champion and is a former WBC
115-pound and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 108-pound titleholder.

The co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will pit WBC
No. 5-ranked contender Antonio DeMarco (19-1-1, 13 KOs) against
"Kid Diamond" Almazbek Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KOs) in a 12-rounder
for the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) lightweight title.

The event, co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and Bob Arum’s
Top Rank, Inc., will take place from the Honda Center in Anaheim,
Calif.

Remaining tickets, priced at $250, $125, $90, $60, $45 and $35 on sale,
can be purchased through Ticketmaster (all Ticketmaster outlets),
by phone, 714-740-2000, online at and at the
Honda Center box office. (note: additional tickets at $35, $45 and
$60 have been made available)

What the fighters had to say Wednesday:

VIC DARCHINYAN

"I am anxious, focused and confident. My weight is great. I am ready
to go.

"I expect this is going to be a good fight. I’m not looking to knock
him out in the first round. He is a tough fighter and I know he is
here to give me a tough fight. So this might go a couple rounds.

"But once I hit him – and before he realizes what hit him – the fight
will be over.

"I got a lot of attention when I was undefeated, but the recognition
is more now that I beat Mijares like a baby. Being undisputed champion
means more.

"I know I have a target on my back and that everyone will be gunning
for me. That’s why I am not overlooking any opponent, including Arce.

"Arce has done a lot of talking, but I like it when they talk and
think they are going to beat me. That way, when it is over, I can
remind them of what they said while I am holding the belts.

"I’ve been chasing, following this guy around Mexico for three years. I
can’t wait for Saturday."

JORGE ARCE

"Darchinyan’s greatest strength is his mouth. I am not intimidated
by the devil; why would I be intimidated by him? His biggest weakness
is his chin. When he gets hit flush, he doesn’t get up.

"I am ready for anything he has to offer and looking forward to
testing him and finding out about his will to win. I know what my
will to win is. But we’ll find Saturday about his.

"He hasn’t been fighting really elite Mexican fighters and I
have trained for this fight like I never have before. I’ve had a
great camp. I’ve been chopping trees and swimming to improve my
strength. I’ve sparred with southpaws for the first time. Lefties
have never given me a problem.

"People think because I lost to Mijares and Darchinyan beat Mijares
that Darchinyan will automatically win our fight. But that’s not how
it works. It is just talk. It is neither here nor there. Styles make
fights. You’ll see after I nail him what I am saying.

"I am very happy and excited to be here and I am looking forward to
fighting in Anaheim again and showing SHOWTIME that I deserve to be
on their network. I appreciate this opportunity.

"I am not leaving that ring without the three belts. I am smarter
than him."

ANTONIO DEMARCO

"The only thing I can say is that this is going to be an exciting
fight. I have a lot of respect for my opponent in and out of the ring.

"I have prepared for this like it will be the toughest fight of
my career. It is especially important to win because what happens
Saturday will go a long ways to what will happen to me in the future.

"I am confident of victory for several reasons, but the top
two are that I am going to win for my wife, Tanya, and my
three-and-one-half-month-old daughter, Camila."

ARFD PROPOSES MARKING AUGUST 11 IN ARMENIA AS DAY OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY

Noyan Tapan

Feb 5, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 5, the RA National
Assembly in the first reading adopted a bill authored by ARFD faction
members, which envisages making addenda to the law On RA Coat of
Arms. According to main rapporteur Artsvik Minasian, addendum’s
goal is to prevent possible distortion and profanation of one of the
state symbols. The bill prohibits change of coat of arms’ picture,
structure, colors, as well as copied use of the coat of arms picture
established by the law or its components in other coats of arms,
distinguishing badges or symbols. It is also stipulated that state
local self-government bodies’ coats of arms or organizations’ symbols
must not be like the RA coat of arms.

Two bills envisaging addenda to the law On RA Holidays and
Commemorative Days were also adopted in the first reading.

The bill authored by the ARFD faction members proposes marking August
11 as Day of Armenian National Identity and holding all Armenian
events in the five days preceding it, on Navasard Holidays. The day’s
choice is grounded by the fact that according to Armenian chroniclers,
country’s and nation’s forefather Hayk gained a victory for the sake of
nation’s liberty on August 11, 2492 B.C. The Armenian Saint Apostolic
Church adopted that day and now it is used it as the initial day of
Armenian calendar in the calendar of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.

According to another bill envisaging making an addendum to the law
On RA Holidays and Commemorative Days authored by the members of
the NA Standing Committee of Science, Education, Culture, Youth
and Sports Affairs, it is proposed giving an official character to
international holidays marked so far on civil society’s initiative
in Armenia stipulating that besides traditional and church holidays,
international days can be also marked in Armenia.

OPPOSITION DISSATISFIED WITH PACE DECISION
Siranush Muradyan

"Radiolur"
05.02.2009 15:07

"Notwithstanding the fact that the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) did not suspend Armenia’s voting right,
the opposition will continue its strategic activity," representative
of the Armenian National Congress David Shahnazaryan said. He did
not go into details of this activity. Shahnazaryan stated only that
the authorities would like the opposition to attack some government
structure, but they are not going to do that.

"We are not satisfied with the behavior of Prescott and Colombier. I
do believe that the last decision of the Parliamentary Assembly on
Armenia was the decision of higher instances associated with Armenia’s
geopolitical position, David Shahnazaryan said.

BLESSING OF THE THROATS
Posted by Leslie Palma-Simoncek

Staten Island Advance – SILive.com
09/02/blessing_of_the_throats_1.html
Jan 3 2009
NY

Today is the Feast of St. Blaise and it’s customary — although
somewhat less common these days — for Catholics to have their throats
blessed in observance of the feast. For this blessing, two specially
blessed candles are pressed against the throat as the priest or
deacon says, "Saint Blaise, pray for us that we may not suffer from
illnesses of the throat and pray that all who are suffering be healed
by God’s love."

As with many saints, not much is known definitively about
St. Blaise. He was believed to be a bishop in Armenia in the early
fourth century. According to legend that became popular in the
eighth century– which I found several places, including here —
Blaise received a message from God to flee into the hills to escape
persecution. Hunters later discovered a cave surrounded by sick wild
animals. Blaise walked among them, curing their illnesses. The hunters
recognized the bishop and brought him back for trial. Along the way,
he convinced a wolf to release a poor woman’s pig. Once in prison,
he is said to have saved a boy who was choking on a fishbone, hence
the throat blessings.

Monsignor Edmund Whalen, pastor of St. Joseph-St. Thomas
Parish in Pleasant Plains, said the practice of blessing throats
spread throughout Europe and from there, to wherever missionaries
traveled. But in the 40 years following the Second Vatican Council,
many parishes abandoned the practice, he said, because of a lack of
understanding of the role of the saints.

"The saints are ‘heroes’ who lived their relationship with God
well, and therefore are examples of faith for us," the monsignor
said. "Devotions associated with the saints help us to grow closer
to God in the same way that they did."

At his parish and several others, including Our Lady Star of the Sea
in Huguenot and St. Adlabert’s in Elm Park, throats are being blessed
today, and the blesses were offered at all weekend masses as well. If
you missed it, there’s a special Knights of Columbas mass this evening
at 7:30 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, located at Maguire Avenue
and Amboy Road in Pleasant Plains. Throats will be blessed after mass.

On a personal note, as a child I prayed very fervently to St. Blaise
for the throat blessing to work every year. My mother worked for a
doctor, you see, and whenever I got even slightly ill, off I went
for a painful shot of erythromycin in the rump. I got better fast,
but it came at quite a cost.

IRAN LAUNCHES ITS FIRST SATELLITE INTO ORBIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2009 15:00 GMT+04:00

Iran has launched its first domestically made satellite into orbit.

The launch of the Omid (Hope) Safir-2 rocket had been expected
and was clearly timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the
Iranian revolution.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the satellite was launched
to spread "monotheism, peace and justice" in the world, BBC reports.

CARGO CARRIER TAKES WEIGHT OFF
Larry Edsall

The Detroit News
AID=/20090204/AUTO03/902040314/1149/AUTO01
Feb 4 2009
MI

Four-wheeled device gets items from car to kitchen without use of
heavy lifting as it pivots from vehicle.

Serge Agopian and his family and friends were talking one day about
how easy it was to wheel their groceries from the store to their
vehicles in a shopping cart, but how cumbersome it was to make many
trips from the car to the kitchen once they got home.

There must be an easier way, they thought.

Agopian, of Oxnard, Calif., did more than think about it. He went to
work and created the Autocart portable cargo carrier and started a
company to build it.

The company is Jackson Cargo Management Solutions Inc. "Jackson" is
the English translation of Serge’s Armenian family name. He thought
Agopian might sound like a nice ethnic restaurant, but that "Jackson"
sounded more like a contractor’s or manufacturer’s name.

The basket part of an Autocart looks much like the basket in a
typical grocery shopping cart, but the base comprises four wheels,
a shelf and two L-shaped arms that support the basket.

The arms are height-adjustable so the basket can be wheeled onto
a lowered pickup truck tailgate or into the cargo area of a sport
utility vehicle or minivan.

Once the basket is in place in a vehicle, the base can be pivoted up
right behind the base.

The unit fits in 38 x 26 x 24-inch space, and the basket can be raised
to as high as 35 inches from the ground.

Though groceries provided the inspiration, Agopian said the Autocart
also can carry sporting goods or tools, even heavy tools. The basket
will hold up to 200 pounds and the base is designed for a load of up
to 300 pounds.

The Autocart retails for $349.95 and is sold through the

When we checked the site, it was offering the cart at a special
reduced price of $249.95.

In addition to the Autocart, Jackson Cargo Management has two similar
carts in development. One is a larger xAC cart and the other is a
lighter-weight Omnicart that folds almost flat when not being used.

POLAND BACKS SOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT WITHIN AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Trend News Agency
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Poland supports solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with preservation
of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Polish Deputy Foreign
Minister Andrzej Kremer said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Parliament
Vice-Speaker Valeh Alasgarov on Feb. 4. Kremer is visiting Baku.

Alasgarov informed the guest about the structure and activities of
the Azerbaijani Parliament, country’s economic reforms, oil strategy,
current situation in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and other issues, Parliamentary press service said in a message.

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.

Alasgarov stressed the need to intensify cooperation in order to
enhance intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary relations between
the two countries. There is great potential for the development of
relations between Azerbaijan and Poland. The Parliaments can make a
significant contribution to this field, said Vice Speaker.

The officials touched upon Azerbaijan’s role in the energy security
of Europe, global-scale oil and gas projects initiated by Azerbaijan,
prospects to develop relations.

WHAT ARE THE AMENDMENTS MEANT FOR?

A1+
[05:02 pm] 04 February, 2009

The Armenian Parliament is going to amend the Law on Television
and Radio for the nth time. To put it mildly, the amendments are
"overdue." Under the draft amendments the list of free broadcasting
frequencies should be publicised every year. While in September 2008
the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on Television and
Radio that cancel all tenders for broadcasting frequencies until 2011,
when the introduction of digital broadcasting in Armenia will have
been completed

Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of National Assembly’s Standing Committee
on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Affairs, says the amendments
are not formal. He says the authorities are seriously concerned about
the state of electronic media and support the PACE posture in view
of the amendments.

"We must clarify the relations between technological progress and
political risks," said Ashotyan without detailing the aim of the
amendments.

Note that PACE Resolution 1643 says: "The Assembly underlines that the
technical requirements for the introduction of digital broadcasting
should not be used by the authorities to unduly delay the holding
of an open, fair and transparent tender for broadcasting licences,
as demanded by the Assembly"

According to Ashotyan the amendments will help meet the call of
the European Court regarding A1+’s case judgment, in particular,
the Court urges the Armenian authorities to reason why a company is
granted or deny a broadcasting licence.

Actually, the working law foresees that the process of granting
or denying licences be reasoned. Asked what the new amendments
are meant for, Ashotyan said: "We have added and detailed the
requirements. For instance, preference will be given to the company
providing pluralism. You focus on one side of the issue: you say a
moratorium has been announced by 2011. But neither the Council of
Europe nor the Armenian leadership has politicised the issue."