Month: April 2007

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
April 14, 2007 Saturday

New ferry makes first trial run from Georgia to Russia

KRASNODAR, April 14

The transport ferry Smat successfully made its first trial run from
the Georgian port of Poti to the Russian port of Kavkaz on Saturday.

Regular trips will start in a week or a week and a half and “the
first cargo to the carried by the ferry to Poti for Armenia will be
five VK-10 electric locomotives,” which are already arriving at
Temryuk by railway, the head of the Temryuk office of the Parom
Chernogo Morya (Black Sea Ferry), Yuri Timchenko, told Itar-Tass on
Saturday.

“The electric locomotives will be delivered to Armenia as
humanitarian aid by a decision of the Russian government,” he said.

On Sunday, “technical procedures of ferry loading and unloading will
be practiced,” Timchenko said, adding that similar work has already
been completed in Poti.

The ferry is run by a Russian crew of 20 members. It will run at
least once a week and can take up to 50 railway carriages or 34-
containers or 86 automobiles.

Until recently cargoes between Armenia and Russia were transported by
the Poti-Ilyichevsk (Ukraine) route, but it is longer and more
expensive. The new route will reduce both travel time and costs.

>From Poti cargoes will travel on to Armenia by railway.

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said recently in Yerevan
that the launch of the new ferry service “will at last establish a
regular and extensive transport connection with Armenia”.

Ivanov considers it very important to launch a ferry link between
Kavkaz and Poti to resolve transport problems.

“The launch of a new ferry running en route Kavkaz-Poti that can
carry up to 50 cargo railway carriages helps to resolve one of the
key problems – Armenia’s transport blockade,” Ivanov told a joint
news conference with participation of Armenian Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian on Wednesday. “The opening of the ferry link will make it
possible to partially cut the Gordian knot already now,” he said.

“By late summer a second ferry will begin operating, which will
increase cargo turnover,” he said. “There are also long-term
programmes for the development of railway transport, but it is still
early to speak about them.”

“Transport is a key problem in our relations, because all the rest
becomes senseless without transport,” Ivanov said.

The agreement on the opening of the Kavkaz-Poti railway and ferry
link was signed by the then Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin back in January 2005.

The first ferry shipped 14 railway carriages full of corn in March
2005. Later the ferry made several passages and this link was
suspended soon.

Initially the ferry should have run between the ports twice or thrice
a week.

The resumption of a ferry link is very important, as Russia and
Georgia have not had direct railway link since August 1992, when an
armed conflict broke in Georgia’s breakaway of Abkhazia.

Since then cargoes to Armenia that has no common border with Russia
have been delivered by motorways bypassing its neighbour of Georgia,
which resulted in transportation price hikes.

Xinhua General News Service
April 14, 2007 Saturday 1:00 PM EST

Egypt, Armenia probe situation in Mideast, Central Asia

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with his visiting Armenian
counterpart Robert Kocharyan Saturday to probe the developments in
the Middle East and Central Asia, a senior Egyptian official said.

Mubarak and Kocharyan discussed the Iranian nuclear file, situation
in Iraq and the Gulf, the Egyptian official MENA news agency quoted
Presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad as saying.

Armenia, which shares its southern borders with Iran, was
particularly interested in Tehran’s nuclear file, he added.

Turning to the situation in Central Asia, the two leaders focused on
the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and
Mubarak called for a peaceful settlement for the dispute to bring
about stability to Central Asia, Awwad added.

In addition, the two presidents discussed means to promote bilateral
cooperation, especially in fields of trade exchange and joint
investments. Egypt and Armenia are expected to sign a number of
agreements and cooperation protocols in various sectors, the
spokesman said.

Kocharyan, who arrived here earlier in the day, is on a three- day
visit to Egypt, during which he will also meet with Arab League
Secretary General Amr Moussa on regional issues, including efforts to
make a breakthrough in the stalled Mideast peace process.

Egypt, the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic
ties with Armenia after it announced independence from the former
Soviet Union in 1991, has constant coordination and contacts with
Armenia at international forums, especially the UN, according to the
spokesman.

South China Morning Post, Hong Kong
April 12, 2007 Thursday

The Chater Legacy – A Selection of the Chater Collection

by Katie Lau

Hong Kong Museum of Art
Ends Jan 8, 2008

The well-restored artworks from the collection of Paul Chater belie
the ravages of the Japanese occupation, when many of the pieces went
missing. More than 40 of the 90 or so remaining pieces – most
recovered from rubbish dumps and antique shops over the years – are
now on display to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Hong Kong
Museum of Art.

Chater, an Indian-born Armenian, settled in Hong Kong in 1864 and
became a wealthy merchant and prominent government official (Chater
Road and Chater Garden are named after him). He left his private
collection of paintings and ceramics to the people of Hong Kong in
his will.

The selection, featuring lithographs, watercolours, oil paintings and
engravings, depicts foreigners’ impressions of South China trading
ports such as Canton, Macau and Hong Kong in the 18th and 19th
centuries, and includes cityscapes, street scenes, rituals and
everyday life. History buffs should enjoy China Wars – a series of 18
works portraying battleships, treaty signings and other key
Sino-British events.

10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 2721 0116

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Nation, Kenya
April 13 2007

State Dismisses Claims On Artur Brothers

The Government yesterday strongly denied reports that the Artur
brothers were back in the country.

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua termed the reports attributed to
Langata MP Raila Odinga as malicious and cheap propaganda meant to
create confusion among Kenyans.

Addressing journalists during his weekly briefings in Nairobi, Dr
Mutua said Artur Sargysyan and Artur Margaryan who were deported last
year after a scuffle at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport had not
been to Nakuru and Mombasa State lodges as alleged.

Cheap propaganda

"The allegations that the brothers visited Nakuru and Mombasa state
lodges are malicious and cheap propaganda," he said.

The allegations, Dr mutua warned, were dangerous and could incite the
public against the government.

"All leaders should be accountable," he said.

The spokesman further took issue with graphics in yesterday’s Nation
showing the brothers pictures in front of State House saying it gave
a wrong impression to ordinary Kenyans that they were at State House.

Many Kenyans, he said, had little knowledge about graphics and would
take the pictures at face value. "They give a false sense," Dr Mutua
said adding that millions of Kenyans were unaware of graphic
techniques.

The Nation graphics, he said, had made some people call FM radio
stations to say it was true the Armenian brothers were in the
country.

On Wednesday, Mr Odinga surprised Parliament when he said the
controversial Armenian brothers had quietly returned to Kenya and had
been feted at State House, Nakuru.

Mr Odinga’s comments were immediately dismissed by State House as
"too ridiculous to deserve a comment."

In a phone call to media houses on Wednesday night, Mr Margaryan also
denied having set foot in Kenya since he left. Elsewhere, Immigration
minister Gideon Konchella appealed to anyone with information on the
presence of the Armenian brothers to give it to police.

But Mr Konchella said the State would not listen to politicians, whom
he termed liars.

Speaking to reporters at his office in Nairobi, Mr Konchella, himself
a politician, said as far as the Government was concerned, the "Artur
brothers" had been deported, and could only be here illegally.

He dismissed suggestions from reporters that investigators speak to
Mr Odinga, who broke the news of the presence of the brothers. He
said Mr Odinga was using the story for propaganda and incitement, and
would naturally lie.

"You cannot expect propaganda peddlers to tell you the truth. They
are bound to lie."

The minister was answering questions after releasing a government
statement dismissing the reports attributed to the Langata MP
indicating that the Artur brothers had sneaked back.

Mislead Kenyans

According to the statement, the reports that appeared in the media
yesterday were false and "intended to mislead Kenyans, erode public
confidence in the Government and create confusion."

While asking a supplementary question to another raised by Ndhiwa MP
Orwa Ojodeh, who wanted to know why the report of the Kiruki
Commission on the activities of the Arturs in Kenya had not been made
public, Mr Odinga told Parliament that the brothers were back,
enjoying State security and hospitality.

But yesterday Mr Konchella termed the allegations "ridiculous,
malicious and fabricated lies" and appealed to politicians to be
truthful.

The Standard, Kenya
April 13 2007

Report Or No Report, Artur Story Won’t Die

It is tempting to get bored with the unending drama swirling around
us in the form of the clowns calling themselves the Artur brothers.It
is possible to dismiss them as a bunch of jokers, legendary for bling
bling, tactlessness, exhibitionist anarchism and big mouth. It is
understandable if we are swallowed by the attention they beckon to
themselves, particularly the younger one. But we should never forget
this is a free movie on which several senior Kenyans starred.

It is tempting, because Langata MP Mr Raila Odinga appears to have
tasked himself a 24-hour shift on the Artur Watchtower, to brush
aside claims they are in the country. That it is one of the things
Raila, and by extension ODM-Kenya, and whatever still pretends to be
the Opposition, are always known for – Government bashing.

It is likely, because we trust bigwigs in Government, to delude
ourselves that the big men and women learnt their lesson, curled the
tails and scampered away to the caves of denial. That because the
powermen were left egg-faced, the doors of Kenya will forever remain
shut against the dangerous criminals who freely walked our roads,
throwing a punch here and there.

It is not surprising if we trust too much on the sound judgment of
those in power that they would not want to wade through the mud again
or even face shame while humming the old spiritual, It is Well with
My Soul! The cover is yet to be blown on the Arturs’ consorts in
Kenya.

But as we have seen, the triumphant spring with which they walked the
soil, and the confidence of the Spanish matador they exuded, their
power sprung, not from heaven, but the powerful among us.

And because there has been no power shift, not even the squeak of
musical chairs in Government boardrooms, it is prudent to assume
there are still some influential but taut strings the Arturs can
still pull. We surely have not heard the last of them!

You discern this from their haughty talk and recent introduction of
blackmail, very much in line with the operations of the underworld
from which some powerful or well-connected personalities went
shopping for foreign partners.

Certain things must be said. First, it is foolish to buy all that the
younger Artur is saying on books and tapes as Gospel truth. As James
Hadley Chase said: "If you believe this, you can as well shoot
yourself in the head."

To believe him undermines our intelligence and demeans the
monstrosity of his actions and those of his cohorts against the
motherland. For they desecrated Kenya, and despite official
protection and eleventh-hour denials, no one except Ms Winnie Wangui
Mwai, together with the others in her circle who have not and will
never speak about their dealings with the so-called Armenians,
believes they are angelic.

or fraudsters, holders of fake passports and carriers of illegal arms
never are! Kenya did not need a Commission of Inquiry to know this.
Those were legalities and technicalities. That is why it is pointless
to withhold the Kiruki Commission Report handed to the President,
under the click of camera and illuminating flashes in the name of
national security.

At least as a nation, we know where the report is and who should, if
the soul is willing and daring, order it released. The monstrosity of
the Artur saga is such that it is national in character and
catastrophic and shameful to the nation in form.

It is a story we may bury, but it will live to be told to our
children, not as fiction, but part memory of President Kibaki’s
legacy, along the lines of Anglo Leasing. The Artur saga is what
Goldenberg is to the Government buried four years ago.

Second, never one to trust the men and women of power, and knowing
that politics is the art of the possible, it is not an impossibility
that the Arturs’ handlers could be with us. That is why they walked
around in flashy cars, lived in an illegal armoury and bandied their
guns around.

If you, a Kenyan son and daughter, walked down Kenyatta Avenue in
Nairobi with a toy gun raised, you will be dead meat. You do not
enjoy their status. George Orwell of the Animal Farm fame put it
thus: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than
others."

Third, there is a hilarious side to the comedy – the snake in the
joke that has gone too far has turned against the charmer. Finally,
however little he may know, and because it took place under his
watch, the President will always attract mud-balls and brickbats,
until D-Day, nay Disclosure Day!

The writer is The Standard Managing Editor, Weekend Editions

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Bahrain News Agency, Bahrain
April 13, 2007 Friday 3:15 PM EST

EGYPTIAN ARMENIAN SUMMIT NEXT SATURDAY

Cairo, Apr. 13, (BNA) An Egyptian Armenian summit will be held in
Cairo on Saturday between president Mohammed Hosni Mubarak and his
Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian who will arrive in Cairo
tomorrow for a three day visit to the country.

Developments in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and bilateral ties
will prevail in summit discussions and a number of agreements will be
signed during Kocharian’s visit. MTQ 13-APR-2007 21:29

Panorama.am

18:03 14/04/2007

HIGH FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF IN ARMENIA

Today, high football championship kicked off in
Armenia with the participation of 8 local football
teams, Shirak, Piunik, Kilikia, Banans, Mika, Ararat,
Ganzasar, Ulis. The championship will run until
November 10. Yezerj and Hay Ary teams, which played in
last year championship, submitted no applications for
participation.

Source: Panorama.am

Panorama.am

18:07 14/04/2007

LPP LEADER SAYS ITS SYMPATHIZERS DO NOT GO TO ELECTIONS

Hovannes Hovannisyan, chairman of Liberal Progressive Party (LPP) of
Armenia explained today why his party does not take part in the
elections. He believes the elections fail to reflect the real vote of
confidence to political forces. `Free and fair elections are vital for
the establishment of the political field. The elections here do not
fix the real vote of confidence to political forces,’ he
said. Hovannisyan also said the political parties are too many in
Armenia, which makes the political field `irrational.’ He said people
who sympathize them make up 45% but 90% of them refuse to take part in
elections.

Source: Panorama.am

Panorama.am

18:09 14/04/2007

HOVANNISYAN FORECASTS MORE EXPLOSIONS

Speaking about the explosions at Prosperous Armenia Party
headquarters, Hovannes Hovannisyan, leader of Liberal Progressive
Party, said that cannot be a self PR organized by Prosperous Armenia
itself. `Gagik Tsarukyan has high self-respect and he would not do PR
at that price,’ he said. Hovannisyan made a forecast of more
explosions saying the politics has turned into a `show of power’.

Source: Panorama.am

Panorama.am

18:01 14/04/2007

QUAKE REPORTED IN TURKEY

The Armenian seismic services report that 4.3
magnitude earthquake took place in Turkey, 50 km south
of Eliazik town, on April 14, at 9:30 a.m. The service
says no underground shocks were reported in the
territory of Armenia.

Source: Panorama.am