Month: July 2007

RA DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER: THE SITUATION AT THE CONTACT LINE IS QUIET

armradio.am
02.07.2007 15:21

The situation at the contact line of the Armed Forces of Armenia and
Azerbaijan is stable, RA Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General
Gurgen Melkonyan told ArmInfo.

According to him, exchange of fire periodically occurs at the contact
line, and this is initiated by the Azeri side, the Armenian side
simply responds.

"This way they show that they are "awake." We also show that "we are
not sleeping." However, at large, the situation at the contact line
is quiet, the General declared. In his words, sometimes the Azeri
side gets more active when it receives supply of armaments.

TWO TURKS ARRESTED IN SWITZERLAND FOR DENYING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
02.07.2007 15:33

Two Turks were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of breaking Swiss
anti-racism laws for denying that the killing of Armenians in the
early 20th century was genocide.

The two were arrested at a conference in the Zurich suburb of
Winterthur, where posters were hung up and leaflets distributed
rejecting that the killing was genocide. One of the Turks organized
the event and the other was shouting slogans before a crowd.

Switzerland’s anti-racism legislation, which previously applied to
Holocaust denial, was used earlier this year to prosecute a Turkish
politician for denying at a gathering in 2005 that the Turks committed
genocide in the World War I-era killings, the Turkish Daily News
reports.

Last week, a Swiss cantonal court upheld the conviction against Dogu
Perincek, the leader of the Workers’ Party (Ä°P), as well as an order
for him to pay a fine of 3,000 Swiss francs ($2,450).

Police in the canton of Zurich identified the two arrested individuals
as a 57-year-old resident of Germany and a 51-year-old Swiss resident.

–Boundary_(ID_rLOQL8r0KhW72SaQ3d+6Wg)- –

COURT EXTENDED IMPRISONMENT TERM OF THE FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER ALEKSANDR ARZUMANYAN FOR TWO MORE MONTHS IN ORDER TO HOLD ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION MEASURES

arminfo
2007-07-02 13:27:00

Today first instance court of the Center and Nork-Marash districts of
Yerevan under the chairmanship of judge Ruben Nersisyan satisfied an
appeal of the Investigation Department of National Security Service
to extend imprisonment term of the former foreign minister Aleksandr
Arzumanyan for two more months.

As Arzumanyan’s lawyer Hovik Arsenyan told journalists after the court
sitting, the court made such a decision . The court thinks that letting
Arzumanyan free may thwart holding of the pre-court investigation.

To recall, the former foreign minister Aleksandr Arzumanyan was
arrested on 7 May 2007. The Investigation Department of National
Security Service brought a charge against him for "illegal money
laundering".

DINK MURDER TRIAL OPENS IN TURKEY
By Vincent Boland in Ankara

FT
July 2 2007 10:33

A teenager accused of murdering the Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink goes on trial on Monday in Istanbul on Monday in a case
considered a severe test of the independence and thoroughness of
Turkey’s judicial system.

Dink was murdered on a street in Istanbul in January. A 17-year-old
boy, Ogun Samast, was arrested and charged with the crime along with
17 alleged accomplices, all from the northeastern city of Trabzon.

Dink was the founder and editor of Agos, a bilingual Turkish and
Armenian weekly for Istanbul’s estimated 60,000 inhabitants of
Armenian descent.

He was a hate figure among Turkish nationalists for advocating
acknowledgement of the mass murder of Armenians during the collapse
of the Ottoman empire.

He had been prosecuted several times under the notorious article 301
of Turkey’s penal code, which seeks to silence those whose views are
critical of the country’s institutions or its past or who "insult
Turkishness".

Amid reports of the alleged involvement of members of Turkey’s security
forces in Dink’s murder, human rights campaigners and Dink’s family
said the trial was a crucial test of the judicial system’s willingness
to prosecute any members of the police or gendarmerie implicated in
the case.

Holly Carter, Europe and Central Asia director of Human Rights
Watch, said the trial was a critical test of the Turkish judiciary’s
independence.

"We will be closely watching how the court handles any evidence that
may implicate the security forces."

Fethiye Cetin, a lawyer for Dink’s family, said evidence and documents
relating to the murder had been destroyed or were flawed.

Turkey’s judicial system has faced severe criticism in recent months
for its handling of cases involving writers and intellectuals. The
most controversial was the prosecution, for "insulting Turkishness",
of Orhan Pamuk, the Nobel prize-winning novelist, in 2005. The case
was terminated by the justice ministry after an international outcry.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Basler Zeitung Online — baz.ch

Rassismus-Verdacht: Zwei Türken verhaftet – Perincek fehlt

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Winterthur/Bern. AP/baz. Die Kantonspolizei Zürich hat am Samstag in
Winterthur zwei türkische Staatsangehörige wegen Verdachts auf
Rassendiskriminierung verhaftet. Und zwar an einer Veranstaltung, an der
eine Rede des bereits verurteilen Nationalisten Dogu Perincek angesagt war.
Dieser konnte nicht in die Schweiz einreisen.
Verhaftet wurden laut Mitteilung der Kantonspolizei Zürich ein 57-jähriger
Türke mit Wohnsitz in Deutschland sowie ein 51-jähriger Türke mit Wohnsitz
in der Schweiz, der den Anlass der Arbeiterpartei Perinceks in Winterthur
organisiert hatte. Die Polizei begründete das Vorgehen damit, dass der
ältere der beiden gegenüber den rund 40 anwesenden Personen Äusserungen
gemacht habe, die einen dringenden Verdacht wegen Leugnung von Völkermord
ergäben. An der Veranstaltung seien zudem Plakate aufgelegt und gezeigt
worden, die den Armenier-Genozid als Lüge darstellten.
Anzeige
Perincek visumspflichtig
Die beiden Verhafteten wurden zwecks Befragung und weiteren Ermittlungen der
Staatsanwaltschaft Winterthur/Unterland zugeführt. Rund 20 anwesende
Besucher des Anlasses, die sich ausserhalb des Saales versammelt und mit den
Plakaten Parolen verbreitet hatten, wurden polizeilich kontrolliert, wie es
in der Mitteilung weiter heisst.
Der kürzlich in zweiter Instanz wegen Rassendiskriminierung verurteilte
Politiker Perincek hatte offenbar vergeblich versucht, in die Schweiz
einzureisen. Nach Auskunft von Dominique Boillat, Sprecher des Bundesamts
für Migration (BFM), wurde gegen Perincek aber keine Einreisesperre
verhängt. Der Türke sei visumspflichtig und habe mit Blick auf den geplanten
Auftritt in Winterthur bis zum Freitag kein Visumsgesuch gestellt. Ein Visum
würde Perincek laut dem BFM-Sprecher aber ohnehin nur erhalten, wenn es um
die Teilnahme an Gerichtsverfahren oder um Kontakte mit seinem Anwalt ginge.
Gesellschaft Schweiz-Armenien kritisiert Blocher
Die Gesellschaft Schweiz-Armenien sprach von einer angemessenen Reaktion der
Behörden auf den dringenden Verdacht des Verstosses gegen die
Rassismusstrafnorm. Die Funktionstüchtigkeit dieses Strafgesetzartikels sei
damit beweisen. Die Schweiz dürfe nicht zur Plattform für türkische
Innenpolitik werden, heisst es in einer Mitteilung der Organisation. Sie
bekräftigte zudem ihre Kritik an Bundesrat Christoph Blocher, weil dieser
die Rassismusstrafnorm ändern möchte. Die Teilnehmer an der Veranstaltung in
Winterthur hätten sich durch Blocher ermutigt gefühlt.
Perincek war in diesem Monat vom Waadtländer Kassationsgericht in zweiter
Instanz wegen Rassismus zu einer Geldstrafe von 90 Tagessätzen von 100
Franken und einer Busse von 3000 Franken verurteilt worden. Der Prozess war
ihm in der Schweiz gemacht worden, weil er im Sommer 2005 in öffentlichen
Auftritten den Völkermord an den Armeniern von 1915 geleugnet hatte.
Perincek will das Waadtländer Urteil beim Bundesgericht anfechten.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US expert worried about relations between Armenia, Iran

Arminfo
30 Jun 07

Yerevan, 30 June: Armenia can become a platform for cooperation on
addressing the situation in Iran, an expert of the Jane’s Information
Group, Richard Kirakosyan, said at a conference in Yerevan. The
conference was dedicated to the situation in Iran.

The US expert thinks that the current circumstances have three aspects:
Iran’s relations with Azerbaijan and Russia in the context of Armenia’s
security. The expert said that the positions of Moscow and Washington
with regard to Iran are more similar than on other issues. He added
that Iran can became a key to regional stability. Kirakosyan expressed
his worry about Iran-Armenia relations. He said that the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline mainly refers to relations between Iran and Russia. Thus
the expert regards this as a display of Armenia’s dependency from
Russia. At the end, he expressed his fear of military operations in the
region.

"This is dangerous from all points of view," the expert said.

The conference was organized by the Armenian centre for strategic and
national searches. Representatives of the USA and Iran embassies in
Armenia also participated in the conference.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOW THE VISIT OF THE INTELLECTUALS WAS ESTIMATED
VARDAN GRIGORYAN

Hayots Ashkharh Daily – Armenia
30 June 07

The one-day visit of the delegation of Armenian and Azerbaijani
intellectuals to Nagorno-Karabakh, headed by Armenian and Azerbaijani
Ambassadors in Russia composers Armen Smbatyan and Polad Biulbiulogly
can be estimated as an initial attempt towards the basis of people’s
diplomacy.
Regardless of the impact of the before mentioned step on the
regulation of Karabakh issue and the improvement of the relations
between the two peoples, it is extremely motivating from the point of
view of the first responses.
The most important thing at present is, how the visit of the
intellectuals will be estimated in the political framework and among
the society. As NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan mentioned during his
meeting with the intellectuals in Stepanakert,’ Unless we take note of
each other’s viewpoint and create an atmosphere of trust, we will
undoubtedly be far from negotiation process.’
People’s diplomacy is aimed at overcoming the atmosphere of distrust
among the countries and the people. That is why the success or failure
of this procedure is measured first of all by the degree of the impact
on this atmosphere. In this respect, the observations of the results of
this visit record a strange fact.
In Armenia and Artsakh no one has uttered any positive or negative
word regarding the visit. Moreover in our society this visit has been
estimated the same way as any other regular visit of an international
organization or a diplomat.
In this respect the visit of the delegation of Armenian and
Azerbaijani intellectuals headed by Armen Smbatyan and Poland
Biulbiulogly had the same influence on our society as the visit of the
Head of the International Currency Fund Marta Castelo-Branko.
It seems that even if Ilham Aliev visits the capital of Armenia
there will be no particular interest towards this visit from the
intellectuals and let alone the society.
From the one hand it is good of course, as it reflects the
deep-rooted belief of our society that Karabakh issue is already
resolved. But on the other hand it is bad, as it demonstrates the
atmosphere of apathy.
But the picture is different in Azerbaijan, where almost all the
famous political and public figures have managed to express their
opinion about that `shocking event’. The variety of the opinions
manifested in Azerbaijan can be divided into three groups.
First: the political figures representing the official standpoint of
the country guided by the announcement of the representative of
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry according to which the visit is only the
initiative of the two composer-diplomats and that in his opinion it
doesn’t prove the de facto recognition of NKR by Azerbaijan.
The supporters of the second standpoint immediately raised a
hullabaloo stating that the visit of Azerbaijani delegation headed by
Biulbiulogly is a betrayal and demanded to recall Azerbaijani
Ambassador in Moscow. Not only does the head of `Karabakh Liberation
Movement’ Akif Naghly support this idea but also, strange as it may
seem, representatives of influential pro-opposition powers Sardar
Jalaloghly, Isa Ghambar, Aly Kerimly.
The last group of the activists, as well as ex-State Secretary on
Foreign Affairs Vafa Guluzade evaluated this visit as a dangerous
attempt to make Nagorno Karabakh as a conflicting party and it plays
into the hands of Armenian diplomacy.
The third group of estimations includes the small part of
politicians and political figure that are extremely enthusiastic about
this visit.
Thus unlike Armenians, the response of Azerbaijani political
frameworks and the society regarding the first step towards people’s
diplomacy was extremely sharp, thus reconfirming the fact that the two
peoples and societies have diametrically different approaches towards
the dialogues between the two countries.
Armenian society and especially its Armenian sector are quite
indifferent to this issue, but Karabakh people manifest great and
direct interest towards it. As for Azerbaijani society, it preserves
the hostile prejudices characteristic to the `cold war’ period, with
its overwhelming majority.

‘It is necessary to establish an environment of inter-ethnic tolerance
in order to solve the problems in Javakhq,’ Chief Editor of Akunq
Newspapers says

Yerkir.am
June 22, 2007

`Statement about the Armenians being separatists are openly made in
Georgia. In other words, they are claiming that the Armenians in
Javakhq with the support from Armenia are preparing the ground for
replicating the Karabagh scenario in Georgia,’ Chief Editor of Akunq
Newspaper in Javakhq Mels Torossian stated at a press conference on
June 21.

Torossian says these ungrounded statements have become the daily
material for the Georgian media. Even thought the official circles
avoid conversations on this issue but the public media still comment on
it. Torossian believes Azerbaijan and Turkey are behind this plot of
spreading hostility between Armenia and Georgia. An environment of
inter-ethnic tolerance must be established in order to solve the
problems in Javakhq.

Deputy Director of the Caucasus Media Institute Sergey Minassian
believes the anti-Armenian moods in Georgia derive from the fact that
the Georgian society and the political elite still perceive Armenia as
being closely connected with Russia’s politics. Minassian believes the
Armenians in Javakhq are not integrated into the Georgian society and
this is not their fault. `The Georgian society is not yet ready to
accept the Georgian Armenians as equal citizens and does everything to
hinder this process,’ Minassian noted.

High-yielding securities of Valletta company to shortly enter the
start-up market of corporate bonds

arminfo
2007-06-30 00:22:00

High-yielding securities of Valletta, one of the leading multi-industry
Armenian companies, will shortly enter the start-up market of debt
instruments. Today, an agreement on formation of a group for placement
of inaugural issue of the bonds was signed at the ArmSwissBank. The
underwriting syndicate comprised ArmSwissBank, which is the main
underwriter of the issue, as well as Conversebank, Armenian Development
Bank (ADB) and Future Capital Market, an investment and broker’s
company. On behalf of the syndicate, an agreement on guaranteed
placement of bond loan was also signed between the issuing company and
ArmSwissBank. It is planned to hold the procedure of securities’
registration in the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) next week.

The ArmSwissBank press-service told ArmInfo correspondent that the
volume of issue of undocumentary coupon bonds of Valletta will total
350 mln AMD. This amount will be divided into 7 thsd securities; the
nominal value of each will be 50 thsd AMD. The period of the bond
turnover is 18 months with 10.5% of yearly interest. Coupon payments
will be carried out once every six months. The bonds are secured by the
Valletta’s property and stipulate supplementary guarantees by the
company’s owners.

According to the Chairman of ArmSwissBank’s Board, Gevorg Machanyan,
the issue of Valletta’s bonds is unprecedented for the Armenian market
not only because the issue considerably exceeds the bonds traded in the
market by its volume and profitability, but also by its mechanism of
initial placement through forming of an underwriting syndicate. Under
the agreement, ArmSwissBank is to purchase bonds worth 175 mln AMD,
Conversebank – 75 mln AMD, ADB and Future Capital Market – 50 mln AMD
each. "In late July, the securities will be listed at the Armenian
Exchange (ArmEx), and they will enter the REPO market. Initially we
were going to put the bonds on the secondary market, that’s why
ArmSwissBank was granted license for broker’s, dealer’s and depositing
activities," G.Machanyan noted. According to his estimations, at the
moment the demand for Valletta LLC’s bonds in the secondary market
totals about 150- 200 mln AMD. "We managed "to form" a maximally
convenient and attractive instrument for investors both by yield and
liquidity," the Head of the bank said. He added that the bank is ready
to secure the liquidity constantly. To note, the interest rate on bonds
exceeds the treasury curve by 4-4.5% at the mean. G.Machanyan pointed
out that this won’t be the only issue of the company. In August, the
company is planning to organize a new issue of bonds. According to the
business plan, the company intends to hold three issues worth a total
of $7 mln in 2007.

The manager of Valletta’s financial programs, Anna Gevorgyan, told the
ArmInfo correspondent that the funds received from the inaugural bonded
debt will be spent on restructuring of financing sources and
reduction of the value of the company’s loan proceeds, as well as on
capital investment in implementation of new programs; a small part of
the money will be spent on replenishment of floating funds.
"Restructuring, i.e. reduction of the value of loan proceeds has become
one of the strategically important tasks of our company which is
conducting quite successful and diversified business," A.Gevorgyan
emphasized. According to her, capital investments will be directed to
creation of a network of cafes of the world famous Italian company
Segafredo Zanetti in Armenia on a franchising basis. The floating funds
are to increase the import component of the company’s activity and form
sufficient commodity stocks for further development of the retail
market in the person of Star, the largest network of supermarkets in
Armenia, affiliated with Valletta.

To note, Valletta holds the 33rd place on the list of the largest
Armenian tax payers. A number of processing industries, restaurants, a
network of stores, as well as firms engaged in import of household
equipment, operate within the framework of the company. On the basis of
its financial condition, the company was rated ‘B-‘ by CBA specialists.

According to the data of ArmInfo, ArmSwissBank, which was established
in 2005, is developing in investment, corporate and private banking.
According to the financial accounting as of early April, the total
capital of the company was $8.6 mln, assets – $25.8 mln, financial
investments of them totalled $8.9 mln.

The unification of the Georgian kingdoms

1/63/
Saturday, 30 June 2007

By George Nikoladze

In 1008, the Bagrationi (Georgian Royal House) ruler Bagrat III of
Georgia united the kingdoms of Abkhazia (Apkhazeti) and rest of Georgia
into a single Georgian feudal state. The second half of the 11th
century was marked by the disastrous invasion of the Seljuk Turks who
by the end of 1040s succeeded in building a vast nomadic empire
including most of the Central Asia and Iran.

In 1071 Seljuk army destroyed the united Byzantine-Armenian and
Georgian forces in the battle of Mantsikert, and by 1081, all of
Armenia, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Syria and most of Georgia were
conquered and devastated by the Seljuks. The Anti-Seljuk struggle in
Georgia was led by the young King David IV who inherited the throne in
1089 in the age of 16 after the death of his father George II
Bagrationi. Soon after coming to power, David re-built regular army and
created peasant militia in order to be able to resist Seljuk
colonization of the country. The First Crusade (1096-1099) and
Crusaders’ offensive against Seljuk Turks in Anatolia and Syria favored
David’s attempts to re-conquer Georgian lands. By the end of 1099 David
stopped paying tribute to the Seljuks and put most of Georgian lands
except Tbilisi and Ereti under his effective control having Abkhazia
and Svanetia as his reliable rear bases. In 1105-1124 Georgian armies
under King David undertake a series of brilliant campaigns against the
Seljuk Turks and liberate not only the rest of Georgia but also
Christian-populated Ghishi- Kabala area in western Shirvan and a big
portion of Armenia. During the same period of time, Georgian
protectorate was established over Alania (1120) and Islamized eastern
Shirvan (1124). Several months later, King David died (01/1125) leaving
Georgia with the status of a strong regional power. In his country,
King David is called Agmashenebeli. That can be translated into English
as `the re-constructor’ or `the restorer’