Author: Andres-Papazian

Testimony ends in trial of two men accused of bribing supervisor’s ex-chief
of staff

Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/2011

inlandnewspapers

SAN BERNARDINO – Testimony ended Wednesday in the trial for two businessmen
accused of bribing a county supervisor’s former chief of staff for his help
with securing permits for a troubled Bloomington development.

Prosecutors rested their case against Pasadena-based Arshak Kouladjian, and
his brother Vartan Kouladjian, who are accused of bribing Bob Page, former
Fifth District chief of staff, in 2007 and 2008.

Both defense lawyers also rested, without calling any witnesses. Vartan
Kouladjian’s high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos had planned to call one
witness, but he could not reach that person, Geragos told Judge Michael
Smith before proceedings began Wednesday.

That set the stage for the lawyers to deliver their closing arguments to the
jury Monday in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Smith told jurors they had finally heard all of the evidence but not to
reach any conclusions until after they had been advised on applicable law,
heard the lawyers’ arguments and were in deliberations together.

“It did take a little bit longer than we had originally planned, but we are
at the very end now,” Smith said to the jury.

The judge also on Wednesday denied a defense motion to dismiss the charges
against the Kouladjians, arguing the evidence wasn’t sufficient.

Prosecutors allege the Kouladjians had trouble securing approvals for
occupany permits, wanted the county to pay for necessary street widening and
sought assistance from the office of Fifth District Supervisor Josie
Gonzales.

In his trial testimony, Page said he did nothing unlawful and showed
personal treatment to the Kouladjians by contacting Land Use Services
personnel and collecting updates about the defendants’ multi-phase project
on Slover Avenue.

Prosecutors allege the Kouladjians gave and tried to give cash to Page in
late 2007 and early 2008 during a series of lunch meetings in San Bernardino
and a trip to the project site.

Page alerted authorities and agreed to cooperate in the investigation, wore
a body wire and recorded conversations, he said.

Both defense attorneys argued the money was given in appreciation for Page’s
past acts, as a gift.

“Repeatedly, the term `appreciation’ is used,” Geragos said.

In the October 2007 charged act, only an envelope with unknown contents is
given. In the February 2008 act, Page isn’t even at the restaurant, and the
defendants were simply in possession of cash, the defense argued.

Arshak Kouladjian’s lawyer, Philip Cohen, joined in Geragos’ motion and also
argued that the money was not a bribe because Page was not a ministerial
officer with any control over the permit process.

But prosecutor Michael Abney argued that money was clearly tied to the
street widening issue, that Vartan Kouladjian told Page more money could be
available for future acts, and that Page doesn’t have to be a ministerial
officer – but can be a county employee – under the state’s Penal Code.

The defendants each face two counts of bribery and one count of attempted
bribery.

[email protected]
909-386-3880

From: A. Papazian

Anti-trust committee fines shipping companies engaged in clothing imports

14:02 – 27.05.11

The State Committee for Protection of Economic Competition has imposed
fines on several companies engaged in clothing imports for having
increased transportation fees for local traders.

At its meeting on Thursday, the committee decided that four companies-
Four Friends, SOHO, Profimportex and Nanis – should pay a total of 100
million drams (about $270,00) fine for charging higher fees for
clothing imported from China and Turkey.

The Committee found that those companies violated the law by raising
the transportation fees by 100% since January.

It had previously notified the companies officially that the customs
duties for Chinese and Turkish products will remain unchanged.
Subsequent studies by the committee revealed that the problem was
between brokers and the dealers. The committee launched an
administrative proceeding against the companies, demanding that the
they summit justifications. The latter argued that their policies were
justified given that the service prices (storehouse fees and fuel
prices) in Turkey had gone up.

The Committee’s Chairman Artak Shaboyan noted, however, that their
inspections revealed no economic justification. The committee ruled
that the companies had concluded an anti-trust deal, increasing their
service prices.

The companies have been fined in accordance with the new anti-trust
law which allows the Committee to impose higher fines on the companies
violating the law.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Aravot: Why did it take three years to release political prisoners?

10:36 – 26.05.11

The paper’s editor writes that back in mid March of 2008 -Serzh
Sargsyan was not yet sworn in as president – he said during a TV show
that Sargsyan’s first step as president should be to release the
political prisoners.

“What should have been done three years ago, took three years to
complete,” the editor says.

Why did it take so long, and why it did happen, anyway?

“The answer to the second question is somewhat clear: inside and
outside pressures, as well as the fact that Sargsyan is led by
pragmatic calculations instead of vengeance emotions have contributed
to that decision,” he goes on commenting. “But I don’t have an answer
for the second question. The only explanation might be that Sargsyan
was trying to first strengthen his positions against the oligarchs and
bureaucrats to succeed in the reforms he had in mind.”

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Abkhazia President Sergei Bagapsh dies at 62

May 29, 2011 – 15:47 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Abkhazia President died in a Moscow hospital on Sunday, May 29 from
complications after lung surgery, Abkhaz officials said.

Sergei Bagapsh, 62, in power since 2005, won a second five-year term
in 2009 as president of Abkhazia, which won Russian recognition of its
proclaimed independence after a brief Russian-Georgian war.

“I spoke to him three days ago. The president was already up and
about, but two days ago his condition worsened unexpectedly. He lost
consciousness,” his spokesman Christian Bzhania told Russian state
television.

“The doctors did everything in their power,” he said. After the
operation, doctors had discovered Bagapsh also had cancer.

A black ribbon was tied to the Abkhaz flag flying over the province’s
embassy in Moscow on Sunday and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
offered his condolences. “Bagapsh was a loyal supporter of friendship
and alliance with Russia, and he tirelessly worked to deepen close
bilateral ties between our countries,” Medvedev said in a statement on
the Kremlin’s website.

Bagapsh’s deputy, Alexander Ankvab, 58, will take over as acting
president, and new elections will be held within three months
according to the region’s constitution. “We are profoundly shocked by
Sergei Bagapsh’s death,” Ankvab told Interfax news agency. “This is a
great loss for the Abkhaz people,” he said, Reuters reported.

From: A. Papazian

It would be better if there were fewer businessmen in parliament –
committee chair

16:53 – 24.05.11

It would be better if there were fewer businessmen in parliament,
David Harutyunyan, the chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee
on State and Legal Affairs, told a news conference on Tuesday.

When asked to comment on the reports that he is going to top the
electoral list of the ruling Republican Party in the 2013
parliamentary election, he said: “It’s up to the Republican Party to
decide who will top its list”.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Le Monde, France
Mercredi 18 Mai 2011

Football : Boghossian convoqué à la FFF après son voyage à Grozny

Le déplacement d’Alain Boghossian à Grozny n’en finit pas de faire des
vagues. Selon L’Equipe, la Fédération française de football (FFF)
devrait convoquer l’entraîneur adjoint des Bleus afin d’avoir plus
d’informations sur sa participation à un match de gala, qui s’est
tenu le mercredi 11 mai, organisé par Ramzan Kadyrov, leader
controversé de la République de Tchétchénie, à l’occasion de
l’inauguration d’un stade (lire le post de blog de Jérôme Latta – “Les
Bronzés font Grozny”).

Interrogé jeudi 12 mai par Le Monde.fr, la FFF et Philippe Tournon
(chargé de la communication de l’équipe de France) avouaient qu’ils
n’étaient ni l’un ni l’autre au courant du séjour dans la capitale
tchétchène de l’entraîneur adjoint des Bleus. Dimanche, un reportage
de Canal+ montrait Boghossian et ses partenaires qui recevaient une
montre sertie de diamants avant leur départ. De même, selon la chaine
cryptée, les joueurs présents au match (notamment Diego Maradona, Luis
Figo, Franco Baresi, Fabien Barthez, Jean-Pierre Papin) auraient
touché entre 20 000 et 50 000 euros pour cette opération. Ce que
conteste Alain Boghossian. “C’était une initiative privée, cela ne
concernait pas mon engagement à la Fédération française de football, a
déclaré Boghossian. J’ai pris des congés pour pouvoir jouer ce match.
Il n’a jamais été question d’argent. C’est un joueur qui m’a fait la
demande. J’ai accepté parce que cela concernait des oeuvres
caritatives et humanitaires, pour des enfants.”

Interrogé sur les images qui le montrent en train de plaisanter sur la
taille des diamants qui ornent la montre offerte par les autorités
tchétchènes, Boghossian plaide la bonne foi. “Je reçois une montre, je
fais l’idiot parce que je suis spontané. Je suis surpris mais un
cadeau ça ne se refuse pas. On n’a rien à me reprocher”, se défend
l’adjoint de Laurent Blanc.

“AUCUNE CONNOTATION POLITIQUE OU FINANCIÈRE”

Conscient des retombées pour le moins négatives de ce match de gala,
l’ancien international tricolore, d’origine arménienne, tente de se
justifier. “Cette région du monde n’est pas loin de la terre de mes
ancêtres, explique-t-il. Ce sont des peuples qui ont souffert. Je me
sens proche d’eux par rapport à mes origines. Je voulais donc donner
un coup de main et amener un peu de chaleur. Il n’y avait aucune
connotation politique ou financière, je ne connaissais pas le régime
en place. Depuis mon retour, j’ai compris ce qui s’était passé en
Tchétchénie. Je regrette comment cela a été exploité à la télé.”

Alain Boghossian a également indiqué avoir eu un entretien avec
Fernand Duchaussoy, le président de la FFF, depuis son retour, qui
avait qualifié l’initiative de “connerie”. “Il n’y a pas de problème
entre nous, a-t-il affirmé. En aucun cas je ne suis allé à ce mach
avec mon étiquette ‘équipe de France’, mais avec celle de champion du
monde. Cela n’avait rien à voir avec mes fonctions.”

Selon L’Equipe, la FFF, “très choquée en interne par ce déplacement
non-officiel de l’un de ses salariés”, s’apprête donc à passer, après
l’affaire dite des quotas, d’une enquête à l’autre afin de faire la
lumière sur les conditions du voyage à Grozny du numéro 2 des Bleus.
Et Alain Boghossian a promis de faire don de la montre à une oeuvre
caritative.

LEMONDE.FR avec AFP

From: A. Papazian

Paris-Normandie, France
Mercredi 18 Mai 2011

LOUVIERS. Samedi sur le marché, le comité de soutien à la famille
Makaryan faisait signer une pétition

Pour éviter l’expulsion

Depuis septembre 2099, Sirekan, Harutyun et Haik Makaryan sont
scolarisés au collège du Hamelet. Arrivés d’Arménie avec leurs
parents, les trois adolescents y suivent notamment des cours intensifs
de français afin d’être encore mieux intégrés parmi les autres
collégiens. De leur côté, les parents sont en formation, logés par la
Ville de Louviers qui leur fournit également des bons d’alimentation.

Le comité exige un titre de séjour

Persécutés dans leur pays en raison de l’origine mixte du couple (Mme
Makaryan est azérie), ils ont dû vendre tous leurs biens avant de fuir
vers la France. Un pays dans lequel ils croient. Une demande de droit
d’asile a été effectuée dès leur arrivée, qui a été rejetée en mars
dernier. Jusqu’au moment où est arrivée une notification d’obligation
de quitter le territoire (OQT). Immédiatement, les enseignants du
collège se sont tournés vers la Ligue des droits de l’homme, qui les a
relayés en créant le comité de soutien à la famille Makaryan.

Un recours contre l’OQT a été immédiatement déposé, ce qui suspend la
décision pour le moment. Composé de membres de la LDH, de l’ADM, du
PS, du PC, du NPA, de RESF27, de syndicats enseignants, du Secours
catholique et du Secours populaire, le comité de soutien était présent
samedi sur le marché afin de faire signer une pétition demandant à la
préfète de l’Eure d’accorder à la famille Makaryan un titre de séjour
” Vie privée et familiale ” à titre exceptionnel et humanitaire. De
nombreux élus de la région sont venus saluer l’initiative. Le député
François Loncle agit de son côté pour faire avancer le dossier.

From: A. Papazian

Global Insight
May 27, 2011

Armenian Parliament Blocks No-Confidence Motion

BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan

Members of the Armenian parliament, the National Assembly, voted on 25
May against the no-confidence motion by the opposition Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (HYD). The opposition parliamentary bloc had
asked President Serzh Sargsyan to express a vote of no-confidence in
the government of Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian. HYD argued that
since its formation in 2008, the government has failed to deliver on
social and economic policies and has been ineffective in dealing with
the economic crisis. Armenia’s finance minister Vache Gabrielyan has
argued in defence of the government’s policies. He was cited by
Armenian Arka news agency as saying that the government had to revise
its economic policies following the global economic recession, a
difficult process given that the country was experiencing double-digit
growth and low inflation rate. The minister also endorsed the current
economic development plan, adding that Armenia has managed to overcome
the economic crisis although some of its effects may linger.

Significance:Given that the Armenian National Assembly is safely under
the control of pro-government parties, HYD’s motion of no-confidence
was unrealistic. It is rather a symbol aimed at the electorate,
disenchanted with the continuing hardships. The move comes as other
opposition forces united under the Armenian National Congress (HAK)
have decided to stage regular anti-government protests to force
Sargsyan to hold new parliamentary and presidential elections.
However, the chances of early elections remain slim given that the
opposition parties are disunited. Notably HYD refused to join HAK, led
by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian, who during his term fell out
with the HYD accusing it of plotting a coup. HYD’s criticism of the
current government may find a sympathetic ear among many Armenians who
are battling with high living costs, unemployment and poor business
environment. While the government is right to claim credit for the
economic recovery, it still remains fragile. The technocrat PM does
not have the political influence to impose reforms that can take out
the economy from the control of a handful of oligarchs. The tax burden
remains high for small and medium-sized businesses, which has induced
many to move their business to neighbouring Georgia with its more
attractive business environment. On the other hand, the president
remains reluctant to undertake any meaningful reforms, partially
because Sarkisian and his team are yet to be seriously challenged by a
united opposition front.

From: A. Papazian

Trend, Azerbaijan
May 27 2011

EU to intensify dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

BYLINE: V.Zhavoronkova, Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan

May 27–BAKU, Azerbaijan — The European Union’s increased involvement
in settlement of the protracted conflicts, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh, will be expressed in increasing the density of the
talks, the Deputy Dean of the History Department of Moscow State
University, Chief Editor of the Vestnik Kavkaza and Trend Expert
Council member, Alexei Vlasov, said.

The EU’s Renewed European Neighborhood Policy report reads that the
European Union is ready to enhance EU involvement in solving
protracted conflicts. The EU must be ready to step up its involvement
in formats where it is not yet represented, such as the OSCE Minsk
Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the report reads.

Vlasov believes no revolutionary changes will happen in the structure
of the mediators involved in the conflict settlement.

“Following the example of Russia, there will be increased the density
of the dialogue platforms, which will discuss the various aspects of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Vlasov told Trend.

As for the increasing the EU’s involvement in the conflict resolution,
the matter is, in fact, simply counter-EU initiatives to increase the
dynamics of dialogue with participation of Baku and Yerevan, and the
mediating countries, he said.

Moreover, Vlasov said, the EU initiative, above all, will be
implemented through France, which is co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“Germany, for example, has own interests in participating in the
settlement of problems in the South Caucasus, but they are not so
pronounced and stretched in time,” he said. “Germany is unlikely to
abandon the chosen course of conduct.”

France, he said, is more flexible and dynamic France in this matter,
so it is her role in the Minsk Group, as one of the leading
intermediaries, will grow in the near future.

Generally, Vlasov welcomed the new initiative in the conflict resolution.

“I am an optimist and I think that any mediation efforts are
appropriate,” he said.

However, Vlasov said, the final settlement of the conflict requires
the parties’ goodwill first of all.

Moreover, Vlasov said, Russia’s participation in the settlement
process may play a greater role in the future than the efforts of the
European Union, as now, Baku and Yerevan are willing to accept Moscow
as the chief mediator.

“However, but the EU’s desire to play a more active, more productive
role in resolving the protracted conflict, should not be ignored,” he
added.

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.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian

MARTEDI 31 MAGGIO ALLE 18.30 – LIBRERIA FELTRINELLI BARI

incontro sul libro

LA CUCINA D’ARMENIA

con

l’autrice SONYA ORFALIAN

CURZIO MALTESE giornalista

MICHELE EMILIANO Sindaco di Bari

VITO ANTONIO LEUZZI storico

IL LIBRO

Si comincia chiedendo a una parente «quanto» di una certa cosa va in
«quella» ricetta; si prosegue cercando una serie di ingredienti,
confrontando versioni, ascoltando consigli spesso divergenti. E si
finisce mettendo insieme il tutto con anni di ricerche storiche ed
etnografiche e traduzioni di testi rari e pressoché introvabili. In
questo modo Sonya Orfalian ha intrapreso e concluso un’opera in cui
sono custodite, insieme alle oltre centotrenta preparazioni, le radici
e le ramificazioni di una cultura millenaria tanto più meritevole di
essere catalogata e raccontata in quanto offesa, misconosciuta e
strappata dalla sua terra d’origine. Ecco allora, chiamati per nome e
pronti per essere sperimentati e gustati, gli ingredienti e i piatti
della tradizione, accompagnati dalla ricostruzione della vita
quotidiana in terra d’Armenia – luoghi, usi, proverbi, leggende e
ricorrenze religiose e civili – in un repertorio in cui il piglio
rigoroso della studiosa si stempera nei ricordi, richiamando luoghi e
figure di famigliari e amici, mescolandosi al peso dolce e amaro di
un’eredità da onorare.

L’incontro in libreria precede di un giorno la prima nazionale dello
spettacolo Una Cena Armena, di Paola Ponti, regia di Danilo Nigrelli,
che si terrà al Teatro Petruzzelli, l’1 e il 2 giugno alle ore
21.00. Lo spettacolo sarà presentato alla stampa giovedì 26 maggio,
alle ore 11, a Bari nel foyer del Teatro Petruzzelli alla presenza del
sindaco Michele Emiliano, dell’autrice del testo teatrale Paola Ponti,
della consulente dello spettacolo Sonya Orfalian e dello storico Vito
Antonio Leuzzi.

From: A. Papazian