Author: Badalian Vardan

Istanbul court insists on phone records in Dink’s case

10:23 ¢ 27.08.11

An Istanbul court hearing the Hrant Dink murder trial has asked for
the records of all cell-phone conversations made in the area at the
time of the journalist’s assassination, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet
Daily News reported.

The telecommunications Directorate, or TIB’s had earlier refused to
grant the request.

`All administrative corporations do whatever they can so that we can’t
obtain information ` the TIB is just a part of this process,’ Hakan
Bakirci, one of the Dink family’s lawyers, recently told the Hürriyet
Daily News, adding that it was difficult to make headway in the case.
Despite the past problems, Bakırcı praised the court for again
insisting on collecting more evidence.

TIB refused the court’s first request on the grounds that issuing all
the phone records would be `a violation of the privacy of private
lives.’

The court is trying to determine whether two suspicious people
recorded by security cameras talking to each other at the murder scene
were connected to the journalist’s murder. Mobile phone base records
can show all phone activities of an area at a given time, and Dink
lawyers have officially demanded the records from the GSM operators.
One of the operating companies responded to the request saying there
were no mobile phone calls made during those hours, while another
answered that there was no base station in the area, even though the
murder occurred in one of the most populous districts of the city.

TIB subsequently entered the discussion and said handing over the
records would be a violation of private lives.

Dink’s friend and an editor in Agos, Pakrad Oztukyan, said he believed
TIB resisted handing over the records because of the risk of much
deeper connections being disclosed.

The Dink case will never end, Oztukyan said. `This case has such a
dark background that it might as well be connected to the Ergenekon
case.’

Another close friend of Dink, Zakaria MildanoÄ?lu, said: `This is an
open example of the denial policy of the state and the government in
Turkey that comes from the past. Naturally, TÄ°B is an extension of all
these policies. The governor who called Hrant to his office and
threatened him was promoted instead of being punished. So was the
Istanbul Security Chief. If the prime minister genuinely wanted the
case to be justly solved, he wouldn’t have promoted [these people].’

Tert.am

Inevitability of Punishment

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 21:05:31 – 25/08/2011

The information office of the president informed that Serzh Sargsyan
met with the chairman of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutiunyan,
Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan, Chief of Police Alik Sargsyan,
the chairman of the Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumyan, and the
minister of justice Hrair Tovmasyan. They discussed the problems of
the judicial system.

They dwelled on the issue of inevitability of punishment. The head of
state underlined that a modern state must protect the rights of its
citizens and punish those who encroach on their rights. If impunity is
in the air, the interests of man, society, state remain endangered.

`There are two problems. First, revelation of crimes and preliminary
investigation which the operational and investigative units must
perform in time and properly. Second, passing and enforcing court
decisions. We have problems with both and cannot tolerate their
existence any longer,’ President Sargsyan said. He noted that some
studies were carried out, which the president’s assistant will present
to the participants of the meeting later.

After the report of the president’s assistant on the enforcement of
judicial acts, the chairman of the court of cassation and the minister
of justice dwelled on the activities aimed at the resolution of
problems brought up in the previous meetings.

By the end of the meeting President Sargsyan instructed to take
measures to tackle the raised issues.

SUEDE
Manifestation de Kurdes de Suède contre des raids dans le nord de l’Irak

Plusieurs centaines de Kurdes de Suède ont manifesté samedi à
Stockholm pour dénoncer de récents raids de l’armée turque dans le
nord de l’Irak qui, selon eux, ont tué des civils, a constaté l’AFP.

`Brisez le silence`, `Turquie terroriste`, ont notamment scandé les
manifestants, originaires de Turquie, d’Irak, d’Iran et de Syrie, en
revendiquant être environ 2.000. La police a estimé leur nombre à
quelque 500 personnes.

`Nous voulons attirer l’attention sur le sort des Kurdes, alors qu’ils
sont de nouveau visés depuis cet été par des attaques menées par les
régimes turc et iranien dans le nord de l’Irak`, a déclaré à l’AFP
Ferit Sincar, le président de la Fédération suédoise des Jeunes
kurdes.

`Le 18 août, des raids turcs ont tué huit civils, dont deux et quatre
enfants`, a-t-il assuré.

La Turquie a démenti vendredi avoir tué des civils lors des premiers
raids aériens qu’elle a menés depuis plus d’un an contre des positions
de rebelles kurdes dans le nord de l’Irak, en en tuant près d’une
centaine.

A Stockholm, des manifestants portaient samedi des portraits
d’Abdullah Öcalan, le chef emprisonné du Parti des travailleurs du
Kurdistan (PKK), qui mène depuis 27 ans une lutte armée contre les
forces d’Ankara et qui a des bases arrières en Irak.

L’Irak avait convoqué mercredi l’ambassadeur turc à Bagdad Murat
Ozçelik pour lui transmettre une protestation formelle afin d’exiger
la fin immédiate des raids menés par Ankara qui, selon les Irakiens,
ont ciblé des civils innocents.

dimanche 28 août 2011,
Sté[email protected]

news.am, Armenia
Aug 27 2011

Arrested opposition activist a political prisoner – Armenian politician

August 27, 2011 | 15:38

YEREVAN.- Activist of the opposition Armenian National Congress Tigran
Arakelyan is a political prisoner, he was arrested on political
grounds, said member of Social Democrat Hunchakian party Lyudmila
Sargsyan.

She stressed that nowadays the Armenian citizens are no protected from
law enforcers’ unlawfulness.

`The authorities do not plan to change the measure of restraint
against Tigran Arakelyan. Therefore, one can assert he is a political
prisoner, the incident was instigated by the authorities,’ she added.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, 7 ANC activists were
detained on August 9, around 10:00 p.m. from Northern Avenue of
Yerevan downtown. The court upheld the detention of the third activist
Tigran Arakelyan who is accused of using violence against law
enforcer.

news.am, Armenia
Aug 27 2011

Word of Life is most dangerous sect operating in Armenia – Armenian
Apostolic Church

August 27, 2011 | 15:54

YEREVAN. – Word of Life is the most dangerous of all sects operating
in Armenia, said father Artenyan of Armenian Apostolic Church to a
press conference on Saturday.

Father argued that this organization is dangerous because of financial
capabilities and affiliation of series of influential people.

“Through its activities of affecting people, this sect is the most
dangerous. I do not advise anyone, even out of curiosity, to
participate in their meetings. They use all the latest tools of
influence on consciousness and subconsciousness,” he said.

According to the priest the sect Word of Life tries to entice rich
families and extend its influence on show business. However, many
members of the sect got disappointed and eventually left it because
they did not get from the “gospel of prosperity” the expected
financial “progress”.

In Armenia Word of Life sect has about 10 thousand members.

Armenia tackles industry problems

According to Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan, his ministry has
developed a `strategic expert-oriented policy’.

Deriving lessons from the crisis, when the engine of Armenia’s
economic growth – the construction industry – suffered worst losses,
the Armenian government remembered that Armenia `was and will be an
industrial country.’

August 27, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan, his
ministry has developed a `strategic expert-oriented policy’.

As to statistical data, 10.2% growth was registered in January-July
2011 while construction industry saw 32.2% slump. It’s worth noting
that the growth in agriculture reached 32.4%, after last year’s
misfortunes.

Nevertheless, Minister Davtyan is glad that the industry registers
progress as compared to average economic indices. `Export volumes
increased by 25-30%. This means that the tendency of growth persists
and the program elaborated by the government will contribute to this
development,’ he said.

However, the authorities have failed to defend the local production
from illegal imports so far.

As Almast plant director Vahram Tepelikyan said, the cost of the
Chinese output illegally imported in Armenia is much lower, as it is
imported illegally, bypassing the customs control. `We have requested
the government to address the problem,’ he said.

So, a question arouses: how are the products imported without customs
duties and without knowledge of relevant state bodies?

Opportune occasion to recall the signatures, said Harut Sassounian

armradio.am
27.08.2011 14:35

Armenians in the center of attention again turned up in Turkey when
the Turkish parliament the previous Parliament did not include the
hundreds of other bills, including the protocols.

In this connection, a formal response in the absence of commentators
and politicians are expressing an opinion, it should immediately use
the convenient opportunity to invalidate its signature.

“California Courier” newspaper publisher and Editor Harut Sassounian
always been against the protocols, now thinks that Turkish diplomacy
and international pressure to avoid the authorities once again visible
on the government of Armenia should call without delay, with his
signature.

Harut Sassounian “Radiolur” also criticized the conversation with all
parties and organizations, even those who criticize the authorities of
Armenia’s Independence Day, the opportunity to use the opportunity
while it is a holiday, when our national unity should be displayed.

Soldier dies in NKR army

August 27, 2011 – 16:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A soldier died in Nagorno Karabakh defense army. On
August 26, Aghasi Abrahamyan, born 1992, was brought unconscious to a
military hospital, where he died later.

A criminal case has been initiated. Investigation is under way.

WikiLeaks on Armenian Oligarchs

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:28:51 – 27/08/2011

WikiLeaks revealed classified cables of the U.S. Embassy to Armenia.
They include a letter dated 2003-12-09 which is an informal guide to
who owns what in Armenia.

TYCOONS RELOADED: WHO CONTROLS WHAT IN ARMENIA

The following is our informal guide to who owns what in Armenia, with
the caveat that some of the information is based on rumor and
speculation.

MULTI GROUP

The Multi Group is headed by Gagik Tsaroukian (Dodi Gago), MP elected
in 2003. A former sportsman (arm wrestling), Tsaroukian is believed to
have close ties with the Kocharian family, especially the late Valeriy
Kocharian, the President’s brother. Multi Group is a holding company
consisting of a number of major enterprises in different industries:

–Kotayk Brewery: a joint venture with Castel Beer

–Manana Grain: one of Armenia’s major wheat importers

–Aviaservice: the GOAM sold the right to service aircrafts (catering,
etc.) in November 2003. According to Embassy sources, the President’s
late brother Valeriy Kocharian’s family has a stake in this business

–Armenian International Airways (AIA): Tsaroukian is believed to have
already cashed out

–Ararat winery

–Multi Group Dairy: his mother is in charge of this branch of the business

–Multi Stone: travertine export to Europe. The plant is equipped with
modern state of the art Italian stone cutting machines.

–Casino Club Cleopatra, along with a new casino (Pyramid) under construction

–Gyumri Textile plant: silent co-owner

–Farm projects: including most of the vegetables sold to the Armenian
Military forces

–Furniture Salon network: the largest importer of European furniture
in the country

–Gas stations and natural gas stations: Multi Leon chain

–Two major retail markets: GUM and MASHTOTS AVE

SIL GROUP

The SIL Group is run by Khachatur Sukiassian (Grzo), MP elected in
1999 and again in 2003. Sukiassian is the oldest son of
Grzo-the-father, and has taken control of the SIL Group. He is related
by marriage to Vano Siradeghian, the notoriously corrupt and powerful
former Minister of Internal Affairs (currently in hiding outside
Armenia). It is widely believed that the Siradeghian is one of the
major shareholders of SIL Group. He is the only businessman who both
maintains and admits his ties with ANM and is still a successful
businessman. SIL Group is one of the oldest conglomerates, engaged in
many industries, particularly:

–Restaurant chains Pizza di Roma, Queen burger, Chalet

–SIL Hotel and SIL Plaza department store

–Official distributor of Phillip Morris

–Real Estate in downtown Yerevan

–Golden Wood International: hardwood lumber, flooring strip and
finger-joint panel manufacturer

–Yerevan Furniture Plant panel manufacturer

–Armeconombank: a leading commercial bank

–Bjni mineral water plant

–Yerevan Polyplast OJSC: manufacturer of various plastic household
items, pipes, sanitation piping units, polyethylene film and bags,
linoleum and artificial leather

–Zovq Factory OJSC: Zovq natural juices factory

–Construction business (wood and panel)

–Star Valley Co. (Dubai): SIL Group’s representative in UAE

–Masis Gofrotara: cardboard and napkin production

–Sevan Grain Milling Company.

MIKA LTD

MIKA Ltd. is managed by Mikhael Bagdasarov, who is believed to have
earned his primary capital in Russia. Bagdasarov is the classmate,
best friend and business partner to Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan.
His businesses include:

–ArmSavings Bank, privatized in 2001

–Viktoria Trade: a major wheat importer

–Mika Trading: oil products imports and distribution (including 40
percent of gasoline imports)

–Armavia: chartered flights to major Russian cities

–Hrazdan Cement Plant, renamed to Mika Cement

–Gas station chains (called MIKA)

–Mineral water bottling in Dilijan (Dilijan Frolova)

–Other major businesses in Russia and Europe

GRAND GROUP

The GRAND Group is run by Hrant Vardanian, a businessman with Russian
capital and under the President’s protection. Although he is not an
MP, his son, Mikhael Vardanian was elected as MP (2003) on the Dashnak
party proportional list. Vardanian enjoys strong popularity within the
general public as a successful industrialist and director who reopened
several major Soviet-era plants. His businesses include:

–Grand Candy: major Armenian producer of chocolates, sweets, ice creams, etc.

–Grand Tobacco: partner with Ruben Hairapetian (Nemets Rubo) and
International Masis Tabak (there has been some conflict between the
two major cigarette producers)

–Grand Sun: production of bulbs and lamps on the basis of the
privatized Lamp factory. Built a similar factory in Iran.

–Alcohol production

–Several Company stores and cafe chains

HAYRAPETIAN FAMILY

The Hayrapetian family owns the ‘Hayrapetian Brothers’ Company. Close
to the President’s office, especially to advisor Alexan Harutiunian.
The younger brother died in a car accident earlier this year. Current
business activities:

–‘Hayastan’ Department store

–Hotel Ararat

–BMW dealer

–Erebuni Textile production plant

–Hotel on Lake Sevan shore

–Other additional minor businesses

RUBEN HAYRAPETIAN

Ruben Hayrapetian, a.k.a. Nemets (German) Rubo. Hayrapetian is the
current Chairman of the Armenian Football Federation. MP (elected in
2003), former Prefect of Avan Community. Hayrapetian appears to be
supported by the President’s office. Current business activities:

–Co-owner of Grand Tobacco

–Aragats textile production plant

–Harsnaqar hotel on Sevan shore

–Several gas stations

–Other additional minor businesses

HARUTIUN PAMBUKIAN

Harutiun Pambukian is an MP elected in 1999 and 2003. He defeated Rubo
the Flower (Ruben Gevorgian) in the race in Davidashen district.
Pambukian is a relatively recent oligarch and major financial
supporter of the Presidential campaign in 2003. Believed to have
support of Russian capital. Major known business activities:

–Max Group: farms, gas stations

–Lusakert Poultry Plant

–Yeghvard Animal Feed Plant

–Stakeholder in Midland Resources: owner of electricity distribution networks

SAMVEL ALEKSANIAN

Samvel Aleksanian is also known as ‘Lfik Samo.’ Elected Member of
Parliament in 2003. A semi-criminal oligarch, Aleksanian maintains an
army of bodyguards. He boasts little formal education (maybe the least
among oligarchs). Close to the President’s office. Tries to resemble
Dodi Gago in everything: his house has the same architecture, he
drives the same make of cars, etc. He has the following legal
businesses:

–Lusastgh (Shining Star): produces vodka and vegetable oil, owns supermarkets

–Informal ‘Feudal Lord’ of Malatia (a district in Yerevan)

–Major importer of wheat, sugar and butter. Anti-monopoly

Committee recently looked into his case, and admitted that there is a
monopoly in sugar and butter importation. Due to his very close ties
with the Customs Committee, he is able to import products with best
possible privileges, thus minimizing competition in the market for his
company

–Natali Pharm: imports and distributes drugs

–Other additional minor businesses

NGO sets award for worst programs, films, soap operas

11:55 – 27.08.11

An Armenian non-governmental organization has announced a series of
awards called `Trash on TV’.

In a statement released on Saturday the NGO called `We Will Not Keep
Silent’ said that the award will be given twice a month to the worst
TV programs, films and soap operas.

All the `winners’ of this award will receive certificates via mail.
The TV channels that will be host of those `winners’ will receive of
100 drams for what the NGO called `get rid of the trash’.

The first winners will be known in the coming days, the NGO said.

Tert.am