Author: Badalian Vardan

YOUTUBE-GATE? AMBASSADOR SCANDAL REPERCUSSIONS IN LITHUANIA

Budapest Business Journal, Hungary
Aug 20 2013

David Landry

To the surprise of few, heads are rolling in Lithuania in the wake of
a damaging-unto-scandalous telephone conversation between Lithuanian
Ambassador to Hungary Renatas Juška and others that was leaked to
YouTube in July. One ambassador has already resigned as a result,
while the conversationalists themselves have attracted the attention
of their country’s prime minister and will likely soon be shown the
exit as well.

In mid-July, an audio recording of a phone conversation between
Lithuanian Ambassador to Hungary Renatas Juška and Lithuanian
Foreign Affairs Ministry Deputy Director Zenonas Kumetaitis was
posted to YouTube with the title “This is how Lithuania really treats
Azerbaijan.” The video – which a bit incredibly remains available on
the file-sharing site – features both ministers rather deviating from
their country’s party line in discussing relations between Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

After JuÅ¡ka brazenly opines that he is “supportive of those who
lead Armenians. They are also Christians and the Stalin regime also
made them suffer. Their territories were also reshaped just the way
it was with us,” Kumetaitis essentially agrees, tossing in “from
the religious or just common human viewpoint, Armenia seems closer,
though they are also [rotten].”

Lithuania-based news outlet Delfi and the Azerbaijan Press Association
are now reporting some new developments thanks to the posting. The
country’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, ArtÅ”ras Žurauskas, tendered his
resignation on Friday; this was certainly due in large part to the
reaction in Azerbaijani quarters, which had the country’s ambassador
to Lithuania, Hasan Mammadzada, calling the posting “a new provocative
action” against both Azerbaijan and Lithuania. Žurauskas’ resignation
was immediately accepted by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

On Monday came an emphatic condemnation of the two from Lithuanian
Prime Minister Algirdas ButkeviÄ~Mius in which they were described
as having “lost credibility.” Though ButkeviÄ~Mius cannot dismiss
the ambassadors from their posts, it is implied that she who can, i.e.

President Dalia GrybauskaitÄ-, will be sacking the offenders.

“I have spoken with the Lithuanian President on this issue,” said
ButkeviÄ~Mius. “The decision regarding the ambassadors will be made
in the near future. … However, the final decision will be made
after the investigation of the Foreign Ministry.”

MOODY’S RAISES ARMENIA OUTLOOK ON DEFICIT REDUCTION EFFORTS

The Wall Street Journal, NY
Aug 20 2013

By John Kell

Moody’s Investors Service has raised its outlook on Armenia’s
junk-level ratings, touting the nation’s deficit-reduction efforts
and continued access to external funding sources on favorable terms.

The ratings firm’s outlook on Armenia is now stable, and the nation’s
rating was affirmed at Ba2, which is two levels into junk.

Moody’s touted the nation’s commitment to fiscal consolidation, as
reflected in the reduction of its deficit to 1.5% in 2012 from 7.5%
in 2009. Moody’s expects Armenia’s fiscal deficit will remain low this
year and in 2014, reflecting the costs of pension-reform implementation
starting in 2014 and some resumption in capital expenditures.

Moody’s did express some concern about the nation’s ability to absorb
external shocks, which has weakened amid its economic and financial
exposure to Russia, which is experiencing an economic slowdown. Other
concerns include natural gas and energy tariff increases that were
implemented in July and large official loan repayments due the next
two years.

Armenia could be assigned a positive outlook and an eventual upgrade if
the structural reforms the government implemented propel the economy
towards more balanced growth and with a significant reduction in the
current account deficit. Negative rating pressure could occur if the
economic slowdown in Russia is sustained or if adverse export minerals
prices were to persist.

SEVERAL ASSAILANTS ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN YEREVAN

Interfax, Russia
August 19, 2013 Monday 5:46 PM MSK

YEREVAN. Aug 19

A group of individuals attempted to break into the Russian Embassy
in Yerevan on August 17, the Armenian police said.

A report arrived on Saturday evening that a group of individuals had
an argument with Russian embassy employees.

“Policemen were dispatched to the scene to discover that several
individuals wanted to enter the Russian Embassy’s guarded premises.

The assailants had an argument with policemen and disobeyed their
orders,” the Yerevan Police’s press service told Interfax.

Civil activists Malik Daveyan, Karen Arutyunian and Gor Arakelian,
who participated in a protest rally in front of the Yerevan Mayor’s
office, were detained.

“All of them refused to testify. A report on the incident was referred
to the Yerevan Central Police Department’s Investigative Committee
on Sunday,” the press service said.

Protestors gathered near the Yerevan Mayor’s Office to demand the
dismissal of officials responsible for public transport.

Sd cm

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES KICKED OFF

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

19:13, 20 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Russian armed forces
hold tactical exercises of military cooperation in Armenian “Alagyaz”
mountainous military college. “Armenpress” was informed from press
service of Southern military district of Russian Federation that
Armenian-Russian joint military exercises will last till August 24.

During the exercise will be used Mi-8 planes, T-72B tanks, artillery
systems “Giachint” and “Gvozdika” and other modern weapons.

During conventional military actions the servicemen of two countries
will prevent the rival’s attacks, attack themselves and “crash
the enemy”.

THE KEYS TO UNLOCK THE ONGOING OFFSHORE SCANDAL EXIST, BUT WILL LAW ENFORCEMENT USE THEM

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

[28783.jpg] 11:11, August 20, 2013

Edik Baghdasaryan
Kristine Aghalaryan

Part 1, Part 2

AmeriaBank plays a pivotal role in the ongoing offshore scandal that
Hetq first broke and brought to the attention of the public.

Readers will remember that Ameria lent jeweller Sukiasyan U.S. 12
million, for which the property of businessman Paylak Hayrapetyan
was put up for collateral. Ameria also crafted the business plan at
the heart of the credit package.

$9,370,450 of the loan was transferred to the accounts of several
offshore companies held by Hellenic Bank Publik Company.

1. A.B.S. Global Limited – $7,020,450 2. Wlispera Holdings Limited –
$350,000 3. STR Emerald Limited – $2,000,000

Ameria never checked the documents related to Ashot Sukiasyan’s
business plan. According to accepted procedure, a representative of
the bank was required to travel to Sierra Leone to conduct an on-site
check of the information contained within the documents. One of the
banks lawyers should have accompanied Ashot Sukiasyan, the creditor,
to Africa but failed to do so. Nevertheless, the bank continued to
regularly make transfers to Cyprus.

In all, AmeriaBank transferred $10.7 million to Sukiasyan. A warrant
for his arrest was declared on charges of financial fraud. He is
still on the run.

Had the bank done its homework in the first place, it would have
revealed that Sukiasyan used the money to purchase large quantities
of gold, a Bentley automobile, a house, and to invest in construction
and in Metaks Group Ltd., among others.

One of the charges levied against Sukiasyan is the “legalizing
of large sums of illegally obtained income”, i.e., money
laundering. He used AmeriaBank to launder the money.

Some bank employees have been questioned on the matter, but Artak
Hanesyan, Chairman of the Management Board-General Director, has yet
to be. He remains the key to unlock the entire matter, but in all
likelihood Hanesyan will never be interrogated.

RA Prosecutor General must reveal why the case was sent to the Main
Criminal Department of the Police given that numerous officials,
including Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, have a hand in the matter.

Perhaps the key to unlock the offshore scandal is in the hand of
Gasparyan himself. That is if he reveals who gave the OK for Sukiasyan
to be permitted to leave Armenia in the first place.

Readers will remember that on the same day that Paylak Hayrapetyan
had filed a report with the Police Department’s Anti-Organized
Crime Division, Sukiasyan was detained trying to cross the border. He
was questioned and subsequently released.

Sukiasyan’s name was on the Police “black list”
from that day. So who made a discrete call from on high to have his
name removed, thus allowing him to flee Armenia soon afterwards?

Another person who has yet to be questioned is Ararat Diocese Locum
Tenens Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan. On two occasions he travelled to
Cyprus with Ashot Sukiasyan. Amazingly, case investigators seem to
have overlooked the possibility that Kjoyan is an important player
in the offshore scandal.

AmeriaBank officials appear calm and collected, confident that no
Armenian court will file suit against them. But Paylak Hayrapetyan
has declared that he will take the matter to the European Court.

Thus, AmeriaBank may just wind up on a list of banks known for money
laundering. Such a prospect surely doesn’t sit well with the
banks shareholders.

So, who are Ameria’s shareholders? Let’s first state that
the bank is registered offshore, in Cyprus.

AmeriaBank – A Who’s Who

Detailed information about the bank is available on its website.

Charting the history of the bank, we read: In August 2007, the main
shareholding of the Bank (96%) was obtained by TDA Holdings Limited
(which was renamed Ameria Group (CY) Limited in November, 2011).

In 2007-2011, gradually increasing the Charter Capital of the Bank,
the major shareholder Ameria Group (CY) Limited increased its equity
participation up to 99.9988997%.

Now, let’s present some information not shown on the bank’s
website.

The bank’s sole shareholder, Ameria Group CY was registered
offshore in Cyprus on July 23, 2007. From the day of its founding
until June 15, 2012, Davit Sargsyan served as its CEO. Sargsyan heads
the legal services division of Ameria Group.

As of June 15, 2012, Andrei Lazarian has served as Ameria Group
CY’s Chief Executive Officer. He is also on the Board of
Directors of AmeriaBank.

Ameria Group CY has only one shareholder – a company called Montrago
Nominees Limited registered in Cyprus. We don’t know who owns
this company. Their names don’t appear on any documents. There
is only one name that shows up, that of Androyalla Papadopoyloy
(ÁÍÄÑÏÕËËÁ ÐÁÐÁÄÏÐÏÕËÏÕ), listed as an authorized representative.

Even though the names of the actual shareholders don’t appear
on the documents, at least two of their names are widely known –
Ruben Vardanian, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AmeriaBank,
and Nubar Afeyan, a member of AmeriaBank’s Board of Directors.

Ashot Sukiasyan also received a $4.5 million loan from Prometey Bank.

If case investigators decide to question Prometey’s Board
President, perhaps he might muster the courage to reveal who telephoned
him for the loan and how Samvel (Navasard) Kjoyan visited him on four
separate occasions regarding the loan.

So, as we have just seen, there are many keys out there with which
to unlock this offshore web of mystery.

There are also Ashot Sukiasyan’s notes regarding expenditures,
one of which records the cost of five airline and hotel tickets to
Dubai. If investigators can track down even one of the five names
involved, the web will begin to untangle.

But we all know why such cases are never “broken”
in Armenia.

Battling corruption is hard work and it’s practically a losing
proposition in Armenia. Everyone is involved up to their eyeballs,
including those tasked with stamping it out.

(To be continued)

andal-exist-but-will-law-enforcement-use-them.html

ARF AND HERIATGE OFFER DEBATES ON TUITION FEE RISE

August 20, 2013 | 13:07

YEREVAN. – Members of the standing committee on science, education,
culture, youth affairs and sport have sent a letter to the committee
chairman Artak Davtyan.

Head of ARF faction Aghvan Vardanyan and Heritage faction Ruben
Hakobyan offer the committee chairman to hold parliamentary debates
on rise in tuition fees in the Armenian universities within the next
seven days, Heritage party’s press service reported.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

SYRIANS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF ARMY IN HOMS

Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:44PM GMT

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said on June 26 that Saudi
Arabia is trembling with fear because of the Syrian Army’s recent
gains against the militants.”

Syrians have held a rally in the city of Homs to thank the country’s
military for bringing back security to more areas in the region as
well as other parts of the country.

Large number of Syrians took to the streets in al-Dahiyeh and
al-Ommaliah areas in the city of Homs on Monday, with participation
of the city’s governor, Talal Brazi.

The government troops have recently conducted successful cleanup
operations across the country, inflicting heavy losses on the
militants.

The Syrian army regained full control over three villages in the
western province of Latakia on Monday, following heavy fighting with
foreign-backed Takfiri militants.

On July 31, the army regained control of the main stronghold of
foreign-backed militants in Homs in the Khaldiyeh district after more
than one month of fierce fighting.

The Syrian Army’s push against the militants has rattled their
sponsors.

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said on June 26 that Saudi
Arabia is trembling with fear because of the Syrian Army’s recent
gains against the militants.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to
reports, Western powers and their regional allies – especially Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – are supporting the Takfiri militants
operating inside Syria.

According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have
been killed and a total of 7.8 million displaced in Syria due to
the violence.

PG/SS

SASUN MIKAELYAN, NIKOL PASHINYAN AND OTHER POLITICIANS ARE PLANNING TO FORM NEW POLITICAL FORCE

11:38 20/08/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

The opposition wing will not remain out of game. Sasun Mikaelyan is
going to form a new political force. Sasun Mikaelyan who had months
ago left the ANC because of the ideological discordance with the
party, had promised that a new political force will be formed and
that the political field will not remain vacant. What force it is and
when it will be formed he didn’t say, just had asked to wait saying,
“you will know when it comes the time.”

Recently Hraparak dailyhas informed that they are undertaking steps
for forming a new force and Sasun Mikaelyan is going to have an active
role in it. Probably Nikol Pashinyan, Sasun Mikaelyan and some other
politicians from the ANC will be in the same team.

Source: Panorama.am

SARKISIAN ENDORSES ALIYEV

Monday, August 19th, 2013

President Serzh Sarkisian answering questions at a youth camp in
Tsaghkadzor

YEREVAN-President Serzh Sarkisian on Saturday, while speaking to
a group of youth in Tsaghkadzor, said his preference is for Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev to stay on as the leader of Azerbaijan in the
upcoming elections there in October.

“Armenia, and not only Armenia, is interested in neighbors that have
chosen the path of democracy. Thus, when it comes to a neighbor,
especially to a partner in negotiations, Armenia is invariably
interested in a democratic Azerbaijan,” said Sarkisian, in response
to a question from the audience, which was comprised of participants
in a youth camp known as the Bazeh Pan-Armenian Youth Gathering.

“However, if we disregard that fact for a moment, the answer to
the question is the following: we would rather see President Ilham
Aliyev win,” said Sarkisian, citing the continuing peace talks over
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as his reason.

“We have been going through a difficult and long process of
negotiations, and the framework for a solution is almost outlined, at
least through the public endorsement by both parties of the principles
proposed by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group,” explained Sarkisian.

“They have been actively negotiated for the last four years.

Certainly, I wouldn’t say that the process is very vigorous now,
nevertheless a certain progress has been made, and if after the
elections President Aliyev is able to display political will and rise
above his fanatical Armenophobia, I believe that would be the most
acceptable choice for us.”

ZHOGHOVURD: ILLEGAL ARMENIAN MIGRANTS FORCED TO RETURN FROM BELGIUM

08:55 20.08.13

The paper has addressed the problems of the illegal Armenian migrants
in Belgium in a short conversation with Gevorg Minasyan, the president
of the Belgian-Armenian Confederations’ Union and the editor-in-chief
of the local newspaper Lragir.

There are reports that the Armenians are facing serious social
problems, with people not managing to settle pension-related issues.

How is that problem solved?

There aren’t social problems in Belgium. If a person is smart and
resides legally [in the country], respecting the laws, social problems
are out of the questions. There is a very flexible system here.

But the citizens in Belgium are facing serious problems, with migrants
being forced to leave.

That’s not about migrants, but the illegal migrants. I know people who
have been in a camp for 12 years without a right to residence or work.

With the free place and food available, they keep living like that.

The law has now changed; as the European Union addressed the migrants’
issue, they now want to return those residing illegally there.

Armenian News – Tert.am