Author: Ekmekjian Janet

TURKISH PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION SENDS INQUIRY TO SECURITY AGENCIES ON PETKIM’S PURCHASER

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 17 2007

Turkish Privatization Administration has sent inquiry to security
agencies on TransCentralAsia oil consortium which purchased major
state PETKIM Petrochemical Co. for $2.05 billion, APA’s Turkey
bureau reports.

The reason for inquiry is negative public opinion on the individuals
and group of companies that won the auction for 51 pct of Petkim. The
Privatization Administration explained the inquiry to the security
agencies in "Strategic mistakes should be corrected if there are any".

The Privatization Administration was to send the document to the
Competition Agency to officialize the results of the auction.

According to the legislation, the document should be immediately sent
to the Competition Agency. But the Privatization Administration decided
to wait for exact information on TransCentralAsia oil consortium.

The owner of TransCentralAsia which competed with SOCAR&Turcas till
the end and purchased the control packet of shares of Petkim for
$2.05billion in the tender is said to be of Jewish nationality.

Turkish press reports that the chief of the company purchasing Petkim
is a Kazakhstan’s citizen, chairman of Eurasian Jews Confederation
Alexander Matskevich. Troika Dialog Best Bank of Russia gave financial
support to purchasing PetkiM. The owner of the bank is Armenian Ruben
Vardanyan. Ruben Vardaryan, one of the persons financing Armenia-2020
project, is propagandizing so that Armenians all over the world will
deposit their money in Armenian banks.

Publicizing his intention to make Armenia the most powerful country
in the South Caucasus in 2020 Ruben Vardaryan will own Petkim
Petrochemical Co. along with Alexander Matskevich.

Petrol-Ish trade union appealed to the 13th Economic Court for
annulling the result sof the auction foe the sale of Petkim. The trade
union head Mustafa Oztashkin said they will struggle till the end on
legal level to achieve annulment of the auction results.

INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT NAMED "LAKE SEVAN" FINISHES IN MARTUNI

Noyan Tapan
Jul 16 2007

MARTUNI, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Lake Sevan" International Chess
Tournament finished in Martuni on July 15. Three participants, that
is to say, Yuri Vovk (the Ukraine), Ji En Gopal (India), and Lee Chao
(China) received 5.5 out of 9 possible points each and took from first
to third places. Bartolomey Macheyan (Poland) and Armen Phashikian
(Armenia) received 5 points each and took fourth and fifth places.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE NEWLY APPOINTED US CHARGE D’AFFAIRES

armradio.am
16.07.2007 17:18

On June 6 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received US Charge
d’Affaires, Ambassador Rudolph Perina.

At the start of the meeting Oskanian welcomed Mr. Perina’s appointment
and expressed confidence that his excellent knowledge of Armenia and
the region will promote the success of his high mission in our country.

The interlocutors agreed that the two countries are interested in being
presented on the level of Ambassadors and according to the Minister,
in this stage the Ambassador’s appointment will greatly foster the
development of bilateral relations.

The parties discussed the bilateral agenda, regional issues, Armenia’s
relations with neighbors.

The interlocutors referred to the current stage of negotiations on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

The meeting was attended by US Deputy Ambassador Anthony Godfrey,
who is completing his mission in our country.

WARMING OF U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS IS BEST SCENARIO FOR ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.07.2007 14:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If the United States collides with Turkey over
Northern Iraq and simultaneously improves relations with Iran, it
will be the best scenario for Armenia. Actually, under circumstances
Russia’s presence as a security guarantor for Armenia will lose
urgency. We should strengthen relations with Iran, Professor of
international relations and politics of the Universidad de San Andres
in Buenos Aires, Dr Khachik Ter-Ghukassian said in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Iran is a minority in the Islamic world, since it practices
Shi’ism. This state is the potential regional power. Will Washington
have a political force to hold a dialogue with Iran as equals? This
is the core of the problem. How will the balance be maintained between
the Sunnis (al Qaeda) and Shiites?

How will the Lebanese problem be resolved. These are questions that
need exact answers. Under any circumstances, the Armenia-Iran relations
should be apart any shocks in the region," he said.

QUESTIONS TO THE NKR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MASIS MAILIAN

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
July 17 2007

-Mr Mailian, being absolutely young and liable to levy during
the Karabakh movement and generally in the years of struggle for
existence, how were you a success to avoid of serving in Defence Army
and all the more as participating in fighting operations? Perhaps you
had problems with health? Araik Akopian, the invalid of 1st group,
Stepanakert. –Before answering the questions of the "readers" of
the newspaper "Azat Artsakh", I would like to emphasize the following.

The tend and genetics of questions once again testify that in our
country there is an actual necessity of basic reforms in all spheres,
including also the sphere of information. And we shall by all means
realize these reforms. There is a lot of work in the sphere of public
mass-media. The information field should reflect the real position
of the country and carry out the basic function – informing the public.

Public mass-media shoul serve the people, instead of the interests of
individuals clan groupings. It’s a pity, that the official body "Azat
Artsakh" is involved in games incompatible with its public mission.

Artsakh tax-payers finance the newspaper not for this purpose.

Anyhow, I shall frankly answer the question, as in my biography there
is nothing hidden or forged. I participated in Artsakh struggle for
existence from 1989, when I was involved with my comrades in defense
of Artsakh western settlements. In 1992 the head of the NKR State
Commitee of Defence Robert Kocharian has considered purposeful that
I have worked in the Department of information and press attached
to the NKR SCD taking into consideration my abilities and knowledge
of foreign languages. I think, each conscious person understands the
important role of Department of information and press in the struggle
for existence, understands also, that it was also the information war,
which was one of the main components of the war. Then from 1993, I
worked in the NKR Ministry for Foreign Affairs. At a solving final
stage of military-political negotiations important for the country
I was the advicer of the commander of the NKR Defence Army. Each
conscious person understands also, that alongside with the fighting
operations there was a complex information and diplomatic war, that’s
also the component of Artsakh struggle for existence. In general, all
the population of Artsakh participated in the struggle for existence,
everyone – on its place. It is necessary to appreciate the contribution
of everyone. We have won with general efforts. My basic "front" was the
information and diplomatic sphere, the value of which for the statehood
of independent Artsakh unconscious people can underestimate only. I
shall note also, that working in diplomatic sphere, I constantly kept
in contact with Artsakh Defence Army combining the work of our spheres
and collaborating in the interests of our state. And it is not casual,
recently, the Minister of NKR Defence has awarded me with a special
commemorative medal as a token of gartitude for merits before the
native land and close cooperation with the NKR Ministry of Defence. As
to a question concerned to health, I shall tell, that , thank God,
I have never had any serious problem with health.

ARMENIAN PUBLIC TV ADVERTISES TURKISH PRODUCTS

APA
[ 13 Jul 2007 15:59 ]

Products of Turkish companies are being advertised in Armenian Public
Television (APT), APA reports.

Our compatriots living in Georgia stated that the products of "Beko",
"Ardo", "Kent", "Algida" are being advertised by the TV channel. This
factor shows that those firms have allocated funds for the activity
of APT which propagates against Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Armenian press writes that nearly 20 Armenian-Turkish firms are
operating in the country under the name of a third country.

LEGAL SUCCESSORS OF ARMENIAN DEPOSITORS, WHO ARE VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE, CAN FILE THEIR CASES AGAINST FRENCH AXA INSURANCE COMPANY UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2007

Noyan Tapan
Jul 11 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The legal successors of the Armenians,
who invested insurance deposits or other credits in the French AXA
company, which operated in the territory of the Ottoman Empire, can
file their cases against AXA by
internet site until October 1, 2007. The case will be upholded on the
basis of the agreement signed within the framework of the group trial
of the U.S. Regional Court of the Central region of California. This
statement was made by Parsegh Kartalian, the Head of the AXA Settlement
Claim Fund at the July 10 press conference. The fund unites three
law offices , which are engaged in the defence of the interests
of the legal successors of the victims of the Armenian Genocide:
"VARTKES YEGHIAYAN AND YEGHIAYAN & ASSOCIATES," "BRIAN S. KABATECH &
KABATECK BROWN KELLINER", and "MARK GERAGOS & GERAGOS & GERAGOS."

According to Parsegh Kartalian, 17.6 million U.S. dollars are liable
to payment by the AXA Insurance Company with the above-mentioned
agreement, according to approximately 7 thousand insurance
policies. However, the legal successors of those insured will be
given 11 million dollars, and the rest of the sum will be given to
Armenian charitable organizations and lawyers.

In his opinion, at least 10 thousand people will apply in order to
get the repayment sums.

The head of the fund mentioned that after the trial won by the "Vartkes
Yeghiayan and Yeghiayan & Associates" lawyers’ company against the "New
York Life" insurance company the latter paid 7.2 million dollars to
the legal successors of the depositors, who are victims of the Armenian
Genocide, and 3 million dollars to lawyers and charitable companies.

TURKISH DAILY NEWS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL: TROUBLES THREATEN TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.07.2007 14:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Cuneyd Zapsu, a top adviser to Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that a secret meeting was held
with Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy
Pelosi this February on H. Res. 106 – the Armenian Genocide bill.

Richard Holbrooke, a Democrat and a former top diplomat, arranged
and attended the meeting. Holbrooke is known for his role in putting
an end to the war in Bosnia as assistant to the Secretary of State
in former president Bill Clinton’s administration, Turkish Daily
News reports. Zapsu voiced the Turkish government’s concerns over
the resolution, saying its passage by the House would seriously hurt
bilateral ties with Ankara. The Pelosi-Zapsu meeting took place shortly
after Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also visited the U.S. capital in
early February. But neither Gul nor three Turkish parliamentary teams
visiting Washington one after another succeeded in their "struggle"
against the bill and had talks with the House speaker.

At the same time the newspaper reminds that a number of worrying
developments are taking place in recent weeks for Turkey, since
the number of representatives cosponsoring the measure in late June
rose to 218 in the 435-member House. "Obtaining the support of 218
lawmakers does not automatically enable the Armenians to force a
House floor vote for the resolution, but means the overcoming of a
psychological threshold. The resolution likely would reach the House
floor agenda any time after early September, when Congress returns
to work after a summer recess in August. But still this would come
after critical parliamentary elections in Turkey on July 22," the
newspaper underlines.

OBAMA SUSPECT LIVED IN FAIRFIELD

Middletown Journal, OH
July 7 2007

Man had knife in his car when arrested at Barack Obama’s Iowa hotel.

FAIRFIELD – The man arrested for having a knife outside the hotel of
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama had local ties.

Davit Zakaryan, 24, of Cincinnati, was arrested Wednesday morning in
Ottumwa, Iowa.

Zakaryan, who is from Armenia, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor
unauthorized use of property in a Hamilton County court in 2005. In
November 2006, he received a traffic ticket and listed his address as
4670 Dixie Highway in Fairfield, which is the Econo Lodge, according
to the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts office.

Ottumwa Police Lt. Mike McDonough said Obama’s security crew became
suspicious as Zakaryan paced outside his car Wednesday morning. They
thought his car looked familiar and may have been at another stop.

Police said an ornamental knife with a blade exceeding 8½ inches
was found in the car. The knife was easily within Zakaryan’s reach,
and the local prosecutor determined it violated a state law banning
blades longer than 8 inches.

Zakaryan was arrested after authorities determined he did not have
a valid driver’s license and the car was not registered to him,
McDonough said. Zakaryan never made a threat against Obama, police
said. A Cincinnati businessman said Zakaryan was in the area to sell
political novelties.

–Boundary_(ID_sKPQHMX60CZ8fJIYyx7AEA) —

"’KGB-IZATION’ OF ARTSAKH IS DANGEROUS FOR ARMENIA," STEPHAN SAFARIAN
BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The two real candidates for the post of
the President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, between whom the
main struggle is developing, enjoy unequal campaign resources. This
point of view was expressed by Sergey Minasian, an expert of the
Caucasian Media Institute, during the debate with Stephan Safarian,
the Head of the National Strategic Investigation Center and the
Secretary of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction of the RA National
Assembly, held on July 6. According to Sergey Minasian, Bako Sahakian,
the former Head of the National Security of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh, uses the whole administrative resource of the country,
whereas, Masis Mayilian, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
is deprived of such an opportunity.

Stephan Safarian declared in his turn that the fact that opposition
parties support Bako Sahakian, the candidate from the authorities,
speaks not about political solidarity, but about the absence of an
alternative. In addition to this, according to him, the scenario
conducted in the parliamentary elections of Armenia can be made
use of in Artsakh as well. By this scenario the Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) party, which was created by the authorities,
became the main rival of the Hanrapetakan (Republican) party.

The NA MP mentioned at the same time that he is personally acquainted
with Masis Mayilian and excludes the fact that the latter can be
"a henchman."

Stephan Safarian also added that they should do everything in order
to hold elections in harmony with democratic standards in Artsakh,
since, according to him the world community has already made harsh
statements about this occasion. He also mentioned that the possible
"KGB-ization" of Artsakh is dangerous for Armenia.