Author: Ekmekjian Janet

DRAFTS ON RA FLAG AND EMBLEM ADOPTED IN THIRD READING AND COMPLETELY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 16 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA National
Assembly adopted in the third reading and completely the drafts on the
RA flag and emblem at the June 15 special session. The characteristics
and orders of usage of the flag and emblem are defined by them. It is
particularly defined that the red colour of the state flag symbolizes
the Armenian plateau, the Armenian people’s constant struggle for
existence, Christian belief, independence and freedom of Armenia. The
blue colour symbolizes the Armenian people’s will to live under
peaceful sky. The orange colour symbolizes the Armenian people’s
creative talent and diligence.

AMENDMENTS POSSIBLE IN LAW ON LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 16 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Amendments are
possible in the law on local self-government bodies of Georgia. In
the opinion of Alexander Shalamberidze, the Deputy Chairman of
the Parliament Committee on Regional Policy, Self-Government, High
Mountainous Regions of the country, it is most necessary for keeping
equal local budgets of distant settlements.
As the “A-Info” agency informs, greeting the parliamentarian’s
intention to make possible amendments in the law, Mels Torosian,
a member of the Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian Public Organizations’
Council, mentioned on this occasion that the parliamentarians do not
speak about liquidating another disproportion by the self-government
legislation. It is particularly spoken about Armenians’ and Georgians’
being presented in Sakrebulos of regions equal to their number. By
the acting legislation, the Georgian inhabitation making only 5% in
the region of Akhalkalak has a right to have up to 30% presence. The
same injustice threatens the regions of Akhaltskha, Tsalka, Aspindza,
Ninotsminda.

HUNGARY TO DEDICATE MEMORIAL TO ETHNIC GERMANS EXPELLED AFTER WORLD WAR II
AP Worldstream
Jun 18, 2006
Hungary on Sunday will dedicate a memorial to the thousands of ethnic
Germans who were expelled from the country after World War II.
The mass expulsion from Hungary of those considered to be Germans
began on Jan. 19, 1946, in the small town of Budaors on the western
outskirts of Budapest, the capital.
President Laszlo Solyom, Parliament Speaker Katalin Szili, and Ursula
Seiler-Albring, Germany’s ambassador to Hungary, are expected to
speak at the ceremony in Budaors’s Old Cemetery.
In just six weeks, some 7,000 people _ around 90 percent of the
population of the town known in German as Wundersch _ were forced
out of Hungary and deported to Germany.
“Without judgment on merits, almost all of the town’s population
was branded on the basis of the principle of collective guilt,” the
town said in a pamphlet commemorating the expulsions. “All those
who considered themselves ethnic Germans or whose mother language
was German according to the 1941 census were among the guilty, among
those expelled.”
In all, some 200,000 ethnic Germans were driven from Hungary until
1948.
Similar measures were also undertaken in the former Czechoslovakia,
where some 3 million ethnic Germans and 600,000 ethnic Hungarians
were expelled after the war under the decrees of former Czechoslovak
President Edvard Benes because many had supported Adolf Hitler and
the Nazi occupation of Eastern Europe.
Today, ethnic Germans are one of 13 national or ethnic minorities
recognized in Hungary, also including Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks,
Roma (Gypsies) and Serbs.
An exhibition on the expulsion of the German population from Hungary
opened June 1, at the House of Terror in Budapest.

COURT OF APPEAL INAUGURATES RENOVATED COURT ROOM, LIBRARY AND CONFERENCE HALL
Armenpress
Jun 13 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Court of Appeals has
inaugurated today a renovated court room, a library and a conference
hall. The renovation was started one year ago and was funded by
government funds and a World Bank credit for reformation of the
justice system.
The library has 6,000 books in four languages.
Justice minister David Harutunian said the fact that the bulk of thee
books are in English will force judges to improve their knowledge
of English.

PEOPLE ARE MADE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
Lragir.am
13 June 06
On June 13 several members of parliaments representing different
political forces touched upon the depreciation of the dollar and
revaluation of the dram. Mher Shahgeldyan, Orinats Yerkir, says as a
result of the policy of revaluation of the dram the income of a major
part of the population they receive from their relatives working abroad
decreased. Victor Dallakyan, the secretary of the Ardarutiun Alliance,
expresses concern on the same matter. He cites the calculations of
economists: through exchange rate manipulations the population of
Armenia was robbed of over 300 million dollars.
Artashes Geghamyan, the leader of the National Unity Party, says
people lost more, about 460 million dollars. Member of Parliament
Tatul Manaseryan said the revaluation of the dram leads to a decline in
local production, which makes a great number of people leave Armenia
and work abroad.

The Standard (Nairobi) Kenya
June 10, 2006
Leaders: State is hiding something
By Ben Agina
Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday read conspiracy on the part of
the Government in deporting the four Armenians.
Uhuru said the Armenians had not broken any immigration rules to
warrant deportation, but had committed a crime that called for
prosecution.

Artur Sagarsyan and Artur Margaryan await deportation pensively at
the Kenya Airport Police Unit

“The Armenians had committed a criminal offence and they should have
been charged and prosecuted. The Government is in this,” said Uhuru.
Speaking on telephone from the US, Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka
said the Armenians should not have been here in the first place.
Kalonzo said it was clear from the beginning that the Armenians were
people with ulterior motives.
Uhuru said it was shocking that foreigners could threaten Kenyans.
He said it was not enough to deport the Armenians, adding that they
should have faced the full force of the law.
“Why should you deport people who have entered our security area and
failed to pay duty?” he asked.
Uhuru wondered whether the Armenians were above the law for them not
to face charges. He said the Government should be held accountable
for their failure to prefer charges against the Armenians.
Kalonzo said now that they had committed a crime, they should be
charged.
The Liberal Democratic party chairman, Mr David Musila, said the
incident witnessed at JKIA on Thursday breached the security of the
country.
“As LDP we had raised concerns that these were mercenaries with
ulterior motives,” said Musila. Musila, who is also the Deputy
Speaker, said the President owes Kenyans an explanation after some
senior ministers earlier defended the Armenians.
“Kenyans must get an explanation on who was protecting the
Armenians,” demanded Musila. Musila accused some people in Government
of protecting the Armenians.
He also wondered whether Kenya’s security is at the mercy of
foreigners.
Musila congratulated the Commissioner of Police Major-General Hussein
Ali for the action he took against the Armenians. Kabete MP Paul
Muite said the behaviour of the Armenians at the JKIA was insulting.
“If you were in a foreign country and you enter a security area and
behave like that you could be dead by now,” said Muite.
He wondered why the Armenians were spared when they threatened to
shoot Immigration officials at the airport.
Muite, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and
Administration of Justice, said the Armenians have been part of their
discussions since the raid on The Standard Group premises on March 2.
He said the committee hopes to summon the Commissioner to brief them
more with the unfolding events.
Muite also congratulated the police commissioner and expressed
optimism that the due process of law would be followed. LDP
secretary-general Joseph Kamotho yesterday asked Internal Security
minister John Michuki to tell Kenyans why the Armenians were being
deported instead of being charged in court.
Kamotho said the Internal Security Minister had assured Kenyans that
the Armenians were being investigated.
“Now that they have committed a crime, why are they being let off?
What Kind of cover-up is this by Government?” posed Kamotho.
“If the Government has nothing it fears the Armenians would expose,
they should not have been deported,” they said.

Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
Writer at home with Armenians
Story by ADHYAMBO ODERA
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
Being a celebrity in Kenya is simple – hang around a clique of people
that consider themselves celebs.
It didn’t take the Artur brothers long to figure that out.
When Mr Artur Margaryan invited some writers for a party, I at first
shunned it. I didn’t want to mix up with the man after what had been
reported about him – mercenary claims and all.
The second time our paths crossed was at the Chaguo la Teeniez Awards
(Chat). The man arrived in style. By his side, was a woman wearing a
lot of gold. He once said he spent Sh150,000 a day to entertain his
girlfriend.
I wondered why he was at the ceremony. Chat awards are for musicians,
actors, DJs and radio presenters.
I was answered when he took the stage to present a prize to a shocked
musician Amani, then gave comedian and Chat MC Mongolo Sh10,000.
The following week, he threw a party at his Runda residence. I went
to satisfy my curiosity. But getting there at 7pm wasn’t easy.
Luckily, he had hired guards from a security firm to escort guests to
the house he shared with his brother Artur Sargsyan.
At the gate, another man, possibly Armenian, had a walkie talkie. He
would ask guests their names and confirm it with Mr Margaryan before
letting them in. But guests had to be escorted, owing to the 12 guard
dogs, which looked ready to maul a stranger.
As my escort ushered me into the house, I noticed that the five or so
luxurious cars in the compound had their number plates covered, and
my escort was uncomfortable with me lagging behind checking out the
compound.
At the garden, a few local celebs had already gathered. I went
straight into the house. It was not well furnished – expensive
leather seats thrown together rather hurriedly, I thought.
One thing struck me. Someone in that house loved art, and expensive
pieces too.
Mr Margaryan was at the office, but his brother greeted me
cheerfully. When I finally met him at the office, where an associate
was winding up a meeting, he greeted me with a polite smile.
I noticed that he wanted to mingle with the crowd, but people seemed
uncomfortable with his hug. Some turned up for the party and left
immediately.
I stayed on to find out more. He told me he was in love with Kenyan
music. He wanted to contribute to its growth by investing in it, he
said.
He also said he had a record label back home and wanted to create
stars. Not for the money, though, he said. He knew where to market
them and make money. In the meantime he wanted people to know that he
was a great man, with interest in show business.
The musicians in question were in attendance, and he chatted with
them. He also posed for photographs with almost everyone. But
remembering what happened to Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka, I opted
out.
The brothers had claimed they knew the MP and had taken a picture
with him.
What came out clearly is that Mr Margaryan has style, a sense of
humour and is always prepared with the right words.

PanARMENIAN.Net
NATO PA Delegation Arriving in Yerevan
09.06.2006 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 12-14 NATO PA delegation will be visiting
Armenia. The delegation members are scheduled to meet with the members
of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to the NATO PA, head of the
department of the OSCE affairs at the RA Foreign Ministry Varuzhan
Nersisyan and other officials.
June 12 the NATO PA delegation will meet with RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian, chief of the national security service Gorik Hakobyan
and member of the committee on struggle against corruption Manuk
Topuzyan as well as representatives of NGOs.
June 13 discussions with Armenian Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosian
are scheduled. The delegation members will also meet with Chief of the
General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Colonel General Mikael
Harutyunyan, head of the department for emergency situations Edik
Barseghyan and Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan.
June 14 round table discussions organized jointly by the NATO PA and
the parliamentary commissions on foreign affairs and defense, national
security and home affairs will be held in the Armenian parliament,
reported the RA NA press service.

Baltic News Service
June 9, 2006 Friday 3:06 PM EET
LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT CONTINUING VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN
VILNIUS Jun 09
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus is continuing his two-day visit
to Azerbaijan.
On Friday, Adamkus is scheduled to meet with the Azerbaijani prime
minister, attend a business forum, visit the Heidar Aliyev Foundation
and an oil terminal, where the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline linking
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey starts.
Adamkus will also be conferred the title of honorary doctor at Baku
State University.
The Lithuanian president-led delegation will return to Vilnius Friday
evening.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan was one of the
poorest and economically backward USSR republics. However, due to
increasing oil prices in recent years, it has become one of the most
rapidly economically developing countries.
However, political observers admit that political tension related to
the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Mountain
Karabakh region hinders further improvement of the situation.
About 30,000 people were killed during 1992-1994 fights, several
hundred thousand Azerbaijanis were forced to become refugees in their
own country. Mountain Karabakh is currently controlled by Armenians,
and there is only a fragile truce between the two sides in the
conflict.

LOCAL JOINS PEACE CORPS
By: Tony Regina, Managing Editor
Record Breeze, NJ
June 8 2006
Leigh Paynter always wanted to do this.
Last Friday, Paynter, a Laurel Springs resident, left for Armenia
to join the Peace Corps. She will be teaching English as a foreign
language to younger students.
“I really needed to do this because I wanted to help,” Paynter,
a Sterling High School graduate, said.
The Peace Corps decided what country Paynter would be stationed in,
she said. She found out she had been accepted into the program around
Christmas last year.
Since then, Paynter’s prepared for her experience by attempting
to familiarize herself with the Armenian culture “Since I found
out, I’ve bough three CD-roms on the country. I’ve done so much
Internet researching,” she said. “I’m trying to learn to speak the
language. It’s very overwhelming.”
Before leaving for the Peace Corps, Paynter spent a year in Sarasota,
Florida working as a photo-journalist for a local television station.
She graduated from Rowan University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree
in communication.
“I’ve always been interested in working with people. I like finding
out information,” Paynter said of her decision to enter such a career.
In many ways, her experience as a photo-journalist prepared her for
the journey ahead, Paynter said. Covering the murder of an infant
as well as Hurricane Wilma helped her build a sense of self-reliance
and independence.
“You do something different every day,” Paynter said. “I think going
to Florida was a really great move for me. I had to handle everything
on my own. I have a little more self-confidence now.”
Paynter went through a “vigorous” application process to become
a member of the Peace Corps, she said. She chose to gain a year’s
experience as a photo-journalist before applying for the organization.
“I picked up some more projects tutoring. I took some training courses
in Sarasota,” Paynter said.
Although she had intention of leaving her position with the television
station, Paynter couldn’t pass up an opportunity to join the Peace
Corps, she said.
“I couldn’t turn it down. I got my mind wrapped around it as something
I really wanted to do,” she said.
As a teacher in Armenia, Paynter hopes to implement new teaching
methods, she said. An avid reader, she hopes to relay that passion
to her students.
Paynter also intends to take a lot of lessons with her from the
experience.
“The number one thing for me would be appreciation for what I have
here in America. I also want to learn to appreciate the Armenian
culture and language,” Paynter said.
Since she’ll serve as a volunteer, Paynter can leave her position in
Armenia at any time, she said. She wants to stay over there for at
“least two years.”
“I really am optimistic that I will be able to make a difference. I’m
more excited than nervous,” Paynter said.
Although Paynter’s departure for Armenia was “hard on her parents,”
her family is “very supportive” of her decision to join the Peace
Corps, Paynter said.
“They’re very proud of me. It’s going to be hard, not being able to
talk to them when I want to,” she said.
Paynter joins more than 182,000 Americans who have served in the
Peace Corps since its inception in 1961. The organization currently
has 7,810 volunteers serving in 75 different countries.
For more information, visit the following Web site: