Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIA TO PARDON PRISON CONVICTS ON THE OCCASION OF INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
Armenpress
Jun 12 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS: A task force of justice ministry
officials set up at president Kocharian’s order to prepare an amnesty
that will be announced later this year in connection with the 15-th
anniversary of Armenia from the former Soviet Union, had a recurrent
meeting today chaired by minister David Harutunian.
The ministry said the meeting discussed the basic approaches towards
declaring amnesty for some categories of prison population. The task
force agreed to grant amnesty to those only who committed crimes
before June 1, 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WASTES CONTAMINATE THE SOIL IN SYUNIK
A1+
[01:10 pm] 12 June, 2006
The wastes of “Dine Gold Mining Company” turn the village of
Syunik into a desert and a swamp, but the workers of the ecological
administration of the marz do not take any measures to prevent the
ecological disaster.
Levon Petrosyan, the head of the ecological administration of Syunik
marz, either refrains from speaking about the problem or claims there
is no danger. He does not even try to find an explanation why the
trees dry up in the village.
The Hygienic and anti-epidemic inspection of the marz is engaged in
the problem. The results of laboratory investigations will be ready
in three days.
TV Company “Sosi”, Kapan
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“ARARAT” TRIES TO FIGHT THE CRISIS
A1+
[01:26 pm] 12 June, 2006
After several defeats in the National championship of Armenia “Ararat”
finally celebrated a victory beating “Kilikia” 3:2. Despite the fact
that Nshan Erzroumyan from “Kilikia” scored first, three goals (two
from Edgar Sarafyan) from “Ararat” gave them the desired three points.
As for “Kilikia”, this was their last game before the start if
the Intertoto Cup. On June 17 “Kilikia” will play with “Dinamo”
from Tbilisi.
“Ulis” suffered another defeat, this time from “Gandzasar” (2:1).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kenya Times, Kenya
June 10 2006
Kicked out
By MAXWELL MASAVA
THE two Armenian brothers at the centre of the mercenaries saga were
arrested in the wee hours of yesterday morning and later deported
after a night of high drama in which they drew their guns at the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport.
The two–Artur Margaryan and Artur Sagasyan and two others–were last
evening driven to the airport under tight security and ostensibly
deported to Dubai after spending eight hours in police cells.
Consequently, the government declared the Artur brothers and the
other two identified as Arman Damidri and Alexander Tashchi persona
non grata in the country. A police statement said this followed a
serious breach of airport security by the four. `At a time of
enhanced aviation security all over the world, incidents that
compromise security at international airports can neither be
tolerated nor taken for granted. The government has declared their
continued presence in the country undesirable and ordered their
immediate deportation’, said the statement.
Official opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, Liberal Democratic Party
Secretary-General Joseph Kamotho and Kabete MP Paul Muite questioned
why the government was in a hurry to deport the Armenians.
The three said there was an ill motive and wondered what the
government was hiding in sending the Armenians away before they were
charged in court to face justice. The MPs said Kenyans demanded
thorough investigations into the Armenians’ saga because their
conduct was suspect since their arrival in the country sometimes
back.
At the same time, the Commandant of Kenya Airport Police Unit
Beatrice Nduta and some senior officers were transferred following
the glaring security lapse witnessed at the airport on Thursday
night. Before the deportation, Margaryan claimed the action was
politically motivated and claimed that Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga had a
hand in it. Odinga is, however, away on an official trip to Korea.
Margaryan further denied ever drawing a gun at the airport noting
that police officers had not recorded any statements from them.
The night-long drama that sounded like fiction all began at 8pm on
Thursday when the younger Margaryan, in the company of six bodyguards
arrived at the airport to receive his elder brother, Sagasyan,
allegedly arriving from Dubai. While at the airport, the Arturs
blocked attempts by Customs officers to inspect the luggage the elder
one had arrived with. An argument ensued with the Arturs threatening
the officers with dire consequences for frustrating and intimidating
them.
Things got out of hand when the towering and angry Sagasyan, slapped
one of the officers who retaliated in defence drawing the ire of the
heavily built Arturs.
Stung by the reaction, Margaryan drew a pistol, threatening to shoot
all government officers on sight as the bodyguards joined the fiasco,
reigning blows and kicks on the Customs officials.
The two Armenians consistently threatened to call in a Ms Winnie,
whom they claimed to be the daughter of a popular Narc activist.
Police officers who tried to come to their aid were shocked to see
the Armenians pointing pistols at them and threatening disciplinary
measures in the event of any reaction.
In the ensuing confusion, the Arturs and their bodyguards, grabbed
the baggage at the centre of the controversy and speedily dashed for
their two cars, a Volvo and Pick-Up in the parking yard amid calls
for reinforcement by security personnel who were at the scene.
Contents of the laggages remained unknown although the police claimed
it contained CCTV cameras and some electronic gadgets.
About three hours later, Police Commissioner Hussein Ali instructed
Flying Squad officers to arrest the Armenians together with their
companies. A quickly assembled team arrived at their palatial Runda
residence armed to the teeth.
Earth movers were brought in to bring down the gates and doors after
the foreigners defied orders and pleas by security officers to open
the gate and surrender unconditionally, and instead they switched off
all lights and retired to bed. Surprisingly, their dogs did not bark
at all, an indication that they could have been `police dogs’.
A furious Margaryan, emerged on the balcony and threatened to shoot
dead officers who dared to move near the house. Pleas by the Gigiri
OCPD Patrick Lumumba for the Arturs to open the door fell on deaf
ears. He once again invoked the name of Winnie to scare off the
officers.
It was only after the officers threatened to pull down the structures
that Margaryan, agreed to open the door. He was immediately subdued,
handcuffed as the officers entered into the luxurious house for his
colleagues. They arrested two Caucasians, a women of mixed race, a
Ghanaian and a Tanzanian. A four hour operation had eventually borne
fruits.
During the raid, eleven luxurious cars were found within the home.
Some had government, diplomatic and civilian number plates while five
had no registration number plates.
The vehicles found in the compound included KAU 883Y (Toyota), KAL
325 X (Blue Pajero), Subaru Legacy (no registration), GK A 666Q (grey
Mercedes Benz), KAV 777N (silver BMW), KAN 272 Y (white Mercedes
Benz), KAU 666Q (grey Subaru), KAV 578 N (Toyota Corolla), a B-12762
UAE 9 (Toyota Harrier), an unregistered Toyota Mark II and three
unregistered silver Toyota Harriers.
Other items recovered in the house included two AK47assault riffles,
three pistols, 100 rounds of ammunition, silencer, automatic pistols,
snipper pistols, chemicals such as cyanide, military uniforms,
pangas, bullet proof vests, pistol holsters and uniforms worn by
officers from the Quick Response Unit (QRU).
During the raid one of the accomplices named only as Tarik is
reported to have escaped police dragnet by jumping over the fence.
The Arturs and companions were held at Kileleshwa, Gigiri, Spring
Valley, Parklands and Muthaiga police cells, from where they were
removed at around 2pm, under tight security and driven to their Runda
residence and asked to pack their belongings. By last evening the
government remained tight lipped on the issue, with Internal Security
Minister John Michuki said to be out of office. Government Spokesman
Dr Alfred Mutua referred us to the police whom he said were handling
the matter.

Staten Island Advance, NY
June 10 2006
Interfaith prayers for genocide victims
Saturday, June 10, 2006
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
Staten Island’s interfaith community will come together June 25 for
“Building Bridges,” a program to reflect on the horror of genocide as
it has occurred all over the globe.
The program will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. at Congregation B’nai
Jeshurun, 275 Martling Ave., West Brighton.

Program organizers are planning to have speakers address the
Holocaust, which killed six million Jews; the Armenian genocide, in
which 1.5 million people were killed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire,
and the Rwandan genocide in 1994, which claimed the lives of 800,000
ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus while the world watched but did not
intervene.
Rabbi Judah Newberger, spiritual leader of B’nai Jeshurun, will give
the introduction. Clergy from the Christim, Muslim and Hindu
communities also have been invited to offer a prayer for
reconciliation.
The committee organizing the afternoon reflection is the same group
that for the last several years has sponsored an interfaith Passover
seder, a well-attended event held annually at St. Teresa’s R.C.
Church in Castleton Corners. Bonds forged there convinced the group,
made up of Catholic lay people and Jewish, Catholic and Protestant
clergy, to look for other areas where people of faith and goodwill
could come together.
The June 25 event is the first of two planned on the topic of
genocide. The second “Building Bridges” program will take place on
the bridge at Martlings Pond in Clove Lakes Park on Sept. 17.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Evening Herald (Plymouth), UK
June 9, 2006 Friday
City MP ‘thrilled’ with her new role
Labour’s Alison Seabeck has been given a Government post – only a
year after she was elected as a Plymouth MP.
Mrs Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Devonport, has been appointed the
Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Geoff Hoon MP, in the
Foreign Office.
She told the Evening Herald today that she was ‘delighted’ by the new
role, which will see her advising and assisting the Minister for
Europe as he negotiates the UK’s position with other European
countries.
Mrs Seabeck said: “I am really thrilled and honoured to be offered
the post.
“There is a very important job to be done, promoting and protecting
Britain’s interests within Europe whilst working with our partners in
Europe on major issues like climate change.
“I hope that in my small role as a PPS I can help in that important
work.”
Mrs Seabeck was elected to represent Plymouth Devonport in May last
year and had previously been an advisor to Local Government Minister,
Nick Raynsford.
She said: “This is a whole new ball game for me, but it is not going
to be as time-demanding as the select committees I have sat on.
“It is not going to impinge on my constituency time, which was a
concern of mine. It is an area of policy I am not an expert in, so I
will be on quite a learning curve.”
Mrs Seabeck has wasted no time in getting to grips with the new role,
having assisted Mr Hoon in a Commons debate about Armenia on
Wednesday.
She said: “The work will carry on next week, when we have got a
debate on Europe coming up.
“It will be a steady stream of work, but offset by my probable
withdrawal from one or both of the select committees on which I sit.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
CE Ready to Assist Armenian Government in Reforms
10.06.2006 15:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Council of Europe (CE) is ready to do its best
to assist the Government of Armenia in holding reforms, Head of Ago
Group, Germany’s Permanent Representative to the CE Roland Wegener
stated in Yerevan. In his words, it will be necessary to spend two
years to make the country’s legislation comply with the reformed
Constitution. `This job is hard, however compulsory. We discussed the
matter with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, the Justice Minister
and in the Parliament. Changes should be made in the judicial
legislation, Law on Police, Criminal and Civil Codes, Law on the City
of Yerevan. However, the most important task is changes in the
Electoral Code, without which democratic elections in the parliament
in 2007 will not be possible,’ Wegener said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Capital FM, Kenya
June 10 2006
Now heads roll at JKIA over the Armenians
By Bernard Momanyi
Senior police officers at the Kenya Airports Police Unit have been
transferred following Thursday night’s scuffle involving the Armenian
brothers.
The Kenya Airport Police Unit’s OCPD and the Officer in charge of the
station there have been transferred together with a Corporal and two
constables who were on duty that night.
A senior officer at Police headquarters says the message has been
communicated to all those affected through their Commandant Beatrice
Nduta.
According to our source, the decision to transfer the officers was
reached late last night by Police Commissioner Major General Hussein
Ali when they failed to explain why they did not take control of the
situation during the night brawl involving the Armenians and Customs
officials.
They also failed to explain why they allowed the Armenians to get out
of the airport even after thay threatening to shoot officials of the
Kenya Revenue Authority at the Customs offices.
The airport is a high security area with a fully fledged police
division and the headquarters of the Kenya Airports Police Unit.
It has over 200 uniformed and non uniformed police officers from
various units who are charged with providing maximum security on a
twenty four hour basis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

African News Dimension, South Africa
June 10 2006
Kenya: Artur brothers arrested after airport gun drama

June 10, 2006,

By ANDnetwork .com

Alleged Armenian brothers Artur Margaryan and Artur Sagarsyan drew
guns and triggered a terror alert at the Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday night.

And police yesterday afternoon recovered eight guns and 100 rounds of
ammunition in the compound of the brothers’ residence in Nairobi’s
up-market Runda estate.
The same afternoon in a dramatic turn of events the men who recently
addressed a news conference at the airport’s VIP Lounge, were back at
JKIA to face deportation.
The men who have previously swaggered into and out of the airport
without restriction were locked in the Prohibited Immigrants room to
await deportation.
That triggered fresh controversies for their acts were clearly of a
criminal nature which should have seen them arraigned, but they were
treated as if they had entered Kenya unlawfully.
That prompted the Leader of the Official Opposition, Mr Uhuru
Kenyatta, to accuse the Government of covering-up the illegal acts of
the Armenians.
The Liberal Democratic Party chairman, Mr David Musila, asked
President Kibaki to tell Kenyans the true story of the Armenian. It
emerged yesterday that the brothers had unrestricted access to
Kenya’s biggest airport given them by a senior Kenya Airport
Authority (KAA) official without surrendering their guns.
Margaryan and Sagarsyan forced their way out of the airport with over
12 bags they yanked from the baggage’s conveyor belt before they
could be opened up for inspection.
Investigations by the Saturday Standard revealed that the passes for
the brothers were issued on February 10 while the other three for
their “aides” were issued on Thursday morning hours before they
turned up at the airport to receive their “brother” and “sister”
from Dubai.
The man and woman arrived with the bags with unidentified cargo and
it was on their arrival that the airport drama began. Sagarsyan and
Margaryan were allowed into the airport without screening, a
privilege the KAA security booklet last revised in 2004 says is
reserved for President and Cabinet members. The only other category
of people exempted from this stringent rule is foreign envoys, and
special groups who must be escorted to the plane’s elevator by armed
police.
When the police later opened one of the bags following a commando
raid at their plush Runda home, they found several fake local,
foreign, diplomatic and Government vehicle registration plates.
They also found black balaclavas, the kind of which the hooded
policemen who raided the Standard and KTN offices donned. The bag was
also stuffed with pistol holsters and camouflage military jackets.
In the compound were 11 cars, some bearing GK plates. The vehicles
included a BMW, three Toyota Harriers and other luxurious saloon
cars.
An official Criminal Investigation Department (CID) letter granting
Margaryan the powers of a police officer was also found in the house.
The police team also seized three computers and videotapes, which
insiders revealed were similar to those taken away by the police
during the March 2 media raid on Standard Group offices.
The criminal acts by the Armenians are bound to lower the rating of
Kenya’s airport security. And Kenya will have to give a written
explanation to the International Civil Aviation Authority within
seven days for the acts of the foreigners were openly kid-gloved by
security forces.
After hours of procrastination and a ping-pong game of conflicting
orders, the police moved in.
Source : Eastandard

Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
Speak out on country’s security, Opposition MPs tell President
Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
Opposition MPs yesterday asked President Kibaki to address the nation
on security in the country following the activities of two Armenian
brothers.

Residents of the city’s Runda estate gather outside the home of the
Artur brothers after a police raid yesterday.Photo by Joseph Mathenge

They also demanded the sacking of Internal Security minister John
Michuki for failing to guarantee the safety of the country from Mr
Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan.
The leaders, who spoke separately to the Nation, said an incident in
which the two brothers stormed the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport wielding guns must be explained by the President.
In addition, the Government should explain why it allowed the two
foreigners, who were two months ago accused by some politicians of
being mercenaries, to possess guns, fake number plates and to import
cars.
Protecting Armenians
Opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, Liberal Democratic Party chairman
David Musila and secretary-general Joseph Kamotho, Orange Democratic
Movement spokesman Mutula Kilonzo and MPs Paul Muite, William Ruto,
William ole Ntimama and Charles Keter, want the Government to explain
who was protecting the Armenians.
Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargsyan should face criminal charges in court
alongside their Kenyan accomplices, the leaders said.
Attempts to deport them, they added, meant the Government was hiding
something sinister.
Said Mr Kilonzo: “These people must be arraigned in a court here for
committing an offence on Kenyan soil. They should not be deported.”
Mr Musila and Mr Kilonzo said the foreigners should have been taken
to court to explain why they allegedly had a GK vehicle, diplomatic
and government car number plates, 15 vehicles, and why they assaulted
Customs officials.
Mr Kilonzo said the two men could not be prosecuted anywhere else and
deporting them would merely be giving them safe passage.
Mr Muite said the Government was in a rush to deport the two Armenian
brothers to cover up for their activities, and accused top government
officials who were the brothers’ “god fathers and mothers” of being
behind a “stage-managed deportation”.
Mr Muite, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and
Administration, said: “We have learnt with regret that there are
plans to deport the two, and if that happens, it will amount to
obstruction of justice,” he told reporters at Parliament Buildings.
Mr Muite warned top officials that one day they would be called to
account for their actions, saying: “It does not matter how high up
those involved are, justice will prevail,” he said.
The conduct of the Armenians, said Mr Muite, was an affront to the
sovereignty and dignity of Kenyans.
The MP praised the commissioner of police, Major-General Hussein Ali,
for ordering the raid into the Runda home of the two brothers.
The leaders wanted to know how foreigners could force their way into
the country, threatening junior government officers and sneaking in
uncustomed goods, in total disregard of the law.
The leaders termed the action at the airport by the two men a threat
to national security and which must be explained by the President
since his Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, had done
nothing.
If there was no clear explanation, Kenyans would believe that the
country was under the rule of foreign mercenaries, they added. Mr
Musila said: “The President swore to defend the Constitution of the
country. We are left with no alternative but to ask him to give the
public an explanation as to why the security of this country has been
compromised.”
Mr Musila, Mr Kamotho and Mr Ruto said the Orange Democratic Movement
had questioned the presence of the Armenians but the Government had
dismissed them.
Mr Kamotho said: “We are now vindicated… we issued a statement as
ODM saying these people were up to no good… Kenyans saw them
forcing contraband goods into the country.”
He recalled that the Government defended the Armenians when he asked
a question in Parliament about their business in the country.
Mr Kilonzo added: “All this vindicates us in the Opposition that
there are mercenaries in the country who are here with the knowledge
of the Government.”
Mr Musila said they expected heads to roll and Kenyans would be
watching President Kibaki’s actions keenly in the next few days.
Mr Kenyatta said the activities of the two brothers could no longer
be tolerated.
Speaking at the Garden Hotel in Machakos, shortly before the start of
a Kanu workshop, Mr Kenyatta said the scuffle at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport on Thursday night was enough justification that
the foreigners were engaged in questionable activities.
The leaders said it was a serious breach of security to allow
foreigners to threaten government officials meant to ensure the
country’s safety.
Law Society of Kenya council member Evans Monari said it was illegal
to deport the two brothers without first charging them.
Deportation should come after they have served a sentence, if
convicted, he said.
Reported by David Mugonyi, Tony Kago and Bob Odalo
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress