Author: Jilavian Emma

AUSTRIANS SUSPEND VIMPELCOM ENTERING BYELORUSSIA

Budapest Business Journal, Hungary
10 Sep 2007 bbj.hu

The Cellular Operator VimpelCom and its shareholder Altimo attempting
to enter the Byelorussian market since 2001 are likely to fail
again. Velcom Cellular Operator Shareholders, whose purchase is
negotiated by the Russians, have also got a bid from Telekom Austria.

One of the largest Eastern Europe companies Telekom Austria is
negotiating the purchase of the controlling interest in a Byelorussian
cellular operator, the information agency Reuters informs referring
to the Austrian agency APA. The transaction charge is estimated at
~@1,6 billion. ($2.2 billion.) According to one of the investment
bankers, whose words are recited in APA, the question is of Velcom
(its legal name is Cellular Digital Communication, CDC). The Austrian
Company refused to give any comments.

Telekom Austria provides cellular and fixed-line telephony services,
as well as the internet access.

The company’s fixed-line subdivision eTel operates in Austria,
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia,
and Bulgaria. The company serves more that 10.2 million cellular
subscribers.

Its revenue in 2006 came to ~@4,8 billion ($6.62 billion), net profit
amounting to ~@561 million ($773 million).

64,5% of Byelorussia ten million population use cellular communication,
GSM and CDMA-2000/450 communication provided by three and one
operators, relatively. CDC is the second after the local MTS subsidiary
in Byelorussia, servicing 2.6 million. of subscribers. The Operator
CDC was created by Samavi bothers, the Byelorussia Syrian Community
men. In 2004 the Byelorussian Government nationalized the enterprise,
forcing the enterprise shareholders hand over the controlling interest
to the Government (51%).

However, after Russia barred Byelorussia from privilaged oil and gas
deliveries the Government had to start active privatization, including
telecommunication. In particular, in August the State institutions
were known to sell their shares in CDC, so the operator’s shares
concentrated in Brothers Telecom (SB Telecom), Samavi offshore, the
given step estimated by experts as intermediary before the operator’s
sale to a large investor.

The Russians have been considered the main bidders for CDC so far. The
information concerning negotiations between Altimo and CDC owners
seeped into the Russian market last year. Alexander Izosimov, VimpelCom
Director General confirmed the company’s interest in the Byelorussian
market (VimpelCom 44% of voting shares belongs to Altimo). VimpelCom
refused to give any comments.

CDC possible bidders are to face political problems as well. Thus,
Anatoly Lebedko, the leader of the opposition United Civil Party of
Byelorussia turned to the Prosecutor’s Office claiming to investigate
the CDC State share alienation. "No one was engaged in holding the
tender, that is why everything that happens might be closely connected
with corruption", – the Byelorussian politician says. (cnews.ru)

VimpelCom Group includes cellular companies operating in Russia,
Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and recently
acquired companies in Georgia and Armenia. The Company operates
under the ‘Beeline’ brand. The VimpelCom Group’s license portfolio
covers approximately 240 million people. Geographically it covers
78 regions of Russia with 136.5 million people, representing 94% of
Russia’s population as well as the entire territories of Kazakhstan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia. The company’s
net income and revenue for Q3 2006 was $268,4 million and $1,358
million respectively.

Altimo was created in 2005 from Alfa Telecom, which itself was
established in 2004 to hold the telecoms investments of the Alfa Group
Consortium. Those assets are in Russia, the CIS and other markets. The
companies in which Altimo invested have a footprint, which covers
a total population of 334 million people and have over 150 million
subscribers. Growth levels in the Russian telecommunications market
are impressive, increasing by over 50% in recent years.

OPPOSITION FIGURE UNEXPECTEDLY SET FREE
By Ruzanna Stepanian and Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 7 2007

Aleksandr Arzumanian, a former foreign minister opposed to Armenia’s
current leadership, was unexpectedly set free late Thursday after
spending four months in jail on charges of being illegally financed
from abroad.

Law-enforcement authorities made it clear on Friday that the charges
have not been dropped and that Arzumanian may still stand trial
for what they regard as money laundering. Prosecutor-General Aghvan
Hovsepian said he personally ordered the surprise release in view of
new facts that emerged during the politically charged investigation

Arzumanian, who has repeatedly rejected the accusations as unfounded
and politically motivated, briefly spoke to RFE/RL moments after his
release from the basement jail of Armenia’s National Security Service
(NSS). "I was asleep when prison guards woke and told me to go home,"
he said by phone.

The former minister, who set up last year a small opposition group
campaigning for regime change in the country, was reluctant to comment
on his release. "I came out of the prison two minutes ago and am very
tired," he said. "I can’t wait to go back to my family and kiss my
child. I don’t care about anything else right now."

Arzumanian avoided any contacts with media the next day. Family
members said he will speak up next week.

Arzumanian was set free just one week after a Yerevan court
agreed to let the NSS keep him under arrest for two more months,
dismissing protests from his defense lawyer. The court ruled that
the oppositionist could obstruct the ongoing investigation, have
"illegal influence" on investigators and even go into hiding if he
were to be set free.

Arzumanian, who had served as Armenia’s foreign minister from
1996-1998, was arrested on May 7 on charges of illegally receiving a
large amount of money from Levon Markos, a fugitive Russian businessman
of Armenian descent. His arrest came two days after NSS officers
searched his Yerevan apartment and confiscated $55,400 worth of cash
kept there.

They also searched and confiscated a similar sum in the Yerevan
home of Vahan Shirkhanian, another former government minister and a
senior member of Arzumanian’s Civic Resistance Movement. But unlike
Arzumanian, Shirkhanian was not prosecuted for attempting to "legalize
revenues obtained by criminal means." Both men deny being financed
by Markos.

The NSS faced more questions about the credibility of its case when
a Moscow-based friend of Arzumanian’s, Aleksandr Aghazarian, publicly
stated that he is the one who sent the money to the former minister.

Two NSS officers and a prosecutor were sent to Moscow shortly
afterwards to investigate the claims. The security agency said last
month that it has asked Russian law-enforcement authorities to check
their veracity and look into the legality of Aghazarian’s revenues.

"I issued the order [to release Arzumanian] because I made sure
that our law-enforcement bodies have done everything in Armenia and
the Russian Federation within the framework of the criminal case,"
Prosecutor-General Hovsepian told reporters.

Hovsepian said he believes Russian prosecutors will take "a lot of
time" to respond to their Armenian colleagues’ inquiry. "In these
circumstances, I found it inexpedient to keep Arzumanian under arrest,"
he explained.

The chief Armenian prosecutor insisted that Arzumanian is not a
political prisoner, dismissing claims to the contrary made by many
opposition leaders. He said he believes Arzumanian is guilty of
money laundering.

"Those sums were sent from Russian by means of illegal bank transfers
and in the name of other individuals acting as a front [for the
recipient,]" Hovsepian said, adding that Arzumanian has failed to
explain "the need for receving and spending those sums."

Arzumanian’s lawyer Hovik Arsenian, meanwhile, said on Friday that his
client can not be prosecuted even if the money sent to him is found to
be of dubious origin. Arsenian and other critics of the criminal case
argue that Armenians receive at least $1 billion in cash remittances
from their relatives and friends working abroad and that Armenian
law does not obligate them to prove that the money was earned legally.

A REGIONAL CENTER FOR PREVENTION OF SPREADING OF AVIAN INFLUENZA IN SOUTH CAUCASUS TO BE SET UP IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2007-09-07 17:04:00

ArmInfo. A regional reference laboratory on avian influenza (AI) virus
H5N1 for South Caucasian countries will be set up in Armenia in 2008.

Armenian Health Minister Harutyun Kushkyan told journalists today
that the laboratory will give an opportunity to compare the AI virus
strain with the specimen taken from patients, which are suspected of
being infected with H5N1, on the spot. "We have got all the necessary
means to create the laboratory, and it remains for us to start the
main work," the Minister noted.

To recall, it was the World Health Organization that announced the
intention to open a reference laboratory in Armenia. The laboratory
should identify the viruses at the highest level and become a regional
center for prevention of AI spreading in the South Caucasus. It was
earlier noted that creation of such a center needs 250 thsd EUR. In
addition, a system of anti-epidemic AI control was worked out in
the republic with the support of the World Bank and the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (USA).

REPUBLICAN PARTY’S CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER

Largir
Sept 5 2007
Armenia

The conference of the Republican Party which was first said to take
place in July, then in October, will be held in November. The press
secretary of the Republican Party Edward Sharmazanov stated September
5 at the Hayeli Club on these days a meeting of the Council of the
party will be held to set the date of the conference. "I think the
conference will probably be held in early November," Edward Sharmazanov
said. According to him, the name of the candidate will become known
after the conference. Edward Sharmazanov reminded that the leader of
the party Serge Sargsyan had stated before the presidential election
that his decision to run in the presidential election will depend on
the number of votes for the Republican Party on May 12. Sharmazanov
says the result of the election allows stating that Serge Sargsyan
is a popular candidate.

As to the poll conducted in Armenia by the public opinion survey
organization led by Gevorg Poghosyan ordered by the Gallup Center
which gives Serge Sargsyan a lower popular rating than Vardan Oskanyan,
Raffi Hovannisian and Gagik Tsarukyan, Edward Sharmazanov disagrees. "I
do not share this opinion. I can see now that the Republican Party
has every reason, considering the election in May, and after the
election of May the Republican Party has not retreated, I believe
that the activities of the Republican Party in the parliament and
the government will help get the rating of the Republican Party
higher. I think at the moment the Republican Party is the political
force which has a distinct political team and a distinct program,"
Edward Sharmazanov says.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
PRESS RELEASE
Eurasia Foundation
56 Zarobyan Str., Yerevan 0009, Armenia
Contact: Alisa Alaverdyan
Tel/Fax: (374 10) 586095
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Outgoing and Returning Labor Migrants Supported through Rural Resource
Centers

Yerevan, Armenia – Six local organizations and one inter-community union
will establish Migration and Return Resource Centers in rural communities of
Armenia with support from Eurasia Foundation (EF) to provide services to
outgoing and returning labor migrants in the Lori, Armavir, Kotayk, Syunik,
Tavush and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia.

Each resource center will provide legal consultations; information on
employment opportunities in Armenia, on registration procedures in Russia,
and on the risks of illegal migration; and training for returnees on
entrepreneurship. Some resource centers will receive additional support for
visits to establish partnerships with Russian NGOs serving labor migrants
for the exchange of information and lessons learned. Through the
establishment of these resource centers, Eurasia Foundation hopes to
decrease the level of illegal labor migration from Armenia’s regions, to
help protect the rights of labor migrants while they are abroad, and to
assist returnees as they reintegrate into local communities.

The Foundation will also provide training to develop the capacities of each
partner organization to gather and analyze data on local trends in local
migration and on the experiences of labor migrants while abroad. This
information will help the resource centers better serve potential labor
migrants and work with policy makers to develop improved mechanisms for
protecting migrants’ rights. Through a series of network meetings between
these resource centers and government representatives, EF will promote
information exchange on issues related to labor migration.

Partner organizations include: The Resource Center of Charentsavan, Armavir
Development Center, Yerevak NGO, Hope and Help NGO in Vanadzor, Sisian
Communities Union, Goris Youth Union, and Martuni Women’s Community Center.
These organizations were selected through an open competition that was
publicly announced in June 2007.

NAGORNO KARABAKH MARKS 16TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2007 12:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Festivities dedicated to the 16th anniversary of
Nagorno Karabakh’s independence were held in the capital and regions of
the republic. The NKR leadership and citizens attended the Stepanakert
Memorial Complex to honor the memory of those killed in World War II
and Karabakh war. Military marched down the capital’s streets.

The Armenian delegation led by NA Speaker Tigran Torosian took place
in the solemn events including opening of the new parliament building.

On September 2 evening the NKR President offered a reception.

Exhibition of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenian painters and a photo
exhibition dedicated to the Karabakh war opened in Stepanakert.

A concert in the Renaissance Square in the NKR capital ended in
fireworks.

On occasion of the independence anniversary veterans of the WWII,
the families of those killed in the Karabakh war and disabled people
received pecuniary aid, IA Regnum reports.

16 years ago, on September 2, 1991 the session of the Nagorno Karabakh
and Shahumyan regional councils adopted a declaration on proclamation
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

In response, the Azeri side launched regular bombardment of
Stepanakert. Consequently, through Baku’s fault the national-liberation
movement turned into an armed opposition.

Nagorno Karabakh marks 16th anniversary of independence 03.09.2007
12:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Festivities dedicated to the 16th anniversary of
Nagorno Karabakh’s independence were held in the capital and regions of
the republic. The NKR leadership and citizens attended the Stepanakert
Memorial Complex to honor the memory of those killed in World War II
and Karabakh war. Military marched down the capital’s streets.

The Armenian delegation led by NA Speaker Tigran Torosian took place
in the solemn events including opening of the new parliament building.

On September 2 evening the NKR President offered a reception.

Exhibition of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenian painters and a photo
exhibition dedicated to the Karabakh war opened in Stepanakert.

A concert in the Renaissance Square in the NKR capital ended in
fireworks.

On occasion of the independence anniversary veterans of the WWII,
the families of those killed in the Karabakh war and disabled people
received pecuniary aid, IA Regnum reports.

16 years ago, on September 2, 1991 the session of the Nagorno Karabakh
and Shahumyan regional councils adopted a declaration on proclamation
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

In response, the Azeri side launched regular bombardment of
Stepanakert. Consequently, through Baku’s fault the national-liberation
movement turned into an armed opposition.

Israel Insider, Israel
Sept 2 2007

ADL reinstates regional director it fired over Armenian genocide
controversy

By: Israel Insider staff
Published: September 2, 2007

Following a much-publicized scandal, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
Monday reinstated Andrew Tarsy as its New England regional director,
according to the Jerusalem Post. Tarsy was fired two weeks ago after
public stating that the ADL’s refusal to recognize the Armenian
genocide was "morally indefensible."

Abraham Foxman, the organization’s director, afterwards officially
reversed the ADL’s position and said that the massacre was
"tantamount to genocide." His remarks caused uproar among Turkish
leaders.

"I am delighted to be back on the job as the New England regional
director," Tarsy said in a statement released Tuesday. "I am proud
that ADL has made a very significant change confronting a moral issue
and acknowledging the Armenian genocide for what it was. This was an
act of leadership by Mr. Foxman and ADL."

Nancy Kaufman, the executive director of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Greater Boston, said that the conflict was sure
to continue, but expressed approval of the ADL’s recent decisions.

"I don’t think it’s the end of the story, but rather the end of a
chapter in an ongoing story," she said. "It’s a terrific ending,
which speaks to the importance of speaking our mind when we have a
moral issue we feel strongly about."

7.htm

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian Genocide: Turkey blackmails Israel
01.09.2007 14:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within hours after The Anti-Defamation League’s
(ADL) recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish government
went on the offensive and demanded the Israeli government to
`deliver’American Jewish organizations and to ensure that the
U.S. Congress does not pass a resolution characterizing as genocide
the massacre of Armenians during World War I, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada reports.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Turkey’s ambassador to Israel Namik
Tan said: `Israel should not let the [U.S.] Jewish community change
its position. This is our expectation and this is highly important,
highly important. On some issues there is no such thing as `Israel
cannot deliver.” Tan said that ADL’s recognition of the Armenian
Genocide was one of those issues.

Prof. Jack Nusan Porter, treasurer of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (IAGS) and author of `The Genocidal Mind’ and
`Facing History and Holocaust’ called Turkey’s pressure on Israel
`blackmail.’

Aris Babikian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC) said: `We hope that the Israeli government, as a
sovereign state, and Jewish organizations will not yield to the
Turkish Government blackmail and the use of the Jewish community of
Turkey as political hostage. Such immoral behavior by a government
which is renowned for the oppression of its minorities (Armenians,
Greeks, Jews, Assyrians, Kurds) and their basic human and civil rights
should not be tolerated by the civilized world.’

`A fascist and anti-Semitic state which allowed `Mein Kampf’ and `The
Protocols of Elders of Zion’ to become best-sellers in Turkey and
brought the wealth tax on Jews and other minorities, should not enjoy
the support and alliance of Israel and the Jewish people,’ added
Babikian.

The ANCC director expressed the Canadian-Armenian community’s and the
ANCC’s gratitude to Jewish organizations and individuals who have
`shown moral and ethical courage by standing up for truth and
justice.’

Babikian said that he was certain `Armenians and Jews, who have
suffered so much, would not allow the Turkish government’s or any
individuals misguided and shortsighted decisions to derail us form our
joint calling to fight Armenian Genocide or Holocaust denial.’

The current upheaval came to light after the town council of Watertown
voted unanimously to cut its ties with the Anti-Defamation League and
its program `No Place for Hate’ for the ADL’s lobbying efforts on
behalf of the Turkish government to block the passage of the United
States House of Representatives and Senate resolutions to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.

Foxman has justified his organization’s position in a statement
saying: "As long as ADL is an organization committed first to the
safety and security of the Jewish people, we cannot in good conscience
ignore the well-being of 20,000 Jews in Turkey."

The controversy turned into an international crisis and caused turmoil
in human rights organizations and in Jewish communities. Twelve
Boston-area Jewish organizations issued a joint statement appealing to
Jews to `never forget the Armenian Genocide and maintain our guard
against those who deny its occurrence.’

Seeing that his position is untenable on August 24 Foxman issued a
carefully crafted statement modifying the ADL position. `On
reflection, we have come to share the assessment of former Ambassador
Henry Morgenthau, Sr., that the consequences of the painful events of
1915-1918 were indeed tantamount to genocide,’ the statement read.

OPENING CEREMONY OF ARMENIAN HOUSE TO TAKE PLACE IN CITY OF ETCHMIADZIN

Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The opening ceremony of the
Armenian House of the city of Etchmiadzin will take place on August
31 with the solemn participation of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

According to the message received from the Information Service of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Mr. and Mrs. Hrach and Suzan Tufayans,
benefactors of the Armenian House, national benefactors and guests
will be present at this ceremony.

VISIT OF PACE RAPPORTEUR FAILED BY AZERBAIJAN

AZG Armenian Daily
31/08/2007

On August 29 PACE Secretary General Mateo Sorinas informed Speaker
of RA National Assembly Tigran Torosian that PACE Rapporteur Edward
O’Hara’s visit to South Caucasus has been cancelled. One of the main
reasons for the cancellation is the difficulty in accessing Karabakh
(as it was announced by Azerbaijan on August 28).

According to information provided by the RA National Assembly
Department for Social Relations, the initiative of the visit
belonged to the Armenian delegation to PACE and was aimed at
studying the events in Nakhijevan. As "Azg" reported previously,
the visit was to take place long ago, but it was being systematically
postponed. Last time it was appointed on August 29. The program of the
visit had been thoroughly elaborated and the Republics of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh had offered their assistance to the implementation
of the visit program. The reporting side had prepared the list of the
monuments to be visited. The PACE delegation was to arrive in Armenia
and Karabakh on August 29 and the program was to be sent to Armenia a
day earlier. But instead a letter was received from the commission’s
secretary, which said that the visit had been cancelled again.

The National Assembly says that the cancellation was caused by
the declaration of the Azerbaijani delegation. The Azeri delegates
demanded the PACE Rapporteur to arrive in Karabakh from the territory
of Azerbaijan, while it had been pre-arranged that the transport was
to be provided by the Armenian side.

Thus, factually the visit was failed by the Azerbaijani side.

The message of the National Assembly also drove attention to the fact
that the PACE Rapporteur desired to visit only one Islamic memorial
in Armenia – the Persian Blue Mosque, in despite of Azerbaijan’s
allegations that Armenians destroy Azeri memorials.

This means that the Azerbaijani authorities can by no means prove
their accusations to Armenia’s address and those accusations never
go beyond slandering.

"It is obvious that the Azeris are by any means impeding the visit of
PACE Rapporteur to South Caucasus, for surely the during the visit
the destruction of Armenian memorials, that took place and is still
taking place both in Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan, shall be revealed and
the groundlessness of Azeris’ statements," says the message received
from the Parliament of Armenia.

The future fate of the visit shall be decided during the nearest
meeting of the PACE commission.