Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Standard, Kenya
March 23 2006
Kenya: I’m Still in Town, Says Armenian
Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi
Artur Margaryan called The Standard Newsroom on Wednesday to say he
was still in the country.
“I am here in Kenya. I have not gone out as you have said. I am here
and I will call the Press later over the same,” he said.
Margaryan said he was in the country to stay and asked the media to
be fair in its reporting. He, however, did not disclose his
whereabouts. The Armenian national has kept a low profile since last
Monday and efforts to reach him have been futile.
On Monday, a woman picked up his mobile phone when we called and said
it was a wrong number. Margaryan called our offices at about 3pm on
Wednesday on the same mobile number, saying he had not left the
country. He said he would call an international Press conference in
his house, but had not done so by evening.
Margaryan said he was an investor with many interests in the country
and that he could only leave “for urgent business” and come back. On
Tuesday, the man at the centre of the mercenary saga was missing in
his house and a guard on duty said he had not seen him since Monday
morning.
“I have not seen him since yesterday. Why can’t you call him on his
mobile phone because you have been coming here?” asked the guard.
One of Margaryan’s lawyers, who asked not to be named, claimed the
Armenian had decided to keep a low profile and all matters pertaining
him would henceforth be handled by a Public Relations firm. The
lawyer said they were still sourcing for a firm that would handle the
work effectively. He did not explain where his client was, but was
categorical that ” he was still around”.
Margaryan was on Monday seen in Industrial Area handling electronic
goods at about noon. The decision by the foreigner to keep a low
profile coincided with a seven-day ultimatum issued by MPs Fred Gumo
and Reuben Ndolo that he leaves the country or he be forced to.
The two had last week stormed Margaryan’s house and demanded that he
leaves terming him a security threat to the locals. They were
supposed to return and forcefully evict him on Tuesday, but they did
not show up.
Police investigations into the saga have not found any link so far
but authorities say they are still pursuing the matter.
The mercenary controversy was kicked off by Langata MP Raila Odinga,
who claimed Margaryan and his brother Sargasyan were mercenaries for
hire and linked them to the raids on the Standard Group offices.
The two brothers later showed up at the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport VIP lounge in controversial circumstances and denied the
mercenary claims.
Police investigating the claims have since questioned Raila and his
Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka, who the Armenians said had
asked them for money.

MEMBERS OF THE UNION OF BANKS AT RA PRESIDNET’S OFFICE
ArmRadio
22.03.2006 16:40
Today President Robert Kocharyan had a working consultation with
members of the RA Union of Banks.
The President welcomed the Union’s decision to work more actively
and noted that this will encourage the development of partnership
between the government and the Central Bank, and the existence of
diverse views will allow to draw more correct conclusions on issues
regarding the banking system.
Heads of 14 banks member to the Union presented the urgent issues of
the system and their suggestions regarding the resolution of these.
Great importance was attached to the decrease of shadow economy and
the rise of the population’s trust in the banks.
Robert Kocharyan said that the reforms implemented in the Republic are
directed also at the reduction of the shadow economy, and positive
change is already observed in this regard. The President expressed
willingness to discuss the suggestions of the banks, which will also
promote the decrease of the shadow economy from the pointy of view
of the banking activity.
The banker noted that the fact that the issues discussed with the
President previously have been resolved allows to hope that this
meeting will also have practical results.

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN ACCUSES THE OPPOSITION
Lragir/am
22 March 06
On March 21 Shavarsh Kocharyan, the leader of the National Democratic
Party, half-member of the alliance Ardarutiun, tried to deal several
blows to the opposition, accusing his former colleagues of what they
had accused Shavarsh Kocharyan.
The MP announced that the agreement of the forces of the National
Assembly over the reform of the Electoral Code is imitation of
an agreement, aimed to show off solidarity to Europe and do what
Lukashenko did in Belarus, says Shavarsh Kocharyan. “I wonder how the
opposition could wink an eye on the lack of a 100 per cent proportional
system of election. Whereas, all of us know that electoral fraud is
mainly due to a majority electoral system,” says Shavarsh Kocharyan.
He also wonders why the opposition agreed to the changes to the
Electoral Code but did not claim to places in the leadership of
electoral commissions. ” The bulk of electoral fraud happens with
the tacit or active connivance of the leadership of the electoral
commissions,” says the leader of the National Democratic Party to
his former fellow oppositionists. He completed his offensive in black
shades with accusing the opposition of a lack of political will.
Shavarsh Kocharyan certainly covered this blow with a similar
accusation against the government. Kocharyan thinks the government
should display a political will to hold fair elections, and the
opposition to exercise control.

CHUBAYS RECOGNIZED NKR FOR HE WORKS WITH REAL OBJECTS
Iragir/am
18/03/06
In the official website of RAO EES, on the page on Armenia “Shusha”
is called “Shushi”, “Lachin” – “Kashatagh”, “Nagorno Karabakh” –
“Nagorno Karabakh Republic” and Naakhidjevan is not mentioned one the
page on Azerbaijan at all. With regard to this the mass media and
NGOs of Azerbaijan are going to launch a campaign against RAO EES,
write the Azerbaijani mass media.
We carried out a mini poll in the streets of Stepanakert. The majority
thinks that Azerbaijan should accept and take into consideration
the reality. “What would you like to be written on the website of
a company which works with real objects? It cannot write “Lachin”
if it makes a deal with Kashatagh. It cannot write “NKR” if it deals
with NKR,” said an inhabitant of Stepanakert. Some people said such
facts will become many because life goes on and the reality is not
always what they would like it to be.

“ARMENIAN SOCIETY MUST BE PROTECTED OF ANTI-AESTHETIC CULTURE,” RA MINISTER OF CULTURE THINKS
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Gevorg Gevorgian, the RA Minister
of Culture and Youth Issues held a consultation with Chairmen of
the 7 creative unions on March 16, and presented his observations
and considerations concerning the present stage of the cultural
field. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Service of the
Ministry, according to G.Gevorgian, the national culture goes away
of its sources day by day, today it’s a primary task to put the art
on national basis. According to the Minister, this problem must be
solved by joint efforts. G.Gevorgian also mentioned that one must
find ways to make controllable both “exported culture and imported
one for the society is protected from the outer culture often called
anti-aesthetic.”

EMPLOYMENT REMAINS UP IN THE AIR
Susanna Balayan
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
16 March 2006
Recently the passivity of young people in Karabakh, the low level of
their involvement in state building has been considered more often. The
majority of emigrants are young people, say public officials, leaders
of youth organizations, NGOs, whose activity has the same goal –
to involve young people in different projects and initiatives. This
reality is not a problem but an alarm about the situation, which may
bring about unpredictable consequences. For instance, during the ten
post-war years the population of NKR did not change essentially. The
rate of growth of the population is not high, several hundreds, or
1-2 thousand at best, says the statistical service, which is worrying
in all aspects. “We have tried to find out what the present-day youth
takes interest in, learn about their moods,” says Armineh Hayrapetian,
the chairman of Aram Manukian Students Union, “most young people live
without any hopes for improvement or for someone to do something
for them. Education, television, a concert at best or disco, this
is the narrow range of interests of today’s youth.” According to
the leader of Aram Manukian Students Union, this situation emanates
from the lack of a definite state policy on the youth problems. “The
problem of employment among young people is still up in the air,”
says Armineh Hayrapetian, “the majority of university graduates cannot
find jobs. They have to go away and work abroad. On the other hand,
if the speaker of the parliament said in an address that the youth
should not be engaged in politics, what can young people expect at
all? It is difficult to find a job, it is early for them to deal with
politics, what will their future be then?”
Nevertheless, Armineh Hayrapetian says there is progress in this
sphere, for despite the current situation new youth organizations have
emerged recently: Young Democrats, the Club of Young Politicians,
the YMCA, the youth wing of the Azat Hayrenik Party which deals
with environmental issues, and Zepyur. Armineh Petrossian, the
leader of the youth organization Hayki Serund, also agrees that
employment is a serious problem for young people. According to her,
the lack of a mechanism of relations between the government and youth
organizations, the state and the young people, is a serious obstacle
for the organization.
However, she says, there is already such a mechanism. The government
assists the projects of youth organizations rather than the youth
organizations. “All the youth organizations extended projects to
the government until January 30, and the government will decide
which projects to fund,” said Armineh Petrossian, and pointed out
that the organization led by her participates in the debates on the
new bill on the youth since January 2006 together with other youth
organizations. At the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport we were
informed that the bill on the youth has not been adopted in Armenia
yet. Its shortcomings are discussed at the ministry, as well as by
the youth organizations.
Kamo Atayan, Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, said two
chapters of the bill have been reviewed. After the bill is edited
completely, it will be extended to the government. Hopefully the
adoption of the law will help to prevent the migration of young people
from the country.

TURKS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN TURKS
Panorama.am
17:54 15/03/06
“Today, when on the one hand massacre organizing Turkey tries to
distort the history and defame our struggle, on the other hand the
throng called Azeri army destructs Armenian cross stones and when
Azeri criminal cruelly kills a sleeping person just because the latter
is Armenian, the glorification of our heroes maintains new value and
quality,” assures the president of Ajapnyak Committee “Iron Ladle”
of ARF Artak Nazaretyan.
Today in Ajapnyak community a ceremony was held next to the monument
to Soghomon Tehleryan dedicated to the murder of Taleat pasha in
Germany 85 years ago. NA Deputy Armen Rustamyan says: “85 years ago
the Armenian people recorded one of the most eloquent facts of just
retribution in its history.” Tehleryan acted for the sake of a just
aim and by just means.
One of the evidences of this is that Tehleryan was set free from the
Court hall.
Head of Ajapnyak community Artsrun Khachatryan says: “Today the
Turks try to justify criminal Taleat in Europe; and in different
countries, even in the Euro Council they mention that nowadays Turkey
is different, but the latter proves the opposite by that action.”

THREE RESIDENTS OF BYUZAND STREET STOP HUNGER STRIKE
AZG Armenian Daily #046
15/03/2006
Three residents of Buzand Street stopped the hunger strike that lasted
three days, as RA ombudsman Armen Harutyunian informed them that the
decision of their eviction from their houses violates the Constitution.
RA ombudsman also said that he appealed to RA Constitutional Court
with their case. The hearing of their case is appointed on March 21.
It’s noteworthy that the residents of Buzand Street protested the
government decision that forces them to leave their houses without
receiving relevant compensation. The government decision on eviction
of the Buzand Street residents is conditioned by implementation of
the construction works in the center of Yerevan.

RA MFA CRITICIZED U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN
Yerkir
07.03.2006 12:05
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “I would like not to believe that was what he said,”
Hamlet Gasparian, MFA Spokesman stated in response to the statement
by U.S.
Ambassador in Azerbaijan Reno Harnish who has commented on the March 2
interview of Armenia’s President Kocharian and said that the comment
about the possible unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia can
only heighten the tension in the region and do no good.
“If he did, however, I would suggest to the honorable ambassador that
he not look too far, and instead comment on the statements made by
Azerbaijan’s leadership, which provide ample material for a variety
of assumptions, including heightening tensions in the region, and
even directly threatening war.
It would be interesting to know what keeps the ambassador from
not seeing or pretending not to see those? It appears that the US
Ambassador in Baku has gone native,” the RA MFA Spokesman said.

ARMENIA CONCERNED OVER EXACERBATION IN ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.03.2006 19:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is concerned over exacerbation of
the situation over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Armenian Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan said in the course of a meeting with Russian
journalists. In case of resumption of hostilities “it will destabilize
the situation in Georgia without fail, and it suits Armenia by no
means,” the MOD head emphasized. He reminded that Georgia is the only
country, which links “Armenia with external world by rail and sea
transport.” “The unfinished conflict can play a role of a detonator
and have very serious consequences for all countries of the region,
including Armenia,” S. Sargsyan remarked. “The South Caucasus is too
small, countries of the region are linked by many threads and depend
on each other,” he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress