Author: Kamalian Hagop

Le Figaro, France
18 janvier 2007

Comment Jack Kachkar peut-il s’offrir l’OM?

par JEAN-YVES GUÉRIN

CE SOIR, Jack Kachkar devrait quitter la France à bord de son jet
privé. Direction les États-Unis où cet homme d’affaires canadien de
43 ans réside. Peut-être à Miami où il a acheté mi 2006 un superbe
chteau d’inspiration française, le petit Douy, pour plus de
4millions de dollars. Mais, avant, le potentiel repreneur de l’OM,
qui a offert 115millions d’euros à Robert Louis-Dreyfus pour racheter
le club, a un planning serré. Aujourd’hui, il devrait rencontrer à
Marseille les joueurs et les dirigeants. Hier après-midi, il s’est
entretenu avec l’animateur de télé Jean-Pierre Foucault, qui est
aussi président de l’association de l’OM, la structure qui gère les
amateurs. Puis il s’est exprimé sur RTL sans donner beaucoup
d’informations. Quelques extraits de son intervention: « Nous ferons
tout pour travailler avec les équipes en place (… ) Nous voulons
construire une équipe gagnante. Ribéry est une pièce importante de ce
puzzle (…) Notre business plan dépend d’être en Ligue des champions
chaque année.» Du coup, son offre d’achat de l’OM suscite toujours un
tourbillon auquel cet anglophone néophyte dans le football ne
s’attendait pas. Cet émoi se nourrit des interrogations autour de ce
personnage de roman qui entretient le flou. D’abord, on se demande
s’il compte réellement financer le rachat de l’OM sur sa fortune
personnelle, comme il l’affirme. Ou s’il est un faux nez pour des
investisseurs qui ne souhaitent pas sortir de l’ombre.
Globe-trotteur, mais pas milliardaire En tout cas, à l’heure
actuelle, Kachkar est plus disert sur sa rocambolesque histoire
personnelle que sur sa solidité financière. D’origine arménienne, il
est né en Syrie avant de passer les premières années de sa vie au
Liban. À partir de cinq ans, il a grandi à Toronto, au Canada. Mais
ce citoyen du monde a fait ses études de médecine à Budapest.
Passionné de football, il le pratique depuis l’ge de 16 ans. En
revanche, il ne figure pas parmi les 140 milliardaires recensés par
le magazine américain Forbes . Dans son entourage, on explique qu’il
doit sa réussite à des investissements dans des secteurs diversifiés.
Il est PDG d’Inyx, une société phamaceutique spécialiste des produits
contre l’insuffisance respiratoire. Il est aussi coactionnaire d’une
chaîne de magasins de vêtements, Florial. Et il a des parts dans une
mine de cuivre au Mexique. Mais la seule indication chiffrée dont on
dispose est un rien inquiétante: Inyx, coté au Nasdaq à New York, a
perdu 22millions de dollars pour un chiffre d’affaires de 60millions
lors des neuf premiers mois en 2006. Et Kachkar souhaite faire sortir
de la Bourse cette PME high-tech. D’ailleurs, ses affaires n’ont pas
toujours été florissantes: par exemple, de 1996 à 2002, ce financier
était le président de Miza, une société pharmaceutique qui a fait
faillite en 2003, un an après son départ. Pas très rassurant pour
diriger un club de football où, en plus des 115millions d’euros
versés pour l’acquisition, Robert Louis-Dreyfus souhaite que Kachkar
s’engage à investir 20millions d’euros pendant cinq ans. Autre
bouteille à l’encre: sur quelle équipe, Kachkar, qui ne va pas
s’installer dans l’Hexagone et ne parle pas français, compte-t-il
s’appuyer pour gérer ce club? Selon son entourage, il fait confiance
à deux Français connaisseurs du football et de la finance. Et il n’a
pas pour intention de se séparer du président actuel, Pape Diouf. «
Le management est bon » , a-t-il déclaré dans une interview à
L’Équipe hier. Cela n’empêche pas les rumeurs de courir. Par exemple,
certains affirmaient que Kachkar confierait la direction du club à
Bernard Tapie. « C’est complètement faux. Je ne connais pas ce
monsieur et je ne suis en rien associé à cette opération. De toute
façon, maintenant, je suis acteur », glisse celui qui interprète le
commissaire Valence dans une série diffusée sur TF1. De même, Kachkar
ne dit rien de clair sur son projet pour relancer le club. Des zones
d’ombre qui devront être éclaircies pour convaincre les supporteurs
que ce projet de reprise va dans le bon sens pour l’OM.

SERGE SARGSIAN: PUBLIC HAS ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXERCISING CONTROL
OVER ARMY

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "Today in Armenia there are all
opportunities for the public to exercise control over the army, and
the army-public tie to be the way it is in developed countries." RA
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian gave such assurance at the January 19
press conference. In his words, the army is open for public in all
issues regarding servicemen’s life, moral-psychological atmosphere in
the army, interpersonal relations.

In S.Sargsian’s words, for the purpose of restoring public confidence
towards army, it was decided "to open army’s doors wide" before NGOs,
creative unions, intelligentsia, parents. Until the beginning of 2000
draftees’ parents and organizations created by them were organizing
many actions of protest, while starting 2002, all these organizations
became army’s co-thinkers: they started to visit military units, to
meet with soldiers and to present their observations to the Defence
Ministry. "I think this contributed to strengthening of confidence in
army," the Minister said. In his words, today telephones are installed
at all military units, cultural and creative organizations can visit
units without special permission and parents have an opportunity to
visit servicemen on Saturdays and Sundays.

TERM OF MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN’S REGIONAL VISIT TO BE DEFINED AFTER
ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The terms of the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen’s regional visit will be defined after the Moscow meeting
of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Vladimir
Karapetian, the RA Foreign Ministry’s Acting Press Secretary informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent about it. To recap, the Co-Chairmen will
take part in that meeting scheduled for January 23 in the capital of
Russia.

At the same time, Radio Liberty was informed by the U.S. Embassy to
Armenia that the Co-Chairmen will arrive in Yerevan on the second half
of January 24. And the "Trend" agency was informed by the Embassy of
France to Azerbaijan that the Co-Chairmen will have a meeting with
President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on January 24.

To also recap, according to Russian mass media, RA President Robert
Kocharian will leave for Sochi on January 24 where a meeting with RF
President Vladimir Putin is envisaged.

Ekklesia, UK
Jan 13 2007

Armenian church leader calls Lebanon back from the brink of collapse
-13/01/07

The former moderator of the World Council of Churches, Catholicos
Aram I of the Armenian Apostolic Church, says Lebanese leaders need
to sustain the democracy they have and not continue fomenting
insecurity that could easily trigger more unrest in Lebanon, reports
Ecumenical News International.

"Lebanon is again in conflict," said Aram. "Despite the
self-constraining efforts of parties to restrain the current conflict
to political and democratic boundaries, a small spark can ignite the
tense atmosphere and lead the country towards unpredictable and
uncontrollable situations."

Aram, who is Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, conducted a Mass
for the Armenian church’s celebration of Christmas on 6 January 2007
and delivered a sermon in the St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in
Antelias, where government officials and a large number of faithful
were gathered.

Lebanon’s opposition-backed labour unions on 11 January suspended
protests against government economic reform plans, but the Hezbollah
movement said it would soon step up a campaign to topple the
government.

Protesters have since 1 December camped outside Prime Minister Fuad
Saniora in Beirut seeking to pressure him to give more power to the
opposition in a new government of national unity or to call early
elections.

"We are destroying Lebanon. We are driving the people towards
hopelessness," Aram warned in his sermon. "Where are we as spiritual
leaders? Where are the government officials, where are the civil
society, the political and party leaders? There is a lack of
political maturity and common responsibility. Political culture is at
the doorsteps of bankruptcy."

Aram said nobody had the right to drag Lebanon into "uncertainty and
polarisation". He said, "This people only witnessed war, poverty and
blood for 30 years. A whole generation was formed in these
circumstances. Let this people live in peace and dignity."

The Catholicos said Lebanon could no longer be a stage for regional
and international conflicts. "Let’s not allow others to meddle into
our internal affairs. No matter how respectable others are, Lebanon’s
prime interests are not up to bargaining," said Aram.

[With grateful acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International
is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran
World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the
Conference of European Churches]

on/article_070113lebanon.shtml

PanARMENIAN.Net

Baku: Currently In Karabakh Process Ball is on Armenian Side
11.01.2007 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan performed necessary constructivism and
political will for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
now Armenia is to perform similar approach, stated Araz Azimov, the
Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan to ANS TV company. In his words,
all the questions, which are due to be discussed during the coming
meeting between foreign ministers of both countries, are known, and
`in order to coordinate the positions constructive ways are being
looked for.’ `For reaching such constructivism Azerbaijan in his part
took all adequate measures. As though it sounds banal, now the ball is
on the Armenian side, since we have made our presence felt.’ he
stated.

Day.Az reports A. Azimov called upon the mediator countries to work
out detailed principles for settlement and write them down on papers
for further realization. `All this work can be done in a month or may
be it cannot be done even during 5 years. Everything depends on
political will. The President of Azerbaijan performed such will. Now
the opposite side should act similarly.’ he stressed.

The Azeri diplomat underscored `all the elements need to be viewed
thoroughly, at that in coordination with each other, in order during
further stages after coordinating the main principles it will be
possible to work out an agreement for conflict settlement based on
them, free of vagueness, difficulties and ambiguities.’

KARABAKH PROVED IT WILL FOLLOW DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES IN FUTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.01.2007 15:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Among international reactions over the process of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement can be underlined two statements
made by G8 and OSCE Ministerial Council on July and November, says the
annual report on Armenia’s foreign activity during 2006. The document
underlines that ‘during the OSCE MC meeting in Brussels EU’s statement
was made public. The international community expressed its support to
OSCE MG in the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, at
the same time urging the sides not to miss the opportunity to reach
a progress. The statement also highly estimates the current stage
of talks under the aegis of OSCE MG calling upon the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia to double the efforts for coordinating the
basic principles.

Azerbaijan and Armenian have signed the Action Plan with EU in Brussels
on November, which supposes that the peaceful solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is a priority driven direction, and EU’s contribution
to that process is scheduled through a number of measures.

The NKR people, as a free way of expressing its will, during the
December nation-wide referendum voted for adopting the Constitution
of Karabakh. The responsibility of the NKR people to strengthen the
bases of independent statehood once again proved that in future the
Karabakh people will follow democratic principles and values, remaining
bound up the goals to peacefully solve the conflict according to the
principles of international law.

Despite the reached progress in ‘Prague Process’ and the obligations
of the sides on continuing the talks, Azerbaijan during 2006 performed
efforts to pass the Nagorno Karabakh problem into other international
structures (particularly the inclusion of ‘frozen conflicts’ in
the agenda of 61st of UN General Assembly by GUAM’s initiative),
speculations in UN and CoE Parliamentary Assembly over fire problems
in Karabakh and adjacent territories. Baku also continued to make
military statements, which contradict the spirit of the talks."

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
January 10, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA OPPOSES PRESIDENT’S RE-NOMINATION OF HOAGLAND

— Controversial Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia was Blocked in the 109th Congress

" It would serve neither our national interests
nor the U.S.-Armenia relationship to expect
Ambassador-designate Hoagland to carry out his
duties under these highly contentious and
profoundly troubling circumstances."
— Senator Menendez and Reid, 12/1/06

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
today, voiced its opposition to President Bush’s re-nomination of
Richard Hoagland – a controversial diplomat whose denial of the
Armenian Genocide generated widespread Congressional and Armenian
American community opposition culminating in a Senatorial "hold" of
his previous nomination in the recently concluded 109th Congress.

In a letter circulated today on Capitol Hill, ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian called on U.S. Senators to prevent Hoagland’s approval –
stressing that, " A genocide denier must not – and should never –
represent America in Armenia, a nation that rose from the ashes of
genocide."

The Hoagland nomination faced bipartisan opposition in the 109th
Congress – and was ultimately blocked by a parliamentary "hold"
placed by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – after he disqualified
himself as an acceptable choice by denying the Armenian Genocide.
In written statements, offered in response to questions posed to
him during his confirmation hearing, he went far beyond the bounds
of the Administration’s already deeply flawed policy, actually
calling into question the Armenian Genocide as a historical fact.

A recent poll of Armenian Americans found that 97% opposed the
Hoagland nomination. Ninety-four percent of the respondents said
that they "strongly agreed" with the Senate’s opposition to his
nomination. An additional 3% noted that they "somewhat agreed"
with this opposition. One percent reported that they "somewhat
disagreed" with opposing Hoagland, and 2% indicated that they
"strongly disagreed" with the opposition to his confirmation.

In voting against his confirmation in the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) noted last September that,
"I cannot imagine an Ambassador to Israel being effective without
talking about the Holocaust. I am not sure how we can continue to
have Ambassadors to Armenia who can be effective, unless they give
recognition to the Genocide."

In announcing his "hold" last September, the New Jersey legislator
cited the principled stand taken by former U.S. Ambassador John
Evans, who was fired for speaking truthfully about the Armenian
Genocide, underscoring his "great concerns that Mr. Hoagland’s
confirmation would be a step backward."

Citing the opposition of the Armenian American community and the
growing controversy within Congress surrounding the nomination,
Senator Menendez was joined on December 1st by incoming Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in calling on President George W.
Bush to withdraw the Hoagland nomination and propose a new
candidate to serve in this important diplomatic post. They
stressed that, in light of the broad-based concerns within
Congress, the extensive media coverage this issue has received, and
the strong stand of the Armenian American community against the
nomination, "it would serve neither our national interests nor the
U.S.-Armenia relationship to expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland
to carry out his duties under these highly contentious and
profoundly troubling circumstances."

On December 8th of last year, after the Senate failed to confirm
Hoagland, his nomination was returned to the President upon the
adjournment of the 109th Congress. With the expiration of the
Hoagland nomination, the President was free to offer a new
candidate for this diplomatic posting in the 110th Congress, but
chose instead to submit the same one, despite strong Congressional
opposition to his confirmation.

More than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and more
than 60 U.S. Representatives have raised concerns about the
Hoagland nomination and the State Department’s refusal to explain
the controversial firing of his predecessor, John Marshall Evans,
for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. The
Department of State has also failed to offer any meaningful
explanation of the role that the Turkish government played in the
Evans issue.

The full text of ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian’s letter follows.

#####

January 10, 2007

Dear Senator:

I am writing to encourage you to prevent the approval of Richard
Hoagland, a deeply controversial candidate whom President Bush –
over widespread opposition – has re-nominated to serve as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia.

As you know, the Hoagland nomination was blocked in the 109th
Congress after he disqualified himself as an acceptable choice by
denying the Armenian Genocide. His written statements, offered in
response to questions posed to him during his confirmation hearing,
went far beyond the bounds of the Administration’s already deeply
flawed policy, actually calling into question the Armenian Genocide
as a historical fact. Ambassador-designate Hoagland has since not
provided an unambiguous public statement affirming that he does not
question the clear genocidal intent of the Ottoman Turkish
government against its Armenian population.

His statements are all the more troubling in light of the White
House’s continued refusal to explain why it fired the previous U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, or to reveal the role that
Turkey played in his dismissal. It has been widely reported that
Ambassador Evans was fired for speaking truthfully about the
Armenian Genocide at a community event. The State Department has
denied being pressured by Turkey to fire Ambassador Evans; yet,
U.S. Department of Justice filings demonstrate Turkey’s foreign
agent registering multiple complaints with State Department
officials on this matter.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State in December, Majority
Leader Harry Reid and Senator Robert Menendez, who has placed a
hold on this nomination, called on the Administration to offer a
new candidate for this important post, noting the broad-based
concerns within Congress, the extensive media coverage the
nomination has received, and the strong stand of the Armenian
American community against the nomination. They stressed that: "It
would serve neither our national interests nor the U.S.-Armenia
relationship to expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland to carry out
his duties under these highly contentious and profoundly troubling
circumstances."

More than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and over
60 U.S. Representatives have raised concerns about the Hoagland
nomination and the controversial firing of his predecessor. In a
recent poll, 97% of Armenian Americans supported Senate efforts to
block the Hoagland nomination.

Based on these considerations, I respectfully call on you to
publicly oppose the Hoagland nomination and to use all the means at
your disposal to prevent his confirmation. A genocide denier must
not – and should never – represent the United States in Armenia – a
nation that rose from the ashes of genocide.

Thank you for your consideration of the concerns of the Armenian
American community on this matter. We would, of course, be pleased
to meet with you to discuss this matter in person, or to forward to
you additional materials in support of our request. If you have
any questions, please contact the Armenian National Committee of
America at (202) 775-1918 or [email protected].

Sincerely yours,

Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

CBC British Columbia, Canada
Jan 7 2007

Nobel author puts Turkish oppression on front page

Last Updated: Sunday, January 7, 2007 | 1:58 PM ET
CBC Arts

Provocative Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk took over editorship of a Turkish
newspaper for one day, devoting it to stories about the oppression of
artists.

Pamuk had been put on trial by the government for "insulting Turkishness,"
before the author’s case was dropped on a technicality last January after
months of condemnation from other writers, artists and heads of state.

Author Orhan Pamuk, seen in this file photo, was once charged with
‘insulting Turkishness.’
(Canadian Press) Sunday’s Radikal newspaper featured a cover story that
criticized the Turkish press and government for stifling free expression.

Pamuk resurrected a headline from 1951 that encouraged Turks to spit on
acclaimed poet Nazim Hikmet, who spent years in prison for his leftist
affiliations.

"This expression, which was used beside Nazim Hikmet’s picture, summarizes
the unchanging position of writers and artists in the eyes of the state and
press," said the story.

While Radikal has a circulation of only about 30,000, it is a highly
regarded political paper. Its editor-in-chief, Ismet Berkan, faced similar
charges to Pamuk’s in 2006.

Pamuk, 54, has a journalism degree, but never practised the craft. His books
include Snow, My Name is Red and the memoir Istanbul.

Other articles on Radikal’s front page examined the low percentage of women
in Turkish politics and the reaction to the video of Saddam Hussein’s
execution in Iraq.

Pamuk, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last year, had faced charges
after a Swiss paper quoted him as saying that "30,000 Kurds and one million
Armenians were killed in these lands and nobody but me dares to talk about
it."

The writer cited the killing of Armenians by forces of the Ottoman Empire in
1915-1917 and the deaths of the Kurds as a genocide – something Turkish
governments have denied.

Pamuk was charged under a section of the Turkish penal code that says a
"person who explicitly insults being a Turk, the Republic or Turkish Grand
National Assembly, shall be imposed to a penalty of imprisonment for a term
of six months to three years."

Human rights organizations and artists’ groups have called on the government
to do away with the code.

The Telegraph, UK
Jan 6 2006

Vote for me and have a potato, says party tycoon

By Graeme Baker
Last Updated: 1:58am GMT 06/01/2007

Armenian politicians have been accused of buying votes in forthcoming
elections with gifts of potatoes.

The allegations come after the Flourishing Armenia party led by Gagik
Tsarukian, one of the richest men in the country, followed other
parties by announcing it was giving the vegetables and medical
supplies following a drought as acts of "charity".

Opponents in the former Soviet state, where the average annual income
is £750, said the handouts were cynical attempts by the elite to stay
in power.

Shavarsh Kocharian, an MP, told Armenianow.com: "Hungry people will
swear by the name of the person who helps them."

Under Armenian law, parties are allowed to launch charitable
campaigns six months before elections. Previous polls have seen
sugar, flour and grain handed out.

ARMS STORE DISCOVERED IN HOUSE OF LUSARAT VILLAGER

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. An arms store with a lot of arms
and ammunition was discovered as a result of the search conducted on
December 28 in t he house of Vahan Aroyan, 48-year-old inhabitant of
the village of Lusarat (Ararat marz). Pistols, machine-guns,
sub-machine-guns of various types, "Mukha" grenade-throwers, "Strela"
movable anti-aircraft systems, many grenades of various types, tens of
thousands of cartridges, tank grenades, spare parts for arms,
etc. were confiscated. Vahan Aroyan was arrested. According to a press
release of the RA National Security Service’s press center, the search
was conduted in connection with the criminal case of Zhirayr Sefilian,
the head of the organization "Solidarity of Armenian Volunteers", and
Vardan Malkhasian. The case is being investigated by the
Investigation Department of the RA National Security Service.