Author: Khondkarian Raffi

The Standard, Kenya
April 15 2007

Kenyans react to Artur Margaryan and Wangui’s escapade

By Sunday Standard Team

There were varied reactions to a story and pictures capturing Artur
Margaryan and Ms Winnie Wangui Mwai flirting in Colombo, Sri-Lanka.

Most of those who gave their views in various towns were concerned
that Margaryan was operating from Colombo, known to be a key drug
trafficking city, which could point to his real motive in Kenya.

"Many Sri-Lankan nationals have been arrested on drug trafficking
charges at our airport and that should be the concern. I think we now
know what he was doing here," Dr George Maina from Nairobi said.

The reactions followed the exclusively published pictures in The
Saturday Standard, on Saturday showing Margaryan and his
self-confessed lover Winnie Wangui Mwai that were taken at Hilton
Hotel, Colombo.

Wangui recently told a local radio station that she would soon tie
the knot with Margaryan, which he confirmed on phone the same day.

Investigations by Interpol on Margaryan last year revealed that he
was a fugitive from Yerevan, Armenia.

Ms Mary Nyaguthi, a university student, said Kenyan women should
avoid dealing with shady characters like Margaryan. "Many Kenyan
women have either died in western cities or served long prison terms
for drug related cases after their links with `strange’ men, so they
should be careful," she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Mr George Ouma Adhola, a father of four
who was also concerned by Margaryan’s recent admission that he had
been hired to eliminate certain politicians.

"The Government must act on criminals otherwise we will be
blacklisted by progressive countries around the world," he said.

In Nakuru, Mr Philip Malonza, a councillor, said Margaryan should not
be allowed to marry Wangui at all.

"Wangui is not right to court someone who has been declared a persona
non grata," he said.

Mr Njuguna Mwangi, a curio dealer in Nakuru, said there was no
problem if Winnie got married to Artur Margaryan. "We should respect
the desires of their hearts," he said.

Mr Stephen Maina, said Winnie should be allowed to marry the love of
her life.

"The law does not bar her from getting married to Margaryan even if
we have our own perceptions about him," he said.

A Kisumu radio presenter, Ms Bernadette Nafula, said: "Let the two
lovebirds be left alone. Artur may atone for his bad image among
Kenyans if he marries Winnie," she said.

Ms Phoebe Awuor, a university student in Kisumu, said: "The wedding
should be put on hold until all suspicions surrounding the origin and
the mission of the two foreigners are dealt with."

A hawker in the same area, Mr Sam Owino, had a different opinion.

"It amounts to betrayal of all of us by a Kenyan woman to even think
of being associated with a man whose mission to Kenya still remains a
mystery," he said.

Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
April 14, 2007 Saturday

Faith in Action
Saints Vartanantz to host diocesan assembly

CHELMSFORD — Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church, 180 Old Westford
Road, will host delegates from across the country for the 105th
annual assembly of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern).

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of the Dioceses of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) will preside over the event, which begins
Monday, April 30, with a clergy retreat at the Espousal Conference
Center in Waltham.

The diocese will kick off its assembly ceremonies at the Sheraton
Tara in Nashua, N.H., on Thursday, May 3. Activities will include
delegate sessions, panel discussions and seminars, and an array of
social events, ranging from a "Festive Armenian Feast" on Friday, May
4, at Saints Vartanantz to a banquet on Saturday, May 5, at the
Ballroom of the Sheraton Tara.

John Marshall Evans, former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, will receive
the 2007 Friend of the Armenian Award for his advocacy of the use of
the term "Armenian Genocide" to describe the killings of millions of
Armenians by the Turkish government from 1915-1918. John Amboian, who
has served for more than 50 years in leadership positions at the
parish, regional, diocesan and international levels, will be honored
as the 2007 Armenian of the Year.

For information and to make reservations for specific events, call
Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church at (978) 256-7234 or email
[email protected] .

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 14 2007

Most Turks to vote for Bayrou in France as political landscape
changes

The nearly 500,000 Turks living in France have a growing interest in
the country’s upcoming presidential elections. As opposed to their
past indifference to domestic political issues, Turks are now
unusually excited about the elections.

"Who are you going to vote for?" is the cliché question among them
these days. Affected by the growing anti-Turkey campaign in the
country, Turks became more aware of the issues surrounding them. The
Socialist Party, the Turks’ favorite in the last decade, is losing
its support base because of its insistence on the recognition of the
so-called Armenian genocide, and central-right candidate François
Bayrou is now the new favorite. Turkish associations are working hard
to encourage Turks to go to the polls. Even religious motives are
being used to ensure French Turks cast their votes. French Religious
Affairs Advisor Ömer Faruk Harman, in his address to the Turks who
participated in an event celebrating the birth of the Prophet
Mohammed, said those who do not vote will have committed a sin.

Recent public surveys indicate that immigrant voters prefer leftist
parties, which have proven traditionally to be more concerned about
the issues of immigrants. Turks have been no exception for a long
time. However, the Socialist Party’s (PS) emphasis on the Armenian
"genocide" and its apparent anti-Muslim stance have now distanced
Turks from the party.

Recalling that he previously considered voting for the Socialist
candidate Segolene Royal, statistical engineer Osman Yavuz, 26, says
he has recently changed his mind because of the PS attempt to draft a
bill that would penalize denial of the Armenian "genocide." In an
attempt to protest the Socialists, Yavuz will vote for the rising
star of the central right, François Bayrou, who is known for his
opposition to the bill. Yavuz has never considered voting for
Sarkozy, who he describes as an "authoritarian, manipulative liar and
dangerous man."

Seventy-five percent of the more than 50 Turks we surveyed about
their vote in the upcoming elections note that while they are
traditionally supporters of leftist parties, this time they will vote
for Bayrou. Member of the Goussainville City Council Sevgi Karaman
from the PS, confirming that Turks were "running away" from the
party, notes that the Armenian genocide issue in particular bothers
Turkish voters. Karaman asserts that despite the presence of
different opinions within the party vis-à-vis the Armenian issue, the
party administration is acting under pressure from the Armenian
diaspora in France. Karaman also contends that the party’s
indifference to immigrant issues, as reflected in its reluctance and
inability to develop effective policies to address them, is another
reason that is driving Turks away.

Ümit Metin from the Turkish Citizens Assembly (ACORT), a
nongovernmental organization dedicated to the promotion of political
participation among Turkish-French, noting that not only Turks but
also the French have shown interest in Bayrou, attributes the rise of
the conservative candidate to the reactionary electorate who want to
punish Sarkozy. Assuming that Sarkozy will become president if
Sarkozy and Royal qualify for the second round, they simply want to
block Sarkozy by voting for Bayrou. Metin notes that despite some of
its unpleasant policy plans, Turks should still support the PS.

It has been observed that the discussions in France on Turkey’s EU
membership have led the Turks to become more concerned and aware of
the issues; however, their participation in the political process is
still in its infancy. Estimates suggest that about 100,000 out of
500,000 Turks in France have dual citizenship. Hamit Bulut, chairman
of the Western Associations Union, an umbrella organization of 10
associations in western France, notes that they are waging campaigns
to encourage Turks to exercise their democratic rights. Noting that
there are 14,000 Turks with the right to cast a vote in their
district, Bulut recalls only 5,000 have registered as voters. But
this is actually a pretty amazing figure, especially considering that
it was about 800 in the past.

In reference to the growing political awareness among the Turks in
France, the chairman of Strasbourg-based Hybrid Culture Youth Council
(COJEP), Ali Gedikoðlu asserts that Turkish politicians will be
effective in France’s domestic political landscape in the years
ahead.

Turkey’s Ambassador to France Osman Korutürk, speaking at the
gathering marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed, described
political participation by the Turks as the best way to contribute to
Turkey and the country in which they are living.

14.04.2007

ALÝ ÝHSAN AYDIN PARIS

Panorama.am

18:03 14/04/2007

HIGH FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF IN ARMENIA

Today, high football championship kicked off in
Armenia with the participation of 8 local football
teams, Shirak, Piunik, Kilikia, Banans, Mika, Ararat,
Ganzasar, Ulis. The championship will run until
November 10. Yezerj and Hay Ary teams, which played in
last year championship, submitted no applications for
participation.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIANS BANNED TO BUY HOUSES

A1+
[02:52 pm] 12 April, 2007

30 Russian families will leave Gorelovka village, Ninotsminda
region. The initiative IS under superintendent of RF president
VladimirPutin.

Though a number of Armenians living in Javakhk are willing
to buy Russians’ houses, any property trade was banned with
Armenians. According to the officials, Russian houses will be given
to Georgian new-comers.

YURI MERZLYAKOV: FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING CANNOT BE ARRANGED DUE TO THEIR WORKING SCHEDULES

Azeri Press Agency
April 10 2007

The co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, which is mediating in the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, are analyzing the working schedules
of Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers, OSCE Minsk co-chair
Yuri Merzlyakov told the APA exclusively.

He said that current working schedules of the ministers do not allow
arranging their meeting.

The co-chair said he is not sure the ministers will meet in April.

Yuri Merzlyakov also commented on UN Secretary General’s Representative
for Human Rights of IDPs Walter Kalin’s statement "It does not look
like there will be peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
in the very near future". He said that he met with Walter Kallin and
underlined that he does not know what his statement is based on.

VOTES COST 5000 DRAMS

A1+
[04:58 pm] 10 April, 2007

United Labor Party representatives were visiting residents living in
Zangvats 9, bld.17, Nor Nork. They suggested them to vote for ULP.

‘ This time we’ll pay double-5000 drams and you will vote for our
candidate,’ the party representative said.

One of the residents Susanna Hakobyan refused to accept the election
bribe.

‘ We have 5 people to vote. I will never take any bribe from any of
the candidates. It’s no use of voting; things are decided in advance,’
she told ‘A1+’

She recollects that people were promised money during the previous
NA elections but none of the residents got it.

In fact, Republican Party was not an exception either.

This time they promised to inform about the sum of money in one of
these days.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HOSTS AGBU REPRESENTATIVES

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 9 2007

YEREVAN, April 9. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received
Friday members of Central Administrative Assembly of Armenian General
Benevolent Union, AGBU, presidential press service reports.

The president congratulated the guests on 100th anniversary of their
union and expressed appreciation of its contribution to Armenian
nation identity preservation.

Kocharyan and AGBU representatives discussed the union’s initiatives
and said ties between Armenia and Armenian communities worldwide
should become closer.

The president pledge support for all AGBU’s initiatives.

Kocharyan also awarded Mkhitar Heratsi Medal to three members of
the union’s board – Sargis Demirchyan, Garnik Yakubyan and Nazar
Nazaryan.

MARGARYAN IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, BY WINNIE
Story by NATION Reporter

Daily Nation , Kenya
April 5 2007

Ms Winfred Wangui, daughter of businesswoman Mary Wambui, is in love –
with deported Armenian Artur Margaryan. And, according to her, their
wedding bells will be ringing any time.

In an exclusive interview with Easy FM Wednesday morning, Ms Wangui
defended Mr Margaryan and his alleged brother, Mr Artur Sargsyan,
saying they were not criminals but "good and honest businessmen". The
interview was to be aired by NTV last evening.

Winnie, as she is popularly known, admitted that she has been having
a love affair with Mr Margaryan and was optimistic that they will
settle down and raise a family once they are married.

She said the two brothers were "innocent" of all the charges leveled
against them and expressed confidence that they will eventually be
cleared. The two were hastily deported last year after a serious
security breach at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when
they allegedly manhandled security officers and drew guns at customs
officers to avoid their luggage being checked.

President Kibaki subsequently appointed a commission of inquiry
headed by former police commissioner Shedrach Kiruki to investigate
the brothers and their dealings in Kenya.

The airport incident was the final straw in a series of incidents
revolving around the brothers who first came to the limelight when
Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga claimed they were mercenaries brought in to
assassinate key opposition leaders.

Ms Wangui, who at the time was a ministry of Foreign Affairs official,
was one of the civil servants interdicted in the wake of the airport
drama. During the inquiry, she was alleged to have used her office
to get protocol officers at the airport to offer VIP treatment to
the Artur brothers.

Other officials suspended included police and customs officials who
were caught up in the airport saga, as well as the deputy managing
director of the Kenya Airports Authority, Ms Naomi Cidi, who was
accused of procuring airport security passes for the brothers.

In the Easy FM interview, Ms Wangui said that her full name was
Winfred Wangui Mwai. But she declined to discuss her relationship
with the First Family, saying that "those who know the truth will
stay with the truth."

And she revealed that she was still a civil servant as she has never
been relieved of her duties. However, she spends most of her time
travelling and trying out her hand in business. She did not disclose
whether she is still drawing a Government salary.

For the first time since the Artur saga broke, Ms Wangui reveals how
she met the brothers through a mutual friend during a 2005 holiday
in Dubai. They got to know each other, went into business together –
which she described as "general trading" – and the working relationship
eventually blossomed into a love affair with Mr Margaryan.

And according to her, the airport gun drama and the alleged fracas
at the Panari Hotel either did not happen or were misreported and
blown out of proportion.

The Kiruki commission, however, did find in its report – which was
presented to President Kibaki last August – that the brothers were
suspicious characters of uncertain nationality and identity who should
have been arrested. In his evidence before the Inquiry, Immigration
minister Gideon Konchellah described them as international criminals.

When receiving the report, President Kibaki promised swift action on
the recommendations. But nothing has been done so far and the report
has never been made public.

The following are excerpts from yesterday’s interview:

EASY FM: Are you still working for the civil service?

WANGUI: I’ve never seen a letter of sacking.

You’ve never been sacked?

I’ve never been sacked. Of course last year we were all suspended and
everybody keeps getting their letter at different times. So that is
what we are waiting for.

But you’ve never bothered to go and check?

No.

Where did you first meet (the Armenians)?

In Dubai. When I was on holiday, year 2005.

Margaryan has been gone for nearly a year. Do you still keep in touch?

Of course.

Are you dating him?

Yes. I see him.

Is he your boyfriend?

Yes he is.

You and Margaryan are not planning to get married?

We will one day.

Who will give you away?

Somebody always gives the bride away.

But you will have children with him

Of course if we get married we will have children, God willing.

mgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=95269

HENCEFORTH ARMENIAN AIRLINES HAVE TO INSURE THEIR PASSENGERS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Staring from April 7, the amendments
to the RA Law on Aviation will take effect, according to which
the airlines operating in Armenia have to insure their passengers,
which will not affect ticket prices. Head of the RA Civil Aviation
Main Department Artyom Movsesian stated this at the April 6 press
conference. According to him, the above mentioned amendments also
solved the problem of passenger rights protection. Particularly,
in case of a flight delay for two hours, the airline must provide
passengers with food, in case of over 4 hours’ delay, passengers must
be provided with communication means, and in case of over 8 hours’
delay, they must be provided with accomodation.

A. Movsesian said that there have been numerous cases when passengers
had no place in their plane, which is mainly due to lack of control
over activities of airlines. In the words of the department head, this
problem has been solved as well: henceforth the RA Civil Aviation Main
Department will consider as legal the operation of an agent which is
a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The
work of other air agents will be examined by the department, after
which a license will be granted.

A. Movsesian noted that as a result of amendments to the RA Law on
Administrative Infringements, the amount of fines have been increased
for violation of rules of passport and facility control, as well
as rules of specially protected zone entry: henceforth a fine in
the amount of 50-1,000 minimal salaries (1 mln drams or about 2.7
thousand dollars) will be imposed instead of the previous fine of
10-30% of salary.

The fine for using radiotechnical devices by passengers of the plane
have also been increased. The Civil Aviation Main Department will
fine passengers for smoking in the plane immediately after the landing.

A. Movsesian said that from now on airlines will not pay 10 mln drams
for operation of non-regular flights, which will facilitate their
entrance into the Armenian market.

The speaker noted that 12 airlines have the right to operate planes in
Armenia. In general, over 20 airlines operate in the Armenian market.