Author: Nadirian Emma

PROSECUTORS DEMAND JAIL TERMS FOR ‘COUP PLOTTERS’
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 30 2007

A state prosecutor demanded on Monday prison sentences of up to
three years for two arrested opposition activists and one of their
supporters accused of plotting to topple Armenia’s government.

The demand came at the latest court hearing in the politically charged
trial of Zhirayr Sefilian and Vartan Malkhasian, the two leaders of a
hard-line pressure group opposed to Armenian territorial concessions
to Azerbaijan.

The two men, both of them veterans of the Nagorno-Karabakh war,
set up the group called the Union of Armenian Volunteers (HKH) last
December to also campaign for regime change in the country. They were
arrested just days after holding its founding congress in Yerevan.

In his concluding remarks, the trial prosecutor, Artur Mkrtchian, said
Sefilian and Malkhasian must be sentenced to three and two-and-a-half
years’ imprisonment respectively for publicly calling for a "violent
overthrow of the government." He insisted that their speeches at
the HKH gathering violated a corresponding article of Armenia’s
Criminal Code.

In particular, Mkrtchian cited Malkhasian as telling hundreds
of supporters that any means of struggle against the country’s
leadership is legitimate. The prosecutor said although Sefilian made
no such explicit statements, his speech was a "logical continuation"
of Malkhasian’s.

The demanded punishment for Sefilian, a Lebanese citizen of Armenian
descent, also includes an accusation of illegal possession of a
pistol found by officers of the National Security Service (NSS)
in his Yerevan apartment. Sefilian maintains that he received it in
1998 as an official gift from Samvel Babayan, the then commander of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s army. However, the prosecutors have shown during
the trial a statement by the current Karabakh army command saying
that there are no official documents certifying this fact.

Sefilian rejects the statement as a fraud. He and Malkhasian also
strongly deny the coup charges, saying that they never plotted an
armed uprising against the government. Leaders of Armenia’s mainstream
opposition have joined them in condemning the case as a government
attempt to stifle dissent ahead of last May’s parliamentary elections
and the presidential vote due early next year.

Prosecutor Mkrtchian also demanded a three-year jail term for Vahan
Aroyan, the third defendant. The rank-and-file war veteran was detained
later in December after NSS investigators claimed to have found an
arms cache hidden in his village house in southern Armenia.

Although Aroyan was arrested as part of the same criminal case, the
prosecutors have still not clearly explained how his alleged arsenal
could have been connected to the HKH and its two leaders.

OSKANIAN VISITED BATUMI

A1+
[05:57 pm] 27 July, 2007

On July 27 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who is on a working
visit to Georgia, visited Batumi, the capital of the Autonomic Republic
of Adjaria where he had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Adjaria
Levan Varshalomidze.

The parties discussed the opportunities of development of economic
cooperation between Armenia and Adjaria.

They also dwelt on the opening of the Consulate General of Armenia
in Batumi and issues connected with the visit of Armenian tourists.

Minister Oskanian visited the St. Savior Armenian Church of Batumi
and talked to the religious leader.

On July 28 Minister Oskanian will visit Javakhk and will meet with
the Armenian community representatives and Armenian Deputies of the
Georgian Parliament.

On Saturday in Lori Marz Mr. Oskanian will have a meeting with heads of
diplomatic representations and international organizations accredited
in Georgia.

Watertown TAB
Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertowntab.com

July 27, 2007

/x1673989602

`No Place for Counterfeit Tolerance’

By John DiMascio

In the light of recent revelations, it has become abundantly clear that
Watertown would be better off were it not ensnared in the `No Place to Hate’
quagmire.
The current controversy has done nothing but (ironically) cause division;
threaten, if not encroach upon, free speech; and in general become a
distracting nuisance. In short, it is exactly the kind of phony feel-good
twaddle that our municipal government has no business getting involved in.
But alas, the die has been cast. We find ourselves in bed with Abraham
Foxman, national director of the Anti Defamation League and Armenian
genocide denier extraordinaire.
Despite this sad truth, TAB editor Chris Helms advises us not to `throw out
the baby with the bath water’ (Editorial, July 20, `Keep `No Place for
Hate.”) He adds: `when our friends disappoint us, the solution isn’t to
stop being friends.’
Wow! I’m completely awestruck by my editor’s Solomonic wisdom. Why, his
argument is truly a Socratic wonder! Rivaled only by the `alternative logic’
recently articulated by our Council president!
First of all, ya just gotta wonder: Has Chris Helms listened to a few too
many Grateful Dead records? He sure seems to be singing their `psychedelic
hit:’ `A Friend of the Devil is a Friend of Mine.’
Secondly, any `friend’ who denies the Armenian genocide is no `friend’ of
Watertown and should be no `friend’ of yours, Mr. Helms! You might ask
yourself if overindulgence in mainstream media Kool Aid has induced this
biased absolution.
Watertown has no choice but to extricate itself from `No Place to Hate.’ How
can Watertown – of all places – remain associated with a genocide denier, no
matter how remote the connection?
The ADL’s collaboration in Turkey’s genocide denial is not simply a matter
of hypocrisy by the national organization. Local `No Place to Hate’
committees (ADL ancillaries) stand equally in contempt because they have not
withdrawn their affiliation and or demanded Foxman’s dismissal.
Foxman’s actions are a vile repudiation of the very principles the ADL
claims to advocate. They damage the ADL’s credibility, stripping it of any
moral authority. More importantly, `No Place to Hate’ now appears to be
nothing more than counterfeit tolerance based on selective indignation.
Local sponsors claim they are not participants in the ADL’s genocide denial.
OK, fair enough. Why didn’t they immediately inform us? Instead, they
allowed the Council to reaffirm `No Place to Hate’ unaware of Foxman’s
treachery! If they didn’t know beforehand, will they now publicly condemn
Foxman? Demand his immediate termination? Sever any and all ties with the
ADL until he’s removed and repudiated?
As for Watertown, our continued participation (in `No Place to Hate’) would
amount to nothing less than a tacit approval of the Armenian genocide and
its subsequent denial.
Our town has always been a welcoming community. Just look at the diversity
that occurred here naturally. We didn’t need ADL social engineers or a
federal mandate. And we don’t need a silly sign stating the obvious or
programs sponsored by organizations that have dubious agendas!
If we insist on affirming what is already clearly evident, why not craft our
own proclamation of fraternal love? We can design our own silly sign, with
our own catchy slogan. Heck, we all know `Kumbaya.’ We can certainly sing it
without the discordant virtuoso Abraham Foxman, leading his phony feel-good
orchestra.
Why should we continue to associate with an organization that, by
duplicitous leadership, denies the Armenian genocide?
Not only should Watertown withdraw from the program, we should take a page
from the activist handbook. Why not urge other communities to boycott the
`No Place to Hate’ until the ADL removes Foxman? By doing so, we could help
restore the ADL’s integrity and truly be able to say that Watertown condemns
hatred in all its forms.
Watertown’s residents did not ask to be ensnared in this quagmire. We,
rather I might say, the Town Council was hoodwinked. That’s what happens
when the council gets embroiled with inane gestures that have little if
anything to do with municipal governance.
This controversy should serve as a lesson. Watertown’s municipal government
exists to govern the town. The council should limit its activity to pressing
matters such as the budget, the town’s infrastructure, and future
development. It has limited time and resources, and can ill afford to waste
them on feel-good proclamations, social engineering, idiotic signs and
politically correct pandering.
Unfortunately, having fallen into a trap, the council has every moral
obligation to act forthwith to rectify the situation. The citizens of
Watertown should give them no rest until they do!
We owe no less to the multitude of Armenians that fled persecution to
legally settle in Watertown. We owe no less to ourselves as a loving and
welcoming community.

[Editor’s note: Andrew H. Tarsy, the regional director of the
Anti-Defamation League, said the ADL does not deny the Armenian Genocide. In
a letter to the editor, he writes: `Neither ADL nor our national director,
Abraham H. Foxman, has lobbied against the legislation. Rather, when asked
by media, we expressed an opinion that the issue was one to be resolved
between the two countries – Armenia and Turkey.’]

VTB GROUP BECAME THE FULL OWNER OF "VTB-ARMENIA BANK" CJSC

Mediamax, Armenia
July 26 2007

Yerevan, July 26 /Mediamax/. VTB Bank purchased 30% minus one share
from "Mika Armenia Trading" Company and became the full owner of 100%
of shares of "VTB-Armenia" Bank.

Mediamax reports that this is said in the official release of VTB.

The statement notes that "business development of "VTB-Armenia Bank"
provides for the further extension of funding of Armenian economy".

The development plans include: reaching 20% share of the market in the
sphere of crediting of corporative customers and 15% – on attracting
resources from legal entities and individuals.

"The next important step in realization of the development strategy
of "VTB-Armenia Bank" will become the increase of the volume of its
authorized capital stock twice, which will assist the enlargement of
investment opportunities of the bank and the further consolidation of
competition positions of VTB Group on the Armenian market of banking
services", the statement reads.

Mediamax recalls that the owner of "Mika Armenia Trading" Company
Mikhail Baghdasarov for the first time stated his intention to sell
the 30% shares of "VTB-Armenia Bank", belonging to him, in August of
2006. Mikhail Baghdasarov stated in an interview to Mediamax that the
decision on selling the shares is conditioned by some disappointments
by the results of the work of "VTB-Armenia Bank".

"Before, the bank solved more problems for the development of the
country economy, than today. Money should be invested in the increase
of the prosperity of the people, however, sometimes, because some
reasons, which do not depend on us, we do not manage to do that",
Mikhail Baghdasarov said then.

In November of 2006, Mikhail Baghdasarov stated that he held talks
on selling the 30% shares of the "VTB-Armenia Bank" with the Russian
VTB Group and the Armenian SIL Concern. Baghdasarov noted then that
he would choose the buyer, who offered the highest price.

20 COMMERCIAL BANKS OF ARMENIA ENTER LIST OF 1000 HUGEST TAX PAYERS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 26 2007

YEREVAN, July 26. /ARKA/. As a result of the first half-year of 2007,
Armenian 20 commercial banks entered the list of hugest tax payers,
replenishing the state budget by AMD 4.66mln against 18 banks that paid
AMD 3.84bln in the same period in 2006. According to the list published
by the RA State Tax Inspection, in the structure of taxes paid by
all the commercial banks, 92.38% or AMD 4.3bln fell to direct taxes.

2.81% of the whole volume of taxes paid by 1000 commercial
organizations in the accounting period fell to these 20 banks.

According to the Tax Inspection, among the first one hundred hugest
tax payers are: HSBC Bank Armenia (AMD 874.5mln), Armeconombank
(AMD 532.6mln), Ardshininvestbank (AMD 531mln), ACBA-Credit Agricole
Bank (AMD 494.5mln), Converse Bank (AMD 412mln), VTB Bank (Armenia)
(AMD 280.3mln) and Unibank (AMD 244.6mln).

The following banks are also in the list of the hugest tax payers:
Bank Anelik, Inecobank, Mellat bank, Areximbank, Armbusinessbank,
Bank Prometey, Armimpexbank, BTA Investbank, ITB International Trade
Bank, International Investment Bank, Armswissbank, Ararat Bank,
Cascade Bank and Armenian Development Bank.

Seven credit organizations, such as Aregak (AMD 107.1mln), Finca (AMD
69.7mln), Express-Credit (AMD 60.2mln), SEF International (AMD 44mln),
ACBA Leasing (AMD 39.4mln), Norvik (AMD 39.3mln), Cascade Credit
(AMD 31.7mln), and the national payment system "Armenian Card" CJSC
(AMD 58.1mln) also entered the list of hugest tax payers compiled by
the State Tax Inspection.

As a whole, Armenia’s 1000 hugest tax payers replenished the state
budget in the first half-year of 2007 by AMD 165.9bln. ($1 = AMD
337.82).

YOUNG PRODUCER GOR BAGHDASARIAN WANTS TO TRY HIMSELF IN SPHERE OF FEATURE FILM AS WELL

Noyan Tapan
Jul 26, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The three and a half minutes’ film
"Dinner time" by Gor Baghdasarian, the youngest participant of the
fourth international festival "Golden Apricot", was rewarded with the
"Kenats Tsar" ("Life Tree") prize and received a cash prize of 500
thousand drams.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by Gor Baghdasarian during their conversation, families living in
poverty in carriages in the territory called "jungles" in the city
of Vanadzor are presented in this short documentary film. "I have
tried to present a part of the life of people, who live in extreme
poverty, I have chosen the dinner time and tried to introduce the
picture of the dinner in an unprovided family in exact details,"
Gor Baghdasarian mentioned.

This film, which was shot in 2006, already last December was presented
in the Gunchzhu international film festival held in China and received
the prize for the best short film.

Currently, Gor Baghdasarian is working on a new scenario and is eager
to try himself in the sphere of a feature film. And the 500 thousand
drams he received will be used for the shooting measures of this new
film, according to him.

It should also be mentioned that Gor received his first prize when he
was 14 years old (in 2002): he was rewarded with the best prize: "Grand
Prix" for the "Fairwell to Arms" film in the international one-minute
film festival , which was held in Amsterdam. Afterwards, he has taken
part in other international festivals and received rewards and prizes.

e/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=109201

WWF and Marriott Armenia to launch one-month leopard campaign

Yerevan, Armenia (20 Jul 2007)–Protect leopards while you sleep. As
part of a WWF Armenia campaign to protect the endangered Caucasian
leopard, guests staying at the Marriott Hotel in Yerevan, Armenia, are
being asked to voluntarily donate US$1 for every night they stay.

Proceeds from the campaign will go to supporting anti-poaching units
that patrol the leopard’s natural habitat in southern Armenia. This
will include the purchase of fuel for patrol cars, binoculars, ranger
uniforms, walkie-talkies and other items necessary to combat illegal
poaching.

The Caucasus leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) is the most
critically endangered species in the Caucasus ecoregion. According to
WWF, only about 20 leopards survive in the Lesser Caucasus and Talish
mountains. It is believed that there are 5-8 leopards in Armenia.

A joint WWF-Marriott press conference, scheduled for 30 August, will
launch the one-month leopard protection campaign.

During the month of September, the hotel will provide space for a WWF
donation box at the lobby. More information about the campaign and the
leopard will be found in individual hotel rooms.

Caucasian Leopard
© Levan Pataraia

For further information:

Arthur Khoyetsyan, Communications Manager
WWF Armenia
E-mail: [email protected]

CASE OF MARGARIAN AND SARGSIAN SENT TO COURT IN KENYA

Noyan Tapan
Jul 25, 2007

NAIROBI, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The authorities of
Kenya have decided to send the case of Arthur Margarian and Arthur
Sargsian to court after an investigation, which lasted about a year.

The special investigative group created on the order of Mwai Kibaki,
the President of Kenya, has revealed the criminal relations of Sargsian
and Margarian with the customs and migration services, high ranking
police officials, and political figures of Kenya. They are also charged
with simulation of documents, transfer of drugs and money laundering.

According to Radio Liberty, while the justice of Kenya is going to
call the Armenian "businessmen" to account, they are leading a quiet
life in Dubai.

SIX CONVICTED OF ARMS DEALS IN NY FEDERAL COURT
By Christine Kearney

Reuters, UK
July 24 2007

NEW YORK (Reuters) – An Armenian and South African were convicted by a
federal jury on Tuesday of agreeing to smuggle Russian military arms
into the United States including rocket-propelled grenade launchers
and other weapons.

Artur Solomonyan, 28, from Armenia, and Christiaan Dewet Spies, 35,
from South Africa, and four other men were found guilty in Manhattan
federal court of charges including arms trafficking conspiracy and
arms trafficking.

Prosecutors said Solomonyan and Spies were the group’s ringleaders
who met with an informant from 2003 to 2005 and sold him a machine
gun and assault weapons and delivered them to Los Angeles, Florida
and New York.

The men also attempted to broker other deals, prosecutors said,
showing digital photos of shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles and
other weapons from Armenia and Chechnya that they said were also for
sale, but those deals were never completed.

But defense lawyers disputed the men could carry out any major arms
deals, saying they took almost eight months to produce one machine
gun and seven assault weapons that were readily available in the
United States.

Both Solomonyan and Spies had been entrapped by the informant and
were lured by the promise of green cards, or residency permits, that
would allow the two illegal immigrants to work in the United States,
defense lawyers argued.

The two men face up to 50 years in prison when they are sentenced on
December 14. Their lawyers said they would appeal the verdicts.

Of the other four men who were convicted, three were Georgians and
one was Ukrainian.

Authorities have previously said the informant told the men he had
ties to al Qaeda, but they made no such reference during the trial.

The informant, Kelly Davis, 48, also a South African national, did
not testify in the trial. Prosecutors said he was suicidal.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM KOCHARIAN

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
July 24 2007

On July 22nd, the RA president Robert Kocharian sent a congratulatory
message to NKR newly elected president Bako Sahakian. The message
says."Dear Mr Sahakian I congratulate you on the election President
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I’m sure that by your management,
close coorporation with other branches of authority and efforts
of all Artsakh people NKR economic and political development will
be continued. I trust, that you will start with new inspiration
the solving of problems facing to the country and people. The last
elections are the sertificate of becoming a statehood based on the
principles of democracy. They once again testify to irreversibility
of a historical reality of existence of NKR. I wish you productive
activity for welfare and prosperity of Artsakh and Artsakh people.