Author: Nanijanian Alex

REPUBLICANS AND DEFENSE MINISTER HAVE NOT ARRANGED, SAID THE PRIME MINISTER

Lragir.am
28 March 06

The most curious intrigue of the upcoming developments, related to
the possible alliance or divorce of Serge Sargsyan and the Republican
Party in the parliamentary election of 2007, remains obscure. We have
information that the parties have arranged to issue a joint statement
soon. There is such information in press as well. However, on March
28 Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, answering the question of the
Lragir.am reporter, denied arrangements to run for parliament with
Serge Sargsyan. In answer to the question if there has been such an
arrangement, the prime minister said, “We will tell when there is.”

LIFT SECRECY LID OFF THE MYSTERIOUS ARMENIAN DUO
By Lumiti Cedric Khabuchi

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 27 2006

MERCENARIES or no mercenaries, it cannot be wished away that this
government is juggling with the security of its citizens. Those charged
with ensuring our security owe Kenyans an explanation regarding this
Armenian saga. Any wonder that the whole issue has now been narrowed
down to politics as usual with its attendant blame game as the whole
country keeps guessing what really is happening?

It is naive to assume these are ordinary illegal immigrants. It
is more persuading given what has been going on to conclude they
are well connected individuals with strong ties to people in power
or close to those in power which explains the essentially lukewarm
reaction the government gave what started as a rumour that strange
individuals were suspiciously operating in the country.

Instead of closely following the leads given by Raila Odinga, including
the exact location of the said ‘mercenaries’, the government instead
surprisingly, trashed the information as untrue and a fabrication with
conflicting responses from the police commissioner and the CID chief
both of whom ironically are supposed to coordinate investigations.

Push has now come to shove and anxious Kenyans are demanding an
explanation detailing who really is hosting these liberally ‘golden
visitors’. With conflicting statements from confused state officials
streaming in, it remains to be seen how a government that always
seems not to know what to do will act given that time is running out
and the whole issue getting blown out of proportion. For the minister
in charge of immigration to differ with Kenya Airways officials over
what plane allegedly flew in one of the foreigners is a case of the
right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

To start with and perhaps in characteristic manner, the president
has not found it worthwhile commenting on this very critical issue
touching on state security despite being the custodian of the safety
of his subjects.

We have watched in awe as the government spokesman who happens to
play the role of spin doctor for the blunders of his bosses rubbished
the allegations as ‘uwongo na upuzi mtupu’. Somebody please tell Dr
Alfred Mutua that the ills being committed by these septuagenarian
pensioners will remain to haunt him since he still has a long future
to take care of.

It is startling that suspicious foreigners can enter into the country,
be given state security, chauffeured around in government cars and
accorded state honors and five star accommodation presumably paid for
by the taxpayer who is not told who they are and to what their mission
is. It pains that despite paying heavily for our extravagantly pampered
government while the rest of Kenyans survive on a shoe string budget,
the ingrates can still bring in strangers who threaten our security
and still expect us just to smile it away.

If really the government was unaware of the Artur brothers, the first
thing it would have done would be to put them in custody while going
on with investigations to ascertain their mission. This was not done
and the two still go about their unknown business with impunity. It
is worth noting that Artur Margaryan is the only individual who is
not a government official but uses a ‘GK’ vehicle.

If really the said Orange Democratic Movement leaders had deals
with the two ‘golden brothers, then it could give the beleaguered
government a leeway of netting its harshest critics in the name of
Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at last.

I refuse to buy the line that these people held talks with the Orange
luminaries. The talk of loaning Odinga more than Sh100 million does not
add up. Which serious businessman would lend a stranger on the first
meeting such a colossal sum of money without any paper work and not
forgetting that the amount was in cash? I mean how serious was Odinga’s
problem with the alleged girlfriend to warrant such huge sums of money?

I also have a feeling that in terms of money spent during the
referendum campaigns, the whole country saw what happened and which
side was spending government funds to bribe voters. We have not
forgotten Kiraitu Murungi’s statement that the government war chest
for the exercise was meant to shake every corner of the country.

Kenyans are now an enlightened lot and had already known that the
infamous Banana constitution was unworkable and a government project
as Murungi said. I, therefore, will continue treating the allegations
against ODM leaders as cheap propaganda to shift attention by a
government cornered in the middle of a crisis.

Coming hot on the heels of a thuggish midnight raid on the Standard
group by hooded government agents that left a terrified staff and a
trail of destruction ranging from disabling computers, looted mobile
phones, burning newspapers to shutting down the group’s TV station
for more than 12 hours. Surprisingly non-Kenyan looking individuals
were spotted in the raid. We all know that our police force has
no Caucasians and therefore the demand to know who the white man
who was commanding the raiders was. It is not by coincidence that
just around the same time two strangers have been forced from their
hideouts by our hawk-eyed opposition only to come and claim that they
are businessmen. This government should remember that the media was
there long before they came to power and they will leave it there on
return to the opposition benches which they greatly miss.

My fear is that from the look of these expensive men, their mode of
dressing, sly disposition and golden jewellery while we do not know
their business, they might either be international criminals of the
‘Carlos the Jackal’ type or drug dealers on a transit mission. At a
time when we as a nation have a cool Sh.6.4 billion worth of cocaine
in our stores and authorities who have been foot-dragging to speed
up the case and bring the concerned to book, we might as well not
rule out the possibility of the second option.

It might not be a coincidence that these two men have appeared at
a time when there are spirited call from both the locals and the
United Nations Office on drugs and Crime for the destruction of the
drug haul. The drugs must be weighed and certified packet by packet
before destruction. For a country reeling on the pangs of starvation,
official corruption, political blackmail and aid freeze, this is just
another of the string of worries the common Kenyan has to live with.

Any issue of national importance that is not well explained to the
masses leaves room for all kinds of speculation.

375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

22-03-2006

Diplomatic Relations between Armenia and San Marino Established

On March 21, Rouben Shugarian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the Italian
Republic, and Barbara Para, San Marino’s Ambassador, signed the
Agreement on Establishing Diplomatic Relations between the Republic
of Armenia and the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. The official
ceremony was held at San Marino’s Embassy in Rome.

Specifically, the Agreement says that the two states share a desire
to strengthen political, cultural and trade ties, and intend to base
these relations on the United Nations Charter and international norms
and principles.

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 24 2006

Raila’s evidence on Armenians

He says they’re former members of Elite Czech Army, drug dealers

By Benson Amollo, Edwin Mutai

LANGATA MP Raila Odinga yesterday tabled in Parliament what he termed
new evidence showing that the two alleged Armenians were former
members of the Elite Czech Army turned arms and drug traffickers.

But the MP’s email letter was rejected by the Speaker Francis ole
Kaparo who stated that it was not authentic since it bore no
signature.

Raila contested the matter stating that even the internet was now
accepted in international trade and thus the email should be
admitted.He latter produced a ruling by Justice Slades of the
Commonwealth and handed over to Kaparo admitting that emails,
newspapers should be admitted as authentic documents as evidence.

Raila latter told the Kenya Times that Kaparo will be making a
substantive ruling in next week over the document after perusing it.

However, Raila was challenged by Assistant Minister Bonny Khalwale
(Ikolomani Narc) to table passports copies of the two Armenians
nationalities which he handed over to the police as their is no way
he could have got them since no airport retains copies.

The Government wildly applauded the minister but Kaparo cut short
their celebrations when he wondered how they could applaud the
presence of two suspicious characters.

`Doesn’t the Government know this people?’ asked Kaparo as he
dismissed Raila’s document as non-authentic.

The matter came to the floor of the House as Raila was contributing
to the debate on the President’s speech when he supported Immigration
Minister Gedion Konchella’s first remarks that the two foreigners
were not Armenians but Czech nationals.

The email sent by a clergy Mr Mehmet Ozturk claiming to know the two
– Artur Margaryan and Atur Sargasyan – states that the two are not
related to the Armenian President.

`The names they are using are not original names. It’s sad that I
can’t remember their real names. What I know is that both of them
were members of the Elite Czech Army and they were fired because of
selling government arms illegally,’ read part of the email.

`Thereafter, they moved to Turkey and were involved in a lot of drugs
and arms trafficking where the man claiming to be Margaryan was
caught and jailed. Since then, they disappeared completely only to
emerge in Kenya as heavy businessmen. What I know is they are
criminals who will even kill for money. They are not Armenians as
they claim. May be they are using fake passports, be careful
Kenyans,’ it continued.

And Raila clearly stated that he owes security minister John Michuki
nothing as he is a law abiding citizen. He said he can not fear
threats of his arrest for alleged issuance of statement to the police
over the duo noting that its no crime to report suspected criminals
to the police.

Azerbaijan Press Agency
March 23 2006

Armenia’s ceasefire violation wounded Azerbaijani resident

[ 23 Mar. 2006 14:40 ]

Armenians, from their positions in the occupied village Yusifjanli of
Aghdam region of Azerbaijan, fired on the Afatli village, Aghdam, at
about 12.30 today. As a result, resident of Yusifjanli village a
23-year-old Huseynov Anar Akif, who has settled in Afatli, was
wounded in his stomach.

He was working in the sowing field when Armenian Troops fired at him.
The wounded Anar was immediately taken to Aghdam region central
hospital and had an operation. He is in critical condition now./APA/

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

MARCH 22, 2006

MUSICAL ARMENIA 2006 PERFORMANCES RECEIVED
WITH ENTHUSIASM AND APPRECIATION

NEW YORK, NY-On Sunday afternoon, February 26, 2006, a sold-out Weill
Recital Hall audience responded with enthusiasm, appreciation, and affection
at the Armenian Prelacy’s Musical Armenia concert. The 2006 concert, the
twenty-third event in the series, featured two talented ensembles: Zulal,
an innovative a capella vocal trio comprised of Teni Apelian, Yeraz
Markarian, and Anais Alexandra Tekerian; and Duo Maestoso, a dynamic
sister-and-brother piano duo comprised of Gianeh and Ovanes Arakelyan.
The Musical Armenia program, conceived by Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian and
the Prelacy Ladies Guild in 1982, endeavors to help the artistic development
and promote the visibility of emerging Armenian performers. This year’s
event benefited from the sponsorship of Musical Armenia’s many supporters,
most notably a major contribution from the distinguished pianist Lucy
Ishkanian. Archbishop Choloyan and the Prelacy extend their deep
appreciation to Ms. Ishkanian for her sustaining generosity towards Musical
Armenia and for her multi-faceted dedication to the development of Armenian
musical artists.
At Weill Recital Hall, Zulal’s delicate renderings of Armenian folk
songs established a strong emotional connection with the audience. In
introductory remarks, the group explained the integral role of the folk
music art form in Armenian rural society, where it functioned as a means of
communicating a wide range of sentiments. The group’s carefully chosen
program made for graceful transitions from tender love songs to tributes to
the wonders of nature and tunes celebrating the promise of youth. The trio
kept the audience involved with lively descriptive interludes between the
songs.
Duo Maestoso displayed great virtuosity and command in a varied program
of nineteenth- and twentieth-century music. They performed two Liszt
compositions: a spirited caprice based on a theme from a Paganini concerto,
and the familiar Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. In the Rhapsody, the Duo
admirably met the challenge of finding its own expressive vocabulary within
the two-piano arrangement. In between the two Liszt pieces, the Duo
presented a confident performance of three sections from Saint-Saens’
Carnival of the Animals. The program also included a fine performance of the
Waltz from Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite, one part of several pieces of
incidental music Khachaturian composed for a stage production of the play
Masquerade, by the great Russian Romantic poet Mikhail Lermontov.

ZULAL TRIO
Zulal’s arrangements are written in an organic style, enabling the group
to pay tribute to Armenia’s folk roots and, at the same time, offer
imaginative harmonies to add fresh energy to the traditional repertoire.
Formed in 2002, Zulal (which means clarity) was created when the members
began exploring their shared love of a capella singing and their affinity
for the textures of Armenian folk music.
In the past four years, Zulal’s diverse achievements include a
coast-to-coast United States tour, a performance with Cirque du Soleil,
nomination in the “Best Folk/World Album” category at the 2005 Contemporary
A Cappella Recording Awards, and recognition with “Best Newcomer” and “Best
Vocal Traditional Album” awards at the 2005 Armenian Music Awards. The group’s
list of performance venues includes the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts in Washington, New York’s City Hall, the Museum of the City
of New York, and the Tsai Performance Center at Boston University.
Soprano Teni Apelian, a native of Philadelphia, graduated from Carnegie
Mellon University with a bachelors degree in professional writing and a
masters in arts management. Her affinity for a capella singing grew out of
her work in a jazz choir at CMU. Ms. Apelian has lived in various parts of
the East Coast and now resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She feels that
Zulal has brought life to her foremost passions and allowed her to explore
both spirit and sound with two talented women.
Yeraz Markarian, who is a contralto, has enjoyed singing from a young
age and was a “bass” in an all-female a cappella group while she was a
student at Columbia University’s Barnard College. A native New Yorker, Ms.
Markarian has a background in advertising and currently works in cancer
research. She is also a master’s degree student in psychology. Ms.
Markarian is proud of her contribution in interpreting Armenian folk music
and is overjoyed that an informal conversation among friends about folk
music led to the creation of Zulal.
Anaïs Alexandra Tekerian, an alto, studied theatre at Yale University,
where she sang with and directed the Yale Slavic Chorus. Originally from San
Francisco, Ms. Tekerian now lives in New York City. She performs in plays
and films in and around New York and is also active as a poet and piano
teacher. Ms. Tekerian is thrilled to be exploring the musical heritage of
her ancestors through Zulal.

DUO MAESTOSO
Gianeh and Ovanes Arakelyan studied at the University of Southern
California’s Thornton School of Music. At USC, they were each awarded
bachelor of music degrees in piano performance under the direction of
Professor Daniel Pollack. Duo Maestoso’s performances with orchestral
accompaniment include concerts with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the
Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and the American Youth Symphony (AYS).
In 2004, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, the Duo
performed Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals at the AYS’s 39th Gala
Concert, under the direction of Alexander Treger. Also in 2004, Ms.
Arakelyan and Mr. Arakelyan were each awarded gold medals at the World
Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood. In a review of a recent
performance, Richard Ginell, a music critic for the Los Angeles Times,
wrote: “The Arakelyans are blessed with abundant technique, and they
displayed a graceful feeling for the flourishes and wit of the piano parts.”
Duo Maestoso’s list of performance venues includes the John Anson Ford
Amphitheatre in Hollywood, the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, the
Florence Gould Theatre at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in
San Francisco, and the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan. In 2005,
the Duo performed at the Las Vegas Music Festival and they will appear in
the Las Vegas Chamber Music Concert Series during the 2005-06 season.
A compact disc by Duo Maestoso, a recording dedicated to the centenary
of Aram Khachaturian, earned very favorable reviews. In summer 2004, the
disc was recognized as the “compact disc of the season” by music critics in
Portland, Oregon. The recording’s debut was held at the House-Museum of Aram
Khachaturian in Yerevan, where the Duo had the honor to perform on the
composer’s own grand piano, which had not been touched for thirty years. An
upcoming compact disc will feature well-known compositions for two pianos,
including Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Bizet’s “Los Toreadors” from
Carmen, selections from Carnival of the Animals, and the “Sabre Dance” from
the Khachaturian’s ballet Gayane.

GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR FINDS THAT FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS OF JAVAKHK, INVESTMENTS OF ARMENIAN CAPITAL NECESSARY THERE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 21 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Georgia doesn’t
intend to create a new self-government in its territory. Revaz
Gachechiladze, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Georgia to Armenia, who was the guest of the National Press Club on
March 20, made such a statement relating to the situation created
in Javakhk. According to him, stabbing of the Armenian young man
in Tsalka was a crime of neither criminal nor ethnic character,
but was “just a hooliganism” those guilty of what have already been
arrested. Gachechiladze mentioned that among 150-200 murders taking
place in Georgia annually, sometimes, representatives of the ethnic
minorities of the country also become victims but this doesn’t mean
that the murder is based on interracial conflicts. At the same time,
the Ambassador mentioned that events taking place in Tsalka are to
some extent conditioned with the circumstance that Svans, Adjars and
representatives of other not native nationalities live there.

According to Gachechiladze, problems existing in Javakhk are of
social-economic character and are characteristical not only for that
but for many other regions of Georgia as well, irrespective of the
nationality of those living there. Emigration of the inhabitation
also exists in those regions what is also causes by social-economic
reasons. The Ambassador emphasized that the half of the money got by
Georgia by the Millennium Challenges program in 2006 was allocated to
Javakhk. According to him, 110 mln U.S. dollars will be allocated for
construction of roads of the region. According to him, construction of
the Akhalkalak-Kars railway will also support development of economy
of Javakhk. Mentioning that Georgia wants to become a transit country,
at the same time he mentioned that the country won’t be against if the
Gyumri-Kars railway is re-put in action. According to Gachechiladze,
restoration of the railway passing through the territory of Abkahzia
is problematic because of the locality’s being hard. Responding the
Noyan Tapa!

n correspondent’s question, the Ambassador mentioned that the
government of his country may not provide the Armenian inhabitation
of Javakhk with working places in conditions of market economy. But
according to him, Georgia won’t be against if the Armenian Diaspora
makes investments in Javakhk creating new enterprises and working
places.

OSCE OFFICE ORGANIZES DISCUSSION IN YEREVAN ON CYBER SECURITY THREATS

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

March 21 2006

YEREVAN, 21 March 2006 – Combating cyber crime and threats to cyber
security were the topic of a roundtable discussion, organized today
by the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Experts from the Armenian Task Force on cyber crime and cyber security
presented the main challenges in the field and suggestions to improve
the situation, recommending as a first step that the country’s
Parliament ratify the 2001 Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.

“Cyber security is strategically important for Armenia as the country
expands the IT-services sector,” said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin,
the head of the OSCE Office.

“It is vital to protect people and businesses from financial fraud
and any attempts to alter, steal or destroy information on a computer
system. Inadequate legislation and a lack of technical preparedness
make the sector vulnerable. Fighting cyber crime is part of the
struggle against organized crime and terrorism. As such, it is an
essential component of the OSCE’s focus on countering the new threats
to security that have arisen in recent years.”

The Task Force was created in 2005 on the initiative of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan, and includes key national players in the field
— the Defence Ministry, the National Security Service, the Police,
the Central Bank, the National Assembly, as well as the Presidential
Administration. It helps raise awareness of the issue and advises on
ways of improving the legislative basis and operational measures to
effectively combat cyber crime.

LYONS MAYOR FAILED TO FULFILL PROMISE

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.03.2006 01:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 18, when a wave of rallies shocked France
several thousands of Turks protested in Lyons against the erection of
the monument to the Armenian Genocide victims. They came across French
ralliers at the municipality. Turks attacked the French and the police
dispersed the crowd with tear-gas bombs. French and Turkish press
covered the incident widely. Hurriyet Turkish newspaper wrote that
“Armenians came to the rally to trouble Turks and three Armenians were
wounded” what later turned out as a lie. According to chairperson of
the Armenian Federation of Europe Hilda Tchoboian, the Mayor of Lyons
promised to prevent the action against the monument erection. “However
March 17 he announced that the rally was authorized despite the demands
of all the political circles of Lyons to prohibit it,” she said.

Hilda Tchoboian considers that the Mayor took the decision under
the pressure of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which said that Turks
promised to refrain from anti-Armenian posters and slogans. However
they did not keep their promise. They shouted out offences swaying
anti-Armenian posters. “The Armenian youth explained the essence of
the case to the French, who started shouting to Turks “France is not
your place”.

March 19 Armenians gathered at the editorial office of Progress
newspaper that published some anti-Armenian articles. The editor said
the newspaper will not publish articles of the kind any more, Hilda
Tchoboian said. She added that March 20 a press conference dedicated
to the recent events will be held March 20 and underscored that all
genocide denying rallies will be barred. “The Armenian community of
France will not keep silent, moreover this country and its people
have announced their position on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915,” she said.

ARMENTEL WILL APPEAL THE DECISION

A1+
08:32 pm 20 March, 2006

The State Committee of Economic Competition Defense had made a
decision to fine “ArmenTel” on the basis of the application of
“Gh-Telecom”. “ArmenTel” has not paid the fine as they are going to
appeal the decision.

“ArmenTel” has not carried out the second demand of the Committee: it
has not ceased to allot bonuses to those who remained subscribers of
“ArmenTel” during the year 2005.

The Company did not give us details about the appeal.

Let us only add that the deadline for the appeal is tomorrow.