Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

Russian Intelligence Predicts U.S. Missile Strike on Iran in Early April

30.03.2007
MosNews

Russian intelligence believes that the U.S. Armed Forces have nearly
completed preparations for a possible military operation against Iran,
and will be ready to strike in early April, the RIA-Novosti news
agency reported on Friday quoting an unnamed source in the Russian
security services.

The source said the U.S. had already compiled a list of possible
targets on Iranian territory and practiced the operation during recent
exercises in the Persian Gulf.

`Russian intelligence has information that the U.S. Armed Forces
stationed in the Persian Gulf have nearly completed preparations for a
missile strike against Iranian territory,’ the source said.

American commanders will be ready to carry out the attack in early
April, but it will be up to the country’s political leadership to
decide if and when to attack, the source said.

Official data says America’s military presence in the region has
reached the level of March 2003 when the U.S. invaded Iraq.

The U.S. is threatening Tehran with a military operation over Iran’s
refusal to abandon its nuclear program.

The UN Security Council passed a new resolution on Iran Saturday
toughening economic sanctions against the country and accepting the
possibility of a military solution to the crisis.

LEVON ARONYAN THE 4TH IN THE "AMBER" INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 15:48

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan defeated Vasili Ivanchuk of Ukraine
in the last 11th round of the "Amber" international chhess tournament
held in Monte Carlo (Monaco). With 12.5 points Aronyan shared 4-5
places with Russian Pyotor Svidler. With additional criteria Aronyan
is the 4th. He won the rival in the "blindfold" tour and played a
draw in the "rapid" chess tour.

The winner of the tournament was World Chess Champion Russian Vladimir
Kramnik with 15.5 points. Vishvanatan Anand and Vladimir Ivanchuk
occupy the 2nd and 3rd places.

TERMS OF THE DAYS OF ARMENIA IN BELARUS STILL UNCERTAIN

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 13:31

The Days of Armenia in Belarus have been postponed for an uncertain
period of time. Head of the Public Relations Department of RA Ministry
of Culture and Youth Affairs Gayane Durgaryan told Armenpress that
currently the two sides are discussing the schedule and will come to
an agreement in the near future.

Let us remind that according to an earlier agreement the arrangements
were to be held March 25 through April 1, but these were postponed
because of the death of RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.

The delegation headed by RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
Hasmik Poghosyan will attend the opening of the Days of Armenia
in Belarus.

OPENING OF HOLY CROSS CHURCH HELD ON AKHTAMAR ISLAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2007 16:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The opening ceremony of the Holy Cross Church
was held on Akhtamar island. Head of Armenian delegation, Armenian
Deputy Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Gagik Gyurjian told the
PanARMENIAN.Net journalist that Turkish Tourism and Culture Minister
Atilla Koc, parliamentarians, the head of historical monuments
preservation department, as well as representatives of diplomatic
corps were present at the opening ceremony. "Constantinople Patriarch
Archbishop Mutafyan, representatives of Armenian communities of other
countries were also present at the opening of the church. Atilla
Koc told us that the issue of placing a cross atop the church is
not so complicated and most probably it will placed in near future,"
Gyurjian said.

The Armenian delegation will return Yerevan March 29 via Georgia.

IN STRUGGLE AGAINST GENOCIDE RECOGNITION TURKEY LIMITS HIMSELF ONLY TO HOLLOW THREATS

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2007 16:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Turkish government is threatening to obstruct
U.S. operations in Iraq should the Congress recognize the Armenian
Genocide. But a careful look at this threat shows that it is hollow,"
ANCA (Armenian National Committee of America) Executive Director
Aram Hamparian stated during an interview to the PanARMENIAN.Net
journalist. He said, opponents of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
are crying wolf once again. "General Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff
of the U.S. Air Force, stated on February 21, 2007, that, "I wouldn’t
say we have to use Incirlik airbase to conduct operations in Iraq."

""Train wrecks" in U.S.-Turkey relations were loudly but falsely
predicted before President Reagan’s 1981 public affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide, the 1984 designation by the U.S. House of April
24th as a day for its remembrance, as well as before the amendments
passed by the House in 1996 and 2004 restricting U.S.

aid to Turkey based on its denial of this crime against
humanity. Despite threats of retribution, Turkey has taken only token
steps against the European Parliament, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Argentina, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland, and other states and international bodies that have
recognized the Armenian Genocide. In fact, despite all its threats
in 2001 against France’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide, trade
between France and Turkey grew 22% the following year, and has grown
by 131% over the past five years," Hamparian stressed.

BRITISH JOURNALIST IS READY TO UPHOLD HIS STATEMENTS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN TURKISH COURTS

Arminfo
2007-03-28 11:21:00

The British journalist Robert Fisk is ready to uphold his statements
on the Armenian Genocide in the Turkish court, the Turkish Daily News
reports, indicating the anxieties of Turkish publishers which are
hesitating to publish the latest book penned by R. Fisk "The Great
War for Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle East", one of the
chapters of which is about the alleged genocide of Armenians at the
hands of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Turkish publishers are hesitating to publish the book because of
concerns over the possibility of legal charges under infamous Article
301 of the penal code that makes it a crime to denigrate Turkish
identity or Turkishness.

Fisk’s book is invaluable in terms of investigative journalism. Of
course, I want to publish it but I have hesitations because a court
case might be filed against the book under Article 301 due to its
reference to the Armenian question in one of the chapters, Osman
Akynhay, editor of Agora Publishing House.

The book "The Great War for Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle
East" is made up of 24 chapters and is published in 15 different
languages. "The fact that Fisk’s book, which is easily published
and sold in Europe, cannot be published in a country that aspires
to join the EU is not a problem of mine individually but a problem
of Turkey. The Turkish government and Parliament are responsible for
safeguarding the freedom of expression," Akynhay said.

The Agora Publishing House bid for Fisk’s book and won the contract
but the publication of the book has been postponed several times. The
first postponement came in the summer due to reasons nothing to do
with the book or the alleged genocide. He said the publishers later
wanted a guarantee that he would defend them in court if they were
arrested and charged under Article 301 due to publishing the book. "I
told them I’ll be in Istanbul and stand in court and go to prison
with them if they are in trouble".

But instead of publicity and media hype, the Turkish publishers wanted
to publish the book quietly, said Fisk, as if it were some kind of
pornography. He said that this is a serious book and you publish
it properly".

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

NKR PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO ARMENIAN PREMIER’S FAMILY

STEPANAKERT, March 26. /ARKA/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) Arkady Ghukasyan addressed a telegram of condolences
to the family of the RA Premier, Chairman of the Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) Andranik Margaryan.
In his telegram the NKR President says that Andranik Margaryan, who
died an untimely death, was a person who dedicated his experience,
knowledge and patriotic spirit to the formation of independent
statehood, economic progress in Armenia and improvement of the
Armenian people’s living standards.
"From the very first days of the Karabakh movement Arndranik
Margaryan was actively involved in our national-liberation struggle
and made a great contribution to victory and formation of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as the second Armenian independent state
and to its socio-economic development," the message says.
"At the time of heart-break for your family receive out sincere
condolences and support," says the telegram.
The RA Premier died at 1:20 local time on March 25. P.T. -0–

PRIME MINISTER * DEATH * HISTORY

MEDIAMAX
Armenian Independent News Agency
25 March 07

Yerevan, March 25. /Mediamax/ The passed away Prime Minister of
Armenia was having health problems during the latest few
years-25.03.07-15:20

The official sources have not yet spread the announcement of the death
of the 55-year-old Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, which
took place today as a result of a heart attack.

Mediamax reports that the Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) Andranik Margarian was appointed a Prime Minister of Armenia in
May 2000. He became the first head of the government in the history of
Armenia, who forsuch a long period of time occupied the position of
the Prime Minister.

The RPA is considered one of the favorites for the upcoming
parliamentary elections of May 12 in Armenia.

Mediamax reminds that Andranik Margarian underwent a heart surgery in
autumn 1999.

In October 2001, after the checkup of the heart system of the Prime
Minister in Paris, it was suggested that Andranik Margarian underwent
urgent medical treatment. As the press service of the Armenian
government noted then, `the French physicians resorted to non-surgical
operation to increase the patency of the heart blood vessels of the
Prime Minister’.

In November of 2003, Andranik Margarian underwent general medical
checkup in Moscow.

In December of 2005 and in June 2006 the Prime Minister visited France
to take up current medical checkup.

In February 2006, it was discovered that the Prime Minister of Armenia
Andranik Margarian suffered from duodenitis, which appeared as a
result of cold. –0–

Armenian nuclear power plant to stop for refuelling in October

Arminfo
24 Mar 07

Yerevan, 23 March: The Armenian nuclear power plant will be stopped
for annual maintenance and refuelling for 45 days on 1 October 2007,
the plant’s director, Gagik Markosyan, has said.

He said that a number of measures to increase the safety of the plant
would be carried out during the maintenance period. IAEA
[International Atomic Energy Agency] specialists monitor the plant’s
radiation safety every quarter, Markosyan said. He said that the term
of the plant’s financial management by the [Russian] Inter RAO UES
would end in September 2008. "I don’t think the plant will have
financial problems if the Russians refuse the further financial
management of the plant. The plant is capable of acquiring nuclear
fuel for refuelling," Markosyan said. The plan has been buying nuclear
fuel at its own expense for the past two years and has not received
loans for this purpose, he added.

Every year, the Armenian nuclear power plant processes 90-100 fuel
cassettes and buys the same amount.

[Passage omitted: The financial management of the Armenian nuclear
plant was handed to the Inter RAO UES, an affiliate of the Unified
Energy Systems of Russia, in September 2003]

Le Monde, France
24 mars 2007 samedi

Jack Kachkar ne sera pas président de l’Olympique de Marseille

par Stéphane Mandard

L’actionnaire principal de l’OM, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, a refusé
d’accorder un délai de paiement supplémentaire à l’homme d’affaires
canadien pour le rachat du club phocéen

A moins d’un très improbable nouveau rebondissement, Jack Kachkar ne
sera pas président de l’Olympique de Marseille (OM).

Jeudi 22 mars, l’homme d’affaires canadien, d’origine arménienne, a
demandé à l’actionnaire principal de l’OM, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, un
délai de paiement supplémentaire pour le rachat du club, qui devait
être scellé définitivement vendredi 23 mars, à 11 heures. Lassé
d’attendre, M. Louis-Dreyfus a refusé. Prévue initialement le 26
février, la vente avait déjà été reportée une première fois.

Révélée sur le site Internet du Point, l’information a été confirmée
par l’entourage de M. Louis-Dreyfus. " L’arrêt des négociations avec
M. Kachkar sera officialisé dans les prochains jours, précise-t-on de
source proche de l’homme d’affaires franco-suisse. Depuis plusieurs
jours, Robert Louis-Dreyfus avait des doutes sur les capacités de M.
Kachkar à assurer la pérennité du club. " Le 16 janvier, M. Kachkar
avait pourtant déposé une garantie bancaire correspondant aux 115
millions d’euros réclamés par M. Louis-Dreyfus pour lui céder le
club.

Pour rassurer " RLD " et le petit monde du football français sur
l’origine de ses fonds, et sa capacité à réunir la somme demandée,
l’homme d’affaires canadien avait d’abord annoncé que la très
respectée banque Goldman Sachs s’était portée garante, avant
d’évoquer la moins connue Country Wide Bank. Le 1er mars, il assurait
finalement que la transaction serait réalisée grce au concours de "
banques internationales qui ont des liens avec la France et le monde
du sport ", sans jamais en préciser l’identité.

INQUIÉTUDE GRANDISSANTE

Le même jour, M. Kachkar annonçait dans un communiqué avoir signé "
l’accord définitif de vente " et être " très heureux d’acheter
l’Olympique de Marseille "… avant que l’entourage de M.
Louis-Dreyfus ne démente l’information. En peine, visiblement, pour
réunir les 115 millions d’euros, et face à l’inquiétude grandissante
du vendeur, l’entourage de M. Kachkar faisait courir le bruit, une
semaine plus tard, que la société de marketing Sportfive était prête
à lui verser 40 millions d’euros pour obtenir les droits commerciaux
de l’OM. Intention démentie par Sportfive.

Outre sa capacité à réunir les 115 millions d’euros, c’est aussi
l’origine des fonds de M. Kachkar qui a suscité des doutes. L’homme
d’affaires canadien, qui dirige une société pharmaceutique, Inyx,
criblée de dettes (139 millions d’euros), est l’objet d’une enquête
au sein du service antiblanchiment du ministère des finances
(Tracfin). En 1996, Tracfin avait signalé à la justice des mouvements
de fonds suspects entre des sociétés derrière lesquelles était apparu
l’ex-associé de M. Kachkar, Alexandre Benkovitch, qui est aussi
l’ex-époux de sa femme actuelle.

Inquiétée par la tournure prise par l’opération de rachat de l’OM, la
direction nationale du contrôle de gestion (DNCG) des clubs de
football professionnels avait convoqué, en vain, M. Kachkar. Soucieux
de se séparer de l’OM depuis sa condamnation, en juin 2006, à trois
ans de prison avec sursis et 375 000 euros d’amendes pour abus de
biens sociaux dans l’affaire des transferts douteux du club, M.
Louis-Dreyfus serait toujours décidé à quitter l’OM. Selon son
entourage, il n’aurait cependant encore reçu aucune autre
proposition.