Agence France Presse — English
October 27, 2006 Friday 4:44 PM GMT
Varujan Vosganian: a liberal economist and target of embarrassing claims
BUCHAREST, Oct 27 2006
Liberal senator Varujan Vosganian, a noted economist nominated as
Romania’s first European commissioner, has become the target of
accusations linking him to the far-right and the Communist-era secret
services.
Friendly and well-read, the balding 48-year-old Vosganian, who
graduated from the Economic Institute and Faculty of Mathematics and
is the author of several volumes on economics and poetry, always
backed Romania’s entry into the European Union.
Vosganian, who hails from the Armenian minority and speaks fluent
English and French, had until now been spared by the press, which
usually thrives on “incendiary” revelations about Romanian
politicians.
But his nomination for the post of European commissioner has
generated a wave of attacks against him, ranging from close ties with
the far-right to collaboration with the Communist-era secret police,
the Securitate.
A Bucharest daily said Friday the senator was a member of Rost, a
movement that promotes “Christian and national values,” much like the
far-right and anti-Semitic Iron Guard did in the 1930s.
But speaking with AFP, Rost president Caludiu Tarziu denied any link
to far-right extremists, saying the organisation favoured “classic
conservatism.”
The media also accused the senator of ties with a scandal-hit
businessman, Sorin Ovidiu Vantu. Vosganian has admitted his small
right-wing party received funds from Vantu in the 1990s but said
there was “nothing illegal,” as all the money was declared to the
state audit court.
On Friday, comments by a former Securitate official were published,
saying Vosganian had been recruited by counter-intelligence while he
worked at a brewery.
“It is absurd to think an accountant who never left Romania before
1990 was recruited by a foreign intelligence service,” the senator
said, adding “I never had any link with the Securitate.”
Several politicians, led by liberal Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu,
defended Vosganian, saying he was the victim of a smear campaign
orchestrated by his political opponents or the secret service.
Calling the allegations “speculations” and “affabulation,” Tariceanu
urged President Traian Basescu to “support this candidature” for the
post of European commissioner.
Vosganian’s nomination had been the subject of tense negotiations
between Tariceanu and Basescu, who have been at odds for months.
Sources close to the two men have said the president only agreed to
the nomination in exchange for Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu’s
resignation following a row over the issue of Romanian troops in
Iraq.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 27 2006
Tefal third company named in boycott against France
Consumers Union named Tefal as the third company to be brought under
the boycott campaign against a new French company every week
following the French Parliament’s decision on October 12, 2006
concerning the so-called Armenian genocide. Consumers Union had
initiated the boycott campaign with
Total (Elf) petroleum retailer in the first week and brought L’oreal
under the boycott in the following week.
Consumers Union Chair Bülent Deniz called on the Turkish consumers
not to buy products by French company Tefal. Deniz said `From today
to the day that the unfortunate decision by the French Parliament is
withdrawn, we are not buying the products by French Tefal and its
subsidiaries Moulinex and Rowenta.’
Deniz expressed his confidence that the boycott against Tefal would
be supported by the consumers, like the Total and L’oreal boycotts
initiated in the first two weeks, and stressed that the boycott would
be decisively maintained until the legislation that criminalizes the
denial of the so-called Armenian genocide is withdrawn.

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 27 2006
Linden: Reconciliation needs more freedom of _expression
The New Anatolian / Ankara
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Rene
van der Linden yesterday strongly criticized France’s lower house of
Parliament for passing a controversial bill that aims to ban
questioning of Armenian genocide claims.
“This is not in line with one of the basic principles of human
rights, freedom of _expression,” Linden said during his visit to
Ankara yesterday. PACE head underlined that reconciliation efforts
among countries need more freedom of _expression among all involved
parties, not unconstructive moves to restrict people’s free
_expression of their ideas. Van der Linden also criticized those in
Turkey who are using the French bill as a pretext not to change
controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) which sets
out penalties for “insulting Turkishness.” The PACE head clearly
stated yesterday that the Turkish government has to amend the
article, which has been used to bring charges against dozens of
journalists, publishers and scholars.
Van der Linden, during his visit to Ankara yesterday, met with
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Turkish deputies. Before
his departure from Ankara, the PACE president spoke to journalists.
Recalling his support for Turkey’s EU membership process and
highlighting the importance of continuation of the reform process,
Van der Linden underlined that this was in the interest of both
Europe and Turkey. He said that the second phase of the reform
process, the implementation was understandably much more difficult,
since it necessitated the change of mentalities and convincing
people.
Saying that Turkey seems overly frustrated by the criticisms of
Europe, Van der Linden said that most of these criticisms were in
fact aimed at assisting Turkey in the reform process. In a move to
further encourage Turkey on its EU accession process, he said that
Turkish people should not overestimate current discussions in Europe
and see that it will be EU in 15 years later which Turkey will join.
On the debates of so-called Armenian genocide, PACE head stressed the
necessity for all countries to come into terms with its history for a
better future, but he criticized France’s lower house of Parliament
passing a controversial bill to ban questioning of Armenian genocide
claims. “This is a back-step from the freedom of _expression, a bad
example,” Van der Linden told reporters, and expressed hope that the
controversial bill will not be passed by the upper house.
On the possible “train crash” between Turkey and EU late this year
due to the Cyprus problem, Van der Linden said that this is in no
one’s interest and continuation of Turkey’s EU process was in the
interest of both Europeans and Turkey.
The PACE president will attend a roundtable discussion with legal and
human rights experts at Bilgi University in Istanbul today. On
Saturday he will lay a wreath at the Gallipoli War Memorial and visit
the war graves there as well as meet with a delegation from the
Canakkale Provincial Council.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006
VTB NOT INTERESTED IN BUYING ARMENIAN ENTERPRISE “PROMETEY-KHIMPROM”
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Vneshtorgbank (VTB) is not interested in
buying the Armenian enterprise “Prometey-Khimprom”, Senior
Vice-President and member of the VTB administrative board Vasily
Titov reportee at the press conference Friday. At the same time, he
reported the daughter structure of the VTB – VTB Capital- considered
the issue on buying and launching the Vanadzor chemical factory.
Titov said that the factory did not operate at that time and after
its state was examined by several Russian audit companies, a decision
was made not to buy it.
The Vanadzor “Prometey-Khimprom” Company was put into operation in
2005 after the long standstill. After the failure attempt to transfer
the enterprise to the Slovakian company Dividend Group for
management, “Prometey-Khimprom was put into operation by his current
owner – the Russian “Zakneftegasstroy – Prometey” Company. It bought
100% shares of the enterprise for $1.5mln. R.O. –0-

The under 19 year national football team of Armenia to play with Azerbaijan

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 11:00
The under 19 year national football team of Armenia headed by coach
Armen Gyulbudaghian, is in Cyprus to participate in the qualifications
of the under 19 European Championships scheduled to take place place
from October 27 to November 2.
The national team of Armenia playing in the seventh Group will be up
against Hungary, Cyprus and political archrival Azerbaijan. The
Armenia vs. Azerbaijan match is scheduled to take place on Friday
October 27, at Antonis Papadopoulos stadium in Larnaca.
Ian Porterfield, the coach of the national team of Armenia, and Samvel
Petrosian, the coach of the under 21 national team are also
accompanying the young squad.
Armenian representative in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes Mahdessian `
has been assisting the representatives of the national team, so that
their stay in Cyprus is problem-free. MP Mahdessian called upon the
Armenian community of Cyprus to support the Armenian team by showing
up to the fixtures in big numbers.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006
RUSSIAN VTB MAY PURCHASE 30% OF VTB BANK (ARMENIA)
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. The Russian Vneshtorgbank does not rule
out the possibility of purchasing 30% of shares of the Bank VTB
Armenia, VTB Senior Vice-President Vasily Titov told reporters. “We
are considering the proposal of the owner of the 30% of the VTB
(Armenia) shares for the sale of his shares to us,” he said.
According to Titov, the evaluation process is under way. “I am sure
that we will reach an agreement on the term and prices,” he said.
As a result, the VTB will be the holder of 100% of shares of the VTB
Bank Armenia.
On September 8, 2001, the RA Government made a decision on the
privatization of the Armsavingsbank by means of a direct sale to the
ARCH Limited consortium (Bahamas) and ÌIKA Armenia Trading.
Early in 2003, the stock was transferred to the ÌIKA Armenia Trading,
and in March 2004, in Yerevan, a contract was signed for the purchase
of 70% of the “Armsavingsbank” shares by the Russian VTB.
The authorized capital of the “VTB Bank Armenia” CJSC is currently
7,526.2mln, assets AMD 14.7bln or $109.4mln (on September 30, 2006),
total capital AMD 9.1bln ($23.9mln). In January-September 2006, the
bank’s profit amounted to AMD 493.4mln ($1.3mln), and the balance
profit AMD 1.2bln ($3.1mln).
The VTB Bank Armenia is among the leaders as to the main indicators.
Specifically, it has the 4th largest assets, 5th largest volume of
individual crediting, 2nd largest volume of crediting legal entities,
3rd largest volume of funds attracted from clients and the amount of
individual fixed deposits, 2nd largest amount of individual call
deposits. As regards the total capital, the bank has the 4th largest
capital, and the 2nd largest authorized capital.($1 – AMD 379.84).
P.T. –0–

French Ambassador to Armenia confidant the Armenian-Turkish border will be
opened

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 13:12
October 27 Secretary of the Presidential Council on National Security,
RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Henry Cuny, on
the occasion of completion of the latter’s mission in our country.
Speaking about the gradually deepening Armenian-French relations, the
Minister said that French President Jacques Chirac’s visit was a
bright evidence of it, and it was a great even in the life of the
country.
In his turn, Henry Cuny informed that he highly assesses the warm
attitude of Armenia toward his country and added: `I have special
attitude toward the Armenian nation and its culture. I’m leaving,
taking a rich library about Armenia. I’m sure that during my next
visit peace will be established and the borders will be open. Closed
border is an anachronism, an improper step by a country applying for
EU membership.’
Thanking for the productive activity during the Ambassador’s tenure in
office, particularly for the cooperation in the military sphere, Serge
Sargsyan wished success to Henry Cuny in his further activity.

RA Defense Minister met with members of NATO Advisory Group

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 11:44
October 26 President of the interagency commission coordinating the
elaboration of RA draft National Security Strategy, Secretary of the
Presidential Council on National Security, RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan met with members of the NATO International Advisory
Group. The Group comprised Minister Plenipotentiary of the MFA of
Slovenia Damyan Bergant, Adviser to the National Defense Minister of
Lithuania James Gribovski, German Adviser to RA Government on Security
Issues, Mayor General Holger Zamet, Representative of the UK Defense
Ministry, Mayor General John Drevienkevich, Director of the
International Relations Institute of Latvia, Dr. Atis Leints,
representative of the Klement Ohridski University of Sofia, Professor
Todor Tanev.
`Armenpress’ was told at the Press Service of RA Defense Ministry, at
the start of the meeting the representative of Great Britain noted
that the Advisory Group welcomes all the provisions of RA National
Security Strategy on the development of state and civil society.
Turning to security issues, members of the Group spoke about the
complex geopolitical and strategic situation of Armenia, stating that
two of the bordering countries ` Azerbaijan and Turkey ` have
blockaded their common border with Armenia, and the vital route
linking our country to the rest of the world passes through Georgia
and Iran, which have found themselves in a complex geopolitical
situation.
Turning to Armenia’s foreign policy, members of the Group noted that
it is primarily connected with the existence of two dearest questions
for every Armenian ` Nagorno Karabakh and Genocide.
At the end of the meeting the guests declared that in such situation
Armenia has taken the decision to lead a balanced policy both from
strategic or global and military or regional perspectives.

Sweden interested in expanding relations with Armenia

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 14:05
The newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden Hans Gunnar
Adén (seat in Stockholm) handed his credentials to RA President
Robert Kocharyan.
Congratulating the Ambassador on appointment, the President highly
assessed the current level of the Armenian-Swedish political dialogue.
Ambassador Adén noted that henceforth his country will provide
greater time and attention to its relations with the countries of the
South Caucasus, including Armenia.
As an impulse for further development of bilateral cooperation the
parties mentioned RA president Robert Kocharyan’s official visit to
Sweden.
The interlocutors stressed that cooperation under the European New
Neighbors Policy provides new opportunities for expansion of
cooperation.
Attaching importance to the economic component of Armenian-Swedish
relations, Robert Kocharyan considered it necessary to form a legal
contractual field and organization of business forums.
During the meeting reference was made also to Armenian-Turkish
relations and regional questions.

Armenian Culture Week to be held in Krasnodar University

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 14:37
October 30 ` November 3 Armenian culture week will be held in
Krasnodar University of the Russian Ministry of Interior
Affairs. `Yerkramas’ newspaper of Russian Armenians informs that the
week is organized in the framework of the Year of the Republic of
Armenia in the Russian Federation. Different events will be held in
the University in the framework of the Armenian Culture Week, which
will be concluded with a concert on November 3.