BBC WRITES ABOUT “MASKED” ARMENIANS OF TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The unpleasant
event taken place on the day of the visit paid by the Catholicos
of All Armenian to Istanbul, when Turk nationalists were holding a
demonstration of complaint at the airport, became a reason for BBC
correspondent Sara Rainford touches upon this theme as well as the
present state of Armenians in Turkey and the issue of blockade of
Armenia by Turkey. She spoke to Armenians from Contstantinople who
were conditionally named “Vardan” and “Anush.”
“Turks ask me till now from where I am. They have no notion that
hundred of thousands of us lived here once,” “Vardan” said. The
journalist mentions that 60 thousand Armenians live in Turkey, in a
territory where their forefathers lived more than 2 thousand years
ago. It is a very difficult community,” the BBC correspondent noticed.
“We have seen only violence since we were born. Insults are written
on walls of churches, we are humiliated in streets. I think twice
till now wheather to say my name or not,” “Anush” said.
“Life of previous generations was more difficult. It is not surprising
that they do not make public their opinion about the 1915. Armenia
wants that Turkey recognizes the universal slaughter, qualifying it
as a genocide,” the journalist continues.
She mentions that “Anush” and “Vardan” are those scanty exclusions who,
living in Turkey, say what happened in 1915. They forefathers were
by force removed to south. They gave their children to Turk neighbors
for safety and never returned. “Anush” says that it is terrible. Such
a tradegy took place in the family of any Armenian there.
“The international community puts pressure on Ankara now, imposing
to review its position concerning this issue. “Vardan” greets it but
he also feels that in response to it, Turk nationalists’ aggression
increases gradually,” the BBC correspondent writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OPENS IN VILLAGE OF GUMBURDO, JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A memorial to the
victims of the Armenian Genocide was placed in the village of Gumburdo,
Akhalkalak region, with the sponsorship of a few benefactors residing
in Russia.
According to the A-Info agency, the official unveiling of the memorial
took place on June 22. Those speaking at the unveiling ceremony once
again condemned the Armenian Genocide. At the same time they called on
the Georgian authorities to follow the example of a number of civilized
European countries and also to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The placing of the memorial in Gumburdo is also symbolic as in 1918
the inhabitants of this village heroically put up resistance to the
Turks who invaded into Javakhk. In these years the half of the Javakhk
population of about 80 thousand people was killed by Turks.

A KINDERGARTEN REPAIRED IN AKHALKALAK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Akhalkalak
kindergarten N 3 was repaired on the initiative of the Javakhk Call
foundation functioning in Javakhk.
Kindergarten Director Lamara Hovhannisian expressing gratitude
to the foundation mentioned that the repair was very timely. The
foundation’s investment made only 2 thousand USD, but this was also
of much importance for the repair.
According to the A-Info agency, the Javakhk Call charity foundation
was created on the initiative of Akhalkalak Mayor Nairi Iritsian and
has a goal to assist development of Akhalkalak infrastructures.

ONE MORE NGO CREATED IN JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The constituent
congress of the United Javakhk people’s union NGO was held on June
24 in Akhalkalak.
The congress announced the organization’s main goals – improvement of
the socio-economic position of Armenians of Javakhk, giving the status
of the second state language to the Armenian language in the region,
giving a cultural autonomy to the region.
According to the A-Info agency, the congress also elected chairmanship
of the organization consisting of 13 persons.

“BANK TURANALEM” MAKES REAL THE DREAM OF THE ‘GREAT TURAN’
Yerevan, June 26. ArmInfo. ‘Bank TuranAlem’ subsidiary ‘TuranAlem
Securities’ (Kazakhstan) signed an agreemnt with the Turkish Sekerbank
T.A.S. about purchasing 33,98% shares of the latter.
The press center of the bank reports that the property will be
transferred by October 31, 2006. the amount of the deal is $256
million. As for December 31, 2005 the assets of Sekerbank T.A.S.
equaled $2,3 billion, joint stock capital – $261 million. The bank
is the 17-th biggest of 47 banks of Turkey.
Member of the ‘Bank TuranAlem’ Board Erkin Tatishev says that the deal
will promote private investments of Turkish citizens, will extend
the services of the bank provided to the people of turkey and the
CIS. The press release says that BTA considers Turkey as a powerful and
perspective state. The commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkey
reached $557 million last year, and the Turkish investments into the
economy of Kazakhstan made up $900 million over the recent 12 years.
The purchase of the shares of a Turkish bank will extend the geography
of TuranAlem to 9 countries, including Russia and China.
The partners of TuranAlem are: Slavinvestbank, Omsk-Bank,
Agroincombank, BTA-Kazan (Russia), Astana-Eximbank (Belarus), Silk
Road Bank (Georgia), BTA Investbank (Armenia). BTA intends to become
the biggest bank in the CIS. The bank has representations in Russia,
Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Armenia, Tajikistan, Georgia and China.
BTA-Bank assets are $9,2 billion, aggregate shareholders’ capital –
$1,6 billion. The Armenian branch of the bank is rather weak and
is on the one but last position in the rating list of the Armenian
banking system.

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION TO PACE TRIES TO ACCUSE KARABAKH AUTHORITIES OF INTENTIONAL BURNING TERRITORIES AROUND NAGORNY KARABAKH
Yerevan, June 26. ArmInfo. In the course of PACE Summer Session opened
in Strasbourg, Monday, Azerbaijani delegation to PACE tried to accuse
Karabakh authorities of intentional burning the territories around
Nagorny Karabakh Republic. The Armenian delegation is headed by Tigran
Torosyan, Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly.
The parliamentary press-service of Armenia reports that after the
session of PACE Bureau, the agenda was changed: the discussion on the
powers of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE was replaced from 29 to 26
June. Referendum for independence of Montenegro and its consequences
as well as the Constitutional amendments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
were added to the agenda as urgent topics. As regards the discussion
of Azerbaijani delegation’s powers at PACE, the organization approved
only 2 of 10 changes proposed by Azerbaijani parliamentarians.
In the course of the meeting of political groups, as it was expected,
the Azerbainani delegation tried to speculate on the problem of fires
in the territories nearing NKR presenting them as intentional acts
by Karabakh authorities. The members of the Armenian delegation, in
their turn, presented the real picture and called the statements
by Azerbaijani party provocation and an attempt to “balance”
the desecration of Armenian historical monuments and to create an
impression that there is no legal order in the territories under
control of NKR Defense Army. As political groups make no decisions at
their meetings, the discussion of the issue had no consequences. The
Azerbaijani delegation may raise the issue of fire on the last day
of the Summer Session. At the same time, it continues collecting
signatures in favor of a project on this problem that may become a
topic for report in future. This issue was not included in the agenda
of PACE, the source reports.

EDITOR OF “ZHAMANAK” NEWSPAPER ARRESTED FOR FORGING DOCUMENTS
Yerevan, June 26. ArmInfo. Editor of the newspaper “Zhamanak” Arman
Babajanyan was arrested for forging documents to avoid the service
in army.
Sona Trouzyan, General Prosecutor’s Press Secretary told ArmInfo that
on the basis of the materials supplied by the Military Police, on
June 24 the Investigation Department of Armenian Prosecutor General’s
Office initiated a criminal case on the fact of forgery of documents
and army avoiding by Arman Babajanyan in November 2005. The latter
was invited to the Prosecutor General’s Office to give testimonies,
Monday. He was interrogated as a suspect in the presence of his
layer. A. Babajanyan pled guilty in forgery of documents to avoid
army. The same day, A. Babajanyan was arrested.

ERIK GEVORGIAN RECOGNIZED SECOND IN EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
BUDAPEST, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 7 Armenian sportsmen took part in
the Europe judo youth championship held in the capital of Hungary
Budapest. Erik Gevorgian (55 kg weight category) distinguished
himself. He ended 4 of 5 games with a victory, took the second place
and was awarded a silver medal. E.Gevorgian trains at merited trainer
Davit Khitarian. The other judoists representing Armenia did not
receive any awards.

KONSTANTIN CHERNISHEV:HAVING WON TENDER FOR PURCHASE OF “ARMENTEL,” THE RUSSIAN COMPANIES MAY SHARE THE BUSINESS WITH OTHER COMPANIES
Yerevan, June 26. ArmInfo.Notwithstanding small number of mobile
network users, “ArmenTel” company’s obvious merit is the local
telephone network, and that’s why, having won the tender for purchase
of the company, the Russian companies will be able to share their
business with others: particularly, MTS with “Comstar” and “Vimpel”
with “Golden Telecom.” Konstantin Chernishev, Co-Director of “Uralsyba”
Analytical Department, said this in the interview to “Vedomosty”
Russian newspaper.
The Russian experts give various evaluations to the deal on purchase
of 90% of “ArmenTel” shares. Thus, Anton Pogrebinsky, ACM-Consulting
expert, stated that the deal may cost $300-350 million, while Yelena
Bazhenova, expert of “Athon,” evaluates the share package lower, i.e.
$290-300 million. She doesn’t think purchase of “Armentel” will be
a considerable contribution to the business of the Russian operators.
Nevertheless, Mohammed Amersi, partner of the Swiss Emergent Telecom
Ventures from UAE, stated that the Caucasian and the Middle Asian
markets of telecommunication have great potential, adding that the
situation reminds of Russia ten years ago. He believes “ArmenTel”
cost more than $350 million, but his company isn’t going to pay more.
It’s worth mention that OTE has chosen the main candidates for the
purchase of 90% of “ArmenTel” shares. Reuters informed that the
short list includes the Russian MTS and “Vimpelcom,”, as well as two
international consortiums. One of the alliances includes two companies
from UAE, particularly, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation
and Istithmar, as well as the Swiss Emergent Telecom Ventures, that
possesses the package of Synterra’s shares, a Russian operator. The
other consortium includes the Indian VTEL Holding and Knightbridge
Associates company.
According to the newspaper, OTE Greek company became the owner of 90%
of “ArmenTel” shares in 1997, paying $142 million, 10% of the company’s
shares belong to RA Government. As of end March, “ArmenTel” had 328
thousand mobile telephone network users and 600 thousand subscribers
of the local telephone network. The company yielded $145.3 million
of profit in 2005.

TODAY AT WIMBLEDON
The Guardian
Tuesday June 27, 2006
Matches of the day Andy Murray v Nicolas Massu The hopes of a nation
will be with the temperamental Scot but he could have done with
a more favourable draw. Massu is seeded 33rd and has two Olympic
titles to his name. “I am probably not going to win it this year,”
said Murray. “So if I lose in the first round or the quarter-final
it doesn’t make a big difference.”
Meng Yuan v Justine Henin-Hardenne Is this the Belgian’s year?
Henin-Hardenne’s preparations, usually dogged by injuries, have
been near perfect this year and 2006 may represent her most genuine
opportunity of winning the title. Her Chinese opponent should offer
little threat in this Centre Court opener.
Outside interest Tathiana Garbin v Katie O’Brien The 20-year-old
Briton, whose father is the former Watford full-back Phil O’Brien,
is capable of springing a surprise against her Italian opponent.
Seed in doubt Paul-Henri Mathieu v Mark Philippoussis Philippoussis
may be approaching his 30th birthday but the big serve still sends
a shiver down most players’ spine at the championships. Mathieu is
seeded 32nd and his place will be in serious danger if he is unable
to combat the Scud’s missiles.
Anorak’s corner David Nalbandian, the fourth seed from Argentina who
plays Wesley Moodie, is of Armenian descent. In Persian his surname
means “one who makes horseshoes”.