MINISTRY OF CITY BUILDING TO SET NORMS OF COMMISSIONING BUILDINGS
Panorama.am
15:35 15/06/06
The Armenian Ministry of City Building plans to develop a number of
documents concerning seismic resistance of buildings as well as norms
on commissioning the buildings in the course of 2006, deputy minister
of city building Karen Gevorgyan told an international scientific
conference today.
Gevorgyan noted that Armenia adopted a document on norms of seismic
resistance in 1995. The document underwent several amendments since
new technologies have come about since that time. Particularly,
it requires that seismic insulators be used.
Armenia is one of the first countries to use seismic insulators,
the conference participants noted. Japan has used them long ago with
much success. 10 000 such buildings are built in Japan, using seismic
insulators. 8 buildings in different towns of Armenia are also equipped
with this new technology using the technology of Michael Melkumian,
head of Association on seismic resistance constructions.

LEVON CHAKHMAKHCHYAN HOSPITALIZED
ArmRadio.am
16.06.2006 17:18
RF Supreme Court postponed today the case of existence of criminal
components in the activity of Levon Chakhmakhchyan, former Senator
from Kalmikia.
ITAR-TASS informs that the court hearing will take place on June 22. It
was delayed because Chakhmakhchyan is currently in hospital. Senator’s
attorney Boris Kuznetsov informed that he submitted an exceptional
mediation today, which was, however, rejected.
To remind, Chakhmakhchyan is charged with bribery.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KIRKILAS: RA FLAG IN MILITARY EXERCISE IN LITHUANIA IMPORTANT FOR US
Yerkir
16.06.2006 17:13
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “Our country is always open for the training of
Armenian sergeants and officers,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Gediminas
Kirkilas said at a meeting with Armenian MOD head Serge Sargsyan.
As reported by the Public Television of Armenia, the meeting proceeded
in an atmosphere of mutual trust. Kirkilas attached importance to
the participation of the Armenian military in the exercise to be held
in Lithuania.
“The availability of the Armenian flag is principal for us,” he said
adding that next year he would like to see a full unit but not several
officers. At that he expressed readiness to discuss the organization
issues, including the financial ones.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GHARAKHANIAN PLEADS GUILTY
By Jennifer English
City News Service
June 14, 2006 Wednesday 7:44 PM PST
A Van Nuys man whose investment scam took in about $20 million,
primarily from Armenian-Americans, was sentenced today to three years
in federal prison.
Melkon Gharakhanian, a 43-year-old Canadian citizen who also used the
name Mike Garian, pleaded guilty in January to one count of mail fraud.
Gharakhanian asked U.S. District Judge George Schiavelli to sentence
him to just under one year behind bars — 364 days — to avoid
triggering rules under which he could be deported after serving
his time.
Schiavelli refused, telling Gharakhanian his scam was “absolutely
inexcusable.”
“… this was done by concerted fraud, systematic fraud,” the
judge told Gharakhanian. “The impact this has had on the victims
is profound.”
In pleading guilty, Gharakhanian admitted that between 1999 and 2001,
a Glendale investment firm he and others ran, National Investment
Enterprises Inc., took money from people who believed they were
investing in specific stocks — including initial public offerings
for Internet businesses and other high-tech companies.
Contracts and other documentation seemed to show that the purported
investments were real, Gharakhanian’s plea agreement states. But
investor funds were actually used to buy non-liquid stocks never
listed on account statements, according to the court document.
Investor money was also being used to pay returns to other investors,
a hallmark of what is known as a Ponzi scheme.
Although some of the investors were paid more money than they invested,
Gharakhanian and prosecutors have agreed the amount victims lost in
the scam was between $2.5 million and $10 million.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wilner said today that the government
believes about $13 million was returned to investors either in the
form of profits, or as refunds after they complained — leaving about
$7 million investors appear to have lost.
The prosecutor said an obstacle in determining the exact losses of
individual investors — some of whom invested hundreds of thousands
of dollars — is that the records of National Investment Enterprises
were destroyed.
That made it difficult to know how much individual investors were
repaid, and exactly how much they invested, Wilner said. And although
authorities believe they know the rough amount the scam took in,
they are unsure if they have located all the investors, he said.
The factors combined meant the government was unable to determine
what amounts Gharakhanian should be ordered to repay to individual
investors, Wilner told the court.
Even if such determinations could have been made, much of the money
investors lost was spent on Gharakhanian’s losing stock investments,
Wilner said.
One of the investors, 57-year-old veteran David Howard, told the
judge he has so far been unable to collect on a civil judgement of
about $120,000 from a lawsuit he filed against Gharakhanian. He said
he invested $100,000 with Gharakhanian, an amount that represented
his savings.
After losing the money, Howard said, he had to borrow money to pay
his son’s college tuition. He said his financial problems caused a
flare-up of his post-traumatic stress disorder.
“He was instrumental in destroying my family, and he robbed me of
my financial freedom,” Howard said of Gharakhanian. “He hasn’t given
any of it back yet.”
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission previously won a $2.6
million judgment against Gharakhanian on behalf of investors, but is
still attempting to locate assets, Wilner said.
For his part, Gharakhanian apologized to the court, and said he lost
his own money, as well.
“I thought I could make money for everybody, but I failed, and I wish
I could pay them back,” he told the judge.
Schiavelli ordered Gharakhanian taken into custody immediately to
begin serving his 37-month sentence.

CALMY-REY EHRTE ARMENISCHE OPFER DES GENOZIDS
Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen in Eriwan unterzeichnet
Associated Press Worldstream – German
12. Juni 2006 Montag 2:36 PM GMT
Eriwan/Bern
Bundesratin Micheline Calmy-Rey hat am Montag bei ihrem Besuch in
Armenien an der Erinnerungstatte des Genozids einen Kranz niedergelegt
und einen Baum gepflanzt. In Eriwan unterzeichnete die Aussenministern
ein Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen, wie das EDA mitteilte.
Calmy-Rey fuhrte beim offiziellen Arbeitsbesuch Gesprache mit
ihrem Amtskollegen Vardan Oskanian, dem Ministerprasidenten
Andranik Margarian und dem Staatsprasidenten Robert Kotscharian. Die
Bundesratin sprach dabei auch die politische Situation in der Region
an, einschliesslich der Frage von Nagorno-Karabach. Die Schweiz
messe dem Sudkaukausus eine wachsende Bedeutung bei und sei an der
Schaffung stabiler und demokratischer Verhaltnisse in der Region
interessiert, halt das Eidgenossische Departement fur auswartige
Angelegenheiten (EDA) weiter fest. Calmy-Rey habe in den Gesprachen
auch die tragischen Massendeportationen und die Massaker erwahnt, die
das Ende des Osmanischen Reichs pragten. Sie ehrte die armenischen
Opfer, indem sie an der “Erinnerungsstatte fur den Genozid” einen
Kranz niederlegte und einen Baum pflanzte.
Das EDA erinnert, dass die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zwischen den
beiden Landern noch bescheiden sind, aber der juristische Rahmen
und damit das Potenzial besteht. Seit 2000 ist ein Abkommen uber
Handel und wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit in Kraft. Seit 2002
ein Abkommen uber den Schutz von Investitionen und neu nun ein
Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen, das am Montag zwischen den beiden Staaten
unterzeichnet wurde. Seit 1988 hat die Schweiz Armenien mit ungefahr
30 Millionen Franken unterstutzt.

ARMENIER IN MOSKAU GETOTET
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
12. Juni 2006
M.L. MOSKAU, 11. Juni. In Moskau ist am Wochenende ein Armenier bei
einem Uberfall getotet, ein anderer schwer verletzt worden. Einer der
vermutlichen Tater, ein junger Russe, der am Samstag abend mit einer
Pistole auf die Armenier gefeuert haben soll, wurde kurze Zeit nach der
Tat festgenommen. Nach Angaben der Miliz weigerte sich der Mann, Fragen
zu beantworten. Ob die Tat rassistische Hintergrunde hatte, konnte noch
nicht geklart werden. Seit Jahren werden immer wieder fremdlandisch
aussehende Menschen in russischen Stadten Opfer von Uberfallen,
bei denen rassistische Motive aufgedeckt wurden. Ein Vertreter der
Vereinten Nationen soll nun fremdenfeindliche Ubergriffe in Rußland
untersuchen. Der Sondergesandte fur Rassismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit,
Dudu Diene, soll deshalb in dieser Woche nach Moskau und St. Petersburg
fahren, die als Hochburgen fremdenfeindlicher Gewalt gelten, und dort
mit den Behorden sprechen.
Erst Ende Mai war ein Armenier in einem Moskauer Vorortzug von
Rechtsextremisten erstochen worden. In St. Petersburg wurde im April
ein afrikanischer Student erschossen.
–Boundary_(ID_OOpXonUknIufiAWABuN6Qg )–

CALMY-REY SOLL IN ARMENIEN DES VOLKERMORDS GEDENKEN
Tages-Anzeiger
10. Juni 2006
Die Aussenministerin pflegt die Beziehung zu Armenien. Doch furs
Wirtschaftsdepartement hat dieses Land keine Prioritat.
Bern. – Die Gesellschaft Schweiz-Armenien reagierte besorgt,
als Aussenministerin Micheline Calmy-Rey im Februar ins olreiche
Aserbeidschan reiste – und das benachbarte Armenien entgegen einer
fruheren Zusicherung links liegen liess. Damit werde eine neutrale
Vermittlung der Schweiz im Streit der beiden Lander um Berg-Karabach
gefahrdet und die reichere Konfliktpartei bevorzugt, klagte die
Gesellschaft damals. Doch das Aussenministerium (EDA) betonte das
“wachsende Interesse der Schweiz am ganzen Sudkaukasus” und kundigte
einen spateren Armenienbesuch an. Dieser steht nun am Montag an,
wie das EDA bestatigte.
Zum Besuchsprogramm wollte es jedoch keine Angaben machen. Dem
Vernehmen nach will Calmy-Rey ein Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen
unterzeichnen und ein Osthilfeprojekt besichtigen. Die Rede ist
auch von einem symboltrachtigen Besuch des Mahnmals fur die Opfer
des Genozids an den Armeniern von 1915. Weil der Nationalrat diesen
Volkermord anerkannt hat und die Schweizer Justiz seine Leugnung
ahndet, sind die Beziehungen der Turkei zur Schweiz gestort.
Calmy-Reys Armenienbesuch durfte deshalb in der Turkei ebenso
argwohnisch verfolgt werden wie der Besuch des armenischen
Handelsministers Karen Chshmaritian nachste Woche in der Schweiz.
Er wird in Bern Parlamentarier treffen, nicht aber seinen
Schweizer Amtskollegen Joseph Deiss, der auf deutsche Einladung
an die Fussball-WM nach Stuttgart reist. Der Nichtempfang im
Volkswirtschaftsdepartement wird aber auch damit begrundet, dass
Armenien nicht mehr zu den Prioritatenlandern des Staatssekretariats
fur Wirtschaft (Seco) zahle. Immerhin darf Handelsminister Chshmaritian
am Montag in Zurich an einem Investitionsforderungs-Forum unter
Seco-Leitung teilnehmen, das eine Firma fur Investitionen in Armenien
auszeichnet.

CALMY-REY IN ARMENIEN OEL KOENNTE IM KONFLIKT UM BERG-KARABACH KARTEN
neu mischen Hintergrund Von Anja Germond, SDA
Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Basisdienst Deutsch
9. Juni 2006
Bern
Der Konflikt um Berg-Karabach, den Bundesraetin Micheline Calmy-Rey
beim Besuch in Armenien ansprechen moechte, ist einer der aeltesten
in Europa. Ein Abkommen ist nicht in Sicht, doch durch das Oel von
Baku koennten die Karten neu gemischt werden.
Aserbaidschan erlebt derzeit einen Wirtschaftsboom wegen seiner
Einkuenfte aus der Oelindustrie. Die Pipeline Baku-Tiflis-Ceyhan (BTC)
zwischen Aserbaidschan un der Tuerkei ist seit dem 27. Mai in Betrieb
und wird am Dienstag eingeweiht. Die 1767 Kilometer lange Roehre soll
jaehrlich bis zu 50 Millionen Tonnen Oel transportieren.
Amerikanische Interessen
“Die wirtschaftlichen Gewinne koennten sich im Konflikt um die Region
Berg-Karabach zu Gunsten Aserbaidschans auswirken”, sagt der fruehere
Staatssekretaer Edouard Brunner gegenueber der Nachrichtenagentur
SDA. Der Schweizer Ex-Spitzendiplomat war 1995 als Sondergesandter
der UNO in die suedkaukasischen Laender gereist.
Das Pipeline-Projekt wird von der US-Regierung unterstuetzt und
duerfte die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zwischen Baku und Washington
befluegeln. Gemaess Analysten sind die USA namentlich an einer Loesung
des Konflikts interessiert, damit der Oeltransport nicht durch einen
neuen Krieg gefaehrdet wird.
Ein wirtschaftlich erstarktes Aserbaidschan werde auch die Mittel
haben, militaerisch aufzuruesten, sagt Brunner. Bisher haetten die
Armenier aufgrund militaerischer Ueberlegenheit die Gefechte jeweils
gewonnen.
Hunderttausende in Fluechtlingslagern
Armenien und Aserbaidschan streiten sich seit langem um die Region
Berg-Karabach. Berg-Karabach gehoert voelkerrechtlich zu Aserbaidschan,
historisch gesehen ist die Region jedoch Teil von Armenien.
1988 eskalierte der schwelende Konflikt nach anti-armenischen Pogromen
in Aserbaidschan in einen offenen Krieg, in dessen Verlauf beide
Seiten ethnische Saeuberungen vornahmen.
Nach auf dem Internet-Protal Wikipedia publizierten Schaetzungen
starben rund 17 000 Armenier und 25 000 Aserbaidschaner.
Hunderttausende wurden zu Fluechtlingen. Seit 1994 ruhen die Waffen.
Instrument fuer Propaganda
Die Situation der Vertriebenen in Aserbaidschan koennte sich durch
die groesseren finanziellen Ressourcen verbessern. In den letzten
Jahren habe der von den Behoerden geaeufnete Oelfonds beigetragen
zum Aufbau von Haeusern, Schulen und Spitaelern, heisst es auf der
Internet-Seite der aserbaidschanischen Regierung.
Verschiedene Beobachter geben zu bedenken, dass Aserbaidschan die
Fluechtlinge als Propagandainstrument missbrauche. Das Land mache
nichts zur Verbesserung der Situation in den Fluechtlingslagern,
sagt Ernst Muehlemann, frueher fuer die Schweiz im Europarat, derzeit
Vizepraesident des Ost-West-Forums.
Aussenministerin Calmy-Rey hatte bereits im Februar in Aserbaidschan
ein Lager mit Fluechtlingen aus Berg-Karabach besucht. Um “Symmetrie”
herzustellen, kuendigte sie danach an, auch nach Armenien zu reisen.
Die Schweiz hat wiederholt als Mediatorin zwischen den Konfliktparteien
vermittelt.

SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION’S SECURITY IMPORTANT TO LITHUANIA, WHOLE INTL COMMUNITY – PRESIDENT
Baltic News Service
June 15, 2006 Thursday 3:06 PM EET
During a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan,
currently on a visit to Vilnius, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus
noted that South Caucasus region’s security was very important to
Lithuania and the whole international community.
According to a press release from the Lithuanian president’s
press service, Adamkus expressed hope that this year would give new
possibilities to solve the problem of Mountain Karabakh. The president
assured that this issue would receive sufficient attention from the
international community.
Clashes between Azerbaijanis and ethnic Armenians in Mountain Karabakh,
which then belonged to Azerbaijan SSR, started in 1988. The conflict
escalated in around 1992 and grew into a real war between Azerbaijan
and Armenia, which had already become independent republics. The
war claimed some 35,000 lives. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis
became refugees.
Mountain Karabakh is currently controlled by Armenians, and there is
only a fragile truce between the two sides in the conflict.
Mountain Karabakh is a region of strategic importance. The main gas
pipeline linking oil fields in the Caspian Sea with global markets
is several kilometers from the conflict zone.
During his two-day visit to Lithuania, Sargsyan will also meet
with acting Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas to discuss Armenia’s
relations with NATO, the course of Armed Forces reforms, participation
in international operations, prospects of bilateral and regional
cooperation.
Later on Thursday, the Armenian defense minister will visit the
Lithuanian parliament to meet with members of the National Security
and Defense Committee.
On Friday, Sargsyan is planned to visit the Grand Duchess Birute
Motorized Infantry Battalion in Alytus, where Armenian officers have
been interning since 2005.
Lithuania has been cooperating with Armenia in the field of defense
since 2002. Lithuania finances Armenian officers’ studies at the
Lithuanian Military Academy and the Baltic Defense College. In early
March this year, Lithuania accredited its first defense attache to
Armenia, Lieutenant Colonel Albertas Charzevskis.
Sargsyan has been heading the Armenian Defense Ministry since 2000.
He also held the office of defense minister in 1993-1995, later worked
as interior minister and national security minister, held other high
positions in the country’s security structures.
This is his third visit to Lithuania. He already visited the Baltic
state in 2002 and 2004.
Irakli Okruashvili, the defense minister of another South Caucasus
country, Georgia, visited Lithuania earlier this week.

ON MAY 02 MTS MADE A BID FOR ACQUISITION 90% SHARES OF ARMENIA’S OPERATOR ARMENTEL
Agency WPS
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES MARKET (Russia)
June 15, 2006 Thursday
The deal with the Greek holding company OTE at $350-450 million could
make MTS an Armenia’s key cellular operator and operators of AFK
Systema – the monopolists at Armenia’s market of wire communications
Reference: Valery Kodachigov “Systema is ready to become a monopolist
in Armenia,” the Kommersant, June 05, 2006, p. 16; Yulia Belous,
Igor Tsukanov “Systema has changed its mind,” the Vedomosti, June 05,
2006, p. B8
“We have actually made a bid for 90% shares of the company, it
corresponds to the strategy of our development,” said a spokesman
at Mobilnie Telesystemi Mr. Alyavdin. It is known that the Greek
operator OTE acts as a seller of 90% of Armentel shares. According
to the analysts at Aton, MTS may pay $350-450 million for Armentel.
In the experts’ opinion, buying Armentel MTS will do a profitable
purchase not only for itself but for the operators of fixed
communication which are part of AFK Systema and united in the company
Comstar-Obiedinennie Telesystemi. If the deal is completed, Comstar
will become a monopolist at Armenia’s local market and besides, will
get a solvent base of users of international communications. “The
volume of international traffic to and from Armenia is great. Three
quarters of Armenians live outside Armenia, so demand for services
of international communications is great there,” said a partner with
the company ACM-Consulting Mr. Alexeev. As for Armentel cellular
business, MTS is making a profitable acquisition. “Penetration of
cellular business in Armenia is four times lower than in Russia,
so potential of the market is very high,” he added.
Despite this fact, other key Russia’s operators are cautious about
Armenia’s telecoms assets. MegaFon announced that the company is
not interested in Armentel, “Purchase of Armentel is not the only
way of entering into Armenia’s market.” Altimo holding company
(manages Alfa-Group’s telecoms assets) denied comments on the plans
concerning Armentel. However, in 2005 representatives of Altimo were
negotiating with OTE about Armentel. However, the deal never took
place – according to the sources close to Altimo, the parties did not
agree upon the value of the asset. The experts say that suspicious
attitude to Armentel is explained by the fact that any Russian buyer
will inevitably face with the same problems as OTE faced with.
Armentel’s unstable state at the market is one of the problems. Its
primary shareholder VivaCell (sells services under brand K-Telecom)
appeared at the market in July, 2005 but already serves 350 000
subscribers and, according to Armenia’s experts, will leave Armentel
greatly behind by the end of the current year.
Besides, Armenian market of fixed communication is regulated by the
state strictly. “OTE insisted on increasing tariffs and introduction
of per minute payment. However, the parliament of Armenia does not
want to compromise,” said director of the department for corporate
finances at Deutsche UFG Mr. Inshutin. “This was one of the reasons
of friction between OTE and Armenia’s power.”
In conclusion, Russian telecoms workers emphasize that Armentel is
de facto deprived of monopoly at a long-distance communications market.
“Experience shows that black market of long-distance and international
communications is flourishing and expanding in Armenia.
We watch that 25-30% of telephone traffic from Armenia is generated
not by Armentel but by unknown IP-operators without licenses and
permission,” said senior vice president at Corbina Telecom Mr. Malis.
“This anarchy may reduce Armetel’s investment appeal,” he added.