The Standard (Nairobi) Kenya
June 10, 2006
Leaders: State is hiding something
By Ben Agina
Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday read conspiracy on the part of
the Government in deporting the four Armenians.
Uhuru said the Armenians had not broken any immigration rules to
warrant deportation, but had committed a crime that called for
prosecution.

Artur Sagarsyan and Artur Margaryan await deportation pensively at
the Kenya Airport Police Unit

“The Armenians had committed a criminal offence and they should have
been charged and prosecuted. The Government is in this,” said Uhuru.
Speaking on telephone from the US, Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka
said the Armenians should not have been here in the first place.
Kalonzo said it was clear from the beginning that the Armenians were
people with ulterior motives.
Uhuru said it was shocking that foreigners could threaten Kenyans.
He said it was not enough to deport the Armenians, adding that they
should have faced the full force of the law.
“Why should you deport people who have entered our security area and
failed to pay duty?” he asked.
Uhuru wondered whether the Armenians were above the law for them not
to face charges. He said the Government should be held accountable
for their failure to prefer charges against the Armenians.
Kalonzo said now that they had committed a crime, they should be
charged.
The Liberal Democratic party chairman, Mr David Musila, said the
incident witnessed at JKIA on Thursday breached the security of the
country.
“As LDP we had raised concerns that these were mercenaries with
ulterior motives,” said Musila. Musila, who is also the Deputy
Speaker, said the President owes Kenyans an explanation after some
senior ministers earlier defended the Armenians.
“Kenyans must get an explanation on who was protecting the
Armenians,” demanded Musila. Musila accused some people in Government
of protecting the Armenians.
He also wondered whether Kenya’s security is at the mercy of
foreigners.
Musila congratulated the Commissioner of Police Major-General Hussein
Ali for the action he took against the Armenians. Kabete MP Paul
Muite said the behaviour of the Armenians at the JKIA was insulting.
“If you were in a foreign country and you enter a security area and
behave like that you could be dead by now,” said Muite.
He wondered why the Armenians were spared when they threatened to
shoot Immigration officials at the airport.
Muite, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and
Administration of Justice, said the Armenians have been part of their
discussions since the raid on The Standard Group premises on March 2.
He said the committee hopes to summon the Commissioner to brief them
more with the unfolding events.
Muite also congratulated the police commissioner and expressed
optimism that the due process of law would be followed. LDP
secretary-general Joseph Kamotho yesterday asked Internal Security
minister John Michuki to tell Kenyans why the Armenians were being
deported instead of being charged in court.
Kamotho said the Internal Security Minister had assured Kenyans that
the Armenians were being investigated.
“Now that they have committed a crime, why are they being let off?
What Kind of cover-up is this by Government?” posed Kamotho.
“If the Government has nothing it fears the Armenians would expose,
they should not have been deported,” they said.

Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
Writer at home with Armenians
Story by ADHYAMBO ODERA
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
Being a celebrity in Kenya is simple – hang around a clique of people
that consider themselves celebs.
It didn’t take the Artur brothers long to figure that out.
When Mr Artur Margaryan invited some writers for a party, I at first
shunned it. I didn’t want to mix up with the man after what had been
reported about him – mercenary claims and all.
The second time our paths crossed was at the Chaguo la Teeniez Awards
(Chat). The man arrived in style. By his side, was a woman wearing a
lot of gold. He once said he spent Sh150,000 a day to entertain his
girlfriend.
I wondered why he was at the ceremony. Chat awards are for musicians,
actors, DJs and radio presenters.
I was answered when he took the stage to present a prize to a shocked
musician Amani, then gave comedian and Chat MC Mongolo Sh10,000.
The following week, he threw a party at his Runda residence. I went
to satisfy my curiosity. But getting there at 7pm wasn’t easy.
Luckily, he had hired guards from a security firm to escort guests to
the house he shared with his brother Artur Sargsyan.
At the gate, another man, possibly Armenian, had a walkie talkie. He
would ask guests their names and confirm it with Mr Margaryan before
letting them in. But guests had to be escorted, owing to the 12 guard
dogs, which looked ready to maul a stranger.
As my escort ushered me into the house, I noticed that the five or so
luxurious cars in the compound had their number plates covered, and
my escort was uncomfortable with me lagging behind checking out the
compound.
At the garden, a few local celebs had already gathered. I went
straight into the house. It was not well furnished – expensive
leather seats thrown together rather hurriedly, I thought.
One thing struck me. Someone in that house loved art, and expensive
pieces too.
Mr Margaryan was at the office, but his brother greeted me
cheerfully. When I finally met him at the office, where an associate
was winding up a meeting, he greeted me with a polite smile.
I noticed that he wanted to mingle with the crowd, but people seemed
uncomfortable with his hug. Some turned up for the party and left
immediately.
I stayed on to find out more. He told me he was in love with Kenyan
music. He wanted to contribute to its growth by investing in it, he
said.
He also said he had a record label back home and wanted to create
stars. Not for the money, though, he said. He knew where to market
them and make money. In the meantime he wanted people to know that he
was a great man, with interest in show business.
The musicians in question were in attendance, and he chatted with
them. He also posed for photographs with almost everyone. But
remembering what happened to Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka, I opted
out.
The brothers had claimed they knew the MP and had taken a picture
with him.
What came out clearly is that Mr Margaryan has style, a sense of
humour and is always prepared with the right words.

Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
The incident that sparked police action
Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
The arrests were triggered by an incident at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport, Nairobi, in which one of the brothers
allegedly assaulted a Customs officer, who blocked their way as they
left the airport.
Mr Sargsyan and a woman colleague had arrived from Dubai and were to
be received by a business tycoon and Mr Margaryan in a convoy of four
vehicles. The tycoon had made arrangements for the brothers to enter
the arrivals section and clear a consignment of closed-circuit TV
cameras and monitors, which had arrived from Dubai as unaccompanied
luggage.
It was not established why the brothers were allowed into the
international arrivals lounge with firearms. A licensed gun holder is
required to surrender it to the security who hold it until he leaves
the airport.
But, according to a source, Customs officers who inspected the
luggage had turned away a courier the brothers had sent to collect
the consignment, demanding that they pay duty for the equipment.
Demand for duty
The source said the Armenians demanded to know on whose order the
officers were demanding duty, and vowed not to pay it. Mr Margaryan
was said to have pushed the officers out of the way and walked out,
saying that their bags were never searched.
Sources said their aide then grabbed the bags, placed them on a
trolley and pushed it out as Mr Margaryan drew a gun and threatened
to shoot anyone who dared block their way out of the airport.
A minister’s bodyguard who happened to be at the airport, also drew a
gun and dared Mr Margaryan to shoot. The Armenian put his gun back
into the holster and walked out.
Another Customs officer who tried to stop them was hit and injured by
one of the brothers before they walked to the main exit, jumped onto
waiting vehicles and sped out of the airport.
Police commissioner Hussein Ali summoned airports police boss
Beatrice Nduta to his Vigilance House office to find out how the
brothers and the businessman had driven out of the airport without
being intercepted.
The four-vehicle convoy left the airport past armed General Service
Unit officers and passed road-blocks on their way to Runda.

Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
Speak out on country’s security, Opposition MPs tell President
Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
Opposition MPs yesterday asked President Kibaki to address the nation
on security in the country following the activities of two Armenian
brothers.

Residents of the city’s Runda estate gather outside the home of the
Artur brothers after a police raid yesterday.Photo by Joseph Mathenge

They also demanded the sacking of Internal Security minister John
Michuki for failing to guarantee the safety of the country from Mr
Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan.
The leaders, who spoke separately to the Nation, said an incident in
which the two brothers stormed the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport wielding guns must be explained by the President.
In addition, the Government should explain why it allowed the two
foreigners, who were two months ago accused by some politicians of
being mercenaries, to possess guns, fake number plates and to import
cars.
Protecting Armenians
Opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, Liberal Democratic Party chairman
David Musila and secretary-general Joseph Kamotho, Orange Democratic
Movement spokesman Mutula Kilonzo and MPs Paul Muite, William Ruto,
William ole Ntimama and Charles Keter, want the Government to explain
who was protecting the Armenians.
Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargsyan should face criminal charges in court
alongside their Kenyan accomplices, the leaders said.
Attempts to deport them, they added, meant the Government was hiding
something sinister.
Said Mr Kilonzo: “These people must be arraigned in a court here for
committing an offence on Kenyan soil. They should not be deported.”
Mr Musila and Mr Kilonzo said the foreigners should have been taken
to court to explain why they allegedly had a GK vehicle, diplomatic
and government car number plates, 15 vehicles, and why they assaulted
Customs officials.
Mr Kilonzo said the two men could not be prosecuted anywhere else and
deporting them would merely be giving them safe passage.
Mr Muite said the Government was in a rush to deport the two Armenian
brothers to cover up for their activities, and accused top government
officials who were the brothers’ “god fathers and mothers” of being
behind a “stage-managed deportation”.
Mr Muite, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and
Administration, said: “We have learnt with regret that there are
plans to deport the two, and if that happens, it will amount to
obstruction of justice,” he told reporters at Parliament Buildings.
Mr Muite warned top officials that one day they would be called to
account for their actions, saying: “It does not matter how high up
those involved are, justice will prevail,” he said.
The conduct of the Armenians, said Mr Muite, was an affront to the
sovereignty and dignity of Kenyans.
The MP praised the commissioner of police, Major-General Hussein Ali,
for ordering the raid into the Runda home of the two brothers.
The leaders wanted to know how foreigners could force their way into
the country, threatening junior government officers and sneaking in
uncustomed goods, in total disregard of the law.
The leaders termed the action at the airport by the two men a threat
to national security and which must be explained by the President
since his Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, had done
nothing.
If there was no clear explanation, Kenyans would believe that the
country was under the rule of foreign mercenaries, they added. Mr
Musila said: “The President swore to defend the Constitution of the
country. We are left with no alternative but to ask him to give the
public an explanation as to why the security of this country has been
compromised.”
Mr Musila, Mr Kamotho and Mr Ruto said the Orange Democratic Movement
had questioned the presence of the Armenians but the Government had
dismissed them.
Mr Kamotho said: “We are now vindicated… we issued a statement as
ODM saying these people were up to no good… Kenyans saw them
forcing contraband goods into the country.”
He recalled that the Government defended the Armenians when he asked
a question in Parliament about their business in the country.
Mr Kilonzo added: “All this vindicates us in the Opposition that
there are mercenaries in the country who are here with the knowledge
of the Government.”
Mr Musila said they expected heads to roll and Kenyans would be
watching President Kibaki’s actions keenly in the next few days.
Mr Kenyatta said the activities of the two brothers could no longer
be tolerated.
Speaking at the Garden Hotel in Machakos, shortly before the start of
a Kanu workshop, Mr Kenyatta said the scuffle at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport on Thursday night was enough justification that
the foreigners were engaged in questionable activities.
The leaders said it was a serious breach of security to allow
foreigners to threaten government officials meant to ensure the
country’s safety.
Law Society of Kenya council member Evans Monari said it was illegal
to deport the two brothers without first charging them.
Deportation should come after they have served a sentence, if
convicted, he said.
Reported by David Mugonyi, Tony Kago and Bob Odalo
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
Unveil puzzle on Armenians
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
The Government owes Kenyans a lot of explanations following the
dramatic events that led to the arrest of the controversial Armenian
brothers.
This is the Government that officially assured us that the alleged
mercenaries were honest and genuine investors.
It is the Government that made all manner of accusations against
those raising queries about who the Armenians really were, what they
were doing in this country and why they seemed to enjoy State
protection.
Even when the fellows started acting in an arrogant manner that
should have been embarrassing to their hosts, they remained
untouchable as if confident that they enjoyed protection from the
highest office in the land.
Well, the chickens have come home to roost. The fellows have gone a
bit too far and somebody finally has had the courage to act.
The so-called investors are finally in police custody and now we
expect that the Government will be constrained to take the necessary
measures.
If they have committed any crimes, then they must be made to face the
law. Any move to spirit them out of the country before a full
investigation into their activities will be seen for what it is – a
desperate attempt at a cover-up.
The Government must also answer so many lingering questions. In the
first place, an embarrassing and very scary security breach was
witnessed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.
Some individuals refused to open their luggage for inspection by
customs officers and brazenly forced their way out as the police
looked on helplessly.
An airport, especially in these days of terrorist threats, arms
smuggling and drug trafficking, is a high security area. How a few
individuals can send the entire airport security force cowering as
they defiantly drive away calls for a very serious probe.
Who gave them the security clearance to strut like tausi freely
around the most sensitive areas at the airport? Whom did they call to
seek intervention before making their getaway? How did they manage to
leave the airport without being challenged despite all the heavy
security?
There followed a police raid at their Runda residence, where items
were seized. A proper explanation must be provided for the haul of
car number plates – including for GK and diplomatic cars – and other
items found in the house. There was even a GK vehicle parked in the
compound!
The investigations must be thorough and culminate in the two men
being charged in court.
Deporting them before full and proper investigations are concluded
will be a pitiable attempt to prevent the truth from coming out.

The Standard, Kenya
June 10 2006
Expulsion isn’t all; explain this saga

June 8 will be remembered as the day foreigners intoxicated with
impunity tried to put our national security agents to shame – and
failed.
That night, foreigners who had hitherto strutted the length and
breath of our country with incomprehensible arrogance assaulted at
least one security agent and drew guns at others at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport – a restricted security area – thereby
triggering a terror alert.
The notorious foreigners of dubious origin claiming to be brothers
and investors from Armenia – Artur Margaryan and Artur Sagarsyan –
have many times asserted that no force in the land can touch them, at
least twice dared our Police Commissioner to visit their residence
and face unspecified consequences and once asked our internal
security minister to shut up.
All this time, nothing was done to them even as senior politicians,
led by LDP leader Raila Odinga, claimed that they were mercenaries on
hire. This paper even carried a Page One comment urging action on the
foreigners for asking our minister to shut up.
Shockingly though, that minister defended the foreigners in
Parliament where he said it was not his responsibility to act against
investors merely demanding their money back from their debtors.
While appreciating that someone has finally acted on the Armenian
menace, we wish to emphasise that their deportation is not enough to
put the matter to rest.
First, as we report elsewhere, the foreigners had been issued with
VIP Government passes giving them access to all areas of all our
airports. What was the compelling reason for the Government to issue
such passes to these two foreigners?
Second, after the Government-sponsored raid against the Standard
Group in March, Raila claimed that the two foreigners led the illegal
raid in which the entire raid crew was hooded. The Government has
failed to explain why official security agents had to wear hoods.
That notwithstanding, part of the arsenal police recovered at the
residence of the foreigners yesterday morning were balaclavas similar
to the ones the raiders wore. Is this a coincidence or is there a
link the Government needs to explain?
Third, the deportation of the foreigners before standing trial in
Kenyan courts raises a lot of questions. The foreigners had valid
permits to live and work in Kenya subject to our laws. Is the
Government trying to hide something by hurrying to deport them
without trial?
Fourth, the manner in which this whole saga was handled from the
start stinks to high heaven: Government officials contradicted each
other, and often themselves, over such minor details as the
nationality of the foreigners; the exact nature of their business
here has been kept secret; and the foreigners’ registered business
partners remain tight-lipped on what their business partnerships
entail. Who was protecting these foreigners? And what does that say
about the people tasked with guarding our internal and national
security?
Our position is that the country’s national security has been
seriously compromised. For a modicum of confidence in it to be
restored, the Government – specifically President Mwai Kibaki – must
immediately replace those tasked with its management beginning with
Mr John Njoroge Michuki, the internal security minister, if Michuki
himself fails to see it fit to resign.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IFEX, Canada
Int’l Freedom of Expression eXchange
June 10 2006
Court acquits fifth journalist who criticised conference ban

Français: Un cinquième chroniqueur accusé d’injure aux autorités
judiciaires a été acquitté
Country/Topic: Turkey
Date: 09 June 2006
Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Person(s): Murat Belge
Target(s): journalist(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): acquitted
Urgency: Bulletin
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed an Istanbul court’s
decision on 8 June 2006 to acquit Murat Belge, a columnist with the
daily “Radikal”, of criticising a judicial ban on a conference about
the Armenian genocide, for which he had faced a sentence of up to 10
years in prison.
“Belge’s acquittal is good news for press freedom in Turkey,” the
organisation said. “The judges recognised that his criticism of the
judicial authorities was not a crime. As a result, he has avoided an
extremely severe sentence that would have been a disgrace.”
The court dismissed all the charges against Belge, who criticised the
ban in two articles in September 2005. Similar charges against four
other journalists were dropped in April.
MORE INFORMATION:
For further information, contact Annabelle Arki at RSF, 5, rue
Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 67, fax: +33
1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Church Executive Magazine, AZ
June 9 2006
NCC joining world summit of religious leaders
MOSCOW, Russia–The National Council of Churches USA met here with
representatives of six major religious traditions from 28 countries
to plan the World Summit of Religious Leaders that will take place in
Moscow July 3-5 – two weeks prior to the St. Petersburg G8 summit.
The group, convened in late May at the invitation of the
Interreligious Council of Russia, was hosted by the Russian Orthodox
Church in the Moscow Patriarchate. It included Dr. Antonios
Kireopoulos, the NCC USA’s associate general secretary for
international affairs and peace, and representatives of other
Christian faith groups as well as Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Taoist
and Hindu leaders.
“It is very important for the powerful world leaders meeting later
this summer to hear from a broad cross-section of the world’s
religious leaders,” said Dr. Kireopoulos. “We want to make sure the
G8 leaders hear the concerns of religious communities around the
globe,” he said on returning to his New York City office.
The G8 summit is attended by the leaders of the world’s top economic
powers — the U.S., Russia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy
and Japan.
“Ways of overcoming terrorism and extremism” was one of many
potential topics for the summit listed in a communique from the
planning group for the meeting next month. Other challenges they
listed as topics were overcoming poverty, morality in economy,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, respect for other
religious traditions, human rights and ecological responsibility.
Communicating these concerns to political leaders illustrates the
fundamental role that faith plays in today’s societies.
“The role of religion in public life around the world has always been
important though recognition of its role is only now coming into
focus again,” said Dr. Kireopoulos. “Faith leaders can offer the
moral touchstone for political leaders as they come together to make
their decisions about the stewardship of this planet and all its
peoples,” he said.
The NCC will be represented at the July summit by Bishop Vicken
Aykazian, president-elect of the NCC and a bishop in the Armenian
Orthodox Church and by the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, chair of the
NCC’s Justice and Advocacy Commission. Kinnamon, a St. Louis
resident, member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and
professor of mission, peace and ecumenical studies at Eden
Theological Seminary.
The religious leaders attending the planning meeting came from
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, China, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Romania,
Russia, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and
the Vatican.
“There was an incredible spirit of cooperation within this planning
group,” said Dr. Kireopoulos. “It is inspiring to see people of such
varied faiths and backgrounds go beyond their many differences and
come together for a common purpose, the common good of all humankind
and the planet we all inhabit.”
The National Council of Churches is America’s Christian ecumenical
voice, encompassing 35 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and historic
African American and peace churches with nearly 45 million members in
100,000 congregations.
Source: NCC News at
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 9 2006
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR FOCUSED ON UNIVERSITIES STABLE DEVELOPMENT TO
BE HELD FRIDAY IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. International seminar focused on
universities stable development is to be held Friday in Yerevan.
Armenian State Engineering University’s press service says that the
seminar is organized as part of TEMPUS-TACIS JEP project.
The aim of the project is to discuss and amend the University’s
strategic scheme for training its administration members and that for
running its branches in provinces.
Representatives of French, Italian, Maltese and the U.S. universities
are expected to come to Armenia for the seminar.
Representatives of TEMPUS Office in Armenia and Italian and French
embassies in Yerevan will attend the event as well. M.V. -0–

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 9 2006
CONFERENCE `SEISMICALLY ISOLATED HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS’ TO BE HELD IN
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. An international conference `Seismically
isolated high-rise buildings’ is to be held in Yerevan on May 15-17,
2006.
According to the information received from the American University of
Armenia, five meetings, an international exhibition and visits to the
sites of construction of high-rise buildings are to be organized as
part of the conference.
The conference will be held on the initiative of the International
Association Antiseismic technologies.
The conference has been organized by the American University of
Armenia and the Armenian Association of Aseismic Construction. P.T.
-0–