Armenian premier says Lebanese ties “harmonious”
Arminfo
11 Jul 06
Yerevan, 11 July: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today
received a government delegation headed by Lebanese Foreign Minister
Fawzi Sallukh.
Markaryan noted that there are no political problems between Armenia
and Lebanon, Arminfo learnt from the government press service.
Bilateral ties are developing harmoniously and there is a sufficient
legal framework for the development of cooperation, the prime minister
said. He added that the sides have rich cooperation experience within
international organizations and it needs further deepening.
Markaryan noted the need to resume the work of the Armenian-Lebanese
intergovernmental commission which has become less efficient following
the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The three joint practical projects signed with Hariri’s participation
remain topical and can be implemented, but certain efforts need to
be made.
During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for cooperation in
the areas of finance, tourism, agriculture, insurance and culture.
Under agreements reached, the sides will organize Days of Armenian and
Lebanese culture in the two countries. It is planned to open branches
of Lebanese banks and set up joint enterprises in Armenia. A number
of joint Armenian-Lebanese companies are already operating in Armenia.
[Passage omitted: Markaryan thanked Lebanese MPs for recognizing
massacres of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; Sallukh praised contribution
of ethnic Armenians to the development of Lebanon]
[Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1323 gmt 12 Jul 06 reported that Sallukh
was received by President Robert Kocharyan on 12 July. At the meeting,
they praised the high level of bilateral ties]

Azeri court jails youth activists
Turan news agency
12 Jul 06
Baku, 12 July: Judge Tofiq Pasayev of the Court for Serious Crimes
today passed a sentence on the three leaders of the Yeni Fikir (New
Thought) opposition youth movement.
The court found the leader of the organization, Ruslan Basirli, and
his deputies Ramin Tagiyev and Said Nuri guilty under Article 278 of
the Criminal Code (coup attempt).
Ruslan Basirli was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, Ramin
Tagiyev – to four years and Said Nuri to five years’ suspended
imprisonment with a probation period of three years.
Thus, the court recognized the arguments of the prosecution that the
Yeni Fikir movement was intending to seize power in the country by
force. By way of confirmation, the court pointed to the testimony of
a number of witnesses and video recordings.
It is notable that the sentence was read out in the absence of lawyers
who were not invited to the trial. At the same time, the staff of
the court did everything possible to let members of the public and
journalists find out about the sentence as late as possible.
It must be remembered that the trial of Yeni Fikir leaders started
on 31 March 2006. The charges were based on a hidden video tape made
in Tbilisi during Basirli’s meeting with two people, one of whom
was allegedly Armenian. The Armenian gave Basirli 2,000 dollars to
“develop democracy” in Azerbaijan. Later on, this tape was used by
the investigation to accuse Basirli of cooperating with the Armenian
intelligence service.
[Passage omitted: Other details of the investigation]

Did lawyer assist Arturs to lie?
Questions now linger about Ngatia’s role in the Armenian’s saga
By HASSAN KULUNDU
Kenya Times
July 12 2006
In October 2003 when about 20 judges were dismissed from the Judiciary
on allegations of corruption and professional malpractice, it was
held that the purge on the Bench would be incomplete if it was not
extended to the Bar. The reckoning was, for every corrupt judge,
there is at least a corresponding corrupt advocate to complete the
equation. To this end, the Law Society of Kenya was also called upon
to purge its ranks of corruption by smoking out corrupt lawyers.
But commenting on the so-called radical surgery in the Judiciary,
Nairobi lawyer and author of the ‘Black Bar’, Paul Mwangi, said that
corruption would still thrive in Kenya’s judiciary despite the purge
because the legal profession in Kenya is devoid of any philosophical
essence.
Said he: “It means nothing to be an advocate of the High Court of Kenya
apart from having passed a law degree exam and done four months study
at the School of Law. The profession has no sense of ethic and has
not come up to be an integral part of industry, public administration
and social morality.”
It is in view of the foregoing that we wish to analyse the actions of
one Nairobi lawyer, Fred Ngatia, and his relationship with the now
infamous Armenian brothers- Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan. Mr
Ngatia has been named by a witness at the Kiruki commission as among
the people who organised a press conference addressed by the Artur
brothers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s VIP lounge.
Witnesses at the Commission now say that the press conference was
stage-managed by the Arturs’ handlers to dupe Kenyans into believing
that they had just arrived from Dubai on the morning of the media
briefing. On the contrary, it is said, the two had all along been in
the country.
If that testimony turns out to be true, then the most disturbing
thing would be that a lawyer offered his professional assistance to
dupe Kenyans. God forbid, because the Law Society of Kenya should
be gnawing its teeth over how one of their members could lend his
professional hand to such a misadventure that smacks of a threat to
national security. Before we look further into the role of Fred Ngatia
into this alleged charade, let us glean into the legal profession
itself and the rules of engagement that bind those who administer
it professionally.
The legal profession is the vocation based on the expertness in
the law and its application. This function is manifest in the work
of the advocate and the judge in the process of trying and deciding
cases. A lawyer as counsellor, is also an adviser and negotiator and
may help in shaping a transaction so as to avoid disputes or legal
difficulties or so as to achieve advantages for his client. Since the
Artur brothers have never been on trial in Kenya, it can be assumed
that Fred Ngatia was representing the alleged brothers in other
matters such as avoiding legal difficulties and or achieve certain
advantages for them on the day of the press conference.
In executing his tasks, a lawyer has several loyalties, including
loyalty to his client, to the administration of justice, to the
community, to his associates in practice and to himself. These diverse
and at times competing loyalties must be reconciled with wisdom. It
is the purpose of professional codes of practice to effect this wisdom.
As professionals, the choices and pursuits of lawyers are guided by
certain codes of conduct variably referred to as ‘professional ethics’,
‘legal ethics’ or ‘judicial ethics.’ These in essence are the rules of
conduct and precepts which legal practitioners, advocates or judges,
are required to adhere to in the course of executing the requirements
of their craft as well as extra-professionally while they remain in
the profession. They provide the norms, principles and values in terms
of which lawyers’ ethical conduct is judged in order to protect the
general public against professional misconduct.
The importance of and need for commitment to ethical values is
expressed by providing for sanctions against those who do not conduct
themselves according to the laid down principles. This state of
affairs points to the fact that absolute obedience to the rules of
the profession remains the ideal for pursuance by legal professionals
and an oath is taken as a promise and commitment to remain faithful to
the requirements of the profession. This is enforced by the provision
that, any conduct directed towards non-commitment to professional
values must for that matter face disciplinary action for professional
misconduct or unprofessional conduct.
In this regard, lawyers are required among other codes to represent
clients with utmost diligence and at the same time maintain the
honour and dignity of the profession. In view of these professional
requirements, Articles 2 and 6 of the 1988 edition of the International
Code of Ethics of the International Bar Association holds that,
lawyers shall at all times maintain the honour and dignity of their
profession. They shall in practice as well as in private life abstain
from any behaviour that may tend to discredit the profession of
which they are members, and that lawyers shall without fear defend the
interest of their clients without regard to any unpleasant consequences
to themselves or any person.
In view of the role played by lawyer Fred Ngatia in the press
conference at JKIA addressed by the Artur brothers, the question is,
assuming that Mr Ngatia was representing the legal interests of his
clients, did he know that the Artur brothers were out to dupe the
Kenyan public? If he knew, then this is a clear case of a lawyer
willingly and knowingly lending himself to the perpetuation of
a mischief.
If this was the case, where then was Mr Ngatia’s responsibility as a
lawyer in maintaining the dignity of the legal profession? And could
this be a case of professional misconduct?
This is however not to suggest that the Artur brothers have no right
to a lawyer, their abrasive character notwithstanding. But it is
something else all together when a lawyer willingly and knowingly
lends his professional services in commission of a crime- assuming
that the Arturs indeed stage-managed an arrival from Dubai on the
morning in question.
As it stands out now in view of the information known to the public,
it appears that Mr Ngatia chose to uphold fidelity to his clients’
course without regard to any unpleasant consequences and at the expense
of his loyalty to the Kenyan people. However, so long as it has not
been proved that the Arturs lied about their arrival from Dubai on
the morning in question, Mr Ngatia remains innocent.
But if it is established that they lied about the arrival and that Mr
Fred Ngatia knew about it, then the lawyer should ideally be censured
by the appropriate authority and punished accordingly if convicted
of taking part in the commission of a crime. And here again the Law
Society of Kenya should be wary about those members of the legal
fraternity who engage in improper acts to conceal the consequences
of clandestine activities.

Beseiged Kuria alleges cover-up at inquiry
By EMMANUEL ONYANGO, MAXWELL MASAVA
Kenya Times
July 12 2006
Senior Counsel Gibson Kamau Kuria was yesterday reprimanded by the
Kiruki commission for misusing his presence at the inquiry to push
the agenda of the Armenian brothers through shrewd cross examination
of witnesses.
Kuria who represents Winnie Wangui, daughter of Narc activist Mary
Wambui, was further faulted for wasting the commission’s limited time
frame through his lengthy, and at times digressing cross-examination.
So grave were the accusations against Kuria, that commissioner Ahmed
Isaac Hassan interjected and asked him to clarify on whether he had
been instructed by Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan to represent
them at the inquiry.
Kuria has in previous sessions overtly defended the activities of
the Artur brothers during the infamous security breach at the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), contending that the duo had been
provoked by the public and Customs officers into drawing out guns. The
lawyer has also been accusing Customs officers who had witnessed the
standoff of making up tales in order to fix the Armenians.
Trouble started in yesterday’s session when Kuria, during
cross-examination, accused Charles Nambale – the Customs officer
assaulted by Artur Margaryan, of being in the payroll of unknown
politicians who had instructed him on what to say.
“I put it to you Nambale, that you are in the payroll of politicians
who have instructed you on what to say. I also put it to you that
you and Ochieng, created this fiction of a person drawing guns at
the airport,” he thundered.
Assisting Counsel Dorcas Oduor immediately interjected to seek for
the commission’s ruling on whether Kuria should be allowed to roam at
large in his cross-examination, or whether he should restrict himself
on matters touching on his client.
Oduor: Honourable commissioners, I don’t wish to interrupt the
cross-examination, but it is an opportune time that Dr Kamau defines
the description of his client. It also time for the commission to
tell us the scope of his cross-examination.
Kuria: As an officer to this commission, I’m trying to assist the
commission to discover the truth. My client has been portrayed to the
public media of being involved with the men who did these things. My
client has been given the opportunity by law to defend her dignity
and I have a duty to clear her name.
Otherwise if cross-examination is not allowed and things remain as
the media has been saying, then even the Assisting Counsel will be
involved in a cover up.
Etemesi (Commissioner): Dr Kuria, I have repeatedly heard you saying
‘My instructions are that the Customs officer refused to prepare
an inventory for the luggage that were seized.’ Are these what your
client told you?
Kuria: One of the witnesses assisting my client (Winnie) has provided
information to the effect that the refusal to have an inventory
prepared is what sparked off the incident.
My client has investigated the matter and has information on what
happened, and it is through cross-examination that we can verify
this information.
Hassan (Commissioner): It would appear, therefore, that if you continue
this way you will be appearing for the Artur bothers. This Commission
has previously had lawyers who have come to represent the brothers
and then vanish. Have you received instructions from the Arturs?
Kuria: I have no instructions from the Arturs. But I have a duty as
an officer of this court to help the Commission to get to the bottom
of this evidence.
Hassan: But you should not misuse your leave to appear before this
commission. You should also not be misused by other people who are
not before this commission.

They are on politicians’ payroll, say lawyers
By MAXWELL MASAVA, EMMANUEL ONYANGO
Kenya Times
July 12 2006
Witnesses credibility queried
LAWYERS appearing for individuals adversely mentioned at the Kiruki
commission yesterday claimed that some witnesses were on the payroll
of unnamed politicians to lie to the commission.
Lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria appearing for Winnie Wangui yesterday
accused two Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials who appeared to
testify yesterday and Tuesday, of having been ‘paid’ by politicians
to appear and lie to the commission.
Kuria said two senior customs officials attached to Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport had created fictitious stories surrounding the
Arturs’ gun drama at the airport to cover up the truth.
He accused Charles Nambale, a senior revenue official and Nelson
Ochieng of having lied to the commission about the Arturs drawing
out guns at the baggage hall.
Similar sentiments were raised at the commission last week when a
lawyer appearing for suspended CID director, Joseph Kamau, accused
another witness as having been ‘hired’ to give evidence.
Jane Ondieki told the commission that Dominic Opar Owiya, the
security manager at Panari hotel was a “witness on hire” and needed
investigations. The commission later launched investigations into
the claims.
Yesterday, Dr Kuria said that witnesses were lying to the commission
and a failure to seriously cross-examine them would lead to hiding
the truth and hurting those who have been adversely mentioned.
Ondieki appearing for the suspended CID director put Nambale to task
over his age.
She challenged the witness to tell the commission why he had lied
about his age to doctors who treated him after the scuffle.
Nambale, who still claimed to be in pains of June 8 scuffle told
the commission that he had erred by putting his age at 49 when he
visited doctors.
His actual age is 52.
He caused laughter at the hearings when he told the commission that
he was poor in mathematics and would revisit the hospitals to rectify
the anomaly.
Ondieki had sought clarification as to why the commission should
trust evidence of a man who had lied to doctors to get medical forms
and P3 forms.
The witness had a difficult time in explaining how he was injured as
the medical reports indicated that he was bruised on the head and
knee, despite his earlier account where he denied ever having been
punched in the face or suffering injuries in the legs. He told the
commission that the Arturs only pointed a finger in his face and he
never fell on the ground to suffer bruises.
However, the senior customs official who appeared a day after his
junior, Nelson Ochieng, caused light moments at the inquiry when kept
on asking for pain killers to contain the pain he now had to contend
with following the confrontation with the Arturs.
He told the commission that he was willing to sue the Artur brothers
over assault if he was to be facilitated with their true names and
pictures.
“My lords commissioners I may apply that you assist me with their
names and pictures to enable me sue them.”
Medical reports from Nairobi Hospital and Nairobi West Hospital where
he had sought treatment showed he had been treated of severe head
bruises, disjointed hip-joint and a sprained right leg, and that he
had since been on psychotherapy and pain killers.
He at one point requested to be served with a pair of Panadol tablets
to reduce recurring pains from the beatings he received from the
Arturs.
Though contradictory, the witness insisted that so severe was the push
from the Armenian that he dislocated his hip joint in an attempt to
resist the push that would have confined him to “the grave.”
Last week, Ondieki claimed that Owiya who had appeared at the
commission to testify on Arturs’ presence at Panari Sky Centre the
same evening, was a known “witness on hire” who had testified in a
murder case involving businessman, Kamlesh Pattni.

Artur punched customs officer at Airport
By Carol Gakii ( Thursday, July 13, 2006)
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
July 12 2006
The Kiruki commission Wednesday heard how one of the two alleged
Armenian brothers assaulted a senior customs official and drew guns
to scare away a surging crowd at the Jomo Kenyatta international
airport earlier this month.
Charles Nambale told the commission that Artur Margaryan was enraged
when he insisted on retaining the baggage belonging to a passenger
Margaryan was meeting for duty verification on the goods.
He also narrated how Margryan attempted to grab his airport security
badge from him. Margrayan allegedly punched Mr. Nambale as the customs
official wrested back the badge, in the ensuing commotion.
Margaryan let go off the badge, taking off from the baggage hall exit
towards the parking lot.
The officer says he is still under medication following the injuries
sustained from the attack by the foreigner.

Russian minister tells Armenians checkpoint to open in late July
Arminfo
12 Jul 06
Yerevan, 12 July: The Kazbegi – Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the
Russian-Georgian border, through which Armenia delivers agricultural
cargoes to Russia, will be fully opened in late July 2006, Russian
Transport Minister Igor Levitin told a news conference in Yerevan
today.
He said that when the decision to close Verkhniy Lars for repair was
taken and construction work was being taken, Russia was sure that
the second border crossing, (?Nizhniy Zamarak), which is equipped
with all necessary infrastructure to receive and dispatch cargoes,
was operating. “Therefore, it is incorrect to say that Russia closed
the border,” the minister said.
However, later it emerged that Georgia stopped allowing Armenian
cargoes through this checkpoint, he noted. “We are negotiating
with Georgia so that it temporarily allow Armenian cargoes through
the second border crossing and we will do our best to use it,” the
minister said.
He noted that Armenia was not notified in advance that the checkpoint
was being closed for repairs.
[Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian 0955 gmt 12 Jul 06 said
that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Levitin discussed the
closure of the checkpoint and the latter told Kocharyan that the
reason for the closure was construction work]

Georgian president says G8 to decide future world politics – fuller version
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
11 Jul 06
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has said that the forthcoming
G8 summit in St Petersburg will determine the future direction of
world politics. He was speaking at a news conference in Tbilisi
broadcast live by Imedi TV and other Georgian networks. Saakashvili
again described his meeting with US president George Bush on 5 July
as “historic” and said that Bush’s support for Georgian territorial
integrity and membership of NATO carried “much more weight” than
statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said that
Russia had reacted to his meeting with Bush by increasing pressure
on Georgia but noted that Georgia would not bow to the pressure
as it would be counterproductive anyway. Saakashvili also accused
Moscow of attempts to overthrow the Georgian government. He said that
Georgia should act quickly and decide on its future in the CIS and the
future of the Russian peacekeepers in Georgia. He rejected Putin’s
suggestion that Georgia should follow Russia’s example in Chechnya
and hold independence referendums in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. At
the end of his 42-minute news conference, Saakashvili also hinted
about an imminent government reshuffle, but said that it would not
involve “dramatic changes”. The following is an excerpt from the news
conference broadcast by Imedi TV on 11 July; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
Successful visit to Washington
[Presenter] We are going live to the State Chancellery where the
Georgian president’s news conference for Georgian journalists is
about to start.
[Saakashvili] Hello everyone. This is my first meeting with you since
my official visit to the United States of America. I would like to
tell you again what our delegation and I thought after meeting with
President [George] Bush: For us, this was a historic visit held at
a historic time.
Generally, US-Georgian relations have been very intensive. You
know that many presidents visit Washington but I should tell you
that President Bush does not meet every one of them. The presidents
of several other countries also visited Washington just before my
visit, but their meetings were usually limited to the level of the
[US] secretary of state and other levels. Since I became president,
in two and a half years, I have had three official meetings [with
the US president] in addition to many other brief meetings. This is
a very intensive process.
Besides, this was not just a meeting with the US president. We also
had a separate meeting with US Vice-President [Richard Cheney] at his
home, where he invited the Georgian delegation, which was attended
by the chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the US Energy
Secretary. The day before, the vice-president attended the meeting
with President Bush along with some other cabinet members. We had
talks with almost all senior officials of the US administration.
G8 summit “will absolutely determine” future of world politics
This was a historic event because of its timing as well. You know
that a G8 summit will take place in St Petersburg in a few days’
time. The G8 summit will absolutely determine where the world will
be heading in the coming years and in the coming period. It will
determine that because everything is being decided now. Is this a world
where everything is determined by arms, money, oil, global strategic
interests, where there is no place for small countries, where deals
are made behind the backs of small countries and their fate is decided
by others, or is this a world where morals, principles and the freedom
of various nations are as important as has been declared for decades
by the free world, a world where the voice of small countries can
be heard?
Before the G8 summit, the Georgian president met with the Russian
president. And then he was the last visitor to Washington. By the way,
it was on the day of President Bush’s 60th birthday and US Independence
Day, which was a very symbolic coincidence. We managed, more exactly,
we were invited to Washington to the last consultation held before the
summit. I think this a very clear indicator of our small country’s
role in global politics. We are taking part not only in shaping our
fate and defending it, but, because of exceptional character of our
people and because of exceptional events in our recent history, we
are also taking part in shaping the interests of global politics and,
what is most important, in finding our place in all this. This is
the most important thing for us. I, my friends or even our country
really have no ambition to be global players. We simply have our
small interests, which are big interests for us.
However, our country is at the focal point of these global interests.
Today we have very powerful friends, but this comes at a price –
we also have very powerful enemies. All of us should realize this
very well.
Bush’s position “carries much more weight” than Putin’s statement
This meeting was historic because for the first time the president of
the world’s only superpower confirmed openly and without any conditions
his direct support for Georgia joining NATO. Perhaps some people did
not pay much attention to that, but I am well aware of the value of
all that. This is an offer of completely new guarantees for Georgia
by the world’s most powerful country. Secondly, the president of the
United States of America has absolutely openly confirmed his support
for Georgia’s territorial integrity at a time like this. The answer
from President Putin came the following day. He is still talking about
parallels between Kosovo and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, that is to
say, about dismembering Georgia’s territory. But the position of the
American president carries much more weight. His was an unambiguous
response to such statements by Moscow, and it was also stressed that
the statement was intended for Georgia’s neighbours.
There were many other interesting details as well. I think it was
very symbolic that we brought to the US president a letter which is
now an exhibit at the [Tbilisi] museum of the [Soviet] occupation.
Khevsurs [natives of the mountainous Khevsureti region in northern
Georgia] wrote this letter to the then US President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt in 1936. [Passage omitted: describes the letter, says
Georgia is “in the centre of the fight for freedom”]
Georgia enjoys “unanimous support” in the West
Just look at the press articles about Georgia around the world. They
are full of admiration and support. None of our neighbouring countries
or any other small country in the world has ever had such unanimous
support of the Western public opinion. At least I cannot recall
anything like this. It was not the same even a year ago. After the
Rose Revolution, there was some sympathy, but today we have a different
kind of support. This is a country that has achieved results, this is a
country that has proved that it is stronger than many other countries.
The US administration’s support is one thing. President Bush visited
Tbilisi [in May 2005] and, of course, it was a historic visit as
well. However, I cannot recall such unanimity among the US political
spectrum. On the one hand, there is the Republican administration. On
the other hand, there is a large group of Democratic Senators. There is
also the democratic press which constantly criticizes the current US
president. But there is an amazing unanimity of opinion with respect
to Georgia. The Washington Post alone, which is the main critic of
the Bush administration, carried three large articles sympathetic to
Georgia. And The Wall Street Journal published a whole saga praising
Georgia. [Passage omitted: says positive public opinion about Georgia
in Western countries is very important]
Georgia will resolve conflicts with “or without Russia”
This is our great asset. However, our country is also facing
challenges. Some people sometimes forget what is going on. Sometimes
I hear complaints that someone is so tired of all this talk about our
achievements and victories. But we are not an ordinary country. We
are a country that is not yet at war – thank God and God forbid,
we will do everything to avoid being dragged into such a situation –
but Georgia is under massive attack. A cruel economic embargo has been
imposed on Georgia, the cruellest ever imposed in Europe. A few days
ago, our last route of relatively free travel to our neighbour Russia
was cut. There are attempts to wage a huge propaganda war against us,
slander us and present us in a bad light. They are failing anyway,
but there are attempts. Georgia is a country against which a huge
amount of money is being spent. There are forces gathering near our
border and attempts of subversive actions within the country.
Under such pressure, we must make decisions. I did everything
possible before and during my meeting with President Putin. We are
offering Russia to arrange another meeting in Moscow after the G8
summit. However, the time for decisions on the peacekeeping forces
is approaching. Behind these peacekeeping forces, the annexation of
Georgian territory is continuing. This is taking place today and has
been taking place daily with particular intensity in recent months.
Behind these peacekeeping forces in the Tskhinvali region [South
Ossetia], daily threats are being made to the lives and safety of
Georgia’s citizens of every ethnicity. We must make decisions. We are
waiting for this debate to take place in the Georgian parliament. We
must make decisions on staying in the CIS. We are no longer going
to continue deluding ourselves on this issue. We are calculating
everything. No step will be taken that will in any way harm even a
single Georgian entrepreneur, at least as far as we are concerned.
However, given our past and current problems, we must make these
decisions, which will be fundamental for our future.
At the same time, the peace process should continue. On this issue,
we have full support of America and the absolute majority of European
countries. These are not just Georgia’s efforts to resolve its
conflicts peacefully. These are efforts of the entire international
community to have a dialogue with Russia. That is because today no-one
except Russia has a key to the settlement of these conflicts.
However, we should understand that we will resolve these conflicts,
hopefully together with Russia, or without Russia. I and my friends are
not going to wait indefinitely for Russia to resolve our problems. We
want a peaceful settlement of these issues. We will fight for peace
to the end, but we must resolve these issues. We are not going to
postpone it indefinitely.
[Passage omitted: briefly touches on his visit to Croatia on 10 July
where he attended a regional summit on EU and NATO integration]
US Vice-President to visit Georgia
I would also like to tell you that there are some visits being
planned. We have agreed that US Vice-President [Richard Cheney]
should visit Georgia in the next few months. As you know, he is the
second highest ranking official in the United States. It was unusual
itself that we had a separate meeting with the US Vice-President. If
someone meets the president, he does not necessarily meets the
vice-president separately, in the same building. This was another
emphasis on our status. And the TV coverage of our visit was amazing
too. I cannot recall anything like this. It was a kind of coverage
usually given to a visit by newly elected British prime minister or a
newly elected Israeli prime minister. [Passage omitted: recalls that
he felt humiliated when during former President Eduard Shevardnadze’s
visit to the United States the then Georgian president was almost
ignored by the US media]
We should use this. I do not need these meetings in order to collect
photographs of my meetings with world leaders or newspaper articles
about me. This is not my function. All this is an asset that we
will spend for Georgia’s development and unification. No-one should
entertain any illusion about this. This is not a goal in itself
or a cause for complacency. We will be happy and content only when
Georgia is a united, peaceful and developed country. This is the main
goal. I am not telling you all this just to brag about my meetings. We
should understand that all this increases our chances of achieving
our main goal.
Georgia not going to send troops to South Ossetia
[Saakashvili] Questions, please.
[Question] Representatives of the de facto government have said
that unofficially [in Washington] you have been given green light to
carry out military operations in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Could
you please comment on this? What is Russia’s role?
[Saakashvili] I would like to begin by saying that Georgia takes
decisions on its own. We have immense respect for our devout friend,
the president and the administration of the United States of America.
However, I am not a leader who goes somewhere to get permissions. We
no longer have in this world masters issuing instructions to us. This
is the main appeal of freedom. This is the main appeal of freedom
that I am proud of.
On the other hand, I think this is just the same people crying wolf
again and again. I remember how people were saying two years ago
that we would attack [South Ossetia] next week, in two weeks’ time,
in a months’ time or in two months’ time.
I visited Orpolo [military training ground in southern Georgia]
and I saw a miracle there. What is happening in Orpolo, our army
spread across a vast field, our army that we are putting together
brick by brick, piece by piece, bit by bit from the day I and my
friends occupied these offices. I do not know whether we have ever
had manoeuvres of this kind, involving so many people with so much
training, in the history of Georgia. Probably not. In the past,
Georgians didn’t have time for manoeuvres. They moved straight to
business. Men assembled and off they went. They probably didn’t hold
major manoeuvres before Didgori [battle in the 12th century]. These
manoeuvres are probably larger than any big battle in our history.
I am saying this because there is talk again that there are troops
in Orpolo from where they will go to Tskhinvali. I would like to
say that the troops are not going to Tskhinvali from there. However,
everyone should know that any attempt to stage acts of provocation
in Georgia, any attempt by anyone to drive people of any nationality
out of any district, or to destabilize the situation in Georgia on
a large scale by attacking energy supply facilities or imposing a
blockade and taking us by the throat [changes tack] – I know that a
scenario for a larger scale energy blockade than we had last winter,
this January to be more precise, is being drawn up for [the coming]
winter. Someone may even have ideas to do something in Georgia. We
will respond in a stronger manner than we ever could in the past.
This does not mean that we want disorder. We do not want disorder
because our economy will grow at a rate greater than nearly anywhere
else in the world. We do not want disorder because billions are
being invested in the country, because tourists have started to come,
because two new airports are being built and because Georgia is once
again becoming a country where good news happen. It is not just about
explosions, murders, eliminations and clashes. No, it is becoming a
country of positive news. I know full well what any kind of military
confrontation means. It means going back to the starting point. It
is clear that we are moving forward. Naturally, I would be happy if
we were moving forward at a much faster pace and I will do everything
for our moving forward to continue at a much faster pace.
Saakashvili to spend summer holiday in reservist camp
By the way, you know about the reservist movement. I am very proud
of these people. I was very pleased when [Georgian rap singer] Leksen
enlisted as a reservist. I assure you that sleeping in a tent, working
out in mud and making 10-km runs every day for two weeks isn’t much
of a pleasure. One may enjoy it for one hour but probably not for
two weeks. Many good professionals took leave from their jobs and
enlisted as reservists.
I intend to use my summer leave to spend two weeks at a reservist
camp as an ordinary reservist. The president is a citizen just as
anyone else. He has the right to [annual] leave just as anyone else
does and also has the right to go on holiday wherever he likes. It
will be my pleasure to go on holiday to one of the reservist camps.
You should understand that being a reservist does not mean being in the
army. The army is one thing and the reserve is another. Our reservist
groups can be used in many other ways. I think that this will be a good
page in my biography. I talked to [Defence Minister Irakli] Okruashvili
today. He is already selecting a camp where I can do this job for two
weeks together with other patriots. I am very proud of this by the way.
Next question, please.
Georgia will not bow to Russian pressure
[Question] Good evening. Mr President, the [closure of the] only land
border crossing between Georgia and the Russian Federation [recognized
by Georgia] has caused a new round of tension in Georgian-Russian
relations. The Russian defence minister said that Russia was fortifying
its border with Georgia. A month later, the Larsi border crossing was
closed due to repair works. What can be the reason behind this? How
should we assess this?
[Saakashvili] I think this is precisely what we are saying. This is
a direct response to our talks in Washington. Let us say it openly:
there is an official policy of government change in Georgia. But
it is not about Georgia alone. Georgia has become a symbol for the
Ukrainians, Belarusians, Central Asians and people of many other
regions of the world in the fight for freedom and the protection
of their interests. Our overthrow and strangulation will mean a
major triumph for evil and – I do not want to use a pathetic tone –
opponents of freedom.
Once they realized how much support we have from the West and from the
leader of the western world in particular, the first thing that came
to their minds after some deliberation [changes tack] – apart from
the statements that we should hold a referendum in Abkhazia similar
to the one held in Chechnya. I certainly do not want a referendum
similar to the one in Chechnya to be held in any part of Georgian
territory because in Chechnya the referendum was held at the cost
of 100,000 people being killed, at the cost of every small building
being destroyed, at the cost of an enormous human tragedy.
Is that the kind of referendum they are suggesting that we hold in
Georgia? I can just say that totally unacceptable statements are
being made.
This was their message: You are welcome to travel to Washington but
we will take away your territories. But do you think that they will
not take them away if we don’t go? Quite the opposite, they will
take them away if we don’t go. This hysterical reaction towards us
is the manifestation of feebleness and some kind of revenge – if you
do this we will do that. But as soon as Georgia loses support of the
free world, Georgia’s ill-wishers will carry out their plans. And the
next thing was the closure of Larsi. I can’t say that this affects us
economically because Georgian exporters hadn’t been using that route
anyway. This is bad for people, particularly for Armenia. I can’t
understand what Armenia has done wrong. Armenian goods and people used
this route. Georgian goods were not allowed to use the crossing anyway.
I really have no difficulty talking to President Putin. He is always
an equal and frank interlocutor. By the way, on a personal level,
talking to him is easy for me. I think he is quite a talented man,
a very talented man in defending his country’s interests. So we will
talk, we will talk. However, no-one should entertain any illusion,
including ourselves, that if we kneel down and humiliate ourselves
someone will give us back something or will ease pressure. As soon as
they see that we are scared and retreating, that’s when our end will
come. This is not in the spirit of the Georgians. [Passage omitted:
says that Georgia was able to overcome the January 2006 energy crisis
because “everyone was mobilized, including children”]
Our people understand that we should respond to such pressure by
consolidation and courage. They should see that we are not scared
and we are not going to fight with each other. Instead, they will
see that we know very well what is behind these attacks. And we will
emerge stronger. Therefore, of course I am not happy that the Larsi
crossing is closed, I am not happy that Georgian wine is banned,
I am not happy and I think Russians themselves are not happy that
they cannot drink Borjomi [mineral water], but [changes tack] –
I can tell you more. Recently, when we visited St Petersburg, our
journalists went to a local restaurant together with their Russian
colleagues. By the way, as it happens, I was not made to wait for
any of my meetings in America, but there [in St Petersburg] it so
happened that the meeting was delayed for several hours. Naturally,
I did not wait and I went to have dinner at a very good restaurant
discovered by my aide Nato Qancheli. Georgian journalists also went
to a restaurant together with their hosts. Georgians never wait for
anyone, humbly standing at the door. A waiter, who did not know that
they were Georgians, told them: We have a good French wine, Chilean
wine and something else, but if you really want to enjoy it, we also
have a smuggled Georgian wine. Now, maybe I should not have said this,
the restaurant may get shut down, but that’s what really happened.
This shows that even in that society [changes tack] – they are our
traditional allies. Let’s say it, no matter how much racist and
anti-Georgian sentiments are aroused, these are just temporary. We
and Russians have nothing to argue about. I told President Putin that
he and I personally had nothing to argue about. He did not create
these conflicts. I was not here when they were created. Sometimes it
strikes me that if at the time of the Abkhazia war we had had even a
tenth of international support we have today, nothing like that would
have happened. I was a cursed time and cursed circumstances. The huge
tragedy in Abkhazia happened at the most unfavourable time, when the
country was in disorder. We should not make the same mistake again.
No “dramatic changes” planned in government
[Question] There are rumours about possible changes in the cabinet
after [Environment Minister] Giorgi Papuashvili’s possible appointment
as a member of the Constitutional Court. Are you going to appoint
Papuashvili there? Which ministers are likely to lose their posts? Will
this affect power-wielding ministers?
[Saakashvili] First of all, I should say that the government is a
living organism. As you know, corrections and changes have been made.
However, the cabinet has been very stable over the past year and a
half. We never hesitated to carry out experiments as well, I always
wanted to achieve an optimal arrangement. Naturally, such changes
will continue, but generally my team will stay as it is. Individuals
may be replaced, generally, but the policy will stay unchanged.
As regards concrete changes, let’s see. Decisions about Papuashvili
will be made jointly by me and [parliament speaker] Nino Burjanadze.
We will decide what to do when the parliament chairwoman and I agree.
By the way, Nino Burjanadze is going to address the UN [Security
Council] today and I hope her mission will be successful. It is
important to explain our problems to the UN.
As regards other changes, I do not expect any dramatic changes.
Frankly, lately I have been slightly surprised by hysterical tone
of some political entities. [Passage omitted: criticizes unnamed
opponents for launching personal attacks on “families and personal
dignity of others”, says that democracy and free speech is “still the
best system”, speaks about Croatia’s example of unity in restoring
the country’s territorial integrity]

EU warns Turkey over freedom of speech after court upholds journalist’s conviction
AP Worldstream;
Jul 12, 2006
The European Union on Wednesday warned Turkey over freedom of speech
provisions in its penal code after a court confirmed the conviction
of an Armenian-Turkish journalist accused of insulting the country’s
national identity.
“I am disappointed by this judgment, which limits the exercise of
freedom of expression in Turkey,” said Olli Rehn, the EU official
overseeing Turkey’s membership talks with the 25-member bloc.
A Turkish high court on Tuesday confirmed a six-month sentence imposed
on Hrant Dink for the crime of “attempting to influence the judiciary”
after his bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper ran articles criticizing
a law that makes it a crime to “insult Turkishness.”
The EU has frequently warned Turkey that its efforts to join the
union could be hampered by article 301 of the penal code, which sets
out penalties for insulting the Turkish Republic, its officials, or
“Turkishness,” and has been used to bring charges against dozens of
journalists, publishers and scholars.
“Freedom of expression is a key principle” of the criteria for EU
membership, Rehn said in a statement.
Although Tuesday’s court ruling postponed the application of Dink’s
sentence and asked a local court to review the case, Rehn said it
set an example that could be followed in other cases under article 301.
He said it showed that Turkish courts had failed to apply the law in
line with EU standards.
He said the EU will review the situation toward the end of this year
in a progress report on Turkey’s membership negotiations. The EU
has warned it could suspend the membership talks this year if Turkey
fails to meet EU accession requirements.

Is Kuria an undercover lawyer for Armenians? By Patrick Mathangani and Biketi
Kikechi
The Standard, Kenya
July 12 2006
Is Senior Counsel Gibson Kamau Kuria representing the Artur brothers
through the backdoor? That is the question the Kiruki Commission of
Inquiry had to wrestle with on Wednesday.
Kuria, who is on record for Narc activist Mary Wambui’s daughter,
Winfred Wangui, was taken to task after he appeared to be defending
the bogus Armenian brothers, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan.
A commissioner, Hassan Isaack, took Kuria to task, telling him that
as an officer of the High Court appearing for a client, he should
not be seen as being misused by others not present at the commission.
Lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria cross-examines a witness at the Kiruki
Commission of Inquiry at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre,
Nairobi, on Wednesday. Pic by Jacob Otieno
“Do you have instructions from the Artur brothers?” Hassan asked Kuria,
adding: “If you continue with this line of questioning, it will appear
that you will be taking over the brief of those who were turned away.”
Last week, lawyer Oscar Avedi appeared before the commission inquiring
into the activities of the brothers and sought leave to represent them.
Big cover-up
But commission chairman Shedrach Kiruki turned him away because it was
not clear whom he wanted to represent as the real Artur Margaryan and
Artur Sargasyan lived in the city of Yerevan, Armenia, and the United
Arab Emirates and had never been to Kenya, according to Interpol.
However, Kuria said he had no instructions from the Artur brothers
and assured the commission that he would comply with its directions.
“But whether it is the Artur brothers or not, I have the duty of
assisting the commission in finding the truth,” said Kuria.
He accused the assisting counsel of a big cover-up, and urged the
commission to find out the truth on the Armenian saga either through
cross-examination of witnesses or through other people.
Assisting counsel Dorcas Oduor had interjected while Kuria was
cross-examining a witness, and sought to know who Kuria’s client was.
Just as in the previous day, Kuria put it to the witness that it
was the Customs officers that had provoked the Armenians. He claimed
the Arturs had not drawn guns at the airport as alleged by Charles
Nambale and Nelson Ochieng.
Derogatory racial slurs
Kuria also accused Nambale of being on the payroll of politicians.
Oduor at this point sought to know the limit of Kuria’s brief because
he was putting statements to the witness when it was clear his client
was not at the scene.
“If his instructions are different from what we have on record,
then there must be another witness who is instructing him… but
for purposes of clarity, it is important for us to know his limit,”
said Oduor.
And in another day of high drama, graphic details of the combat
abilities of the Arturs emerged, with a Customs official re-enacting
a brutal assault on him by the brothers.
During the attack, the official was punched and humiliated with
derogatory racial slurs. It was the first witness account to
corroborate what has only been widely published in the local media
about the alleged Armenians, described variously as international
crooks on the run.
Racial epithets
On Wednesday, Nambale – himself a self-defence artist trained in the
United Kingdom – moved the commission with an account of his moments
of horror at the hands of Margaryan.
Still in pain even as he testified, he pleaded for pain killers. The
commission obliged. He narrated how the brothers hurled racial epithets
at him, calling him a “stupid African” and a “black African monkey,”
Nambale said.
His crime: He refused to clear the guests Margaryan had come to
receive at the airport after they declined to pay duty.
The guests claimed the goods they had brought in, including seven
CCTV cameras and a receiver, were worth Sh40,000 but he judged they
were much more expensive and attracted more duty.
When he refused to clear them, a protocol officer from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs asked him to “talk to Winnie” but he declined
because he could only take orders from his own boss.