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

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

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

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

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

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

NKR MFA: BAKU AGAIN TRIES TO DISTORT KARABAKH CONFLICT ESSENCE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 17:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The fact that official Baku does not cease attempts
to attribute religious nature to the Azeri-Karabakh conflict, based on
infringement of basic rights of the Armenian population of the former
Azeri SSR and Azeri party’s lack of desire to recognize NKR people’s
right to decide their fate themselves,” says a comment of the NKR
MFA to the Caucasian Knot portal over the final declaration adopted
at the latest forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Baku.
“At the 33rd session of the OIC FMs of the Azeri party made another
attempt to distort the essence of the conflict by presenting
Azerbaijan as a victim. Being unable to solve the issue within the
legal framework, Azerbaijan resorted to armed aggression against
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and ignored UN SC urges to stop
hostilities. The NKR MFA notes with content that in spite of the
increased militant hysteria in Azerbaijan, the OIC announced its
firm position that it is necessary to solve the conflict peacefully,”
says the NKR MFA comment, reports De-Facto.

US WANTS NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 17:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US is seriously considers the opportunity of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations within the context of
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, chair of the department
of Turkey of the National Academy of Sciences, Doctor Ruben Safrastyan
stated in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words,
the issue is a core one during the US-Turkish consultations.
“Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations favorable from
geopolitical point of view to the US, as well as to Armenia and
Turkey,” he remarked.

LINKING KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS INCORRECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:24 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By his latest statement new Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
Matthew Bryza probably meant that he understands the issue and
possesses information, Head of Hay Dat Office of ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Kiro Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, linking
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations is incorrect. “When Turkey opens the border
with Armenia, Azerbaijan will have to come to an agreement with the
Armenian party in the Karabakh issue. Turkey’s stand is the opposite:
it is going to open the border after settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict,” Kiro Manoyan said.

US SECRETARY OF STATE URGED TO REVIEW RECALLING OF JOHN EVANS
AZG Armenian Daily #118
27/06/2006
Four US congressmen, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone, Adam Schiff
and Joe Knollenberg, called on US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice
to review the recalling of US ambassador to Armenia John Evans. The
congressmen underscored that though John Evan’s recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is not the cause of recalling, all facts speak for
that presumption.
“By allowing John Evans to carry on his diplomatic mission in Armenia
the US would send a powerful signal to Turkey to recognize the Armenian
Genocide,” the congressmen said. In their letter to Mrs. Rice they
emphasized the need for the US to recognize the Armenian Genocide.