Shaking Things Up
By Sergey Chernov
Moscow Times, Russia
June 23 2006
Avant Music
The headliner of Avant Fest 2006 is Arab Strap, a Scottish band that
includes Malcolm Middleton (left) and Aidan Moffat (right).
Avant Fest 2006, to be held on Project Fabrika’s open-air stage
this Saturday and Sunday, was designed to fight Russia’s “musical
provincialism,” according to founder Maxim Silva-Vega.
Now entering its third year, Avant brings a slice of cutting-edge music
from the West, with many acts performing in Moscow for the first time.
“We are orienting toward modern rock ‘n’ roll and modern pop music,
toward [Britain’s] Glastonbury festival,” Silva-Vega said in a recent
telephone interview. “We want to be a festival like they have in
Europe, with relevant bands and a democratic atmosphere, where fans
can mix with the musicians.”
This year’s Avant, which has a lineup of 26 bands, including six
international ones, will be headlined by the Scottish indie legends
Arab Strap. Hailing from Falkirk, Scotland, the unusual-sounding duo
of Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton will perform Saturday night
backed by a full rock band.
“It’s a five-piece band, it’s very rock, as opposed to the other
bands we’ve had,” said Moffat by telephone from Dublin, Ireland,
where the band was performing last week.
According to Moffat, the band playing at Avant will be pretty much
the same as that used on “The Last Romance,” Arab Strap’s last album,
described by critics as its “lightest” and “brightest” record to date.
“I think we wanted everything a bit more immediate,” he said of the
album. “We wanted to catch people’s attention a bit quicker than
[on] our previous records. On the older records, you have to really
spend time with them and listen to them and give them your attention,
and I suppose the idea was that it was going to be quicker.
“You know, not commercial or anything like that, but just a little bit
more approachable and certainly more melodic and tuneful. And it does
have a happy ending as well. There aren’t many of our records that have
happy endings, but this one has a nice, big, bright, happy ending.”
To achieve this new feel, Arab Strap — which has been around for 10
years and took its name from a sex-shop device — had to change its
modus operandi drastically.
“How we normally work is, you know, we just get together after a year
or two, and then we both have things we’ve been working on, and we just
bring it together,” Moffat said. “We don’t really normally do demos and
things like that, but we did do it for our last album. It was the first
time we really had the songs written before we went to the studio.”
With Scotland in the limelight again thanks to the success of the
Glasgow-based Franz Ferdinand, Moffat said that his homeland tends
to draw everyone’s attention once in a while.
“It always comes round every five or six years, the spotlight on
Scotland again,” he said.
Apart from Arab Strap, Avant Fest will feature Oceansize, a loud
five-piece progressive rock group from Manchester. Also from Manchester
comes BigFinn, whose style ranges from folk to electronic.
BigFinn features brothers Colin and Norman McLeod, who run the Moolah
Rouge studios in Manchester and came to Russia earlier this year as
the additional musicians to I Am Kloot.
Other international acts include Why?, a band based in Oakland,
California, that blends indie rock and hip-hop; the French “new
chanson” artist Dominique A; the melancholic indie-pop band Refree,
from Barcelona, Spain; and the experimental, instrumental trio Plokk,
from Hamburg, Germany.
The Russian bands taking part in the festival are either established
club acts — such as the woman-fronted Deti Picasso, which plays
guitar alt-rock with a touch of Armenian folk, and the post-rock
outfit Silence Kit — or up-and-coming acts such as 2H Company,
the hip-hop crew from the suburbs of St. Petersburg.
Avant Fest 2006 runs Sat. and Sun. starting at 4 p.m. both days
at Project Fabrika, located at 18 Perevedenovsky Pereulok. Metro
Baumanskaya, Elektrozavodskaya. Tel. 265-3935. For a complete schedule
of concerts, see

Azerbaijan Has No Problems But Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 16:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Our number one problem is the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Unfortunately, there is no progress in this field at
all. Talks are going on but without any result”, President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said. Against all the odds, he continued,
Azerbaijan tries to use capabilities of talks in full. “Now we don’t
hope for international regulation mechanisms. We cannot get along with
this situation. We will never get along with loss of our grounds. We
will never let Nagorno Karabakh apart from Azerbaijan and this is
not the subject of talks,” Aliyev said.
“We highly appraise the efforts and decisions of international
organizations in settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We highly
appraise the work of the OSCE Minsk Group. They really do their best
to settle the problem. How long we will take part in talks? How long
shall we wait? Our patience is not boundless,” Aliyev added.
“Azerbaijan today faces no problems but Karabakh. Therefore,
all necessary funds shall be allotted to form the army”, Aliyev
said. “Azerbaijan lives in the state of war and army formation should
be the matter of great importance. Even today, army is paid big
attention to. We work in all directions on strengthening the army. It
is necessary to allot funds from the state budget to raise the army
and we do this. During the recent three years our military expenses
rose 4 times. They totaled in $135mln in 2003, while in 2006 this
amount equals to $700mln. And our plans include raising this amount”,
Ilham Aliyev said.

VUE Weekly, Canada
June 22 2006
SYSTEM OF A DOWN FOR THE COUNT?
BRYAN CARROLL / [email protected]
If lately it seems that every time you walk down Jasper Avenue you’re
looking at a new poster for System of a Down, you’re onto something.
Whether it’s for the double album the band decided to release in two
parts spaced months apart, or for the seemingly unending tours that
followed, System of a Down have been making their presence felt in
Edmonton almost as much as girls with their Oilers jerseys pulled up
around their ears have been lately.
System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, who actually lived in Canada
for some time after his family fled Lebabnon because of civil war,
explains that he and the band are always thrilled to tour in Canada.
“I lived in Toronto for four years and really enjoyed it. I love
coming back,” he says. “We’ve developed a really nice following in
Canada.”
That “really nice following” the band has developed must have been
dismayed to learn recently that, following the band’s Canadian dates
and headlining tour with Ozzfest, System of a Down will be taking an
indefinite hiatus to work on solo projects.
For most of the band’s members, these solo projects will be of a
similar nature to their previous work; Dolmayan’s project, however,
is decidedly un-musical.
“I have ideas to do a small comic book-based business,” explains
Dolmayan, who will most likely also play drums on a few tracks of
each of his bandmates solo efforts.
On another non-musical topic, much ado has been made of System of a
Down’s Armenian ancestry and their push to have Turkey finally
recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
While stressing that these issues are of grave importance to the
band, Dolmayan laments that “the press made a much bigger deal of us
being Armenian than we ever did.”
The press “couldn’t explain us,” he says, because System of a Down
didn’t totally fit in with the embarrassing nu-metal movement they
were unlucky enough to be lumped in with. And when System of a Down
outlasted the nu-metalheads, the Armenian connection received more
ink.
“When people started asking [about our shared ethnic backgrounds],”
Dolmayan explains, “our reaction was to bring up the issue of the
genocide,” in an attempt to use the press to spread their message.
Fans can expect that the band’s political views, which also include a
definite anti-war/anti-Bush stance, to be on full display Sunday
night, along with the heavy and intelligent music the band is known
for. V
Sun, Jun 25 (7 pm)
System of a Down
With Hatebreed, Bad Acid Trip
Rexall Place, $35.50 – $55.50

NKR High-Ranking Officials Begin U.S. Visit
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 16:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 23-30, 2006 Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Foreign Minister
Georgi Petrosian will visit Boston, New York and Washington, DC for
a series of political and economic discussions aimed at garnering
stronger support for NKR, while highlighting Karabakh’s progress
during almost 15 years of de-facto independence. NKR leaders will
meet with Bush Administration officials, Members of Congress and the
Armenian-American community.
In Boston, Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian will meet
with Massachusetts State Assembly representatives, leaders of the
Boston area Armenian-American organizations and members of the Armenian
Community. In New York and New Jersey, the delegation will meet with
major supporters of NKR and take part in community events. On June
26 – 30, NKR senior officials will be in Washington D.C. to discuss
issues related to the settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan and
increased humanitarian and development assistance.

Nagorno Karabakh FM: Granting autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh is out of Baku competence
Regnum, Russia
June 22 2006
Recently, Azerbaijani Republic FM Elmar Mammadyarov claimed readiness
to grant Nagorno Karabakh the highest status of autonomy adopted in
the world, including the one equal to Tatarstan’s status within the
Russian Federation.
Nagorno Karabakh Republic FM Georgy Petrosyan commented on the issue,
REGNUM correspondent in Stepanakert reported.
“The statement, unless it is another propagandistic ploy, means
that the Azerbaijani leadership is ready for their country’s
federalization. From this viewpoint, one would hope that the
above-mentioned status will be granted to Lezgins, Talyshes, and
other nations residing in Azerbaijan. As for the NKR, with which the
Azerbaijani leadership avoids any contacts, it should be underscored
that official Baku cannot grant any status to Nagorno Karabakh, as the
issue is out of Azerbaijan’s competence. Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s
status is determined within the legal framework by the nation residing
here. The essence of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict is that the
Azerbaijani party failed to resolve issues of the kind and resorted
to armed aggression.”
“Official Baku continues to ignore the reality where the NKR’s
independence is the greatest value of the Republic’s people that
has been declared at a nation-wide referendum on state independence
December 10, 1991. The NKR people not only protected their right to
be in charge of their own fate in the course of the imposed war, but,
for the last 15 years, at least 7 times reaffirmed their will via
democratic nation-wide presidential and parliamentary elections, when
they voted for programs of both individual candidates and political
parties that spoke up for the Republic’s state independence.”

ANCA Launches Action in Support of U.S. Amd. to Armenia John Evans
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 17:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will
be holding a confirmation hearing for Ambassador Designate to
Armenia Richard Hoagland on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:30pm in
419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The nomination hearing can
be viewed LIVE on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website
The Armenian National Committee of
America launches an action in support of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans. “This may be our last chance to get an honest explanation
about this controversy, before it is swept under the rug by a State
Department all too eager to erase this “inconvenient truth.” Please
take 60 seconds today to call your Senator and leave a message for
his/her Foreign Affairs Legislative Assistant asking them to take
action on this issue,” the ANCA statement says.
To remind, Amb. Evans’ recall was caused by the statement on the
Armenian Genocide he made February 19, 2005 at the meeting with the
Armenian community of California. “Today I will call it the Armenian
Genocide,” John Evans said.

Russia’s VimpelCom, MTS bidding for 90% stake in ArmenTel
21:13 | 22/ 06/ 2006
RIA Novosti, Russia
June 22 2006
ATHENS, June 22 (RIA Novosti, Alexei Bogdanovsky) – VimpelCom [RTS:
VIMP] and Mobile Tele Systems [MTSS] will be among four bidders for
a 90% stake in Armenian telecom company ArmenTel, the share’s owner
said Thursday.
Greek company OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA)
first said it was planning to sell the stake in Armenia’s fixed-line
communications monopolist and a mobile operator in April.
“OTE received a total of 10 non-binding offers for its 90% stake
in ArmenTel, the incumbent telecommunications operator in Armenia,”
OTE said Thursday on its Web site.
But Russia’s two largest mobile operators will face strong competition
from other foreign bidders.
“After reviewing the bids, the following companies were invited to
participate in the next phase of the sale process: a) AO Vimpelcom;
b) Mobile Telesystems (MTS) OJSC; c) The consortium, Emirates
Telecommunications Corporation (ETISALAT) / Istithmar PJSC /
Emergent Telecom Ventures (ETV); d) The consortium, VTEL Holdings /
Knightsbridge Associates,” OTE said.
ArmenTel’s turnover in 2005 was $140 million.
The Armenian government holds 10% in ArmenTel, which with about 330,000
users as of late March 2006 counts just over a tenth of the country’s
population as its clients.
The winner of the tender is expected to be announced after July 20.

Olli Rehn Fights EU Enlargement Fatigue
By Alison Smale and Dan Bilefsky
Focus News, Bulgaria
June 22 2006
22 June 2006 | 20:07 | International Herald Tribune
Olli Rehn, the European Union’s expansion commissioner, issued a
strong call Monday to European leaders to sell enlargement to voters
and not make it a scapegoat of larger policy failures such as high
unemployment and globalization.
“Enlargement blues could be called ‘unemployment blues’ or
‘globalization blues’,” Rehn, a Finn, said in an interview at his
office. “The origins are much deeper in our social fabric.”
Rehn, who has been responsible for enlargement for almost two years,
acknowledged that the policy was a tough sell. On vacation last summer
in France and Germany, he said, he heard popular criticism. “I am not
blind or deaf,” he said. “I could see there is a certain enlargement
fatigue.”
But, he argued, Europeans are often “more rational” than their
governments and can be sold on the notion that the absorption of eight
former communist countries and Cyprus and Malta – all of which became
members in May 2004 – has been a success story, uniting a Continent
previously divided by the Cold War.
“We should not make enlargement a scapegoat for our domestic policy
failures,” he said, adding, “The European Union has been better at
doing enlargement than communicating enlargement.”
For instance, the EU summit meeting last week ended with a statement
trumpeting the success of the May 2004 expansion. “That’s the kind
of thing I want to hear,” Rehn said.
Asked whether European politicians were doing enough of that kind
of talk once they left the summit halls of Brussels, Rehn mentioned
President Jacques Chirac of France as an example of someone who had,
in his view, done that, but declined – in the characteristic manner
of EU officials who must please 25 constituencies – to single out
countries that were not playing their part. When reminded that Chirac
must leave office within a year, he smiled and acknowledged that Chirac
would not be a candidate in next year’s race for the French presidency.
Enlargement “has been a success story,” Rehn said. “The EU should
have all the reasons to be proud of it.” Asked, therefore, why this
pride was not more palpable, he said it was linked to “bad feelings
and social discontent in many EU states.”
He also noted that the expansion in May 2004 was essentially
“yesterday’s news” when it happened because the EU and the new member
states had been so careful to negotiate economic, social, political
and other reforms in advance of membership.
That pattern, he noted, is continuing in the efforts to include new
members from the Balkans and in the case of Turkey.
The summit meeting was also dominated by talk of the 25-nation bloc
having reached its capacity to absorb new members. Rehn stressed,
however, that this was not so much a sign that Europe should not
expand but proof that it could not function smoothly without altering
institutions and operations to reflect that it was no longer a cozy
bloc of a dozen or 15 overwhelmingly West European states.
Romania and Bulgaria are the two nations due to join next, with a
review process this fall to determine whether or not the EU will
stick to the current date of Jan. 1 next year for their admission.
Turkey, which is not expected to complete membership negotiations
for another 10 to 15 years, poses much bigger questions.
Rehn said Turkey had made significant progress in reducing systematic
torture but that the pace of judicial reform guaranteeing freedom of
expression was “more schizophrenic.”
The prosecution of the Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk last spring for
remarks acknowledging Turkey’s role in the genocide against Armenians
in the early 20th century was “a disappointment in the beginning,”
said Rehn, who met Pamuk on his last visit to Turkey. Eventually,
however, the case was dropped – resolved in a way, he said, that
should serve as a benchmark for other cases concerning free speech.
He added that skepticism toward Turkey appeared to be softening
in the most unlikely of places, noting that France and Germany –
two countries where politicians and voters are highly critical of
Turkey’s projected EU membership – each awarded the maximum, 12 points,
to Turkey’s act in the recent Eurovision song contest.
Both Romania and Bulgaria have made progress in the key area of
judicial reform, Rehn said, but the EU needs to be sure that the
changes are genuine and likely to last.
Romania has made large strides in the past 18 months, he said, and
Bulgaria has started to do the same, but must stay the course.
Bulgarian legislators had to forgo some vacation last summer to put
necessary changes in place, he noted, and this summer it should be
the prosecutors and judges who stay at work to make convincing changes.
“We can’t say yet that it’s on the right track,” he said. When asked
to specify which changes would convince Brussels, he stressed: “We
can’t start a witch hunt and ask for a certain number of people to
be arrested because that would be against European standards. But we
need to be assured that countries, when they join, have functional
judicial systems.”
As for other Balkan countries – Albania and former Yugoslav republics
that are now independent – Rehn underlined the importance of sticking
to standards set by agreements such as the Dayton accords that
brought peace to Bosnia after the conflict of the 1990s or the likely
international accord now being negotiated on the status of Kosovo,
the Serbian province that has been under UN administration since 1999.
Asked how Balkan leaders could be expected to stick to such criteria
when the EU itself waives its own rules on such matters as national
budget deficits, Rehn said simply, “Of course, applying double
standards is incorrect and counterproductive.” The difference, he
added, is one of degrees.

Armenian FM: Offering autonomy to people controlling their lives on their own historic land is self-deception
Regnum, Russia
June 22 2006
Minister Vardan Oskanyan attended and addressed the first session
of the newly-formed UN Human Rights Council. The opening ceremony on
Monday was attended by UN SG Kofi Annan as well as High Commissioner
for Human Rights Louise Arbour.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry press service reports that in his
statement, on Wednesday, June 21, Armenia’s Minister congratulated
the Council on its inaugural meeting and wished the Council well in
its mandate to place the third pillar of the UN human rights on a
par with the other two, peace and security, and development.
The Minister said, “Globalization and the electronic media enhance our
knowledge and increase our liability. It is as easy to look into our
neighbor’s living room as our own. To hear the screams next door and
do nothing will be as difficult as ignoring uproar at home. We are now
the first generation who simply cannot afford to do so. And ironically,
we are the first generation that is able to afford to systematically,
fundamentally address the problems and even the crises. We can muster
the time, skills and resources to construct a new pro-active, daring,
spirited international system that not only has the moral authority
but also the tenacity to protect the powerless.”
The Minister addressed the linkage between human rights and
development. He said, “I know that it is only when the preconditions
for a full and free life of dignity are in place, only then are markets
powerful engines of development, only then is critical infrastructure
sustainable, and only then do individuals stand up to demand and
protect individual and collective human rights.”
He continued, “In Armenia, we are tackling this greatest challenge
through a public-private partnership that will engage the government
of Armenia, Armenia’s business community, the international community
and individual countries, as well as our generous Diaspora, to embark
on eradicating rural poverty through a comprehensive, integrated
approach. Our intent is to meet the Millennium Development Goals,
and to replace hopelessness and desperation with a sense of self-worth
and security.”
In speaking about Armenia’s neighbors and regional security,
Minister Oskanian noted that “Armenia has and continues to promote
stronger international mechanisms to prevent and eradicate the crime
of genocide, and all of its precursors including efforts, too often
successful, at not just cleansing a region of its indigenous people,
but also erasing their memory. Armenians have survived and gone on to
live through each of these attempts. Even today, in the 21st century,
we have watched helplessly as the spiritual and cultural markers of
our people are decimated.”
He went on to refer to the destruction of the Jugha Cemetery in
Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. “This violation of the memory and spirit of
centuries of Armenian existence on lands which are today Azerbaijan’s
is cynical and dangerous. These huge, exquisite, unique stone crosses
which were both sculpture and tombstone are now gone – 2,000 of
these medieval markers were destroyed just a few months ago. The
gravemarkers are gone, and Armenian and international fears that
Azerbaijan’s authorities might in fact not be serious about peace
have been reinforced. After all, their organized, violent, armed
response to peaceful calls for self-determination two decades ago,
was the first attempt at ethnic cleansing in the soviet space and
ignited the conflict which remains unsettled today. This most recent
manifestation of organized violence, in a place where no Armenians
live today, and far from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict area, tells
us that neither Azerbaijan’s methods nor its intent has changed. Such
unambivalent, callous demolition of culture and history also destroys
trust and peace.”
In speaking about the present state of negotiations with Azerbaijan
on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Armenian
Foreign Minister said, “If Azerbaijan’s one step forward, one step
back approach in the negotiations was simply alarming, their recent,
desperate offers of autonomy are concrete examples of a retreat
from the letter and spirit of these talks, and clearly not in sync
with international trends. Offering autonomy to a people who have
for nearly two decades been in control of their lives on their own
historic lands is at the very least, self-deception.”

The Standard, Kenya
June 22 2006
Kenya: Armenians: New Rules Could Shield Big Names
Cyrus Ombati and Joseph Murimi
Nairobi
Investigation into the Armenians’ saga has run into fresh trouble,
just a day after the Government attempted to block an independent
probe into the affair by two parliamentary watchdogs.
New tough rules published on Wednesday to govern the Shedrach
Kiruki-led commission of inquiry could gag the media and shield
influential individuals believed to be linked to State House and
suspected to have been involved with the Artur brothers. No witness
invited to testify before the team, for instance, shall be allowed to
adduce evidence relating to any matter prejudicial to the security
of State or that of the Head of State without the permission of the
commissioners.
The hearings are public, but this clause could be used to deny the
public first-hand access to information, which is in their interest.
The commissioners may also direct that the public shall not be admitted
to all or any specified part of the proceedings, a clause that could
also be used to bar the media from covering the proceedings.
Released just a day after Justice minister Martha Karua shocked
MPs with a statement in Parliament on Tuesday that the Government
had asked Speaker Francis Kaparo to rule on whether the two House
watchdog committees were legally constituted, the new rules reinforced
concerns that the Kiruki commission would not carry out impartial
investigations.
Renewed onslaught
The rules are published in a Gazette notice No. 4522, under the
Commissions of Inquiry Act Cap 102. Kiruki, who chairs the commission,
signed the notice. The commission will sit Mondays to Fridays from 9
am at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, beginning
next Wednesday.
It will inquire into the various wrongful, criminal or otherwise
unlawful acts and omissions, including breaches of security by
Artur Margaryan, Artur Sargasyan, Arman Damidri, Alexander Taschi and
others. And the Government was under renewed onslaught in Parliament on
Wednesday, where it was accused of attempting to scuttle investigation
into the Armenian brothers saga because it was heavily implicated.
In a letter tabled in Parliament, Kabete MP Paul Muite dismissed
arguments by Justice minister Martha Karua as without merit in law and
fact. Muite said the letter tabled by Karua in the House on Tuesday
should be seen for what it was – “an attempt to block impartial,
independent and thorough investigation into a matter where the
Executive is heavily implicated.”
Muite, who co-chairs the joint parliamentary committees probing the
Armenian brothers debacle, said emerging evidence showed the two
enjoyed close relations with powerful individuals within the Executive.
In the Gazette notice, Kiruki says individuals may be barred from
appearing before the commission for the preservation of order,
due conduct of the inquiry, and to protect the person, property or
reputation of any witness or person referred to in the proceedings.
No comment in the media
It remains at the discretion of the commissioners what names,
addresses or witness photographs may be published. Any person who
contravenes the order may be guilty of an offence and liable to a
fine not exceeding Sh10,000. Kiruki said a lawyer may represent those
implicated or mentioned.
The rules state that any person likely to be adversely mentioned by
any witness in the course of the public hearings shall be served with
a notice in advance and may appear in person or through an advocate
to cross-examine the witness. But Kiruki also cautions any such person
who would be adversely mentioned before the commission not to comment
on the allegations in the media.
It appealed to those wishing to give evidence to communicate with
the joint secretaries, indicating in writing the substance to be put
before the commission.
“The counsel assisting the inquiry will warn witness that after
examination-in-chief, they may also be cross-examined by him,” said
Kiruki in the notice.
The commission will have the right to “summon any person to testify on
oath and to produce any exhibits that the commissioners may require”.
On Wednesday, Muite told Parliament that for a long time the Executive
put up a spirited defence of the two Armenian brothers. He said that in
view of the gravity of the issues and the involvement of the Executive
arm, only Parliament can unravel the truth.
He said a President-appointed Commission of Inquiry cannot seriously
be expected to unravel the whole truth regarding the activities of
the two brothers.
He said unlike the joint committee that will report to Parliament,
the commission will report to the President.
Muite said it was in the public interest that the whole truth be
established.
“Parliament has the unique opportunity of restoring the dignity,
self-respect and sovereignty of the Kenyan nation by unravelling the
Armenian saga and letting the Kenyan people and the world know the
truth,” Muite says in the letter to Speaker Francis ole Kaparo.
He said the two brothers may have been involved in the raid on the
Standard Group that Internal Security minister John Michuki later
described as a “Government operation.” Muite said the two brothers
may have visited State House or been in the presidential entourage
to Uganda.
He further said the Arturs had committed a number of crimes and
the Executive’s move to hurriedly deport them instead of having
them charged in court was suspect, and so was its move to appoint a
commission of inquiry.
“Many Kenyans will be excused for seeing the commission as part of
a cover-up of involvement of individuals within the Executive with
the Armenians,” he said.
He said it was necessary to investigate whether Kiruki was part of
the Armenian saga, especially in his alleged capacity as a consultant
on security matters.
Muite asked Kaparo to consider those issues as he makes his ruling
and urged him to dismiss Karua’s arguments.
“The Joint Committee invites Mr Speaker to dismiss those arguments
off-hand as indeed they deserve. In so doing, he will be striking a
blow for public good and promoting public interest,” he said.
Parliamentary business
Separately, Karua insisted it was wrong for MPs to investigate the
deported Artur brothers’ saga when the President had appointed a
commission to probe it.
Karua stood her ground, saying she had raised “serious and legitimate”
issues in Parliament.
She criticised Leader of the Official Opposition, Uhuru Kenyatta,
for speaking on the matter outside Parliament.
“I raised a legitimate issue in Parliament because there are
serious issues that should be addressed,” she said in response to
questions from journalists about the Government’s attempt to block
two parliamentary committees from probing the Armenian brothers’ saga.
But she declined to comment further, saying it was before Parliament
and awaiting the Speaker’s ruling.
“I can’t dwell on the issue since it’s already before Parliament.
Let’s wait for the ruling of the Speaker,” said Karua at Dagoretti
in Nairobi after commissioning a borehole.
She said she did not want to discuss parliamentary business in public
“like my colleague Uhuru” as that would not be in order.
On Tuesday, Karua told Parliament that she believed it was wrong for
MPs to investigate matters on which the President had appointed a
commission of inquiry. She asked Speaker Francis Kaparo to rule on
whether the two committees jointly investigating the Armenians were
legally constituted.
The minister expressed concern that the parallel investigation by
MPs was tantamount to Parliament usurping the role of the Executive.