PRESIDNET ROBERT KOCHARYAN RECEIVED THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF SWITZERLAND MICHELINE CALMY-REY
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 17:36
Persistent Robert Kocharyan received today the delegation headed by
the Foreign Minister of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey.
The Presidnet appreciated the current level of Armenian-Swiss
relations. He highly assessed the assistance of Switzerland to the
process of reforms in our country. He emphasized involvement of the
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in separate projects.
Head of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign affairs said that her country
closely observes the developments in the South Caucasian region,
being particularly interested in issues of stability, security and
migration. In her words, due to Swiss0-Armenians, Armenia enjoys
great affection in Switzerland.
Noting that the indicators in the economic sphere are rather
modest, the parties emphasized the necessity of more coordinated
cooperation. In this regard they accentuated the agreement on agreement
on exemption from double income and property taxation, as well the
business forum underway in Zurich.
The interlocutors appreciated also the cooperation of the two countries
within international organizations.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN: POLITICAL MAJORITY DOES EXIST IN THE PARLIAMENT
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 18:08
“Political majority does exist in the Parliament,” declared NA
Chairman Tigran Torosyan in response to MP Hmayak Hovhannisyan’s
question about the existence of parliamentary majority.
Tigran Torosyan noted that the Republican Party and the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation have declared they will continue cooperate
over the principles of the coalition memorandum.
Other statements were made by the United Labor Party faction and the
” Businessman” Deputy group.
“If we sum up all this, we’ll see that parliamentary majority does
exist, and it was confirmed both at elections and voting,” Tigran
Torosyan noted.
As for the memorandum, the Speaker noted that coalitions are formed
also without any memorandum, “Statement is of great value in political
life, and it can serve as a basis for serious results. Such statements
have been made.”

KIBAKI URGED TO SPEAK OUT ON ARMENIANS
Story By Nation Team
Reported by Jeff Otieno, David Mugonyi, Tony Kago, Kennedy Masibo,
Ngumbao Kithi, Tim Kamuzu Banda and Patrick Mayoyo.
Daily Nation, Kenya
June 12 2006
Pressure mounted yesterday on the Government to explain why the
controversial Armenian brothers at the heart of security breaches
and underhand deals were deported without facing criminal charges.
Internal Security minister John Michuki (centre) chats with church
elders after he attended Mass at the Consolata Shrine in Nairobi
yesterday. The minister stated that the Government did the right thing
in deporting the two Armenian brothers. Photo by Stephen Mudiari
Politicians, religious leaders and lawyers said it was wrong for
the Government to spirit out Mr Artur Margaryan and his brother,
Mr Artur Sargsyan, instead of fully investigating their activities
and taking them to court to answer criminal charges.
But President Kibaki distanced himself from reports that his family
was linked to the Armenians.
He said Ms Winnie Wangui, who is linked to the two foreigners, is
not a member of his family.
In a personal statement last night, the President said he was
“distressed” by media reports introducing other people to be members
of his family.
“I am personally distressed that Sunday Nation chose to link my
family with the two foreigners who went to church accompanied by a
woman and other people whose names are not mentioned,” he said in
the brief statement.
The report had indicated that Ms Wangui, a daughter of influential
Narc activist Mary Wambui, and the two brothers went to the Holy
Family recently.
The President demanded an apology from the Sunday Nation and threatened
to take legal action.
He said the Government was investigating activities of the foreigners.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Press Service has issued a statement
denying that the two foreigners had weapons used by Presidential
Escort. The PSS also said no weapons were missing from the Presidential
security unit. There were reports that weapons bearing serial numbers
like those from the Presidential Escort service were found in the
compound of the brothers’ rented house in Runda.
Yesterday, Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, Lang’ata MP Raila
Odinga and Assistant minister Koigi Wamwere demanded that the
Government should come clean on the matter.
But Cabinet ministers John Michuki and Martha Karua defended the
Government, saying the decision to declare the two persona non-grata
on Kenyan soil was the right one.
“Action speaks louder than words. We have taken action. What other
language do you want?” Mr Michuki asked after attending morning Mass
at the Consolata church in Westlands, Nairobi.
Asked whether the Government took the action to protect some
influential people in Government in dealings with the two brothers,
Mr Michuki said in Kiswahili: “Mnataka watu wa kuongea ama watu wa
kufanya? (Do you want people who only talk or people who take action?”)
Ms Karua, who spoke in Nakuru, said the Government hurried the
deportation process “and will also carry out thorough investigations
into the matter”. She added: “A foreigner enters the country with
express authority from the Government after being given a visa and
the same can be revoked and the owner deported.”
Questionable character
Archbishop Nzimbi described the presence and eventual deportation of
Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargsyan as undesirable and accused the Government
of giving sanctuary to people of questionable character.
He said it was ironical and disturbing that foreigners could commit
a crime in the country and get away with it, without the Government
explaining the matter to the public.
His Church, he said, was concerned with the way the Government had
handled the two foreigners. “We are unhappy that the security of
Kenyans has been compromised but the responsible ministry has not
sought to explain to the citizens what happened at the airport. We
have only been told by the media that the two brothers were deported,
but without reasons,” Archbishop Nzimbi said in Nakuru.
And, Mr Odinga took the blame to State House, saying President Kibaki
was aware of the activities of the Artur brothers but had failed
to act.
The MP challenged President Kibaki to speak out on the Artur brothers’
saga.
He said it was a security breach for foreigners to threaten Government
officials with guns and create commotion at an international airport.
Mr Odinga, who was the first to blow the whistle on the Artur brothers,
reiterated that the two were up to no good and that they had been
hosted at State House several times.
Speaking on the telephone from Seoul, Korea, Mr Odinga said: “The
President cannot plead ignorance and keep quiet believing people
will excuse him. This is an issue the President should come out
and explain.”
He said a prominent Narc activist, a powerful Cabinet minister and
a senior police officer knew what the Artur brothers were doing in
the country.
The decision to retain Mr Michuki as Internal Security minister,
Mr Odinga added, reflected President Kibaki’s poor way of running
the country.
Mr Michuki, however, did not explain by who and why the Armenians
were given airport security badges to access the highly-guarded Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport.
He also did not explain who licensed the two to carry firearms.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Administration of
Justice and Legal Affairs, Mr Paul Muite, singled out Mr Michuki as
a stumbling block to exposing the truth about the Armenian brothers.
The Kabete MP said during their initial investigations on the The
Standard newspaper raid, Mr Michuki wrote a letter with an intent to
prevent police commissioner Hussein Ali and CID director Joseph Kamau
from appearing before the committee, arguing that he had answered
all the questions needed.
“Michuki put hurdles in the committee’s work when it demanded to
question the police commissioner and CID director,” the MP said.
Former director of public prosecutions, Mr Philip Murgor, asked the
President to set up a commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of
the Artur brothers’ saga.
In Mombasa, Immigration assistant minister Annaniah Mwaboza demanded
immediate verification of a container’s contents.
Verify container’s content
Mr Mwaboza said Kenyans want to know what merchandise the two brothers
were bringing into the country, especially after they refused to have
the cargo verified.
Last week, Mr Margaryan went to the port accompanied by several
bodyguards and tried to have the container released to him. But
Customs officials insisted that it must be scanned. He then left in
a huff. But Mr Mwaboza defended the deportation arguing the move was
carried out in the interest of the country.
Other reports indicate that the cargo was under a 24-hour police
watch after attempts by the deported brothers to have the container
cleared from the port without going through the normal processes.
Mvita MP Najib Balala said the decision by the Government to deport
the two Armenian brothers was a cover-up, to save them from arrest
and prosecution.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAN WHO LOOKS FORWARD TO RETURN OF ARTURS
By Richard Chesos
Standard, Kenya
June 12 2006
With a faraway look, eyes blink sharply before Musau Musyoki raises
his palms to cover his mouth, perhaps an expression of disbelief.
Mr Musau Musyoki, who worked as gardener for the Artur brothers,
in a pensive mood outside the Armenians’ Runda Estate residence.
Then the 25-year-old man, who wishes the deportation of the two
alleged Armenian brothers turned out to be fictitious, tells his
story. He is not eager to discuss the saga.
Dressed in blue jeans, light green shirt and blue sandals, he does
not hide the fact that his life drastically changed for the better
since early February, when Artur Margaryan hired him as gardener at
his luxurious residence in Nairobi’s Runda estate.
“He doubled my (earlier) salary; life has been good,” he says.
“My salary is my secret. But I can tell you he paid twice what my
previous employer was giving me.”
But little can remain a secret for a man who worked for foreigners
who have dominated the Press and police investigations. The amount
quoted by police is higher than that earned by a graduate teacher.
Musyoki, who lives in the servant’s quarter, said the “owner of the
house”, who lives in Spring Valley, had employed him last August as
a caretaker.
He says he had agreed with the “owner” that any new tenant would
employ him to work in the home. The Form Four leaver, a bachelor,
says Margaryan promptly paid him in Kenya shillings every end of
month. He fears no other tenant will pay him such an amount in future.
“But that is life…the owner (of the house) will pay (me).”
And how did he learn of the deportation?
“How do you know about it yet you don’t even have a radio in the
house?” he retorted.
He is the only one left in the house after two guards from Tanzania
were deported on Saturday.
Musyoki, whose name means ‘one who returns’, wishes his employer
would eventually do that – return.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW CHAIRMAN OF “OUR AZERBAIJAN” BLOCK WAS ELECTED
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006
The meeting of the Council of Chairmen of block “Our Azerbaijan” was
held. The meeting discussed the issue of election of a new chairman
of the block for June-July, Trend reports.
Collecting the majority of votes, the chairman of the Democratic
Socialist Popular Party Zahid Srfibayli was elected the chairman of
block “Our Azerbaijan” for the next months. Besides, other questions
were discussed at the meeting. The Council of Chairmen expressed
attitude towards the talks held between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in Bucharest on solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
supported the position of official Baku.
The final discussion was dedicated to the issue of the unification of
“Our Azerbaijan” block member-parties. The report of the Unification
Commission was heard. In accordance with the agreement, it is intended
to call the structure, in which the parties will unify, – “Our Way”.

GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS HELD IN ARMENIA
The Messenger, Georgia
June 12 2006
On June 9 in Yerevan consultations between Foreign Ministries of
Armenia and Georgia were held.
The Foreign Ministry of Georgia announced that the Georgian party
was represented by Valeri Chechelashvili, the first deputy Foreign
Minister of Georgia, Armenian party – by Gegam Garibjanyan, the deputy
Foreign Minister.
The parties discussed perspectives of cooperation in political,
economic, humanitarian, cultural spheres and issues of regional
cooperation.
In the framework of the visit Georgian delegation met with Vardan
Oskanyan, the Foreign Minister of Armenia.
The parties coordinated terms of the visit of the head of the foreign
political department to Tbilisi. The working visit of Vardan Oskanyan
will be held on June 27-28, 2006.

OSKANYAN: FREE AND TRANSPARENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN 2007 TO IMPROVE ARMENIA’S REPUTATION IN REGION
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 12 2006
YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Free and transparent parliamentary elections
in 2007 are to improve Armenia’s reputation in the region, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said Thursday in his interview
with Kentron TV channel. He thinks if the elections fail to meet
international standards, Armenia will face grave consequences.
In his words, unlike previous cases, when Armenia will have to deal
with moral consequences after being accused of holding fraudulent
elections, this time the country “will face material consequences,
which will have negative impact on its economy”.
Oskanyan said Armenia has sufficient time for preparing these elections
and any explanation of failure to hold the elections properly will
be unconvincing.
He still hopes that the things will go in the right way.

ARMECONOMBANK’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXPRESSES APPRECIATION OF CAMPAIGN RUN BY CBA AGAINST DOLLARIZATION
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 12 2006
YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Armeconombank’s Executive Director
Ashot Osipyan, speaking at a press conference on Friday, expressed
appreciation of the campaign run by Central Bank of Armenia against
dollarizatipon.
In his opinion, Armenia, a country with high degree of dollarization,
took very reasonable step this year.
He finds it reasonable to set prices for commodities and services in
Armenian national currency.
Armenian dram has strengthened against US dollar by 4.35% (on nominal
exchange rate) over May. For the first nine days, dram rose by another
2 percent. The CBA set USD exchange rate at AMD 418.94.
Compared with the beginning of the year, national currency jumped 7.63%
against USD.
Armeconombank OJSC was registered on August 26, 1991. Over 75% of
shares belong to the key shareholders – EBRD (25% +1 share) and SIL
Concern founders, Sukiasyan family (50.6%). The bank’s assets totaled
AMD 34.8bln by Dec 31, 2005, total capital AMD 5.6bln and statutory
fund AMD 2.3bln.
The bank’s profit was AMD 1.2bln after taxation and balance accumulated
profit AMD 2.9bln.

AGO TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON FRIDAY FOR 2-DAY VISIT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 12 2006
YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Ago Group headed by German Representative
in Council of Europe Roland Vegener is to arrive in Yerevan on Friday
for a two-day visit, Armenian Foreign Ministry press service reports.
The Group members are set to meet with Armenian President, National
Assembly Speaker, Justice Minister and Ombudsman as part of their
visit.
A series of meetings with Armenian MPs and political parties’ members
are planned as well.
Ago Group is founded in January 2001 for monitoring fulfillment of
commitments assumed by CE member countries.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FMS TO MEET IN PARIS TOMORROW
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers are due to meet in Paris
tomorrow, Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan told journalists (APA). He
said the details of these talks for the settlement of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict have not been specified but the Foreign Ministers
are prepared to this meeting.
“We’ll try to reach an agreement on the issues that the Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents failed to solve at the meeting in Bucharest.
We’ll make efforts to reach common agreement at tomorrow’s meeting.
Despite the presidents’ failure to reach a consensus in Bucharest
talks, there exist positive nuances for peaceful solution of the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict. We must try to benefit from these nuances
and prepare next meeting of the Presidents,” Oskanyan said.
The Armenian Minister also said that there is a document with some
details agreed on the negotiations table and stressed the parties
could not agree on some issues regarding this document.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Taghizadeh in his
statement to APA confirmed the information on meeting of Azerbaijani
and Armenian foreign ministers scheduled for in Paris tomorrow. He said
this meeting is the continuation of the Prague process, the two foreign
ministers will have talks in the frames of the Prague process.