From: Katia M. Peltekian <[email protected]>
Subject: Kenya: Armenians: Was Kalonzo Naive?

ARMENIANS: WAS KALONZO NAIVE?
Collins Apuoyo Khartoum, Sudan

East African, Kenya
March 28 2006

The admission by politician Kalonzo Musyoka that he met and even had
a photo session with the two Armenians suspected of being mercenaries
is rather interesting, if not shocking.

It is interesting because government sympathisers have quickly jumped
to the conclusion that the Orange Democratic Movement have something
to do with the Armenians. This has given pro-government ministers
and MPs a weapon with which to attack and trivialise the movement
and its leadership.

The admission is shocking in that it shows how simple actions –
such as taking an innocent photo – can have serious consequences.

There are several lessons that Kalonzo should learn from this:

1. There are people out there who are keen to make him appear to
be unfit for the leadership of Kenya. They will try all tricks and
it is up to him to make a fine judgement on his actions in order to
disappoint them.

2. His actions and utterances are important and will bring out the
real leader in him. At this point in time, he should not start claiming
imagined enemies. The real enemy is the one he would least suspect.

3. Kalonzo is presidential material and should behave and act like
one! He must vet those who want to get him into business deals before
agreeing to photo sessions. It reflects badly on his judgement.

Many Kenyans are looking up to Kalonzo and other ODM leaders to get
us out of our current quagmire. Do not disappoint us with actions
and utterances that reflect a lack of focus.

THE AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ACCEPTS CREDENTIALS FROM THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR
Author: R. Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 28 2006

The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev has accepted credentials from
the French ambassador Bernard Amodrique du Shafo, Trend reports.

In the course of the ensuing conversation the Azerbaijani leader
confidently emphasized that the relations between Azerbaijan and France
will continue to strengthen. “Cooperation is very successful in all
areas. Several visits that I have made to France confirmed that our
cooperation in political, economic and cultural areas continues to
grow,” the President said, adding that growth of relations between
Azerbaijan and EU also positively influences relations between the
two countries.

France as an OSCE Minsk group co-chairman has also made a huge
contribution to the cause of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution,
Aliyev said. “I hope that the co-chairmen ` s efforts will yield the
results,” he added.

Amodrique du Shafo in his turn reminded about the friendly relations
between the presidents of the two countries, emphasizing that “that
these truly friendly relations give an impetus for the bilateral
relations development.”

The French diplomat has mentioned in the conclusion, that the President
Jacque Chirac treats Armenian- Azerbaijani conflict very sensitively
and fully “realizes his political duties.”

3 ARMENIAN SOLDIERS DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS IN MARTUNI AND ASGARAN HOSPITAL LAST MONTH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2006

Number of Armenian soldiers contracted Plevritis increased in the
Armenian Army.

Armenian non-governmental organizations’ report reads that tuberculosis
spread among Armenian soldiers stationed in the occupied Azerbaijani
lands. Armenian media say that the situation is unbearable in military
units located near the contact frontline specially. 2 soldiers drafted
to the military service from Armenian Lamo and Jermuk regions died
of tuberculosis in Martuni military hospital and one soldier of the
separatist regime died in Asgaran hospital. Armenian NGOs stated
that lawlessness during draft, service conditions being unbearable,
corruption and other negative cases spread Armenian Armed Forces.

“Bribe of $1,500-2,000 is required in Armenian military registration
offices to exempt a healthy from the military service and $500
for disable ones. Bribe of $100 is required from the soldiers for
their being taken to the hospital irrespective of their being ill or
healthy. Parents give bribe of $500 to the registration offices to
prevent their children to be sent to the military units located in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”.

The report reads that many officers substituted their service place
for places near Yerevan by giving bribe. NGO representatives sent
the report on negative cases in Armenian Army to the parliamentary
assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) human rights and law issues.

A report on situation in the Armies of the Post-Soviet countries as
well as Armenia will be listened to at the PACE session on April
10-13. The 18-page document reflects irregularities in the Armed
Forces of the Council of Europe member states.

KOCHARIAN’S MESSAGE: DISCUSSION OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE SPHERE OF FOREIGN TRADE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Discussion of the first international
experience in the sphere of foreign trade and financing, its
development and adaptation are of great importance for Armenia,
according to the welcoming message of the RA President Robert Kocharyan
to the participants of the first international bank conference on
financing of the foreign trade, which opened today in Yerevan.

Kocharyan’s message, presented by the Chairman of the CBA Tigran
Sargsyan, emphasizes that the foreign trade plays a stimulating role
in securing economic growth.

“Consequently steps and events taken in this direction, including
this conference, will contribute to the compatibility of the Armenian
business as well as activate export-import processes”, the message
states. Kocharyan also attached importance to establishment and
development of business relations between banks and enterprises of
Armenia and other countries.

“Taking into consideration the presented content of international
structures I hope that new business relations will be established
between Armenian and international organizations, Kocharyan stated.

The organizers of the conference are the EBRD and Armeconombank, and
“ARKA Armenian News Agency, “Armnews” TV-channel and “Republic of
Armenia” newspaper are among the media-sponsors of the conference.

Such issues as the role of banks and bank instruments in promotion of
international trade as well as cooperation of banks and exporters in
the sphere of trade financing in Armenia are intended to be discussed
during the conference. Issues of management of credit risks, payment
balance of Armenia, estimation of documentary operations’ risk and
development perspectives of the international trade in Armenia will be
touched upon during the conference as well. Three-year work experience
of the Armeconombank by the foreign trade promotion program, worked
out together with the EBRD, is going to be presented at the conference.

Representatives of the Deutsche Bank, ABN-Armo bank, Citibank,
Interstate Bank as well as the CBA, the RA Union of Manufacturers
and Entrepreneurs, large-scale international and local companies and
banks will take part in the conference, which will last till March 30.

PARTICIPANTS OF RA MONEY-MARKET MUST BE ABLE TO CONTROL CURRENCY RISKS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Participants of the RA money-market must
be able to control currency risks, as the Chairman of the CBA Tigran
Sargsyan stated during the first International Bank Conference on
issues of financing foreign trade, which has opened in Yerevan today
In his words, study of international experience is very important in
this issue, as well as those instruments, which are being used for
regulation of currency fluctuation in the world.

Sargsyan emphasized that despite the policy of inflation targeting
pursued by Armenia instruments of regulation of currency exchange
rate, particularly derivative instrument, are not widely spread in
the country yet.

“However introduction of such instruments is very timely for creation
of more favorable conditions for participants of the market and
neutralization of currency risks”, he emphasized.

Sargsyan emphasized the importance of this conference from the
viewpoint of possibility of Armenian banks to discuss common issues
with their many international partners.

In his turn the Executive Director of Armeconombank Ashot Osipyan
emphasized that, activities of stock exchanges on deals with
sell-purchase of currency contributes to forecast of the exchange
rate and abstinence from speculations in this sphere.

“Commercial banks in their turn do their best to provide their clients
and partner-organizations with their own information about the exchange
rate and consequences of monetary and credit policy”, he emphasized.

The International Bank Conference dedicated to financing of foreign
trade is held in Armenia on March 28-30. Main subjects of the
conference are role of banks and bank instruments in stimulation of
international trade, cooperation of banks and exporters, particularly
financing of trade in Armenia as well as considering issues of
management of credit risks, payment balance of Armenia, estimation
of risk of documentary operations, perspectives of development of
international trade in Armenia.

The main organizers of the conference are the EBRD and
Armeconombank.

CBA HEAD: ARMENIAN BANKS MUST OFFER INSTRUMENTS REDUCING RISKS AND CONTRIBUTING TO SEARCH OF NEW PARTNERS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Armenian banks must offer instruments,
which will reduce risks and at the same time create possibilities of
finding new partners in foreign countries for exporters and importers,
as the Chairman of the CBA Tigran Sargsyan stated during the first
international bank conference on issues of financing foreign trade,
which has opened in Yerevan today.

“It is necessary to reduce risks and enlarge cooperation possibilities
for exporters and importers with the help of new instruments,
which will also increase the effectiveness of the economy system”,
Sargsyan stated.

He reminded that the EBRD implements an existing program in this
direction in Armenia.

In his words, this enables Armenian banks, which are still unknown
abroad and don’t have investment rating given by well-known
international structures, to offer such services.

“Entree of Armenian banks into international field and establishment of
direct relations with advanced banks by means of getting investment
rating is an important factor for the success of this process”,
Sargsyan stated.

“It is natural that formation of such relations will create most
favorable conditions for offering new instrument sin this sphere”,
Sargsyan added.

MILITARY-MEDICAL FACULTY AT YEREVAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IS OF TOP SIGNIFICANCE FOR ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Military-medical faculty at Yerevan
State Medical University is of top significance for Armenian Defence
Ministry, Deputy Defence Minister Arthur Aghabekyan told journalist
on Tuesday.

He said at a conference focused on military medicine that 20 to 40
earn the university diplomas of military doctors every year.

In his words, this faculty graduates are highly-qualified and their
skills are being upgraded day by day. “Besides, we give them an
opportunity for tuition-free postgraduate internship”, he said. As
many as 12 military doctors completed their internship in 2005,
Aghabekyan said.

The faculty was opened in 1994. 36 military doctors earned diplomas
in 2005.

Military doctors from Albania, the U.S.A., Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and Austria attended the conference.

The conference is organized by Armenian Defence Ministry and the U.S.
Army European Command.

ARMENIA SHOULD OCCUPY ITS PLACE WITH SOVEREIGN RATING ON WORLD’S FINANCIAL MAP: CBA CHAIRMAN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Armenia should occupy its place with
the sovereign rating on the world’s financial map, Chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan during the international
banking conference on foreign trade financing.

According to him, as a result of the Armenian Government’s negotiations
with two world rating companies, Armenian will be awarded a sovereign
investment rating during the nearest months.

“It is important for Armenia that all potential investors recognize
Armenia on the financial map and followed changes of our rating
afterwards,” Sargsyan said.

He believes that the sooner this process starts, the better, because
the country needs to have a rating history. “One cannot guarantee that
the rating will be high or low, because it should be real,” he added.

The international banking conference on foreign trade financing is
held in Armenian on March 28-30. The conference is organized mainly
by the EBRD and “Armeconombank”.

AN AGREEMENT ON GIVING ARMENIA $236,5 MLN BY “MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES” CORPORATION SIGNED IN WASHINGTON

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. An agreement on giving Armenia $236,5
mln by “Millennium Challenges” corporation for 5 years was signed
in Washington. According to the Press Service of the RA Ministry
of Finance and Economy, on Monday the document was signed by the RA
Ministry of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatryan and the Executive
Director of the “Millennium Challenges” American corporation John
Danilovich. The US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice made a speech
during the event.

Members of the Armenian delegation, namely the Chief Adviser of the
RA President on Economy Vahram Nersisyna, RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs Vartan Oskanian, RA Ambassador in USA Tatul Margaryan and
other officials were present during the ceremony.

Today the program of “Millennium Challenges” on Armenia is going
to be presented to journalists, NGOs, entrepreneurs as well as
representatives of the Armenian community in USA.

On December 20, 2005, “Millennium Challenges” approved the program
on Armenia amounting to 235,5 mln. According to the results of
implementation of the program, the level of rural poverty is expected
to reduce by 6% by means of securing stabile growth of agricultural
production in Armenia.

Components of the program are reconstruction of rural roads – $67,1
mln., program of irrigated agriculture – $145,67 mln. (including
the subprogram of agricultural stability amounting to $32,42 mln),
monitoring and estimation – $5,08 mln., as well as management and
control over the program – $17,19 mln.

EU MAP SHOWS AZERBAIJAN’S NG AND NAKHCHIVAN PROVINCES AS ARMENIAN TERRITORY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2006

Some parts of Azerbaijan’s territories have been shown as a territory
of Armenia on the website of the European Union European Commission
directorship for energy.

Azerbaijan’s province Nagorno Garabagh, which is under occupation
of Armenia, the surrounding regions and the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic have been shown as the territory of Armenia on the map,
in the Gas section of the website.

The Azerbaijani Embassy to Belgium, which has been accredited in the
EU, has sent an inquiry to the EU General Directorship of External
Relations regarding this issue today. The 3rd secretary of the Embassy
Anar Jahangirli told APA that the Directorship contacted the embassy
and said the mistake will be corrected.

The website of another European Union organization-European Parliament
has also shown Azerbaijan’s territory in a wrong way recently. Though
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan were not shown as Armenian
territory, Nagorno Garabagh province was presented as a separate
organization on the website.

After the Embassy’s interference in the issue this technical mistake
was corrected.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress