Commonwealth Games notebook

AP Worldstream; Mar 17, 2006
DENNIS PASSA

South African hamstrings, biceps and fingers are taking a beating at
the Commonwealth Games.

The republic’s rugby sevens scrumhalf Stefan Basson had a series-ending
hamstring tear in the quarterfinals Friday.

South African head gymnastics coach Miklos Szabos, meanwhile, will
also be heading home after rupturing his biceps tendon while trying to
catch Gerhard Swiegers, who fell during his routine on the horizontal
bars Thursday. Szabos will require surgery.

To add to the South African injury woes, netballer Martha Mosoahle
has a dislocated finger but is hoping to play.

_____

WEIGHT LIFTED: _ Former Olympic silver medalist Yurik Sarkisian
retired from weightlifting on Friday after failing to win a medal at
the Commonwealth Games.

The 44-year-old Sarkisian, competing for Australia, failed in his
final attempt in the 69-kilogram class. He finished in seventh place,
after lifting a total of 255 kilograms, with Sri Lankan Chinthana
Vidanage winning the gold with a 271 total.

He took off his shoes on the platform to signal his retirement _
but it could be temporary.

“Today I am stopped, next year I don’t know,” Sarkisian said.

Four years ago in Manchester, he won three medals in the 62-kilogram
class.

“Too much pressure, I never feel this pressure before,” he said. “I
feel nervous, that never happened before too.”

Sarkisian, who was born in Armenia, won an Olympic silver medal for the
Soviet Union at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. He also competed at the
1996 and 2000 Olympics for Australia but finished out of the medals.

In his career, Sarkisian has won five world championships and held
23 world records.

_____

NIGERIA, ZAMBIA ON CARDS?: _ If Nigeria or Zambia win the right to
host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 or 2018, it would be the first
time an African country has held the event.

At a press conference in Melbourne on Friday, a Kenyan journalist
asked Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper when
the games would go to Africa.

“I can’t answer that. That is up to the delegates from the 71 nations
and territories to determine,” said Hooper. “As you know, Abuja in
Nigeria is one of the candidate cities vying for the right to host
the 2014 Games, and like the other cities, I wish them well.”

Abuja is the Nigerian capital. Lusaka, the Zambian capital, is
competing with Adelaide (Australia), Auckland and Karachi, Pakistan
to host the 2018 Games.

The Commonwealth Games has only been held twice outside Britain,
Australia, New Zealand or Canada since 1930. The Games were held in
Kingston, Jamaica in 1966 and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1998.

They will return to Asia in four years, when the Indian capital,
New Delhi, is the host.

___

SHOOTING STAR: Mick Gault equaled the record for most Commonwealth
Games medals won by an English shooter when he took bronze Friday
with Nick Baxter in the men’s 50-meter pistol pairs competition at
the Melbourne Games.

It was the 51-year-old Gault’s 12th Games medal, equaling Malcolm
Cooper’s haul between 1974 and 1990.

Swimmer Karen Pickering holds the overall English record for the most
Commonwealth medals with 13.

____

SEEING DOUBLE: _ Identical Scottish twins Helen and Carol Galashan
are having trouble getting together _ at least before they got to
the competition stage at the Commonwealth Games.

The 18-year-old gymnasts perform the same routines, train at the
same gym and are sharing a room together at the athletes village
in Melbourne.

But injury and limited spots on the Scottish team had denied the
twins the opportunity of competing alongside each other _ Helen on
the bars and beam and Carol in all four apparatus.

“It is the first time we have managed to get it together,” Carol
said. “It is much better with the other one here.”

The pint-sized duo claim they have never abused their situation by
pretending to be the other one.

Team officials struggle to tell them apart. The only difference is
that Carol is four centimeters (1 1/2 inches) taller.

Helen competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games while Carol recovered
from an elbow injury. The reverse occurred at the 2004 Olympic Games
where Helen was forced to sit on the sidelines as Carol went through
her routine. But they competed Friday in the team event.

_____

CONTROVERSY IN THE RING: _ Controversial boxer Soulan Pownceby will
make his first appearance for New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games team
on Sunday _ as captain.

Pownceby, 30, was jailed for four years in 1995 for the manslaughter
of his 5-month-old daughter and was convicted of four more assault
charges by 2000.

Since then, he has been under the tutelage and care of coach Paul
Fitzsimons at Christchurch’s Salvation Army boxing academy, where
the Australian Associated Press reports that he has become a sporting
idol to kids who know him as Soul Man.

Pownceby, because of his criminal record, was given a special entry
authority from the Australian government, despite Prime Minister John
Howard saying he should not be allowed to compete.

Before boxing competition started Friday, New Zealand team manager
Alan Dickey said Pownceby was a “tremendous team captain.”

“We’ve stayed away from the media,” said Dickey.

Pownceby, a light heavyweight, received a visa after Australian
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone confirmed he was “of good
character.” But letters to the editor of several newspapers criticized
the move, including one that said Pownceby’s selection was “an insult”
to the games.

Pownceby, who also competed at the Athens Olympics _ losing in the
third round _ fights Glenn Hunter of Canada on Sunday.

Azeri leader blasts Armenia, praises domestic policies in address to diaspora

Azerbaijani TV Channel One, Baku
16 Mar 06

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan wants to
resolve peacefully the conflict over the disputed region of Nagornyy
Karabakh but it may rethink its policy if Armenia disrupts the peace
talks. Azerbaijan has been loyal to peace negotiations but it will
not participate in the talks for the sake of talks, Aliyev said
in an address to the Baku-hosted second congress of Azeris of the
world. Karabakh can never be separated from Azerbaijan but it can be
given autonomy, he said. The president also said that Azerbaijan’s
military expenditure would equal Armenia’s entire budget and that he
saw this as his duty. Aliyev said that the restoration of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity would serve the interests of the Armenian
people as well since this would enable Yerevan to join regional
economic projects. The president also praised Azerbaijan’s recent
economic and political achievements. The following is an excerpt
from the speech carried live by Azerbaijani state TV on 16 March;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, dear countrymen.

I sincerely congratulate you all on the opening of the second congress
of Azeris of the world. I wish good health and happiness to all of
you. The congress of Azeris of the world is a very big event.

[Passage omitted: Speaking about a film about the late President
Heydar Aliyev which was shown before Ilham Aliyev’s speech and the
first congress which was organized by Heydar Aliyev]

Organizing diaspora

It was after the first congress that President Heydar Aliyev decided
to set up the State Committee for Work with Azeris Living Abroad. The
committee has been very successful in organizing the Azeri diaspora.

A law on the state policy toward the Azeris living abroad was adopted
in 2002. This has created a legal basis for this undertaking. All these
measures, all these steps continue to yield results. Our countrymen
living abroad have formed organizations, and they play a bigger role
in the countries where they live. Naturally, this both strengthens
their positions and boosts the positions and the significance of the
independent Azerbaijani Republic.

[Passage omitted: praising Heydar Aliyev and his policies]

Foreign policy

Our foreign policy is very successful and active. Azerbaijan occupies
a very important place in international organizations. Our positions
are getting stronger. Fair decisions which benefit Azerbaijan have
been made in various international organizations lately, particularly
concerning the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. We have managed to maintain excellent relations with
neighbouring countries and we are strengthening [these ties]. This
is very important for our development because we live in this region,
and the establishment of peace and security in the region, development
of regional cooperation serves our interests.

In the sphere of foreign relations, the steps taken by Azerbaijan
are producing positive results.

Over the past two years, Azerbaijan has decided to open 21 new
embassies. Azerbaijan will have 46 ambassadors abroad. Some of those 21
embassies have already opened and some will be inaugurated soon. What
does this mean? It means that Azerbaijan will carry out its policy
in a more comprehensive way. You probably feel it and we know that,
unfortunately, the international community is not well aware of
Azerbaijan’s realities. There is lack of information and in some
cases we face an information blockade because the Armenian lobby of
the world acts against us. It employs all means available to blacken
Azerbaijan, to present the events in Azerbaijan in an unfavourable
light, and thus isolate Azerbaijan. This also happens. However, there
is simple ignorance as well. Hence, the opening of the embassies,
an active foreign policy of Azerbaijan and the strengthening of the
diaspora introduces Azerbaijan to the international community the
way Azerbaijan is.

[Passage omitted: continues in the same vain, urges the diaspora
to help]

Economy

Azerbaijan has achieved economic successes as well over the recent
years. Our country has achieved much in this regard. Our economy is
growing at the highest rate in the world. Economic growth totalled
26 per cent in 2005, which is the highest figure in the world. The
industrial potential went up by 33 per cent in Azerbaijan in 2005,
which is also the highest rate in the world. The income of the
population increased by 27 per cent in 2005. Over the past two years
and a half, 340,000 new jobs have been created in Azerbaijan which
helps reduce unemployment.

The poverty level in Azerbaijan was 49 per cent two years ago,
but dropped to 29 per cent by the end of 2005. This is still a high
figure. I have said that. Why should Azerbaijani citizens live in
poverty? After becoming president I set a task that there should not
be a single poor person in Azerbaijan and we will achieve that. I
am certain that the work which will be done in 2006 will result in
a sharp fall in the poverty rate in Azerbaijan.

A regional development programme in Azerbaijan is being carried out
rapidly. Our capital Baku is also developing rapidly. At the same time,
the provinces are developing very fast. New electric power stations,
gas pipelines, roads, water pipelines, all the municipal and industrial
infrastructure are being renewed.

[Passage omitted: New hospitals and schools are being constructed in
various districts of Azerbaijan; economic growth to continue]

Oil strategy

At the initiative of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan is implementing its
oil strategy. Oil is a great wealth, a natural resource. However, it
only serves the nation after it is extracted from the sea bed and is
exported to the world markets. This was the essence of Azerbaijan’s
oil strategy: to attract foreign investment, to create a favourable
investment climate in Azerbaijan and to bring major oil companies
to Azerbaijan. This is the case today. Oil production is growing
in Azerbaijan by the year and an oil fund has been set up. [The oil
fund] is a transparent organization. Each citizen of Azerbaijan knows
how much money has been accumulated in the State Oil Fund because
information in this regard is being released regularly. We certainly
need this transparency. Everybody must know what the country has and
how it is spent. Public control must be very strict, especially at
this stage when Azerbaijan is to receive larger financial inflows.

The oil strategy of Azerbaijan is being implemented successfully. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is under construction and will be
put into operation this year. The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline
will be put into operation in 2006. Our energy resources will be
delivered to the European and international markets. First of all,
this is going to bring us a large economic benefit. This will allow
us to develop and modernize our country to the highest level. On
the other hand, and there can be no doubts about it, Azerbaijan’s
positions in the region, on the continent and in the world will become
stronger. Because Azerbaijan is turning into a very important country
for the European and international consumers and this increases our
strength, our importance, increases the significance of our opinion
and serves our interests.

These giant projects, which will be completed this year, will also
have a very positive impact on the processes in the region because
the trends of regional development are already very clear.

Armenia isolated from regional projects

In the context of the region’s development, Azerbaijan is playing
a very active role: it takes part in all regional projects and is
the initiator of many of them. No political, energy, economic or
transport project can be implemented in the region without our
participation. Azerbaijan is a bridge that connects Asia with
Europe. We are now building up our transport infrastructure. New
airports are being built in various towns. New highways are being
constructed. Large sums are invested in our sea transport and
railway. In a nutshell, the transport sector will have a very big
role in the future.

Our other important regional project is connected with this. To link
Turkey and Azerbaijan with a railway, to launch the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway is one of the main tasks now and we will achieve that.

[Loud applause make Ilham Aliyev interrupt his speech]

It will link Turkey and Azerbaijan with a railway, this route will be
used for all [railway] freight. At the same time, and this is clear,
Armenia, which has attacked us and occupied our territories, will be
left outside of all these projects. We can never allow the country
which has occupied our lands to take part in regional cooperation
together with us.

[Another round of applause]

We have isolated Armenia from all regional projects.

[Applause]

Because no international project can work without our
participation. These regional projects do not just serve the interests
of Azerbaijan or those of its neighbours. In a broader sense, they
are globally important projects. Azerbaijan’s role will continue to
increase and this is our goal. We want Azerbaijan to become a strong
country. We want the Azerbaijani people to live well and in peace
and enjoy prosperity. We want good relations with all our neighbours,
we want to maintain stability and cooperation in the region. This is
the goal of our policy. We can see positive results and successes in
all spheres. I am sure that these trends will go on even faster.

Social issues

Much attention is paid to social issues as well. Our budget grows
by the year. Azerbaijan has completely built its economy on the
basis of free markets and the private sector accounts for around
75 per cent of the GDP. This is a very high figure if we take into
consideration that oil and gas form a major part of our GDP and are
monopolized by the state. This shows that the Azerbaijani economy
has been liberalized, entrepreneurship is developing very fast, the
private sector is developing and the principles of market economy
have been firmly entrenched in Azerbaijan.

Yet, if you look at the structure of the Azerbaijan budget, you will
see that it is social-oriented. That is, the major part of the budget
is channelled into social projects: wages, pensions, social benefits,
humanitarian spending, education, health care and other spheres.

[Passage omitted: says the economy must be liberal but the living
standards of the Azerbaijani people are very important]

I am responsible before the nation and therefore I should try not to
allow the Azerbaijani people, any citizen [of Azerbaijan] to be in
need or face problems.

[Applause]

A sharp drop in the poverty rate and eradication of unemployment serve
to this end. Hence, social issues are very important in our work and
more funds will be invested in that.

[Passage omitted: Azerbaijani refugees need more assistance]

Karabakh talks going on for too long

After the liberation of our territory from occupation we will found
new towns because on the occupied territories all buildings have been
destroyed. The Armenian barbarians have destroyed all buildings,
cemeteries, mosques, schools and historical memorials there. This
is barbarism. After we liberate our lands we will restore them. Our
economy will allow us to do that.

As you know, the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over Nagornyy
Karabakh has not been resolved for many years. True, the talks are
continuing, and after establishing a cease-fire there have been
stages in the negotiations when the sides were close to reaching an
agreement. However, the conflict eventually remains unresolved.

Over the past 12 years we have shown loyalty to the peace talks
despite the failed attempts to resolve the conflict. There has been a
cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past 12 years. We
are taking part in the talks because we are still hoping to achieve
results. But how long will this continue? This process cannot go
on forever.

[Applause]

The patience of the Azerbaijani people and authorities is being
tested. We are loyal to the peace process. Our participation in the
peace talks once again confirmed our resolve to settle the problem not
militarily, but peacefully. We have channeled all our efforts into
this. If we see that Armenia’s position at the talks is insincere
and not constructive, if we see the international community being
deceived and misinformed by Armenia, we will have no choice. For
how long will we be taking part in the peace process? I have said
that we will take part in the process until the last opportunity,
until the last challenge, as long as we feel that there is still a
possibility. Azerbaijan will not participate in the talks for the
sake of talks.

Karabakh never to separate from Azerbaijan

This conflict can only be resolved within the framework of
international law. Historically, Nagornyy Karabakh is an Azerbaijani
territory and has always belonged to Azerbaijan. Armenians came there
only in the middle of the 19th century. A monument erected in 1978 in
Nagornyy Karabakh symbolized the migration of Armenians to Nagornyy
Karabakh and it was a proof of this. Armenians later destroyed the
monument. Armenians came to our lands as guests. Then they became the
majority and started separatist tendencies. This aggressive separatism
and the aggressive policy of Armenia have resulted in the invasion
of the Azerbaijani territory.

The norms of international law must be the same for everyone. Nobody
can be an exception or have a privilege. International legal norms
require that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity be restored. The
entire world recognizes our territorial integrity, the UN and all
[international] organizations recognize it. Therefore, it must be like
that. The occupying forces of Armenia must withdraw from the occupied
territories. Azerbaijani citizens must return to their native lands,
including to Nagornyy Karabakh. Normal relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan can be restored only after this. Only then will the peace
process be possible.

[Applause]

We will not allow Nagornyy Karabakh to be separated from Azerbaijan
today, tomorrow, in a decade or in a century.

[Applause]

We are the victims of the conflict. Armenia had carried out an ethnic
cleansing policy against us for which it should answer before the
international community.

[Applause]

We give them an opportunity: if they agree to constructive proposals,
if they agree to a new framework proposed by the [OSCE] Minsk Group,
if they sincerely take part in the Prague process, then the security
of Armenians living Nagornyy Karabakh will be ensured.

[Passage omitted: National minorities need autonomy not independence]

Karabakh autonomy possible

An autonomy is possible and the existing positive international
expertise should be applied to this conflict as well. I repeat that
this is our principled stance and we will never give up on it.

It is also a reality, however, that the cease-fire regime has been
there for 12 years and the conflict remains unresolved. What should
we do in this case? Consultations are under way in this regard in the
Azerbaijani government. If we see that the peace process is being
undermined by Armenia and if this is the case, then, of course,
Azerbaijan will have to reconsider its participation in the peace
process.

Azeri military expenditure to equal Armenia’s budget

Along with developing our economy we are also building up our
army. Over the past years we have paid much attention to this
sphere. Azerbaijan’s military budget is increasing year by year. It
increased by 70 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004. It went up by 100
per cent, that is, it doubled in 2006. It will increase further in
2007. Our military budget equals 600m dollars now. I consider it my
duty to make our military expenditure equal Armenia’s entire budget
in the near future.

[Applause]

Armenia will never be able to compete with Azerbaijan and the sooner
the Armenian authorities realize that, the better for them. Azerbaijan
is developing.

[Passage omitted: International organizations support Azerbaijan’s
position on the Nagornyy Karabakh issue]

Economically, the gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan will further
widen. The main objective of our economic programmes is to strengthen
our economic potential in a very short period in order to have
stronger positions on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Without it,
without economic growth, without stronger fiscal discipline, without
bold economic reforms in Azerbaijan, then where from will we fill this
budget? How will we be able to spend so much on the army? Therefore,
economic potential is on our side and our budget and military spending
will continue to grow by the year.

Karabakh settlement to benefit Armenia

The second aspect of the issue, which concerns the stronger positions
of Azerbaijan in the world, especially some regional conflicts and
problems in terms of energy resources, has introduced Azerbaijan to
the world as an alternative exporter of energy.

Whereas two years ago we only defined some directions during talks with
European countries and the negotiations were of theoretic nature, the
talks now are practical. Azerbaijan’s oil and gas will be transported
to Europe now and the two sides are very interested in this. As a
country, Armenia can in no way compete with Azerbaijan. The latter
has been isolated from all regional projects because we have isolated
them. Armenia’s potential to develop is very limited and, in effect,
it is zero. There are no investments, the population is emigrating,
poverty is rife. Its occupying policy and unfounded claims will have
a negative impact on Armenia itself.

[The resolution of the] Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, restoration of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity will help the Armenian people
as well. They too can end this situation, they too can take part in
regional processes and can be normal neighbours of [other] countries.

With which of its neighbours does Armenia have good relations? With
none of them. Azerbaijan has open and sincere relations with all
of its neighbours because we are open to cooperation, we do not
secretly sabotaging anyone and we are not involved in separatism. On
the contrary, Azerbaijan is the home of all peoples living in the
country. Azerbaijan is a multiethnic country and followers of various
religions live here as a family. Azerbaijan has never and will never
experience problems on neither ethnic, nor religious grounds. This
is our strategic line. All peoples, all religions live as a family
in Azerbaijan.

Look at Armenia. It is a monoethnic country, no other people can
live there. Under the Soviet Union the Armenians accounted for 90
per cent of the population and now the figure is more than 99 per
cent. People of other nationalities cannot live there. They must end
this policy. This policy is leading them to a precipice.

[Passage omitted: Azerbaijan must develop its potential and diaspora
must help that]

Irish pubs abroad 13 times more polluted than here

Irish Independent; Mar 17, 2006

Eilish O’Regan

Health Correspondent

THE smoking ban introduced two years ago has led to a dramatic
reduction in levels of indoor pollution in pubs here, a new global
study revealed yesterday.

It examined 128 traditional Irish pubs in 15 countries throughout
Europe, America, Australia and Asia.

It confirmed that air pollution levels from secondhand smoke were
now 91pc less in the pubs located in the Republic than similar
establishments in countries and cities without a ban.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health looked at bars in
Dublin, Cork and Galway.

The study, co-authored by Galway’s principal environmental health
officer Maurice Mulcahy, found the highest level of pollution in an
Irish themed bar in Lyon in France.

Testing sites included 41 smoke-free Irish pubs in Ireland, the US
and Canada, and 87 smoking-permitted Irish pubs located in Armenia,
Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Greece, France, Lebanon, Northern
Ireland, Poland, Romania, US and England.

Irish pubs were defined as those that served Irish beer on tap and
had an Irish name.

Mr Mulcahy said: “The Irish pubs in London, Manchester, Belfast
and Newry were 13 times more polluted than those in Galway, Dublin,
Cork and Ennis.

“The results are dramatic. For example, in Galway the levels of the
small particles measured in pubs averaged 18 whereas these were 353
in Belfast, 400 in Newry and 296 in London.

“The highest recorded levels were in Lyon where a figure of 1,051 was
recorded, some 37 times more polluted than the average level recorded
in pubs in the Republic of Ireland.”

High levels were also measured in Irish pubs in Hoboken (New Jersey);
Charleroi, Belgium; Athens, Greece; Beirut, Lebanon and Torun, Poland.

Turkey has less than two years to meet EU’s accession criteria

17.03.2006 15:02

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Noting the slowing pace of reform in Turkey, the
European Parliament has called upon the Turkish government to take
immediate steps to ends its discriminatory and repressive policies,
European Armenian Federation reported.

In its recently adopted resolution on the “Commission’s 2005
Enlargement Strategy Report,” the Parliament also called on the
European Commission to define the geographical boundaries of the
European Union.

In the section of the report dedicated to Turkey, the European
Parliament states that the priorities outlined in the Accession
Partnership have to be accomplished in the first phase of the
negotiations.” and “notes with satisfaction that the Commission now
supports this view as well by stating that those criteria have to be
fulfilled within one or two years.”

Based on these considerations, the Parliament therefore called upon
Turkey “to present as soon as possible a plan, including a timetable
and specific measures, to meet these deadlines,” and urged the
Commission and the Council “to make the progress of the negotiations
conditional on the timely accomplishment of those priorities.”

This demand comes in reaction to the slowing down of Turkey’s reforms,
which were noted in the resolution. The Parliament also formally asked
Turkey “to remove all existing legislative and practical obstacles
to full enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms by all Turkish
citizens, notably freedom of expression, religious freedom, cultural
rights, rights of minorities.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Fifty House members call to maintain military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan

17.03.2006 15:01

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) were joined by forty-eight of their House colleagues
on March 16 in urging the leadership of the House Foreign Operations
Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian provisions in the fiscal year
2007 foreign aid bill, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

Members of Congress cosigned a letter, addressed to the panel’s
Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), which
would strengthen the hand of pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee,
most notably Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve Rothman
(D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney (R-NY). Rep. Sweeney, who
joined the panel last year, is one of only two Members of Congress
of Armenian heritage.

The letter notes that members of Congress are “deeply troubled”
that the Administration’s request for military aid for Azerbaijan is
considerably higher then the request for Armenia.

By signing the letter, legislators will add their voice to the effort
to ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the White House
and Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries equal is fully
respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark of at
least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million allocation for
Nagorno Karabagh, and the preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act.

Minister Vartan Oskanian interviewed by Second Armenian TV Channel

17.03.2006 12:20

Question: Mr. Oskanian, what issues did you discuss with the high-level
representatives of the State Department?

Oskanian: Today, in our meeting with the high-level representatives
of the US State Dept, we focused on three areas: bilateral issues,
energy-related issues and of course the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution process.

Regarding the first, the upcoming Millennium Challenge Compact signing
ceremony is of course uppermost in everyone’s mind. The Minister
of Finance will sign the compact in Washington on March 27. I’ll be
present during the ceremony. We are truly fortunate to have these kinds
of significant resources made available to us. This is a very serious
program that offers us the opportunity to make huge infrastructure
improvements, and it’s related directly to our democratization
process. This program will put Armenia-US relations at a new level.

Energy issues, too, are obviously, very important today. It was
interesting to hear the US thinking on this subject. For Armenia, the
diversification of energy sources is a matter of utmost priority. Our
energy security depends on our being able to maintain the nuclear
resource, and we discussed all of these topics.

Finally, the Nagorno Karabakh issue: Here the fundamental issue is that
negotiations continue. After Rambouillet and the backtracking that we
sensed there, the challenge is to preserve the positive achievements
and build on those. The co-chairs will meet soon and then it will be
clearer what might happen next. Our discussions today revolved around
how we might do that in a way that tries to find solutions for the
deadlocked situation in which we find ourselves today.

Question: What do you make of Aliev’s statements, including those
today, extolling their increasing military capability?

Oskanian: It must be exactly because of their huge military budget
that they have been working overtime at the border and repeatedly
violating the ceasefire. They must have extra bullets to spare.

But let’s look at this from a global context. Today, in the
civilized world, peoples and states don’t compete over the size
of their military budget. That’s not what they take pride in when
they compare themselves with their neighbors. Today, the spheres
of competition are elsewhere. And in all those spheres, Armenia is
ahead of Azerbaijan. So far ahead that there is really no room to
compare. Beginning with the UN’s human development index, Armenia is
ahead of Azerbaijan. The international index that gauges Armenia’s
investment climate puts Armenia way ahead of Azerbaijan. They’re not
even a member of the WTO. There is no comparison in level of democratic
development, human rights protections or press freedoms. In indexes
that measure economic freedoms and development, and transparency and
gains in the battle against corruption, Armenia is disproportionately
better than Azerbaijan. Despite the fact that it’s how many years
now that Azerbaijan produces 400,000 barrels of oil, the per capita
income in Azerbaijan still hasn’t reached Armenia’s. It is better that
Azerbaijan tries to reach Armenia’s levels in these fields, than try
to compete and take pride in being ahead with its military capacity.

Scandals eclipsed by mercenaries issue
By KIPKOECH KOMUGOR

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 16 2006

The mercenary sub-plot has been so captivating the original drama,
the attack on the Standard Group by hooded police officers, from
which the new succulent saga broke, has completely been pushed to the
periphery. Not only has the main plot been ignored, other previously
hot issues like the Anglo Leasing, Goldenberg and Ndung’u Land Report
have had to contend with playing supporting roles as the mercenary
drama takes over the starring role on the national stage.

Perhaps it’s got something to do with the swashbuckling mannerisms
of the alleged dogs of war. Watching them walk to the VIP lounge on
Monday, one couldn’t help feeling that he was watching a blockbuster
movie unfold live on location. Like the really bad guys in a film,
the men in their heavily accented English bragged of their money bags
status (they can’t pay us but we can pay them… your country’s budget
cannot afford our services even if we were mercenaries), dropped names
( they apparently are family with the Armenian president or something
and one of them is set to vie for one such big post next year).

They are living in Runda which is easily one of the poshest addresses
in the city, they move around in fast flashy cars, they are dripping
gold from the neck and wrists… it can make the sleepiest head
want to stay up late and watch the movie. Mr. Artur Margaryan and
Artur Sargsyan are built alright. But they don’t look like your
run-of-the-mill, River Road musclemen for hire. Nor do they give the
impression of struggling businessmen from the former Soviet Union
out to try their luck for an honest buck or two in some backwater
African country. They cut the image of thoroughbreds who are used to
doing business with the high and mighty. They look rough in a smooth,
refined way.

But the most intriguing thing about the mercenary story has been its
flow. Too many unexpected twists and turns. Too many loose ends. And
the number of people it has been able to suck into the cast in a
very short time has been truly amazing. It opened with a claim by
former Cabinet Minister Raila Odinga a few days after the attack
on the Standard that some of the people involved in the operation
were foreigners from Russia whom he termed as mercenaries hired by
powerful people in Government to eliminate some undesirables in the
ODM. Raila’s claim (though it could have been easily dismissed then
as the now commonplace crying wolf ramblings the ODM leader has made
a career of) seemed to ring a bell. According to some employees of
the Standard Group who witnessed the attack on their offices on the
morning of March 2, the gang that raided their office on the fateful
Thursday night were being ordered around by people speaking in a
foreign accent probably Arab or something close.

Pressed by the police spokesman Jasper Ombati to record a statement
with the police over his allegations, Raila refused but later gave in
and met the Police Commissioner Hussein Ali. Later, Raila recorded
a statement where he claimed he had given police crucial leads into
the whereabouts of the alleged hit men. Raila followed his statement
with the release of passport copies to the Press showing that the
men were actually Armenians and not Russians as he had claimed earlier.

Raila seemed to have the whole story down to the minutest details. He
claimed he knew where the men lived and who their Kenyan associates
were. The most interesting name there was obviously one of a Narc
activist. Raila did not need to give details of the particular
activists since that title in Kenyan’s minds has come be associated
with one influential woman who has been linked to State House before.

State House has however taken the trouble more than once to deny
in the Press that the said woman was in any way associated to the
President’s family.

Raila was to go the whole hog later by dragging State itself into the
mess with claims that the two men had in fact been to the country’s
most important address. State house didn’t take this allegation with
the trademark silence. Instead the PPS fired off a prompt statement
warning Raila to desist from dragging State House in the mercenary
saga. By making public copies of the passports of the two men,
Raila had clearly yanked the cover off the two foreigners for no
sooner were the documents in the public domain than the men were out
facing the cameras and telling their side of the story. They didn’t
waste time sucking Raila into the labyrinth making it even more
complicated. Suddenly Raila was no longer a concerned spectator. He
was a major actor. According to the two Armenians, they had met Mr.
Odinga and his fellow ODM luminary Mr. Kalonzo Muyoka sometimes
last year.

And no it was just a meeting. They had done business with the two .

The ODM leaders had apparently asked for some funds towards the
referendum campaigns and later a vote of confidence in Kibaki’s
Government. The two claimed they refused to give Raila and Kalonzo
the money but loaned Raila some 108 million shillings on humanitarian
grounds. The LDP leader, they alleged, was in a financial fix over
a matter concerning a girlfriend.

As expected, Raila and Kalonzo were swift to rubbish the Armenian’s
story even as the latter admitted having met the them in unclear
circumstances. Raila was, however, adamant that he had never met the
alleged mercenaries. The former ministers have had to record statements
with the police, Raila for the second time and Kalonzo for the first
time. The game of swapping blame has been on for the past week. While
Raila and Co. are accusing the Government of retaining the mercenaries
to do their dirty work like the attack on the media and assassinations,
the government wants to turn the tables on Raila and Kalonzo.

They have been quick to seize the two men’s claims that they knew the
LDP leaders on a first-name basis as prove that they were connected
to the Armenians. A group of Government of |National Unity (GNU) MPs
have accused Raila of using the mercenary claims as a red herring to
divert attention from the investigations into the Ndungu Land report in
which Raila’s name appears in connection to the controversial Kisumu
Molasses Plant. On the other hand the opposition side is suggesting
that the whole saga is a smokescreen to divert people’s attention
from the Anglo Leasing Scandal.

While the “mercenary” have become so hot a potato that no one wants
to hold, so far the Government story seems to have the widest holes.

Most leads appear to be pointing to the direction of the Government.

The Monday drama at JKIA where one of the Armenians claimed to have
just arrived in the country to clear his name turned that it may have
been just that- a well choreographed drama. It later emerged that
there were no documentary evidence to show that the man had used a
Kenya Airways flight as he had claimed. Then the story of the private
jet came in to do damage control but it was too late.

Another glaring hole is the embarrassing failure by a group of police
officers to act on the two after visiting their Runda residence on
Tuesday. After trying to obtain statements from the one of the men in
vain, the officers were reportedly ordered to call off the operation
by a senior officer. The division in the police force over this matter
has also been out in the open with the Police commissioner ordering
an investigation

Mystery deepens
By MAXWEL MASAVA

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 16 2006

LANGATA lawmaker Raila Odinga last evening emerged from the Kilimani
Police station with confidence saying he had provided the police with
enough details to unveil the truth about the so-called mercenaries.

The former Roads and Public Works Minister maintained that he had
never met the two Armenians, saying statements issued by Messrs Arturs
Margaryan and Artur Sargysyan reflected how dangerous they were..

And Raila threatened to sue Environment Minister Prof Kivutha Kibwana
over his recent remarks that linked him to the mercenaries.

Addressing journalists soon after recording a statement with the
police, Raila said he had provided the detectives with more “vital and
urgent information that would greatly help them demystify the issue.”

Some of the information he had given to the police, Raila said, was
how he came across the documents related to the mercenaries that he
provided to the press. “I have brought to the attention of the police
further information that has come to me in the past few days which
is crcucial and important for the investigations.”

The former minister said he had decided to visit the police station
on his own, a fact that was confirmed by the officer in charge of
investigations Isaiah Osugo who had to be recalled to record his
statement.

Raila, who was the first one to bring the issue to the public, denied
claims by the two Armenian brothers that he had met them in Dubai
and later in Kenya where he allegedly received a loan advance of Sh
108 million.

“I am really astonished with the statement that I met them in Dubai.

This is part of a wider government plot to hide the truth about the
issue,” Raila told journalists.

Raila was accompanied by five MPs, among them his lawyer Kenneth
Marende, Reuben Ndolo, William Omondi, Paddy Ahenda and Orwa Ojodeh.

LSK challenges Govt on Armenians
By KEN LANGAT

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 16 2006

LAW Society of Kenya, Kericho branch, has challenged the Government to
come out clean over the presence of the alleged Armenian mercenaries
in the country.

The branch secretary Gideon Mutai said the mercenaries saga was a
security risk to the country and the sooner the Government comes out
with a clear statement over the issue the better.

Mutai lauded Langata Member of Parliament Raila Odinga for disclosing
the presence of the mercenaries in the country, describing him as
a leader who has the welfare of this country at heart on matters
pertaining to security.

Mutai asked other legislators to emulate Raila and come out strongly
in his support by intensifying pressure on the Government to take
necessary action against the aliens before any damage is done to
the country.

Said he: “By this time, the Government should already have arrested
the two Armenians while investigations were being conducted with the
assistance from those who claimed their lives are being endangered
by the duo.”

“It is deplorable to note that the two are yet to record statements
with the police and continue to enjoy State protection,” he added.

Speaking to the Press in his office, Mutai wondered why the Government
was quick to order some Opposition MPs to record statements while
the Armenians did not do so, especially after they admitted that they
had been approached by Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka to scheme and fund
on a plot to oust the Government.

He said Kenyans are more enlightened now than ever before and can no
longer be cheated by cheap propaganda.

He said the characteristic of the Armenians left a lot to be desired
whether they are business men or not saying right from the way they
dressed and work.

“Do business men have time to wear neckties, gold, bracelets, golden
wrist watches the way the Armenians are? These are normally the type
of people we usually see in movies and theatres,” he said.

He castigated lawyers who are associated with the Armenians saying
there is no advocate-client relationship in an act of wrongdoing
especially on matters touching the country’s security.

State protecting duo, says ODM
By David Ochami & Benson Amollo

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 16 2006

ORANGE Democratic Movement (ODM) yesterday released details of what it
claimed demonstrate deeper Government involvement in the activities and
protection of the two Armenians associated with mercenary activities.

The dossier, released by Emuhaya MP Kenneth Marende, is based on
statements taken by Nairobi deputy PCIO Isaiah Osugo from Langata
MP Raila Odinga and his Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka on
Wednesday and private investigations.

But Government spokesman Alfred Mutua denied this and said the
Armenians are innocent investors who will be investigated if need
arises.

Mutua said at his weekly press briefings that the Government is
undertaking comprehensive investigations into all the allegations
and would interview more people alongside Kalonzo and Raila.

He confirmed that the two brothers were issued with permits to invest
in Kenya in December 2005.

“The two individuals do not and have never worked for the Government
of Kenya nor undertaken any business with or for the government of
Kenya,” said Mutua.

ODM claims State House was sucked into a conspiracy with the foreigners
late December last year who were then secretly offered full security
details.

The two, Artur Sargysyan and Artur Margary are alleged to have been
involved in the raid at the KTN studio at I&M Building, and the
Standard printing press at Likoni Road, industrial area, on March 2.

Marende’s statement, read in the presence of Odinga and Musyoka,
also demonstrated that more other foreigners, among them Tanzanians,
including a woman identified only as Shifana, have been hired by the
Government to do its dirty work.

The Tanzanians are identified only as Robert and Julius.

The statement also indicated that the role the police had played in
their protection and concealment of facts goes higher into State House.

Apart from protection, Marende said that 13 cars and other state
largesse have been placed at the foreigners’ disposal.

It reinforces ODM’s allegations that Monday’s press conference at
the JKIA where the foreigners claimed Odinga and Musyoka had sought
their help to bring down the Kibaki regime was stage managed by the
government to hide its role in the saga and divert attention from
the Anglo Leasing corruption.

Marende claimed the Armenians, two Tanzanians and the woman were
issued police certificates and guns by a CID officer, which they used
to plan the raids on the Standard.

They surveyed the Standard’s I&M Building and the newspaper’s press
in Nairobi’s Industrial area before making the attack.

Mr Margaryan commanded the March 2 raids which, according to the
statement also involved the Tanzanians and Ms Shifana, who then carried
away computers in cars registered as: KAQ 010W, KAU 838Y (white Lexus)
and KAP 448Z , a blue Mitsubishi and KAR 453H, a green Toyota Prado.

The blue Mitsubishi pick up was later used to ferry the foreigners to
Runda and later transport the vandalised computers to KICC on March 3.

The MP also said that the following cars have been availed to the
foreigners:

– KAH980M, a blue Mercedes Benz 320.

-KAS 501S also a Mercedes Benz.

-KAQ010W and KAU 838Y, both white Lexus

-KAT 333J, a red Mitsubishi lancer.

-KAJ 333P, a white Volvo.

-KAR453H, a green Toyota Prado.

-KAU 801P a grey Landrover Discovery.

-KAT 285Y, a blue Peugoet 406 saloon car.

-GK A333G, a grey met Mercedes Benz.

-GK A222H a white Subaru.

-KAS 847F, a blue Mercedes Benz

-KAQ 215J, a blue Subaru and

-KAP 448Z, a blue Mitsubishi.

The ODM also claimed that the foreigners were driven to the JKIA
press conference in a GK car registered as GK A333G and left in a
KAQ 215 Subaru. ODM then claimed that the foreigners are protected
by presidential guards. “…Two officers from the presidential
escort unit (have been)…deployed as bodyguard and driver to the
foreigners.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress