‘Armenians’ are abusing the law
Standard, Kenya
March 17 2006
Justice may be slow to come by generally because of the rigour due
diligence demands, but in the ‘Armenian’ saga it is moving at an
unacceptable snail speed.
And with every hour and day wasted on this evolving saga of dithering,
indecision and postponing, national security is endangered, and the
ability of the Government to protect its citizens is compromised.
It is no longer intelligent or justice-minded to continue harping on
the line that these apparently innocuous businessmen have committed no
crime. It is also no longer politically prudent to use the ‘strangers’
as bait for political blackmail or mileage.
For doing so is dicing with a threat to national security.
With every revelation, allegation, and turn of events and episode
national security and sovereignty is compromised. To tolerate this
is to send the wrong signal that Kenya is a country where claimants
to unsubstantiated prominence can get away with mischief and slight
of public intelligence.
Now is the time to apply the rule of law to prove that the law is not
a respecter of persons or status and that the rule of law still counts.
Even on the surface of it there is evidence that crimes, petty and
pretty serious ones, may have been committed, and the police should
take action.
Let’s begin with the petty: It is a traffic offence to drive a car
whose number plates are concealed on a public road. For this alone,
traffic police officers have reason to investigate why law a biding
motorist should resort to such disguises. The businessman, Artur
Margayan, has explained this as a security precaution, but he is yet
to report to any police station that his life is in danger.
It is also a serious offence for anyone to claim he was approached
to fund the overthrow of the legally constituted Government of the
Republic of Kenya. The claim that these gentlemen were asked to fund
a vote of confidence in the Government points to treason.
The businessmen have also claimed affinity to the President of
Armenia, an allegation that has been denied. Under the laws of Kenya,
impersonation is a criminal offence, and if this is proved to be the
case, then these gentlemen are dangerous to national security and
should not be allowed to roam, issuing threats with impunity.
Yet the police seem helpless in handling the case. The first time
police officers went to the Runda house a week ago, a dog was set on
them and three CID officers investigating the matter fled.
Early this week, a police squad was recalled when they went to the
investor’s Runda house.
We are thus dealing with breaches of the law and possible crimes
that may have been committed or about to be committed, and threats
to national sovereignty and integrity.
The composure of the Kenyan people in Nairobi streets on Thursday
after Margaryan let our offices was a potent call to action. The people
could have lynched the businessman, but they didn’t. The message to the
Government is clear: Act on this case now to protect the rule of law.

Michuki questioned as ‘Armenian’ plot thickens
By Andrew Teyie
Standard, Kenya
March 17 2006
Internal Security Minister John Michuki yesterday appeared before the
Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Administration of Justice and
Legal Affairs to explain why the Government raided the Standard Group.
He is said to have claimed the Government raided the Group two weeks
ago because the media group runs a propaganda unit.
Michuki further claimed that the Group intended to publish a series
of stories linking key government officials to the Al-Qaeda terrorist
group, sources close to the Committee said.
“It was a government action. The Standard Group has a propaganda
unit which wanted to run stories that key government officials have
Al-Qaeda links,” a source close to the committee said of Michuki.
Michuki and CID Director Joseph Kamau assembled an elite police unit
code-named Kanga to raid the Standard Group at I&M towers and Likoni
Printing Press two weeks ago in contravention of the law.
They switched off KTN and dismantled the printing press. They then
went ahead to burn the day’s edition of The Standard, which had rolled
off the press before carting away computers and accessories.
Before then, they terrorised and robbed staff, who were on duty.
Later, Michuki blurted out: “If you rattle a snake, you must be
prepared to be bitten.” He stated that the Standard Group was engaged
in subversive activities.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Cyrus Gituai accompanied Michuki
to the Committee hearings at Continental House. Kabete MP Paul Muite
chairs the committee. Members, who attended yesterday’s proceedings
were Amina Abdala and Muchiri Gachara.
According to sources, Michuki claimed that the Group had also lined
up stories on the Akiwumi Tribal Clashes report. The stories, Michuki
reportedly told the Committee, were to portray key government officials
as organisers of the clashes.
The source said the Committee was told: “They (Standard Group) wanted
to publish stories on the Akiwumi report claiming that the current
government was involved in the clashes.”
The source said Michuki pleaded with the Committee to understand
government actions.
Speaking after the meeting, Committee chairman Muite stated that
they have summoned Police Commissioner Major-General Hussein Ali,
Kamau and President Kibaki’s Strategic Advisor Stanley Murage.
Muite said Ali, Kamau and Murage would appear before them on Monday.
“We want to know whether Murage attended the planning committee on
the eve of the raid,” stated Muite.
Muite stated that they would get to the bottom of the issue.
“The Committee put to him all questions and as a result we now want
Ali and Kamau to tell us their side of the story. We want to get
to the bottom of it instead of bandying allegations in the media,”
stated Muite.
Michuki is said to have told the Committee that the raid was carried
out by Kenyans and was sanctioned by the Government. It is unclear
why they had to be hooded and why they had to carry out the raid in
contravention of the law.
Michuki reportedly insisted that those who raided the Standard were
not mercenaries. He is said to have assured the Committee that the
Government is investigating the mercenaries claims and any links such
people may have to a certain Narc activist.
Late yesterday evening, Michuki sent a statement to newsrooms
confirming that the mercenaries claims were under “active” government
investigations.
“The Government should be given an opportunity to carefully investigate
the matter devoid of political interference,” the statement said
in part.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

I can handle crowds – Armenian
By Cyrus Ombati
Standard, Kenya
March 17 2006
The man at the centre of the mercenary saga, Artur Margaryan,
yesterday remained defiant and proud while Kenyans expressed shock
at his defiance.
Margaryan said he expected hostility and was ready to handle it when
he stepped out in public on Thursday afternoon.
He, at the same time, questioned what crime he had committed to
warrant police interrogation.
“I knew some people could shout at me. I thought I could meet the
hostility when I arrived, but I don’t fear anything,” he said.
Margaryan said as a trained soldier he knows how to handle the general
public especially an agitated crowd. “You don’t shout at them. Just
laugh to the end as I did.”
A crowd charged at the foreigner as he left I&M Building on Thursday
forcing police to come to his rescue.
Speaking to journalists outside his compound in Runda estate, Nairobi,
the foreigner said he is in the country legally for investment
purposes to benefit the locals and dared MPs Fred Gumo and Reuben
Ndolo to make good their threats to evict him from his house.
“They should not come after a week. Let them come now and if they
want to fight me I will also fight,” he said.
In the meantime, he is beefing up his personal security. Margaryan
said he is not leaving the country. Instead, he is bringing in more
dogs to guard his compound against intruders.
Yesterday, there was an additional dog at the compound; a white dog
nicknamed “Amigo”, which he described as dangerous. That brings the
number of dogs in the compound to two.
He said four more dogs are on the way to bring the total number to
six and warned people to stay clear of his home.
“If anyone comes here without being invited, he will be mauled and
I don’t care who he is. This is private property,” he said.
The foreigner also denied reports that his passport and that of his
brother were fake. “My passport is legal and if it was illegal I
could be in jail. We do not have a consular or embassy of Armenia
here in Kenya so the claims are false.”
Margaryan later drove out of the compound in the company of his
girlfriend saying he was going to inspect his projects elsewhere in
the city.
On Thursday, he visited The Standard Group offices to clear his name
over the illegal police raid that was staged there.

Mercenaries: Probe now extends to Mombasa
By Willis Oketch
Standard, Kenya
March 17 2006
Detectives investigating the identity of two Armenians alleged to be
mercenaries have extended their probe to Mombasa to establish if they
have business links in the town.
Police sources said this followed suspicions that some businessmen
in the town had links with the two foreigners.
A group of detectives from Nairobi will visit the coastal town to
dig up any business links the duo might have.
“Police want to check out claims that these men, who claim to be
Armenians, have business links in Mombasa,” said the police source.
The source said police have received several claims that the two men
were frequent visitors to Mombasa where they stay in one of the top
beach hotels. Police will also be checking out if the Brother Link
Company in which the two are co-owners has been doing import business
through the port of Mombasa.
“If we know the nature of the business they do we will know if they
are genuine business people as they claim,” said the police source.
An earlier claim made by politicians allied to the Orange Democratic
Movement indicated that the two Armenians had business links with
some Mombasa businessmen.

Ukraine, Georgia and EU to construct gas pipeline to supply Caspian
gas in European countries
Regnum, Russia
March 17 2006
Ukraine, Georgia and EU plan to construct a gas pipeline to supply
Caspian gas into European countries, informed a source in the Georgian
embassy, quoting the statements, made on 5th international conference
“Oil, gas, power engineering and infrastructure – GIOGIE-2006”,
which opened in Tbilisi on March 16.
According to the source, a specially created international consortium
of five companies already started its work on the project. Length of
gas pipeline will be around 1,000 km. Part of the pipeline between
Georgia and Ukraine will be constructed and the sea floor. Source
informed that in the near future, work on technical basis of the
project will start.
Earlier, National stock company Naftogaz Ukraine declared its
intention to participate in constructions of transit gas pipeline
from Iran to Western Europe. It proposed the Iranian side two
possible routes of the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia-Ukraine-Europe
and Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Ukraine-Europe pipelines. Naftogaz
Ukraine proposed Iran to begin the realization of one of project in
bilateral format, with further joining of other countries, informs
finance.ua.

UConn Advance, CT
March 17 2006
Coming to Campus
– March 20, 2006
Coming to Campus is a section announcing visiting speakers of note.
The Hon. Masis Mayilian, Deputy Foreign Minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, will give a public lecture on
“Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as a Factor of Peace and Stability in
the Region of South Caucasus” on Thursday, March 23, from 3 to 4 pm,
at the Alumni Center.
A reception will follow.
Since 1993, Mayilian has held various positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Ministry: head of the Desk of International Organizations, head of the
Department of International Organizations, advisor to the Minister,
and head of the Political Department.
In 1993, he was appointed a member of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
delegation at the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.
In 2001, by resolution of the Republic’s government, Mayilian was
appointed as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He holds the diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary.
The talk is funded by the Norian bequest to the University, which
supports a program of Armenian Studies activities to honor the legacy
of Alice Norian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Without your love
Armenian song online
esctoday.com, Netherlands
March 17 2006
Armenian broadcaster ARMTV have officially released the song which
will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest, to take
place in Athens, Greece.
Earlier in the year ARMTV, the national broadcaster of Armenia,
launched a Eurovision website. On this site, all the facts about the
very first Armenian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest can be found,
now including the video and audio of the song.
You can visit the official ARMTV Eurovision website by clicking this
link
Armenia participates for the very first time in the Eurovision Song
Contest and shall therefore compete in the semi final on May 18th.
The song will be performed by Andre (pictured), the Armenian Singer
of the Year of both 2004 and 2005.

Congressional Record: March 15, 2006 (Extensions)
> > From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access
> > [wais.access.gpo.gov]
A TRIBUTE TO SETA SIMONIAN
HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Seta Simonian, of
Glendale, California. Each year In March, in recognition of Women’s History
Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by
our nation’s women.
Ms. Simonian’s community involvement demonstrates her devotion to education
and art, because she believes in promoting and preserving the treasures and
the beauty of Armenian culture and heritage.
Seta was born in Aleppo, Syria, and at age 11 moved to Beirut, Lebanon.
Upon graduating from the American University of Beirut at the age of 22, she
married Hratch Simonian. The Simonians lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for
8 years, then moved to California in 1985. Since 1987, Seta, her husband,
and their two children, Karin and Sebouh, have resided in Glendale,
California.
Soon after moving to California, Ms. Simonian cofounded and chaired the
Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society of Pasadena. She is a current
member of Arvest and Artee Cultural Groups of Hamazkayin, and since 1994,
has been the chair of the Hamazkayin Music Committee which collaborates with
artists in Armenia and releases authentic CDs and classical Armenian music.
She is currently an assistant for the Hamazkayin Student Forum held in
Armenia every summer. Seta served as an Anchor for Horizon Armenian TV in
Glendale for three years. A cofounder of the Committee of Armenian Students
in the Public Schools, she is also a member of the Armenian Cultural
Foundation, Armenian Educational Foundation, Armenian International Women’s
Association, the National Education Association, and the California and
Glendale Teachers’ Associations.
Seta received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the American
University of Beirut, and a master’s in education administration from
California State University Los Angeles. She has a teaching diploma, a
bilingual teaching certificate, and has completed an Armenian Studies
program.
A wonderful role model for her students, Seta has been a teacher for over
30 years and is currently teaching math at Wilson Middle School in Glendale.
I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an outstanding
woman of California’s 29th Congressional District, Seta Simonian.

March 22 – Los Angeles, CA (8:30 to 4:00 pm) BISNIS
briefing on doing business in Eurasia BISNIS Trade
Specialist Desi Jordanoff will make presentation and
then be available for scheduled one-on-one meetings
Point of Contact at BISNIS:
[email protected]
nis.doc.gov/bisnis/bisdoc/Mar22Bisnis.pdf
March 23-25 – Anaheim, CA (All day)
BISNIS Participation in Natural Products Expo West
BISNIS Trade Specialist Desi Jordanoff will
participate in ~SShowtime~T ~V an opportunity for
individual counseling sessions ~V in conjunction with
local US Export Assistance Center Point of Contact at
BISNIS: [email protected]
w2006.html
April 6 ~V Las Vegas, NV (All day)
Waste Expo
Participation in ~SShowtime~T ~V an opportunity for
individual counseling sessions ~V in conjunction with
the local US Export Assistant Center BISNIS Tajikistan
representative Jamshed Rahmonberdiev will be present
as well as BISNIS International Economist Chris
Christov Point of Contact at BISNIS:
[email protected]
April 10-12 – Las Vegas, NV (All day)
Power Gen Renewable Energy
Participation in programs put together by local US
Export Assistance Center Point of Contact at BISNIS:
[email protected]

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/16/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) US Assistant Secretary of State Visits Armenia 2) Turks in Germany Rally Honor Talaat Pasha 3) Istanbul University Hosts Conference on Turkish-Armenian Relations 4) Armenian Vice-Speaker Meets with Armenian Youth of Moscow 1) US Assistant Secretary of State Visits Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)--On the last leg of his regional tour, US Deputy Secretary of State Daniel Fried met Thursday with Armenia's President Robert Kocharian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, and Defense Minister Serge Sargsian. Fried, who also visited Azerbaijan and Georgia, said the goal of his trip was to study the situation in the region after the Rambouillet meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as to discuss a number of issues pertaining to the future of the region, including energy security. Steven Mann, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair from the United States, accompanied the US deputy secretary of state to Yerevan and said: "It is a difficult fact that we did not move ahead at Rambouillet. But the two countries' presidents are willing to move forward." Fried says he believes there is still an opportunity for Armenia and Azerbaijan to make a breakthrough in the Karabagh settlement process. He said he is convinced that negotiations can be continued despite the lack of progress at the latest round of high-level talks at Rambouillet. "Both governments express their countries' interests and take the Karabagh settlement process seriously," Fried said, sharing with the media his impressions of the meetings with officials in Baku and Yerevan. He added that the settlement of the conflict will stimulate the economic progress of the region. Fried also addressed energy issues at a news conference in Yerevan. He said the US would not object to the Armenian government's ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station replacing the Medzamor plant, which is due to be decommissioned by 2016. Fried said after recent explosions in the pipeline that ships Russian gas to the South Caucasus, the US and Europe have been paying greater attention to the energy situation in the region and the need to cut its heavy dependence on Russian fuel supplies. He said Armenia's desire to build a new nuclear power plant will be discussed in Washington. During his trip, Fried also denied media allegations that US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, would be recalled soon, allegedly for acknowledging publicly last year that 1915 massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was genocide. "Ambassador Evans enjoys the confidence of the State Department and will continue to serve as US ambassador to Armenia," he said. Ambassador Evans who was also present at the news conference reiterated what he had said earlier: "I serve at the pleasure of US president." Fried said the US Government is also interested in the democratic situation in Armenia. The American diplomats left Yerevan for Istanbul later on Thursday to attend a meeting of the Minsk Group cochairmen due to be held there. 2) Turks in Germany Rally Honor Talaat Pasha BERLINAfter German courts overruled the Berlin Police Department's decision to stop the Turkish march in honor of Talaat Pasha, around 20 Turks gathered in Berlin to honor one of the masterminds of the Armenian genocide. This group of Turks, however, was prevented from placing a wreath at the foot of a memorial dedicated to victims of the Nazi regime in Germany. A group consisting of both Armenians and Germans blocked the Turks from placing the wreath there, because they considered honoring a perpetrator of genocide to be disrespectful to those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Following these developments, the Berlin Police Department has submitted a request to the court to stop another planned Turkish rally scheduled for Saturday, March 18. The court will rule on the matter Friday. The court's ruling will be based on the German law that forbids denial of the Holocaust. It is unclear whether that law can be applied to the denial of other genocides as well. 3) Istanbul University Hosts Conference on Turkish-Armenian Relations ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)--Some 70 Turkish and foreign academics gathered in Istanbul on Wednesday for a three-day conference titled "A New Approach to Turkish-Armenian Relations." In a rare move, the gathering, organized by Istanbul University, included presenters of all convictions, but it was largely dominated by historians and officials who defend Turkey's official position on the Armenian genocide. Turkey categorically denies that 1.5 million Armenians were victims of genocide under its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire. Twenty-four historians from around the world attended the conference, which failed to fill up even half of the hall's 2000 seats. Historians and experts from Armenia were also invited to the conference. However, they refused to participate. Historian Ara Sarafian, who did participate in the conference, told reporters outside the conference hall that the Genocide is a historical fact, during which several of his family members lost their lives. In the first session of the conference, Yair Auron, an Israeli researcher of Jewish archives from Ottoman times, openly used the term "genocide" and appealed to Turks to question their past. "Every civil society has to deal with its past, including the black pages of this past," Auron said. In a message sent to the conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stressed that Turkey is at peace with its past, saying, "We have no page in our history to be ashamed of." Noting that many conferences and symposiums have been held in Turkey recently on the Armenian allegations, Gul said, "There has been an increase in the amount of scientific research, articles and books published about the last period of the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian genocide claims." In a rare move, books deviating from the official Turkish position were made available at the entrance to the conference hall. One of the books displayed by Sarafian caused a stir among some of the Turkish participants who were offended by the way the Turkish flag was presented on the cover. Sarafian subsequently removed the book's jacket cover, but one participant continued to verbally assault Sarafian until others intervened. Turkey has only recently begun discussing the taboo subject of the Armenian genocide, which many countries have recognized. In September of last year, a private Istanbul university hosted a landmark conference organized by Turkish intellectuals disputing Ankara's official line on the issue, despite a court order to block it. 4) Armenian Vice-Speaker Meets with Armenian Youth of Moscow (PanArmenian.Net)--Mitk Union of Armenian Youth organized a meeting between representatives of Moscow's Armenian youth organizations and Armenian Parliamentary Vice-Speaker and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian. During the meeting, Hovannisian discussed issues relating to Armenia's development, Russian-Armenian cooperation, and Armenia-diaspora relations. He also spoke about the geopolitical situation in the region and the Karabagh conflict settlement. Mitk is a project organized by the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth NGO. Members of the Mitk Friends' Club are given the opportunity to meet with Russian and Armenian politicians and public figures. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.