AN UNHYGIENIC SITUATION IN AKHALKALAK
A1+
01:32 pm 16 March, 2006
The Sanitary Department of Akhalkalak was dismissed according to the
order of the Health Ministry of Georgia.
15 people became unemployed as a result of this and the hygienic
situation of the region came out of control, as the above-mentioned
Department is the only service dealing with hygienic problems.
Though the Ministry gave a sanitary laboratory to the Social Health
Centre today it doesn’t work because of the staff reduction.
According to the news of the “A- Info” Agency the posibilities of
withstanding the epidemies are doomed to null.

KENYA: RAILA: ARMENIANS VISITED STATE HOUSE
Martin Mutua And Harold Ayodo
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
March 15, 2006
Posted to the web March 14, 2006
Nairobi
The Government stage-managed the Monday morning press conference by
two Armenians, Lang’ata Member of Parliament Raila Odinga has said.
Raila yesterday said the men, whom he described as “dangerous
criminals”, had been seen at State House and were accorded VIP
treatment by the Kenya Airports Authority under the supervision of
a personal assistant to an Othaya Narc activist.
He said Armenians used the office of the KAA deputy managing director,
Naomi Cidi, where the Press statement was crafted and printed.
“She (Cidi) was the one who arranged the VIP treatment for them,”
he added.
Raila spoke to journalists at a news conference called by the
Orange Democratic Movement to denounce the mercenaries at Parliament
Buildings.
He said the so-called mercenaries had not flown in since they had been
in the country and were driven from their Runda house in GK vehicles
with police escort.
He said at first the organisers of the media conference had claimed
that the two had flown in aboard a Kenya Airways plan from Dubai and
locked journalists in a room as they stage-managed the scenario.
“The faces are familiar and they have been seen at State House,”
said Raila, adding that the Immigration minister Gideon Konchellah
claimed they had come in a private jet when their names missed in
the KA manifest.
“Although they are now able to manipulate things we need to be told
which private jet they used and its registration.”
He said allegations that he had asked for money to sort out a domestic
problem was insulting.
“Is it possible that you meet a stranger who then goes ahead to give
you Sh100 million to sort out a domestic problem, what sort of a
domestic problem would one have to require that kind of money?” posed
Raila.
He said it was even intriguing that a stranger would give you that
kind of money without any documentation and wondered how one would
carry such huge amounts in cash unless he was a drug dealer.
“We are dealing with very dangerous international criminals on the
loose in our country that can only be referred to as the mafia,”
he said.
Raila said last Wednesday a Kenya Power and Lighting Company official
who had gone to take meter readings at the Runda house was chased away.
Meanwhile, Nyanza church leaders yesterday challenged the Armenians
to produce the agreement they signed with Raila for the Sh100 million
loan they allegedly gave him.
Bishops Washington Ng’ede, Julius Otieno and Jusper Ogelo accused
the Government of dictatorship.
In Siaya, Rev Kenneth Wachianga of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK)
said there would have been a signed agreement for the alleged Sh100
million Raila pocketed.
“We want to see copies of signed agreements showing Raila took the
money and clarifications whether it was paid in cash or cheque,”
Wachianga said.
Wachianga told the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to stand strong
and not crumble over the Government’s arm-twisting.
“We want a democratic Government that tells its people the truth
and clears the air whenever there are threatening allegations,”
Wachianga said.
“President Kibaki is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and
should explain the alleged presence on mercenaries in the country,”
they said.
The clerics demanded to know why the State had not apologised for
sending police to attack Standard and KTN offices and printing press
two weeks ago.

THE TEAM OF QARAMYAN IN THE UEFA CUP QUARTERFINALS
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12:53 pm 16 March, 2006
The team of the Armenian central midfielder Artavazd Qaramyan,
“Rapid” from Bucharest, reached the UEFA Cup 2005-2006 quarterfinals.
In the second match of the 1/8 finals the Romanian club lost to
“Hamburg” by the overalls 1:3, but the first match was won by “Rapid,
“who will continue the struggle in this prominent contest.
Let’s remind you that Artavazd Qaramyan had an injury during the match
“Rapid” – “Hamburg” and did not play for a month. Now he is already
recovering and he will probably participate in the second match of
the quarterfinals. The opponent of “Rapid” is not known yet, as the
second matches of the 1/8 finals haven’t finished yet.

RUSSIA DENIES GEORGIAN-BASED SERVICEMEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC PROTESTS
Interfax-AVN military news agency website
15 Mar 06
Moscow, 15 March: Claims by Georgian officials that Russian servicemen
were involved in protest rallies in Akhalkalaki (Samtskhe-Javakheti
Province) are unfounded, Interfax-AVN was told by phone today by
deputy commander of Russia’s 62nd Base Col Igor Luzhnikov.
“Servicemen from the 62nd Base in Akhalkalaki do not take part in
rallies and there are no grounds whatsoever for the accusations
levelled at them by Georgian officials,” Luzhnikov said.
There have been mass protest actions in Alkhalkalaki every day since 11
March. The population are demanding a proper inquiry in connection with
the killing on 8 March of an Alkhalkalaki resident of Armenian origin.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“SIBIR” AIR COMPANY ISSUES NEW TRADEMARK
YEREVAN, MARCH 15.ARMINFO. The second air carrier of Russia “Sibir”
air company begins to work with new S7 Airlines trademark from March
15. They informed ARMINFO at the company.
The air company also anounces creative competition. The participants
who manage to give the most extraordinary and interesting
interpretations to the new trademark of the company will be given
prizes. The main rpize is an annual ticket of S7 Airlines.
S7 Airlines carries out everyday Moscow-Yerevan flights and twice a
week Novosibirsk-Yerevan flights.

KENYA: ARMENIANS: THE INSIDE STORY
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
March 15, 2006
Posted to the web March 14, 2006
The hand of well-connected Government operatives yesterday showed
itself in the unfolding saga surrounding two Armenians said to be
mercenaries with a mission on Kenyan soil.
It also emerged that either one or both men arrived at the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi for their sensational
Press conference on Monday in a Government vehicle, complete with
security escort.
They were received by several civil servants, led by a senior Kenya
Airports Authority manager, The Standard has learnt.
The reports came as Government-aligned MPs called for the arrest
and prosecution of former Roads minister Raila Odinga, who blew the
whistle on the Armenians, and who the two men have alleged to have
lent Sh108 million.
The Government of National Unity MPs said in a statement that Raila
was destabilising the country through propaganda.
And police are seeking Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka to record a
statement following his admission that he may have met the men.
But in a rejoinder, the Orange Democratic Movement claimed the
Armenians were State guests and that their Monday morning Press
conference was facilitated by Government officials.
On his part, Kabete MP Paul Muite claimed the Armenians had been
hosted at State House. But President Kibaki issued a statement denying
the claim.
The Standard learnt from a KAA employee that the Armenians – Mr
Artur Sargysyan and Mr Artur Margaryan -were driven to the airport,
whisked through an electronically -operated secret door into a transit
restaurant where they waited for a Kenya Airways plane to land from
Dubai. This was to make it appear like one of them had just stepped
off the plane.
The operation almost backfired because the plane, which was supposed
to land at 6:30am, delayed for 40 minutes.
When it finally landed, the men were moved towards the plane through
an emergency and little-used door on the air bridge, 20 minutes after
other passengers had disembarked.
A KAA employee shepherded them to the air bridge, the mechanically
extendable access to the doors of the plane.
We have also learned that the two men were accompanied by a State
House employee, a personal assistant of a National Rainbow Coalition
activist and a middle-level protocol officer, who took them to the
VIP lounge that is the preserve of ministers, top civil servants,
the top cream of the diplomatic and international guests.
Their arrival attracted the attention of the staff on duty because
they used a blue GK-plated vehicle, escorted by a red saloon car with
KAT registration. Curiosity mounted when the group used the parking
normally reserved for the KAA General Manager at the office inside
the airport ring.
The latest revelations cast doubt on claims by one of the Armenians
that he arrived in Kenya on Monday morning to clear his name. The
KAA employee said both men were driven into the airport in one car,
and then taken through a route for new arrivals.
There was more confusion when Kenya Airways declined to confirm the
authenticity of an alleged flight manifest sent to newsrooms by lawyer
Fred Ngatia – the man who organised the news conference.
The alleged manifest, whose date did not indicate the year, only had
a list of names, with no details of seats and compartments.
A KAA official pointed out that it was lacking a crucial
internationally mandatory line on the top. The airline said a flight
manifest could not be released, except on orders of a court or police.
The plot thickened when Immigration minister Gideon Konchellah said
the men were citizens of the Czech Republic, who had arrived on a
private jet. He later issued a statement clarifying that they were
Armenian businessmen with permits to be in Kenya.
Ngatia, a senior Nairobi-based lawyer, called up journalists on Sunday
night and was at the airport early on Monday morning to facilitate
their clearance to the VIP lounge.
Yesterday, KAA Deputy Managing Director Naomi Cidi denied claims by
ODM that she had been involved in the Monday drama.
Asked why the men were allowed into the VIP lounge, she said the room
was opened on the request of journalists. Accounts of journalists
who covered the conference however indicated that special passes to
the VIP lounge were awaiting them when they arrived at the airport,
as Ngatia had been given their names the night before.
And police yesterday went to a house in Runda Estate, Nairobi, where
the Armenians are staying, ostensibly to arrest them. But they were
denied access and left, only for one of the Armenians to speed away
in a blue car.
On Tuesday, the Armenians came out in the open with a claim that
they had loaned Raila $1.5 million (Sh108 million). They also claimed
Raila – who had circulated copies of their passports saying they took
part in the commando raid on the Standard Group premises on March
2 – and Kalonzo Musyoka, had asked them for Sh3 billion last year,
ostensibly to finance a No-confidence motion against President Kibaki.
Yesterday, reports filtered in that the officer investigating the
mercenary claims – Nairobi deputy criminal investigations officer
Isaiah Osugo – had sent word he wanted Kalonzo, who said on Monday
that he met the foreigners, to record a statement. The ODM leader is,
however, in Ethiopia and it was not clear when he would come back.
In another twist, Kenya Airport Police Unit investigators, whose head
Mr Moses Nyakwama told journalists they were kept in the dark on the
presence of the Armenians in the airport and their unlimited access
to secluded and privileged areas, questioned seven KAA employees who
cleared the Armenians at every stage.
At Runda, Margaryan told journalists that they operated a company
called Brotherlinks International. But when the journalists dashed
to the office of the Registrar of Companies to search for its file
of incorporation and directorship, they were denied access to the
documents.
“This file is not available at the moment, you can use this number
(C120905) and come check at a later date,” an officer told the
inquisitive journalists.
Usually, members of the public are allowed to search and peruse files
of registered companies at the Registrar of Societies offices at a
fee of Sh100.

WE WERE UNAWARE OF THEIR PRESENCE, POLICE SAY
By Cyrus Ombati
Standard, Kenya
March 14 2006
The Kenya Airports Police Unit (Kapu) was not informed of the presence
of the two Armenians who addressed the press at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport on Monday morning.
Commandant Moses Nyakwama and his CID counterpart Judy Ndeda said the
unit did not know that the two foreigners were talking to journalists
at the VIP lounge.
Kapu is charged with security matters at all airports in the country
and the unit’s officers are usually informed of any event taking
place at the VIP lounge preserved for top Government officials.
A team of detectives, including Kenya Airports Authority and Kapu
officers, has been told to investigate those who arranged the press
conference.
The team had by last evening interrogated seven KAA employees over
the saga.
“There is still a lot to be investigated and officers need time.
Security officials were not aware of the events then,” said Nyakwama.
The police boss said the team sewould interrogate everyone who was
involved in the press conference.
Some of the members asked if journalists who went to interview the
Armenians got clearance from the KAA security desk.

KALONZO RECOUNTS MEETING WITH ARMENIAN DUO
By Evelyn Kwamboka and Francis Openda
Standard, Kenya
March 15 2006
Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka says an Asian businessman introduced
him to the alleged Armenian mercenaries.
“He was accompanied by two persons who were casually dressed. They
were wearing gold chains, rings, bracelets and watches. He introduced
them as businessmen from Dubai,” he said.
Former Cabinet minister Kalonzo Musyoka speaks to reporters at the
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on arrival from Ethiopia. Pic by
Jennifer Wachie
Musyoka said the two men, who he described as “guests of the
Government”, introduced themselves at the Grand Regency Hotel’s Summit
Club as relatives of the Armenian President.
“One of them introduced himself as a relative to the Armenian President
and that he was intending to vie for the presidency,” Kalonzo said
in a police statement.
The MP jetted into the country on Wednesday afternoon from Ethiopia
and went straight to Kilimani Police Station. He said one of the
men wanted him to introduce him to the Democratic Republic of Congo
President Joseph Kabila.
“He asked whether, as a former Foreign minister, I knew President
Joseph Kabila well and could introduce them to him,” he stated in
his statement.
Musyoka told them that although he knew Kabila, they were not close
friends. After that, Kalonzo said, one of them suggested that they
take a photograph using their camera.
“It occurred to me that the intention of having a photograph with me
was for the purpose of identification and possible elimination,” he
told Nairobi Deputy CID boss, Isaiah Osugo, who recorded the statement.
Kalonzo was accompanied by his lawyer, Mutula Kilonzo, while Orange
Democratic Movement legislators waited outside. He was joined later
at the station by MPs Gideon Moi, Nick Salat, Sammy Weya and Kiema
Kilonzo. Mutula said four police officers had raided Kalonzo’s home
on Tuesday night and demanded to know where his wife was.
The Armenians, Sargsyan Artur and Margaryan Artur, on Monday claimed
Kalonzo had asked them to help him with Sh3 billion and bulletproof
jackets in a bid to overthrow the Government. But the MP denied the
claims, saying he only met them briefly.
“If the statement made by the Armenians is true regarding their
relationship with the Government, the Government should accept and
own up. This is because it is important to live in a transparent way,”
he said.
Musyoka arrived at the station in an escort of three vehicles carrying
officers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
hp?articleid=37981

WHO ARE THESE ARMENIANS?
Daily Nation, Kenya
March 15 2006
Editorials
For the past two weeks, the country has been gripped by talk about
mercenaries reportedly brought into the country by powerful people
with an improper motive.
Evidence about wrongdoing has been scant and, instead, accusations
and counter-accusations have been flying around, leaving everybody
thoroughly confused.
In the din, nobody has cared to shed any light on the matter, making
it the stuff of suspense thrillers with ominous overtones. When the
issue first came to light, the public thought it was a figment of
someone’s imagination, and that the matter would die as fast it had
cropped up. Instead, the drama has kept heightening, rising to a
pitch with each new day.
It is now critical that we pause and ask some important questions.
The first is: Are there mercenaries in this country? If so, who
brought them here and for what purpose?
So far, two Armenian brothers have come out publicly to declare
that, although they occupy a residence at Nairobi’s Runda estate,
the house which Langata MP Raila Odinga claimed harboured mercenaries,
they are not actually the “dogs of war” being referred to.
More questions than answers
The denial aside, the behaviour of some seemingly powerful people
and the activities surrounding the two brothers raises more questions
than answers.
When they first came out publicly on Monday, the two did so at a
press conference at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport’s VIP lounge,
leading to the question: Whose VIPs are they?
All indications are that the press conference was stage-managed by
influential personalities. For what reason? There never should have
been a need for private businessmen to call the press, ostensibly to
explain their mission in Kenya.
It is also clear that the information provided about the Armenians’
travel details does not add up. There are conflicting stories
that one of them either flew in from Dubai on a commercial flight –
investigations show that his name was never in the passenger manifest –
or that he flew into the country in a private jet.
Again there is no corroborating evidence. No private plane landed
at JKIA at the material time. So, where did he come from and through
which means?
On Tuesday, one of the brothers stopped police officers entering the
Runda residence. In fact, he dared the police to produce a search or
arrest warrant before they could be allowed in.
In ordinary circumstances, although the law forbids them doing so,
police do enter people’s residences, conduct searches and even arrest
them without those documents.
Who are these people?
But, in this case, the police officers were eventually recalled and
the operation shelved. The question is: Who are these people that
the police cannot touch?
Police commissioner Hussein Ali had detailed a senior police officer
to investigate the matter. The way things are going, can Kenyans
realistically expect the police to unravel this mystery?
On the other hand, some people have been trying to make political
capital out of this whole mystery. What is their real interest? And
can they deny, under oath, that they have never had any dealings with
the two who claim to be businessmen?
This country has gone through many crises in recent times and Kenyans
would not want to continue being treated to a bizarre drama of the
nature we are witnessing today.
The people want to focus on important matters with a bearing on
national development, not tantalising sideshows. This is why we ask
the Government to explain the matter, and that can only happen if
thorough investigations are carried out and the matter cleared up,
one way or the other.
The politicians who have loudly spoken about the so-called mercenaries,
starting with Mr Odinga and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, and any others
who might know anything about the Armenians should provide all the
information they have to police to catalyse the investigations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOW KALONZO QUIZZED OVER ARMENIANS
Story By Bernard Namunane
Daily Nation, Kenya
March 15 2006
Former Cabinet minister Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday said the two
Armenians at the centre of the mercenary row wanted him to introduce
them to Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila.
Mr Kalonzo and Mr Musyoka named Nairobi businessman Raju Sanghani as
the person who introduced him to the two foreigners who Lang’ata MP
Raila Odinga claims are mercenaries.
The top Orange Democratic Movement leader was giving details of what
he knows about Mr Artur Sargsyan and Mr Artur Margaryan in a statement
he recorded at Kilimani police station.
Mr Musyoka, who arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
from Addis Ababa at 2.40 pm, went straight to the Kilimani CID offices
following a Government order that he records a statement.
He declined to speak to journalists at the airport and said he was
wanted by the police. “I have been informed that the police are after
me. I am going straight to Kilimani police station,” Mr Musyoka,
who was flanked by Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo, said.
Mr Musyoka emerged from a one-and-a-half hour session with the CID
officer tasked to investigate the mercenaries allegations, Mr Isaiah
Osugo, to state that he has never requested for funding from the
two Armenians.
He said Mr Sanghani introduced the two foreigners, whom he described as
“flamboyantly endowed in gold chains, rings, bracelets and watches”
at the Grand Regency’s Summit Club in late November last year.
“Whilst at the club, businessman Raju Sanghani walked over to where
I was seated accompanied by two persons who were casually dressed
and introduced them as businessmen from Dubai,” Mr Musyoka said.
Mr Sanghani is the former owner of Guilders International Bank,
chairman of Real Motors Group and an estate management firm.
During the 10-minute encounter, Mr Musyoka said one of the two
foreigners introduced himself as a relative of the Armenian President
and that he had set his eyes on a top political seat in his country.
In apparent reference to Mr Sargsyan, he said the Armenian told him of
his business interests in DR Congo and inquired if Mr Musyoka could
use his influence as a former Foreign minister to introduce him to
President Kabila.
“I informed them that I knew President Kabila but was not
well-acquainted with him. That was the end of our discussion,”
narrated the Mwingi North MP.
Contacted last evening, Mr Sanghani confirmed he had introduced Mr
Musyoka to the two men in an “accidental” meeting.
He said the two were associates of a Dubai businessman, Mr Zakher
Omar, a friend he had met in Mumbai, India, last year. Mr Omar deals
in general commodities, steel rolling and real estate development in
Dubai and India.
“He and l met accidentally at the hotel l was staying in and we got
talking. I tried to interest him in investing in Kenya especially in
real estate…”
“Sometime in November he came with two people he introduced as Arthur
and James. He claimed they were members of the “royal” family in
Armenia,” Mr Sanghani said in a telephone interview.
He said that one evening during the three or four days which Mr Omar
and his associates spent in the country, he took them to the Summit
Club in the Grand Regency where they met Mr Musyoka.
“It was a casual, accidental meeting. I introduced them and told Mr
Musyoka that they were members of the Armenian “royal” family.
Indeed, l told him that one of the men was a presidential aspirant. I
also told him that the men were interested in investing in gold and
diamonds in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Mr Sanghani said.
The conversation lasted a few minutes after which one of the Armenians
requested that Mr Musyoka pose for a photograph with them.
Mr Sanghani said he visited Dubai later that month on his way to
London. “They welcomed me and took me round the place. When l returned
to Kenya sometime in December, they were also here,” he said.
During one of their outings, the “accidentally” ran into Mr Musyoka
at the Serena Hotel. They chatted about the business and the MP asked
them about vehicle importations “which is one of the ventures they
were into”, Mr Sanghani said.
On Monday, Mr Sargsyan told journalists at JKIA that he and his
brother were introduced to Mr Musyoka and Mr Raila Odinga by an Asian
businessman at the Grand Regency hotel.
It was during the meeting, the Armenians claimed, that Mr Musyoka
made a request for Sh3 billion to fund a vote of no-confidence in
the Government, a request they declined.
Instead, Mr Sargsyan said, they agreed to a request by Mr Odinga to
lend him $1.5 million (about Sh108 million).
But yesterday, Mr Musyoka, a former Environment minister, said Mr
Odinga was not in the picture. Instead, he said he was accompanied
by Nairobi businessman Kennedy Ngumbau.
The MP, who was flanked by ODM Members of Parliament Mutula Kilonzo,
Gideon Moi, Nick Salat, Daudi Mwanzia and Sammy Weya, described the
Armenians as “dangerous” people.
“They are people who are absolutely dangerous to Kenyans and the
Government must ensure the security and safety of ODM leaders,”
he said.
Mr Musyoka claimed that the move by the two to take a photo with him
at the hotel came to haunt him three weeks ago after the raid at the
Standard and Kenya Television Network offices.
“It occurred to me after the attack on KTN and the Standard newspapers
in which the said persons were alleged to have been involved, that
the intention of having a photograph with me was for the purpose of
identification and possible elimination.”
Mr Musyoka becomes the second ODM leader, after Mr Odinga, to record
a statement with the police over the mercenary saga. The Lang’ata MP
recorded a statement at Kilimani police station on Monday.
ODM leaders have claimed that the presence of Mr Sargsyan and Mr
Margaryan in the country was known to people at high levels in
Government. They have also claimed that the foreigners were being
given State protection.
But Environment minister Kivutha Kibwana has warned that Mr Odinga
risks being taken to court over the claims of mercenaries in the
country.