OPPOSITIONIST CANDIDATE TO PREFECTURE OF YEREVAN CENTER COMMUNITY
ACCUSES AUTHORITIES OF DIRTY TECHNOLOGIES

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15. ARMINFO. “I think any talks about my possible
election with support of the Armenian President an insult to my
person. The whole my pre- election process is facing a strong
resistance of the authorities and the dirty technologies they resort
to,” thinks the candidate to the post of the Prefect of Yerevan Center
Community, Press Secretary of the opposition bloc Justice, Ruzanna
Khahcatryan.

Speaking at today’s seminar “Women in Politics” organized by the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
R. Khachatryan said that election of an oppositionist candidate to the
post of the Prefect of the Center Community could raise the image of
the authorities, hereby satisfying Council of Europe representatives.

Unfortunately, the authorities create obstacles for the candidate’s
meeting with electors and even pay for black PR. She thinks the
Armenian authorities have a male face. A real distribution of the
power between male and female officials would help establishing legal
order in the country as females “are less involved into dirty
technologies and forced solutions to conflict situations”, she
thinks. Heritage party headed by Raffi Hovannisian, which is in charge
of the ACNIS, has also advanced a candidate to the post of the Prefect
of the village of Berd, Tavush region.

FONDATION INFO-TURK
53, rue de Pavie
1000 BRUXELLES

Tel: (32-2) 215 35 76
Fax: (32-2) 215 58 60

E-mail:
[email protected]

The arrest warrant against Dogan Ozgüden remains in force

Journalist Emin Karaca condemned
for insult to the Army chiefs

Journalist and writer Emin Karaca was condemned on September 13, 2005
by the penal court of first instance N°2 of Istanbul to a 5-month
imprisonment old according to Article 301/2 of the new Turkish Penal
Code (replacing Article 159/1 of the old Turkish Penal Code) because
of his criticisms as regards the putschist generals of March 12,
1971. The prison sentence was later commuted to a suspended fine of
900 YTL (New Turkish Liras).

The court also decided to acquit the responsible editor for the
Türkiye’ review of ve Avrupa’ da Yazin (Literature in Turkey and
Europe), Mehmet Emin Sert, who had published Karaca’s article on the
occasion of the 30th anniversary of the execution of three leaders of
progressive youth.

In the same case started in 2002, Dogan Özgüden, chief editor of
Info-Türk, had been indicted for his article entitled “After 30
years”, appeared in the same review, and accused of having insulted
the Army chiefs. On September 27, 2002, the court sent to all border
check points an arrest warrant ordering that Özgüden, exiled in
Belgium, be immediately arrested and submitted to the justice as soon
as he enters to Turkey. Up to now, this arrest warrant has been
renewed five times by the same court, but Özgüden refused to surrender
to Turkish justice.

At the audience of June 22, 2005, the public prosecutor asked that the
lawsuit file against Dogan Özgüden be separate until its arrest in the
event of its return to the country so that the lawsuit against Karaca
can continue separately. The court thus decided to separate Özgüden’s
file and to suspend his trial until his arrest in the event of his
return to Turkey. (For more information on the case:
)

The condemnation of Karaca shows that, in spite of the modification of
the Turkish Penal Code, so appreciated by the European Union, the
indictment and condemnation of writers and journalists for “opinion
crimes” continue as before.

The independent communications network (BIA) announced on September 13
2005, that under the Article 301 (old article 159) of the TPC a number
of journalists are always tried for insult against the Turkish nation,
the Army, the government or the forces of security simply because of
their criticisms. It gives like examples the following recent cases:

Novelist Orhan Pamuk, for insult to the Turkish nation

Journalist Ragip Zarakolu, publisher of Belge Yayinlari, for insult to
the State, the Republic and Atatürk Journalist Hrant Dink, editor of
the Armenian newspaper Agos, for insult to the Turkish nation

Journalist Dogan Özgüden, for insult to the Army
Journalist Emin Karaca,, for insult to the Army

Lawyer Sehmus Ulek, vice-president of the Association for the defense
of the oppressed (Mazlum-DER), for insult to the Turkish nation
Journalist Rahmi Yildirim, for insult to the Army Journalist Ersen
Korkmaz, editor of Demokrat Iskenderun, for insult to the government.

***************************************

Latest news on the situation of human rights in Turkey:

Le 25e anniversaire du coup d’état du 12 septembre 1980 Les héritages
honteux de la dictature militaire persistent au seuil de l’UE 50
protesters of September 12 were attacked and detained by police La
Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg pour opération de police meurtrière Les
tentatives de lynchage s’intensifient depuis cinq mois Le Conseil de
sécurité insiste sur la poursuite de la répression

La Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg pour violation de la liberté
d’expression Poursuites contre Orhan Pamuk – L’UE s’en prend à la
Turquie International PEN ‘s reaction against Orhan Pamuk’s indictment
L’écrivain Orhan Pamuk inculpé pour “insulte” aux Turcs RSF: Un
journaliste d’origine kurde incarcéré en Turquie Heavy fines to Turkey
for violating freedom of expression RSF scandalisée par la garde à vue
arbitraire de quatre journalistes

Appel de solidarité pour la paix et le dialogue en Turquie Second
International Conference on EU, Turkey and the Kurds La police
allemande attaque les médias kurdes Manifestants kurdes attaqués par
des nationalistes turcs: 200 blessés A Kurdish Demonstrator Killed by
security forces in Batman

Une conférence majeure sur la Turquie au Parlement européen Belgique:
Matinée d’étude sur le combat contre le négationnisme Négationnisme:
Le procureur juge Emir Kir “ambigu” Anniversaire d’incidents
anti-grecs: une exposition saccagée à Istanbul

Zaman, Turkey
Sept 15 2005

EU Should Suffer more over Cyprus

by ABDULHAMIT BILICI

I do not know whether it attracts your attention or not. In the last
weeks, the giant European Union (EU) is suffering a lot because of
the tiny Cyprus problem.

While two of Europe’s most important capitals, Paris and the EU’s
term president London, are pitting themselves against each other over
the Cyprus issue, two other members of the Union, Greece, and the
Greek Cypriot Administration in particular, are coming up with new
scenarios every day.

In the meantime, Brussels, most especially the EU Commission, is
trying strike a balance between the feuding important members of
Union and the open promises that were made to Turkey at the December
17 Summit.

Although I strongly support Turkey’s full membership, frankly
speaking, I am not getting very upset about the EU’s suffering so
much over the Cyprus issue. I even take a deep breath over it,
because, the EU has embraced this pain on purpose, despite many
warnings, especially from Turkey. According to the famous saying, `If
you get yourself into trouble, then you’ve got no right to complain’.
Hence, it may be even good for the EU to suffer more for the mistake
it made deliberately.

The EU said `yes’ to the Greek Cypriots even contradicting to its own
principles, let alone ignoring the articles in the London and Zurich
Agreements (founding treaties of Cyprus Republic in 1959-1960) which
limits membership of the then Cyprus Republic to any international
grouping in which Turkey and Greece are not both members. Because of
this reason, EU officials have never given satisfactory answers to
following questions so far: How did the EU admit the Greek Cyprus
Administration, which is unable to control even half of its
territory, while the same EU sees Turkey’s problems with its
neighbors such as Greece and Armenia as for the membership? Why
didn’t the EU say the same thing to the Greek Cypriots, the way it
said to the East European countries, `Solve your problems with your
neighbors before you become a member.’

If it were the Turkish side that was responsible for non-solution,
then the EU’s attitude could have been understood since it may
rightly want to punish Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC).

If former TRNC President Rauf Denktas, who needlessly and unfairly
gave the whole world the impression that the Turkish side was
responsible for the lack of solution with the policy he pursued, was
in power, then the EU’s present policy could have been well
understood. On the contrary, now there is President Mehmet Ali Talat,
who was elected because he is in favor of a solution.

In addition, if a government which sees `non-solution on the island
as the best solution’ was in power in Ankara, then we wouldn’t say
anything against the EU regarding its recent attitude.

Most importantly, if it were the Turkish Cypriots and not the Greek
Cypriots who had said `no’ in the referendum held on the Annan Plan,
in which the United Nations (UN), the U.S., the EU and the whole
world compromised in a way, we wouldn’t make be making any objections
now. Meanwhile, it may be useful to remember briefly the results of
this historic referendum: In the referenda held on both sides of the
island on April 24, 2004, 64.9 percent of the Turkish Cypriots said
`yes’ to the solution, while 75.83 percent of the Greek Cypriots said
`no.’ If the political administration had accepted the solution, but
were not able to convince its people, then we would have said that
this is the democratic will of a people and would have gone on our
own way. But this was not the case. Because, Cypriot Greek leader
Tassos Papadopoulos also joined the `no’ bandwagon.

Yes, if the previous Turkish government and Denktas had shown an
attitude in favor of a solution prior to the Copenhagen Summit and a
solution had been found before the membership of the Greek Cyprus was
approved, the picture would have been very different today. At least,
if they had pursued such a policy, which in fact would have revealed
that in fact the Greek Cyprus was the party that favored
non-solution, we would have been in a better situation now. But
whatever happened so far, we came to December 17, 2004 critical
summit where Turkey was given a conditional date to start accession
talks on 3 October this year. In this summit, both the EU officials
and leaders of the member countries announced and approved that with
regards to Cyprus, the only condition for starting accession talks
was Ankara signing the supplementary protocol, which extended the
scope of Customs Union Agreement to include 10 new EU members
including Cyprus.

Thus, while the EU’s rewarding Greek Cypriots who rejected a solution
is now lying at the center of the problem, forcing Turkey to pay
another price on Cyprus before starting negotiations is inconsistent
with reason, logic, law and morality.

In the meantime, the Europeans should decide how consistent they are
with the idea `Europeanism,’ something majority of us glorify without
questioning, when Greek Cypriots took to streets like spoiled
children, encouraged by France, which accepted the December 17
decisions and then signaled to set a condition at the very last
moment for the `recognition of Greek Cyprus’ out of certain domestic
political concerns. The recent signals show that current term
president Britain will keep the promises made on December 17 and will
not set any other conditions; however, if the EU is going to be a
structure where treaties, laws and promises are disregarded, then it
is better for Turkey to start thinking to slam the door and walk
away.

National Legal Internet Portal, Belarus
Sept 15 2005

Belarus attends `Armenia EXPO 2005′ trade show in Yerevan

The national stand of Belarus is exhibited at the 5th regional
universal `Armenia 2005′ trade show in Yerevan September 14-17.

The embassy of Armenia in Belarus told BelTA that the trade show is
organized by the ministry of trade and economic development and
foreign ministry of Armenia, by the union of industrial workers and
entrepreneurs, and exhibition company LOGOS EXPO Center. More than
180 leading Belarusian, Russian, Ukrainian and Iranian firms are
taking part in the show. The Belarusian goods have been exhibited at
the show for the recent three years.

The Belarusian stand presents materials and exhibits of the
Belarusian economy captains (MTZ, MAZ, Horizont, Vityas, Atlant,
BelOMO, Mogotex), other companies of machine building, woodworking,
food and petrochemical branches. The Belarusian party presents its
new products in demand on the Armenian market.

The dealer of the Belarusian giants BelAZ and Belshyna `BelAZ
Caucuses Trans Service’ presented the products of these companies at
the show. The official distributor of the Minsk-Kristall exponents a
wide range of liquor beverages.

The largest exposition was organized by the company Galoper – a
dealer of Minsk Automobile Works and Smorgon Aggregate Works /SAZ/-
that delivers products of Minsk Tractor Works /MTZ/ and the JSC
Amkodor to Armenia. The territory near the sports-concert compound
n.a Demirchan was occupied with the booth and automobile equipment
MAZ, tractors MTZ and SAZ with agricultural equipment, excavator
machines Amkodor.

The Belarusian diplomatic mission underlined that exhibits presented
by the Republic of Belarus attracted great attention of the
exhibition’s visitors including heads of ministries and agencies,
unions of entrepreneurs, large Armenian and foreign companies.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
Sept 15 2005

Doing business in 2006: CIS economies pick up the pace of reform

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 15. KAZINFORM – The economies of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are increasing the pace of
reform to help small and medium businesses generate more jobs – with
Georgia among the top global reformers. But reformers in the region
lag behind their Eastern European neighbors, and heavy legal burdens
on business remain in most countries, according to a new report from
the World Bank Group.
Doing Business in 2006: Creating Jobs, cosponsored by the World Bank
and the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of
the World Bank Group, finds that such reforms, while often simple,
can create many new jobs, Kazinform refers to press release of the
Bank.

`Jobs are a priority for every country, and especially the poorest
countries. Doing more to improve regulation and help entrepreneurs is
key to creating more jobs–and more growth. It is also a key to
fighting poverty. Women, who make up three quarters of the work force
in some developing economies, will be big beneficiaries. So will
young people looking for their first job. The past year’s diverse
range of successful reformers – from Serbia to Rwanda – are showing the
way forward. We can all learn from their experience,’ said Paul
Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank Group.

The annual report, which for the first time provides a global ranking
of 155 economies on key business regulations and reforms, finds that
every country in the CIS improved at least one aspect of the business
environment – among the highest rate of reform of any region. But the
pace of reform is slower than with the new entrants to the European
Union, which are aggressively courting entrepreneurs with
far-reaching reforms that streamline business regulations and taxes.

The report tracks a set of regulatory indicators related to business
startup, operation, trade, payment of taxes, and closure by measuring
the time and cost associated with various government requirements. It
does not track variables such as macroeconomic policy, quality of
infrastructure, currency volatility, investor perceptions, or crime
rates.

Georgia was the top reformer in the region and the number 2 reformer
globally – making it easier to start a business, cutting the number of
activities licensed from 909 to 159, easing the cost of firing
redundant workers, cutting the time and cost to register property,
and introducing a new tax law with fewer and simplified taxes.

Other notable reforms in CIS countries in the past year:
– Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan made it easier for entrepreneurs to
start a business – in Russia’s case, for the second year in a row.
– Armenia introduced case management into courts, streamlining
contract enforcement. Kazakhstan cut 20 days from the time to enforce
a contract by allowing approved private firms to execute court
judgments. Belarus streamlined the court appeals process.
– Armenia increased the flexibility of employment law.
– Ukraine improved the regulations of credit markets with a new
collateral law, allowing entrepreneurs to use a broader range of
assets as collateral, and allowing creditors to enforce collateral
privately, without a lengthy court trial. Creditors now have first
priority to the collateral if the debtor defaults.
– A new credit bureau was established in the Kyrgyz Republic, making
it easier for lenders to evaluate creditworthiness. Public credit
registries were established in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
– Russia and Kazakhstan introduced new laws to encourage sharing of
credit information.
– Moldova and Uzbekistan cut the corporate tax rate by 3 and 2
percentage points respectively.

Overall, European nations were the most active in enacting reforms.
The top 12 reformers in the past year, in order, were Serbia and
Montenegro, Georgia, Vietnam, Slovakia, Germany, Egypt, Finland,
Romania, Latvia, Pakistan, Rwanda, and the Netherlands.

Doing Business in 2006 updates the work of last year’s report on
seven sets of business environment indicators: starting a business,
hiring and firing workers, enforcing contracts, registering property,
getting credit, protecting investors, and closing a business. It
expands the research to 155 countries and adds three new indicators:
dealing with business licenses, trading across borders and paying
taxes.

The new indicators in this year’s report further reinforce the
overwhelming need for reform, especially in poor countries. The
report finds that poor countries levy the highest business taxes in
the world. These high taxes create incentives to evade, driving many
firms into the underground economy, and do not translate into higher
revenues.

The analysis also shows that reforming the administrative costs of
trading can remove significant obstacles to exporting and importing.
Contrary to popular belief, customs paperwork and other red tape
(often called `soft infrastructure’) cause the most delays for
exporting and importing firms. Less than a quarter of the delays are
caused by problems with `hard infrastructure’ such as poor ports or
roads. In Azerbaijan, for example, an entrepreneur would have to
submit 18 documents and obtain 55 signatures to import goods. For
manufacturers in developing countries, the administrative burdens of
trading can pose larger costs than tariffs and quotas.

The annually published report gives policymakers the ability to
measure regulatory performance in comparison to other countries,
learn from best practices globally, and prioritize reforms. Now in
its third year, the report has already had an impact on business
environment reforms around the world.

`The Doing Business benchmarking has inspired and supported reforms
in more than 20 countries, and since last year, nine governments have
asked for their countries to be included in the Doing Business
analysis,’ said Caralee McLiesh, an author of the report.

The top 30 economies in the world in terms of the report’s
ease-of-doing-business index, in order, are New Zealand, Singapore,
the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia, Hong Kong/China,
Denmark, the United Kingdom, Japan, Ireland, Iceland, Finland,
Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Thailand,
Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Chile, Latvia,
Korea, South Africa, Israel, and Spain.

The ranking of the Baltic countries – Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia – in
the top 30 countries is a remarkable achievement, as only a decade
has passed since they first began reforms. But the rankings highlight
significant obstacles in CIS countries, with Armenia ranked at 46,
Russia at 79, Moldova at 83, Kyrgyz Republic at 84, Kazakhstan at 86,
Azerbaijan at 98, Georgia at 100, Belarus at 106, Ukraine at 124, and
Uzbekistan at 138.

Particular obstacles in the region are rigid employment laws and high
and complex taxes. For example, 80 percent of countries require women
to retire at a younger age than men – a rule that hurts women’s career
opportunities and pay. In Belarus, if a business paid all of its
taxes, it would amount to more than gross profits, and it would take
113 tax payments a year to 3 different agencies and 1,188 hours to do
so. Such high taxes create incentives for evasion. In Uzbekistan,
evading 20 percent of business taxes could increase gross profits by
60 percent.

All the top countries regulate businesses, but they do so in less
costly and burdensome ways. The Nordic countries, all of which are on
the top 30 list, do not regulate too little. Instead, they have
simple regulations that allow businesses to be productive and focus
intervention where it counts – protecting property rights and providing
social services.

Just 8 percent of economic activity in Nordic countries occurs in
unregistered (informal sector) businesses. The reason is that
regulations are simple to comply with and businesses receive
excellent public services for what they pay in taxes. For example,
Denmark has the world’s best infrastructure. Norway ranks highest on
human development indicators, with Sweden right behind it.

`In the Nordic countries, as well as the other top 30, reformers do
not have to choose between making it easy to do business and
providing social protection. They can do both,’ said Simeon Djankov,
an author of the report.

The Doing Business project is based on the efforts of more than 3,500
local experts – business consultants, lawyers, accountants,
government officials, and leading academics around the world – who
provided methodological support and review. The data, methodology,
and names of contributors are publicly available online.

A1+

| 17:17:59 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB DISCONTENT WITH AMENDMENTS TO RA CONSTITUTION

On September 15 Yerevan Press Club disseminated a statement with a number of
proposals on draft amendments to the Constitution of Armenia, adopted by the
RA National Assembly in the second hearing on September 1.{BR}

The statement says: `Yerevan Press Club is induced to state that the public
of Armenia has been insufficiently involved in the constitutional reform
process. Attention was not duly paid to a number of alternative proposals
made, as a result of which certain provisions of the draft continue to arise
serious concerns. In particular, we cannot be satisfied with the definitions
on freedom of expression and information. The primary subject of our concern
is the mechanisms for the broadcast regulatory body formation, as stipulated
by the draft constitutional amendments, since its independence is not
guaranteed.

As after the adoption in the second hearing the project cannot be radically
improved, we submit our proposals of editorial nature that will enable
making the existing clauses more specific and will contribute to achieving
greater clarity of definitions.’

Some of the YPC proposals aim solely at the improvement of the language in
some articles. At the same time it is proposed to maximally clarify the
status and the role of the body to be established for broadcast media. Thus,
Article 83.2 (“To ensure freedom, independence and diversity of broadcast
mass media, in accordance with the law, an independent body is established.
Half of its members are elected by the National Assembly, and the other half
is appointed by the President of the Republic – for 6 years’ term of
service. The National Assembly elects the members of this body by a majority
of the total number of deputies.’) should, in the opinion of YPC, be
narrated as follows: `In accordance with the law, a body is established,
regulating the activities of public and private broadcast mass media,
contributing to their diversity. To ensure the greatest independence of this
body, half of its members are elected by the National Assembly and half is
appointed by the President of the Republic – for 6 years’ term of service.
The National Assembly elects the members of this body by a majority of the
total number of deputies’.

The essence of the change proposed is that firstly, the bodies formed by the
state are established not to ensure freedom and independence but to regulate
the activities of a sphere. It is another thing that the Constitution must
stipulate certain guarantees for the independence of the body itself.
Secondly, the regulating function of this body should be clearly defined by
the Constitution, since the Main Law stipulates its establishment. Otherwise
it remains uncertain what it should be responsible for – this is hardly the
broadcasting, audiovisual production or interference with the inner policy
of broadcasting companies. Thirdly, both private and public broadcasting
should be subject to regulation. And if, contrary to YPC’s proposals, the
Constitution will stipulate the formation of only one body, it should be
regulating both, which must be clearly defined by the Main Law.

London Free Press, Ontario, Canada
Sept 15 2005

Datevik set to sizzle in London

By HERMAN GOODDEN — London Free Press

If you want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to major jazz
talent, drop by when Armenian vocalist Datevik plays her second
London gig tomorrow night at Aeolian Hall. Backed up by pianist Bob
Albanese, bassist Joe Fitzgerald and drummer David Meade, Datevik
puts on a mesmerizing show that wins the hearts of listeners and
critics.

The last time she was here, in January 2003 for SunFest’s World-Beat
Jazz Festival, Free Press writer James Reaney said Datevik possesses
“one of the world’s great voices . . . one of a kind . . . always
daring, always in control.”

If you want a taste of that, visit and play the
spine-tingling recording.

With a voice that blends Ella Fitzgerald and Cleo Laine, Datevik
scats her way through a wordless song that cooks as hot as any jazz.

Datevik’s Canadian booking agent is Londoner Catherine McInnes, a
teacher by day and folk and jazz musician by night.

About five years ago, McInnes was playing with her folk band Mosaic
at a Guelph bookstore when an Armenian gentleman came up to speak to
her.

“He said, ‘You’ve got to hear this Armenian singer.’ Two weeks later,
this CD arrives in the mail. I put it on, not knowing what to expect,
and I just went nuts. She’s phenomenal. I couldn’t stop listening to
it.”

McInnes and Datevik started corresponding. Soon McInnes was
travelling to New York City to study voice with her.

Datevik had established herself as the first lady of jazz in Russia
by age 20, and for the next 10 years, McInnes says, “She played
concerts and festivals all over the eastern part of the planet. Then
about 1990, she decided to make her big move to New York City and
make it in the big jazz world.”

McInnes landed Datevik her first gig at the Montreal Jazz Festival in
2001.

“And it all started with this older gentleman’s gesture of kindness,”
McInnes marvels. “He’ll be at the London show and he’s coming along
with 20 other Armenians.”

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Sept 15 2005

PM Erdogan assured support by US Jewish leaders on Armenian question

source: Hurriyet, 15 September 2005

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the US for a United Nations
(UN) backed summit of world leaders, met with high ranking members of
the American Jewish community in the “Turkish House” in NYC.
Representatives from the American Jewish Community, the
Anti-Defamation League, and B’nai B’rith all came to speak with PM
Erdogan at the Turkish House. PM Erdogan also met with Israeli PM
Ariel Sharon in New York.

PM Erdogan’s spokesman, Akif Beki, told press members that Erdogan
had requested support from members of the US Jewish community
regarding the upcoming bill in the US House of Representatives which
will deal with the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Beki noted
that the US Jewish leaders had assured Erdogan that their backing of
Turkey on the Armenian issue would continue into the future just as
it had in the past.

Modesto Bee, CA
Sept 15 2005

Patterson MJC site develops wrinkle
Trustees find out that land donor has checkered past

By LORENA ANDERSON
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: September 15, 2005, 05:31:06 AM PDT

Plans for a new Modesto Junior College campus in Patterson are moving
forward cautiously after the Yosemite Community College District
found out its land-gifting angel has a bit of the devil in his past.
Michael Miroyan of Saratoga, one of the partners in Golden Eagle
Investments, offered the district a 30-acre donation for its West
Side center. But last weekend, YCCD trustees were shocked to read in
newspaper articles that Miro-yan has spent time in prison for drug
convictions.

Miroyan was arrested in 1988 in connection with a 23-member cocaine
trafficking conspiracy, according to the Los Angeles Times, and a
search of Internet databases shows an appeal before the U.S. Supreme
Court in 1978 based on a marijuana trafficking conviction.

Miroyan did not return calls seeking comment. He showed up at the
board meeting after a vote had been taken.

During the discussion about the land, YCCD board member Pat Dean said
she wished that Miroyan had come to the board members and told them
about his past before they read about it in the paper.

“I almost had a little heart attack,” Dean said during Wednesday
night’s meeting.

She reiterated that point to Miroyan when he stood before the board
to explain himself, said trustee Paul Neumann. Miroyan told the board
he thought people knew about his past.

“I think he’s an amazing character,” said Neumann, who made the
motion to begin negotiations. “He said he has made some bad choices
and is trying to make good choices now, and one of those is donating
land for the formation of a community college campus.”

Neumann said Miroyan presented the board with a financial statement
from his chief investor, an Armenian billionaire who made his money
from oil deals.

“I can’t imagine he’d lie with the paper on the table,” Neumann said.

Before Miroyan spoke, the other trustees agreed that the news was
troubling, but said they appreciate Miroyan’s offer for land on which
to build a $5million West Side education center to serve a growing
population.

The land Miroyan wants to donate sells for about $180,000 an acre,
Neumann said, and with the access road and utilities, that makes the
gift worth more than $5.4 million.

“If it was a performance, it was a great one, but if it was from the
heart – which I believe it was – then this is an incredibly generous
offer,” Neumann said. Without it, he said, the college could not have
the satellite campus it wants for the money it has to spend.

Trustees voted 6-1 to go forth with negotiations with Miro-yan’s
partnership, with the caveat that the YCCD can get out of the
discussions at any time.

Miroyan promised the community college district the 30 acres in his
Sperry Road Business Park development, as well as an access road and
utilities up to the property line, which the district will have to
pay to extend to the campus.

The board had also been approached by Keystone Pacific Business Park,
which sits about a mile away from the Sperry Road site.

However, after coming up with a list of specific wishes for the
building and giving the two developers until the end of August to
estimate costs, Keystone dropped out of the running.

YCCD board member Abe Rojas told fellow trustees that he wanted to
make certain the access road, utilities and Miro-yan’s ability to
actually donate the land – which he does not own yet – are set in
stone before the board accepts Miroyan’s offer.

The board directed staff to begin the negotiation process, which
could take about a month, YCCD Chancellor Jim Williams estimated.
Modesto Junior College’s acting president, Bill Scroggins, said
getting state approval for the new education center could take six to
nine months.

Board members said they feel strongly about sticking to their promise
to build the West Side center, and when the issue first came up
during Wednesday’s agenda, they seemed reluctant to bring up
Miroyan’s past.

Trustee Anne DeMartini said she’d be the one to “identify the
elephant in the room.”

She said she sees a “difficulty being in this relationship” with
Miroyan, but by the time the vote was called, she had joined five
other trustees in giving staff the green light to at least talk with
the developer. Trustee Delsie Schrimp was the dissenting vote, saying
she had been away and needed more time to consider the issue.

Several people stepped up to vouch for Miroyan, including a
consultant who said he never had any problems with Miroyan through
three joint projects, and Patterson resident and former teacher Mimi
Draper, who said Miroyan approached her last year about his idea for
the land gift.

She said he told her about his past, and she was sympathetic, having
known a former student who got into the same kind of trouble but
turned his life around.

“I see nothing wrong with Michael,” she said, “but as my kids tell
me, I believe everybody.”

Neumann said he was touched by Miroyan’s appearance before the board.

“He said, ‘I’ve done hard time, but I’m a different person,'” Neumann
said. “In education, if you don’t believe people can change their
lives, you had better get out of the business.”

A1+

| 13:51:00 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |

BOYCOTT SUSPENSION DIDN’T ENCOURAGE

There are extraparliamentary forces in Armenia, which do not welcome the
partial suspension of the boycott. Human Rights 96 party is among these
forces. It has already issued a statement consisting of 5 items.

The party rates the suspension of the boycott as `measure’ and `political
game’ called `The return of opposition’. Since any games ends in summing up
the results the party administration proposes the parliamentary opposition
to

Members of Human Rights 96 party are discontent with the stand the
parliamentary opposition has assumed.