RIA Novosti, Russia
March 24 2005

BLAST OUTSIDE BUILDING HOUSING ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S CUSTOMS
COMMITTEE

YEREVAN, March 24, (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) – A blast
occurred around 12 noon Moscow time on Thursday outside the building
housing the State Customs Committee of the Armenian government. There
were no casualties, RIA Novosti was told at the customs committee’s
press-service.

The detonation took place at the time when the office car carrying
customs committee chairman Armen Avetisyan drove up to the entrance.

The committee chairman did not suffer, but the blast damaged his car.

Top committee officials explain the incident as due to energetic
measures undertaken against the shadow economy since the beginning of
the year, and also tighter customs administration.

“The morning’s incident shows once again that the steps to improve
and tighten up customs administration are having effect,” it was
noted at the press-service.

“To those who hope to weaken with such steps the will of the
committee leadership in the struggle against the black economy we
would like to say that the committee will be consistent in exposing
customs irregularities through stricter administration,” it was
pointed out at the press-service.