Author: Jagharian Tania

Le Figaro
07 juin 2004

Las Vegas : nouvelle bataille des casinos;
JEUX OPA de MGM Mirage sur Mandalay Resort

Le milliardaire américain Kirk Kerkorian ne plaisante pas avec
les fêtes. A l’occasion de son 87 e anniversaire, le célèbre homme
d’affaires a décidé de s’offrir Mandalay Bay, l’un des plus prestigieux
casinos de Las Vegas, exception faite bien sûr de ceux qu’il possède
déjà, comme le MGM Grand et le Bellagio, fréquentés par des stars comme
Ben Affleck ou Jennifer Lopez. A la surprise générale, vendredi, son
groupe de casinos et d’hôtellerie MGM Mirage, numéro un américain,
a lancé une offre publique de rachat sur son rival Mandalay Resort
Group, quatrième casinotier américain. A travers cette opération,
Kirk Kerkorian a, à coup sûr, décidé de participer à la consolidation
en cours dans le secteur du jeu outre-Atlantique. En réalité, il
entend mettre la main sur la Mecque du jeu. En cas de succès de
son offre en effet, l’homme d’affaires prendra la tête du premier
groupe de jeux d’argent aux Etats-Unis, devançant ainsi les deux
poids lourds historiques de Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment et
Harrah’s Entertainment ! Outre le Mandalay Bay, le groupe Mandalay
Resort contrôle notamment à Las Vegas le Luxor, un hôtel en forme
de pyramide égyptienne, et l’Excalibur. Un cadeau d’anniversaire qui
devrait pourtant lui coûter cher. Pour s’imposer roi des casinos, le
milliardaire met sur la table pas moins de 4,85 milliards de dollars,
auxquels il faut ajouter les dettes du Mandalay Resort, estimées
à quelque 2,8 milliards de dollars, qu’il propose généreusement
d’assumer.

Rafler la plupart des salles de jeux légendaires de Las Vegas lui
reviendrait donc au total à 7,65 milliards de dollars. L’offre
propose 68 dollars par action en numéraire, soit une prime de
près de 13% par rapport au cours de clôture de vendredi à 60,27
dollars. Elle intervient aussi au lendemain de la publication
de résultats trimestriels (clos fin avril) records pour le groupe
Mandalay Resort. Pourtant, celui-ci ne semble pas considérer l’offre
de l’homme d’affaires hostile, même si elle reste «non sollicitée»,
de source proche des négociations. Cette sollicitude ne devrait pas
être partagée par les grands casinotiers de la ville. Le groupe
Harrah’s pourrait ainsi s’inviter à cette partie. D’autant que
selon certaines rumeurs, il aurait déjà cherché à se rapprocher de
Mandalay ces dernières années. Mais le milliardaire américain, fils
d’une famille modeste d’Arméniens de Fresno (Californie), connaît bien
Las Vegas. Bien ancré dans le milieu depuis son achat en 2000 de MGM
Mirage pour 6 milliards de dollars, il a contribué à transformer la
ville du Nevada en capitale mondiale du jeu, d’abord en convoyant des
joueurs dans ses avions en 1947 puis en y construisant lui-même des
hôtels casinos géants. Fidèle à sa réputation d’entêté, Kirk Kerkorian
exige toujours de DaimlerChrysler, en tant qu’ancien actionnaire,
plusieurs milliards de dollars de dédommagement suite à la fusion
des deux constructeurs automobiles. En revanche, il s’apprêterait à
vendre à Sony ses studios de cinéma MGM pour 5 milliards de dollars,
ce qui pourrait l’aider à financer l’acquisition de Mandalay Resort.

D. D.

Aznavour et le Choeur de France Anjou

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
05 juin 2004

Les 170 choristes du Choeur de France Anjou sont sur la scène du
centre des congrès ce week-end. Ce soir (à guichets fermés) et demain
dimanche, 15 h (il reste des places, 21 EUR, tél. 02.41.34.47.98).

Cette grande et belle chorale qui a déjà fait ses preuves en quinze
ans d’existence, toujours en assurant la promotion de la chanson
française, fête cette fois Charles Aznavour et ses quatre-vingts ans.
Hommage au poète arménien, à « La Bohême » et à bien d’autres de
ses titres déjà passés à la postérité. Le Choeur de France chantera
aussi Florent Pagny, Claude Nougaro (un autre hommage, au disparu),
ou encore « Manhattan Kaboul » de Renaud et Axelle Red. Le tout
accompagné par cinq musiciens.

A PERSONAL TOUCH DARING PIECES ARE A HIT WITH CONSUMERS WHO WANT MORE
FASHION UNDER THEIR FEET.
by: Jennifer Quail

HFN Journal
May 24, 2004

NEW YORK – Retailers are noting a shift in the way their customers
are shopping, taking time to select designs that are more reflective
of their individual personalities, which often means a slant to more
bold designs.

Fred Hall, store manager for Einstein Moomjy’s 56th Street location in
Manhattan, said he has noticed that his customers are “spending more
money and not settling” for a product that doesn’t meet their standards
for quality and design. “There has been a significant turnaround,”
Hall said. “Consumer choices are reflecting more personality now,
becoming much more dramatic.”

One prime example of the more daring designs being selected is Lenore,
an exclusive for Einstein Moomjy. Based on an original abstract
painting by the Armenian artist Lenore Selian, Lenore is “unique,”
Hall said. “It goes back to that idea of fashion [for the home]
and people are buying that now.”

Lenore has been one of the store’s top sellers recently and the store
will work with its clients for custom-size options.

Howard Brodsky, founder, chairman and co-chief executive officer
of CCA Global Partners, parent company to Carpet One, has noticed
the West Coast’s more contemporary styling having an effect on new
designs, noting “the West Coast is always a bit more contemporary,
whereas the Northeast will be a bit more traditional.” He said there
has been a definite “move and direction in contemporary. It’s pushing
the bar a little, but it’s exciting and good for the industry.”

“Everyone’s very into florals,” said Amanda Price, public relations
manager for The Rug Company’s London operations. “I think it’s because
furniture has turned very square and formal, so you put in a floral
rug design and it sort of softens the room.”

“We’re finding people don’t want rugs that just blend in anymore,”
said Alex Conway, public relations manager for The Rug Company’s New
York operations. “They want to be daring and really say something.”

Price noted one particular new artist, already appearing in the
London shop and soon to appear in New York, is Kim Parker. She said
the designer’s “tea roses” and “mums and asters” rugs have been
“designs people really just love.”

And Conway agreed with California’s design influence, saying the
store has gotten requests for very oversized versions of very daring
designs. “It’s really incredible the sizes we’re doing for clients
out there.”

Hall has also noticed wall-to-wall gaining in popularity, “especially
here in New York where most apartments or co-ops will require
80 percent coverage” of a tenant’s floors, he said. But why would
someone in a city as transient as New York go for an investment like
wall-to-wall carpeting, which seems so long-term? “They take it with
them,” Hall said. “They buy the wall-to-wall and will have it cut to
area rugs.”

Again, the looks that go for the more dramatic effect are what’s
winning here. To that end, he said one of his customers recently made
a very shrewd observation when he said, “Buying carpet now is like
buying fashion.” Hall said, “Einstein Moomjy for years has tried to
make the business about fashion.”

Another point made was the fact that many of the more modern, daring
designs in the market today are made available at both the high-end
and more open price points as well, making it easier for the consumer
to take the plunge and test bolder prints in their own homes. “They
don’t have to make a major decision,” Brodsky said.

Indeed, many catalogs are up on the more daring trend as well. IKEA,
of course, has its stores and catalog pages packed with mod designs in
bright popping colors. And the customer is certainly not faced with a
major investment. For example, the company’s Odum rug is hand-tufted
100 percent wool and runs $199 for an approximate 6-by-8. And at Crate
& Barrel, contemporary styling gets a whole new look with coconut
wood for the company’s Kona Rug. An 8-by-10 Kona retails for $699.

Caption(s): An exclusive to Einstein Moomjy (above), Lenore (right)
has been very popular with the retailer’s Manhattan clientele. / Above:
Crate & Barrel’s Kona Rug is constructed from links of durable coconut
wood. Top: IKEA’s Odum rug offers bold design at a minimal price. /
Howard Brodsky, CCA Global Partners: The West Coast is always more
contemporary.

ARKA News Agency
May 25 2004

Two -day Armenian-German intergovernmental discussions on financial
and technical co-operation begins in Yerevan

RA President holds working meeting with RA Minister of Science and
Education

Qatar is interested in food processing sphere of Armenia

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

TWO -DAY ARMENIAN-GERMAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL DISCUSSIONS ON FINANCIAL
AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION BEGINS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May, 26. /ARKA/. Two -day Armenian-German intergovernmental
discussions on financial and technical co-operation began in Yerevan.
According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy Press Service
Department, the Chairman of the intergovernmental group from the
Armenian side was represented by Vardan Khachatryan, and the German
Chairman – the Director of South Caucasus and Meddle Asia Department
of the German Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development V.
Armbruster. Issue interesting for both parties were discussed during
the meeting. The participants evaluated the programs implemented so
far with the support of German Government, the present process of the
programs, the existing goals and issues. The agenda of the meeting
included the following issues: the regional fund of credit
guarantees, stimulation of small and medium business, development of
communities, implementation of the system of guaranteeing deposits,
poverty reduction strategic program, the program of regional
electronic communication, reconstruction of small hydroelectric power
pats, the program on technical; re-equipment of hospitals.
The program of co-operation between Armenia and Germany has begun
since 1993. initially, the co-operation was in the framework of
technical programs, then – financial ones, and since 2001 regional
programs in the frames of Caucasus initiative.

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

RA PRESIDENT HOLDS WORKING MEETING WITH RA MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND
EDUCATION

YEREVAN, May, 25. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian held working
meeting with RA Minister of Science and Education Sergo Yeritsian.
The Minister represented reforms in the sphere, issues related to
improvement of legal field and process of preliminary works to entry
examinations. L.D. –0–

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

QATAR IS INTERESTED IN FOOD PROCESSING SPHERE OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, May, 25. /ARKA/. Newly appointed Ambassador of Qatar to
Armenia Saleha Ibragim al-Kuari (residence in Teheran) handed
credential to RA President Robert Kocharian. During the meeting
Kocharian stated that Armenian is interested in development of
cooperation with Persian Gulf countries, namely with Qatar. The
parties noted that relations between the countries received new
impulse after official visit of Robert Kocharian in Qatar in 2002.
The Ambassador stressed the interest of Qatar party to food
processing sphere of Armenia. L.D. –0–

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

Armenian defence minister praises army’s role

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
15 May 04

[Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan] The cease-fire proposal
made on 12 May 1994 was acceptable to us. Although there are opinions
that if the cease-fire had not been thrust upon us and if we had not
concluded the cease-fire agreement, we could have achieved greater
successes.

Over the last 10 years, I have asked myself more than 10 times. If we
had the opportunity not to sign the cease-fire and to continue the
hostilities, we could have achieved success that would have forced
the enemy to ask for peace and solve our problem once and for all. I
have always drawn the conclusion that we had no such opportunities.

Possibly, if we had continued the hostilities, we could have
achieved some success, but to this end, we needed a greater amount
of weapons first of all, and we also had to answer the question of
whether our achievements would justify our losses. Apart from this,
the Azerbaijani army was entirely defeated, but unfortunately our
losses were increasing.

What did these 10 years of neither war nor peace give us? We managed
to complete the build-up of the army and now we are implementing this
work according to schedule. We managed to get a sufficient number of
weapons for our army, increase army discipline, educate our officers
and train young professional officers. We managed to bring our army
into combat readiness. We must admit that this is not only our own
assessment of our army’s combat readiness.

What the army needs to do today is to defend and improve the current
situation. Of course, financing is needed. But the most important
thing is the national attitude to the army. The Armenian army is the
army of the Armenian people and we must support it.

Russia’s military base at Gyumri faces no problems – Ivanov

Itar-Tass, Russia
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, May 20 (Itar-Tass) — Relations between Russia and Armenia
in the sphere of defense and security have been developing dynamically
and steadily and there have been no major problems in military affairs,
including the operation of the 102nd military base at Gyumri, Russian
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said upon arrival in Armenia on a
working visit.

Russia supplies Armenia with military products at internal prices.

“These matters have been discussed regularly within the framework of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Armenia is entitled to
the same opportunities to buy Russian military hardware as the other
CSTO member-states.”

Later on Thursday Ivanov will hold talks with his Armenian counterpart
Serge Sarkisian to look into Russian-Armenian cooperation in the
field of defense, military-technological cooperation and military
personnel training.

“Regional security issues and situations in trouble spots will be
discussed, too,” Ivanov said.

Arinc: Number Of Turkish People’s Applications To E.C.H.R. Has Dropped

Anadolu Agency
May 20 2004

STRASBOURG – Number of Turkish people’s applications to the European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has dropped, Turkish Parliament Speaker
Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday.

Arinc, who is currently in Strasbourg to attend conference of
parliament speakers of member countries to the Council of Europe,
held separate talks with ECHR Vice President Jean Paul Costa and
Turkish jurists at the ECHR on Wednesday.

Holding a news conference following the meetings, Arinc said,
“number of Turkish people’s applications to the ECHR about right
to live, torture and maltreatment have dropped. It is a pleasing
development. Reforms made in democratization in Turkey have a
significant role in this development. Turkish people do not apply to
the ECHR about freedom of expression and closure of political parties
any longer. Our government has been making legal changes for a more
free life in Turkey.”

Upon a question about decision of the State Security Court (DGM)
in the re-trial process of former deputies of the Democracy Party
(DEP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court, Arinc said that
the ECHR had made some legal objections to the DEP case.

“Following decision of the ECHR, former deputies of the DEP were
re-tried, and the court ratified its first decision in accordance with
Article 341/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK) arranging the
decision to be made in retrial process,” he said.

Recalling that the jurisdiction was independent in modern and
democratic societies, Arinc said that judicial independence was valid
in Turkey, and no one could affect decisions of courts.

Arinc also gave information about his meetings at the Council of
Europe.

He recalled that he had held very positive and constructive bilateral
meetings with parliament speakers of Greece, Georgia, Armenia and
Russia.

Arinc is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday.

Mikhail Fradkov: Russia Interested in Development of Relations with Armenia

RIA OREANDA
Economic News
May 14, 2004 Friday

Moscow. Russia is interested in the development of the relations
with Armenia and is ready to consider all the issues of bilateral
cooperation. RF Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov made the respective
statement in the course of the meeting with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian.

Our relations are positively developing in all the directions but at
the same time we have topics to discuss with each other in order to
discover new efficient opportunities for cooperation, Mr. Fradkov
said. We are ready to consider the topics on the agenda that will
contribute to the extension of the Russian-Armenian relations, the
Prime Minister assured.

Robert Kocharian, in his turn, noted that the volume of cooperation
between the two countries is rather wide and we managed to considerably
develop it recently.

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
May 14, 2004, Friday

KOCHARJAN HAS PROBLEMS

SOURCE: Vremya Novostei, May 14, 2004, p. 5

by Arkady Dubnov

President Robert Kocharjan of Armenia is visiting Moscow. Kocharjan
is the first Caucasus leader to meet with Vladimir Putin since his
inauguration. He will meet with Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov today. Yesterday, he met with Alexei Miller, CEO of
Gazprom. The visitor also expects to meet with Igor Materov of ITERA.

The natural gas problem is no longer an economic issue for Armenia;
it is geopolitical. Yerevan wants gas from Moscow and also from Iran.
It even hopes to provide Iranian pipeline transit in future. Ukraine
also wants Iranian gas. All of these routes will bypass Russia, and
the Kremlin has some question for Armenia, known as one of Russia’s
most loyal allies in the CIS.

Putin and Kocharjan will also discuss the situation in the Caucasus.
This is the subject where the visitor will be asking questions
because the consequences of the Revolution of Roses in Georgia cannot
help worrying him.

Like Georgia not long ago, Armenia – that is, Kocharjan – has serious
problems with the opposition that demands the president’s
resignation. A large demonstration will take place in Yerevan today.
On April 13, the Armenian authorities dispersed a demonstration
staged by the opposition and the political crisis in this country
entered a new phase. On April 28, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE_ adopted a resolution giving Kocharjan three
months to release the opposition activists arrested on April 13. The
PACE will insist on economic sanctions against Yerevan otherwise. All
this explains why Robert Kocharjan needs Moscow’s support so badly.
To secure it, he may have to sacrifice something. According to our
sources, the matter may concern a controlling interest in
Armrosgazprom for Gazprom (these days, Gazprom controls a 45% stake,
ITERA 10%, and Armenia the remaining 45%; the subject may have been
discussed by Kocharjan in Moscow yesterday).

Presidents Putin and Kocharjan will discuss Nagorno-Karabakh as well.
No sensational developments are expected in this particular sphere.

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Guardian, UK
May 12 2004

EU sets out how new neighbours can become good friends

Ian Black in Brussels
Thursday May 13, 2004
The Guardian

The expanded EU is offering its new neighbours greater cooperation
and assistance – but also keeping them at arm’s length.
“We want to give them a real stake in the enlarged EU so that they,
too, can develop and prosper,” Günter Verheugen, the commissioner for
enlargement, said yesterday. “A ring of well-governed countries
around the EU offering new perspectives for democracy and economic
growth is in the interests of Europe as a whole.”

However, Mr Verheugen made it clear that EU membership was not on
offer.

This month’s historic “big bang” enlargement, taking in eight east
European countries and Cyprus and Malta into a club of 25, has
extended the EU’s borders to the former Soviet Union and the Middle
East and north Africa.

The EU’s new neighbours range from Ukraine and Moldova to Tunisia and
Israel.

Later this year, the union will make a hugely significant and
controversial decision on whether to go ahead with long-awaited
membership talks with Turkey, whose 70 million people would make it
the largest member state after Germany.

The EU already has a formal “strategic partnership” with Russia, but
the new policy is also intended to apply to Ukraine, Belarus and
Moldova – as long as they meet standards on human rights and
democracy.

Mr Verheugen acknowledged that Belarus, often described as Europe’s
last dictatorship, was especially problematic. Relations between
Brussels and Minsk have been frozen for seven years.

The commission said it also wanted to forge links with Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia in the Caucasus.

In the south, the policy will apply to Algeria, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and the Palestinian
Authority – all partners in the Barcelona process of
“Euro-Mediterranean dialogue”.

Participants will be offered tailor-made neighbourhood policy “action
plans” promoting good governance, human rights and economic and
social development. But the biggest carrot is likely to be the offer
of a stake in the EU’s internal market if local laws and regulations
are brought into line with Brussels’ requirements, as well as
participation in EU training and research programmes.

There would also be benefits from open borders for trade and free
movement for capital and people.

Migration, crime, terrorism and people-trafficking are other areas
where the EU wants to boost cooperation.

Romano Prodi, the commis sion president, has talked of a “ring of
friends” which could share everything but the EU’s institutions.

The new plan does not include countries that have applied to join the
EU or are already negotiating. Romania and Bulgaria are expected to
enter in 2007, with Croatia not far behind.

Other Balkan countries are expected to follow, raising the prospect
of an EU of 30 or more members and 500 million people by the end of
the decade.

The commission says it expects to make €255m (£172m) available to the
neighbourhood programmes in 2004-06, and will propose a substantial
rise for 2007-13.