Author: Khoyetsian Rose

Standard, Kenya
Feb 28 2009

Revealed: Secrets of the Artur brothers

By Isaac Ongiri and David Ochami

A report by a Parliamentary Select Committee charged with
investigating the activities of two alleged Armenian brothers, Artur
Margayan and Artur Sagasyan, reveals damning details about Government
involvement in the saga.

The committee declares a Cabinet minister and several public officers
unfit to hold public office for their role in the Artursâ??
scandal.

The report, whose debate is pending in Parliament, recommends
investigation to ascertain what President Kibaki knew about the two.

Also revealed was the undercover plan to raid The Standard Group
offices and those behind the heinous plot to suppress the Press.

In the raid, several computers were stolen, KTN broadcast equipment
vandalised and the dayâ??s issue of The Standard set on fire.

It is now three years since the commando-like raid on the Standard
Group.

Drug Traffickers

Interestingly, the report says Government deportation of the two in
June 9, 2006, involved a return ticket to Dubai.

It also describes the two as conmen and international drug
traffickers. Allegedly invited by the Government as foreign investors,
the committeeâ??s findings indicate they were pampered and
booked to travel business class, which is reserved for VIPs.

The report says the then Immigration Minister Gideon Konchella and his
Permanent Secretary were kept in the dark by then Principal
Immigration Officer Joseph Ndathi about the Arturs.

The report also says initial orders by National Security Intelligence
Service (NSIS) to deport the two after their suspicious behaviour were
ignored.

At the Grand Regency Hotel (now Laico Hotel) where the Arturs were
booked when they first arrived in the country, the report says NSIS
agents found out the two attempted to install CCTV cameras at the
hotel.

Despite their flossy behaviour, the committee found out, the alleged
foreign investors only declared Sh8,133,098.40 as the amount they
intended to invest in the country.

Prepared by the Justice and National Security Parliamentary Committee
more than a year ago, the report concludes the Armenian brothers
enjoyed protection from presidential aides.

It also says their presence in the country was initiated and protected
at the highest levels of Government. Their stay was part of a
conspiracy to commit atrocities, says the report.

The parliamentary committee concludes high-ranking Government
officials in State House knew of the brothersâ?? intentions
as demonstrated by their direct links with the officials.

The report recommends investigations on former Strategy Advisor to the
President Stanley Murage, former Internal Security Minister John
Michuki, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and former CID
Director Joseph Kamau.

Political Connections

The House committee notes the Artursâ?? top political
connections were betrayed by the brazenness with which they were
issued with Kenyan passports, secured admission to police headquarters
and registered companies in record time.

The VIP treatment and alacrity with which they were deported after
they threatened airport staff also speaks volumes, concludes the
report. The committee also seeks that PNU activist Mary Wambui and her
daughter Winnie Wambui be investigated. Also to be probed are
businessmen Raju Sanghani and Kamlesh Pattni.

The report further recommends investigations into what the President
knew about The Standard raid.

"A raid of that magnitude could not have taken place without the full
knowledge and approval of the Government at the highest levels," says
the report.

The committee also seeks the testimony of Michuki and other Government
officials regarding the Standard raid. In the report, the House team
equates the "conspiracy of silence and non-cooperation by State
agents" to the Governmentâ??s attempts to thwart
Parliamentâ??s efforts to investigate JM Kariuki murder in
1975.

Conspiracy Of Silence

"The Artur brothers were clearly and obviously politically connected
at the highest levels of Government," says the report.

The parliamentary team also questions the essence of appointing the
Kiruki Commission to investigate the Arturs yet recommendations have
not been made public.

Former Kikuyu MP Paul Muite who jointly chaired the parliamentary
committee with Changamwe MP Seif Kajembe accuses Justice Minister
Martha Karua of having attempted to sabotage the
committeeâ??s operations.

Karua, the report claims, used her position as Deputy Leader of
Government Business to stop a Motion by the committee to allow it to
collect evidence in public.

id=1144007817&cid=4

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
February 25, 2009 Wednesday

MEMBER OF CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MAKES STATEMENT ON KHOJALY
GENOCIDE, OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT

Baku February 25, 2009

Member of California State Assembly Felipe Fuantes has made a
statement on the 17th anniversary of Khojaly genocide, and also
offered his condolences in a letter sent to Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.

Fuantes` move came following his meeting with Azerbaijani MP Asim
Mollazade and the country`s Council General in Los Angeles Elin
Suleymanov.

The letter says: I join the American Azerbaijanis and citizens of
Azerbaijan paying tribute to victims of the Khojaly tragedy happened
on 26 February, 1992. On that day, 613 Azerbaijani civilians were
killed, while hundreds of people were wounded in what was described by
the Human Rights Watch as the largest massacre to date.

Fuantes further writes in his letter that it is very important that
the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute is solved peacefully, and that
perpetrators of military crimes be brought to justice in order to
prevent violence against civilians throughout the world.

I support efforts of the US Department of State towards finding a
peaceful solution to conflicts existing in Caucasus, and offer my
condolences to families from Khojaly the California Assembly member
concluded.

ARMENIANS MAY BENEFIT FROM PRES. OBAMA BEFRIENDING TURKEY
Harut Sassounian

AZG DAILY
27-02-2009

Turkey’s two top leaders were elated that Pres. Obama called them
last week. Pres. Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan used glowing terms
to describe their talks with the President of the United States.

At a time when Turkey is facing a series of political setbacks —
antagonizing Israel and American Jews by siding with Hamas in the
Gaza conflict; failing in its self-appointed mediating role between
Syria and Israel; and prompting Cyprus to threaten to veto Turkey’s
application for European Union membership due to its continued
occupation of Northern Cyprus — Gul and Erdogan are desperately
trying to exploit every opportunity to prop up their country’s image
and gain support from their constituency at home before next month’s
crucial local elections.

The newspaper Sabah headlined its article on Pres. Obama’s Feb.16 phone
calls as "Double Praise for Ankara." It claimed that the U.S. President
told Gul: "We appreciate the leadership displayed by Turkey in the
region. You are putting forth important efforts in Afghanistan and the
Caucasus." Obama then reportedly told Erdogan: "I want to state that
your personal leadership is vital in the Middle East peace process."

Moreover, Sabah reported that during the "25-30 minute" conversation,
the two presidents discussed Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Caucasus,
the Middle East and the European Union. Pres. Obama "emphasized the
importance of Turkey’s strategic cooperation" and stated: "America will
always approach Turkey’s concerns with understanding." In response,
Obama allegedly expressed the hope that his administration would
"collaborate with Turkey in numerous issues, including achieving peace
in the Middle East, bringing an end to the PKK terrorist organization,
as well as relations with Armenia."

According to the Anadolu news agency, Erdogan "highlighted Turkey’s
sensitivities regarding Armenia and the Middle East, expressing the
importance of fair and impartial stance of the United States to secure
that the relations between the two countries were not damaged."

The Hurriyet newspaper provided additional details of the phone
calls by reporting that "the issue of the 1915 incidents was high
on the agenda of Obama-Erdogan discussion." Gul supposedly told
Obama that an Armenian Genocide resolution "should not be put before
Congress." Erdogan was quoted as saying: "America’s fair and impartial
approach is important in order to prevent any damage to bilateral
relations." According to Hurriyet, "the U.S. president welcomed the
recently restored dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, signaling
that under the existing circumstances he would refrain from taking
any steps that would harm these efforts."

There are two serious problems with the foregoing Turkish reports:

1. Given the Turkish leaders’ self-interest in making exaggerated
claims, coupled with the tendency of the Turkish media to publish
rumors, no one knows if the reports of what was discussed during these
phone calls are accurate. Such suspicions are validated by the fact
that the White House, in its official announcement, did not make any
reference to Armenia or the Armenian Genocide.

2. The Turkish leaders probably misjudged Pres. Obama’s intent in
making these phone calls as well the implications of his words. During
his long presidential campaign, Pres. Obama repeatedly spoke about
bringing a new approach to both domestic and foreign policy. Rather
than threats or harsh language, Pres. Obama prefers to use polite and
respectful words to win over foreign heads of state. The new American
president’s approach is to find common ground with Democrats and
Republicans at home, as well as friends and foes overseas!

After reading the self-serving Turkish reports, most Armenians were
displeased as they too misjudged Pres. Obama’s intent in making these
phone calls. In my opinion, cordial or even friendly relations with the
leaders of Turkey do not in any way detract from Pres. Obama’s sympathy
towards Armenians or his commitment to affirm the Armenian Genocide.

On the contrary, having a warm personal relationship with Turkish
leaders would make it easier for Pres. Obama to use gentle persuasion
when necessary. He could explain to them that commemorative
congressional resolutions were adopted in 1975 and 1984 and a
presidential statement was issued by Pres. Reagan without harming
U.S.-Turkish relations. Consequently, acknowledging a genocide that
took place almost a century ago should not detract from current
friendly ties between the two countries. Indeed, opposing such an
action is neither necessary nor wise!

THE OFFICIALS FROM THE BLACK SEA REGION DISCUSSED THE ECONOMIC SITUATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2009 23:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The opportunities and challenges associated with
regional integration and inclusive growth of the Black Sea Region in
this period of economic uncertainty were discussed among policymakers,
government officials, and international development representatives
in Athens, Greece on February 23-24.

Black Sea Region growth has been outstanding, with GDP per capita
having increased at rates of more than 6 percent over 1999 – 2006. This
drove up living standards and reduced poverty for all groups – the
working people, unemployed, pensioners, and children. However, these
developments are currently under threat with the global economic and
financial crisis. Growth is expected to decline substantially in 2009
and perhaps in 2010, mirroring the recession in the OECD and the Euro
Area. Many countries in the region will be affected.

Luca Barbone, Sector Director, World Bank noted that "the impressive
gains in poverty reduction in the Black Sea region achieved over the
past few years are under threat because of the world-wide crisis. The
World Bank will continue to provide enhanced support to the region."

The Black Sea Conference on Regional Integration and Inclusive Growth
was hosted by the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized
by the World Bank. The objective of the Conference was to promote
better economic integration and provide joint learning opportunities
for participants from the Black Sea countries on issue of strategic
importance to the region.

Dora Bakoyanni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece stated that
"the conference was an opportunity for officials from the Black
Sea Region to learn from each other on how to protect the economic
advancements achieved over the last decade. Greece is pleased it
could help the countries of the region gather to discuss the economic
challenges ahead."

The event brought together approximately 150 policymakers and
senior government officials, parliamentarians, and civil society
representatives from Bulgaria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, as well as representatives from
development partners, and international and regional experts on
economic and social issues.

ARMENIAN CULTURAL WORKERS MEET PRIME MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2009 17:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met Tuesday
with two dozens of cultural workers to discuss existing problems and
exchange views on the government’s measures taken for their solution.

PM Sargsyan said hailed the idea of recurrent consultations and
promised not to pass any culture motions in the government without
consultations with cultural workers.

NEW THEORETICAL PHYSICS FINDINGS FROM YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHED

News of Science
February 22, 2009

"The theoretical and numerical results on the nonlinear dynamics of
an atom in the fields of two counterpropagating radiation beams of
different frequencies are presented. Both resonant and nonresonant
interaction regimes are investigated," scientists writing in the
Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics report.

"The atom center-of-mass energy dependence on the field amplitudes
exhibits the nonlinear threshold effect of reflection of an atom in
the interference field. This phenomenon leads to the atom acceleration
or deceleration depending on its initial state. This acceleration or
deceleration is base of a shock character because of the impact with
the moving potential barrier; it occurs at ultrashort distances on
the order of radiation field wavelengths," wrote G.F. Mkrtchian and
colleagues, Yerevan State University.

The researchers concluded: "Furthermore, the role of initial conditions
is discussed and analyzed numerically."

Mkrtchian and colleagues published their study in the Journal of
Experimental and Theoretical Physics (Nonlinear interaction of a
two-level atom with counterpropagating radiation beams of different
frequencies. Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics,
2008;107(5):738-745).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting G.F. Mkrtchian,
Yerevan State University, Dept. of Quantum Electrical, Yerevan 0025,
Armenia.

The publisher of the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics
can be contacted at: Maik Nauka, Interperiodica, Springer, 233 Spring
St., New York, NY 10013-1578, USA.

KURDISTAN REGION TO GRANT AUTONOMY TO THE CHRISTIANS

Rudaw
Feb 9 2009
Iraq

The Christian parties and groups in Kurdistan are demanding that
their right to autonomy be established in the Kurdistan Region’s
constitution in those provinces where they form the majority. The head
of the Assyrian National Party says that the political leadership of
Kurdistan accepts that demand.

Last week, the Speaker of the Kurdistan parliament, Adnan Mufti,
said that the project of Kurdistan Region’s constitution has been
completed and sent to the leadership of Kurdistan Region as well as
the political sides through the parliament members so that they will
give their own remarks and observations on it.

In a joint press conference with the Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani,
Adnan Mufti said that one of the points that have not been decided
yet is the issue of fixing a common name for the Christians in
the constitution. He said: In this respect, they themselves are in
dispute with each other. They have to agree unanimously on a common
name. However, the Assyrian sides deny they may have any conflict
among themselves over the issue of the name. They say that all the
side are unanimous on being called "Sryanis Chaldeans Assyrians" But
the Chaldeans, and particularly the Chaldean National Party chaired
by Ablahad Afram, demand that the Chaldeans be treated as an ethnic
group different from the Assyrians and that was fixed in the permanent
Iraqi constitution.

The head of the Assyrian National Party, Namrud Bito, told Rudaw that
they do not want to repeat in the Kurdistan Region constitution what
happened in the Iraqi constitution, where the names of the Christians
were registered as "Chaldeans and Assyrians". He said: We are one
nation and we want the name to be mentioned as "Siryanis Chaldeans
Assyrians" in the Kurdish Region’s constitution without a word or a
comma between the names.

With regard to the same point, the head of the Bet Nahrayn Party,
Romeo Hakari, who represents the Christians in the commission
for drawing up the constitution, told Rudaw: Over six months ago,
all the sides of the "Siryani Chaldean Assyrian" people presented a
memorandum to the Commission for Drawing up the Constitution. Article
6 of the project says that the people of Kurdistan consist of Kurds,
Turkomans, Chaldeans, Assyrians and Armans [Armenians] and they were
mixed in this way. We are against that item. We have suggested that
it should be written that the people of Kurdistan consist of Kurds,
the "Chaldeans Siryan Assyrian" people, Turkomans and whatever other
nations are added. The commission is free in this respect. However,
we never accept being divided into three nations and we regard it
as an injustice perpetrated against us as we were subjected to that
injustice in the Iraqi constitution and we were divided into more
than two nations on purpose.

Romeo Hakari demanded: That mistake in the constitution of Iraq
should be corrected. He added: If they say that the name should be
as it is in the Iraqi constitution, that will be indeed an excuse
for perpetrating the same injustice against us.

Namrud Bito said all the Christian groups are unanimous that the draft
constitution, before it was amended, was not up to what was necessary
with regard to securing their rights and how they were named. But he
said: After the memorandum which we gave to the parliament, we were
reassured by the parliament chairmanship and the leaderships of the
two parties that our demands would be fixed in the draft constitution
along with the right to autonomy.

Regarding the demand for autonomy, in May last year the Christian
groups presented a proposal to the Commission for Drawing Up the
Constitution. One of its points was establishing an autonomous
region in the Naynawa plains. Prior to that, Minister of Finance
Sarkis Aghajan presented that suggestion too. However, Romeo
Hakari denied having demanded a specific region and said: What we
demand is autonomy and not an autonomous area. We demand autonomy
in the historical areas of our own people, in which our people are
a majority, for example in Qara Qush administrative district – that
is, Hamdaniyah and the administrative subdistricts of Bartla, Alqosh,
Tilkef and such places. The elections of the governorate councils last
week proved that our people form a majority in those areas. What we
demand is that in those regions our people should have the right to
"self-rule", according to the system of autonomy, but a viewpoint
says that the decision for autonomy is in the federal government’s
authority and not that of the regions. Romeo Hakari said: In the
federal system there can be many regions and there can be autonomous
provinces within the regions.

In the same respect, Namrud Bito announced that what they demand
is recognition of their right to autonomy as an ideological issue,
and said: What we want is for the constitution to say these people
have that right. It need not necessarily specify the geographical
borders of that autonomous region. But for the Siryani Chaldean
Assyrian people, the recognition of the right to form an autonomous
region is an important matter. After that, the other details – such
as where that region will be and what are its borders and authorities
– such matters are not normally explained in the constitution. The
constitution only decides on the issues in principle.

Namrud Bito also said that they have not yet seen the final draft of
the constitution project. However, in accordance with the implications
they have received from the political leadership of Kurdistan, they
expect the draft constitution to have completely guaranteed their
rights. He also confirmed: We do not like to be called Christians. It
is true that we are Christians in terms of religion, but we do not ask
for the right to become Christians. That is, the issue is ethnic and
not religious. Our rights, religiously speaking, like the worshipping
of God and such matters, have been secured and we have no problems in
this respect. What we wish for is that our rights should be specific
as an ethnic group and not a religious group, which terminates with
the construction of several churches and guaranteeing the freedom of
praying and fasting.

For his part, the head of the Bet Nahrayn Party, Romeo Hakari, said
they are trying to win the support of all sides for their rights. He
added: To date, the three leaderships in Kurdistan Region have
supported our demands, including the right to autonomy.

The head of the commission for drawing up the constitution in the
parliament of Kurdistan reiterated that, in agreement with the final
draft of the project, the Christians, in the regions where they are a
majority, have the right to autonomy. But Romeo Hakari denied that:
It does not contain the right to autonomy and we ask that it should
be established.

The head of the Bet Nahrayn Party supported the system of quota for
the elections and said: We support the quota system: that is, there
should be individuality but not in the form of 1992 because it has not
been formally established, so far, that the Chaldean Syrian Assyrian
people should have five members in parliament. We urged that this be
fixed before the elections are implemented and that we should always
have five representatives in the parliament.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"CHRISTIAN PRESENCE IN IRAQ" ONE-DAY CONFERENCE IN WHICH THE ARMENIAN
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES

On Thursday 19 February 2009, under the auspices of the Maronite Patriarch
in Lebanon, H.B. Nasrallah Sfeir, the University of "Sayadat Loueizi"
organized a one-day conference dedicated to Christian Presence in Iraq.

Archbishop Komitas Ohanian represented the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia. Other participants at the conference included representatives of
the Chaldean Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church, as
well as representatives of local churches in Iraq and university professors.

The participants discussed the contribution of Christians in the
reconstruction of Iraq and Iraqi society. They emphasized the importance of
Christian-Muslim dialogue in promoting cooperation and reconciliation among
the Iraqi people.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

Daily Star – Lebanon
Feb 23 2009

Armenian activists protest over screening of ‘racist’ documentary in
Turkey By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Monday, February 23, 2009

ISTANBUL: Armenian and other rights groups called for action Saturday
over Turkish school screenings of a controversial documentary on the
Ottoman mass killings of Armenians, charging that the film incited
racism and enmity. The call follows an outcry in the small Armenian
community following reports earlier this week that the education
ministry had asked school teachers to show the documentary to students
and file reports on the result of the screenings.

The documentary, called "Blonde Bride – The True Face of the Armenian
Question," has come under fire for taking Turkey’s official line that
Armenians were not the victims of genocide at the hands of Ottoman
Turks in 1915-1917.

The film has also been criticized for violent images of Armenian gangs
attacking Turks and piles of corpses it says were of Turks killed by
Armenians.

"This documentary is a propaganda film … It is not only biased and
hostile but also provocative and openly racist," said a declaration
signed by seven rights organizations, among them Armenian foundations
and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly. The film "has been made to poison
people’s souls and to turn Turks and Armenians into enemies," it said.

It called on the education ministry to launch an internal
investigation and "expose and punish" those behind the order for
school screenings.

Earlier this week, the ministry said it had sent copies of the film to
schools to be viewed by teachers as additional material and not by
students. It added that it had halted the distribution in July 2008
after discovering "uses outside its original purpose."

Armenians say during World War I Turkey’s predecessor, the Ottoman
Empire, massacred up to 1.5 million of their people, terming the
killings as genocide. Turkey rejects the label of genocide and argues
that 300,000-500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in
civil strife when Armenians took up arms for independence. – AFP

PanARMENIAN.Net

RA Foreign Minister to tour Middle East
21.02.2009 14:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will pay
a formal visit to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to meet with the
leadership of the countries.

`The visit aims to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation with
the Arab world. Minister Nalbandian will also present priorities of
the Armenian foreign policy,’ says a statement issued by the RA MFA
press office.