Author: Tigranian Ani

Arkady Ghukasyan: Matthew Bryza’s visit is a good opportunity to present our positon

ArmRadio.am
25.07.2006 16:25

"I don’t think the mediators have new suggestions. Anyway the visit
of the US Co-Chair is a good opportunity to present our position,
NKR Presidnet Arkady Ghukasyan said commenting upon the upcoming visit
of Matthew Bryza to the region, "ArmInfo" reports. Arkady Ghukasyan
considers that the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the settlement
process is necessary. "Earlier or later Nagorno Karabakh will
certainly participate in the process, since without the resolution
of the issue without considering the opinion of NKR people. When
will it occur?… I don’t think that today Azerbaijan is ready for
a dialogue with Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan avoids holding talks
with us, since its position is non-constructive, " NKR President noted.

In response to the question of holding the second referendum on the
status of Nagorno Karabakh, Arkadi Ghukasyan remarked that Nagorno
Karabakh has already conducted a referendum on the issue and the
results of it are known to everyone. "If today there were guarantees
that the international community will recognize tomorrow’s referendum,
we’ll think about it," NKR President underscored.

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:

ESTAB LISHMENT OF THE "KHATCHIG BABIKIAN FUND" IN ANTELIAS

A new Fund under the name "Khatchig Babikian Fund" has been founded
in the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The first steps of this Fund’s
establishment had been taken five years ago by Minister, Member of
Parliament and chairman of the Catholicosate’s Central Council, the
late Mr. Khathcig Babikian, esq., who had at the time consulted with
His Holiness Aram I on the matter.

The initial agreement was that the Fund will function under the
leadership of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and in coordination with
the Babikian family through a joint committee.

However, the different approaches and visions the Babikian family
had towards the Fund led the creation of two separate Funds under the
same name and the division of the Funds capital equally, between the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Babikian family. This decision was
taken with the clear understanding that the major goals and priorities
established by late Khatchig Babikian and conveyed to His Holiness
in written will be fully respected and implemented.

Most of the lands inherited from Mr. Babikian to the Fund have already
been sold. The sum of U.S. $ 4.500.000, which constitutes the half of
the amount generated from the income of this sale, has been stored in
a Swiss bank under the supervision of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. A
small number of lands remain to be sold.

The Fund’s capital will not be touched. The interests will be used
for the educational, cultural and humanitarian needs of the Armenian
Community of Lebanon. A special committee headed by His Holiness Aram
I will oversee the Fund’s management. The committee’s members are:
Andre Tabourian, Vosgeperan Arzoumanian and Yervant Pamboukian.

The Fund will soon announce its grants for the year 2006.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission 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.

ARMENIA QUESTIONS VERACITY OF AZERI REPORTS ABOUT
ENLARGEMENT OF MINSK GROUP COCHAIRMEN

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has questioned today the veracity
of media reports in Azerbaijan claiming that Washington was holding
secret talks with Paris and Moscow in an effort to snatch out their
accord for enlargement of the make-up of the so-called OSCE Minsk
group cochairmen, who are the only authorized international mediating
group spearheading talks for ending the Karabakh conflict.

Vladimir Karapetian, an acting spokesman for Armenian foreign ministry,
told Armenpress that the composition of the Minsk group cochairman
could be changed only with permission of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"We doubt the veracity of these reports in Azerbaijani media," he
said, adding that no US officials had approached Armenia to learn
its attitude.

Arturs sought in Armenia for evading military service
Story by MUGUMO MUNENE and LUCAS BARASA

Daily Nation, Kenya
July 20 2006

Publication Date: 07/20/2006

Mr Joseph Bildad Gacheru of Immigration Department studies one of
the Artur brothers passport.

The Armenian Government is looking for the two men who posed as Artur
Sargsyan and Arman Sargsyan for evading mandatory military service,
the Kiruki team was told yesterday.

The information was relayed to the Government in April through Interpol
as detectives in Nairobi, headed by Nairobi CID boss Isaiah Osugo,
tried to unravel the mystery of the Artur brothers.

"Artur Sargsyan and Arman Sargsyan are wanted by Armenian authorities
for avoiding military services according to their laws. There is no
information on their departure or arrival. How the two came to Kenya,
nobody knows," inspector Julius Kiprotich of Kenya’s national bureau
of Interpol told the commission.

Mr Kiprotich was reading a document from Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
The information deepened the mystery of the Armenian brothers since
evidence has been tendered before the commission that the person who
identified himself in Kenya as Artur Margaryan was in fact an impostor.

According to the evidence, the actual Artur Margaryan works with
the taxation department in Yerevan and has never stepped in Kenya
or Africa.

Interpol Yerevan advised their Nairobi counterparts in April that they
had "all grounds" to believe that the men who presented themselves in
Nairobi as Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan were in fact impostors.

The commission also heard that the file relating to Interalliance,
a company associated with Kensington co-director Alois Omita, had
resurfaced at the shelves in the Companies registry.

Mrs Jane Njeri, the State Counsel who heads the registry, returned to
the witness box yesterday and said that documents in the file showed
that the company had in fact changed names from Premier Global Alliance
to Interalliance International Kenya Ltd.

However, several irregularities were pointed out in the file, which
Mr Omita is expected to respond to through his lawyer Mr Gilbert
Mungu this morning.

Excerpts:

Assisting counsel Dorcas Oduor: You were to look at the contents of
the files by Interalliance. Did you get them?

Njeri: My lords, I got and I found it at the slot where it is supposed
to be.

Oduor: Was it there yesterday (Tuesday)?

Njeri: It was not when I was looking for it in the morning before I
came to the commission.

Oduor: You remember yesterday an issue was raised as to whether Premier
Global Alliance Ltd changed its name to Interalliance International
Kenya Ltd. What do you have to say?

Njeri: I have confirmed from the file that a certificate of change of
name was issued from our office on November 22, 2002. I have a copy
of the same in my file where Premier Global Alliance Ltd changed its
name to Interalliance International Kenya Ltd.

Oduor: There is a letter in your file, authoured by Mr Alois Omita
to one Anthony Macharia of K. Macharia and Company Advocates. When
is it dated?

Njeri: I have it. It is dated October 16, 2002 and is addressed to
Anthony Macharia.

The contents read; "Dear Anthony, change of name. Please refer to
our discussion on the subject matter. We would be grateful if you
would kindly change the name of our company, Premier Global Alliance
to Interalliance International Kenya. Enclosed is the certificate
of incorporation. Kindly proceed." It is signed Yours Faithfully,
Alois Omita.

Oduor: Was it stamped in your registry?

Njeri: It was not.

Oduor: Every correspondence is supposed to be stamped?

Njeri: It is either supposed to be stamped or there should be a
receipt for payment of the fees.

Oduor: You realise that the letterhead is already using the name
Interalliance International?

Njeri: Yes.

Oduor: Has Alois Omita described his position in that company?

Njeri: From this letter, there is no description.

Oduor: Do you have a copy of a special resolution?

Njeri: I have the original special resolution to change the name from
Premier Global Alliance and it says that at an extra-ordinary meeting
of the members of the company duly convened and held at LR209/70/2
Museum Hill Nairobi on November 20, 2002, the following resolution
was passed. The name of the company is changed to Interalliance Kenya.

Oduor: The resolution is signed by who?

Njeri: The person describes himself as a director.

Oduor: Look at Form 208 in Kensington; the one signed by the advocate
Anthony Macharia.

Njeri: This is the form that is sworn by an advocate declaring that
he witnessed the formation of the company. He has signed it.

Oduor: The signature on the special resolution resembles that of
Anthony Macharia Advocate?

Njeri: It resembles.

Oduor: Is Anthony Macharia a director in Inter Alliance or Premier
Global?

Njeri: He’s not my lords.

Oduor: But he has described himself as a director?

Njeri: Yes the person signing the special resolution has described
himself as a director and this form should actually be authenticated
by a written signature of an officer of the company who should be a
director or the company secretary.

Oduor: In that letter he describes himself as a director and in
Premier Global he’s not a director?

Njeri: He’s not a director.

Oduor: Look at the letter from Omita, it’s dated October 16. Is it
referring to any special resolution?

Njeri: It refers to a discussion not a special resolution.

Oduor: And you realise that it comes before the special resolution
which is signed by Macharia.

Njeri: Yes. The letter is dated October 16 and the special resolution
is dated November 20.

Oduor: Logically the resolution should precede the letter?

Njeri: That should be the logic.

The 43rd witness, Police Inspector Julius Kiprotich, was sworn in. He
was led in evidence by assisting counsel Warui Mungai.

Mungai: For how long have you been in the police force?

Kiprotich: Seventeen years.

Mungai: How many have you served at the Interpol?

Kiprotich: I have served at the National Central Bureau for one year.

Mungai: What happened on March 22, 2006?

Kiprotich: That was the day the Officer Commanding Interpol Mary
Ngariuko, a senior assistant commissioner of police, called me to her
office and instructed me to write a message on request from the PCIO
Nairobi area Mr Osugo to Yerevan in Armenia. She gave me a letter
which had some details. I extracted information and wrote a letter
to Interpol Yerevan asking for details requested by Mr Osugo.

Mungai: I have a letter here and I would like to know whether that
is what you wrote? If it is, read it.

Kiprotich: That’s true my lords.

>>From Interpol Nairobi to Interpol Yerevan.

"We kindly request you to give us the following information to further
our investigations;

a) Whether the two are Armenian citizens;

b) Their occupation;

c) When and how they left your country for Kenya;

d) What reasons they gave for coming to Kenya.

Attached are their passports, work permits and photographs for ease
of reference. Urgently expedite."

Mungai: Did they respond?

Kiprotich: They did, I think in April.

Mungai: What was the information?

Stolen passports, which were presented at the Kiruki commission
hearing yesterday.

Kiprotich: The information was that Artur Margaryan was born in 1973
and is the holder of passport number AF0631173 issued on October 11
2003. His first passport – number AB322223 – was issued on January
27, 1997. That he had never been to Africa including Kenya, that he
is currently in Armenia, works at taxation services in Yerevan.

Travelled twice to Sochi in Russia and once to Vurna. That he
together with Artur Sargsyan are not relatives of the Prime Minister
of Armenia. For Artur Sargsyan, he was born on May 14, 1970. On May
1, 1997, he got a passport number AB0366773. That he lost another
one number AB0366773 and applied for new one number AF0599780. That
he together with his family moved to United Arab Emirates. That
he together with his brother Arman Sargsyan are wanted by Armenian
Authorities for avoiding military services according to their laws.

That there is no information on his departure or arrival. How the
two Armenians came to Kenya, nobody knows.

Mungai: There is a letter from Armenia which is Exhibit 1(i) dated
March 18. Did you request for the information?

Kiprotich: No. The first message was drafted by senior officer on
March 15.

Mungai: Did you get to see the answer?

Kiprotich: Yes on March 18.

Mungai: Let’s first concentrate on the reply you got. Look at the
fourth paragraph.

Kiprotich: "Please be informed that we have all grounds to think
that the persons who presented themselves as Margaryan Artur in your
country is in fact another person. In this view you are requested to
make the final identification of the persons who presented themselves
with the photos we have provided.

Mungai: Do you have the photo that was presented to you?

Kiprotich: I have it.

Mungai: Did you compare with the person who presented himself as
Artur Margaryan in Kenya?

Kiprotich: No.

Meanwhile, you are kindly requested to inform us of the investigations
against them particularly whether a criminal case is instituted
against them, which body conducted the investigations, the status of
the person in subject and the details of the case. The measures for
receiving information concerning Margaryan Artur and Sargsyan Artur are
continuing and you will be informed additionally about the results."

Mungai: Do you have the photo that was presented to you?

Kiprotich: I have it.

Mungai: Did you compare with the person who presented himself as
Artur Margaryan in Kenya?

Kiprotich: No.

TEACHERS FROM BRAZIL AND ROMANIA TAKE PART IN DIASPORAN ARMENIAN TEACHERS’
TRAINING COURSES FOR THE FIRST TIME

ETCHMIADZIN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN- ARMENIANS TODAY. The start of
training courses of the Diasporan Armenians began with a solemn
ceremony held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on July 17. Noyan
Tapan was informed about this from the Press Secretary of the RA
Minister of Education and Science. He mentioned that the courses
are held for the second time under the patronage of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

During the ceremony, Levon Mkrtchian, Minister of Education and
Science, greeted the teachers and mentioned that this program of
retraining has become one of the serious links in Homeland-Diaspora
educational connections. The process started with efforts of
individuals several years ago and now it has become a traditional
one. It "gathered full speed" during the recent years and the geography
of the program broadened. Teachers from Brazil and Romania take part
in this retraining courses for the first time. In total 71 claims
of teacher’s participation are received from 13 countries. During a
month period, besides the professional training, the teachers will
also have an opportunity to get acquainted with the political and
cultural life of Armenia.

NA POLITICAL FORCES FORMULATE PRINCIPLES OF SOLUTIONS ON VENICE COMMISSION’S
PROPOSALS ON ELECTORAL CODE

YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 18, preliminary discussions
of the Electoral Code continued at the consultation at RA NA Speaker
Tigran Torosian’s office with participation of parliament factions
and groups. As a result of the discussion, they managed to formulate
principles of solutions on some proposals of the Venice Commission.

As NT was informed from NA Public Relations Department, the Electoral
Code’s next discussion is scheduled for July 21.

LARGE SCALE WAR LEVIES?

Aravot.am
18 July 06

Interview by Tigran Avetisian

The orientalist David Hovhannisian considers the involvement of other
countries in the Arabic-Israeli conflict in this phase less possible.

Arabic-Israeli conflict has turned into a real war in the latest
period. In your opinion how do you explain this extreme situation in
the Middle East region? It is known that this conflict in contrast to
other conflicts is the most difficult with its crux and structure. It
goes to the ancient times and has a mythological pretext. All attempts
of schemes of armistice have been failed during the last decades. The
so-called Â"road mapÂ" also was failed. As regards your mentioned
latest events there have always been such situations and in most
probability will be in the future. Why it is just now: the answer
of this question must be found in the context of the current world
political events. There are some factors. Let me give an example: when
the head of the family loses his head and doesn’t fulfill his family
obligations that family members behave outrageously. Saying the head
of the family I mean the U.S., which has got into difficulties together
with this region by its Iraqi adventures, noise, made round the nuclear
project of Iran, provoking civilization conflicts. As a result, it
has lost control over the processes, and nowadays we have what we
have. The difficulty of the situation is described by combining some
elements. One of it is the problem of Iran: as you know the Iranian
dossier will be discussed in the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday,
which means the possibility of demonstration of new approaches,
consequently the strong situations. That means you see a certain
connection between the Iranian dossier and Israeli-Lebanese latest
developments. Of course, I see, and I can explain it by Tel-Aviv’s
assumption that the current intricate situation of the region gives
it the opportunity to strike its two hostile organizations that
threaten its security: these are "Hamas" in Palestine and "Hzbollah"
in Lebanon. I should also mention that this behavior of Israel will
stir up other regional factors, in particularly I don’t exclude that
replying to the actions of Israel, Iran will strengthen the situation
in Iraq. By the way, returning to your first question, I must stress
that the factor of rising oil price has its essential role almost
in all Middle East developments. It is difficult to answer at once
for whom it is profitable but we may analyze it. Is this situation
very profitable for Russia? For some oil-producing Gulf countries,
too. I can say, that circumstance isn’ t profitable for the U.S.,
which uses its country’s reserving funds for its energy needs. The
U.S. has lost the control over the processes as nowadays Israel acts
without U.S. obvious support and approval. Do you see any connection
between the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon by the West’s
pressure and nowadays Â"LebaneseÂ" campaign of Israel? There is no
direct connection. It seems Syria-West discrepancies came round when
Damask yielded the U.N. demands. But if the Syrian troops weren’t
withdrawn from Lebanon whether Israel would act in the same way.

Certainly, no. Because it would mean the involvement of Syria into
the conflict. It would also mean the involvement of other countries,
which have signed intergovernmental, military agreements with Syria. As
a result a destructive, large-scale war would levy in the region. At
the same time I should mention that I don’t consider possible the
U.S., Iran and Syria involvement into this war. There are interesting
versions in the foreign press According to one of them, all it is
done for that reason. That is there is a problem to involve Iran
into the war making it strikes Israel after which the U.S. military
forces will strike Iran. Do you know, the adherents of the theory
of conspiracies can publish any version they want? As I have already
said, there have been such situations in the region but Iran has never
struck Israel. Why should it strike when it always has possibilities
of non-symmetric answers? For example destabilization of the situation
in Iraq, in general, in the Persian Gulf, and if you want, in Caspian
Sea, in case of some developments. Do these processes have their
influence on Armenia? They have their influence on the whole world,
consequently on Armenia, too. But at least in case of two factors the
influence on Armenia is more essential. One of the factors is Diaspora:
Armenians in Lebanon and Jerusalem. The second factor refers just to
Armenia as a state. Being geographically near the hostilities it is
threatened to all negative influences coming from the neighbor region.

–Boundary_(ID_8r8qHpkvGNRJW7u0Olr5SQ)–

ANCA Urges US Senate to Block Discussion of Hoagland Candidacy

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.07.2006 15:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Citing U.S. Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland’s
denial of the Armenian Genocide and his contradictory responses
to Senate inquiries – both against the background of the continued
failure of the Administration to offer a meaningful and forthright
explanation of its reasons for firing the current U.S.

Ambassador, John Evans – the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) has issued a statement formally opposing Hoagland’s nomination
to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.

The ANCA statement says, "Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland
has disqualified himself as a candidate to serve as our nation’s
ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. During the course of his Senate
confirmation process, Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland has taken a
number of actions that demonstrate that he cannot effectively represent
U.S. interests and American values. He has asserted that the Armenian
Genocide does not qualify as an instance of genocide.

He also stated that the issue of defining the tragedy of the Armenian
people should not be decided at the political level, but academics,
civic leaders should deal with that issue.

For these reasons, we respectfully request that the U.S. Senate not
move forward with Ambassador Hoagland’s nomination."

Relief for dancers’ families

Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia
July 18 2006

The families of Australian children with an Armenian dance troupe on
tour in the Middle East say they are relieved their loved ones are
among 86 Australians rescued from war-torn Lebanon.

The Sevan Dance Group’s 45 young performers and 36 parents and
supervisors were this morning safe in the Jordan, the Federal
Government said.
The Government had organised three buses to pick up the group and
some others from their Beirut hotel. The convoy headed north along
the Mediterranean coast road early last night (AEST) and crossing the
Syrian border to the capital, Damascus.

Parliamentary secretary for Foreign Affairs Teresa Gambaro said today
the group had now arrived in the Jordanian capital Amman.

Silva Vartabebian, whose 18-year-old daughter is part of the dance
troupe, said she had yet to speak to her daughter, but was relieved.

"Very relieved, very relieved," she said on Channel 7. "It’s a bad
experience, I’m sure it was worse for them. Very anxious waiting at
home. No sleeping, just constantly worrying, talking to parents all
the time, asking if they’d heard anything.

"Nothing crossed our minds that something like this would happen, to
this extent anyway."

She said her daughter originally wasn’t going to go, but a job she
had fell through and there was a last-minute cancellation in the
troupe.

Ms Vartabebian said Australian foreign affairs officials had gone to
the Armenian Cultural Centre to reassure parents and update them on
what was taking place. She said she was not sure when they would be
coming home.

Tatiana Arabian, whose 15-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter were
also on the tour, said it had been a tense wait.

She said she would not relax until she knew her children were to
catch a flight home.

"Since Thursday 2pm it’s been terrible and … now I can finally say
that they are safe, but still I can feel I might even receive a phone
call saying it’s not going as positive as you are think, so fingers
crossed that they will be home as soon as they reach Jordan," she
said on Channel 9.

"Last time I talked to them, they were in Beirut, in the hotel, they
were in a safe place.

"That was two days ago.

"My son was quite all right but my daughter, who is 16, and she was a
bit scared because she could hear the bombs and she said: ‘The
building is shaking, and Mum it’s really scary.

"I said: ‘You have to hang on there until the embassy will try and
get you all out’."

Ms Arabian said she expected her children home tomorrow morning.

AMBASSADOR OF BRAZIL TO ARMENIA MEETS WITH ARMENIAN CONSUL

AZG Armenian Daily #132, 15/07/2006

Meeting

Renate Stille, newly appointed Ambassador of Brazil to Armenia visited
General Consulate of Armenia in Sao Paolo, on July 11.

The Press Service of RA Foreign Ministry informed that RA Consul
Ashot Yeghiazarian represented the priority issues of the Armenian
home and foreign policy, the current economic and democratic reforms,
the integration process of Armenia into the regional and European
structures to the guest.

At the request of Renate Stille, Mr. Yeghiazarian also touched upon
the current stage of the Armenian-Turksih and the Armenian-Azeri
relations, and the recent developments in the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement process. The sides discussed the prospects for the
Armenian-Brazilian cooperation.

Renate Stille also met with the representative of the local Armenian
community.