GROWTH OF LOAN INVESTMENTS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
13 Sept 04
Recently trade banks have been reporting growth of activity in the
financial sector. According to the data provided by the NKR National
Statistics Service, by July 1 of this year the amount of loans provided
by trade banks (in AM drams or foreign currency) totaled 8178.4 million
drams and from January 1, 2004 grew by 2144.9 million drams or 35.5 per
cent. About 76 per cent of the amount of loans which totals 6225.9 per
cent was provided in foreign currency. The amount of loans provided
in foreign currency increased from January 1 of the current year by
22.1 per cent or 1126.8 million drams. In the mentioned period the
amount of delinquent loans and extended loans totaled respectively
50.8 and 50.1 million drams. Against January 1 the amount of loans
with extended terms increased by 62.3 per cent, and delinquent loans
by 16.5 per cent. Foreign money transfers received during the first
half of 2004 totaled 5061.5 drams and grew by 89.5 per cent against
the first half of 2003. The share of the foreign money transfers by
natural persons was 19 per cent.
AA.
13-09-2004

New York Armenian Students’ Association / ASA of USA
333 Atlantic Avenue
Warwick, RI 02888
(401) 461-6114
Contact person: Alec Gevorkyan
[email protected]
Happy Hour and Back-to-School Drive hosted by NY ASA and St. Vartan’s
Cathedral
Date: Thursday September 16th 2004
Time: 7:00 PM
The New York ASA and St. Vartan’s Cathedral will be hosting a
happy hour and Back-to-School drive on the plaza of St. Vartan’s
Cathedral. The ASA will be collecting items to be sent to Armenia to
help support schools. There will be live jazz presented by the Clint
Dadian Jazz trio and Mezza
The New York ASA and St. Vartan’s Cathedral will be hosting a happy
hour and “Back-to-School” drive at 7:00 PM on September 16, 2004 on
the plaza of St. Vartan’s Cathedral (at the corner of 2nd Avenue
and 34th Street).
The ASA will be collecting things to be sent to Armenia to help support
schools that are in need of additional supplies and materials. Items
that may be donated include school supplies (papers, pencils,
markers, construction paper) as well as books, study aids, and other
miscellaneous items. There will be live jazz presented by the Clint
Dadian Jazz trio. Mezza that will be provided by St. Vartan’s Cathedral
and wine and beer will be served at the bar.
We encourage everyone to come and enjoy the end of the summer
and donate needed supplies to Armenian schools as well. For more
information, please contact [email protected] or visit the website

GIBRAHAYER
e-newsletter
[email protected]
http: //gibrahayer.cyprusnewsletter.com
ARMENIAN MEDIEVAL BOAT ARRIVES TO CYPRUS
Thursday September 9, 2004. Gibrahayer: – Following the ancient sea routes of
Armenian trade vessels the Armenian medieval sailing boat “Kilikia” anchored
at
Larnaca port. The 16-man crew – accompanied by Karabagh liberation activist
Zori Balayian – were greeted by the Armenian community of Cyprus who held a
special ceremony/reception last Tuesday September 6, 2004.
In his welcoming speech, Armenian representative in the Cyprus House of
Representatives Bedros Kalaydjian – after giving a brief history of the ship
and its mission, to the Greek Cypriot guests and degnitaries – noted the
importance o f the voyage and highlighted the common paths and common
tragedies
experienced between the people of Cyprus and Armenia during their turbulent
history.
Our representative Bedros Kalaydjian, presented the captain of the ship Garen
Balayian -  a certified captain – with a memento. According to Cypriot custom
given to visiting ships, the crew of “Kilikia” sailing boat was also
presented
by Cypriot red wine and dry fruit.
The captain of the ship in turn presented Kalaydjian with a replica of the
ship
engraved on black marble, sailing on Lake Sevan while activist Zori Balayian
thanked and addressed the gathered.
“Kilikia” arrived in Larnaca from the Aegean sea and will be heading to
Beirut,
Tartus (Syria) with its eventual destination being Venice.
Members of the crew, the captain and Zori Balayian were guests of the
Armenian
community at a dinner that was held on Wednesday at a restaurant in Larnaca.
They a lso visited The Armenian Church, the Melkonian and had meetings with
representatives of Armenian organisations in Nicosia.
“Kilikia” left our island yesterday.
Images of this memorable visit can be viewed at the following
link:
You can view the following two websites about “Kilikia” at:
,
CAMPAIGN TO SAVE MELKONIAN ENTERS NEW PHASE
Nicosia, September 6, 2004: Representatives of the worldwide Melkonian Alumni
met in London on Friday, September 3, 2004, and agreed to take joint action
to
challenge and prevent the implementation of the AGBU Central Boardâ^À^Ùs
decision
to close the Melkonian Educational Institute in June 2005.
     Taking part in the meeting were Alumni representatives from Cyprus, the
U.K., the U.S., Canada and Lebanon.
     Joining the meeting was Jack. R. Melkonian, representing the family of
schoolâ^À^Ùs founders, Krikor and Garabed Melkonian, who ag reed on the joint
strategic and legal action to be taken, on the advice of the legal counsel
hired by the umbrella organisation, the Melkonian Alumni and Friends, who was
also present at the meeting.
     In addition, expert legal advice was presented from law experts in
Cyprus
on further action to be pursued in Cyprus and other jurisdictions.
     The meeting concluded by expressing its sincere gratitude to the
Government of the Republic of Cyprus for its warm hospitality and assistance
it
has provided and continues to provide to the Melkonian Educational Institute
and the greater family of past and present Melkonian students.
WHO KILLED TURKISH DIPLOMAT?
22-YEAR HUNT FOR ASSASSIN
By Laura Czekaj, Ottawa Sun Thursday Final Edition
     Someone knows who committed the cold-blooded murder of a Turkish
military
attache in Ottawa 22 years ago tomorrow.
     The question is whether the passage of time will give that person the
courage to come forward.
     “Hopefully some day we will get something solid to follow up on,” said
RCMP Sgt. Andre Bigras.
     Until then, the RCMP will continue to search for the killer of Col.
Atilla
Altikat, who was shot to death on Aug. 27, 1982, as he sat in his car st
opped
at a red light on the Ottawa River Pkwy. at Island Park Dr. The gunman
conducted the brazen killing in plain view of other motorists and disappeared
without a trace.
HISTORICAL FEUD
     “It was something you don’t expect to see in Canada,” Bigras said about
the assassination.
     The Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide claimed responsibility
for
the killing – another violent act in the longstanding feud between Turks and
Armenians.
     “These attacks caused by Armenians were a result of passing hate from
generation to generation,” said Dr. Kevser Taymaz, a representative of the
Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations.
     “Both sides lost lives and what we want is to commemorate those lives
together.”
     Armenians say the Turkish government of the Ottoman Empire carried out
genocide on the Armenian minority in Turkey from 1915-1916 and 1922-23.
     They say the massacre of more than a million Armenians was systematic
and
repeated to eliminate the Armenian minority and create space for Turkish
development.
COMMEMORATION
     Each year, Turkish mourners commemorate the anniversary of Altikat’s
assassination in Ottawa by gathering at the intersection where he was gunned
down. “We want to remind people that … we should raise our children with
tolerance and understanding” said Taymaz.
SARGIS SARGSIAN LOSES TO ANDRE AGASSI AT THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE U.S. OPEN
Monday September 5, 2004 Gibrahayer: – Sargis Sargsian’s dramatic marathon
run
in the US Open came to an end against his practice partner Andre Agassi. He
lost to him 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in ninety minutes.
     Sargsian had already run out of steam even before the match against
Agassi
began, having played more than 13 sets and ten hours to get to the fourth
round.
     In round one he beat Alex Corretja of Spain 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 after
which
he defeated the 2004 Olympic Champion Chilean seed 10 Nicolas Massu 6-7, 6-4,
3-
6, 7-6, 6-4. His third round match against Paul-Henri M athieu of France –
the
second longest in US Open history at five hours and eight minutes – was a
thriller which produced five break points for Saragisian in the fifth set and
two match points for Mathieu before Sargsian could cheer in front of a strong
Armenian crowd waving the Armenian tricolour.
CD OF THE WEEK -  NEAR EASTERN RIDE
Ara Topouzian, Dick Barsamian and other superb Armenian musicians have, in
their latest recording, Near Eastern Ride, surpassed the expectations of even
the most discriminating listener. They have integrated their unique talents
to
create a collection of traditional Armenian songs / dances that make you jump
up and dance.
Each piece is a musical gem that, in its own distinct way, reflects the
brilliance of the ensemble, so savor this album; kick-back, turn up the
volume
and take the ride…
Track Listing: Soorch Bar, Agh Anoush, Tak Bar, Husenig Medley, Shekhani Bar,
Near Eastern Ride, Aghchig Mariam Tamzara, Assomeyir, Hayde Kaleh, 2/4
Fantasy
Special Offer: If you mention this newsletter, ARP will give a 15% discount
on
your first total order! Near Eastern Ride can be purchased for $15.00 USD and
add $2.00 for US shipping. Add an additional $1.00 for all foreign orders.
For more details, visit or email  [email protected]
Donation: To the AYMA Music Library.
NEWS IN BRIEF
– A legal team from Equatorial Guinea is in Armenia to probe links between a
local air transport company and an alleged plot to oust that country’s
president.
– ‘I assure you I will continue struggling against the denial of Armenian
genocide as president. My administration will label April 24, 2005, as the
90th
anniversary of this violent act,’  U.S. Presidential candidate Kerry
– When recalled the statements of U.S. President candidate John Kerry about
the
Armenian Genocide Turkish FM Gul said, ”this issue is important for Turkey.
Thus, we follow it closely”
– Armenia will send a team of military officials to Iraq in September that
will
prepare for the deployment of a small Arme nian army contingent in the
war-torn
country by the end of the year.
– Armenian President Robert Kocharian arrived on September 5 in Gdansk,
Poland,
on an official visit.
– Armenia’s foreign debt fell 2.5% from the beginning of the year to $1.07
billion in the first half of 2004.
– The Director General of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO),
Jacques Diouf, met with Agriculture Minister David Lokian in Yerevan to
discuss
ways of stepping up cooperation between the organization and the government
of
Armenia.
– Cyprus Ex-Davis Cup star Haig Ashdjian won the over 35 event at The Sunrise
Hotel Open Tennis Tournament at Protaras, convincingly beating the number 1
over 35 seed, Marios Petrou 6-4, 6-0.
g i b r a h a y    c a l e n d a r
â^À¢ Armenian Ambassador to Cyprus Vahram Gozoyan invites the Armenian Cypriots
to
the 13th Independence anniversary celebrations of the Third Armenian Republic
that will be held at the Melkonian Educational Institute on September 29,
2004
from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
â^À¢ The Annual General Meeting of The Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational
Association “Oshakan” Cyprus Chapter will take place on Tuesday September 14,
2004 at 8:00 p.m. at A.Y.M.A.
â^À¢ BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY AT AYMA – Saturday September 11, 2004 at 9:00 p.m.
Entrance 5:00 including two drinks. Music dancing and a lot of fun, just in
time before the schools begin!
â^À¢ Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation can be heard
via
real audio on . Broadcast times 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus time
(14:00-15:00 GMT) News bulletins at 17:15 local time on Sundays, Tuesdays,
Fridays. Armenian Cypriots can also tune in on the following radio
frequencies
91.1 FM (Mount Olympus – for Nicosia listeners) 94.2 FM
(Paralimni/Protaras/Agia Napa) 92.4 FM (Larnaca) 96.5 FM (Paphos).
â^À¢ Every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. (Cyprus time +2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito, Puzant
Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blues” together with Robert Camassa.
The
programme which is now in its second year can also be heard on Real Audio
from
the Internet edition of CyBC on . A repeat programme can also
be heard seven hours later at 2:00 a.m. local time.
â^À¢ AYMA announces that the weekly practices of the football team begin in the
second week of September. Contact the AYMA Sports Committee for more details.
â^À¢ The Armenian Prelature announces that the next permit for the Armenian
Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is scheduled for
Sunday 19 September, 2004.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CENN – SEPTEMBER 13, 2004 DAILY DIGEST – ARMENIA
Table of Contents:
1. Presentation of Armenian Culture Portal Took Place in Yerevan
2. Robert Kocharian: Sure That Realization of Armenian-Iranian Energy
Projects to Obtain Regions Importance
3. Armenia, Iran sign $30-mln Credit Agreement for Pipeline Construction
4. A critical Moment for Lake Sevan
5. Who is Destroying the Forests in Tsaghkadzor?
6. Armenian Government Seeks to Tighten Food Safety Regulations
7. Construction of Armenian Sector of Gas Pipeline with Iran to Begin by
Late October
8. RJSC UES of Russia Earns Some $80 mln Yearly in Armenia, $15 mln in
Georgia: Andrey Rappoport
9. Construction of Meghri HPP on River Araks to Start in 2005
1. PRESENTATION OF ARMENIAN CULTURE PORTAL TOOK PLACE IN
YEREVAN
Source: /ARKA/, September 8, 2004
Presentation of Armenian culture portal took place in
Yerevan. According to the Chairman of Association of Film Journalists
and Critics Susanna Harutyunian, the site is created on the base of
Internet page of Arvest magazine. “During two years of life of this
page, we understood that Internet has a lot of opportunities”, she said.
According to Harutyunian today the site contains news of culture,
articles, schedules of seminars and exhibitions, data base of culture
organizations of Armenia, legal articles and Government’s decisions in
given field and forum. “We hope that soon the number of visitors of our
site will grow”, she said. The site was created on the
initiative of the Association in assistance with Open Society Institute
Armenian branch.
2. ROBERT KOCHARIAN: SURE THAT REALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-IRANIAN ENERGY
PROJECTS TO OBTAIN REGIONS IMPORTANCE
Source: /ARKA/, September 8, 2004
RA President Robert Kocharian is confident that realization of
Armenian-Iranian energy projects will obtain regions importance, he
stated this at the briefing in Yerevan. According to him, energy is one
of the most important spheres of bilateral cooperation of Armenia with
Iran. “In given sphere we already accumulated certain experience on the
base of which we can develop steps on cooperation of infrastructures in
the sphere”, Kocharian said. Today the Presidents of Iran and Armenia
Mohammad Hatami and Robert Kocharian signed the agreement on basis and
principles of cooperation. Iranian delegation headed with the President
arrived today in Yerevan. It is the first visit of Iranian President in
Armenia.
3. ARMENIA, IRAN SIGN $30-MLN CREDIT AGREEMENT FOR PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
Source: Interfax, September 9, 2004
Armenia and Iran signed a $30-million credit agreement on Wednesday to
finance the construction of the Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline.
Energy is an important sector in cooperation between the two countries,
which have already gained a wealth of experience in cooperation in this
sphere, Armenian President Robert Kocharian said at a press conference
following the signing of the agreement.
“More serious steps will be taken based on this experience on the path
to unite the infrastructure of both states and raise mutual relations to
a qualitatively new level,” Kocharian said, adding that the construction
of the pipeline has an important regional significance.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who was at the press conference,
also said bilateral cooperation was important in the energy sphere.
According to the agreement, Iran is to provide Armenia with a credit of
$30 million to build the Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. The credit will be provided for 7.5 years at 5% per year. The
funds will be used to finance the construction of a pipeline from the
border town of Megri to Kajaran.
Construction of the Armenian section of the pipeline should begin at the
end of 2004. Armenia will finance work to reconstruct and change parts
on the Kajaran-Yerevan gas pipeline.
Armenia and Iran signed an agreement on May 13 for the construction of a
pipeline between the two countries. The pipeline is 141 km long,
inducing 41 km in Armenia and 100 km in Iran. The total cost of the
project is estimated at $210-$220 million. The pipeline is expected to
be launched before January 1, 2007.
Gas should start to arrive in Armenia from January 2007 and will be used
at Armenian thermal power plants to produce electricity for export to
Iran. Iran will supply 36 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Armenia
over 20 years according to the document.
4. A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR LAKE SEVAN
Source: , September 8, 2004
The six-meter increase in the water level is not based on science
Lake Sevan was once a reservoir of water fit for drinking, according to
physical, chemical, and biological indices. But today, as a result of
the intensive exploitation of the lake over the years, its ecological
system has been disturbed, with falling water level and resultant
swamping bringing about qualitative changes, and the state of its native
fish life, the most sensitive index of the health of the lake, has
changed. There used to be three kinds of fish native to Sevan – ishkhan
(trout), koghak (carp) and beghlu (barbus).
Beghlu is a species peculiar to Lake Sevan. It has never had any
economic significance, much less so today. The quantity of Koghak has
decreased catastrophically as well, to the point where scientists plan
to declare it an endangered species. Of the four types of Ishkhan, two
used to spawn in the lake, and two in the rivers. Two of these have
disappeared, since their spawning grounds have vanished as the water
level has fallen, and the other two are on the verge of extinction.
Today only two kinds of fish of industrial significance remain in Sevan
– Sig (whitefish) and lake sazan.
Four years ago a project to restore Lake Gilli , in the southeast of the
Sevan basin, was launched, and it was expected to play a vital role in
saving the Sevan eco-system. Lake Gilli had dried up as a result of the
drop in Sevan’s water level. Since then, 110 kinds of birds have
disappeared from the basin, and the republic as a whole has been
deprived of 35 kinds of birds.
The Gilli project failed, and it is not clear yet what the fate of a
second project, recently started with an impressive initial investment
of $1 million, will be.
The most striking evidence of the government’s mishandling of the Sevan
problem is the complete absence of purifying stations on the lake. But
even if they were in operation, they would have trouble preventing the
damage to Sevan caused by agriculture. Irrigation is not the only
problem. The inability of villagers to utilize fertilizers correctly
contributes to the free flow of nitrates and phosphates into the lake,
the majority of which come from industrial and household wastewater.
Twice in the past, a decision was made to build in a purification
station in Gavar. Both times, the decisions were reversed and new
enterprises were built.
Delays in putting the Vorotan River-Arpa River hydro-system into
operation have played a role as well. It has come to light through the
2002 annual report of the Ministry of Ecology that although 1.4 billion
drams (about $2.7 million) was allocated for the construction of a
tunnel, no work was carried out.
There is another factor threatening the stability of the level of Sevan
which is beyond human control, the negative impact of evaporation on the
water level over the past few years. The volume of water lost through
evaporation has been greater than the volume of water flowing into the
lake.
And although there has been heavy rainfall in the last two years,
scientists predict that in connection with global warming, evaporation
will increase in the future. Some even hold the pessimistic view that no
matter what is done, the lake will eventually evaporate completely.
But at least this year, unprecedentedly abundant rains have helped
revive the beautiful mountainous lake. Today, Sevan seems to be waking
up, its dead green color gradually turning healthy and vivid. It is
expected that when the Vorotan – Arpa hydro-system goes into operation,
165 million cubic meters of water will flow into Sevan each year. This
will be a miracle cure for the lake, now at death’s door. The Law on
Sevan stipulates that the level of the lake must rise by six meters.
Compared to 2000-2001, the water level has already gone up one meter and
seventeen centimeters.
But a real battle has begun between ecologists and the government over
goals for the lake. Scientists say that emphasizing the six-meter mark
not only is unfounded scientifically, but also might have very dangerous
consequences for the lake. The chairman of the NGO For Sustainable Human
Development, Karine Danielyan, explains, “The ecological system of the
lake will become healthier if the lake water returns to its level in the
nineteen-sixties, i.e. 1,908.5 meters, when the processes of decline had
not yet begun and the lake was in its natural, balanced state. That’s
the only way that the water quality will improve, the flora and fauna
will revive, and it will become possible to talk about saving Sevan.”
“This six meters won’t do anything for the lake,” says the
deputy-director of the Institute of Hydro-ecology and Pisciculture of
the Academy of Science, Bartugh Gabrielyan. “Maybe it will hold up the
swamping process, but it will not improve the water quality, and Sevan’s
most important problem is water quality. People were talking about six
meters at a time when the lake’s water level had fallen by eighteen
meters. Since then the water level has kept falling, up to twenty to
twenty-two meters, but now the same figure is being mentioned again. ”
Minister of Ecology Vardan Aivazyan says that the figure of six meters
appeared as a result of a study by experts from the World Bank. The real
story is somewhat different. At one time, the Institute of Hydrology of
the Academy of Science of Armenia, together with institutes in Moscow
and Rostov ( Russia ), developed a mathematical model to find out what
would happen in the lake after the water level increased, and what level
would be necessary to return the water quality to its previous grade.
The mark of six meters was found as a result of applying this model.
Accepting these dated findings, without taking the trouble to do new
research or ask the opinion of local scientists regarding the current
situation, international experts merely reiterated the six-meter mark.
The fact that the ecological system of the lake has changed for the
worse, with new problems raising their heads, has been completely
ignored.
The reason that the government doesn’t want to consider raising the
level of the lake by more than six meters may simply be that a rising
water level will become a real threat to dozens of lakeside vacation
houses owned by the nouveaux riches with positions and connections.
Waves are lapping at the walls of Gagik Tsarukyan’s lakeside “cottage”,
and dozens of other buildings are already under water. So today,
stubborn attempts are being made to reduce even the six-meter mark. The
marzpet (governor) of Gegharkiunik, Stepan Barsegyan, says he receives
unofficial instructions that the water level should not go up by more
than four meters. The director of Sevan National Park , Gagik
Martirosyan, employs doubtful arguments to suggest that an increase of
even by one meter would be enough for Sevan. This could mean that the
quantity of water entering the lake will be controlled, in order to
protect the owners of lakeside buildings.
There are 350-400 structures along the coast today, owned by individuals
and organizations, the majority of them illegal. The government will not
compensate the owners of illegal constructions if they go under water.
But the government will have problems with the landlords whose houses
were built with permits from town-planning authorities. These landlords
are understandably furious, since none of the local officials or
ministers dropped a hint about the water level increase as they handed
out these permits. But the strange thing is that construction work is
still going on all around the lake, even though local officials now warn
builders that their projects might one day be under water.
The fifteen to twenty hectares of lakeside forests that have been
planted over the last fourteen years will be absorbed into the lake as
well, a sad but unavoidable loss.
Today for the first time in years, there is a real possibility that the
lake will be saved. The Vorotan – Arpa hydro-system, the twenty-eight
rivers that flow into the lake, and the reconstruction of the Yeghvard
Reservoir all hold real promise for Sevan. The unprecedentedly heavy
precipitation of the last few years was an unexpected gift. Some
ecologists believe that even without the hydro-systems Sevan may come
back from the brink of death. If, of course, its salvation is not
sacrificed to the interests of the oligarchs.
It’s a critical time for Lake Sevan once again. The general public has
been deprived of information about what has been going on around Sevan.
It has been deprived of the right to participate in deliberations over
the fate of the lake that plays such an important role in the life of
generations to come. Perhaps this is because both our government and our
society are lacking in environmental awareness. People sit by silently,
uninformed, as their rights and interests are threatened.
5. WHO IS DESTROYING THE FORESTS IN TSAGHKADZOR?
Source: , September 8, 2004
As we reported on August 28th, a number of media outlets organized a
joint protest in which ninety journalists went to Tsakhkadzor in
nineteen cars. They drove around the town taking pictures of the forests
that have been cut down and the houses of various government officials
and businessmen that have gone up.
Pictured here is the wall surrounding the house of Levon Sargisyan, a
member of parliament. We remind you that it was Sargisyan’s bodyguard,
Gagik Stepanyan, who beat photojournalist Mkhitar Khachatryan of the
news agency PhotoLur and reporter Anna Israelyan from the newspaper
Aravot. Stepyanyan is currently under arrest. It makes sense that an MP
who walks around with dozens of bodyguards has to build a wall like
this, though only he knows who or what he is so afraid of.
This mansion belongs to the head of the State Customs Committee of
Armenia, Armen Avetisyan.
The path through the forest has been widened to enable Robert Kocharyan
to drive a snow mobile here. “Maybe some twenty trees were cut down
there,” says the mayor of Tsaghkadzor, Garun Mirzoyan.
When reporters had presented him with evidence that trees had been cut
down Tsaghkadzor the mayor made the following statement twice, “In this
area only ten or fifteen trees were cut down”.
Now that the forest has been occupied by the owners of these mansions –
government officials, MPs, oligarchs – ordinary people can’t even pick
berries there. On August 7, 2004, Samvel Baghdasaryan, a resident of
Hrazdan, was shot and wounded while picking gooseberries. Haykakan
Zhamanak reported that according to one theory, it was a bodyguard of
Olympic Committee Chairman Ishkhan Zakaryan who pulled the trigger. An
investigation into the case by the Hrazdan prosecutor’s office is
underway, although there are no suspects so far.
6. ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO TIGHTEN FOOD-SAFETY REGULATIONS
Source; RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 8, No. 173, Part I, 10 September 2004
The Armenian government approved a set of measures on 9 September to
significantly tighten food-safety standards, RFE/RL’s Yerevan bureau
reported. The proposed measures, covering both domestic and imported
food products, would impose stricter quality and packaging requirements,
including new health warnings and detailed labeling.
According to Mikael Grigorian, the head of the Agriculture Ministry’s
food-safety department, the proposals are necessitated by the inadequacy
and poor enforcement of current food-safety regulations.
The availability of low-cost but inferior foodstuffs that fail to meet
minimum health standards in Armenia was confirmed by a recent inspection
by the Health Ministry that revealed widespread noncompliance with basic
safety requirements by many domestic agribusiness producers.
7. CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN SECTOR OF GAS PIPELINE WITH IRAN TO BEGIN BY
LATE OCTOBER
Source: Interfax, September 10, 2004
The construction of the Armenian section of its gas pipeline with Iran
is expected to begin by the end of October, Armenian Ambassador to Iran
Geram Garibdzhanian told Interfax.
A contract envisioning an Iranian credit for building the gas pipeline’s
Armenian sector and a treaty on construction works at this sector by
Iran’s Sanir company are only the first steps in Iran’s assistance to
Armenia in this project, the ambassador said, declining to provide
further details.
Three Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental documents were signed during
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s official visit to Yerevan on
Wednesday. They include a memorandum on mutual understanding and
cooperation between the Energy Ministries of Armenia and Iran, an
agreement on a $30 million credit to be issued by Export Development
Bank of Iran to the Armenian Energy Ministry and a treaty making the
Iranian Sanir company subcontractor of the project aimed at building the
Armenian section of the gas pipeline.
8. RJSC UES OF RUSSIA EARNS SOME $80 MLN YEARLY IN ARMENIA, $15 MLN IN
GEORGIA: ANDREY RAPPOPORT
Source: ARMINFO, September 10, 2004
RJSC UES of Russia earns some $80 mln yearly in Armenia, in Georgia
aggregate assets will bring $15 mln profits, the member of the Board of
the Russian energy holding Andrey Rappoport told “Gazeta” Russian
newspaper. The interview is published by the Department for Mass Media
of RJSC UES of Russia.
A.Rappoport said that the energy holding spent a total of $50-60 mln for
purchase of assets in Georgia and Armenia in conformity with preliminary
data, as not all calculations have been carried out yet. He added that
there are no problems with payments for energy resources in Armenia,
while in Georgia the debt of the “Wholesale Energy Market” to the
Tbilisi city electricity distribution network (assets of RJSC UES of
Russia) totals some $27.6 mln. He said: “I see no special problems in
Armenia. Their attitude to us is very good, and if any difficulties
arouse, they overcome them along the way. While in Georgia, there are
real problems in relations with local authorities. We have felt some
aggressiveness to us recently. We do not understand it, as the Georgian
leadership comes out for attraction of investors to the country,
promising comfortable conditions for them. During the recent
negotiations with Georgian leaders, I directly stated that as an
investor I feel uncomfortable in Georgia. In such a situation, there can
be no special interest in making serious investments in Goergia.”
9. CONSTRUCTION OF MEGHRI HPP ON RIVER ARAKS TO START IN 2005
Source: ARMINFO, September 10, 2004
Construction of a joint Armenian-Iranian hydropower plant in Meghri on
the Riven Araks will start in 2005, Armenian Energy Minister told
journalists on September 9, 2004.
He said that a relevant agreement was reached on the last day of Iranian
President Seyed Mohammad Khatami’s visit to Armenia in the course of his
meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Measures on
feasibility study of the given project are planned to be completed
before 2005. The minister said that HPP would become the most powerful
in the territory of the Transcaucasus. It should be noted that the
established capacity of the HPP will total 140 megawatt, with the
electricity generation to make up 150 mln kW yearly. The project is
estimated at 160 mln USD.

CENN – SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. EIR-NOW! Implementing EIR: Please Read
2. Chanturia Discharged from GIOC
3. Energy Regulation Commission Refrains from Commenting on Possible
Corruption in Energy Tariff
4. UEDC Fails to Ensure Round-The Clock Energy Supply in Winter
5. Madneuli Receives Georgia’s First Gold
6. Vitol wins SOCAR Urals Tender
7. Vacancy Announcement — Administrative Assistant
1. EIR-NOW! IMPLEMENTING EIR: PLEASE READ
Dear All,
The Bank/IFC has proposed a meeting with civil society organizations
during the annual meetings. The proposed date would be either September
30 or October 1st. The agenda for the meeting would focus on
implementation issues, including the multistakeholder advisory group,
their process for developing new governance indicators, poverty
indicators and the developing a new energy strategy.
Do groups want to have this meeting? I have proposed that the meeting be
scheduled at a time, which could accommodate others, that may not be in
Washington, but could join by phone.
It would also be useful to take advantage of those of you that do plan
to come to Washington DC for the annual meetings, to have a
debrief/lessons learned discussion and some time together to think about
the next steps for the EIR.
My proposal then is that we have the NGO only strategy session/debrief
on EIR on September 30, and meet with the WBG the next day on October
1st. Does this work for people? Please give some feedback as soon as
possible so that we can confirm these meetings and times on the NGO
calendar.
Finally, Wolfensohn will be having his traditional meeting with NGOs by
videoconference next Tuesday, September 21st. NGOs in the Netherlands,
Brazil, Georgia, Nigeria and Japan will participate.
IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND CAN PARTICIPATE, PLEASE GET IN
TOUCH WITH YOUR COUNTRY OFFICE AND REQUEST AN INVITATION.
It would be extremely useful if groups could raise implementation
questions with Wolfensohn directly.
For example, since the Bank is notorious for not implementing its
commitments well, it would be important to ask Wolfensohn if the
responsibilities for implementing the different aspects of their EIR
commitments have been delegated and to tell us how the lead points of
contact will be for both the IFC, the Bank and the regions. Also, does
he plan to spell out the plan and commitments to the Regional Vice
Presidents and Country Directors and hold them to implementing it as
well?
Also, what is his timeline for reviewing and revising the energy
strategy so that their energy lending is in line with their stated
mission to deliver energy services to the poor?
Those are some possible questions. Please let me know if you are in one
of those countries and will be able to join the meeting. It would be
very helpful if you could provide a report back to this list- EIR-NOW!:
[email protected]
All for now – please respond about the proposed meetings
E-mail: [email protected]
2. CHANTURIA DISCHARGED FROM GIOC
Source: Messenger, September 13, 2004
The post of president of the Georgian International Oil Corporation is
vacant after President Mikheil Saakashvili fired Gia Chanturia while he
was in Baku discussing the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. There are
rumors in the media that the prosecutor’s office may become interested
in Chanturia’s affairs.
Two possible candidates for the presidency of GIOC have been nominated:
the former media tycoon Erosi Kitsmarishvili and the US-based Georgian
Ramaz Berianidze.
Before the Rose Revolution, GIOC president Chanturia was considered to
be not only as a highly successful administrator, but as a possible
candidate succeed then-president Shevardnadze in the 2005 presidential
elections. During the revolution, however, Chanturia remained in
Shevardnadze’s camp, although he did not actively participate against
the Saakashvili-Zvania alliance.
Unlike many Shevardnadze allies, Chanturia was not discharged
immediately after the Rose Revolution, although his office building was
taken from him. The Georgian media suggested that Chanturia’s was able
to remain in his post owing to his personal friendship with current
Azeri president Ilham Aliev.
It is said that they have been friends from their youth and that,
according to newspaper Alia; Chanturia was appointed GIOC president by
Shevardnadze under the recommendation and promotion of the Aliev family.
Nobody can say whether Aliev agreed to Gia Chanturia’s discharge or if
Saakashvili asked him.
According to Alia, Chanturia may be questioned by the general
Prosecutor’s office. But assuming that he manages to avoid any
complications with Georgia law-enforcement bodies, he might be granted a
high position in Azerbaijan by his friend Aliev.
3. ENERGY REGULATION COMMISSION REFRAINS FROM COMMENTING ON POSSIBLE
CORRECTION IN ENERGY TARIFF
Source: Sarke, September 13, 2004
The Right Opposition faction of Parliamentary has raised a question on
the reduction of consumer’s energy tariff following the recent
strengthening of the lari rate. However, the chairman of the National
Energy Regulation Commission Giorgi Tavadze says according to the law,
the gas tariff is liable to changes only if the change of the lari
exchange rate exceeds 5%, while this regulation does not concern the
energy tariff.
4. UEDC FAILS TO ENSURE ROUND-THE CLOCK ENERGY SUPPLY IN WINTER
Georgia United Energy Distributing Company (UEDC) fails to guarantee
round-the-clock electricity supply during the winter season.
The company spokesmen told INTER-PRESS big cities- Rustavi and Kutaisi,
where external installation of the electricity meters is almost
completed, power will be delivered from 06:00-08:00pm in winter, while
electricity supply in villages, where communal meters are installed will
be 8-hour.
“Communal meters will be installed on transformers of each village and
it will indicate the extend of the consumed electricity by the whole
village. Such processes are already completed in the entire zone of the
Imereti region. Communal meters are being installed in the
Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Samtskhe-Javaxeti regions”, the company spokesmen
said.
UEDC is anticipating receiving GEL 1 million grant from the central
budget that will enable the company to install communal meters in
villages.
As for the big cities, where a process of external installation of
meters are underway, the company reports that will try to ensure the
solvent consumers with the permanent electricity supply during the
winter season.
Meanwhile, American managers of the company state that electricity
supply during the winter season will be guaranteed for only solvent
consumers.
5. MADNEULI RECEIVES GEORGIA’S FIRST GOLD
Source: Messenger, September 13, 2004
The Georgian company Madneuli is the first in the history of Georgia to,
in laboratory conditions, pour out an 80gram gold ingot from
gold-containing allow produced by the Georgian-Australian joint venture
Quartzite (kvartsit), Madneuli’s General Director Vasily Tsotadze told
the press.
Alloy produced by Quartzite as a semi-finished has until now been
processed in Britain, Tsotadze said.
In order for Madneuli to begin producing pure gold without the help of
foreign partners, “the enterprise requires re-equipping and
modernization, which specialists say will cost $12 millions,” he said.
“If the government is ‘kind’ in this and an investor is found. The
Madneuli workforce will undertake to produce Georgian gold,” Tsotadze
told.
Economic Development Minister Kakha Bendukidze said in later comments
with the press on Tsotadze’s own statements that state-owned Madneuli
“should be sold and as quickly as possible,” adding “any state-run
enterprise is a wellspring of corruption”.
Madneuli was founded in December of 1994 at the Madneuli mining and
beneficiation combine. The government currently owns 97.3% of the
company’s stock.
6. VITOL WINS SOCAR URALS TENDER
Source: CBN, September 14, 2004
Azeri State Oil Firm SOCAR has awarded a tender for one million barrels
of Russian sour Urals crude for October 18-19 loading from Novorossiysk
to Swiss-based trading house Vitol, a SOCAR official said on September
10, 2004. The official said SOCAR would also tender a second
million-barrel Novorossiysk cargo next week to be loaded during the last
days of October. The previous SOCAR tender, for a million-barrel
end-September Urals cargo, was won last month by trading house Taurus.
SOCAR exports its crude from two Black Sea ports, Novorossiysk in Russia
and Supsa in Georgia. In Russia, SOCAR’s crude is mixed with Russia’s
main crude export blend Urals. From Supsa, SOCAR exports sweet Azeri
light grade as part of the Azeri state’s production sharing deal in a
BP-led Caspian offshore project.
7. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT — ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
For the purposes of BP operations and under the BP management
supervision, IRA Ltd is seeking to recruit a suitable qualified
individual for the posotion of Administrative Assistant.
Administrative assistant will be a third-party contractor for BP WREP
Operations working under BP management supervision.
Job
The Administrative Assistant will be responsible for:
Provision of administrative and secretarial assistance to the Pipeline
Superintendent and to the Operations Department
Undertaking and coordination of all activities associated with the
provision of translation/interpretation services
Roles&Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
o Scheduling, arranging and coordination of meeting, other appointments
and activities for the Pipeline Superintendent and for the Operations
Department
o Interpreting for Pipeline Superintendent and for Operations department
and other visiting executives at meetings with Georgian Ministeries or
other Government Agencies, GIOC, etc.
o Translating all departmental level correspondence, and any BP
sensitive or confidential documents.
o Development and maintenance of an operations personnel tracking system
for day to day location and vacationn scheduling
o Provision of administrative support to the pipeline Superintendent and
operations
o Department, ensuring that all office activities including telephone
screening, preperation of correspondence and documentation, maintenance
of filing systems, etc. are efficiently handeled.
o Maintenance of data bases and tracking systems related to HSE
records,Process Upsets, Safety Inputs including preparing and issuing
associated weekly and monthly reports
Experience&Education:
o The incumbent will have:
o University degree in languages with advance studies in English,
Georgian and Russian
ž Flient English and russian skills
ž 5 years of experience at least in administration and
translation/interpretation at all levels of business and government
ž PC proficiency (Microsoft Word) essential
ž Exposure to government & Public activities is desirable
ž Knowledge of technical terminology used in the oil industry would be
preferable
ž Georgian citizenship is required.
How to Apply / Additional Information:
If you feel you have the required skills and experience to fulfill this
role please submit a copy of your CV and fill in the relevant
application form available at the adress below.
The closing date for receipt of application is Thursday, September 23,
2004
All applications received will be acknowledged but this is no way
implies that candidates will be interviewed and/or offered employment.
HR Department
BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Ltd. Georgia
123A Agmashenebeli Avenue, Tbilisi Georgia

California Courier Online, September 16, 2004
1 – Commentary
Jewish Writers Blast Israel, US
And Turkey for Denying Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Cookbook Review
Simply Armenian: Naturally Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy
3 – Ceremony for Donation of Karabian Papers
Held Sept. 18 at CSUF’s Madden Library
4 – Bal Family Sets Up $100,000 Ph.D
Scholarship Fund at Zoryan Institute
5 – L.A. County
Honors Terzian
6 – Armen Will Exhibit Photos
At Oakland Church Bazaar
7 – Armenian Court Awards $460.
To Owner of Electrocuted Pig
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Jewish Writers Blast Israel, US
And Turkey for Denying Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The Turkish government spends millions of dollars to deny the Armenian
Genocide. Yet, despite such intense Turkish efforts, and sometimes because
of them, the Genocide is becoming more widely known to the world. Scores of
countries and international organizations have officially acknowledged it
in recent years. The international media frequently refers to the Armenian
Genocide.
Despite the Israeli government’s shameful support for Turkish revisionism,
Jewish scholars and commentators have played a major role in reaffirming
the facts of the Armenian Genocide. In recent weeks, two more Jewish
writers have published very important articles on this issue.
Hillel Halkin, an Israel-based author, in an article published in the
August 17 issue of The New York Sun, castigated the “Republican
congressional leadership and the Department of State” for opposing
congressional resolutions “that do nothing more than express official
American acknowledgment of the pre-meditated murder, mostly in 1915, of an
estimated 1 to 1.5 million Armenians by the armies of the Ottoman Empire.”
He asserts: “this murder is a well-documented episode that only the rare
pro-Turkish historian bothers to challenge these days.”
Halkin points out that the Turkish government “for decades has conducted a
concerted campaign to deny that the Armenian Genocide took place. To this
day, what happened to the Armenians in World War I is a banned subject in
Turkey.” The writer describes as “utterly absurd” Turkey’s systematic
efforts “to censor its own history as if it were an article in a Stalinist
encyclopedia.” He suggests that “far from bringing shame on them, a frank
admission of what their armies did to a helpless population nearly a
century ago would only rebound to the Turks’ credit. Just think of the
esteem that the German Federal Republic, in the years after World War II,
earned in the world by its honest confronting of the Holocaust.”
The Turks, Halkin writes, have threatened other countries “with dire
consequences should they acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Although some
governments stood up to such intimidation (most notably France which
officially recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001), others have caved
into it. One of the saddest cases in this respect, apart from America, has
been that of Israel, where programs on what happened to the Armenians have
even been barred from state television.”
Halkin describes as “pathetic” those countries that have “yielded to
Turkish pressure on this issue.” He wonders: “What exactly is the Bush
administration afraid of?” He correctly points out that should the US
Congress adopt a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the Turks
would just “splutter and get over it, which is exactly what they did three
years ago vis-à-vis France.”
Halkin blasts the Israeli foreign ministry for being “chock-full of fearful
bureaucrats needlessly anxious about jeopardizing their country’s good ties
with Turkey.” He accuses both the Israeli government and “some Jewish
lobbies in America,” for having “collaborated shamefully with the Turks on
the Armenian issue.”
Halkin concludes his powerful article by pointing out that since the
“Jewish State does not recognize” the Armenian Genocide “for reasons of
realpolitik,” the Jews should then stop blaming other countries that for
their own reasons of realpolitik did not lift a finger while the Nazis were
slaughtering the Jews!
A second important article, written by Israeli attorney Nir Eisikovits,
appeared in the September 1, 2004 issue of “In the National Interest,” an
online weekly published jointly by The National Interest magazine and The
Nixon Center.
The writer points out that Israel’s denial of the Armenian Genocide is
based on two considerations: the belief in the “uniqueness” of the
Holocaust, and Israel’s self-perceived strategic interests or
“realpolitik.”
Eisikovits considers the first argument “both morally warped and
empirically unfounded.” By asserting that “Jews do not have a monopoly on
pain,” he emphatically states: “Jews cannot, simultaneously, attack those
who deny the Holocaust and assist others who deny the Armenian Genocide.”
The writer also points out that the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides have
not in any way diminished the Nazi atrocities.
As for the considerations of “realpolitik,” Eisikovits sadly concludes that
Israel’s appeasement of Turkey “does not seem to be working.”
Recalling that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently accused Israel
of “state terrorism,” he concludes that Israel has apparently sold its
“moral integrity in vain.” He also argues: “Realism in international
affairs, with all its merits, must be subordinate to a nation’s most basic
principles rather than dictate them.” By refusing to recognize other cases
of genocide, “Israel would have undermined the main reason for its own
existence,” Halkin states.
The courageous positions taken by these righteous Jewish writers, combined
with all other efforts by Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide would
eventually force the governments of the United States and Israel to stop
parroting the lies and start telling the truth on the Armenian Genocide.
**************************************************************************
2 – Cookbook Review
Simply Armenian: Naturally Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy
By Barbara Ghazarian, $17.95 Softcover, 296-page, illustrations ISBN:
1-931834-06-7 o Pub Date: August 2004
MONTEREY, CA -Armenian cooking is one of the world’s great culinary melting
pots. Veteran author, Barbara Ghazarian has created a masterful blend of
food and culture. Simply Armenian contains over 150 exiting and inspired
classic dishes (including favorites from family and friends) adapted for
North American home cooking. You will be delighted and amazed at the
authentic flavor of these easy-to-prepare recipes.
The context for Armenian cuisine in the United States is woven throughout
this collection with a light, almost invisible thread of historical,
geographic, cultural, linguistic, and religious elements. Her personal
reminiscences and anecdotes make it easy for the reader to join her on this
exceptional journey into this ancient yet ultra contemporary cuisine.
With justifiable ease, Ghazarian pairs foreign flavors like Syrian
“Mortadella” and Izmir Kufteh with Rice Pilaf made with College Inn chicken
broth and Uncle Ben’s rice. Remaining true to her own Armenian immigrant
family roots, which date back to the turn of the last century, Ghazarian
recommends lamb over beef and has included a generous and exotic array of
quince-based recipes (preserves, jelly, paste, stuffed with walnuts, and
cooked with lamb) because her aunt had three fruit-bearing trees in her
yard in Massachusetts and Armenians are frugal, thrift-driven cooks willing
to incorporate any accessible bounty.
Also in keeping with traditional Armenian cooking, there are a significant
number of vegetarian dishes-over 50, meeting Orthodox fasting requirements
(vegan), are clearly marked. Ghazarian promises that you will learn the
magic of creating a feast out of a basket of vegetables and a handful of
cracked wheat bulgur.
Admitting to wanting to please her 100%-Armenian, Syrian-born husband-who
like most husbands no matter what their nationality, prefers the tastes and
combination of foods traditional to his mother’s kitchen-she has included
“starter spreads” like Hummus and Baba Ghanoush that are not traditional to
the Armenian table but, rather, are additions assimilated from Arab
neighbors and brought to the United States by recent Armenian immigrants
from the Middle East.
What further sets this book apart from others is the generous sprinkling of
intriguing line drawings reprinted from Armenian manuscripts dating back to
antiquity. Living up to the promise of simplicity, Ghazarian has included a
good-sized glossary and gives mail-order sources for readers living outside
greater metropolitan areas who can’t find some of the more foreign
ingredients that are hard to substitute. Her well-written, readable text
gives detailed, step-by-step instructions ending with dish combination
suggestions for those new to the cuisine.
Ghazarian admits this collection is a labor of love, taking years to “get
it right,” and her effort shows on every page. No one has made the Armenian
table as accessible and user-friendly to home cooks as she has. This
cookbook ensures success for beginners while also making the cuisine
appealing to experienced home cooks.
About the Author
Barbara Ghazarian is an experienced cook and a natural teacher with a gift
for storytelling. This is her second cookbook (The Kindred Kitchen, 1996).
Barbara lectures from coast-to-coast on Armenian-related topics to both
Armenian and American audiences. She authored a long-running weekly
culinary column for a Los Angeles newspaper and has years of experience
teaching culinary writing to adults in greater Boston.
Simply Armenian, published by Mayreni Publishing (), can be
purchased from leading online bookstores or by sending $17.95 plus $4.00
shipping to P.O. Box 5881, Monterey, CA 93944-5881.
**************************************************************************
3 – Ceremony for Donation of Karabian Papers
Held Sept. 18 at CSUF’s Madden Library
FRESNO – A ceremony for the donation of former California Assemblyman
Walter Karabian’s papers to the Central Valley Political Archive of the
Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno was held Sept.
18, at Fresno State.
Karabian, who was born and raised in Fresno, donated papers from his
1966-74 state Legislative service.
In addition, panel discussions were held focusing on Karabian’s career with
an emphasis on his opening the doors of politics to young Latinos, his
commitment to his Armenian heritage and his various legislative
contributions such as the Species Preservation Act, the ratification of the
Equal Rights Amendment and the California Invasion of Privacy Act.
Art Torres, Democratic Party chairman, as well as other former staff
members to Karabian participated in the panel discussions.
The Karabian papers received at the CVPA measure approximately 30 linear
feet and include correspondence, press files, photographs, campaign
material, articles, speeches, memorabilia and other records documenting
Karabian’s legislative and civic activities.
After leaving the Legislature, Karabian has practiced law and is a partner
in the Los Angeles law firm Karns & Karabian.
**************************************************************************
4 – Bal Family Sets Up $100,000 Ph.D
Scholarship Fund at Zoryan Institute
TORONTO, CANADA – A new scholarship fund has been established at the Zoryan
Institute by the Bal family for PhD students preparing their thesis on the
Armenian Genocide or comparative genocide with a focus on the Armenian
Genocide.
The creation of this fund was the initiative of Dikran and Sonia Bal of
Montreal, who made it possible by their generous donation of $100,000 as a
seeding fund for this purpose.
The Bals have been regular supporters of the Zoryan Institute. In just the
last two years, in addition to this new scholarship fund, they have
contributed $200,000 for scholarly research and publication in general, and
the Genocide and Human Rights University Program in particular.
The scholarships will be awarded to a total of four candidates each year,
and are renewable, pending an annual review. Applicants must have completed
an MA in one of the social sciences, such as history, international law,
political science, psychology, or sociology and be enrolled full-time in an
accredited PhD program. Knowledge of the Armenian and Ottoman Turkish
languages will be considered an asset for applicants. The amount awarded
will vary according to the individual needs of each research project.
In explaining why they chose to create such a fund, Dikran Bal commented,
“It is important for people like us, who are not specialists but care about
this field of study, to support those who can make a scholarly
contribution. The fruits of their research go directly towards helping us
understand the Genocide and its impact on our history, the formation of
modern Armenian society, and on our identity.”
Sonia Bal stated: “I hope that this scholarship fund will be a catalyst for
drawing young scholars to pursue their academic dreams in this field. I
feel that the Zoryan Institute is the right organization to administer such
a fund, as it has a proven record of over twenty years of original
scholarship and a reputation for academic integrity, directed by board
members who are world-renowned scholars, such as Prof. Vahakn Dadrian, Dr.
Roger Smith, and Dr. Yair Auron, to name only a few.”
Professor Dadrian, Director of Genocide Research at the Zoryan Institute,
explained, “It is exciting to see people like the Bals get involved
actively and personally in the support of genocide studies. The
establishment of such a fund will definitely facilitate the recruitment of
interested and qualified candidates.”
For more information about the scholarship, contact the Zoryan Institute,
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310, Toronto, Canada M3B 3H9, E-mail
[email protected].
**************************************************************************
5- L.A. County
Honors Terzian
LOS ANGELES – Carl R. Terzian and his associates have been honored by the
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on the occasion of the public
relations firm’s 35th anniversary for “dedicated service to the affairs of
the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous
contributions for the benefit of all the citizens of the county.”
The resolution was recently offered by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.
Following graduation magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and student body
president from USC in 1957, Terzian was a State Department Goodwill
Ambassador for President Eisenhower; public relations director for the
Lutheran Hospital Society of Southern California; dean and professor of
government at Woodbury University; and public affairs director for
architect Charles Luckman. In 1969 he started his own successful firm of
consultants in corporate, product, institutional, executive and crisis
marketing to more than 4,500 clients.
Terzian has been recognized for civic, philanthropic and professional
leadership by Congress, Her Majesty the Queen of England, California
Assembly and Senate, City and County of Los Angeles, USC, Boy Scouts,
California Junior Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Business Council,
Arthritis Foundation, Break the Cycle, Dubnoff Center, United Way,
California Lutheran University, Theta Chi Fraternity, The Jeffrey
Foundation, International Visitors Council, Woodbury University,
Exceptional Children’s Foundation, and the Freedoms Foundation at Valley
Forge.
**************************************************************************
6 – Armen Will Exhibit Photos
At Oakland Church Bazaar
OAKLAND, CA – Southern California photographer Karine Armen will exhibit
her photographs from Armenia during the St. Vartan Armenian Church’s
Armenian Bazaar, Oct. 1 and 2, at the church grounds, 650 Spruce Street,
Oakland.
Armen — always on the go, always in search of the new, and the different –
takes her camera around the world, from China to Spain, from North American
to the southern borders.
She earned a M.A. in Educational Administration and a B.A. with a double
major in Photography and Social Work. She has traveled extensively and has
had several photography exhibitions in the Los Angeles area. She
participated in photography treks in Portugal, and China. Her work has been
published in “Armenian International Magazine,” Ararat Quarterly, The
Glendale News Press, Nor Gyank, Marmara, and Eighties.
Karine’s first trip to Armenia was a mental health counselor. She worked
with the earthquake survivors of Gyumri in March of 1990. She was impressed
and touched by the people’s hope to continue their lives with dignity.
Karine Armen has been teaching at an elementary public school in Glendale
for the past 14 years. Prior to that she worked as an Information
Specialist for a hotline. She has also worked as manager of a homeless
shelter. Her diverse interests and multi-cultural approach is reflected in
her photographs.
Some of Karine’s photographs can be viewed at her web site photo27.com. For
more information, contact the artist at [email protected].
**************************************************************************
7 – Armenian Court Awards $460.
To Owner of Electrocuted Pig
ALAVERDI, Armenia – An Armenian court ordered a branch of the Armenian
Electricity Supply Network to pay about $460 to the owner of a pig which
was electrocuted while munching on an exposed underground electrical cable
earlier this year in the northern town of Alaverdi.
The pregnant sow was zapped after it had dug up a thin layer of dirt which
covered the electric cable in the backyard of a building.
The loss was especially heavy to the animal’s owner as the animal was
pregnant with 10 piglets and due in a week.
According to standards for power lines, underground cables must be laid at
a depth of at least 70 centimeters. A representative of the court who
visited the spot found out that the cable had been laid at a depth of 40
centimeters.
The court granted the owner partial damages, finding the plaintiff himself
at fault for having allowed his pig to wander into the yard of the
apartment building. Thus, the electric company was required to pay only 80
% of the damages – 240,000 drams (about $460).
The chief engineer of the Armenian Electricity Supply Network disagreed
with the ruling.
“The pig had no business in the yard; children would not have been able to
dig through that layer of soil,” said Misha Piruzyan. The company has taken
their case to the Court of Appeals, and hopes for a favorable ruling.
But, the animal’s owner, Samvel Tsatinyan, is determined to defend the
rights of his pig, her ten piglets, and the people who live in the
building, “even if I have to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.”
In the meantime, the electric company is working on its power lines.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Funeral or barbecue arrangements were not disclosed.
********************************************************
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The Messenger
Monday, September 13, 2004, #173 (0697)
Railway link connects Sokhumi-Moscow
In Abkhazia, tension high for pre-election campaign
By Warren Hedges and James Phillips
Tbilisi and Moscow are locking horns over Friday’s restoration of
Sokhumi’s rail link to Moscow while allegations that Tbilisi plans to
interfere in Abkhazia’s upcoming presidential elections have further
soured relations with the separatist region.
Friday afternoon, a four-car train departed Sokhumi for Russia marking
the first regular train route between Abkhazia and Russia in over
eleven years. According to the new schedule, two of the cars will
travel to the southern Russian city of Rostov on the Don, while the
other two will be reconnected to a Moscow bound train.
The restoration of rail service was foreseen by a March 2003 agreement
reached in Sochi between the Abkhazian prime minister, President Putin
and then-President Shevardnadze. But the same agreement included a
package of provisions like the return of Georgian IDPs to their homes,
a process that has seen little progress while the Russian government
and Abkhazia have eagerly pursued the rail link.
Georgia’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nick Tabatadze
told The Messenger on Sunday that the rail connection represents a
“grave violation of international agreements.”
“We are facing the violation of a number of international and
bi-lateral agreements,” he said, including the 1993 UN regulation
agreement, an agreement by the CIS heads of state and the Sochi
agreement.
“The Sochi agreement contemplates the railway construction in parallel
with the refugees return to the Gali region,” Tabatadze said, “They
should have started together – synchronized.”
Now the Tbilisi has sent a letter of protest to the Russian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. In addition the ministry has written to the UN
and the Friends of Georgia and awaits a response.
Georgia’s State Minister for Conflict Resolution Goga Khaindrava
called the move open support for separatism.
“Unfortunately, we cannot take tough steps to prevent these illegal
activities, but we will use every civilized technique in the framework
of international law to put an end to this outrage,” he said according
to Itar-Tass.
“Russia’s activities encourage and support separatism in Abkhazia,”
Khaindrava added.
In a statement released on Friday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said it wanted to “assess the situation in a correct manner.”
According to the ministry, the repair works began in July by the
Joint Stock Company Russian Railways. “There is nothing new in this:
it is necessary to maintain the state of the railway in a working
and secure manner.”
While stating “the main thing is that all this corresponds to the Sochi
agreement reached at the Russian-Georgian summit with the participation
of the Abkhaz side in March 2003,” the ministry said nothing about
the fate of the return of refugees that was also part of the agreement.
The ministry added that the restoration of the railway is in fact
in Georgia’s interests: “We would like to recall that the importance
of the Sochi agreement on bilateral movement of trains via Abkhazia
is in the fact that railway ties will be established between Georgia
and Russia. Thus, the countries of the given region including Georgia
and Armenia are interested in this issue.”
According to railway officials, travelers in Sokhumi will be able to
buy tickets to ‘anywhere in Russia.’
“In the future more cars may be added. It all depends on how many
tickets are sold,” a spokesperson for the Russian Railways told
Itar-Tass.
Rail service was first restored in December 2002 and immediately
raised a strong Georgian protest. Three months later in Sochi,
President Shevardnadze approved the rail link as long as Georgian
refugees were able to return. Meanwhile, On October 3, the voters in
Abkhazia are scheduled to elect a new president and ailing de facto
President Vladislav Ardzinba has already endorsed Prime Minister Raul
Khajimba. Late in August Khajimba had a short meeting and photo-op
with President Putin leaving many to believe that he is Moscow’s
favored candidate.
The election season has put an effective halt on Georgian-Abkhazian
negotiations. After Georgian Coast Guard vessels fired on a ship
illegally docking in Sokhumi on July 30, the Abkhaz representatives
have refused to participate in the weekly quadripartite meetings on
maintaining peace in the region. It is expected that the Abkhaz side
will not return to the negotiation table until after the elections.
Now Abkhaz security officials accuse Georgia of plotting to create
diversions in the weeks leading up to the elections.
“Georgian sabotage groups, who entered Abkhazia from Georgia, were
spotted [in Abkhaz villages]. According to our information, the
objective of these sabotage groups is to destabilize the situation
in Abkhazia in the run-up to the republic’s presidential elections,”
said Mikhail Tarba, chair of the de facto republic’s security services.
Speaking with Interfax, he added that special units from the security
service have begun a search for the alleged saboteurs. “Steps are
being taken to increase the security of candidates for president of
the republic,” he said adding that these people are in danger.
In response, Georgia’s Khaindrava called the statements “absurd”.
“If Georgia wanted to disrupt elections in Abkhazia, it would do this
without acts of sabotage,” Khaindrava told journalists on Friday.
“Despite the illegitimacy of the elections in Abkhazia, the Georgian
authorities understand that they would have to maintain relations
with the candidate who wins for several years,” he said as quoted
by Interfax.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Network of America, Washington Region
P. O. Box 10423
Arlington, VA 22210-9998
Email: [email protected]
Washington, DC. – The Armenian Network invites you to a presentation
on US support to science and technology development in Armenia hosted
by the US Civilian Research Development Foundation (CRDF).
This event is jointly sponsored with the Washington Section of the
Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (GMWAS/AESA, contact
Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian, [email protected]). It features CRDF
speakers John Modzelewski, Director of Centers and Institution Building
Programs, and Ms. Siri B. Oswald, Senior Manager for Institution
Building Programs. They will introduce and update participants to
the many programs and research and development activities sponsored
by the US CRDF and other organizations which directly benefit the
scientists and engineers in Armenia.
Network seminars provide great opportunities for professional
networking. In particular, this seminar should appeal to all those
interested in (1) supporting research projects that offer scientists
and engineers alternatives to emigration and strengthen the scientific
and technological infrastructure of Armenia; (2) funding collaborative
research and development projects; (3) helping move applied research
to the marketplace; (4) strengthening research and education in
Armenian universities. On the eve of its independence anniversary,
let’s celebrate Armenia’s past scientific achievements and explore
ways of sustaining its future development.
The presentation is scheduled for 6:30pm, Tuesday, September 21,
2004, at 1530 Wilson Boulevard, 3rd Floor CRDF conference room,
Arlington, Virginia 22209. CRDF headquarters are located two
blocks from the Roslyn metro stop. For driving directions check
Advance registration is required for security purposes. Please RSVP
by noon Sept. 20th to [email protected]. Refreshments will be
served. Event is free and open to the public.
The Armenian Network of America, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
membership based organization dedicated to the advancement of the
Armenian American community.

Armenian police, Ukrainian Interior Ministry sign cooperation accord
Noyan Tapan news agency
13 Sep 04
Yerevan, 13 September: The chief of the Armenian Police, Ayk
Arutyunyan, and Ukrainian Interior Minister Mykola Bilokon signed a
protocol “On cooperation between the Armenian Police and the Ukrainian
Interior Ministry in 2005” on 13 September, the press service of the
Armenian Police has reported.
The document was signed on results of a working visit by the Ukrainian
interior minister to Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Speaker says refusal to allow Armenian servicemen entry to Baku “unacceptable”
Mediamax news agency
13 Sep 04
Yerevan, 13 September: The speaker of the Armenian parliament, Artur
Bagdasaryan, today described Azerbaijan’s policy of avoiding any
contacts with the Armenian side both on the bilateral and regional
levels as “unacceptable”.
The head of the Armenian parliament said this in Yerevan today,
commenting on the Azerbaijani authorities’ refusal to grant entry
visas to five Armenian officers to attend the Cooperative Best Effort
– 2004 exercises within the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace
programme that were to start in Baku today.
“Nevertheless, Armenia will continue active and constructive regional
cooperation within the framework of NATO and other international
organizations,” Artur Bagdasaryan said.