PRESS RELEASE
The Armenian Center at Columbia University
P.O.Box 4042,
Grand Central Station,
New York, NY 10163-4042
Contact: Anny Bakalian, conference organizer
Tel: (212) 817-7570
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: web.gc.cuny.edu/memeac
September 7, 2004
______________________________________________________________________________
A Century of Armenians in America Conference
Features Seven New Scholars and Seven Pioneers
The one-day conference, “A Century of Armenians in America: Voices
from New Scholarship,” is a unique gathering of scholars who have
contributed to the birth and development of Armenian American
Studies. A major objective of this conference is to introduce
to the general public seven new scholars who wrote their doctoral
dissertations on Armenian Americans in the last decade. Seven pioneers
in the field will share the platform with them. This conference is
presented by the Armenian Center at Columbia University and hosted
by the Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center (MEMEAC),
in the Baisley Powell Elebash Recital Hall at the Graduate Center,
CUNY, on Saturday October 9, 2004, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Conference participants hail from Yerevan, London, California, Ohio,
New England, and New York City. Historian Robert Mirak, whose book
Torn Between Two Lands: Armenians in America 1890-World War I (Harvard
University Press, 1983) forged Armenian American studies, and Arpena
Mesrobian, Director Emerita at Syracuse University Press and author
of “Like One Family” – The Armenians of Syracuse, (Gomidas Institute,
2000), will be the honorary chairpersons of the day. The conference is
organized by sociologist Anny Bakalian, author of Armenian Americans:
>>From Being to Feeling Armenian (Transaction Publishers, 1993).
Bakalian is Associate Director of MEMEAC and serves on the Advisory
Board of the Armenian Center of her alma mater Columbia University.
The morning panel is devoted to historians. The first speaker,
Knarik Avakian, is Staff Researcher at the Institute of History,
National Academy of Sciences in Yerevan and Editor at the Armenian
Encyclopaedia. She received her doctorate in 1995 specializing in
Armenian American history. Avakian is the author of The History of
the Armenian Community of the United States of America – From the
Beginning to 1924 (published in Armenian in 2000) and over 50 articles
and book chapters.
The next presenter will be George Byron Kooshian, Jr., a native of
Pasadena, CA. His doctoral dissertation (UCLA 2002) examines the
struggles of the earliest Armenian settlers and their children’s
generation in Fresno. Since 1975, Kooshian has been a teacher in the
Los Angeles Unified School District. He is married with three children
and lives in Altadena, California.
The third historian on the morning panel will be Ben Alexander, who
is currently completing his Ph.D. at the Graduate Center, CUNY. His
dissertation focuses on the changing face of Armenian ethnic identity
in the United States from 1915 to 1955. Ben teaches U.S. history as an
adjunct at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. He is also a playwright,
whose work has been produced at Off-Off-Broadway venues.
Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill, Professor of Modern Armenian and
Immigration History at California State University, Fresno, will
critique the morning papers. She has written extensively on Armenian
immigrants in Canada and the U.S.A. Her most recent book, Like
Our Mountains: A History of Armenians in Canada, by McGill-Queen’s
University Press, will be released soon.
The afternoon session features clinical psychologist Diana Vartan
and family specialist Margaret Manoogian. Vartan emigrated from Iran
as a teenager. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern
California in 1996. She has worked in a number of community mental
health settings as a clinician and training supervisor, and has
taught graduate and undergraduate psychology. Her psychodynamic,
family systems, and multiethnic focus has helped her address the needs
of many Armenian families, couples, teenagers, and children. Diana
Vartan has relocated to New York City in the last year.
Manoogian is Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies at
Ohio University in Athens. She obtained her Ph.D. from Oregon State
University specializing in family gerontology. Her current research
explores family well -being after the 1996 federal welfare reform
act. Margaret’s father encouraged a strong interest and pride in
Armenian culture, a legacy she is currently sharing with her two
children.
The discussant for the psychological panel will be Aghop Der
Karabetian, Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University
of LaVerne and Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and Outcomes
Assessment. He is the author of numerous articles on Armenian
identity and creator of the much-used Armenian Ethnic Orientation
Questionnaire. Recently, he translated into English and published his
and his wife’s grandfathers’ genocide survival memoirs, “Jail to Jail,”
and “Vahan’s Triumph,” respectively.
In the last panel of the conference, two sociologists, Claudia Der
Martirosian and Matthew Jendian, will examine generational changes.
Der Martirosian escaped the Iranian Revolution with her parents at a
young age. She studied at UCLA, earning a B.A. in Applied Mathematics
and a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1996. She has co-authored chapters
discussing the Iranian and Armenian experiences in Irangeles and
Ethnic Los Angeles. She currently works as a Statistical Consultant
with UCLA Public Health Dentistry and Southern California University
of Health Sciences (SCUHS).
Matthew Ari Jendian is Assistant Professor of Sociology and Director
of the American Humanics Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management
and Leadership at California State University, Fresno. He received his
Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Matthew is
an active member of the Armenian Church and an ordained deacon. He
is the proud father of Joshua and Nicholas, two of Fresno’s native
fourth-generation Armenian Americans.
The discussant of the last panel will be Susan Pattie who will
compare and contrast the Armenian experience in the U.S. with the
diaspora. Pattie is the author of Faith in History – Armenians
Rebuilding Community (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997). She is
a Senior Research Fellow at University College London. Recently,
she was instrumental in the founding of the Armenian Institute in
London, which is dedicated to making Armenian culture and history a
living experience.
Concluding remarks will be offered by Khachig Tölölyan, Chair of the
English Department at Wesleyan University. Tölölyan is the founder
and editor of Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies. This
award-winning publication is in its 12th year of continuous publication
by the Zoryan Institute and Toronto University Press.
Thanks to the generosity of the benefactors who established the
outreach efforts of the Armenian Center at Columbia, this conference
aims to jumpstart new research projects on Armenian immigrants and
their descendants in the United States not only by energizing the
scholars who are presenting papers on October 9, 2004, but also
inspiring graduate students to pursue studies in this area. Most
of the new scholars had to read Mirak’s or Pattie’s books for their
dissertations, some borrowed Der Karabetian’s Armenian identity scale
for their research, and probably they all aspired to emulate Tölölyan’s
academic achievements. However, few have had the opportunity to meet
the pioneers in person. It is hoped that mentoring partnerships,
scholarly networks and even friendships will result from this historic
gathering, eventually yielding a burst of new research and publications
on Armenian immigrant and their descendants in America. The day will
be structured in a way that will give the audience an opportunity to
engage conference participants on topics of their own interest.
Do not miss this unique opportunity to learn about Armenian
American history and the issues affecting this community today. The
Graduate Center, CUNY is located at 365 Fifth Avenue, between
34th and 35th Streets. For more information contact Anny Bakalian,
[email protected] or 212-817-7570. The conference program and
other information can be found on
or web.gc.cuny.edu/memeac.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 7 2004
ADDRESS OF MINISTRY OF CULTURE TO HEADS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND
STRUCTURES, JURIDICAL AND PHYSICAL PERSONS ENGAGED IN ARRANGING
CONCERTS IN AZERBAIJAN
[September 07, 2004, 17:55:49]
Renowned artists from the Russian Federation and a number of
other countries have given concerts in Nagorno-Karabakh province of
Azerbaijan. The other day, singers Nadezhda Babkina, Soso Pavliashvili,
Valentina Legkostupova, Aleksandr Peskov, Irina Otiyeva and rock group
“Chay Vdvoyom” have performed for the “long-suffering Armenians” in
Khankendi, an integral part of the Azerbaijan Republic. Arriving in
Khankendi illegally through the territory of Armenia without reaching
any agreement on the concert with relevant state, public of private
structures of Azerbaijan Republic, the Russian entertainers thus have
frankly shown disrespect for the people and workers of culture of
Azerbaijan. The most distressing is that many of the above-mentioned
artists had had concert tours of and participated in various cultural
events in Azerbaijan more than once. Every time and everywhere they
had been shown respect and hospitality of our people, and many had
been paid non-adequately high fees.
In this connection, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic has
sent a letter of protest to Minister of Culture and Mass Communications
of the Russian Federation A. Sokolov.
Regarding this action by the Russian Artists as a fact negatively
effecting the steadily developing Azerbaijan-Russia cultural ties,
the Ministry of Culture of the Azerbaijan Republic hereby expresses
its resolute stance: these artists will no longer be invited to
Azerbaijan Republic.
Addressing the heads of organizations and structures, as well as
juridical and physical persons engaged in arranging concert in
Azerbaijan, we call on them to hold a civil position, and back the
address of the Ministry of Culture by suppressing such actions in
the future.
Until the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not settles,
territorial integrity of our state is not restored, artists performing
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, irrespective of their
ethnic belonging, are not worthy of being invited to participate in
our mass cultural events.
We express hope that all the organizations, juridical and physical
persons engaged in concert activity will take up our call.
Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic.

100 years and counting her accomplishments
By Monica Deady / CNC Staff Writer
Daily News Tribune, MA
Sept 7 2004
WATERTOWN — After just celebrating her 100th birthday, Norma Karaian
doesn’t talk much anymore. But she doesn’t have to. All that she has
accomplished since she was born on Sept. 6, 1904, stands for itself.
Dressed in a yellow jacket and skirt, sitting regally in a living room
chair, Karaian adds a few thoughts to the story of her life that her
daughter, Marilyn Hollisian, tells.
“I am very happy,” Karaian said, repeatedly kissing Hollisian on the
cheek as she spoke.
Hollisian told the story of a woman who was born in Providence,
R.I., the youngest of five children, who was going to be a teacher,
but instead decided to become a lawyer, the first female Armenian
lawyer in Massachusetts.
“She knew right from the beginning that that’s what she wanted to do,”
said Hollisian, acting principal of the Lowell School.
In 1925, Karaian graduated from Boston University Law School at age
20, as one of 12 women and 200 men. She waited until she was 21 to
take the bar exam, Hollisian said.
By 1927, she had secured a job as a real estate attorney and often
did freelance legal work or pro bono work for friends.
Karaian was a mother to three children, and was widowed when her
husband, Leo, died in 1947, 10 years after they were married, but
Hollisian said her mother was always on top of things, never allowing
them to watch television, making sure they did their homework and
taking them on vacations in the summer in a 1951 Chevrolet stick shift.
She remembers her mother taking public transportation to work in
downtown Boston every day, saying it makes her think her mother is
“physically strong.” Hollisian said her mom attributes her long
life to what she calls “good family stock” and eating healthy food,
as well as a flexible and adaptable attitude.
“She just doesn’t let things bother her,” Hollisian said.
Karaian worked as the head of real estate, her specialty, at the
Boston firm Gaston Snow, where she worked until they went bankrupt.
She was 88, Hollisian said, when she stopped working.
George Dallas, who worked with Karaian at the firm, said he remembers
her telling stories about how her mother and brother escaped from
Armenia during the genocide, and how she always took an interest in
teaching the young lawyers who cycled through the office.
“I think the wealth of her life experience and her gumption are just
wonderful examples, because I’m sure when she started out practices and
the discrimination against women lawyers and women in the workplace was
formidable and she rose about all that, found her niche and practiced
law,” Dallas said.
As Hollisian shows all of her mother’s awards, Karaian reads from
a small book from the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers,
of which she was president from 1954 to 1955.
“She reads without glasses,” Hollisian whispered, shaking her head
in marvel.
Karaian has won several awards and honors in her lifetime, including
an honor from the Armenian Law Society, recognition from the Boston Bar
Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association and a 1993-94 Leading
Women’s Award from the Patriots Trails Council of the Girls Scouts.
In addition, the Watertown Book Award is given annually by Jelalian
family in Karaian’s name to a graduating Watertown high school Armenian
student who is interested in law.
Hollisian said she still takes her mother to have her nails and
hair done.
“She was always impeccably dressed and impeccable about herself,”
Hollisian said. “She was a real pioneer. Before her time. A role
model for so many different women.”
Monica Deady can be reached at [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Khatami leaves for CIS countries tomorrow
IRNA, Iran
Sept 7 2004
Tehran, Sept 7, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami is scheduled to
visit the Republics of Armenia, Belarus and Tajikistan from September
8-14, the Presidential Office announced on Tuesday.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Khatami will visit the countries
at the official invitation of his counterparts Robert Kocharian,
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Emamali Rahmonov of Armenia, Belarus and
Tajikistan respectively.
During his visit to Armenia, Khatami and senior Armenian officials
will discuss bilateral relations, regional issues, promoting mutual
cooperation in all areas, energy and transportation in particular.
Implementing Tehran-Minsk bilateral agreements, regional and
international issues will top the agenda of Khatami`s talks in Belarus.
A number of new agreements in the fields of customs, economy and
agriculture will be signed between Iran and Belarus. Khatami will
deliver a speech at the Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
On his second visit to Tajikistan, Khatami and Tajik officials will
discuss ways of consolidating trade, economic and cultural relations
between the two countries.
On last day of his visit, Khatami will take part in the summit of the
member states of the Economic cooperation Organization (ECO). Khatami,
on his visits, will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi,
Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Minister of Economic Affairs and
Finance Safdar Hosseini and Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPORT IS NOT POLITICS
A1 Plus | 16:07:31 | 07-09-2004 | Sports |
“There is no need to politicize our failure in the Olympic Games. Sport
is out of politics”, Ishkhan Zaqaryan, Chairman of Armenia’s Sport
Committee and Olympic Committee, announced at today’s conference. He
was obviously aggravated with the criticism voiced by political
figures.
Ishkhan Zaqaryan tried to stay away from those standpoints but he
forgot how he together with some colleagues and sportsmen had partaken
in the pre-election campaign for Robert Kocharyan. Zaqaryan thinks the
specialists having concern with the games are to analyse the failures.
Zaqaryan referred to the negative responses by journalists skin-deep
as he knows well that the arguments journalists present in our state
are always neglected and his fate depends on the high rankers.

Next OSCE Monitoring Is To Run on September 7
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2004
Next OSCE monitoring at Armenian-Azerbaijan front line is scheduled
to run on September 7, Turan reported.
The monitoring is to run on the territory of the village Ashagy
Veysally, Hojavend region.
Running of the monitoring by both parties will be accomplished by
field assistants of personal representative of OSCE Acting chairman,
press service of the Ministry of defense of Azerbaijan reported to
TURAN news agency.

Khatami meets with Supreme Leader before launching 3-nation tour
IRNA, Iran
Sept 7 2004
Tehran, Sept 7, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami conferred here
on Tuesday with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei prior to his three-nation tour of Armenia, Belarus
and Tajikistan.
At the meeting, Khatami briefed the Supreme Leader on his programs
during his trips and the Leader wished him success. 1430/1412

Ridgway rallies around Armenians
By Nancy Lofholm, Denver Post Staff Writer ([email protected])
The Denver Post
Friday, August 20, 2004
In the bureaucratic view of the Department of Homeland Security, the
six despondent Armenians crowded together on a rose-colored couch in
this small Western Slope town have no right to be here.
They have no passports, no green cards and no valid visas. And they
have no right to stay in the United States.
But in the eyes of residents of this one-stoplight town now working
to protect the Sargsyans from deportation, they are hardworking,
principled, good-hearted assets to the community and to America.
“To me, they are better citizens than most of us citizens,” said Rob
Hunter, minister at Ridgway Community Church.
By the end of September, two members of the family – patriarch Ruben
and youngest daughter Meri – are due to be deported to Armenia,
where they say they face persecution and possibly death at the hands
of the Russian mafia. They are blamed in Armenia for a scam they say
was carried out by a former family friend.
The remaining family members may face the same fate, but they have
more time to appeal. Even if they win, however, a family bound tightly
by tragedy over the past decade will be split apart.
“It’s like life stopped,” said son Gevorg, a 20-year-old student at
the University of Colorado.
The saga that landed the Sargsyans in western Colorado and in
immigration limbo began in 1994 when Nvart Sargsyan met an American in
the Armenian capital of Yerevan. She was 19 and, by her own admission,
naive.
From there, the details of the Sargsyan’s story are impossible to
verify, but they and others have sworn to them in immigration
proceedings as they battled U.S. efforts to deport them:
Vaughn Huckfeldt, 53, was a professor at the American University of
Armenia who also claimed to be a well-to-do minister with a nice home
in Colorado. He wore a clerical collar and a large cross. He asked
Nvart to marry him on their third date.
Huckfeldt began telling other Armenians that he could obtain visas
for them to go to the United States, the Sargsyans said. He collected
more than $1,000 each from 10 to 15 families, they said, then left
the country, taking along an 8- months-pregnant Nvart.
Back in Armenia, people who had given Huckfeldt money were hounding
Nvart’s family, accusing them of being part of a scam and demanding
they pay the money back. Eventually, some of them hired Russian
mobsters to threaten the Sargsyans, who sold nearly everything they
had to try and repay the money they say Huckfeldt took from their
neighbors.
Finally, the Sargsyans said, Huckfeldt provided them with visas to
join Nvart in the U.S. They were student visas, but the family members
were unaware that they were required to attend school here – not work.
With the support of her family, Nvart filed for divorce, claiming that
Huckfeldt had abused her throughout the marriage. Several people in
town supported her claim, but Huckfeldt was never convicted of a crime.
Huckfeldt responded by writing to immigration authorities, claiming
the family was in the country fraudulently on student visas.
Attempts to locate Huckfeldt through relatives, ex- wives and former
associates were unsuccessful. An ex- wife said he is living in Latvia.
Former Ridgway Marshal Sherm Williams said he had fielded several
complaints over the years about Huckfeldt, ranging from unpaid
loans to bad-check allegations. But while Huckfeldt lost an array of
small-claims suits over the years, the former professor has not been
convicted of a crime in town.
Meanwhile, the Sargsyans have spent thousands on lawyers and court
fees – money the whole family earned doing jobs few others wanted or
could handle.
“They are some of the hardest working, finest people I have ever
known,” said Deadra Paxton, a waitress who has been acquainted with
the family since they came to Ridgway.
Friends in Ouray County didn’t know how dire the Sargsyans’ situation
was until family matriarch Susan recently broke down as she informed
Ridgway businessman Pete Whiskeman she wouldn’t be able to clean for
him anymore.
Whiskeman and friend Kelvin Kent jumped into action, and a town
joined them. In just one day, townspeople donated $1,500 to a fund
for a family that has never asked for handouts throughout their ordeal.
“Unfortunately, I think what we have here is a prime example of
overzealous and work- burdened federal judges operating under extremely
harsh and generalized rules of homeland security,” Kent said.
As they count down the family’s dwindling days together, the Sargsyans
say they still have a hard time believing that in America there won’t
be justice. They haven’t completely given up on that hope.
“We are waiting for a miracle,” said Gevorg, “like we were waiting
for a miracle in Armenia.”
,1413,36~53~2346433,00.html#

Economic Miracle And Belgian Analyst’s Ears
A1 Plus | 18:24:00 | 06-09-2004 | Social |
“I don’t believe my ears when I hear there is economic progress in
Armenia”, Belgian International Crisis Group /ICG/ senior analyst
Philip Noubel said at a seminar held Sunday in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia,
on prospects of conflict settlement.
He specified that there is certain progress but for a minority
of people. Only 3 or 4 percent of the republic’s population live well.
Noubel is convinced that there can’t be any economic growth amid
ongoing corruption, human resources mismanagement and a dependent
justice system.
He also sees serious problems linked with the republic authorities’
legitimacy that led to civil unrest.
Belgian analyst said he had managed to notice certain difference in
perception of Karabakh conflict by Armenia’s population, Karabakhis
and Armenians living overseas.
In his words, Armenia’s many residents say they became captives of
Karabakhis, Armenians from foreign communities say there is need of
fighting for Karabakh, but, at the same time, they say they don’t
want to fight because they live, for example, in California.
Noubel hasn’t been in Karabakh but talked to many Karabakhis
who accused Armenia’s population of being not so patriotic
considering Karabakh issue. The ICG representative said he saw no
favourable-for-dialogue atmosphere in Armenia.

CENN – SEPTEMBER 6, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Request for Donation of Computers for Schools Active in Environmental
Issues
2. Request for Proposals (RFEP) — Waste Clean-up Actions and Upgrading
of Landfills for the Solid Waste Program in Borjomi Region of Georgia
3. Georgia Believes itself Cheated by BP
4. Thugs Beat up Journalists, with the Connivance of Parliament Members
5. Working Group on Genetically Modified Organisms
6. The IFC the world’s leading conference for fundraising professionals
7. FSA Contemporary Issues Fellowship Program
8. Earth Institute Fellows Program Information
9. The 3rd World Youth Congress
1. REQUEST FOR DONATION OF COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS ACTIVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES
CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network is conducting environmental
education and awareness raising activities and school campaigns in 8
schools of Georgia, out of which 2 are located in the regions –
Bakuriani and Bolnisi and 6 in Tbilisi (Varketili, Nadzaladevi, Didube,
Avlabari, Chughureti, Nutsubidze districts). In Tbilisi schools,
educational campaign is focused on energy efficiency issues; in
Bakuriani – on forestry and sustainable tourism; and in Bolnisi – on
wise use of transboundary resources. The school campaigns aim to raise
environmental educational and awareness of the young generation and
promote their active participation in environmental decision-making.
CENN school environmental educational and awareness raising campaign
team is looking for secondhand computers for donation to the active
schools to make environmental campaign more effective.
We address national and international organizations programs and
projects to render assistance and contribute to this valuable
initiative. Your contribution will be highlighted through CENN network
and publications.
Interested persons please contact:
Irina Kitiashvili
CENN Regional Coordinator
Tel: +995 92 39 46
Cell: +995 99 57 27 86
Fax: +995 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
2. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFEP) — WASTE CLEAN-UP ACTIONS AND UPGRADING
OF LANDFILLS FOR THE SOLID WASTE PROGRAM IN BORJOMI REGION OF GEORGIA
The program is initiated and funded by BP operator of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyahn (BTC) pipeline and South Caucasus pipeline (SCP)
The Executor of the Program GTZ is German Technical Cooperation,
International Services in coordination with Borjomi District Government
– is seeking for interested private companies to take pat in the biding
process for short-term solid waste program in Borjomir region.
Issuance Date: September 7, 2004
Closing Date and Time: 15:00 pm Tbilisi 22 September 2004
The project aims to improve the sanitary and environmental condition in
Borjomi and Bakuriani by different activities aiming for better waste
management and environmental protection:
o closure, clean-up and restoration of illegal dumps;
o improvement of current landfills and their access roads;
o delivering of equipment for waste collection and landfill operation;
o instructional and training of personnel;
o public awareness campaigns to involve the population.
The project activities concerning the present invitation for bidding
cover the following performances:
1. Clean-up camping in Borjomi
2. Clean-up camping in Bakuriani
3. Improving of the Borjomi landfill and its access road
4. Improving of the Bakuriani landfill and its access road
Bidders who wish to obtain additional explanations and comments are
invites to contact:
Mr. Iuri Maisahvili
Tel: (+995 32) 93 674 809
Fax: (+995 32) 32 420 990
E-mail: [email protected]
Together with the fully pried and competed officer, each page to be
signed, the following documents are requested:
1. Copy of documents about the legal registration of the company
2. Documentation to prove bidder’s qualifications, experience and
reliability
3. The list of equipment and machinery to be used for forthcoming work
performance
4. Certification from the tax office about the debt burden absence
5. Declaration of bidder
The bidder is amenable to law on accuracy of presented documents.
Bidders are requested to hand in the completed officer Document together
with all Appendices, completed and signed by a duly authorities person,
in a sealed envelope, plainly marked as follower:
“Offer for waste clean-up actions and improvement of landfills in the
Borjomi Region.”
Bidders are invited to collect Request for proposal documents starting
from September 7, 2004 from:
GTZ Office Tbilisi
41, Shartava str., (bordering Saburtalo Bazari), 0160, Tbilisi, Georgai
and
Borjomi Inforamtion Center 129, Rustaveli ave., Borjomi, Georgai
The Bidder shall be bound to his Officer until 31.12.2004.
3. GEORGIA BELIEVES ITSELF CHEATED BY BP
Source: The Echo, #163, 25 August 2004
Official Tbilisi asks international financial organizations for
assistance in ensuring environmental security of Borjomi section of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
By M. Bagirov
The situation around construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline in Georgia remains to be tense. Moreover, as the Echo has
learned from informed sources in the neighboring country, Georgian
authorities still have not settled with BP – the leading operator of the
project – the Borjomi section problem and the discontent in the
government’s high echelons in connection with the above is growing.
According to the information obtained, Tbilisi had to explain itself
with the executives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC),
who, as is known, participate in financing of the project. In a letter
sent by the Georgian party to international financial institutions, BTC
Co. (a consortium of the companies participating in the construction of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan – M.B.) is accused of “illegal construction” in
Borjomi.
That all this can be fraught with serious complications hardly needs to
be explained. Therefore, it seems expedient to consider in a greater
detail the question
WHAT DOES GEORGIA WANT?
An answer to the question has been repeatedly declared by the
neighboring country’s officials: the securing of environmental safety of
the Borjomi section of the pipeline through establishing of stringent
control over all the factors capable of causing the spilling of oil
(dangerous geological processes, technical defects and operators’
mistakes and, finally, subversive activity by third parties), and the
reduction of risk to a controllable level. Here, certainly, arises a
question – how grounded the claims of the Georgian party are. It should
be said that much depends on the answer to this question, including,
presumably, the future of the Azerbaijani-Georgian relations too. Many
reproaches have been sounded in relation to Georgia lately, the most
offensive of them being obviously the one revealing an alleged striving
of Georgia to achieving some added advantages for itself through
speculations about the issue.
Meanwhile, as our paper managed to clear up from the sources in the
Georgian government, a significant role in the current tension around
the Borjomi issue is being played by the unwillingness of the company BP
to meet its existing commitments in the said section. The matter
concerns environmental permits for the oil pipeline construction issued
by the Ministry of Environment of Georgia on 30 November 2002. As our
Georgian sources note, this is the single document approving the
pipeline route, in particular within the Borjomi section. Specifically
for the Borjomi section, the environmental permit requires a change of
the pipeline construction design in accordance with the criteria set
forth in the document. It was then, that the parties in the name of the
Georgian government and BTC Co. agreed that in order to attain the risk
level close to zero, BTC Co. would employ the best available
technologies, multiple lines of defense and the principle of redundancy
in the technical design and in the course of operations. The necessity
of applying special security measures in the event of an “intervention
of a third party” was specially negotiated. It was noted that the
pipeline had to be designed and constructed in a way that in the case of
a negative intervention, there would be sufficient time for neutralizing
the threats to security. In the opinion of the Georgian party, who
refers to the views of international experts, citing, in particular, the
independent structure Jane’s Consultancy, laying of the pipeline in
Borjomi at a depth of not less than 3 meters, combined with other
measures, would be quite sufficient steps on the part of BTC Co.
Nevertheless, as mentioned, BP has failed to comply with its obligations
concerning the environmental security of the Borjomi section and, as the
informed sources in Tbilisi note, has decided to apply its customary
tactics in Georgia – to construct as it is suitable to the company,
using the pressing schedules of the project completion as a cover. The
company stated that the pipelining at a depth over 1.5 m would cause a
serious delay in the conduct of construction work. Georgia has not
consented to this argument having produced expert opinions, which stated
that the pipelining at a depth of 3 m was quite feasible within the
planned schedules. An outcome of the differences was a two-week stoppage
of the pipeline construction in the late July. Thereafter, as is known,
intense negotiations in London and in Tbilisi started, the course of
which was more than sufficiently highlighted by media. The United States
also had to enter the talks. As a result, an agreement to resume the
pipeline construction in Georgia was reached. It turns out, however,
that
THINGS ARE RIGHT WHERE THEY STARTED
As the head of press service of BP Tamam Bayatly commented to the Echo,
the resumption of construction work became possible after the oil
company had agreed with Georgia the question of joint development of the
so-called “Integrated Security Plan” for the Borjomi section. Later, on
August 16, at a press conference in Baku the head of BP David Woodward,
commenting the situation, said that the new Georgian government “wanted
to make certain of the conscientiousness of BP”. The words of the head
of Bp meant that the company produced all the proofs of
conscientiousness, having forwarded, in particular, to the Georgian
environmental agency all the materials indicating how BP was going to
secure the pipeline safety in the sensitive area. True, no details on
the contents of these materials have been told by D. Woodward to the
press conference.
Meanwhile, as it becomes evident, BP’s action plan concerning Borjomi
has not met with the approval in Georgia. According to the informal
Georgian sources, in the course of the negotiations held in Tbilisi, the
representatives of the oil company agreed with the arguments of the
Georgian party naming them sound and promised all the fears would be
given due consideration in the security plan on Borjomi. However, they
have defaulted to do so. Currently, Tbilisi is more and more inclined to
think that BP is trying to commission the pipeline as soon as possible,
and that in case anything happens in Borjomi, to charge the Georgian
party therewith. Obviously, the situation is being strained again.
The official Tbilisi had, as mentioned, to express itself before the top
executives of EBRD and IFC – to whom BP apparently addressed its
complaint earlier. In the Georgian party’s letter forwarded to
international financial institutions, it is indicated that after it had
found BTC Co.’s attempts to evade by all means possible the compliance
with its commitments regarding Borjomi as set forth in the 2002
environmental permits, Georgia had no other choice but to stop the
“illegal construction”. In its message, the official Tbilisi refers to
the groundlessness of BP’s arguments regarding a delay in the project
implementation due to the requirements of Georgia concerning Borjomi,
and asks to support the Georgian government in the issue.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE OPERATOR
Already yesterday, the Echo addressed the press service of BP with a
request to comment on the information concerning the Georgian party’s
discontent over the Integrated Security Plan’s contents for the Borjomi
section. Tamam Bayiatly, head of the company’s press service, underlined
that the above-mentioned document had been drafted in the course of
joint discussions of BP experts and representatives of the Georgian
government. “This very document agreed by the parties was presented to
Georgian authorities before August 14”, – concluded T. Bayatly. The
question whether signals of the Georgian party’s discontent were
received by the company after August 14, the press-service head did not
answer…
We still hope that if the differences between BP and the Georgian
government continue to take place, the company will, nevertheless,
notify the Azerbaijanian public thereof, and we shall have detailed
information about existing contradictions and attempts to overcome them
all the time, and not only when the pipeline construction in Borjomi is
stopped again. Let’s hope it will not come to that….
4. THUGS BEAT UP JOURNALISTS, WITH THE CONNIVANCE OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS
Source: , September 1, 2004
On August 24, 2003, Armenian journalists were physically attacked once
again. This time, in Tsakhkadzor, Gagik Stepanyan, a bodyguard of
parliament member Levon Sargisyan, beat photojournalist Mkhitar
Khachatryan of the news agency PhotoLur and reporter Anna Israelyan from
the newspaper Aravot.
Covered in forests, Tsakhkadzor is a resort area famous since Soviet
times. Many USSR sports teams used to train here, but today Tsakhkadzor
is better known as a vacation spot favored by President Robert
Kocharyan, and, in direct connection, the place where oligarchs and
government officials build private getaways. Since there is no room in
the town itself, they cut down forests and fence in land for their
mansions.
Stepanyan and Israelyan were putting together material on these mansions
when they were attacked by several shaved-headed thugs, Stepanyan among
them. His boss, MP Levon Sargisyan, is known to the public as “Flour
Mill Lyov”. A member of Serge Sargisyan’s circle, Sargisyan is known as
an active participant in and big contributor to Robert Kocharyan’s
election campaign.
His companies import and produce flour, and the Ministry of Defense buys
flour for the Army exclusively from him. Thus, he is unlikely to ever
have trouble selling his product, as long as Serge Sargisyan is minister
of defense.
Interestingly, when on April 5, 2004, journalists covering an opposition
rally near the Nairi Cinema were beaten up, “Flour Mill Lyov” happened
to be at the nearby Oscar CafÈ. His bodyguards were among the
perpetrators of the violence. It looks like he was directing their
actions from a short distance away.
The other thugs who attacked the journalists on April 5 th were
bodyguards of MP Gagik Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan, who is known by the name
“Dodi (Stupid) Gago”, denied that these men worked for him. But the fact
is that until April 5 th they worked as his bodyguards. Tsarukyan is a
member of Robert Kocharyan’s inner circle and one of the richest
businessmen in Armenia . (Of course, on paper, his companies are
unprofitable). This oligarch cut down a huge section of the forest in
Tsakhkadzor to built private houses and cottages.
On August 27, 2004 the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia
announced that criminal proceedings had been instituted regarding the
violence against journalists.
On August 28 th 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 private houses of various government officials and
businessmen.
Staring today, we will publish the names of the owners of the houses
built in the green areas of Tsakhkadzor.
The journalists’ first stop was the home, or as a sign at the entrance
states, “recreation area” of the president of the company Multi Group
and member of parliament, Gagik Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan first purchased the
Tereshkova Camp for Children, two buildings on one hectare of land.
Subsequently, his territory was expanded to 20 hectares, and a section
of the forest was destroyed and 21 cottages built. According to the
mayor of Tsakhkadzor, Garun Mirzoyan, “There will be 26 cottages here,
according to the design.”
5. WORKING GROUP ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
Background
The first meeting of the Parties to the Convention (Lucca, Italy 21-23
October 2002) adopted decision (I/4) and the Guidelines on Access to
Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice with respect to
Genetically Modified Organisms. A new Working Group was established to
examine and build upon the preparatory work undertaken by a previous
Working Group on GMOs established by the Committee on Environmental
Policy (the first Working Group).
The task of the Working Group is to explore the options for a legally
binding approach to further developing the application of the Convention
in the field of GMOs, including through possible instruments and to
develop selected options for consideration and possible decision or
adoption by the Parties at their second meeting.
Fourth meeting of the Working Group
The fourth meeting of the Working Group will take place on 18-20 October
2004.
Additional information is available on the following address:
6. THE IFC THE WORLD’S LEADING CONFERENCE FOR FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS
The 24th International Fundraising Congress (IFC) will take place on 12
-15 October 2004, at the NH Leeuwenhorst Hotel, The Netherlands.
Additional information is available on the following adders:
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7. FSA CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The FSA Contemporary Issues Fellowship Program, a program of the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State and
administered by IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board),
provides opportunities for experienced professionals and specialists in
Eurasia to conduct policy-oriented research in the United States for
four months. Fellowships are available to citizens of: Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova,
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Program highlights
Eligible Professions:
o Economists
o Government Officials
o Lawyers
o Political Advisors
o Public Health Specialists
o NGO Leaders
o Journalists
o Other Policy Developers
All applications must contain developed and focused research projects
that are policy-driven with practical application in Eurasia. Research
proposals must address one of the following categories:
o Business Administration
o Journalism & Media
o Civic Education
o Law Enforcement
o Educational Policy
o Economics
o NGO Development & Management
o Energy Policy
o Political Science
o Environmental Policy
o Public Administration
o Human Rights
o Public Health Policy
o International Relations
o Rule of Law
o Social Welfare
The fellowship is fully funded and provides:
o Round-trip travel from fellows’ home cities in Eurasia to their US
host institutions;
o Housing and monthly stipend for living expenses in the United States;
o Professional development allowance;
o Accident and sickness medical coverage.
Contact Information for Ukraine:
IREX-Kyiv Office 01004, Kyiv vul. Velyka Vasylkivska, 14, suite 19,
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel/Fax: (044) 537-06-04
8. EARTH INSTITUTE FELLOWS PROGRAM INFORMATION
Application Deadline: The next deadline for receipt of applications is
December 1. Applications submitted by this date will be considered for
two-year fellowships that start the following September. The Earth
Institute will notify applicants of acceptance decisions in late
January. Applications must be completed on time and in their entirety to
warrant consideration by the selection committee. We strongly encourage
that applications be submitted online.
Fellowship Eligibility, Start Date and Duration: The Earth Institute
Post-Doctoral Fellows Program seeks outstanding scholars with recent
doctorates in the natural, social, engineering and health sciences that
possess a strong interest in sustainable development. The Program
provides innovative scholars with the opportunity to build a deeper
foundation in one of these core disciplines while at the same time
acquiring the cross-disciplinary expertise and breadth needed to
addresses critical issues related to sustainable development, including
reducing poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental degradation.
Fellows are appointed for two years. Appointments begin September 1st.
However, if individual circumstances warrant, Fellows may begin their
appointment as early as July 1st. Fellows must receive their Ph.D. prior
to beginning their appointment.
Additional information is available on the following address:
9. THE 3RD WORLD YOUTH CONGRESS
The 3rd World Youth Congress is coming to Scotland from July 30th to
August 8th 2005.
The event is open to young people aged between 18 -25 (you must be at
least 18 on 30th July 2005) and the congress theme is “Young People
working together for a sustainable world community”.
The main goals of the WYC series are to promote volunteering and global
citizenship as well as sustainable lifestyles. Delegates will draw to
the attention of government and aid agencies worldwide how much young
people do and are doing to support the achievement of the UN Millennium
Development Goals. This congress will bring together young development
activists and government and UN development professionals to review best
practice in youth led development and devise strategies to mobilise more
young people to take part in them.
Who can apply?
All applicants must be 18-25 years old on 30th July 2005 and will fall
under four categories:
1) Activists
This conference is chiefly for young leaders in the youth-led
development field. In order to qualify in this category you have to show
your commitment to action by working on a pre-congress action project,
that you can report on at the Congress. If you plan and implement a
youth-led community improvement project between now and August 2005, we
will welcome you to this Congress! All you have to do is pay your travel
expenses – a limited number of scholarships may be available. It is,
however, best to seek your own sponsorship. This is a conference where
you will do more than sit around and draw up fine-sounding declarations:
for at least 3 of the 10 days you will be out across Scotland working on
projects.
2) Performers/Artists
If you have a performance group of dancers, singers, actors, comedians
with material that relates to the Congress themes, send us a video with
some reviews and photographs, and we will consider you for the cultural
programme that will take place every evening of the Congress.
3) Young Journalists
If you work for a newspaper, radio or TV station, ask your employer/line
manager to send you to report on this important world event.
4) Participants
If the above goals interest you and you would like to learn about these
issues from your peers around the world, send in an application form.
For further details and an application form visit
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CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: