CENN Daily Digest – 03/15/2004

CENN – MARCH 15, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. `Georgian Bank’ and BTC Reach Coop Agreement
2. Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Talks on Oil for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline
in ‘Final Stage’
3. Armenian Government Steps in to Eliminate Disaster Aftermath
4. Armenian Minister, Iranian Governor Discuss Agricultural Development
5. Misery is Environment’s Bitter Enemy
6. Workshop Announcement – International Water Demand Management

1. `GEORGIAN BANK’ AND BTC REACH COOP AGREEMENT

The Georgian Bank and Company BTC signed an agreement on financial
servicing of the funds assigned by the International Monetary Fund,
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Tbilisi on March 12.

Under the conditions, the Georgian Bank will provide banking services of
all expenditures for the construction of Georgian section of the
pipeline. Therefore, the Bank has become a member of the financial
association, which affiliates 78 companies.
AzerTag, March 13, 2004

2. AZERBAIJAN-KAZAKHSTAN TALKS ON OIL FOR BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PIPELINE
IN ‘FINAL STAGE’

Negotiations on an agreement between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on
Kazakhstan oil moving through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline are
in the final stage, according to Natik Aliyev, president of the State
Oil Company of Azerbaijan, a Rosbalt correspondent reported. Aliyev said
the agreement would be signed sometime this year but would not be more
specific. He said the date would depend on the intensity of the talks.

Aliyev said the agreement would constitute the legal basis needed by
investors. It will set out the details of tax, customs and trade
arrangements connected to the movement of oil as well as specify the
manner of resolving ecological problems. He said the agreement would be
in line with existing treaties between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
Rosbalt, March 13, 2004

3. ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT STEPS IN TO ELIMINATE DISASTER AFTERMATH

The Armenian government adopted The public awareness campaign for the
nomadic population relied purely on rural radio stations and the role of
local authorities, notables and elected officials. decision to allocate
510m drams [950,000 dollars] from its reserve fund to eliminate the
consequences of spring floods and strong winds.

Armenian Minister for Coordinating Territorial Administration and
Production Infrastructures Ovik Abramyan told journalists that the funds
would be allocated for the reconstruction of roads, bridges, schools and
hospitals and for accommodating people left homeless as a result of the
disaster. He noted that the final damage will be calculated in 10 days
and that aid is being allocated to carry out urgent reconstruction work.

A major part of the funds – 71m drams [116,000 dollars] – will be
allocated to Tavush and 58m drams [106,000 dollars] to Aragatsotn
regions, which have been badly damaged. Additional 200m drams [355,000
dollars] will be allocated to the Armenian Agriculture Ministry for
purchasing seeds and fertilizers for the ravaged regions.
Arminfo, March 11, 2004

4. ARMENIAN MINISTER, IRANIAN GOVERNOR DISCUSS AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The deputy governor of Iran’s Ardabil Province, Hajaf-Azari, and
Armenian Minister for Coordinating Territorial Administration and
Production Infrastructures Ovik Abramyan, discussed prospects for
agricultural cooperation between Iran and Armenia.

The government’s press service told Arminfo news agency that the sides
debated the possibility of supplying Armenia with fertilizers,
seedlings, seeds, including the future of cooperation in stockbreeding
and exchanging scientific achievements.
Arminfo, March 11, 2004

5. MISERY IS ENVIRONMENT’S BITTER ENEMY

Vardan Aivazyan, The Minister of Environment of Armenian is convinced
that the main cause of many environmental problems is poverty in which
that the population of the republic lives in.

The other day, walking along the park he found almost all trees cut
there. As it became clear later, the trees were cut by nearby houses
tenants for heating their homes, the minister said.
, March 13, 2004

6. WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT – INTERNATIONAL WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
May 30-June 3, 2004

On behalf of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan, we would
like to announce the Professional Development Workshops delivered during
the International Water Demand Management Conference May 30th-June 3rd,
2004. The workshops will provide participants with an in-depth training
in selected water demand management topics. In addition, the workshops
provide a short, practical hands-on skills training related to water
demand management. Participants can use the information, techniques
and/or software in their day-to-day operations. Each workshop is
conducted by industry leaders in the field. To learn more about the
workshops please visit the conference website at


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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:

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http://www.wdm2004.org.
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