CENN Electronic Bulletin 76 – 01/2005

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
(CENN)
76 Electronic Bulletin:
Caucasus Environmental News
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Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) and the production of our
electronic bulletin – Caucasus Environmental News have been funded by
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
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VISIT CENN WEB SITE:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Announcements
1.1. Pilot scheme for poverty reduction in the Kvemo Kartli and
Samtskhe Javakheti regions project
2. Job, Internship and Study Opportunities
2.1. Master’s Program in Energy and Resources
3. News from Georgia
3.1. BTC pipeline jointing system to be tested in Caucasian winter
3.2. “We are no longer afraid when our kids go to drink water”
3.3. Main gas pipeline needs rehabilitation
3.4. Deadline for accepting bids for tender on Georgia’s new
tourism symbol postponed
3.5. BP to provide $80 mln in grants to Georgia in 2005-2010
3.6. BP allots USD 50 million in grants to Georgia
3.7. Cleaning up Tbilisi’s act
3.8. Tourism relations boosting up between Iran and Georgia
3.9. BTC pipeline 93% complete
3.10. BTC pipeline on schedule
4. News from Azerbaijan
4.1. BP Azerbaijan reports on one-year activity
4.2. Ministry of youth, Sports and Tourism holds business seminar
4.3. South Caucasus pipeline project construction half completed
4.4. First oil from “Merkezi Azeri” to be produced in February
4.5. New wells put into operation in “Gunashli” field
4.6. BP increase oil production last year
4.7. Executive order of president of the Azerbaijan Republic on
Approval of the “Memorandum of Mutual Understanding Between the
Government of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Government of the Kingdom
of Denmark Cooperation in the Field of Realization of the Kyoto Protocol
of the Frame Convention the United Nations on Climatic Changes”, Signed
on December 8, 2004 in the City of Baku
4.8. MEGA wins BP’s contest
5. News from Armenia
5.1. Government approves food security concept
5.2. Ecologists want government control of GM food in Armenia
5.3. Armenia to be provided $20 million for agricultural programs
5.4. Tourism is a new field in Armenia
6. NGO News
6.1. “Project Harmony” opens internet centers in secondary schools
7. International News
7.1. Practical action plan to combat poverty unveiled at UN today
8. New Publications
8.1. Forest Planning and Practice Recommendation Guide – For the
Conservation and Enhancement of biodiversity in Georgian Forests
9. Calendar (International)
9.1. International Conference Women in Forestry
SUBSCRIBING INFORMATION
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.1. Pilot Scheme for Poverty Reduction in the Kvemo Kartli and
Samtskhe Javakheti regions project
Source: The Messenger, January 17, 2005
EuropeAid/120850/C/G/GE
The European Commission Delegation to Georgia and Armenia (Delegation –
[email protected]) is seeking proposals for poverty reduction in rural
areas in Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe Javakheti, Georgia with financial
assistance from the Tacis program of the European Communities. Budget: 3
000 000 EUR.
The full Guidelines for Applications are available for consultation at
the official journal and on the following Internet site:
The deadline for submission of proposals is March 31, 2005 at 16.00
local Georgia time.
2. JOB, INTERNSHIP AND STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
2.1. MASTER’S PRORGAM IN ENERGY AND RESOURCES
We are currently seeking applicants for admission to our international
master’s program Energy and Resources at the University of Utrecht in
The Netherlands.
The program Energy and Resources is a two-year program offered by the
Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation. The
focus of the programme is on Sustainability Energy Supply, Energy System
Analysis, Energy and Material Demand Efficiency and Energy Policy. The
program offers a varied combination of lectures, assignments, case
studies, excursions, multidisciplinary and internationally orientated
research projects and internships with external organizations.
For whom?
The master programme is intended for students that hold a bachelor
degree in natural or environmental sciences, engineering or technology
and that are interested in solving complex issues on energy, materials
and climate by using an interdisciplinary approach.
More information:
For more information about the content of the program, the course
outline, entrance requirements and admission procedures please visit our
website: <; Please forward We would appreciate if you could forward this information to your students, colleagues or others who could be interested in the master's program Energy and Resources. Best regards, Martijn Rietbergen Coordinator track Energy and Resources Master Programme Sustainable Development Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation Department of Science, Technology and Society Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands Tel: +31-30-2537621 <; <; 3. NEWS FROM GEORGIA 3.1. BTC pipeline jointing system to be tested in Caucasian winter Source: The Chartered Institute of Building, December 17, 2004 Temperatures in Azerbaijan and Georgia are currently well below the 10 degrees Celsius at which problems with the specified jointing system for the BTC pipeline began to emerge last winter in the Caucasus. The early stages of construction proved to be a field test for the Specialty Polymer Coating which BP and its operating company decided to adopt for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in the face of misgivings among members of their own engineering staff as well as independent pipeline consultants. After the jointing problems were exposed in London's Sunday Times newspaper last February, a full review was undertaken by WorleyParsons in order to reassure the BTC Lenders Group that the proposed method of pipeline jointing was technically sound and would not give rise to an environmental hazard. The group includes Britain's Export Credits Guarantee Department which is one of the financial guarantors for the $ 4 bn project. Under examination by the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee, the ECGD directors said they were satisfied that the reports had answered their questions about the ability of this innovative method to meet the requirements of a 40-year design life. The failed joints on the BTC pipeline have long been repaired but the same system is being used on the South Caucasus Pipeline now being built from the Shah-Deniz gas field to the Turkish border. If the analysis by WorleyParsons is as well founded as the Lenders Group believes it is, this winter should provide a conclusive demonstration that, given the correct method of application at low temperatures, a fusion-bonded epoxy based material will bond with the polyethylene wrapping of the steel pipes. This issue has divided opinion in the industry for some time, but it looks as though this winter will at last provide a definitive answer to the controversy. 3.2. "We are no longer afraid when our kids go to drink water" Source: The Messenger, December 29, 2004 In the village Jandari I, in the Gardabani district, works have been completed on the installation of an internal potable water system. The project was implemented by Mercy Corps and local community members within the framework of the Community Investment Program (CIP) - East, which is initiated and funded by BP and its partners in the BTC/SCP projects. Head of the Sakrebulo Administration of Jandari I, Mrs. Sevil Mamedova, combines her public service with a career as a teacher in the Jandari School every day she has meetings with lots of people and she has vast knowledge about the problems of her countrymen. "A huge problem was solved in our village with the support of the BP project," said Mrs. Mamedova, adding "We did not have quality portable water for years. The only solution was to dig wells in our yards. My house is in the lower part of the village and we found water at 15 meters, but still, the workers charges 250 dollars. Others paid much more. But this all had negative consequences - many in the town became ill and when specialists investigated, they found that the well water contained certain toxins. That is why in April of last year, when we had first meeting with Mercy Corps, our community decided to improve the situation with drinking water in the village, namely to install an internal potable water system." As leader of the Community Initiative Group, Mr. Olkhan Ibragimov said, that project, apart from supplying the village with safe drinking water, had another positive aspect: it brought the people together and encouraged them to believe in their own strength. "The project was implemented in two stages: first we made a 100-meter deep well, and after the rehabilitation of the potable water system, we installed 30 taps. Community contribution in the first stage was 29%, in the second - 23%. We are happy, because we are no longer afraid when our kids go to drink water." Aside from the lack of a potable water system, the people in Jandari I also did not have natural gas because they could not afford consumption meters. "This problem also was solved by BP and Mercy Corps," Sakrebulo Head Roman Gasanov said. "The budget developed by our Community Initiative Group, has already been approved: Mercy Corps is going to buy 55 gas meters for us, and the community will pay for their installation". 3.3. Main Gas pipeline needs rehabilitation Source: The Messenger, January 14, 2005 The Georgian Gas Corporation and the Ministry of Energy jointly presented a plan for the corporation's long term sustainability for discussion at the governmental session on January 12, 2005. The authors of the plan put forward five different options: the selling of the corporation, partial selling, changing of the management, attracting donors and ensuring state financing. The government suggested the unification of the corporation with the Georgian International Oil Corporation as a survival plan. Head of the Gas Corporation David Ingorokva and Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri insisted on the need for urgent rehabilitation of the main gas pipeline from Russia to Armenia through Georgia, saying that without repair work, the pipeline will be completely unusable within 3-5 years. The pipeline is crucial for the country's energy supply, as it provides Georgia and Armenia, with all its imports of Russian gas. However, the pipeline which was built in the 1960s and since 1992 has received no rehabilitation work is deteriorating fast. Initially planned to carry 16 billion cubic meters of natural gas, the pipeline now has a capacity of just 7 bullion cubic meters. The urgent repair work will cost USD 40 million, but for the sustainable development of the system and further rehabilitation, an additional USD 60 million is needed. To rehabilitate the system completely will cost some USD 613 million, an astronomically high sum for Georgia. Where such huge sums are to be found is an issue of some urgency: it is nonrealistic to say that the money could be allotted from the state budget, or that the Corporation could receive the money form the organizations which have not paid for consumed gas. Meanwhile, the Georgian government is actively pursuing alternative suppliers by discussing possible gas shipments from Iran via Azerbaijan. This too requires substantial investment and the government must decide where its money is mot useful. Given the serious situation, the possibility of finding a foreign investor willing to buy the corporation remains on the agenda, despite the fact that the Georgian constitution forbids the sale of the corporation, and the pipeline, as they considered object of vital strategic importance. Russian energy giant Gazprom has been eyeing the Georgian gas pipeline for a long time despite the poor condition it is in. But Gazprom does not plan to pay for the pipeline, offering instead to cancel Georgia's substantial debts for past gas imports. This is unlikely to solve the problem, as the pipeline needs hard cash to rehabilitate it, and so for now the unification of the Gas Corporation with the Georgian International Oil Corporation is planned as a temporary step, although it is hard to say how this will contribute to the rehabilitation of the pipeline. 3.4. DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTING BIDS FOR TENDER ON GEORGIA'S NEW TOURISM SYMBOL POSTPONED Source: Sarke, January 17, 2005 The tender on the creation of Georgia's new tourism symbol was announced at the end of last year but designers have not shown special interest since then. Only 5-6 applications have been submitted although the deadline for applications was today. 3.5. BP to provide $80 mln in grants to Georgia in 2005-2010 Source: Interfax, January 20, 2005 BP, the operator of the Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan project, plans to provide Georgia with $80 million in grants in 2005-2010 for social and economic projects, BP-Georgia General manager Rif Diggins told journalists in Georgia. He said that as part of a program agreed with the government at the end of 2004, the company has already paid a grant of $9 million to the state budget, which will be used in 2005 to finance social programs for students and to increase pensions in the regions through which the pipeline passes. He said that after the pipeline starts operating in the second half of 2005, the company plans to provide the Georgian government with a grant of $11 million and starting in 2006 it will provide $4 million per year. In parallel, BP will carry out other grant programs in Georgia, one of which involves providing $10 million to finance education and health programs over a two-three year period. Mr. Diggins said that specific projects are currently being discussed with government representatives. 3.6. BP Allots USD 50 Million in Grants to Georgia Source: The Messenger, January 24, 2005 Money will be used to fund improvements in the health system, pensions and other projects The BTC pipeline is 80% complete and the South Caucasus gas pipeline 54% complete, says BP BP shareholders plan to allot USD 40 million in grants to Georgia over the next six years, and in addition, the company itself has decided to allot USD 10 million for various projects. The agreement between BP and the government was signed in October 2004, and the first grant of USD 9 million has already been allotted. According to BP Georgia General Manager Wref Diggings, "The government will use it to support the state budget." The grant is specially aimed at the student voucher system, supporting people below the poverty line and pension increase in the regions. Diggings says that "when the oil will start to flow through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline" in 2005, BP shareholders plan to allot a further USD 11 million. Then, from 2006 to 2010, the shareholders will transfer USD 4 million per year to the Georgian government account. In addition, BP has decided to allot a further USD 10 million to the Georgian government to fund different programs. The company is currently consulting the Ministry of Finance on how this money will be spent, although Diggings thinks that the grant will go on projects in primary healthcare and education. "We have already met with the Minister of Healthcare to discuss a hospital program", he said at a BP roundtable meeting with journalists last week. At the meeting, Diggings stressed that "the government must give a public account on how they spend these grants." According to BP, the construction of BTC pipeline is 80% complete in Georgia, while the construction of pump stations is 86% compete. "The first cargo of oil is expected in the second part of this year," said Diggings. Last week he also gave an update on the construction of the South Caucasus gas pipeline, which he said was 54% complete, adding that construction work will be finished in Georgia by the end of this year. "It will be an important new energy source for Georgia," Diggings thinks. According to the agreement, Georgia will receive 500 million cubic meters of gas per year - half of Georgia's gas demand - and will also have the option to buy gas at discount price. Diggings thinks that BP shareholders will work to transport oil from sources other than Azerbaijan, naming Kazakhstan which he said "will become an important oil exporter." In an interview with The Messenger last year CanArgo CEO David Robson did not rule out the possibility that the company would transport its oil by the BTC pipeline as well, assuming that CanArgo's explorations in Georgia result in the oil the company expects. 3.7. Cleaning up Tbilisi's act Source: The Messenger, January 24, 2005 City government reintroduces street cleaners to Tbilisi streets The institution of street cleaner, abolished in Tbilisi in the mid-1990s, began functioning again on January 22, 2005. Some 1000 street cleaners will ensure that Tbilisi is a cleaner, brighter city and on Saturday Tbilisi Mayor Zurab Chiaberashvili and Premier Temur Kurkhuli visited those Tbilisi districts where street cleaners have already started work. The street cleaners will earn a salary of GEL 100 per month and those interviewed by Georgian media said they were satisfied with the salary, although some said that having to clean 4000 square meters of territory per day was too much. "It is very difficult for us to clean such a huge territory, because there are so many buildings," which mean lots of rubbish said cleaner Gulnara Alieva. However, the Tbilisi city authorities believe that such is the deplorable sanitary situation in the town, the street cleaners alone will not be able to tidy the place up, and that a company is needed to take over responsibility for the cleaning of Tbilisi's districts. "We want to contract a company which will be both interested and actively involved in this sphere," Tbilisi vice-premier Ucha Gelashvili stated on Rustavi-2. It has not been decided yet which company the town authorities will work with, although it is already known that the decision will be made by tender, and that interested companies should submit proposals. One firm has already submitted its tender - the Israeli Alon group has said it is prepared to take on the responsibility of ensuring the cleanliness of the town and also of collecting money from Tbilisi residents to pay for the service. "This is a program we want to implement in the current year. Negotiations are underway right now, and I think that we cannot delay this program," Tbilisi Premier Temur Kurkhuli said, adding that it is not known yet whether or not the negotiations will prove successful or not. If all goes to plan, however, and negotiations are concluded successfully the company will start work in summer. Up until that time, the premier himself will be responsible to overseeing street cleaners' work. "We will choose the districts and we will be able to settle this problem until the end of the year," he said. 3.8. Tourism Relations Boosting up Between Iran and Georgia Source: The Messenger, January 31, 2005 On January 24, 2005 Chairmen of the Tourism Department of Georgia Saba Kiknadze and Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran signed a special program worked out in order to expand cooperation between Georgia and Iran in tourism field as Saba Kiknadze declared after the official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the Chairman of the Tourism Department of Georgia the aforementioned program will facilitate traveling between the two states and envisages exchange programs of tourism specialists in order to raiser level of efficiency. "Meanwhile, investments will be built in Georgia," Mr. Kiknadze said. For the background, earlier on December 21, 2004 Georgian Foreign Minister has received Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh paying official visit to Georgia. During the meeting the parties have discussed the prospects of Georgian-Iran relations in future and issues of regional cooperation. Deputy Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran had meetings with the Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burdjanadze. During the meeting with the Parliamentary Chairperson of Georgia Nino Burdjanadze Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh emphasized necessity of further development of trade economic cooperation as well as intensification of scientific relationships between two countries, despite tight interactions in scores of spheres. Mr. Aminzadeh stressed that he watches Georgia's current developments closely and is happy that he visited Georgia when it faces new perspectives for advance. He went on saying that this is the right period for real chances in development of relations between two states. The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran Mohsen Aminzadeh gave Nino Burdjanadze best regards of her Iranian counterpart and stated that Iran will gladly host a top level delegation of the Parliament of Georgia. On its part, Nino Burdjanadze expressed gratitude for invitation and said that she would be also happy to receive the Parliamentary delegation of Iran. The speaker underlined that the authorities of Georgia attribute it great importance to relations with Iran and "within its competence the Parliament of Georgia will maximally foster cooperation boosting up between the countries," she noted. 3.9. BTC Pipeline 93% Complete Source: The Messenger, January 31, 2005 93% of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) crude oil pipeline project has been completed as of January 9th, 2005, said authorities today, January 30, 2005. The project aims to unlock a vast store of energy from the Caspian Sea by providing a new crude oil pipeline from Azerbaijan, through Georgia, to Turkey for onward delivery to world markets. Traversing 1,760 km of terrain, the BTC pipeline will be able to transport up to one million barrels of crude oil per day from a cluster of discoveries in the Caspian Sea. 1,760 km of the pipeline will be on Turkish territory, By creating the first direct pipeline link between the landlocked Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean, the BTC project will bring positive economic advantage to the region and avoid increasing oil tariff through the Turkish straits. The BTC pipeline is due to become operational in early 2005 with first oil planned to be exported from the Ceyhan marine terminal during the second half of the year. 3.10. BTC Pipeline on Schedule Source: The Messenger, February 1, 2005 Construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is on schedule and transportation of oil from the Ceyhan terminal will start in the second half of 2005, Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli declared at a conference on Monday, January 31, 2005. According to Mr. Nogaideli, the Georgian section of the pipeline is 80% complete, and pump stations in the country 86% complete, Prime News reports. 4. NEWS FROM AZERBAIJAN 4.1. BP Azerbaijan reports on one-year activity Source: AssA-Irada, December 21, 2004 BP Azerbaijan predicts that by the end of the year it will have spent $ 90 mm in operating expenses, as expected, and $ 2.491 bn in capital expenses versus the 2004 target of $ 2.364 bn, under the Azeri-Chirac-Guneshli project. The increase in the cost of capital expenses was due to additional operations carried out on the East and West Azeri fields and the replacement of a platform, BP Azerbaijan President David Woodward told. He said that this year 50 mm man/hours have been implemented and six work-days lost as a result of accidents. Mr. Woodward said that 76 % of hook-up and commissioning on the Central Azeri PDQ platform offshore has been carried out, with the first oil to be produced from the well in the first quarter of 2005, as planned. The entire pipe laid tie-in and testing work for the oil and gas pipelines from Central Azeri to the Sangachal terminal has been completed, along with installation and commissioning of the 187 km fibre communications cable, which is now operational. The pipe lay barge Israfil Huseynov is currently completing its re-fit work and will be ready to commence the ACG Phase-2 pipe-lay work by the end of December. In October the barge was successfully used to support the Central Azeri hook-up, providing accommodation next to Central Azeri for 200 construction workers. The Compressor and Water Injection Platform topsides fabrication in Bibi-Heybat is 82 % complete and is on target for sailaway and offshore installation in the third quarter of 2005 and for the first gas injection in November. Woodward said that construction operations on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline are on schedule and will complete next year. The activities of BP Azerbaijan in 2005 will focus on completing the fabrication and assembly of the TPG 500 at Zykh and at the Yusif Ibrahimov Floating Dry Dock, laying of subsea pipelines, construction of the Shah Deniz section of the Sangachal terminal and the SCP pipeline, ahead of commissioning and first gas supplies in 2006. In 2005, the company plans to spend $ 154 mm in operating expenses and $ 2.311 bn in capital expenses on ACG activities. 4.2. MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND TOURISM HOLDS BUSINESS-SEMINAR Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 17, 2005 The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with the Economic Reforms Center, marketing society, Azerbaijan Banks Association, "Eurasia" Fund conducted a two-day seminar "Credit Policy in Azerbaijan and Drawing up Business Plans" for the heads of regional departments of Ministry, representatives of tourist companies and hotels. Lectures on peculiarities of credit policy in Azerbaijan, filling in credits documents and drawing up business-plans, introduction to marketing, and development of tourism in regions was delivered at the seminar. 4.3. SOUTH CAUCASUS PIPELINE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION HALF-COMPLETED Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 18, 2005 According to the information of the BP press service 55% of the works at the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum MEP have been realized. Preparatory works to pump the first gas from the Shah-Deniz prospect to the pipeline will be completed in 2005. The works include delivery of the technological processing equipment for modernization of the Zikh construction-mounting workshop from Singapore, delivery of TPG 500 platform from the Caspian Shipping Company's construction field, drilling of the appraisal well in Shah-Deniz prospect, installation of the TPG platform, start of exploitation tests in the Sangachal terminal. The Baku-Erzurum gas pipeline construction employs 1085 people, 820 of which are locals. 4.4. FIRST OIL FROM "MERKEZI AZERI" TO BE PRODUCED IN FEBRUARY Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 27, 2005 The first oil from "Merkezi Azeri" will be produced in mid February, AzerTAj correspondent learnt from the Azerbaijan International Operating Company / AIOC/. 99% of the works, as well as installation of upper modules, hydro test of underwater oil pipes, preparation works for delivery of the first oil to Sangachal terminal completed. 4.5. NEW WELLS PUT INTO OPERATION IN " GUNASHLI" FIELD Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 27, 2005 20 new wells were put into operation in N13 platform of "Gunashli" field, at 120 km distance from shore, in 2004, as a result of which, gas production has reached 10 mln cubic meters, "Azneft" production association reports. 29 km new submarine oil and gas pipe was connected with the main line as well. 4.6. BP INCREASE OIL PRODUCTION LAST YEAR Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 28, 2005 BP produced 6 million 572 thousand tons of oil from Chirag oilfield in 2004. It is by 116 thousand tons higher than that in 2003. Of this volume of oil 6 million 296 thousand tons were exported through Baku-Supsa oil pipelines and 166 thousand tons - through Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. 4.7. EXECUTIVE ORDER OF PRESIDENT OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC ON APPROVAL OF THE "MEMORANDUM OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF REALIZATION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL OF THE FRAME CONVENTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ON CLIMATIC CHANGES", SIGNED ON DECEMBER 8, 2004 IN THE CITY OF BAKU Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 28, 2005 1. To ratify signed on December 8, 2004 in city Baku the "Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on cooperation in the field of realization Kyoto Protocol of the Frame Convention of the United Nations on climatic changes". 2. To charge the Cabinet of the Azerbaijan Republic to take necessary measures for realization of the Memorandum of the mutual understanding specified in the paragraph 1 of the this Order. 3. To charge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan Republic to direct to the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark the corresponding notice on performance of the interstate procedures necessary for coming into force of the Memorandum of mutual understanding, pointed in the paragraph 1 of the present Order. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, January 19, 2005 4.8. MEGA WINS BP'S CONTEST Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 29, 2005 Recently, the Azeri Company MEGA has won the tender on "Provision of Web Design Services" announced by BP owing to continuous efforts on improvement of performance and provided services. Founded in April 2002, MEGA is engaged in development of sites and portals, development of web applications, Multimedia: issue of compact presentation discs, Corporate style: development of company logo, trademark. Ministry of Internal Affairs, Head Office of State Traffic Police, Swift Technical Azerbaijan, XerotecLLC, AzPEtrol, IMPROTEX Group of Companies, Mbask, Rapid Solutions, Aselsa-Baku, EUPEC and many other commercial and state organizations are among the clients of the Company. 5. NEWS FROM ARMENIA 5.1. GOVERNMENT APPROVES FOOD SECURITY CONCEPT Source: Armenpress, January 26, 2005 The Armenian government approved on January 25 the "concept of food security", whereby it wants to make Armenia meet international standards of self-sufficiency in agricultural products by 2015. The program envisages that in ten years Armenia's agriculture and food processing industry will be able to secure 75 percent of domestic demand in foodstuffs. Hrachya Tspnetsian, a senior official from the Agriculture Ministry, said after the Tuesday government session that Armenia meets now only 55 of its domestic demand for foodstuff. He added that the success of food security program depends largely on the purchasing power of the population. Another goal of the program is to enable every Armenian to consume at least 2,100 kilocalories a day, an amount which doctors say is the "physiological minimum." Armenia has to import now all consumed sugar, cooking oil and part of meat, wheat, but imports no fruits, potatoes and other vegetables. The food security concept was developed by an inter-ministerial commission. According to national statistical service, monthly earnings of each member of an urban household make 12,000 drams (approximately $25) and in rural areas 7,000 drams. Fifty-three percent of that money comes from wages, 10 percent from sale of agricultural products, 10.5 percent from state benefits and allowances and another 22 percent from money remittances from abroad. An average Armenian family spends two thirds of its budget on food. 5.2. Ecologists Want Government Control of GM Food in Armenia Source: Asbarez Online, January 28, 2005 Environmental and consumer rights organizations are sounding the alarm over the virtual absence of government controls on the spread of genetically modified (GM) food in Armenia. Biotech crops, widely cultivated in the United States but banned across Europe, have been rapidly spreading around the world. According to some studies, last year saw a 20% jump in their production levels compared to 2003. Armenia has no laws or government policies regulating imports and domestic production of GM foodstuffs, the impact of which is still a matter of great contention. Local environmentalists say the apparent government complacency could lead to negative consequences. "The danger facing both nature and human beings is enormous. We are violating the most important laws of nature," warned Karine Danielian, a former environment minister who now heads the Association for Sustainable Development, a non-governmental organization opposed to genetically engineered crops. Anush Galstian of the Armenian Ecological Club, another NGO, shared Danielian's concerns, arguing that the authorities do not even check the genetic origin of crop seeds imported to the country. "We don't have laboratories to conduct such studies," she said. "Nor do we have laws obliging every importer of foodstuffs to go through such procedures." "We have yet to clarify what we are importing and growing," Galstian added. The Armenian Ministry of Environmental Protection did recognize the problem in 2003 when it received a $156,000 grant from the United Nations to develop a "national framework for biological security." Artashes Ziroyan, a ministry official who runs the project, told RFE/RL that the document has already been drawn up and will serve as a basis for a special law to be drafted by the government. Ziroyan could not say whether GM seeds are already used by Armenian farmers and, if so, to what extent. According to Melsida Hakobian, chairman of the Association of Consumers, the unusually big size of some vegetables sold in the markets indicates their GM origin. "The farmers do not know what [genetic engineering] is," she said. "But when we explain the risks involved, some of them start having second thoughts. But other say proudly, 'See how big our tomatoes are'." The possibly negative effects of biotech crops has prompted concern from environmentalists and farming specialists around the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a UN agency based in Rome, held a special conference on the problem this week. In a statement released afterward, FAO called for thorough consultations and checks on the impact that GM food might produce on natural resources such as soil and water, as well as of rural livelihoods. "The need to monitor both the benefits and the potential hazards of released GM crops to the environment is becoming ever more important with the dramatic increase in the range and scale of their commercial cultivation, especially in developing countries," Louise O. Fresco, assistant director-general of the agency's agriculture department, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying on Thursday. 5.3. ARMENIA TO BE PROVIDED $20 MILLION FOR AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS Source: PanARMENIAN.Net, January 29, 2005 Within the framework of the official visit of the Armenian President to Italy Robert Kocharian met with leaders of the UN Food and Agriculture Program and the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD). In compliance with the agreement, signed by Minister of Agriculture of Armenia David Lokian and IFAD President Lenart Bohen yesterday, a new agricultural program totaling $20 million is planned to be implemented in Armenia. As stated by D. Lokian, $10 million will be allocated for crediting framing, while the rest $10 million will be spent to implement modernization programs of the agricultural infrastructure. The implementation of the program, which will last 4 years, will begin in a couple of months. It should be noted that the same day a business forum was held in Rome with the participation of representatives of the business circles of Armenia and Italy. In the course of the meeting prospects of implementation of a range of investment programs in Armenia by the Italian party were outlined. 5.4. TOURISM IS A NEW FIELD IN ARMENIA Source: A1plus, January 31, 2005 Arthur Zakaryan, head of the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Trade and Economical Development, announced today, that tourism is a new field in Armenia. «I do not mean that tourism came into existance or started to develop since 1998», said Arthur Zakaryan, «What I want to say is that tourism started to develop on Armenia after winning independence. In Soviet times it was decided in Moscow where the tourist group must go and how long it will stay and no tourist had the right to change anything». Mr. Zakaryan also said that a system of regulation of the field of hotel will be inserted. All the hotels in Armenia will get qualification marks, the highest being «5 star». The requirements of the qualifying committee will be very strict. It will include members of the Union of Architects, Artists, Designers, etc. 6. NGO NEWS 6.1. "PROJECT HARMONY" OPENS INTERNET CENTERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS Source: EINNews, January 30, 2005 The US-based "Project Harmony" non-governmental organization has opened Internet computer center in two secondary schools of Ismayilli district. The Center has been provided with necessary equipment and connected to the Internet. Schoolteachers will show teaching methods using software and Internet resources at the presentation ceremony to be held February 1. Representatives of the Education Ministry and US embassy to Azerbaijan will attend the ceremony. 7. INTERNATIONAL NEWS 7.1. PRACTICAL ACTION PLAN TO COMBAT POVERTY UNVEILED AT UN TODAY Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag, January 17, 2005 UN Millennium Project's "Investing in Development" presented to Secretary-General Annan, welcomed by experts as cost-effective blueprint for achieving Millennium Development Goals by 2015. As reports AzerTAj on referring to the UN press-release, in the most comprehensive strategy ever put forward for combating global poverty, hunger and disease, a blue-ribbon team of 265 of the world's leading development experts today proposed a package of scores of specific cost-effective measures that together could cut extreme poverty in half and radically improve the lives of at least one billion people in poor developing countries by 2015. The recommendations of the UN Millennium Project, an independent advisory body to the UN Secretary-General, are laid out in the report "Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals". The report was presented to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today. Secretary-General Annan has said the fight against extreme poverty should be the top priority of the world community and the UN system in 2005. "Until now, we did not have a concrete plan for achieving the Millennium Development Goals," said Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, the economist who directed the three-year UN Millennium Project. "The experts who contributed to this huge undertaking have shown without a doubt that we can still meet the Goals-if we start putting this plan into action right now." 8. NEW PUBLICATIONS 8.1. Forest Planning and Practice Recommendation Guide - For the Conservation and Enhancement of biodiversity in Georgian Forests The Cooperation and Culture Department of the French Embassy has the pleasure to hold at your disposal Georgian and English versions of the «Forest Planning and Practice Recommendation Guide - For the Conservation and Enhancement of biodiversity in Georgian Forests». This guide was realised by M. Merab MACHAVARIANI, Environment and Forest Policy Expert, and international experts of the French Forestry Office, Mr Laurent VALIERGUE and Mr Steven SPEED, with the financial support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These guides represent the end result of know how exchanges between French and Georgian partners and include remarks and recommendations underlined during a seminar organised at the French Cultural Centre in Tbilisi on October 19th, 2004. If you want to obtain a certain number of these guides, please contact the Cooperation and Culture Department of the French Embassy, 15 Gogebashvili Street, 99 99 76. The Cooperation and Culture Department of the French Embassy has the pleasure to hold at your disposal Georgian and English versions of the «Forest Planning and Practice Recommendation Guide - For the Conservation and Enhancement of biodiversity in Georgian Forests ». This guide was realised by M. Merab MACHAVARIANI, Environment and Forest Policy Expert, and international experts of the French Forestry Office, Mr Laurent VALIERGUE and Mr Steven SPEED, with the financial support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These guides represent the end result of know how exchanges between French and Georgian partners and include remarks and recommendations underlined during a seminar organised at the French Cultural Centre in Tbilisi on October 19th, 2004. If you want to obtain a certain number of these guides, please contact the Cooperation and Culture Department of the French Embassy, 15 Gogebashvili Street, 99 99 76. 9. CALENDAR (INTERNATIONAL) 9.1. International Conference Women in Forestry NatureDear Colleagues, It is our great pleasure to invite you all to the Ninth International Conference "Women in Forestry" for the first time at the one of Baltic Countries- Lithuania. Lithuania lies in the Eastern Europe, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The conference will last 6 days, starting on May 22 and ending on May 28, 2005. Our itinerary starts and finishes at Hotel "Holiday Inn", Vilnius. During few years the organizations "Women in Forestry" has been founded in Latvia (13 November 2003) and Lithuania (15 May 2004). The strengthening collaboration between women forest owners, entrepreneurs, researchers, foresters, forestry officers and students will create the basis for stimulation their activities and solving their problems as well as exchange of experience. During our six day conference you will be able to see the forest for yourself as well as protected biotopes and other habitats which form the basis of our green forestry management plans. We will also show you how the Lithuanian timber is processed from tree to final product. This program is intended to provide a first hand look at Lithuanian forestry practice. Register now, on a first come, first served basis, on internet in rubric "9th International conference" () at the latest by March 30th 2005. Registration is binding and you will be sent the detailed program when we receive your application. All detailed information you could find on the web site: rubric 9th International Conference (9-ji Tarptautine konferencija). Jelena Aneicik Head of Administration Forest owners association of Lithuania Kalvariju str. 131-312, Vilnius LT-08221, Lithuania Tel/fax: +370 5 2767590 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Web site: *************************************************************************** Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) E-mail: [email protected] URL: *************************************************** ************************ Editorial policy: CENN both solicits and accepts submissions for environmental information to the Caucasus Environmental News Bulletin. Although, CENN retains the right to edit all materials both for content and length. The information provided for the Bulletin does not necessarily represent the opinion of CENN and SDC. ******************************************* CENN INFO Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04 Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05 E-mail: [email protected] URL: