ASBAREZ Online [03-23-2005]

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03/23/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Demands of Javakhk Armenians Justified, Says Saakashvili Representative 2) US, Armenia Formalize Development Assistance Action Plan 3) Kavkaz-Poti Ferryboat Line Opens 4) Novorossiysk Armenians Seek Russian, Armenian Presidents' Intervention in Cossack Rampage 5) Armenian Jews Call for Genocide Recognition 1) Demands of Javakhk Armenians Justified, Says Saakashvili Representative TBILISI (Combined Sources)--The governor of Samtskhe-Javakhk Goga Khachidze, representing Georgian President Saakashvilli, met with representatives of the predominantly Armenian populated region on March 22, along with the organizers of a protest that took place in the local town of Akhalkalak on March 13. Citing economic and security concerns, approximately 1,500 residents had rallied against a recent Georgian parliament resolution calling for the withdrawal of a Russian military base in Akhalkalak. During their meeting with Khachidze, local leaders, including representatives of non-governmental organizations, as well as Akhalkalak's representative in Georgian parliament Hamlet Movsisian, and local governor Arthur Yeremian, presented a row of immediate demands. These included the teaching of Armenian history in local schools, democratization of local elections, the use of the Armenian language in local juridical processes, restoration of a passport/identification bureau in the region, and reconstruction of roads near the Armenian border where a customs checkpoint is located (goods arriving from Armenia are presently diverted from that checkpoint to approximately 60 miles away for inspection). Khachidze promised a positive resolution by March 28, to the restoration of a passport/identification bureau. He also pledged to take the issue of teaching Armenian history in local schools to Georgia's Ministry of Education for a quick resolution. Though he was unable to provide official responses to the remaining issues, Khachidze later told a press conference that all of the demands are legitimate, and he would do his utmost to resolve the issues. 2) US, Armenia Formalize Development Assistance Action Plan YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Representatives of the US-Armenia Task Force on Economic Cooperation (USATF) signed an Action Plan on March 23, following their most recent meeting. Armenia's Minister of Finance and Economy Vartan Khachatrian and US Ambassador John Evans formalized the document that highlights cooperation in development assistance between the US and Armenia. "This Action Plan is our development roadmap," said Ambassador Evans at signing ceremony. "It helps us set clear goals and ensures that we are cooperating as governments toward a bright future for the Armenian people." The 30-point action plan includes means to improve fiscal administration, strengthen the banking sector, fight corruption, engage the business community, meet Armenia's needs in the public service sector, and strengthen ongoing cooperation in the agricultural and humanitarian sectors. The document also acknowledges Armenia's eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and the need to register progress in MCA eligibility areas. The signing was preceded by a series of working-level meetings on each of these items between officials of the US Embassy and USAID and various Government of Armenia ministries. USAID-Armenia Director Robin Phillips also participated in the event. The US-Armenia Task Force on Economic Cooperation was established in January 2000 as a way to institutionalize government-to-government dialogue on development issues, promote further economic cooperation, and maximize the effectiveness of assistance programs implemented by the United States Government. Meetings are held twice a year (once in the United States and once in Armenia). The next USATF meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in May 2005 in Yerevan. The United States Government has provided over 1.5 billion dollars of assistance to the Republic of Armenia over the past decade. 3) Kavkaz-Poti Ferryboat Line Opens TBILISI (Armenpress)--The ferryboat line connecting the Russian port of Kavkaz on the Black Sea with the Georgian port of Poti opened on Wednesday. The first flour-loaded carriages will reach the Georgian port in two days. Kavkazpress news agency reported that Georgia is committed to uninterrupted operation of the ferryboat line, especially in winter months when overland roads connecting it with Russia are closed because of heavy snowfalls. The ferryboat line was expected to begin working last January 20, but its opening was postponed twice at Russia's request. The ferryboat will transport up to 30 carriages weekly--part of which will go to Armenia. It will cut transportation cost of Armenia-bound goods by 30 percent. The Georgian City of Poti, Armenia's nearest seaport, can be reached by road from Yerevan. It serves as a primary gateway for Armenia--both for imports and exports. Armenia has 840 kilometers of railway; however, of the three international rail connections via Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, only the Georgian connection to the Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi are presently in operation, due to trade embargoes imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey. Armenian government officials and businessmen hope that the opening of a rail ferry service between Poti and Kavkaz, which was scheduled to operate in late January, would partly restore Armenia's rail connection with the outside world. 4) Novorossiysk Armenians Seek Russian, Armenian Presidents' Intervention in Cossack Rampage NOVOROSSIYSK (Armenpress)--According to a report from the southern Russian city of Novorossiysk in the province of Krasnodar, the local Armenian community has asked for the Russian and Armenian presidents' intervention in putting an end to a new wave of anti-Armenian pogroms. Yerkramas weekly, a newspaper run by the Armenian community of southern Russia, reported that the local Armenian community said city law-enforcement bodies have failed to uphold their promise to guarantee local Armenians' safety. The newspaper said these guarantees were given on March 22, after Cossacks from nearby regions went on a rampage in a town quarter populated by Armenians-- destroying cars, cafes, and shops owned by Armenians. On the same day, the mayor appealed to the Armenians, Greeks, and Cossacks to observe the law and refrain from disorder; however, on the same evening, around 200 Cossacks went on the attack against Armenians and Greeks. According to a witness, the clash was caused by a squabble at a local cafe when Cossacks, led by their Community leader Vladimir Petrushin, attacked a group of Armenians and Greeks who were having a birthday party. In the subsequent fight, Petrushin was injured and was rushed to a hospital where doctors operated on him. Local law-enforcement bodies launched a criminal investigation. Novorossiysk Mayor Vladimir Sinyagovskiy held a discussion with representatives of national communities of the city, stating that those guilty would be exposed and punished. An agreement was reached not to aggravate the situation. The local Armenian cultural society "Luys" said that the Armenian party strictly observed the agreement, calling on its compatriots for calmness and allowing law-enforcement structures to gain control over the situation. Inter-ethnic tension in this region has become commonplace. The historic Armenian presence in the Krasnodar region dates back centuries, mainly due to the incentives offered by Tsarist officials to Armenians willing to move to the region. Throughout the 19th century, the Armenians contributed to an expansion of the region's commerce and agriculture. Additional numbers of Armenian refugees settled in the region in 1988 in the wake of anti-Armenian pogroms by Azeris in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku. A related influx of Armenians from Karabagh, Javakhk, and Abkhazia also strengthened the Armenian presence in the Krasnodar region. After fleeing the anti-Armenian attacks by Azeris, the Russian-speaking Armenians from Baku, in particular, often preferred to resettle in Krasnodar, Stavropol, and Moscow, rather than in Armenia, mainly because of their lack of Armenian language skills and the need for Russian schools that were closing in Armenia. 5) Armenian Jews Call for Genocide Recognition YEREVAN (Yerkir) --The Jewish community of Armenia called on Jewish organizations around the globe to recognize the Armenian Genocide. "Ottoman Turkey killed 1.5 million of its Armenian citizens, and for decades, mankind has not condemned this," reads the appeal adopted by the congress of the Armenian Jews. "The Holocaust may have been avoided if the world had united against this brutality--as it does now to fight terror," the appeal states, adding that no political or economic interest should become an obstacle for recognition of this tragedy. Addressing the role of the Turkish people in recognizing the horror of its past, they state, "It would only elevate them in the eyes of the civilized world as was the case with Germany, which admitted to the killings of 6 million Jews under Nazis." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress