Month: June 2005

Pipe dreams: BP’s Baku pipeline has begun pumping oil. But will
Azerbaijan benefit from the wealth that will follow? Paul Brown
reports
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Jun 01, 2005
There are 800 manmade lakes on the edge of the Caspian Sea in an
area that is known simply as Twenty. The lakes contain oil, tar and
raw sewage as well as water – a mixture that in the summer months
provides potent fumes and a breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes.
On parts of the site – which, established in 1847, is the oldest oil
field in the world – a few remaining productive wells still work,
with “nodding donkeys” pumping up the last of the oil.
A few miles from this suburb of Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, in the
country’s section of the Caspian Sea, a newer story is unfolding.
British Petroleum is developing what it says is a state-of-the-art,
nearly pollution-free oilfield that will connect to the controversial
but almost complete 1,762km Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline,
which stretches from Azerbaijan to Turkey.
Last week the oil finally started to flow through the pipe towards
the Mediterranean where it will then travel by tanker to the UK to
be refined and keep Britain’s cars and aeroplanes running.
Before arriving at the new sea terminal, the pipeline runs through
environmentally sensitive areas in Georgia and has raised concerns
about the human rights of local villagers in Turkey. But BP believes
that all these problems have been settled and says the pipeline’s
advantage is that it avoids taking more oil tankers from the Black
Sea through the Bosporus strait. It describes BTC as the largest
energy project in the world.
Indeed, the pipeline will transport a million barrels of oil a day,
enough to turn impoverished Azerbaijan into a wealthy country almost
overnight. By 2007 it will have an income of $7bn (pounds 3.8bn)
a year, even if oil falls back from its current price of almost $50
a barrel to a modest $25 a barrel. But despite predictions of untold
wealth, there are concerns over whether the oil that will keep the
UK running will be a blessing or a curse for its country of origin.
Inayat Mehtiyeva, whose shop is a few yards from the nearest oil lake
that is fed by raw sewage from houses further up the hill, explains
that, so far, no benefits can be seen. She says people rarely pay
for the bread from her shop. “There is not much money, we operate a
barter system. We swap things. Some people take bread and say they
will pay later but they never come back. We really depend on God here.”
Along with 80% of the other residents of Twenty, Mehtiyeva is a
refugee. She has lived there for 12 years after fleeing from her home
in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave of Azerbaijan on the border with
neighbouring Armenia, during the war between the two countries. UN
agencies say Armenia still occupies 14% of Azerbaijan, although the
Azeri government claims it is 20%.
Mehtiyeva, whose first name means faith, hopes that one day, with
her two sons, she can return home where life was simple but good.
“Perhaps the oil money will help, but I do not know how. I know I
cannot stay here. At the first opportunity, I will flee.”
Hasay Hasanov, a shipyard worker who works next to area Twenty,
says his $100 a month pay is not enough. He is worried that his two
children might catch malaria and wants the old oilfield cleaned up,
but he does not think he will see any benefit from the new oil money.
“What we want is a decent wage – $300 a month – so we can afford more
than just paying the rent and buying food.”
The World Bank’s country manager for Azerbaijan, Ahmed Jehani, is
unsure whether the oil will be “a benefit or a curse”. He is afraid
that other industries will wither away if the country relies on oil
revenue alone. Politicians might become less responsive to the needs
of the people, he says, because they would no longer rely on them for
taxes. Rich resources could also lead to ethnic and other tensions,
especially if the benefits are not shared.
Added to this are doubts about whether democracy in Azerbaijan is
robust following the country’s election in October 2003. President
Ilham Aliyev was voted in after the death of his father Heydar,
whose giant presidential portraits still appear in their thousands
all across the capital.
Furthermore, according to Transparency International’s 2004 index,
Azerbaijan is one of the world’s most corrupt countries. “This is
a major concern of the World Bank,” says Jehani. “We need to get
accountability in elections, in the assets. There is a deficiency of
justice, access to courts, and lack of general transparency.”
Jehani is hopeful, however. The government has set up an oil fund
which will publish all the details of money coming in and where it
is invested. “This is a shining example of what can be done. Let us
hope that temptations to divert money away from long-term investment
do not prove too strong,” he says.
T oday’s oil boom in Baku is not the first. At the end of the 19th
century, Azerbaijan provided more than half the world’s oil, and 60%
of Britain’s oil. It supplied the cash for some of the most sumptuous
Victorian stately homes in Britain, but left Baku with a legacy of
oil pollution that the Soviet empire added to and left behind.
As Azerbaijan returns to an oil boom, it will again bolster profits
far away, notably those of BP. But the oil from the new fields is
expected to last only until 2020, after which time the country will
produce just enough for the needs of its 8 million people.
Jehani sums up: “It is a question of whether the money generated
from these 15 years of the second oil boom will be invested to turn
Azerbaijan into a modern and wealthy state, or whether it will be an
opportunity wasted.”
Twenty vision: Baku’s manmade oil lake Photograph: Valentin Yemelin

MEMBERS OF U.S. CONGRESS SPEAK OUT AGAINST TURKISH GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CONFERENCE
YEREVAN, MAY 31. ARMINFO. “The sad reality, is that when it comes to
facing the judgment of history about the Armenian genocide, Turkey,
rather than acknowledging the truth, has instead chosen to trample on
the rights of its citizens,” said U.S. Congress Rep. Pallone. Members
of Congress this week expressed outrage and disappointment at the
Turkish Government’s recent decision to quash a planned academic
conference on the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The event, organized by scholars from Turkey’s Bilgi, Bogazici
and Sabanci Universities, was scheduled to take place May 25-27th
at Bosphorus University. In remarks of the House floor yesterday,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) commented
that the government’s forced cancellation of the conference “further
affirms the speculation that the image that the Turkish Government has
attempted to create for itself is nothing more than a desperate attempt
to create a facade. Contrary to what Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
and other Turkish officials would have us believe, the Government of
Turkey is not democratic, is not committed to creating a democracy,
is not making an effort to create better relations with Armenia and
is definitely not ready to join the European Union.”
Rep. Pallone went on to explain that the U.S. “cannot sit by and
allow any nation that we consider an ally and a nation that is
desperately seeking admission into the European Union to behave in
such a manner. To bring this development into perspective, consider
that according to current law in Turkey, dozens of U.S. Senators and
hundreds of Congressmen would be punished simply for having voted for
Armenian genocide resolutions, spoken about the lessons of this crime
against humanity or commemorated the victims of the atrocity. So,
too, would the American academic establishment, human rights groups,
the mainstream media and just about everyone else aside from the
Turkish Embassy and its paid lobbyists here in Washington, D.C.”
Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), who spearheaded a successful effort
in 1996 to cut foreign aid to Turkey based on their ongoing denial
of the Armenian Genocide, stated: “Turkish government pressure on
historians from Bilgi, Bogazici and Sabanci Universities to cancel the
Armenian Genocide conference is yet another indication of the Turkish
government’s repression of freedom of speech and lack of respect
for academic freedom. The action exposes as a hollow gesture Prime
Minister Erdogan’s call for a dialogue between Turkish and Armenian
historians. The Turkish government’s labeling of Turkish academics
as ‘traitors’ simply for discussing the Genocide amongst themselves
underscores the need for those of us here, in the United States,
to call on Ankara to end its campaign of genocide denial.”
Urging Turkey to end its ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide,
Michigan Republican Thaddeus McCotter argued, “Only honesty can begin
to ease the ache of this evil perpetrated upon the Armenian people,
and to further guard against a recrudescence of genocide anywhere
in our world. Thus, any delay in acknowledging and apologizing for
their nation’s abhorrent historical crime only serves to embolden
other proponents of genocide, and to implicate this generation of
Turks in the sins of the past.”
The Conference, titled “Ottoman Armenians During the Decline of the
Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy,” was jointly
organized by the Comparative Literature Department of Bilgi University,
the History Department of Bogazici University and the History Program
at Sabanci University. Originally set to take place May 25th-27th at
Bosphorus University, the schedule was to include over 30 papers by
Turkish scholars from Turkey and abroad.
In the days leading up to the conference, Turkish Government officials
spoke stridently against the conference and its organizers. Turkish
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, in a speech before the Turkish Parliament
on Tuesday, went so far as to accuse the academics of “treason.” The
Minister described the conference as a “a stab in the back to the
Turkish nation.” Cicek expressed regret that, as Justice Minister,
he could not personally prosecute the organizers and participants.
The government crackdown on the conference is the most recent chapter
in the Turkish government’s 90-year campaign of genocide denial. This
effort has intensified in recent years. In 2003, Education Minister
Hikmet Cetin issued a decree making student participation in a
nation-wide essay contest denying the Armenian Genocide compulsory.
The most recent revisions to the Turkish Penal Code criminalize
references to the Armenian Genocide and the removal of troops from
Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

Armenian Catholicos Garegin II meets with Russian Patriarch
01.06.2005 16:32
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Catholicos Garegin II met on Tuesday with
Russian Patriarch Alexi II in Moscow.
The leaders of the churches discussed the great successes of the both
churches in their countries. Garegin II informed the Russian patriarch
that the Armenian government had allocated a piece of land to build
a Russian church in Yerevan.
High-ranking clerics from both sides were present at the meeting
as well.

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Folklore-Trio aus Eriwan Projekttage an der Grundschule mit einem
internationalen Anstrich
Vom 01.06.2005
 
red. GAU-ALGESHEIM Vom 1. bis 4. Juni finden an der
Schloss-Ardeck-Grundschule Projekttage statt. Die Ergebnisse der 30
Projekte, geleitet von Eltern oder Lehrkräften, unter anderem aus den
Bereichen Sport, Kunst, Natur, Technik, Geschichte, Besuch des
Flughafens, Computer, Feuerwehr, Literatur, Theater, Tanz,
Erlebniswelt Sinne, Zeitung, Partnerschaften und Wandern werden am
Samstag, 4. Juni, in der Grundschule präsentiert.
Ein Eroffnungsprogramm in der Sporthalle fuhrt ab 11 Uhr mit einem
Theaterstuck, Tanz und Sportdarbietungen in das Fest ein. Ein
jugendliches Trio aus Armenien wird Folklore- Musik darbieten und
damit die besonderen Beziehungen der Grundschule zum Kinderzentrum
Arche in Eriwan unterstreichen. Anschließend sorgen die Eltern wie
immer reichhaltig fur das leibliche Wohl, während man die
ausgestellten Werke und Präsentationen in den Räumen der Grundschule
besichtigen kann. Dabei geben die Projektteilnehmer gern Auskunft
uber ihre Arbeit. Im Jahr des 650. Stadtjubiläums drehen sich
naturlich auch einige Projekte um das alte und neue Gau-Algesheim.
Das Fest soll von 14.30 bis gegen 15.30 Uhr mit verschiedenen
Sportaktivitäten in der Halle ausklingen.
Eingeladen sind neben den Schulkindern und Angehorigen alle Freunde
der Schloss-Ardeck-Grundschule, besonders auch die zukunftigen
Erstklässler. Zur Mullvermeidung werden wie ublich alle Besucher
gebeten, sich Geschirr selbst mitzubringen.
–Boundary_(ID_DK5yZxdBt0fiYqDaw1m6og)–

ATV-12 and Parvana to carry daily news bulletins
01.06.2005 14:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Beginning June 1, ATV-12 and Parvana TV stations
based in Georgia’s Armenian-populated towns of Akhalkalak and
Ninotsminda respectively, will broadcast daily news bulletins,
A-INFO reported.
The project is funded by Internews, which has been working with these
TV stations for years and has held a number of training courses for
the stations’ employees.
The news bulletins will be broadcast in Armenian, Russian and Georgian.

Pangalti High School celebrated with cultural medley
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
FEATURE
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
The Talar Music and Dance Company of Pangalti High School staged
a performance yesterday in celebration of the 180th anniversary of
the school’s founding. The performance was held at Istanbul’s Lutfi
Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Hall. The patriarch of
Turkish Armenians, Mesrob II, and Sisli Deputy Mayor Vasken Barin
watched the show, in which traditional Armenian and Anatolian folk
songs and dances were performed.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA SHOULD LEARN TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MUTUAL INTERESTS
YEREVAN, June 1. /ARKA/. National interests of Armenia and Russia
coincide, as stated the Head of the presidential department for
inter-regional and cultural ties with foreign countries Modest
Kolerov. According to him, “we should not agitate each other or
tease with general phrases”. He also advised not to talk to each
other haggling “like us or we will do something else”. According
to Kolerov, “we cannot do without each other”. “When they say that
Armenia cannot do without Russia, I think that the truth is that
Russia cannot do without having relations with Armenia”, he said.
Kolerov noted that if the relations between Armenia and Russia are
based on general interests, then “let political powers have political
haggling”. According to Kolerov, the goal of the state is to give
adequate reply to demand of citizens, “to alleviate their lives, help
to work and study”. Meantime, he stated that probably everybody is
tired of “thunderous statements and terminological investigations”.
He thinks that “one should at least learn to take into account
mutual interests, interests of citizens of two states, learn not
to allow the third or forth powers speculate the relations between
the countries”. “These are our relations, and I see no problems if
some politician calls Armenia or the relations between the countries
somehow – it’s their personal business”, he said. A.H. -0–.

IT’S NECESSARY TO FIND COMMON AND PROFITABLE SOLUTION TO STIMULATE THE WORK RUSSIAN MASS MEDIA IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, June 1. /ARKA/. It’s necessary to find common and profitable
solution to stimulate the work Russian Mass Media in Armenia, as
stated the Head of the presidential department for inter-regional
and cultural ties with foreign countries Modest Kolerov. “Everybody
is tired of PR, and we should do practical steps instead of being
engaged in it”, he said. He added that Russian cultural center with
information center and access to Internet could be a solution.
According to Kolerov, all the issues should be discussed practically,
since there is no common solution for governmental and private Russian
mass media, and the only thing which connects them is competition
and infrastructural possibilities.
Kolerov touched upon access of subscribers to news of agencies,
noting that “the way to the heart of a reader lies through open
access and subscription mostly refers to yesterday”, and agencies
are better to make money by providing additional services. He also
noted that for international agencies some directions and regions
are unprofitable, for example “its’ stupid to make money in the
Armenian market, since it’s risky, as one may become dependent on
business-interests”. A.H. -0-

Armenian president praises newly-built luxury hotel in central Yerevan
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
1 Jun 05
[Presenter over video of hotel and opening ceremony] The
newly-constructed Golden Palace hotel in Victory Park has enlarged
Yerevan’s centre, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told journalists
after attending the opening ceremony and visiting the hotel. The
president said the fact that the hotel was constructed with foreign
investment shows that tourism is developing in Armenia.
The president said that about 260,000 tourists visited Armenia in 2004,
whereas only 35,000 tourists visited Armenia in 1998. Armenia can
receive 1m tourists annually, the president noted and added that they
wish there were two or three times as many of these hotels in Armenia.
It took four years to build the Golden Palace hotel, and the owner of
the hotel is the Cypriot (?Riverty Holding) company. The Golden Palace
hotel has 66 luxury, diplomatic, ambassadorial and presidential suites,
as well as an Italian restaurant, cigar bars and a conference hall.
[Robert Kocharyan, captioned, speaking in the hotel] This programme is
part of our policy of developing tourism. I heard that they wanted
to construct a very good hotel. But what I have seen here today
surpasses all my expectations. There is a need for other similar
hotels in Yerevan.
What is more interesting is that after the construction of the Kaskad
and this hotel, the city centre seems to have been enlarged. I am
confident that this hotel will work successfully since growth in the
tourism field totals 25 per cent annually. This means that attention
paid to this sphere is yielding positive results today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Holidays in the Danger Zone: Places That Don’t Exist
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Jun 01, 2005
7.30pm, BBC2
Nagorno Karabakh is one of those forgotten conflicts that at one
time was a major news story. Simon Reeve ends his engrossing series
back in the chaotic Caucasus, where Armenia and Azerbaijan remain
bitter over the fate of tiny, unrecognised Karabakh, formerly home
to hundreds of thousands of displaced Azeris and now the preserve of
their Armenian neighbours.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress