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10/12/2005
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1) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey open Georgian Section of Caspian Oil Pipeline
2) Governor Signs Senator Scott’s Armenia Trade Office Bill
3) ARF Armenia Youth Organization Gains 42 New Members
4) Catholicos Aram I Blesses New Western Prelacy Building
1) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey open Georgian Section of Caspian Oil Pipeline
TBILISI (AP)–The presidents of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey on Wednesday
ceremonially opened the valves on the Georgian section of a US-backed Caspian
pipeline that is seen as key to cutting Western dependence on Mideast oil.
They said the new route would help their countries prosper.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, AzeriPresident Ilham Aliyev, and
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer each pushed a button opening valves at a
pumping station for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in the Gardaban district
outside the capital, Tbilisi.
`What does this pipeline mean for Georgia? Economically, it means
investment,’
Saakashvili said at the ceremony. `But the significance of this pipeline is
first of all political. Georgia’s significance is growing on the world map and
in this region.’
`Next year we’ll get a gas pipeline, which means economic and energy
independence for Georgia,’ he added.
Known as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, or BTC pipeline, the $3.2 billion project
aims to boost the energy-hungry West’s access to the rich Caspian fields,
estimated to hold the world’s third-largest reserves. Iran, Russia,
Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan all claim shares of the Caspian’s undersea
wealth.
The three leaders opened the first section, transiting Azerbaijan, in May.
By year’s end, the 1,100-mile project is to ship up to 1 million barrels a
day
to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. It will take approximately 10
million
barrels of crude to fill the entire pipeline.
Most Caspian oil exports currently go through Russian pipelines to the Black
Sea port of Novorossiisk, where the oil is loaded onto tankers that squeeze
through the crowded Bosporus Strait.
2) Governor Signs Senator Scott’s Armenia Trade Office Bill
SACRAMENTO(Combined Sources)Senator Jack Scott’s bill that extends the sunset
date for the operation of a privately funded trade office in Armenia has been
signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
California, home to about half-a-million Armenian-Americans, conducts most of
the nearly 50 million in trade between Armenia and the United States. The
trade
office is expected to increase business and trade and tourism between
California and Armenia.
`This is an important step forward in cementing ties between the people of
California and Armenia,’ said Senator Scott. `It is also a responsible step in
these tight economic times. This office is the first privately funded trade
office for the state and it will be a win-win for California and Armenia.The
trade office will open new and large growth markets for California businesses
and investors. For Armenia and its neighbors, the office will generate
much-needed business and investment.’
The state’s trade office in Armenia opened last week in the capitol city of
Yerevan. It was funded with $75,000 in private donations. The Glendale-based
Foundation for Economic Development helped create the trade office.
Because the money was raised privately, the state was able to open the office
in Armenia even though California’s other foreign trade offices were closed
recently because of state budget woes. That could be a model for the state if
it opens other foreign trade offices, officials said.
Senator Scott recently completed a fact-finding trip to Armenia where he met
with President Robert Kocharian and foreign minister Vartan Oskanian to
announce the opening of the trade office.
`The Armenian officials that I met with are very excited about it because
they
recognize that one of the ways as a developing country they’re going to
progress is to count on the expertise and the products that would come from a
place like California,’ said the Senator Scott, who was in Armenia September
19-23. `We will be the first in the nation to reap the trade benefits of the
enormous economic potential of this region.’
Officials expect that the office will facilitate in the export of information
technology and health products going into Armenia and help Armenian businesses
export foodstuffs and other products to California.
3) ARF Armenia Youth Organization Gains 42 New Members
YEREVAN (Aztagdaily.com)–Forty-two youth recently joined the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Agbal Aghbalian Student Union in Armenia at a
ceremony that took place at the grave of Aram Boghosian who died fighting for
the Liberation of Mountainous Karabagh.
The October 7 swearing-in took place at Yerablur Military Cemetery in
Yerevan.
ARF Parliamentary faction secretary Hrair Garabedian noted the symbolism of
the
students taking their oath in the `presence of dedicated and martyred ARF
members.’
He asked the students to continue the mission of those who have sacrificed
themselves, `because the ARF is a party that carries out strugglesnot only on
the battlefield,’ but also in professions the students have chosen in their
various fields of study, he stressed.
Speaking to the new members, ARF-Armenia Supreme Body member Hratch
Tadevosian
said the people gave birth to the ARF at the end of the 19th century, and
during the subsequent 115 years, the party led a resolute fight to protect the
rights of Armenians. `But there remain many unresolved issues, and they await
you; we must be able to pursue these together, step-by-step. I hope that you
will provide force to the ARF.’
4) Catholicos Aram I Blesses New Western Prelacy Building
LOS ANGELES–Saturday, October 8 marked a historic day for the Western Prelacy
as His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, blessed the
new building that will house the Western Prelacy headquarters. The ceremony
began with His Holiness blessing a large cross that was then lifted with a
crane and placed on top of the dome of the St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen
Chapel in
the new building in La Crescenta.
While construction is not yet fully completed, several hundred guests and
clergy attended to witness the Pontiff’s blessing of the new structure, to
usher in a new era of expanded spiritual leadership for the church in the
western United States.
Many of the major benefactors who made the building possible were on hand to
take part in the special occasion including Mrs. Ashken Pilavjian and Mr. and
Mrs. John and Asdghig Bedrossian. Following the blessing and placement of the
cross, the Catholicos led a procession of clergy and benefactors into the
building to officially bless the alter inside and the overall building.
`This marks a historic day,’ said Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate of
the Western United States. The Archbishop thanked the benefactors who
facilitated the construction of the building, as well as the tireless efforts
of the Prelacy Executive Council, the Building Committee and others who have
worked tirelessly to make the building a reality. `When our people work
together for the common good of the community no resources are beyond the
reach
of those who take initiative,’ the Archbishop continued. The Archbishop also
noted the presence of a representative from the Forest Lawn memorial park that
also made a sizeable donation for the Prelacy building.
His Holiness declared that this is not just a building that will house the
Prelacy’s offices, rather `the home of our faith and nation which will serve
our church and people.’ The Catholicos also noted the integral role played by
Archbishop Mardirossian and the various benefactors and committee members who
drove the idea and realization of the structure. `May God bless and look over
all those who will care for and work in this building and the Armenian
American
community who will support this effort,’ the Pontiff concluded.
The building is expected to be completed within a year at which time all
Prelacy functions will be consolidated at this location from their temporary
location in Encino.
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