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10/12/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 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. 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.