Month: November 2006

UNDP REPORT STATES GLOBAL WATER CRISIS DOES NOT THREATEN ARMENIA SO FAR
By Karine Danielian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/11/2006
Yesterday, at the UN Office in Yerevan Vartan Aivazyan, RA minister
of nature protection, and Consuelo Vidal, UN resident coordinator and
UNDP resident representative in Armenia, represented the 2006 global
human development report (HDR). The 2006 UNDP report is entitled
“Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis”. The
Report calls on the governments of rich states to act urgently
to address the global water crisis: each year, the authors state,
1.8 million children die from diarrhea that could be prevented with
access to clean water and a toilet; 443 million school days are lost
to water-related illnesses; and almost 50 percent of all people in
developing countries are suffering at any given time from a health
problem caused by a lack of water and sanitation. Besides, the HDR
2006 calls on governments to spend 1% GDP on water and sanitation.
“Everyone should have at least 20 litres of clean water per day and the
poor should get it for free,” said Ms. Consuelo Vidal. A Global Action
Plan should be created to overcome this crisis under leadership of G8,
she stated. The Report advocates for all governments to go beyond vague
constitutional principles in enabling legislation to secure the human
right to a safe, accessible and affordable water supply. At a minimum,
this implies a target of at least 20 litres of clean water a day for
every citizen-and at no cost for those too poor to pay, the authors
of the document emphasize. The Report’s authors urge all governments
to prepare national plans for accelerating progress in water and
sanitation, with ambitious targets backed with financing to the tune
of at least one percent of GDP, and clear strategies for overcoming
inequalities. In his turn, Vartan Aivazyan stated that in the course
of the recent years, Armenia initiated a number of reforms in the area
of water and sanitation management, as well as sustainable use of water
resources. Thanks to these efforts, water management and accessibility
have gradually improved in Yerevan and other major cities.
Similar positive trends were registered in terms of the level of
Sevan Lake. These achievements need to be acknowledged, but at the
same time we need to use this opportunity to draw the public and the
government’s attention to the existing issues: endangered ecosystem
of Sevan due to the emerging swamping phenomena; lack of access
to potable water in many rural and urban communities in Armenia;
intensified desertification processes in Ararat and Armavir marzes;
increased deforestation in Tavush and Lori marzes. Under the UNDP
report, the HDI (human development index) for Armenia is 0.768,
which gives Armenia a rank of 80th out of 177 countries. Hence,
Armenia leaves behind Azerbaijan and Georgia, which occupy the 99th
and the 97th places, respectively. In the report, Armenia is among the
countries with average level of human potential. It has fallen by 3
positions as against the previous year. HDI comprises GDP per capita,
life expectancy at birth, adult literate rate. According to the report,
GDP per capita in Armenia makes up $4.1 thousand, in Georgia – $2.8
thousand, in Azerbaijan – $4.1 thousand. Life expectancy index in
Armenia is 71 years, in Azerbaijan about 67, and in Georgia – 70.
Adult literacy level in Armenia makes up 99.4%.

ELECTRIC CABLES ON THE GAS PIPE
A1+
[03:31 pm] 15 November, 2006
On November 14 at 08:22 p.m. a fire broke out in Shiraz str. 48,
Yerevan. A fire brigade left for the site immediately.
The fire fighters found out that the electric cables fell on the gas
pipe of the building resulting in gas leakage and fire. The fire was
put out after the gas supply of the building had been stopped.

SNOWFALL IN MID NOVEMBER
A1+
[04:19 pm] 15 November, 2006
On November 14 at about 06:50 p.m. the communities of Mets Sepasar,
Poqr Sepasar, Ghazanchi, Tavshout, Sizavet, Bavra and Saragyugh in
Shirak region were deprived of electricity because of a heavy snowfall.
According to the Rescuers’ service, the electricity supply was restored
at 07:29 p.m.
By the way, “ArmHydroMet” informs there has been no snowfall today
in Shirak. Instead, it keeps snowing in Syuniq region.

“SERGE SARGSYAN IS A SMALL PERSON”
A1+
[06:02 pm] 15 November, 2006
“When we sacrificed out lives in the war, we could have never thought
that one day it would become subject for sale. Today some people want
to sell high ideas in order to solve personal problems. Everything is
distorted, even the concept of being Armenian”, this was the statement
made by NGO “Brotherhood of Liberation War” today.
On behalf of the 57 commanders President of the NKR Yerkrapah Union
Arkadi Karapetyan called on everyone to join the movement “Civic
Disobedience”. Why have the commanders decided to speak about it
today? Mr. Karapetyan said, “Many of us understand Turkish and follow
the Azeri Mass Media. They used to announce that one day they might
take back the lost territories. Now they claim they will do it soon”.
According to Arkadi Karapetyan, the RA authorities do not hide their
readiness to give them territories.
“If Serge Sargsyan announces that Aghdam has never been an Armenian
land, what does it mean?” Mr.
Karapetyan said angrily. The journalists reminded him about another
announcement of Serge Sargsyan that when we took the disputable lands
in 1994 we knew that we would exchange them later. “Serge Sargsyan is
too small a person to say such a thing. When did he say that? Could
he dare to say the same in 1992 or 1994?
No soldier would fight if he knew that later someone would decide to
give the lands they liberate to the Azeris”.
Arkadi Karapetyan is especially worried about the fact that
Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan spoilt the reputation of the
Karabakhians. “I was against his coming to Armenia. Robert Kocharyan
was not elected in Karabakh either. On June 2, 1992, the whole
government of Armenia came to Karabakh in order to make people elect
him President of the country, but we didn’t. So he was appointed
President of the Defense Committee, and his career began”.
Arkadi Karapetyan assured that the people of Karabakh do not put
trust in either the NKR or the RA authorities when it comes to the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Arkadi Karapetyan also said he has his variant of mutual
compromise. “We have already compromised – we did not take
Baku”. He especially underlined that they do not make militant
announcements. “Normal people do not want war. I have lost children,
friends and relatives. At this rate our nation will die without
any war”.
The Council of Commanders of the “Brotherhood of Liberation War”
promised to represent 132 variants of the change of authorities. The
best variant adoring to them is the following, “Those people who have
seen war have only one variant: whatever he is not given he takes by
force. Those who want to give the liberated lands to the Azeris are
the same enemies to us who will have the same fate”.

“WE WILL NOT GIVE UP”
A1+
[06:30 pm] 15 November, 2006
Coordinator of “United Javakhq” Aram Batoyan announced in an interview
with Javakhq-Info that those who hope to shatter the will of “United
Javakhq” by keeping Vahagn Chakhalyan away from the organization by
means of the trial are making a dreadful mistake.
“Our organization which enjoys the support of the people has many
members like Vahagn Chakhalyan who are ready to lead of people of
Javakhq in their struggle for their political, educational, cultural
and social rights”, Batoyan said.
From: Baghdasarian

GAS SUPPLY HALTED
A1+
[06:36 pm] 15 November, 2006
The patients in medical center “Erebouni” were cold yesterday. It
was so cold in the rooms that the relatives of the patients who had
just been operated on covered them with blankets regardless of the
prohibition of the doctors. The reason of the cold was that the gas
supply of the hospital had been halted.
According to the RA Rescuers Service, on November 14 at 06:00
p.m. a truck crashed into the gas pipe on the Ayvazovski-Titogradyan
crossroad. As a result of the accident the communities of Nor Aresh
and Erebouni were deprived of gas. The gas service informed “A1+”
that tonight or tomorrow morning at worst gas supply will be restored.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER HOLDS MEETINGS IN BAGHDAD
Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
November 14, 2006 Tuesday 11:02 PM EST
Armenia’s Defense Minister and National Security Council chairman
Serge Sarkissian, now visiting Iraq, held a number of meetings in
Baghdad Tuesday, the Defense Ministry’s press service said.
As he met with Iraqi Defense Minister, Major General Abdul-Qader
al-Odeidi, the two men discussed the political situation in Iraq,
the goals for national and regional security, and the problem of
ethnic Armenians living there.
Operative situation in Iraq came into focus of his meeting with
General George Casey, the commander of U.S. troops in Iraq.
Sarkissian also met with Major General Bronislaw Kwiatkowski of
Poland, the commander of the multination Center-South division, and
got familiarized with the situation in the zone of its responsibility.
After official functions, Sarkissian visited Armenian peacekeepers
to see conditions in which they perform their duties.
A total of 46 servicemen from Armenia were attached to the division
under Polish command in January 2005.

IN ARMEN BAYBURDIAN’S WORDS, ARMENIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED UNEQUIVOCALLY, WHAT DOES NOT INFLUENCE POSITIVELY ON FRANCE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The conference entitled “15 Years of
Independence of Armenia and France” taken place at the National Academy
of Sciences on November 14 on the initiative of the French Embassy to
Armenia and AOKS (Armenian Society for Cultural Links and Cooperation)
was dedicated to the Armenian-French historic-cultural ties.
Tsovinar Chaloyan-Hakobian, the AOKS “Armenia-France” company
chairwoman, mentioned that this conference organized by them is the
8th one and completely dedicated to the year of Armenia in France,
particularly to all the political and cultural developments and
achievements taken place after the independence of Armenia. The
speakers made speeches dedicated to the two countries’ political and
cultural cooperation and relations of 15 years, touching upon the
Armenian-French historic ties as well.
Armen Bayburdian, the RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized
that the Armenia-France interstate relations formed still from 1991
are much older and firmer in their basis. Those, according to historic
evidences, were formed still during the Crusades years.
And during the period of Napoleon Bonaparte’s ruling Armenians were
patronized just by the great conqueror.
Armen Bayburdian is sure that the peculiarity of the Armenian-French
relations is that those are built not only on bilateral state
interests: existence of the French Armenian powerful community of many
thousands was also attached importance here. Armenians, with their rich
cultural heritage, greatly assisted development of the French culture.
In the Deputy Minister’s words, France was among the first ones that
recognized the independence of Armenia on March 3, 1992. And the
French parliament recognized the 1915 Armenian Genocide in 2001. It
became a great spur for development of the process of recognizing the
genocide in other countries. “The Armenian-French relations are not
accepted unequivocally in the region and international political field,
what often does not have positive political or economic consequences
for France,” A.Bayburdian mentioned. The latter also stated that
Azerbaijan does not take part in those regional programs in which
France is also involved.
A.Bayburdian also stated that France annually makes investment of 47
mln dollars in Armenia, and 118 companies implement economic joint
programs here. Besides, the French government annually allocates 540
thousand evros for implementation of cultural programs in Armenia.

IN ARA PAPIAN’S WORDS, ARMENIA CAN APPLY TO UN INTERNATIONAL COURT TO CHECK
VALIDITY OF WOODROW WILSON’S 1920 DECISION ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The only document,
by which the state frontier between Armenia and Turkey was determined
from legal point of view was Article 89 of the Treaty of Sevres
and this article still can be recognized valid. Ara Papian, former
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Canada,
expressed such an opinion at the November 14 press conference.
In his words, when the legal authorities of the Ottoman Empire, the
Republic of Armenia and another twenty countries signed the Treaty
of Sevres (consequently, Article 89, too) in 1920, they decided that
any decision on Armenian and Turkish border will be acceptable by them.
The drawing of the Armenian-Turkish border was reserved for
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson who signed under that treaty after long
discussions. According to the treaty, the territory of Armenia was
to be 169 thousand sq.km against the current 29 thousand.
Papian expressed an opinion that Armenia can apply to UN International
Court in order to receive a conclusion whether Wilson’s arbiter
decision of 1920 is in force up to present.
“We cannot surpass Turkey in economic, military or other aspects,
we should accentuate the legal side,” the speaker emphasized. In
his words, Turkey will not dare to ignore the International Court’s
decisions. He said that there have been cases when a treaty signed
between the states was recognized in several years. He gave the
example of Honduras and Nicaragua when the arbiter decision made by
the Spanish king during the territorial argument between the latters
was fulfilled only 54 years later, as a result of the issue’s being
raised at the UN International Court.

IN VARTAN OSKANIAN’S WORDS, LOGICAL PROPOSAL, INTERESTING IDEAS ARE ON NEGOTIATIONS TABLE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
BRUSSELS, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia held a press conference in Brussels on November
13. At the press conference headed by European Union External Relations
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the Armenian and Azeri Foreign
Ministers were very well inclined towards each other, however, their
interpretations seriously differed from the statements published at
previous similar meetings, Radio Liberty states.
Both ministers appreciated in their preliminary interpretations the
Actions Plan of the European Union Neighbourhood Policy.
Do the interpretations seemed to be friendly mean anything for the
Karabakh negotiations to start on Tuesday? Foreign Minister of Armenia
Vartan Oskanian answered this question: “We do not know what will
tomorrow happen. A logical proposal, interesting ideas are on the
table, one must normally sit, negotiate and express will. So that,
it was expressed by our statement today.”
In the opinion of Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov,
“the issue must be observed within that context that the time already
push us forward, and the understanding also grew that one must move
from the dead point, from there where they stopped in the issue of this
conflict.” “And in the given case, I think, there is good possibility,”
the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan said.
As for the Actions Plan of the European Union Neighbourhood Policy,
Vartan Oskanian mentioned: “Our relations are given a new quality,
it is a rather voluminous document, great possibilities are put by
this document, integration processes are started, so that one must
concentrate and do the best.”
“We want not only to sign but to completely use, as it really will
bring Armenia to a new qualitative level in 5 years, both politically
and economically,” the Foreign Minister of Armenia stated.
In an exclusive interview to Radio Liberty, Benita Ferrero-Waldner
characterized singing of the Actions Plan as a “new stage.” “We
today start a new stage. We want to move our values: human rights,
democracy, hegemony of law, to those countries,” Mrs.Ferrero-Waldner
stated. “We listen to their wishes as well. But it is important for
us to stimulate the regional cooperation,” she said.
Peter Semneby, the European Union Representative to South Caucasus,
explaining, what the Actions Plan of the European Union Neighbourhood
Policy will give Armenia, said: “The European Neighbourhood Policy,
first of all, will give some money, but this money must be used to
change these societies, Azerbaijan and Armenia, to make them more
European.”
Semneby also said that the European Union will with great attention
observe the parliamentary and president’s elections expected in
Armenia: “Those will be important exams for Armenia.”
The Armenia-European Union meeting is expected on November 14, during
which the Actions Plan of the European New Neighbourhood will be
adopted. And in some hours after it, the Karabakh negotiations with
the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
as well as of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, will start at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium.