Author: admin

CENN – March 17, 2005 Daily Digest

Table of Contents:

1. Baku – Tbilisi – Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Will Ease Traffic In Turkish
Straits

2. Chief of Forestry Department Flees Georgia, Citing Intimidation

3. US Pushes for Kazakh Exports Via BTC

4. CEPF project Newsletter

5. Let’s change the European Investment Bank actively and artfully!

6. Small grants available from the Global Transparency Initiative

7. Tenth International Journalism Summer School on “Working of
Journalists in the Situations of Crisis”

8. conference related to Public Health

9. NGO Strategy Meeting on The EU Environment and Health Action Plan:
Final Report

1. Baku – Tbilisi – Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Will Ease Traffic In Turkish
Straits

Source: TurkishPress, March 16, 2005

Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will lower the traffic in Turkish straits,
said a Turkish source.

”Aside from its economic benefits to Turkey, the oil pipeline will
help ease traffic in the Turkish straits of Bosphorus and
Canakkale. We estimate that at least 333 giant tankers will be
eliminated per year thanks to the (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline.”

According to information obtained by the A.A, the number of oil
tankers passing through the Turkish straits has dramatically increased
in the past decade. ”While the amount of oil carried by ships was
approximately 60 million tons in 1996, this amount jumped to 143,5
million tons in 2004.”

Turkish energy officials expect a rapid increase in the amount of oil
carried from Russia through the straits. ”When oil is transferred
from the Caspian region to Russia and then to Turkey, the tanker
traffic will likely show an increase. Each day at least 15 large oil
tanker pass through the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul.”

The Turkish straits have become an economic haven for thousands of
ships from Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

One Turkish official told the A.A that on the average one ship
carrying a foreign flag passes through the Turkish straits every 7
minutes. ”Every 50 minutes, a large oil carrier passes through the
Turkish straits.”

Asked about the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, a
Turkish Ministry of Energy official indicated that there are some
economic benefits for the people of the region. ”However, the BTC oil
pipeline will help bring the risk of accidents in Turkish straits to a
minimum level possible. We are more interested in the safety of
Turkish cities than the economic benefits the BTC may bring to us.”

The BTC oil pipeline is approximately 1774 kilometers long. The
portion of the oil pipeline in Turkey is about 1074 kilometers.

2. Chief of Forestry Department Flees Georgia, Citing Intimidation

Source: Civil Georgia, March 17, 2005

Chairman of the Forestry Department of Georgia Bidzina Giorgobiani
fled Georgia citing pressure from the authorities, particularly from
the officials of the Security Service, which is currently under the
subordination of the Interior Ministry.

Before his departure Mr. Giorgobiani recorded a short video tape and
distributed it to the Georgian television stations. In the tape, which
was broadcasted by the leading Georgian televisions on March 16,
Bidzina Giorgobiani claims that officials from the Security Service
fabricated a criminal case against him after he unveiled a scheme of
appropriation of funds by the Security Service officials from the
illegal trade of logs.

“Controversy [with the Security Service] started after I have cut all
the channels of illegal distribution of shares [from trade of logs],”
Mr. Giorgobiani said.

Reports say that Mr. Giorgobiani was convened in the General
Prosecutor’s Office a month ago for interrogation. The law enforcers
suspected him for alleged “negligence” while selling logs. He was
released after handing over to the General Prosecutor’s Office a
written pledge not to leave the city.

Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili declined to comment on this case
and only said that the General Prosecutor’s Office is in charge of
investigation.

In a video tape Mr. Giorgobiani said that he is going to Germany,
“where I lived for 9 years.”

Mr. Giorgobiani fled Georgia first time in early 90s after ouster of
late Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia in 1992. Georgian daily
Rezonansi reported on March 17, that Mr. Giorgobiani returned to
Georgia after the request of late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Zhvania who offered him a position of Chief of Forestry Department
last year

3. US Pushes for Kazakh Exports Via BTC

Source: The Messenger, March 17, 2005

The United States would support a Chinese plan to build a major new
pipeline to export natural gas from Kazakhstan, said the State
Department’s point man on Caspian energy issues.

But Ambassador Steven Mann told a forum of regional business
representatives last week that the United States has deep reservations
about the sale of neighboring Georgia’s main gas pipelines to Russia’s
state-controlled monopoly Gazprom, saying the deal could jeopardize
Georgia’s energy independence.

US officials have been pushing for Kazakhstan to ship more of its
energy reserves through the highly touted new pipeline that bypasses
Russia by going through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is expected to begin operations May 25.

4. CEPF project Newsletter

Dear Readers,

February Newsletter of Strengthening Conservation Alliances through
CEPF Coordination in Caucasus project is available on the following
site:

(There are available English and Russian versions of the Newsletter)

Lana Ghvinjilia

Communications Officer

WWF Caucasus PO

CEPF project

11 Alexidze St.

Tbilisi 0193 Georgia

Tel.: + 995 32 330155/54

Fax: + 995 32 330190

E-mail: lghvinjilia@wwfcaucasus.

5. Let’s change the European Investment Bank actively and artfully!

Every year the European Investment Bank (EIB) lends more than any
other international financial institution. It lends primarily to
European Union states but overall it has a current portfolio of
investments in more than 120 countries, with roughly 17% of these
investments going to new EU Member States and places such as South
Africa, Asia, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Latin America.

In view of the importance of the EIB’s financial role we are
challenging the ‘house Bank’ of the EU to become a positive European
source for the public funding of public benefits worldwide. We would
like to see an EIB which is fully accountable to the public and
transparent in all of its operations. We envision the EIB lending only
for environmentally and socially sustainable projects, based on clear
policies, standards and rules, both inside and outside the EU, which
can proudly state that it supports only projects that enjoy the
consent of all affected communities.

As a part of civil society’s call to concerned citizens and European
policy-makers to join efforts to make the EIB an institution that
supports people and the environment, we invite artists from Central
and Eastern European countries to participate in a social poster
design contest entitled “Public Funds for Public Benefits”.

Awards – Awards – Awards – Awards

There will be one first prize award of 1000 Euros and two runners-up
awards of 200 Euros. An international jury will decide the
prize-winners. The jury is composed of Professor Piotr Kunce,
professional artist and the Head of Poster Art Studio at Jan Matejko
Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, representing the media, Jane MacKenzie
of the UK’s renowned satirical magazine Private Eye, and Tomasz
Terlecki, the Executive Director of CEE Bankwatch Network.

You can also vote for the best project

We would also like to give internet users the opportunity to vote for
the best project. Thus there will be a gallery featuring all submitted
projects on our website to allow the public to vote for their
favourite entry. The most popular design as voted publicly and
transparently by our web audience will also receive a prize worth 200
Euros.

Victory will establish you as a real bankwatcher

Not only is there the promise of financial reward by participating in
the contest, but you could also be the creator of the posters
promoting our campaign. Our intention is also to prepare a
street-exhibition featuring some of the submitted projects, which
would be shown in Brussels and Luxembourg around the time of the EIB’s
Annual Meeting in June later this year. So the projects will very much
stay alive after the contest and help to make the campaign visible.

The statute of the contest

The aim and the topic of the contest:

To gather original poster designs in A1 format (594mmx841mm) promoting
the EIB reform campaign of CEE Bankwatch Network. The contest serves
to widen the public’s knowledge about a public financial institution,
the EIB, and its imperfect way of functioning and also to encourage
civil society to participate in the process of monitoring the EIB’s
activities.

Organizer:

CEE Bankwatch Network

Jicinska 8

130 00 Prague 3

Czech Republic

Duration of the contest: March 1, 2005 – May 30, 2005

The deadline for sending competitive works: April 25, 2005 (on this
day we stop accepting works sent by mail or submitted by person)

The address for sending competitive works:

CEE Bankwatch Network

Czackiego 3A

r. 29, 70-216 Szczecin

Poland

With the sub-heading Contest

The founder of the prize:

CEE Bankwatch Network

The territory of the contest:

Belorussia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia,
Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania,
Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Ukraine.

Requirements of the application and participation:

a.. A competitive project entry can be sent by individuals;
b.. Every participant can make a maximum of three variations on the theme;
c.. Printouts in A3 format should be glued to stiff board. On the board’s reverse in the upper right-hand corner, there should be an original password;
d.. Projects have to be sent in two printed specimens with an electronic CD version ( 1:1 size, 300 dpi resolution, TIFF);
e.. Submitted projects have to be under the ownership of the senders, must not have been publicized previously and must not infringe upon another author’s rights;
f.. Submitted projects will not be returned and fall under the ownership of the organizers;
g.. Senders pay shipping costs;
h.. It is necessary for the projects to be accompanied by a completed application from the website in an enclosed envelope;
i.. It is necessary to put an original password on the envelope, the CD and the reverse of every project speciment;
j.. It is not permitted for the organizers and all persons engaged in preparing the contest to take part in the contest;
k.. Incomplete applications will not be taken into account;
l.. Participation in the contest indicates acceptance of the statute and agreement on free project exposure after the contest;
m.. The first-prize winner will also be obliged to make possible minor changes suggested by the jury.

Jury:

a.. Jane MacKenzie, London, Private Eye;
b.. Professor Piotr Kunce, Cracow the Head of Poster Art Studio at Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow;
c.. Tomasz Terlecki, Executive Director, CEE Bankwatch Network;

The jury will convene in order to choose the best project in April
2005 in Cracow. Following this meeting, an announcement will be
made. The decision of the jury is final. The first prize is
anticipated to be EUR 1000. There are also two second prizes equaling
EUR 200 and a so called audience prize, which is also for EUR 200.

We would also like to give our web audience the opportunity to vote
for the best project. That is why we are going to establish a gallery
of all sent projects on the webpage to allow visitors to choose their
favourite. The best project, chosen publicly and transparently, will
be awarded with the audience price of EUR 200.

6. Small grants available from the Global Transparency Initiative

Dear friends,

The Global Transparency Initiative (GTI), a network of civil society
organizations promoting transparency at the international financial
institutions (IFIs), announces a Request for Proposals for small
grants in the following categories:

a.. Case studies/Audits regarding access to information and the
IFIs: Small grants of US$500 to US$3,000 will be made to research
and write case studies about the negative consequences of a lack of
transparency by IFIs or the positive effects of transparency by such
institutions, in specific instances. b.. Advocacy: up to US$5,000,
will be available for key advocacy activities which promote broader
issues of disclosure by the IFIs or are linked to other activities
of the GTI. The GTI seeks to improve the transparency of IFI’s by
influencing the disclosure policies and standards of these
institutions. This grant is available to individuals and civil
society organizations involved in precedent setting transparency
issues within the context of specific campaigns. c.. Translations:
up to US$1,000, will be made to translate case studies, transparency
audits and other relevant documents produced by civil society that
discuss issues dealing with transparency within a country context or
within the operations of the International Financial Institutions
(IFIs).

Organizations and individuals are eligible to apply. Only complete
proposals will be considered. Proposals for case studies/audits and
advocacy will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, while proposals for
translations will be reviewed on a more expedited basis, wherever
possible within two weeks after they have been received.

Please find more information at:

7. TENTH INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM SUMMER SCHOOL ON “WORKING OF
JOURNALISTS IN THE SITUATIONS OF CRISIS”

Mass Media Center School of Journalism, St.Petersburg State University

St.Petersburg, Russia

28 June – 6 July 2005

St.Petersburg, Russia

The Mass Media Center of the School (Faculty) of Journalism at
St. Petersburg State University (SPbGU) is inviting journalists,
scholars, educators, students, and communication specialists from
around the world to take part in the Tenth Annual International
Journalism Summer School, beginning June 28, 2005. This is the
excellent opportunity to widen the view on media studies studying
Russian media and journalism in the political, social, economic,
legal, ethnic, environmental and cultural perspective.

Leading university professors and professional journalists will lead
this course, which will include lectures and practical workshops
devoted to several issues, questions and problems related to the
development of the Mass Media. The main subject of the Tenth Summer
course will be “Working of Journalists in the Situations of
Crisises”. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss this
topic with professional journalists during the site visits to media
outlets as well as during a roundtable scheduled for July 6. Courses
are given by the best faculty and staff of the School of Journalism at
St.Petersburg State University and experienced professionals from a
wide variety of St.Petersburg Media.

The course also includes a cultural program, with sightseeing city bus
tour, excursion to the State Hermitage Museum, and performance at the
famous Marinsky (Kirov’s) Theater.

Working languages: English and Russian. The programme will be
conducted in Russian, with English interpretation.

Registration until: June 1, 2005.

Participants are responsible for the trip to St.Petersburg and for
getting of the Russian visas. Visa support is not included to the
tuition fee.

For more information, including application materials, contact the
Mass Media Center of the School of Journalism at

St.Petersburg State University: 1-aya Liniya V.O. Building 26, Office
602. 199004. St. Petersburg, Russia.

Telephone / Fax: (7-812) 323-00-67, 321-01-72.

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web sites: and

Contact person: Dmitry A. Ruschin, Ph.D., Associate Professor,
Director of the International Journalism Summer School and Winter
School on Public Relations at St.Petersburg State University. E-Mail:
[email protected] (main address) and [email protected] (additional
address).

MASS MEDIA CENTER

School of Journalism, St.Petersburg State University

1-aya Liniya V.O., # 26, office 606. St.Petersburg. 199004. Russia

Tel/Fax: (7-812) 323-00-67, 321-01-72.

E-mail: [email protected]

8. conference related to Public Health

Dear colleagues,

I am sharing with you this information about the conference related to
Public Health that will be organized in Armenia on September 17-20,
2005.

This is the Regional Public Health Conference and we expect to have
lots of local and international public health specialists as
participants. Your participation as well as sharing with this info
with your colleagues and friends would be appreciated. For more info
you are welcome to contact me.

Please visit the website, where you can find all info about the
conference

Best Regards,

Naira Gharakhanyan, MD, MPH

Health Program Coordinator

COAF Armenia

13 Yervand Kochar, Yerevan

Tel: (+374 1) 57 52 54

Tel/fax: (+3741) 57 53 55

Website:

9. NGO strategy meeting on the EU Environment and Health Action Plan:
final report

Dear Readers,

We would like to draw your attention to the final report of the NGO
strategy meeting on the EU Environment and Health Action Plan which
took place in Egmond aan Zee (The Netherlands) on 1 December 2004 and
was co-organized by the European Public Health Alliance Environment
Network (EEN) and the Dutch Platform for Environment and Health. The
report is now available both in English and in Russian, please find
both versions enclosed.

The meeting aimed to identify key actions proposed by WHO’s Children’s
Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) and to
recommend that they be taken forward within the EU Action Plan
framework. It also looked at how the EU’s Action Plan can be
implemented by examining areas such as biomonitoring, indicators, risk
communication and indoor air quality. The results were presented to
the EU member states and institutions at the Dutch Presidency
conference on December 2-3.

For further information please see our website at:

EPHA Environment Network

39-41 rue d’Arlon

B-1000 Brussels

Tel: +32 2 233 3875

Fax: +32 2 233 3880

E-mail: [email protected]

Please visit our new website:

*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 11-17, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

SIXTEENTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

THERE WILL BE NO TRIAL: “HAYRENIK TV” PAID THE FINE

CPJ REPORT ON ATTACKS ON THE PRESS IN 2004: MORE OF DEATHS, LESS OF FREEDOM

SIXTEENTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

On March 14 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
sixteenth “Press Club show was issued. The cycle is organized by Yerevan
Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network Media
Program.

The heads of leading media, non-governmental, also journalistic
organizations of Armenia discussed in the context of the elections to the
local government bodies to be held in Armenia the parliamentary elections in
Moldova as well as the future of interstate unions GUUAM and CIS. The “Press
Club” participants expect the media to focus this week on the draft
amendments to the Constitution and Electoral Code, the visit of RA Minister
of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanian to headquarters of some international
organizations as well as the offer the US authorities made to Iran to give
up the development of nuclear weapons.

THERE WILL BE NO TRIAL: “HAYRENIK TV” PAID THE FINE

The hearings on the suit of the National Commission on Television and Radio
versus “Hayrenik TV” company, scheduled for March 15 at the RA Commercial
Court, were not held. NCTR demanded TV company to pay a fine. As YPC was
told at NCTR, “Hayrenik TV” paid the fine on March 3, after which the suit
was revoked. On February 15 the National Commission had filed a suit because
of the expiry of the deadline, legally stipulated for paying fine (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, February 11-17, 2005). The sanction was imposed on
“Hayrenik TV” by the National Commission on January 18 for rebroadcasting
the programs of the French “Mezzo” TV channel and the demonstration of
unlicensed films.

CPJ REPORT ON ATTACKS ON THE PRESS IN 2004: MORE OF DEATHS, LESS OF FREEDOM

On March 14 the Committee to Protect Journalists released its annual
worldwide report “Attacks on the Press in 2004”.

The last year, CPJ stresses, is characterized by several alarming trends. In
particular, in 2004 the greatest number of journalists killed was recorded –
56, of which 36 were murdered. Only in 9 cases were the criminals punished.
Iraq was the most dangerous place for the representatives of the “fourth
estate”, with 23 journalists killed in the line of duty. Of the 122
imprisoned journalists in 2004 74 were charged with “antistate activities”:
everywhere, from China to Cuba, they were accused of sedition, subversion,
divulging state secrets and working against the interests of the state.
Attention was also drawn to a case from the USA, where for the first time in
three years a media representative was punished for the refusal to identify
the source. The reporter of WJAR-TV (Providence, RI) Jim Taricani was
sentenced to six months of home confinement.

As a positive precedent for the decriminalization of libel and insult and
therefore, for the strengthening of guarantees of the freedom of expression,
the decision of Inter-American Court of Human Rights to overturn the
criminal defamation conviction of a Costa Rican reporter was mentioned.

As to the post-Soviet countries, in the opinion of CPJ, press conditions are
deteriorating badly throughout Russia and most of the other former Soviet
Republics, except Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, where strong press freedom
traditions have been established. “Developments in Ukraine offer hope, but
elsewhere the press operates with less freedom than it did in the closing
years of Soviet communism”, the report stresses.

In the section of the report on Armenia it is noted that the government
failed to protect journalists during the demonstrations in April, and “in
some cases, authorities were directly involved in attacks on the press”.
Among the specific examples of attacks on press the report lists the events
of April 5 and April 13, 2004. “The impunity surrounding these attacks made
journalists more vulnerable”, CPJ thinks, illustrating this point by another
case of violence against the photojournalist on August 24, 2004 in
Tsaghkadzor.

Speaking of the broadcast media, the CPJ experts noted that “television
coverage of the spring opposition rallies and other politically sensitive
issues favored” RA President Robert Kocharian, “who ensured that TV stations
remained in the hands of government supporters or those who would not
criticize his policies”. The report also tells about the situation and
developments with regard to deprivation of “A1+” of air – “an independent
and influential TV station that has sharply criticized government policies”.

“Unlike television, the print media enjoy greater autonomy from government
control, but most publications are controlled by political parties and
wealthy businessmen, compromising their editorial independence and
professional standards”, the report says.

CPJ also pays attention to the continuing negligence of Armenian authorities
towards the appeals of journalistic associations, Council of Europe and OSCE
on decriminalization of libel and insult.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
17 March 2005

Melkonian students make desperate plea to save school
By Jean Christou

STUDENTS of the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) staged a walkout and
peaceful protest in front of the founders’ mausoleum yesterday, demanding
that the decision to close the school in June, announced a year ago
yesterday, be overturned.

The students, who hail from Cyprus, Greece, the Middle East, Europe and
Armenia, want the New York based Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)
that administers the school, to recall its decision to close MEI.
The alumni and other friends of the Melkonain have banded together to fight
the decision, believing that the true motive for the closure is financial,
given that the school is sitting on some £40 million worth of commercial
real estate in the capital.

They say the AGBU plans to sell the entire property, including the
historical buildings and the forest that have all been declared protected by
the Ministry of Interior as a national heritage site.

`Don’t abandon us,’ pupils shouted during yesterday’s demonstration. `Stand
with us in this struggle’ and `we will not allow the Americans to close our
school,’ they also said.

On March 16 last year, the AGBU claimed its justification to close the
Melkonian was that `it no longer satisfies its mission’ and that it would be
wiser to shut down the existing school and open a new Melkonian elsewhere.

`At the time, the House of Representatives condemned the closure decision by
issuing a unanimous resolution, while the House Education Committee said it
would deem any such decision as `a hostile act’,’ a statement from the
protesters said. `Both the AGBU and its American representative in Cyprus
continue to mock the House and ignore its decisions.’

In January, the Patriarch of the Armenian Patriarche of Turkey, Mesrob
Mutafyan, filed suit in Los Angeles against the AGBU in an attempt to
prevent the closure of MEI.

The Patriarch is the original trustee of the MEI, and the action is being
co-ordinated and mediated by the California group on behalf of the
Patriarchate, a beneficiary of Garabed Melkonian’s Deed of Assignment.
Garabed Melkonian was one of the two sibling founders of the Nicosia-based
secondary school 78 years ago.

Sources at the school told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the AGBU’s lawyers
had managed to postpone a hearing in the case. The sources said this was
obviously a tactic to ensure the school was closed down before the case
could be decided at court, making a reversal of the situation more
difficult.

In a letter issued yesterday, Jack Melkonian, the great great nephew of
Garabed Melkonian, said he and his family were being discredited by the AGBU
for asking where the MEI trust money had gone.

`I have asked repeatedly for documents, as far back as on September 9 2004,
related to the donation and a copy of the latest AGBU bylaws. The
handing-out of these documents was declined `on the grounds of a
longstanding policy not to hand out photocopies of files’. Instead I was
invited to come to New York and look through the files myself,’ Melkonian
said.

`During my stay in Nicosia I visited the school and the tomb of my two
great-great-uncles and was shocked to find the monument dilapidated,
overgrown with weeds and the flower containers filled with cigarette tips. I
lodged an oral complaint with the administrators of the school and wrote a
letter to the President on November 18, 2004. Up to-day I have no reply, nor
an apology.’

Melkonian said that to add insult to injury, the AGBU has decided to close
the MEI on the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, from which the
school’s founders had fled to Cyprus in 1915.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 16 2005

ARMENIA RE-ELECTED UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEMBER

16.03.2005 04:40

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is re-elected member of the UN Commission
on Human Rights. As reported by Regnum news agency, addressing the
Commission 61st session Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh problem, specifically, the right of
Armenians for self-determination. In his speech the Armenian FM said
remarked, “Ironically even as societies have learned to support the
victims of domestic violence, we have not yet graduated to offering
the same support to victims of international or government violence.
At best, the world watches silently as the victims attempt to defend
themselves, and if somehow, against great odds, they succeed, then
the world quickly pulls back, as the state loudly cries foul and
claims sovereignty and territorial integrity. Just as the perpetrator
of domestic violence loses the moral right to custody, so then, does
a government that commits and promotes violence against its own
citizens lose its rights. It is in such instances that the notion of
self-determination is significant and legitimate.” Summing up his
thoughts the minister noted `for us, defense and protection of human
rights is not an abstract principle. It is the difference between
survival and annihilation. We believe it is the same for many in the
world.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kommersant
Today is Mar. 17, 2005 09:50 AM (GMT +0300) Moscow

Armenia Exchanges Electricity for Iranian Gas

//With the Help of Gazprom and RAO UES of Russia

Friendship of nations

Yesterday, Gazprom Deputy Chairman of the Board Alexander Ryazanov promised
the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan during their meeting in Yerevan to
begin the construction of Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia pipeline, so
Razdan thermoelectric power plant could receive Iranian gas. On the same day
RAO UES of Russia Deputy Chairman of the Board Andrey Rappoport promised to
assist in finding means to build the fifth block of the Razdan power plant.
Representatives of two Russian monopolies were supposed to persuade the
Armenian president that Russia would help secure its power supply, in view
of the upcoming visit of President Vladimir Putin to Yerevan.

Iran-Armenia pipeline, length 140 km, including the reconstruction of the
currently functioning Kadjaran-Yerevan pipeline is estimated by $220
million. Armrosgazprom (45 percent owned by Gazprom) became the
subcontractor to construct the 41 km on Armenia’s territory a week ago. Iran
committed to supply Armenia 36 billion cubic meters of gas in the next 20
years.

Yesterday, the parties confirmed the agreement on gas to be directed from
Iran to Razdan power plant in return for electricity according to the rate
of 1 million cubic meters of gas to 3 million kilowatt-hour. Alexander
Ryazanov said that construction in Armenia will begin on April 1. In
response, Kommersant source in Armenian presidential administration said
that Kocharyan suggested Gazprom to finance reconstruction of the gas
pipeline currently active on the territory of Armenia. The possible ways of
Gazprom’s participation in the project are not being publicized.
Nevertheless, it is known that the finances for the whole project ($220
million) have not been drawn yet. Therefore, there remains a possibility
that Gazprom may count on a share in the future property.

Earlier, RAO Chairman of the Board Anatoly Chubais said that the power
holding was looking at the possibility of participating together with
Gazprom in the construction of Iran-Armenia pipeline. That is why
negotiations between the head of the Federal Grid Company and RAO Deputy
Chairman of the Board Andrey Rapport are not accidental. The Federal Grid
Company press service announced yesterday that no concrete decisions had yet
been made.

All offers of the Russian business before Putin’s visit to Yerevan,
scheduled for March 25th, are aimed at convincing the Armenia president of
the fact that Russia will support all large-scale projects that would secure
power supply to the Republic. It looks like in exchange for that the
Russians will want a guarantee of preservation of the military base near
Yerevan, where the Russian military could relocate in case of withdrawal
from Georgia.

A few hours before the meeting with the president, Rapport passed the
technical and economical offer of RAO regarding the construction of the
fifth block of Razdan power plant, completed before March 15, to the Energy
Ministry of Armenia. Razdan power plant produces 20 percent of all Armenia’s
electrical energy. It should be financed by the scheme of project financing,
however, in case of approval of the offer, RAO is willing to help find
investors.

by Artem Erkanyan, Yerevan; Natalya Grib

Russian Article as of Mar. 17, 2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 16, 2005 Wednesday

RF presence in Caucasus necessary to ensure stability – deputy

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

Russia’s presence in the Caucasus is necessary to ensure stability in
the region, Democratic Party leader Aram Sarkisyan said.

Sarkisyan told Itar-Tass on Wednesday Russia’s presence in the
Caucasus, including the military one, “will ensure stability in this
region of the world.”

“The necessity of Russia’s presence in the Caucasus, including the
military one, is linked with the geopolitical situation. We consider
Russia’s base in Armenia one of the forms of ensuring security of the
country,” he said.

“To decide on the presence of a foreign military base is a sovereign
right of every state. But it would be reasonable to refrain from
withdrawing Russia’s bases from the territory of Georgia,” Sarkisyan
said.

“Moreover, the military base in Akhalkalaki ensures stability in this
Armenian-populated region and makes it possible to solve social
problems. That is why it is necessary to think thousand times before
deciding on the withdrawal of Russia’s military bases from Georgia’s
territory,” the Armenian parliamentarian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 16 2005

US AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN CONCERNED OVER DEVELOPMENTS AT CONTACT
LINE OF AZERBAIJAN AND KARABAKH ARMED FORCES

16.03.2005 07:55

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish is
concerned over the developments at the contact line between the Armed
forces of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh, Day.az reported. `The
repeated breaks of the cease-fire makes worry. At the same time it
proves that the conflict is not frozen and it demands a solution,’ R.
Harnish told journalists Wednesday. The Ambassador emphasized that
the US follows with attention the developments in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict region. `We understand the importance of not
admitting breaks of the cease-fire regime at the front line,’ he
noted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
March 16, 2005

His Holiness Karekin II Receives Prime Minister of Georgia

On March 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, received Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli, and his
delegation in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The newly appointed Prime
Minister was accompanied by Vardan Khatchatrian, Minister of Finance and
Economy for the Republic of Armenia and Mr. Gegham Gharibjanian, Armenian
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Welcoming the first visit of the Georgian Prime Minister to Holy
Etchmiadzin, the Pontiff of All Armenians congratulated him on his recent
appointment and expressed his confidence that it would benefit
Armenian-Georgian relations. His Holiness further stated his contentment in
the development of ties on different levels between the Armenian and
Georgian peoples.

His Holiness stressed that mutual efforts and dialogue are necessary to find
just solutions for difficulties and problems that exist in the region,
noting his desire and hope that a lasting and secure peace be established
for the benefit of all nations, leading all peoples of the South Caucuses to
happy and prosperous lives.

During the meeting between the Catholicos and the Prime Minister, the issues
surrounding the current problems facing the Armenian churches located in the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia were discussed.

The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked His Holiness for the reception and
conveyed the warm fraternal greetings of His Holiness Ilia II,
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The Supreme Pontiff reciprocated the greetings of Patriarch Ilia, and
expressed his conviction that the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church would
provide his caring attention to the Armenian citizens of Georgia as well,
hearing their concerns and assisting them in solving their difficulties.

Also present for the meeting were: Revaz Gachechilladze, newly appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Georgia to
Armenia; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See;
and His Grace Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG, March 11, 2005

Not to be allowed to step on Armenia’s soil even as a tourist..

Today the name of French Armenian Alexander Varpetyan is well known in
Armenia. With his books and lectures he is known in the Motherland.
However, as it appears from his open letter addressed to the
leadership of our country, which is published with slight reductions
below, Alexander Varpetyan is being denied not only a special
residency status, but also an entry visa to Armenia. The editorial
board is expecting a detailed response.

Honorable President and State Officials,

I, a French Armenian, after returning to my birthplace Marseille on
1975, continued my national cultural and patriotic activities, and
parallel to my French citizenship kept the citizenship of Soviet
Armenia, which by my own will on 1990 was reregistered as a
citizenship of independent Armenia.

However, on 1997 because of some unknown reasons I was deprived of it;
although my passport was valid until 1998, while the law banning
double citizenship was accepted still on 1994.

Nevertheless, highlighting the importance of my “patriotic heritage
and contribution to Armenian scientific and cultural life,” based on
the application of initially Armenia’s Ministry of Science and
Education, and later Ministry of Culture, I twice was awarded with a
free status of temporary and regular residency in Armenia. However,
the third such application of the Minister of Culture on 2002 was
denied without any explanation, which was equivalent to exile. The
open letter of about 250 prominent representatives of intelligentsia
to the President of Armenia (“Aravot”-03/29/2002), and the discussions
in other newspapers (“Iravunk”- 03/21/2002, “Zhamanak”-03/28/2002,
“Golos Armenii”-03/23/2002, “Haykakan Jamanak”-03/13/2002 and others)
did not find any reaction.

Later consistently were denied:

– On 2003 – By the apparatus of the President via the Armenian
Consulate in France my application for paid special residency status;

– On 2003 – The invitation by Artur Varpetian, my son and the citizen
of Armenia, for my three-month-long visa;

– On 2003 – My 21-day-long internet visa application;

– On 2004 spring – the legal appeal of the same application, this time
with motivation of absence of an invitation;

– And immediately after that again the invitation application by my
son for my 3-month visa, but this time even without a written
rejection, which makes this matter not only strange but also very
conspirative and unique issue.

It appears, that for my 30-year-long devoted national cultural and
national preservation activities I can be hosted in all Diaspora
colonies and freely visit any country (including Turkey, as in summer
of 2004, historical sites), except the Motherland; I can be invited
and deliver lectures regarding the 12,000 years-old heritage of
Armenians in foreign universities (Azad-Iran 2002, UCLA-USA 1999 and
2005, and elsewhere); with my Armenian language publications achieve
international recognition and appreciations (ABI-“Great Thinkers of
21st Century”, USA, 2004; IBC-Blue book of “Who is who” , Cambridge,
Great Britain, 2005, etc.); appear in the website of
<; “Famous people of Armenia”; but have no right
to step on the Armenia’s soil even as a tourist.

And all this is being done without any justification or an
explanation. So what has changed in the Motherland during the recent
years? I and my national activities have not changed at all; simply my
scientific achievements and discoveries developed further.

Parallel to spreading of the ideological theories of “Eutyun”, this
nonsense matter and the strange circumstances around it, cause
numerous questions and different speculations, thus first of all
shadowing the image and respect of the Republic of Armenia in the eyes
of both Armenian and foreign realities.

Thus, Honorable President and respectful statesmen, I sincerely urge
you to examine this problematical appeal, and if it is not an
“extremely secret state matter”, disclose to me the reasons of all
these consistent rejections; or otherwise allow me at least shortly
visit my relatives, as well as the graves of my dead, who because of
their patriotism immigrated to the Motherland and departed from this
life prematurely.

I am taking up an obligation to respect all laws and regulations of
Armenia, not to attend any gathering, even a social or scientific
meeting, not to seek any status of residency anymore, and if necessary
respond to any questions related to this matter, as well as to my
national cultural activities, even though they always have been open
and transparent, and I regularly, with high civil responsibility, in
verbal and written forms always reported to YOU ALL.

With optimism and deep respect
Alexander Arordi Varpetyan

,

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CNSNews.com

US, Allies Not Disturbed by Italy’s Proposed Pullout from Iraq

By Patrick Goodenough

CNSNews.com International Editor
March 16, 2005

(CNSNews.com) – The U.S. and key allies are downplaying news that Italy
could begin a phased withdrawal of its troops from Iraq next fall. They note
that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has linked the move to the Iraqi
government having adequate security.

Italy’s 3,000 troops make up the fourth-largest foreign force in Iraq, and
some media reports characterized the announcement as another blow to
Washington’s “crumbling” coalition.

Berlusconi said in an Italian state television talk show that a phased
pullout would take place “in agreement with our allies.”

“Starting with the month of September, we would like to proceed with a
gradual reduction of our soldiers,” he said, adding that the wrap-up date
would “depend on the ability of the Iraqi government in equipping itself
with adequate security and public order forces.”

Berlusconi made the announcement shortly after Italy’s lower house of
parliament voted to extend the Italian mission in Iraq for another six
months. The Senate earlier approved the extension.

In reacting to Berlusconi’s announcement, the U.S., British and Australian
governments all pointed to the conditional nature of the proposed
withdrawal.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the prime minister’s statement
made clear that “this will be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi
forces and the Iraqi government to be able to assume more responsibility.”

McClellan said the U.S. appreciated the contributions of the Italian
soldiers, who had “served and sacrificed alongside Iraqis and alongside
other coalition forces.”

In London, the Daily Telegraph quoted a foreign office spokesman as saying
that Berlusconi was saying “very much the same thing” as the British
government – “that we will be in Iraq for as long as we are needed.”

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer highlighted the fact that
Italian lawmakers had voted to extend the troops’ mission, and said the
proposed withdrawal may not necessarily even begin in September

“I’m pleased that Italy has extended the troops by six months in Iraq and
obviously at the end of that period we’ll have to wait and see what the
situation will be,” he told journalists Wednesday.

“The Italians will make a decision then, in light of the circumstances in
six months’ time.”

Downer said it was clear Italy had no plan to “leave Iraq in the lurch.”

Australia has been a strong supporter of the U.S. in Iraq, having
participated along with a larger British contingent in the March 2003 war to
overthrow Saddam Hussein.

In a bid to shore up the coalition, Canberra last month agreed to increase
the number of Australian troops in Iraq by some 50 percent, a move that drew
strong reactions from opposition parties.

The new personnel will provide security for Japanese non-combat troops who
are undertaking reconstruction tasks in southern Iraq – a symbolic, historic
mission for a country whose soldiers have not been in a foreign combat zone
for half a century.

Japan’s war-renouncing constitution prohibits its troops from taking part in
combat, making it essential that other contingents in Iraq provide force
protection for the Japanese.

Dutch troops have fulfilled that function, but a decision by the Netherlands
to end their mission after two years meant the 600 Japanese troops needed
new protectors – or would have had to leave.

Downer would not be drawn on whether Australia had any envisaged timeline
for pulling out its troops, whose tasks in Iraq include training the new
national army.

“Let’s just see how the training is going of the Iraqi security forces and
how effective the Iraqi security forces are.”

Downer said it would be “utterly foolish” for the international community to
abandon the Iraqi people following their elections and as democracy develops
there.

“I think what we are all planning is pretty sensible … we build up the
capacity of the Iraqis to take control of their own security and the more
they can do that the less we will be needed there.”

In the federal parliament Wednesday, Prime Minister John Howard would not
rule out the possibility that Australia could further increase the number of
its troops in Iraq, to make up for the gap the Italians may leave.

“We don’t have any current plans to increase that number, but I cannot rule
out some changes in the future and I don’t intend to do so,” he told
lawmakers.

According to Global Security, coalition forces in Iraq at present include
those from 25 countries apart from the U.S. – Britain, South Korea, Italy,
Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Japan, Denmark, Bulgaria, Australia,
Armenia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia,
Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway
and Slovakia.

The Netherlands is wrapping up its contribution, while the Ukraine has also
begun a phased pullout of its troops.

The deputy chief of coalition operations for the Florida-based U.S. Central
Command, Marine Corps Col. Kerry Burkholder, said this week the coalition
went well beyond the 25 nations with troops on the ground.

Others were involved in areas including security and maritime-interdiction
operations, intelligence, surveillance, humanitarian missions, political and
financial backing, and the provision of out-of-country training, he told the
American Forces Press Service.

Burkholder put the overall number of nations contributing at 72.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress