Author: admin

PanArmenian News
July 30 2004

ARMENIAN MFA AGAINST EXCESSIVE POLITICIZATION OF ISSUE OF CRITIC
ADDRESSED TO OSCE

WORLD BANK TO ASSIST ARMENIA IN PERFECTION OF STATE SECTOR AND HEALTH
PROTECTION SYSTEM

KOMI REPUBLIC LEADER ARRIVING IN YEREVAN

IRANIAN PRESIDENT OT ARRIVE IN ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 8

CHAIRMAN OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF AUSTRIA AND EUROPE
ARRIVED IN ARMENIA

MAJORITY OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN POPULATION FOR PEACEFUL
COEXISTENCE

LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIAN MILITARY IN
REHABILITATION OF IRAQ BEING FORMED

SPECIAL TROOPS SENT TO ARMENIAN-POPULATED VILLAGE IN GEORGIA

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ARMENIAN MFA AGAINST EXCESSIVE POLITICIZATION OF ISSUE OF CRITIC
ADDRESSED TO OSCE

30.07.2004 19:11

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Independently of the critical statements addressed
to the OSCE during the informal CIS summit, the Armenian delegation
has many times raised the question of the necessity of reforming the
organization, Armenian MFA press secretary Hamlet Gasparian stated
when commenting to Liberty on the attitude of a number of local
public organization towards the inadvisability of Armenia’s joining
to the statement of nine countries regarding the situation in the
OSCE. In the spokesman’s opinion, Yerevan highlights the role of the
OSCE in providing security, settlement of conflicts, development of
economy as well as the protection of Human Rights. “That is why we
are interested in normal functioning of the organization, where the
member-states will have equal rights and full participation in
decision making”, he said. At the same time H. Gasparian spoke
against excessive politicization of this issue.

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WORLD BANK TO ASSIST ARMENIA IN PERFECTION OF STATE SECTOR AND HEALTH
PROTECTION SYSTEM

30.07.2004 18:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian government and the World Bank (WB)
concluded three credit agreements today. As Armenian Minister of
Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian, who has signed the
agreements, told journalists, the WB is to allocate $10,15 million
for the perfection of the state sector, $19 million for the
development of the public health service and 5,15 million for the
project of social regulation. Besides, the Ministry of Health
Protection will receive a $1 250 000 grant. In Vardan Khachatrian’s
words, one more agreement connected with the security of dams was to
be signed today, however, due to some technical reasons the signing
of the agreement has been postponed. The credits will be provided for
a three-year term.

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KOMI REPUBLIC LEADER ARRIVING IN YEREVAN

30.07.2004 17:59

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the invitation of Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, President of Komi Republic, Russia, Vladimir
Torlopov is arriving in Yerevan today. As reported by the press
service of the Armenian government, during the visit Torlopov is
expected to meet with the top leadership of Armenia. The Russian
delegation includes the Minister of Property Relations Vladimir
Belyayev, Minister of Industry Nikolay Gerasimov, Minister of Culture
and National Policy Maria Kuzbozheva and President of Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Komi Republic Sargis Manasariants. To
remind, Armenian President Robert Kocharian paid a visit to Komi in
early July.

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IRANIAN PRESIDENT OT ARRIVE IN ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 8

30.07.2004 17:52

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iranian President Mohammad Khatami will pay a
formal visit to Armenia on September 8-9. As reported by press
service of the Armenian government, Armenian Prime Minister and
Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Ali Riza Haghighian discussed the
details of the forthcoming visit today. A. Margarian noted that
Armenia highlights the consolidation of Armenian-Iranian contacts in
all the areas. In his turn the Ambassador stated that Tehran is as
for preservation of internal political stability and development of
economy Armenia as for regional stability. The parties also spoke of
the significance of the construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
and Kajaran tunnel as well as of the implementation of joint projects
for hydroplant construction on Arax River.

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CHAIRMAN OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF AUSTRIA AND EUROPE
ARRIVED IN ARMENIA

30.07.2004 14:15

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of
Austria and Europe Christoph Leitel arrived in Armenia. During the
visit he is to meet with chairman of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Martin Sargsian and some Armenian businessmen. Mr.
Leitel noted of the activation of ties between the Armenian and
Austrian business circles mentioning of the exhibition of production
of Austrian companies as a proof to it. He stated as important the
engagement of Armenia in the European integration adding that he will
within the limit of the possible support the relations between the
Armenian businessmen and European economic structures.

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MAJORITY OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN POPULATION FOR PEACEFUL
COEXISTENCE

30.07.2004 13:49

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The majority of the population of Armenia and
Azerbaijan is for peaceful coexistence. The results of a sociological
survey, held in Armenia and Azerbaijan by Millenium Educational
Research Association and Azerbaijani Sociological Association with
the support of Texas University, evidence it. 1000 people were
questioned in each of the two countries and 200 Armenians and the
same number of Azeris from Nagorno Karabakh, Azg Yerevan newspaper
reported. 74.2% of respondents from Armenia and 45.8% of those from
Azerbaijan come for restoration of relations between the two
countries. 97% of Armenians and 93% of Azeris interviewed said they
wished to coexist peacefully. As a precondition for restoration of
previous ties 60% of Armenian respondents mentioned the independence
of Nagorno Karabakh. 38% of those questioned in Azerbaijan said
liberation of “occupied territories” was such a precondition. The
return of refugees to Nagorno Karabakh was also noted. Both parties
point to the governments of their own countries as the authors of the
conflict.

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LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIAN MILITARY IN
REHABILITATION OF IRAQ BEING FORMED

30.07.2004 13:31

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At its sitting the Armenian Government approved the
decision of the Defense Ministry to join the Memorandum on command
and settlement of questions of activities of the multinational
division as part of the coalition forces of Iraq. It should be
reminded that earlier the Armenian Parliament ratified the
Armenian-Kuwaiti agreement, determining the order of presence of
Armenian military in Kuwait, from where they will be sent to Iraq to
participate in the post-war rehabilitation of the country. As
reported by Defense Ministry senior representatives, the sending of
tens of Armenian military specialists to Iraq is planned before this
autumn. These will be medical officers, sappers and drivers with
lorries to organize transportation.

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SPECIAL TROOPS SENT TO ARMENIAN-POPULATED VILLAGE IN GEORGIA

30.07.2004 13:28

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The other day special troops were sent to
Tapatskhuri village of Borjomi region of Georgia. The Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Georgia explains the step by the intention of the
residents of the mostly Armenian-populated village to impede the
construction works of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. As
reported by A-Info news agency, the villagers are displeased that
they have not been paid the compensation, assigned by the Borjomi
regional court due to the building of the pipeline. According to the
source, no incidents were registered between the military and the
residents.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NewsCentralAsia, Asia
July 30 2004

Causus Belli: A Historical Lesson

Dr. Begench Karayev, Fulbright Scholar, Indiana University

It could be possible to attribute the contemporary global upheaval to
clashing civilizations and cultures but a very clear and present
danger actually emanates from the lofty ambitions and raging
arrogance of some power players and decision makers. Their
declaration to engage in a long war with the `enemies of
civilization’ falls very short of any real justification. Sometimes
it appears that the `enemy’ is a product of their paranoid
imagination. In any case, it is difficult to accept their identified
foes as `enemies of civilization.’

An impartial assessment would suggest that the authors of the Causus
Belli are probably themselves the enemies of civilization, the
civilization that they claim to defend.

History shows that justice may be a murky concept, arrogance never
goes unpunished, and sometimes the efforts to bring peace to hostile
communities may result in tragedy for peacemakers at the hands of
their own subjects or companions. Even some prudent emperors and
fearless warriors have fallen victim to this phenomenon.

Some war planners with their incomplete knowledge or incorrect
understanding of history may be expecting a peaceful Muslim Europe
and democratic Greater Middle Eastern region as a result of their
grandiose plans but they need to remember that war has a way of
getting out of hand and end result can usually be unexpected and
surprising.

We find an important lesson in the Christian-Muslim wars near the end
of eleventh century. The heroes of the epoch are well known to
historians although the politicians may not be quite familiar with
them. They were Alp Arslan and Romanus IV Diogenes, the first one a
Turkmen Seljuk emperor and the latter the Emperor of Byzantine.

In 1070, Alp Arslan invaded Armenia and captured the town of
Malazkirt, north of Lake Van. In the spring of 1071, he besieged and
took Aleppo, which was held by the independent Arab prince, Mahmood
ibn Mirdas, but the Sultan allowed him to remain in the city as his
vassal. At the same time the Emperor Romanus Diogenes crossed the
Euphrates and marched to Malazkirt where he divided his army, sending
Norman contingent under Crusader Roussel de Bailleul to hold the
fortress of Khilat.

According to historians, Alp Arslan first invited the emperor for
negotiations but Romanus replied haughtily that he would dictate
terms of peace in Rei. On Friday, 19th August, 1071, Alp Arslan
prepared for battle. As soon as he came in sight of the enemy, he
dismounted and implored God for victory. The Turkmens then fell upon
the Byzantines with all their fury. Romanus had drawn up his army in
line. The Turkmens, however, according to their usual tactics,
refused to close and remained at a short distance from the heavy
Byzantine formation, into which they poured continuous streams of
arrows.

Romanus, with the main body of the front line was surrounded. The
Turkmens closed in, still shooting. Eventually the Byzantines were
overrun and Romanus Diogenes was taken prisoner. Alp Arslan behaved
towards his defeated enemy with chivalrous courtesy. After a brief
period of detention, the emperor was released, weighed down by the
conqueror with valuable gifts.

While the ruthless Turkmens treated the unhappy Romanus with
courtesy, the action of his compatriots was less chivalrous. The
politicians of Constantinople were quick to seek their personal
interests from the national disaster. No sooner did the news of the
disaster reach Constantinople than the courtiers seized power by
raising to the purple the young son of the previous Emperor
Constantine Ducas. The new emperor assumed the title of Michael VII
Ducas.

When Romanus Diogenes returned to Byzantine territory, he found that
he had been deposed already. Endeavoring to raise an army, he was
defeated and carried as a prisoner to Constandnople, where his eyes
were torn out with such brutality that he died as a result of the
surgery.

But the young Emperor Michael Ducas in the face of threat from Norman
Crusader Roussel de Bailleul made a fateful decision. Afraid that
Roussel would attack Constantinople, the emperor appealed for help to
the Seljuks. While the chivalrous Alp Arslan had marched away to
Trans-Oxania after releasing Romanus, his nephew Sulaiman ibn
Qutlumish now concluded an agreement with Michael Ducas to come to
his assistance against Roussel. The Normans were overwhelmed by the
combined armies of the Byzantines and the Seljuks.

The indomitable Roussel, however, continued the struggle, repulsing
his pursuers. A new Byzantine commander, Alexius Comnenus, was sent
against him, working in close co-operation with the Turkmens. At
length Roussel was handed over to Alexius Comnenus. This incident, in
which Alexius Comnenus, who was later to be Byzantine emperor,
co-operated with Turkmens against Normans, should be borne in mind.

After some time sultan Alp Arslan marched to Trans-Oxiana. In the
fall of 1072 the sultan’s army crossed the Oxus on a bridge of boats.
A prisoner was brought before Alp Arslan for questioning, but
suddenly broke away from the guards and plunged a dagger into the
sultan’s breast before the escorts could intervene. In the context of
the historical situation of those times it seems that Alp Arslan fell
victim to a treacherous plot hatched by the participants who were
discontented with the results of his strategy regarding Byzantine.

Some reflections about it appear to coincide with another version of
the death of Alp Arslan. It is said that before he could cross the
Oxus with safety it was necessary to subdue certain fortresses, one
of which was for several days vigorously defended by the governor,
Yussuf Kothual, a Khorezmian. He was, however, obliged to surrender
and was brought as a prisoner before the Sultan, who condemned him to
cruel death. Yussuf, in desperation, drew his dagger and rushed upon
the sultan. Alp Arslan, the most skilful archer of his day, motioned
his guards not to interfere and drew his bow, but his foot slipped,
the arrow missed the target and he received the assassin’s dagger in
his breast. The wound proved mortal, and Alp Arslan expired a few
hours later, on the 1st of December 1072.

As he lay dying, Alp Arslan is alleged to have said to his intimates,
“I have never engaged an enemy without first begging God for victory
– but yesterday I rode to the top of a small hill, while the earth
shook beneath the boots of my troops. I felt myself swell with pride
and said to myself, `I am the king of the whole earth. No one can
stand up to me’. So God overthrew me by the weakest of his creatures,
a prisoner-of-war under escort. I beg God to forgive me for my sin of
arrogance’.

History continuously hammers home the lesson that arrogance does not
go a long way.

He died at the age of forty and was buried in Merv. The following
epitaph was inscribed on his tombstone:

“Thou hast seen Alp Arslan’s head
In pride exalted to the sky,
Come to Merv and see how lowly
In the dust that head doth lie”

In Turkmenistan calendar the month of August has been renamed as Alp
Arslan. It is a gesture of gratitude from the people of independent
Turkmen state of 21 century – Motherland of Great Seljuks to the
glorious Turkmen hero of the Middle Ages.

About the author: Dr. Begench Karayev is currently on Fulbright
Scholarship at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. He holds a Ph.D.
from Moscow in political theory and is the author of monographs:
`Traditional and modern in political life of the contemporary Central
Asian society. Experience of political analysis’ (in Russian, 218p.,
Moscow, 1996) and `Policy analysis: problems of theory and
methodology. Experience of researches of contemporary Central Asian
society (in Russian, 176 p., Moscow, 1994). Before joining the
Fulbright Scholar Program Dr. Karayev served for more than seven
years as a senior diplomat in the Foreign Service of Turkmenistan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI-RUSSIAN CONFRONTATION AT ROOT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. A confrontation between Azerbaijan and
Russia lies at the root of the Karabakh conflict. Russia wants
Azerbaijan to capitulate, says politologist Vafa Guluzade in his
article Battle for the South Caucasus in Zerkalo.

The analysis of the events in the Caucasus gives the impression of the
US’ victory and Russia’s defeat. But since the USSR collapse Russia
has outwitted American in some crucial questions not only making
Washington dependant but also forcing it to serve its interests. One
example is the Russia-orchestrated lightning occupation of 20% of
Azerbaijan. Guluzade also accuses Russia of secret arms supplies to
Armenia.

As for the US it think that the bad peace signed by Azerbaijan will
satisfy the Armenian lobby and will guarantee stability giving America
free hand to carry out its projects. Washington thinks that even bad
peace will give Azerbaijan an advantage and the US will be able to
easily pump up oil from the Caspian Sea. Washington is wrong thinking
that Moscow wants peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “They should
understand that Russia wants Azerbaijan rather than peace.” Russia’s
fixed idea is to tear off Azerbaijan from NATO and the US and to take
hold of its energy resources. It seeks to put an end to projects like
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and therefor it is plotting a sophisticated plan
like signing of disgraceful peace by Azerbaijan. “If such agreement is
signed Azerbaijan n will never have back its territories,” says
Guluzade.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE DAY THE MELKONIAN WAS BOMBED

Azg/am
29 July 2004

A man who lived through the bombing of the Melkonian Educational
Institute as a recently graduated pupil was in Nicosia this week to
battle for the school’ s survival.

One of Nicosia’s best-known landmarks for over 77 years and the pride
of the region’s Armenian community faces closure.

The 1926 stone building and its surrounding land of 125,000 square
meters is estimated to be worth at least CYP 40 million.

The government has placed a preservation order on the school since May
this year, ruling that “no alteration or construction be executed on
the buildings… considered to be on special architectural/
historical/ social importance.” While this may have temporarily
scuppered plans to sell off the school, its future beyond June 2005
remains uncertain.

Raffi Zinzalian had just graduated from the Melkonian and had a
university place waiting for him in Lebanon when the 1974 troubles
began. He had spentthe day before the invasion on the beaches of
Famagusta and was in the school building when the Turkish planes flew
overhead on July 20, 1974.

“We were happy because the cease-fire would begin at 3pm and then at
2.45pm we saw the Turkish jets overhead. We thought they were headed
for the radio station (Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation-CyBC) but they
circled round and we heard a deafening noise, we had been bombed,” he
said.

Zinzalian said that even his years in war-torn Lebanon could not
compare to the fear he felt on that day. Thirty years later, and now a
married father of three, he still has nightmares of the bombing.

“The roof in the dormitories was about to cave in and we couldn’t
breath. We knew we had to escape, the roof was on fire and so we ran
outside to the principal’s residence. The fire brigade was called, but
the roof had collapsed,” Zinzalian said.

The students and teachers left at the Melkonian made for the
mountains. Turkish troops had surrounded Nicosia and the only way out
was on the road to Larnaca. For 6-7 weeks communication and travel was
almost impossible and Zinzalian was able to leave the island on a
Soviet cargo ship to take up his place in Lebanon. “Two years later,
the war started there,” he said.

Following his studies, Zinzalian was employed at the Press Information
Office (PIO) as a Turkish-English translator. “I saw Makarios
(then-President, Archbishop) everyday,” he said.

Zinzalian then left for the USA to study photojournalism and media and
is now a publisher at the University of LaVerne Press and on the board
of Armenia International Magazine (AIM). He is also the president of
the Melkonian Alumni and Friends in California.

“We are all very sad that the school may be closed. All the alumni I
have spoken to, in LA, in Ontario, in Cyprus, in Greece, in Lebanon,
in Turkey, all feel the same,” he said.

Zinzalian has spent the last few weeks on self-financed travels to
lobby members of the alumni. “There are 1300 members of the alumni all
around the world,” he said.

Having had meetings with the Cyprus alumni of the school and
representatives of the Armenian community on the island, Zinzalian
said that the passion for keeping the Melkonian up and running will be
hard to beat.

“We are also looking into the archives of the school because the
Melkonian brothers who founded the school made provisions before they
died for it never to close. Before they died, they put the school in
the care of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU),” he said.

The Melkonian Institute was built as an orphanage by Krikor and
Garabed Melkonian soon after the massacres of the Armenians in Turkey.

Zinzalian said that the closing of the school was “totally
unacceptable” not only because of the Melkonian’s important cultural
role and lengthyhistory, but also for the potential practical problems
faced by the 170 students continuing their studies at the school
following the graduation of a further 30 this past year.

“There are students at the school from all over the world who may not
be able to continue their studies as they have up until now,” he said.

“It seems ironic that the Melkonian school survived bombing and a war
and now is in peril from the people supposed to be protecting it,”
Zinzalian said.

He said that the alumni were prepared to keep up their peaceful fight
for as long as necessary, fund-raising – the California Alumni has
raised over $370,000 for the school over the past five years – and
meeting with people able to help the situation. “The Cypriot
government has been very supportive,” he said: “and the Cyprus alumni
is the best we have.”

Zinzalian also said that he believed the AGBU did not expect to have
as large scale a fight on their hands. “I think they expected to sell
off the school and take the money back to the USA without much
reaction.”

He also criticized the AGBU for sending a non-Armenian to manage the
planned closure of the school. US national Gordon Anderson has been
sent to take the place of the school’s headmaster and oversee the
school’s future.

“Feeling the way we do about the school, I feel that closing it will
be impossible,” Zinzalian said.

By Athena Karsera

LIABILITIES OF ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM DECREASE BY 1.4% IN SECOND
QUARTER OF 2004

YEREVAN, JULY 28. ARMINFO. Total liabilities of the country’s banking
system, decreased by 1.4% in the second quarter of 2004, making up
255.2 bln drams by July 1, 2004. It was accounted for by a decline in
a number of indicators in the structure of liabilities, the
press-service of the Armenian Central Bank told ARMINFO

In particular, the liabilities to banks and other financial
orgnaizations totaled 33.8 bln drams, decreasing by 19.7%. At the same
time, a 36.7 per cent growth was fixed on the funds on correspondent
accounts, which reached 5.4 bln drams. Liabilities to the Government
decreased by 3.1% in the quarter under review, totaling 12.8 bln
drams. Fixed deposits of natural persons decreased by 2.3%, totaling
50.9 bln drams, while fixed deposits of legal entities increased by
5.5%, reaching 26.9 bln drams. Call liabilities increased by 2.4%
totaling 114.2 bln drams. Other liabilities increased by 15.4%,
reaching 15.3 bln drams. The paid interests increased by 1.8%,
reaching 1.3 bln drams.

According to the ranking of Armenian’s commercial banks drawn up by
ARMINFO news agency, in the first half of 2004 the liabilities of 14
commercial banks increased, the highest growth was fixed on 3 banks,
including Artsakhbank (48%). As to the remaining 5 banks, liabilities
decreased, with one bank showing the lowest indicator.

The results of the activity of the banking system, on June 30, 2004,
were summed up on the basis of data of 19 normally operating banks,
the CB press-service reports.

Baku Today
July 29 2004

Armenian FM Official Warns Azerbaijan against Resorting to Force

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday warned Azerbaijan
against attempting to regain its occupied territories by force,
threatening that any such attempt could turn out to be `catastrophic’
for the latter.

“We have repeatedly stated that the ramifications of any attempt to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by force will be catastrophic
for the whole region and first of all, for Azerbaijan,” Gamlet
Gasparyan told reporters in Yerevan, Armenia’s Mediamax news agency
reported.

Gasparyan noted that the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent
statement that his nation would fight back the occupied territories
should the peace negotiations prove fruitless `is a matter of serious
concern.’

President Aliyev on Tuesday told a meeting of Azerbaijani diplomats
in Baku that his country wouldn’t go for any compromise on its
territorial integrity.

`The international law is on our side… Justice is on our side.
Economic potential and other issues are also in favor of Azerbaijan,’
President Aliyev said, warning that if the peace talks mediated by
the Minsk group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) give no results, Azerbaijan will resort to force.

Armenia has been occupying Nagorno-Karabakh – a western Azeri region
that is home to about 100,000 ethnic-Armenians – along with seven
other regions, Lachin Kelbajar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jebrail, Zengilan and
Qubadli, since 1991-94 war. The territories make up for one-fifth of
the country’s total area.

Peace talks launched by the Minsk group in 1992 have yielded no
result while over 700,000 Azerbaijani citizens forced out of their
homes in the occupied regions are suffering in tent camps built in
inner regions of the country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Messenger.ge, Georgia
July 29 2004

Tbilsresi maintenance missing ingredient
By M. Alkhazashvili

To maintain both a stable economy and state, Georgia strives to
overcome its energy problems. To do so, it is essential to have the
important energy producing system Tbilsresi working properly.

During the 1970’s and 80’s Tbilsresi, located in Gardabani in Eastern
Georgia, produced half of the Georgian energy system’s output, and in
autumn and winter 70-75 percent of the country’s entire energy
system. Unfortunately, the 1990’s saw the dramatic decline of the
station, as poor maintenance and over use led to serious damage

It took more than a decade to build Tbilsresi, which was begun in the
early 1960’s and completed in 1972. In 1990, the output of Tbilsresi
station was 1,100 megawatts, and this was increased that year by the
construction of a new unit, number 9, with an output of 300
megawatts. In 1994, unit number 10 was begun, adding a further 400
megawatts.

But due to the lack of repairs on the infrastructure, between 1994-96
units numbers 5, 6 and 7 stopped functioning. Then in 2002, units 1
and 2 were stopped and it was decided to build new ones in their
place, but a lack of finances meant this was never carried out.
Although number 3, 4 and 8 still work and can produce energy, the
lack of repairs on these units means they are now urgently in need of
rehabilitation.

The more recently built units 9 and 10, which were purchased by the
American AES company and now belong to the Russian RAO UES, have a
mixed record of performance. Unit 10 has not worked since 2001, while
unit 9 has suffered numerous break downs and is currently being
overhauled by RAO UES.

During past year, the limited production of Tbilsresi as led Georgia
to satisfy its requirements through the import of Russian
electricity, although this was hampered last winter by the frequent
break-down of the Kavkasioni 5,000 kilowatt high voltage transmission
line, again because of lack of maintenance.

Although the Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) halted Russian
imports on June 15th owing to their high cost, it looks like Georgia
will again have to rely on imported energy from Russia. Considering
Russia is also the country’s sole supplier of gas, the new government
has eagerly pushed for energy projects with Iran, Azerbaijan and
Armenia. More importantly, it gives the country ample cause to
rehabilitate its internal electric infrastructure.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Messenger.ge, Georgia
July 29 2004

Georgia strikes electricity deal
New plan uses Armenia as energy corridor with Iran
By Christina Tashkevich

Georgia is to begin exporting its summer-time electricity surplus to
Iran through Armenia, in return for imported Iranian electricity in
winter time, the Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri announced earlier
this week.

According to the Armenian Minister of Energy Armen Movsesian, who was
part of the Armenian delegation visiting Georgia this week, his
country is ready to help Georgia to do this, although he added that
the Armenian government is not currently prepared to consider
reducing its tariff on electricity imports, as Georgia has asked it
to.

Nevertheless, Gilauri is hopeful that a discount may be offered. As
he explained to journalists, the electricity tariffs are set by the
Armenian Energy Regulatory Commission and therefore the delegation
was not permitted to decide on this issue.

Any change to the tariff may depend on the controversial issue of
Georgia’s energy debt to Armenia. Georgia denies owing Armenia USD 6
million for supplying electricity in 2000, claiming it has already
paid off the debt, while Armenia says it has not received the money.

The sides chose not to discuss the issue during the Armenian
delegation’s visit, and instead agreed to create special working
groups which will work on resolving this issue in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Armenia is ready to supply Georgia will electricity
through the Alaverdi electricity transmission line, and could also
supply Georgia with Iranian gas. The news agency Iran.ru cites
Minister of the Foreign Affairs Salome Zurabishvili as saying that
Georgia is interested in importing Iranian gas through the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, and also as suggesting that a transit gas
pipeline be constructed in the Caucasus.

However, it has also been suggested that Georgia plans to import gas
from Iran not through Armenia but through its other South Caucasian
neighbor, Azerbaijan. After his visit to Iran in early July, Minister
Gilauri said he had had talks concerning importing Iranian gas
through Azerbaijan and that this would be a reserve gas route for
Georgia after Russia.

“Rehabilitation works are needed to import gas and create additional
gas reserves for Georgia so that we are not dependent on a single
country,” said Gilauri. He says the route needs repairs, which will
cost USD 1.8 million and will take four months.

The government now expects to finalize agreements during a reciprocal
visit to Armenia this week. From the talks during the recent visit in
Tbilisi, it is apparent that Georgia considers cooperation with
Armenia integral to the economy. “It is impossible to imagine the
development of Georgia without Armenia,” Prime Minister Zhvania said
on Monday.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KurdishMedia, UK
July 29, 2004

IPA concerned about dangers threatening publishers in lead up to
consideration of Turkey’s membership in the EU.

BIA (Geneva) – The International Publishers Association (IPA) is
deeply concerned about the dangers that threaten Turkish publishers
when pursuing their profession.

“We call upon the Turkish authorities to implement the many reforms
that were passed. Implementation is key and must not surrender to
bureaucratic conservatism or any other hurdle,” says Ana-Maria
Cabanellas, President of the IPA.

On 15 July 2004, eight international NGOs met with Enlargement
Commissioner Günter Verheugen in Brussels to discuss the progress
made by Turkey in the field of Human Rights.

The Commission will issue a recommendation this September on whether
EU member states should start membership negotiations with Turkey in
December 2004 or not.

It is indeed in December that Heads of States and Governments will
decide on this. They have already indicated that they would follow
the recommendation issued by the Commission.

The IPA recalled that last year 43 books were banned and 37 writers
and 17 publishers were put on trial. To date in 2004, at least 15
books have been banned in Turkey.

While welcoming the legislative and constitutional changes in Turkey,
the IPA expressed its three main concerns:

1. The legal impediments to the practice of the right to freedom of
expression in Turkey;

2. The current tendency of Turkish Security Courts to harass writers,
journalists and publishers by putting them on trial more and more
often, fining them or just postponing their trials indefinitely;

3. The lack of implementation of legal reforms regarding freedom of
expression.

Lars Grahn, Chairman of IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee, says,

“The six following taboos are obvious hurdles to freedom of
expression and to publishing in Turkey: Position of the Military,
Kurdish Question, Armenian Genocide, Kemalism, Women’s Liberation and
Islamic Law.

“Treating writers, journalists and publishers as potential terrorists
or criminals and judging them in the same courts as drug traffickers
and/or real terrorists is unacceptable.” (YE)

* The IPA press statement was released on July 19, 2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azartac news agency, Baku, in Azeri
29 Jul 04

Georgian Armenians demand compensation for Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline

Tbilisi, 29 July, Azartac special correspondent Islam Aliyev: An
Azartac special correspondent reports that the Armenian population of
the village of Tabatskuri of Georgia’s Tsalka District is demanding
compensation for the section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
which is being built on the plots of land owned by them. The
villagers staged a rally on 27 July and announced that a larger rally
would be staged if relevant organizations did not pay compensation to
them.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress