Ex-Marseille coach takes over Armenian national soccer team

Canadian Press
Aug 6 2004
Ex-Marseille coach takes over as head of Armenian national soccer
team

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Former Marseille coach Bernard Casoni took
over as head of Armenia’s national soccer team, saying Friday that he
is ready to work hard to achieve good results for this ex-Soviet
republic.
“I am not a magician – good results will be achieved gradually,”
Casoni told a news conference in the Armenian capital. He added that
his first impression was that the team had some good talent, who
needed “only to be led forward.”
Former coach Mihai Stoichita resigned in late June, less than two
months before the start of World Cup qualifying. Armenia plays its
first qualifier on Aug. 18, against Macedonia.
Casoni said he was focusing on that game, adding that he had
previously known very little about Armenian soccer or the national
team.
Ruben Airapetian, head of the Armenian soccer federation, said that
he had signed a one-year contract with Casoni. He added that he would
be paying the money for the French coach “from my pocket” since the
Armenian federation lacked cash.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGBU NY Special Events Committee Concludes Exciting Premier Season

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
AGBU NEW YORK SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES EXCITING PREMIER
SEASON

Last Two Events Sold Out with New Activities in Progress

New York – The AGBU New York Special Events Committee (NYSEC) recently
joined together with the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club of America,
where more than 75 supporters gathered for the annual Kips Bay
Decorator Show House in Manhattan. This important fundraising event
brought together area residents, Armenian and non-Armenian alike, in a
show of support for the Boys and Girls Club of America. The sold out
afternoon continued for NYSEC participants at the trendy restaurants
JoJo and Barbaluc on the Upper East Side of New York City.
In addition to the Kips Bay event, the recently initiated committee
also hosted several other programs. During its inaugural event last
fall, NYSEC gathered a sizeable number of guests for an afternoon tour
and high tea at Caramoor in Katonah, New York. Winter outings for the
group have included a day trip to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and a
special luncheon at Becco’s Restaurant, along with a lecture by
Dr. George Bournoutian the following month.
Entitled, Armenian History 101, Dr. Bournoutian’s informative lecture
was well received by a sold out NYSEC audience at the AGBU Central
Office. The program was followed by a question and answer period and
concluded with an afternoon reception.
The NYSEC members have already begun to organize new events for the
local community in the coming months, and anticipate another
successful season. Details and dates for the September event will be
announced shortly.
Launched in 2003 by a dedicated group of AGBU volunteers, NYSEC seeks
to promote a better understanding of both Armenian and American
culture and history in New York City. NYSEC organizes activities that
support AGBU membership and brings together Armenians in the local
community. Those interested in joining the Committee or being placed
on the mailing list should call the AGBU Central Office: 212.319.6383
ext. 128.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

www.agbu.org

Jazz tzigane mardi avec Ferdi Zipci

Le Télégramme
31 juillet 2004
Jazz tzigane mardi avec Ferdi Zipci
Mardi soir, le musicien Ferdi Zipci offrira à 20 h 30 un concert de
musique tzigane jazzie au Centre de loisirs du Palais.
L’an dernier déjà Ferdi Zipci avait insufflé à un public conquis les
mélopées tziganes de sa composition, issues des Carpathes entre
Hongrie et Roumanie. Il y raconte l’histoire des peuples, mais aussi
la sienne, traduisant avec douleur et joie l’aspiration bouillonnante
d’une liberté.
Voix rocheuse et veloutée, Ferdi Zipci charme. Arménien, avec un nom
qui s’est réinventé selon les méandres d’un exilé forcé de
l’Histoire, il arrive à l’ge de 10 ans à Paris, arrivant de Turquie
avec sa famille.
Intégration, intelligence et sensibilité ont noué d’autres racines,
multiples et pétillantes, rares et déchirantes. Entre des études
supérieures, la guitare, la peinture, l’homme d’harmonie décide de
vivre ses trois existences, en alternance. Deux disques déjà. Et
comme les « Achours », ces troubadours arméniens, il chante dans les
langues des pays traversés. Il se fait tzigane. Le peintre musicien a
fréquenté le célèbre cabaret « La roue fleurie » appartenant à Serge
Camps dans les années 80.
Il y côtoie la communauté des musiciens tziganes et manouches, dont
Angelo Debarre.
La guitare décolle
Formée aux musiques orientales comme au jazz, la guitare décolle en
solo, rapide, concise. Elle sait aussi laisser place à la voix de
Catherine et aux instruments de ses musiciens.
Elle swingue, décortique l’émotion, violente, acre et fragile. La
voix typée de Ferdi Zipci chatouille les notes et caresse les larmes.
Comme dans son dernier CD, « Caravan » (D. Ellington), où
l’accordéoniste David Venitucci, invité spécial, balance
d’incroyables phrases très jazz.
Mardi, dès 20 h 30, la soirée promet une partition inventive et
chaloupée.
GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Ferdi Zipci, au Centre d’animation et de
Loisirs rue des Remparts, au Palais, pour un concert plein de chaleur
et de rythmes voyageurs et improvisés, mardi à 20 h 30.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CENN Daily Digest – July 19, 2004

CENN – July 19, 2004 Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1. BTC Pipeline and “Public Acceptance”
2. World Bank warned over policy reform
3. FoEI letter on Management Response
4. ACNIS Releases Public Opinion Results on Economic Growth
5. Presidential Supervisory Service Saves Green Area in Yerevan
6. GreenHORIZON Magazine Internships at The Regional Environmental Center
for Central and Eastern Europe
7. Slovenia – Workshop “Tourism”, 23-24.09.2004
8. EIA Report of ” Project of the cement Grinding Mini Enterprise in
Tbilisi.” by the “Georgian Tazm” Ltd
9. EIA Report of “Manganese Processing Mini Enterprise in Chiatura” by
the “Laguna” Ltd
10 .EIA Report of the “Project on the Processing of the Saskhor Carbonate
Deposit, West Section in Mtskheta Region ” by the “Kaspicement”” Ltd
11. Vacancy Announcements
1. BTC Pipeline and “Public Acceptance”
By The Cornerhouse
In an interview with Dutch daily Volkskrant (06/24), World Bank director
Rashad Kaldany argued that BP’s Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which the
IFC has backed, is an example of a project which enjoys “broad public
acceptance.” Kaldany noted that the World Bank had “invited in six cities
the local communities to come to talk to us. We got a very clear signal
there was broad support among the population for the project.”
BP also claims that the project is a model of consultation: “We believe we
have contacted every landowner-more than 35,000-and all the 500 or so
communities within two kilometers of the route several times during the
preparation of the ESIAs.”[1]
Whilst it is true that BP produced numerous glossy reports, fact-finding
missions by NGOs and a detailed review of the Environmental Impact
Assessment found that:
ž The consultation process flouted World Bank guidelines on no less
than 83 counts – at least 42 violations or partial violations of the
consultation requirements under the IFC’s operational policies OP 4.01
(Environmental Assessment) and OP 4.04 (Natural Habitats and a further 41
breaches of 4 other World Bank guidelines relate to consultation on
resettlement, on cultural property and on ethnic minorities)
Although BP claimed that everyone along the pipeline had been “contacted”,
the project’s own EIA clearly showed that less than 2% of affected people
have been consulted face-to-face
Many villagers interviewed by NGOs claim they were never consulted. One
village listed as “consulted by phone” was found to be abandoned, with
neither people nor telephones. Thirty-eight villagers from one area in the
Northeast of Turkey have now applied to the European Court of Human Rights.
Most charge that they were not informed at all about the risks of the
pipeline.
The questionnaire used for the consultation process did not provide
information adequate to secure an informed response. The brief paragraph
prefacing each questionnaire stated little more than that an oil pipeline is
planned near or in the settlement being surveyed.
Many of the questions asked in the consultation questionnaires were so
vaguely phrased as to discourage a detailed or nuance response. (“In general
would you support the presence of a pipeline in your area?”).
Repression and a lack of freedom of expression in the host countries
(particularly Turkey and Azerbaijan) meant that affected people were in no
position to challenge the project. Significantly, one Turkish human rights
defender, Ferhat Kaya, has been repeatedly arrested because of his work in
obtaining rights for people affected by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC)
pipeline.
The consultation process was heavily focused on people not directly affected
by the project, such as government departments;
Affected people and stakeholder groups did not have access to basic project
information;
Affected people were misinformed about the potential benefits and negative
impacts of the project;
Affected people were misinformed about their rights;
The project failed to properly consult with listed key stakeholders
including NGOs, political parties and women.
For further information, see
2. World Bank warned over policy reform
Source: Financial Times, July 15 2004
The World Bank should steer clear of lending to countries where it has
little knowledge of local conditions or where there is a poor policy
environment, a report published on Thursday by the bank’s internal auditor
said.
The World Bank has been effective in supporting reform in countries
attempting poverty reduction measures and sustainable development, promoting
above-average economic growth, the report said.
But, based on an evaluation of bank activities over the past five years, the
report concluded: “Bank support for policy reform was less successful in
countries where there was no favorable trend to reinforce.”
“Tough cases” include countries where the bank has not been engaged and
those with poor policy and governance standards. The report noted that such
support was sometimes the result of pressure from the shareholders of the
Group of Seven industrialized countries.
The 2003 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness has implications for
issues ranging from future World Bank activity in Iraq to the institution’s
support of energy investments in developing countries.
It was prepared by the Operations Evaluation Department (OED), an
independent unit within the bank that reports to its executive board.
“What we are recommending is that you really want to see evidence that
governments are serious about reform before you commit and before you write
big cheques,” said Gregory Ingram, OED director. “This has not found a lot
of support from [World Bank] management”.
In most cases the bank should limit its role to analysis and technical
advice when there is no track record or a poor record of reform, the report
said. When loans support is provided in such circumstances it should be for
individual investment that can be ring fenced and monitored, rather than
general adjustment loans to support the government.
The report highlighted the bank’s aid and loans to support adjustment in the
transition countries of the former Soviet Union, ambitious programmes that
the report said followed pressure from the G7 countries. It found that in 60
per cent of the cases the outcomes were “unsatisfactory”, compared with 30
per cent for all bank projects.
“There are particular problems when the bank has not been lending and has
not been involved in a country for a long time,” Mr Ingram said. “Iraq has
been disengaged for a long time and it is not at all clear what the
institutional framework is.”
In countries with poor policy environments, the report said, there was
little evidence that the bank’s support could promote reform. It was
difficult to know whether a government’s commitment to reform was real and,
the report said, bank support combined with conditions and policy triggers
has had limited success in promoting reform.
3. FoEI letter on Management Response
Dear all,
A FoEI letter commenting on Management Response was sent to all Executive
Directors and to Management on July 17, 2004. It can be downloaded from
under the ‘statement and letters’ section.
4. ACNIS Releases Public Opinion Results on Economic Growth
Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 16, 2004
Yerevan-The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
issued today the results of a public survey on “The Trends of Economic
Growth in Armenia,” which it conducted between June 20 and July 12 in
Yerevan and all of Armenia’s regions. The announcement and accompanying
analysis were made during a roundtable discussion at ACNIS headquarters,
which considered the attitude of Armenian citizens toward Armenia’s
controversial “economic miracle.”
ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian greeted the invited
guests and public participants with opening remarks. “These deliberations,
as well as the survey preceding them, aim to evaluate public perceptions of
economic growth in Armenia, to draw a true picture of its impact on the
budget of Armenian families, and to determine the factors obstructing and
those promoting economic development in the Republic,” Kalenchian said.
ACNIS legal and political affairs analyst Stepan Safarian presented “The
Aims, Methodology, and Results of the Survey,” focusing in detail on the
findings of the public opinion polls. Accordingly, 55.7% of the surveyed
citizens assert that the reported economic growth in Armenia has not had any
impact on their family budget, 36.5% say it has had a small positive impact,
and only 7.5% are completely satisfied with it. It is noteworthy that 33.5%
state that their family budget has increased owing to their and their
relatives’ employment in Armenia, 16.4% to their employment abroad or money
sent by their relatives living abroad, and only 4.2% to improvement of the
general economic situation and living standards in Armenia, and 45% assert
that their family budget has not increased at all.
In response to a question on whether the Armenian authorities pursue an
economic policy supporting the development of enterprise and investments,
22.8% of respondents give positive answers, 48.4% are of the opposite
opinion, while 28.6% find it difficult to answer. 19.5% of citizens point to
the clan system as the main obstacle to economic growth in Armenia, 32.9%
mark corruption and patronage, 16.5% the moral-psychological atmosphere
within society, 6.4% tax and customs bureaucracy, 4.2% the unresolved status
of the Karabagh issue, 4.3% Armenia’s closed borders with Azerbaijan and
Turkey, and 1.7% interference by external forces. 26.4% think that the
prerequisite for surmounting the obstacles to economic growth in Armenia is
the formation of a new administration, 12.8% improvement of the atmosphere
for investments, 16.5% encouragement and development of small and
medium-sized enterprises, 22.6% operation of large industrial enterprises,
and 12.3% the ensuring of Armenia’s active participation in regional
economic programs.
54% of respondent citizens believe that Russia most promotes the economic
development of Armenia, 12% think it is the United States, 2% France, 1.5%
Iran, while 13.3% hold that none of them do and 13.8% find it difficult to
answer. Most of the respondents, 35.3%, are convinced that Armenia should
have the closest economic relations with all countries, 32.6% with CIS
member-states, 13.9% with European Union member-states, 7% with the
countries of the region (Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran), and 2.7%
countries of the American continent, particularly the United States and
Canada. The role of the Diaspora in the economic development of Armenia is
highly valued by 25.8% of citizens, 44% view it as important, 23.1% think it
plays a small role, and 6.6% find it plays no role at all.
According to 20.3% of citizens surveyed, in the event of maintaining the
present pace of economic development Armenia will become a prosperous
country in the next 10 years, 30% expect this in the next 25 years and 16.5%
in the next 100 years, whereas 25.1% assert that Armenia will never become a
prosperous country under the circumstances.
ACNIS economic and diaspora affairs analyst Hovsep Khurshudian offered a
comment on the poll results, referring to their most compelling indices. “We
may deduce from many of the answers that the public is not satisfied with
the pronouncements of the authorities about unprecedented economic growth in
Armenia as, even if true, it does not bear a positive impact on all
society,” underlined Khurshudian.
The formal presentations were followed by contributions by Yerevan State
University professors Haik Sargsian and Gagik Galstian; Supreme Council
Deputy Club chairman Samvel Tonoyan; director Gagik Makarian of the
“Haiconsult” firm; editor Haroutiun Khachatrian of Noyan Tapan Highlights;
Yulia Kuleshova of “Delovoy Express” weekly; Vaghtang Siradeghian of
Transparency International Armenia; Yerevan State Linguistic University
professor Hrach Tatevian; Stepan Mantarlian of “Armaveni” consulting
company; and several others.
37.9% of all respondents hail from Yerevan, and 62.1% are from outside the
capital city. 38.7% of them are male, and 60.8% female (the item on gender
was missed in 5 questionnaires (0.5%) filled in during telephone survey);
7.3% are 20 years of age or below, 25.2% 21-30, 20.5% 31-40, 21.5% 41-50,
12.1% 51-60, 8.4% 61-70, and 6.1% 71 or above. 41.8% of the citizens
surveyed have received higher education, whereas 9.7% have incomplete
higher, 19.1% specialized secondary, 24.9% secondary, and 4.1% incomplete
secondary training. 41.3% are actively employed, 10.4% pensioners and
welfare recipients, 7.1% students, and 40.6% unemployed. According to their
income 62.9% consider themselves middle class, 27.8% poor, and 5.5%
extremely poor, 0.6% rich, 2.7% well off. Urban residents constitute 67.5%
of the citizens surveyed, while rural residents make up 32.5%.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2004, the Center focuses
primarily on public outreach, civic education, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center or the full graphics of the poll
results,
Call (3741) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18;
Fax (3741) 52-48-46;
E-mail [email protected] or [email protected];
Or visit or
5. PRESIDENTIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE SAVES GREEN AREA IN YEREVAN
Source: Arminfo, July 15, 2004
A green zone in front of building 28, Isahakyan Street in Yerevan was saved
after intervention of the Presidential Supervisory Service.
Journalists’ signals to various instances did not produce any results
before. It was not until the journalists applied to Presidential Spokesman
Ashot Kocharian that the President was informed of the fact. The
construction in the land-plot has been suspended, and planting of trees and
bushes has even begun. Talking to ARMINFO, Edmon Zakharyan, Press Secretary
of the Yerevan Mayor, “credited” the salvation of the green zone in the
center of Yerevan to his boss Yervand Zakharyan. He stressed that this is a
testimony to the Mayor’s determination to battle illegal construction and
destruction of green zones.
We would remind you that a 5-meter-deep pit was to be dug in the plot of
land with an area of 500sq. meters for the construction of an entertainment
club. According to yet unconfirmed information, the construction was
sponsored by RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Coordination of
Infrastructures Hovik Abramyan. This is the first example of a favorable
outcome of a conflict over green areas between the public and high-ranking
officials.
6. GreenHORIZON Magazine Internships at The Regional Environmental
Center for Central and Eastern Europe
Time Line
Application Deadline: On-going
Internship period: Minimum 1 month, maximum 2 years, with possibility for
extension
Workload: Full time or part time.
Location:
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe,
Szentendre, Hungary
An internship with the greenHORIZON magazine provides an opportunity for
gaining practical knowledge; hands-on experience; and research skills in
environmental journalism, magazine management and advertising. The
internship is suitable for professionals who wish to improve their
qualifications or do research in the fields of journalism, mass media,
environment and health communication, business and advertising, or other
related fields. Universities and media and research organizations are
invited to benefit from this internship.
The greenHORIZON magazine internship offers two main specialization streams:
practical and research.
Practical stream:
Interns following this stream will focus on the editorial and production
aspects of the magazine, and on reporting on environmental topics.
On the editorial side, interns will work on such tasks as:
Learning environmental reporting techniques;
Collecting information and working with different sources;
Assisting with and writing news or feature stories, including conducting
interviews;
Copy-editing and proof-reading; and
Assisting with editing and working with contributors.
Interns with an interest in production and advertising would assist the
magazine team by:
Studying and assessing the market;
Conducting readership surveys;
Marketing the magazine to advertisers;
Planning and attracting ads; and/or
Producing and collecting graphic materials.
Research stream
A research internship would normally be held in partnership with a
university or other educational or research organization. Internship tasks
would include:
Regional or national research on environmental journalism and media in
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE);
Collecting and reviewing environmental journalism / environmental media
publications;
Exploring the professional needs of environmental journalists in Central and
Eastern Europe;
Studying the social, economic, historical, and other factors that influence
mass media reporting on environmental issues;
Working with focus groups or conducting direct interviews with environmental
media professionals.
An individual work plan and/or research programme will be designed for each
accepted intern. A combination of research and practical tasks is also
possible.
Benefits
The intern will receive in-depth knowledge of and practical experience with
environmental journalism; magazine management, production, marketing and
advertising; or will be able to conduct research in the field of environment
and mass media.
The intern will receive guidance and supervision, and will have access to
the resources of the REC, including the REC’s environmental library – a
unique English language collection in Central and Eastern Europe.
The intern will be involved in the magazine’s production process, and the
media oriented work and services of the REC.
The intern will be a part of the REC’s international and highly dynamic team
and will have access to REC facilities and events.
Qualifications Required
Applicants should be:
Able to write and work proficiently in English;
Interested in, and knowledgeable of, one or more of the following fields:
the environment, journalism and mass communications, media management,
marketing, advertising, publishing, environmental and health communication,
or media law;
Willing to join a dynamic international team; and
Able to keep deadlines and handle tasks responsibly.
Students are welcome.
Internship conditions:
This is a non-paid internship. Interns will be expected to attract funding
to cover their travel to Hungary; personal costs incurred during their stay;
and an administrative fee of EUR 400 per month.
The REC will assist interns with their accommodation and travel
arrangements, including the acquisition of a visa for Hungary. The REC is
often able to offer interns inexpensive accommodations right on its
premises.
The REC will provide interns with workstations suitable for the performance
of their tasks. The REC will also provide them with the necessary guidance
and supervision to ensure a mutually beneficial learning and working
process.
In exceptional cases the REC may be able to reduce or waive the
administrative fee, cover partially or fully travel and accommodation costs,
and offer a living allowance to prospective interns. These opportunities are
subject to the availability of funds and require a well justified request
from the applicant or sending institution.
The application procedure to be followed is outlined on the general REC
Internship Programme Webpage
(). If you are interested in
this position, please refer to it in your letter of interest!
For more information about the greenHORIZON magazine internships, contact:
Todd Schenk
Internship Project Manager
[email protected]; or
Pavel Antonov
Editor, Green Horizon
[email protected]
Green Horizon
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
9 – 11 Ady Endre ut. Szentendre 2000. Hungary
Telephone +36 26 504041, +36 26 504000
Telefax +36 26 311294
7. Slovenia – Workshop “Tourism”, 23-24.09.2004
Source: European Mountain Forum // Europe e-mail list, July 19, 2004
Dear Sir / Madam,
The Alpine Network of Protected Areas is organizing, the 23rd and 24th
September 2004 in Slovenia, a Worskhop “Tourism” in collaboration with the
Triglav National Park within the framework of the Alpine week (“The Alps of
the next generation”, 22-25 September 2004). You can find enclose the
programme and a registration form (in French, Italian, German and Slovenian)
for this workshop. The registration form has to be sent back to the Alpine
Network of Protected Areas before August 15, 2004.
For the hotels advised in the programme, please make the reservation under
the name of the Alpine network of Protected Areas. For those who are already
registered to the hotel, please do not forget to register also your
participation for the Workshop to the Alpine Network of Protected Areas.
Sabine Auriel
Assistant
And
Arnold Karbacher
In charge of cooperation with the Alps and the Carpathians
Alpine Network of Protected areas
Réseau Alpin des Espaces Protégés
Rete delle Aree Protette Alpine
Netzwerk Alpiner Schutzgebiete
Mreza Zavarovanih Obmocij v Alpah
Micropolis – Isatis
05000 Gap (F)
tel 0033. (0)4.92.40.20.00
fax 0033.(0)4.92.40.20.01
8. EIA REPORT of ” Project of the cement Grinding Mini Enterprise in
Tbilisi.” BY THE “Georgian Tazm” Ltd
Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), July 16, 2004
In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Georgian Tazm” Ltd. submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category -Project of the
cement Grinding Mini Enterprise in Tbilisi.
EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of Environment
(68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili Str., Tel: 25 02 19).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until August 31, 2004.
Public hearing will be held on August 31, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.
9. EIA REPORT of “Manganese Processing Mini Enterprise in Chiatura”
BY THE “Laguna” Ltd
Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), July 16, 2004
In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Laguna” Ltd. submitted EIA
report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an environmental
permit for the activity of first category -Project of the oil and Flour
Producing Enterprise from the fish, in Poti.
EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of Environment
(68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili Str., Tel: 25 02 19).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until August 31, 2004.
Public hearing will be held on August 31, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.
10. EIA REPORT of the “Project on the Processing of the Saskhor
Carbonate Deposit, West Section in Mtskheta Region ” BY THE “Kaspicement””
Ltd
Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), July 16, 2004
In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Kaspicement” Ltd. submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category -Project on the
Processing of the Saskhor Carbonate Deposit, West Section in Mtskheta
Region..
EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of Environment
(68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili Str., Tel: 25 02 19).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until August 31, 2004.
Public hearing will be held on August 31, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.
11. Vacancy Announcements
Terms of Reference for Task 5.1.5.
Water Infrastructure in the Kura River Basin
The Kura-Aras river system is an internationally significant river basin,
which is seriously degraded and continues to be threatened. Water scarcity
is an issue at many points in the river system. Water quality and quantity
constraints may increasingly lead to disputes amongst water users over the
coming years. Integrated, multi-country, trans-boundary responses are
necessary to address the threats to the river system, and their underlying
causes.
The main objective of project is to address institutional and technical
needs for integrated water resources planning and management at the national
level. The project aims at building national capacity for Integrated Water
Resources Planning and Management;
Duties and responsibilities:
In order to achieve above mentioned objectives UNDP will hire the Expert to
perform following:
ž Collect information and analyze present condition of following
components of water infrastructure sector in the Kura basin:
 Drinking water supply systems;
 Dams and Reservoirs;
 Irrigation network;
 Drainage network;
 Canals in Kura-Aras river basin
 Sanitation system (Waste water treatment plants)
 Hydropower plants
 Etc.
Review projects that has been under way in water infrastructure sector and
planned investment projects in this sector;
Identify existing database, collect data and evaluate availability of
information, format of existing information (reports, books, information
booklets, handwritten materials, tables, graphs.
Reporting requirements
ž The expert is responsible for drafting report according to the scope
of work;
ž A report of maximum 25-30 pages;
ž Data must be presented in tables in format offered bellow in
appendix
ž Report should be submitted electronically, in Russian or English;
ž If the work requirements are not met report can be revised upon
satisfactory completion;
Terms and conditions:
The expert will undertake the works within 3 month after signing the
contract. The payment will be made in two installments: the first 50 percent
of the total will be paid upon submitting first draft of the report and the
second 50 percent – after responding to the comments and final acceptance of
the report by project Team Leader. Total amount of payment will be
negotiated with the Project Team Leader.
Qualified candidates interested to undertake works under the Terms of
Reference should submit their Curriculum Vitae by ordinary mail, by fax or
electronically no later than Monday, July 26, 2004, 5 p.m. to:
Zurab Jincharadze, Team Leader
E:Mail: [email protected]
Tel: 995 32 292742
Fax: 995 32 292742
Nino Malashkhia, Technical Assistant
E-mail: [email protected]
And
Mariam Shotadze, UNDP Georgia, Programme Analyst
[email protected]
Terms of Reference for Tasks 5.1.6-5.1.7.
Water Uses and Demand-Supply balance in the Kura River Basin
The Kura-Aras river system is an internationally significant river basin,
which is seriously degraded and continues to be threatened. Water scarcity
is an issue at many points in the river system. Water quality and quantity
constraints may increasingly lead to disputes amongst water users over the
coming years. Integrated, multi-country, trans-boundary responses are
necessary to address the threats to the river system, and their underlying
causes.
The main objective of project is to address institutional and technical
needs for integrated water resources planning and management at the national
level. The project aims at building national capacity for Integrated Water
Resources Planning and Management;
Duties and responsibilities
In order to achieve above mentioned objectives UNDP will hire the Expert to
perform following:
ž Assess and analyze following water use by sectors:
o Agricultural water use: water use for irrigation purposes,
irrigated land area, estimation of water loss in irrigation network,
irrigation network rehabilitation projects, present and future trends of
water use in agriculture;
o Domestic water use: the basic sources of water supply, quality of
water, present and future trends of water use for domestic purposes;
o Industrial water use: the basic sources of water supply, volumes of
water use, water use in industry in dynamics and future trends;
o Water use for fisheries: the characteristic of water objects for
fishery, scale of water use and future trends;
o Water use for hydropower generation: available hydroelectric power
stations, their capacities, regime data and water use;
o Water use for recreation: waters having recreational function;
ž Analyze present and future trends of water allocation among
different water users and Demand-Supply balance. Based on these analysis
draw picture for possible future conflicts or other problems that might
emerge between different water users by sectors, within the sectors and on
regional level;
Identify existing data base, collect data and evaluate availability of
information, format of existing information (reports, books, information
booklets, handwritten materials, tables, graphs).
Reporting requirements
ž The expert is responsible for drafting report according to the scope
of work;
ž A report of maximum 30 pages;
ž Report should be submitted electronically, in Russian or English;
ž If the work requirements are not met report can be revised upon its
satisfactory completion;
Terms and conditions:
The expert will undertake the works within three month after signing the
contract. The payment will be made in two installments: the first 50 percent
of the total will be paid upon submitting first draft of the report and the
second 50 percent – after responding to the comments and final acceptance of
the report by project Team Leader. Total amount of payment will be
negotiated with the Project Team Leader.
Qualified candidates interested to undertake works under the Terms of
Reference should submit their Curriculum Vitae by ordinary mail, by fax or
electronically no later than Monday, July 26, 2004, 5 p.m. to:
Zurab Jincharadze, Team Leader
E:Mail: [email protected]
Tel: 995 32 292742
Fax: 995 32 292742
Ms. Nino Malashkhia, Technical Assistant
E-mail: [email protected]
And
Ms. Mariam Shotadze, UNDP Georgia, Programme Analyst
[email protected]
[1] ‘Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project FAQs’, on BP’s dedicated BTC
website, available at
The significance
which BP attaches to its claims on consultation is indicated by the fact
that consultation is the second issue dealt with in a long list. The IFC,
for its part, appears so persuaded of the accuracy of BP’s claim that it
repeats it even more definitively on the FAQs section of its own website.
“Landowner users and all the 500 or so communities within two kilometers of
the route have now been contacted several times during the preparation of
the ESIAs and RAPs.” International Finance Corporation, ‘BTC Project:
Frequently Asked Questions, Consultation’, available at
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

www.baku.org.uk
www.eireview.info
www.acnis.am
www.acnis.am/pr/economy/Socio5_eng.pdf

Tbilisi: New French ambassador supports Azerbaijan

Messenger, Georgia
July 16 2004
New French ambassador supports Azerbaijan
According to the Azeri newspaper 525 Gazeta, official Paris thinks
that the Karabakh problem should be solved through peaceful
negotiations. The president of Azerbaijan has received a letter from
the Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Roland Blatman.
The ambassador stated that he will make every effort to make his
contribution to the economic and social development of Azerbaijan.
“At the same time I will do my best to achieve more progress in the
way of democratization in Azerbaijan,” stated Blatman and called on
Azerbaijan leadership to make their efforts to fulfill the
recommendations of the Council of Europe “more active.”
Blatman also said that France respects the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and does not recognize the independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh. “France is rather satisfied with the fact that you
continue the dialogue with President of Armenia Robert Kocharian. At
the same time France, as co-chair of the Minsk Group of OSCE, is also
very satisfied with the successive meetings and constructive
negotiations and also with contacts of the ministers of foreign
affairs… We are entirely sure that the conflict should be settled
by peaceful negotiations,” concluded the ambassador.
For his part, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev expressed hope for
a resolution in the near future based on international law. “As a
result of the aggression of Armenia, 20 percent of our lands are
under occupation and one million of Azeri people live as refugees. We
recognize the territorial integrity of all states and expect the same
attitude toward Azerbaijan,” stated Aliev.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mayor promises to remove street traders by mid-October

Armen Press
July 7 2004
MAYOR PROMISES TO REMOVE STREET TRADERS BY MID OCTOBER
YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS: Yerevan mayor Yerevan Zakarian, who
had promised to remove traders from the capital’s streets by last
April 15, but failed to do it, took another stroll today across
several Yerevan streets to see the pace of construction of
mini-markets, which are supposed to house the street traders.
Speaking to accompanying journalists, the mayor argued that not
only the municipality or community offices, but also the residents of
Yerevan should fight against open-air trade. “People should
understand that street traders violate all health requirements and
their goods pose threat to public health,” the mayor said.
Zakarian said the municipality will work to eliminate street trade
for good, adding that mini-markets will be ready in a couple of
months to house street traders in Arabkir, Kentron, Kanaker-Zeytun
and Erebuni communities. According to him, by mid-October street
trade will be removed from 80 percent of central streets.
Zakarian also said that 1.4 billion drams were released for the
current repair of central and other streets in the capital. The
repair will be finished in September.

Main goal is Armenia’s ties with neighbours – European envoy

Main goal is Armenia’s ties with neighbours – European envoy
Arminfo
3 Jul 04
YEREVAN
“I am here not to comment on the Karabakh issue or Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan’s speech but to boost interparliamentary cooperation
between Armenia and other member states of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe [PACE], PACE Secretary-General Bruno Haller
said, asked by an Arminfo correspondent to comment on the Armenian
president’s speech at the fifth summer session of PACE in Strasbourg.
“My intention is to focus on international cooperation between Armenia
and its neighbours – Georgia, Azerbaijan and why not Turkey. This is
the main goal of my visit, he said. It is the PACE political committee
that is currently dealing with the Nagornyy Karabakh issue, and
European MPs will be able to familiarize themselves with the essence
of this problem after the submission of a special report.
Speaking about the process of fulfilling Armenia’s commitments to the
Council of Europe, Haller expressed his hope that the final version of
the monitoring report will be drafted and submitted for consideration
by October this year. Armenia will have time to do its best to ensure
that the report is positive.
[Passage omitted: Minor details]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Heikki Talvitie: EU is Interested

HEIKKI TALVITIE: EU IS INTERESTED
Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
02 July 2004
On June 30 NKR president Arkady Ghukassian met with the special
representative of the European Union on the South Caucasus Heikki
Talvitie who was in Stepanakert for a two-day visit. During the
meeting Mr. Talvitie said that the European Union is greatly
interested in the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In
this reference he mentioned that the EU is ready to assist to any
undertaking, any progress in the peaceful process. The special
representative pointed out the importance of establishing an
atmosphere is confidence between the conflict parties without which it
is impossible to achieve positive results in the negotiation
process. In his turn the president of NKR thanked Heikki Talvitie for
his visit to Nagorni Karabakh, which testifies to the wish of the EU
to attend to the real situation in the conflict area and to favour the
settlement of the crisis. He supported the opinion of the special
representative on the necessity of mutual trust. At the same time the
president of NKR mentioned that the Karabakh party has offered to
Azerbaijan to undertake joint efforts for creating an atmosphere of
trust but did not receive a corresponding response on the part of
Baku. Arkady Ghukassian especially pointed out the danger of the
growing anti-Armenian hysteria and rooting of the hostile image of the
Armenian in Azerbaijan. Once again the head of NKR emphasized the
importance of full-right participation of Karabakh in the talks
without which the problem of settlement will aggravate. Speaking about
the processes Arkady Ghukassian mentioned that the process of
democratization in all the public and political spheres in Karabakh
has already been deeply rooted. He added that Nagorni Karabakh goes on
to have its contribution to the process of integration and become part
of Europe. The participants of the meeting appreciated the fact of
maintenance of the cease-fire and emphasized the inadmissibility of
solving the conflict through force. At the end of the meeting the
president of NKR said that hopefully the visits of representatives of
European organizations to Nagorni Karabakh will be regular.
AA.
02-07-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Soccer-Euro-Battling Greeks revel in surprise package status

Soccer-Euro-Battling Greeks revel in surprise package status
By Karolos Grohmann
PORTO, June 17 (Reuters) – Greece have deservedly earned the title
of surprise team at Euro 2004 after sparkling performances against
two of the tournament favourites.
Their shock victory over hosts Portugal in the opening game and a
battling draw with a talented Spanish side have put Greece top of
Group A, only a point away from their first quarter-finals with one
game to play.
“These matches have shown that we are not a firework, that we did
not come here as tourists,” central defender Michalis Kapsis said.
Playing inspiring football at times, Greeks booked their place at the
tournament by winning six straight qualifiers, including away games
in Spain, Northern Ireland and Armenia.
That was already a major success for the Greeks and few were ready
to bet on them going past the group stage, which also includes Russia.
“Of course we are the outsiders,” said German coach Otto Rehhagel,
who took over the team three years ago. “Look at the football histories
of the three countries in our group. We can’t match that.”
But his players have eclipsed the soccer traditions of their rivals
and are firmly on course for the last eight.
With a mixture of young and old, Rehhagel has sculpted a team capable
of beating the best in Europe.
They have only lost twice in the last 20 internationals and have an
eight-game unbeaten run in competitive games,
But the experienced coach, with an illustruous 30-year Bundesliga
career behind him, is still calling for caution.
“Nothing has been won. Everyone says we are through to the next round
but that is not true,” he said on Thursday.
Few would bet against them now, though.
FIGHTING SPIRIT
It was not too long ago when Greece, following dismal appearances at
the 1980 European Championship and 1994 World Cup, where they conceded
10 goals in three matches, were renowned for quickly throwing in
the towel.
“Greece came to this tournament with a tag reading: this is a strong
defensive team which can only play well if it scores, but crumbles
when it concedes goals,” Kapsis said.
“Against Spain we had team spirit, we fought for 90 minutes and we
showed we can turn round the game after being 1-0 down. This is the
most positive thing to come out of the Spain match.”
Greece battled on against the Spaniards, even after falling 1-0
behind in the first half and managed to grab an equaliser midway
through the second.
“The Spaniards had a better team but we had soul,” striker Demis
Nikolaidis said. “Our secret is that we fight for 90 minutes.”
06/17/04 13:25 ET
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran, Armenia sign customs memorandum

IRAN, ARMENIA SIGN CUSTOMS MEMORANDUM
ArmenPress
June 14 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: Last year Iran sold to Armenia $47
million worth goods, while Armenia exported to that country $18 million
worth goods. In 2002 this ratio was respectively $43 million and $24
million. Armenia sells to Iran mainly copper, aluminum and synthetic
rubber. Around 50,000 people from both sides visit the two countries
and 32,000 trucks cross the border from both directions.
A frame memorandum was signed last Friday by the two governments’
customs services to regulate bilateral trade, stipulated by the
inter-government cooperation agreement. The memorandum will regulate
information exchange and struggle against customs violations. It will
also approve the list of customs officials of both sides entitled to
directly contact with each other.
Karen Beglarian, head of an Armenian customs service department, said
the memorandum will also approve the list of some goods (all in all
16, such as arms, ammunition, cultural values and psychoactive drugs )
that are not subject to customs tariff regulation.
According to Gholamreza Safari Taheri, the chief of Iranian customs
service office for international cooperation, the memorandum envisages
also reciprocal administrative assistance, training of personnel,
exchange foe experience and holding of seminars.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress