Author: Emil Lazarian

Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network
(CASCFEN), Azerbaijan
Aug 27 2004
Am: IPI calls on Kocharian to investigate attacks on journalists

CASCFEN, Vienna, 27 Aug 2004 — Johann P. Fritz, Director of the
International Press Institute based in Vienna on Aug 27, 2004
addressed to Robert Kocharian, the President of the Republic of
Armenia in regard to recent attack on two journalists. Following is
the text of the letter:

“The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of
editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120
countries, strongly condemns the attack on Mkhitar Khachatrian, a
photojournalist with the news agency Fotolur.

According to information before IPI, the attack occurred on 24 August
while Khachatrian and Anna Israelian, a correspondent for the
independent daily Aravot, were on assignment in the exclusive resort
town of Tsaghkadzor. The journalists had travelled to the central
Armenian town to write an article about the damage caused to the
local environment by building projects carried out over recent years.

Khachatrian was taking pictures of a house allegedly belonging to
Armen Yeritsian, deputy chief of national police, when a guard came
out and told him to stop photographing. Later, the two journalists
were confronted by the same guard at a cafe in Tsaghkadzor. The guard
recognised the journalist and called several men over, one of whom
subsequently assaulted Khachatrian. The journalist said the man
kicked, punched, cursed and threatened to kill him, and that he was
forced to surrender the memory card of his digital camera to
prevent his camera from being broken.

According to reports, Khachatrian’s description of the attackers
matches that of the men who assaulted several journalists and
destroyed their cameras at an opposition rally in Yerevan on 5 April.

IPI urges Your Excellency to authorise an immediate and thorough
investigation into these incidents and to do everything in your power
to create an environment in Armenia that allows journalists to
practice their profession without fear of harassment or
intimidation.”

IPI, the global network of editors, media executives and leading
journalists, is dedicated to the furtherance and safeguarding of
press freedom, the protection of freedom of opinion and expression,
the promotion of the free flow of news and information, and the
improvement of the practices of journalism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri politicians divided over possible US troop deployment
Ekho, Baku
27 Aug 04

The setting up of US military bases in Azerbaijan has appeared on the
agenda again recently. The unexpected visit of US Defence Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld to Azerbaijan has brought this issue under the media
spotlight.
Moscow hopes that Washington will not set up its bases in the Baltic
countries and the Caucasus, said a statement by the Russian Foreign
Ministry in connection with the US plans to reassign its troops in
Europe (Turan news agency). As for the military bases established in
Central Asia, Moscow hopes that they will be closed as soon as the
antiterror operations in Afghanistan are over.
The deputy chairman of the PFAP [the People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party (reformists)] on international affairs, [MP] Asim Mollazada,
said that at issue was not the deployment of troops but rather the
development of ties between Azerbaijan and the USA. Mollazada notes
that strategic partnership is being observed between Baku and
Washington in security issues, however, “it is necessary to reach a
strategic alliance”. There are all prerequisites for this, Mollazada
thinks.
The security of the region is a priority for all the South Caucasus
countries. In any case, Mollazada thinks, the USA will do its best to
maintain stability in the region. He said that mobile detachments
could be brought into the region to ensure the security of joint
projects. However, what is more important is the resolution of
political issues – “deployment of mobile units is a purely technical
matter”.
“We want solely Azerbaijani forces on the territory of our country,”
the deputy chairman of the Azarbaycan Milli Istiqlal Party [AMIP],
Maharram Zulfuqarli, told Ekho. He said that the issue of deployment
of US troops in Azerbaijan was being whipped up. They are allegedly to
ensure the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The AMIP
official thinks that this function should be accomplished exclusively
by Azerbaijani troops. “We did not drive the Russian troops out of the
country in 1992 to replace them with any other foreign units.”
“Negotiations to this effect are actually under way. And the USA
wishes to deploy its military contingent in Azerbaijan,” the deputy
chairman of the Musavat Party, Sulhaddin Akbar, said. According to his
information, the authorities have not so far consented to this. At the
same time, Akbar believes that Azerbaijan should soon file for NATO
membership. “This could give us more advantages both in the military
and political spheres.”
The co-chairman of the Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party, Zardust
Alizada, is flatly against the deployment of any foreign troops in
Azerbaijan. He said that our country should adhere to
neutrality. According to Alizada, the “pro-NATO” fight for the
deployment of foreign troops here “is a grave mistake”. Those
soldiers will protect the interests of the USA, and the USA has always
backed Armenia’s interests.
Alizada also pointed at the USA’s desire to “unleash aggression
against Iran”. “This could lead to a fratricidal war as many
Azerbaijanis live in Iran.”
[Passage omitted: another similar opinion by Aydin Quliyev]
Gular Ahmadova, MP from the [ruling] New Azerbaijan Party, said that
Azerbaijan was in the US-led antiterror coalition. Moreover,
Azerbaijan fully backs cooperation with NATO. “The country’s
leadership also fully supports integration into the Euro-Atlantic
structures.” At the same time, the MP believes that the idea of
deployment of US troops is “populist”. “The country’s cooperation with
NATO is a completely different matter,” Ahmadova said.

Armenian foreign minister meets Black Sea bloc rep, discusses projects
Public Television of Armenia
26 Aug 04
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has received Valeriy
Chechelashvili, secretary-general of the standing international
secretariat of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.
The secretary-general told the minister about the activities of his
organization mainly aimed at reinforcing and raising its authority
worldwide. The organization set up a development foundation to invest
in important programmes through it.
At the end, Chechelashvili said that he will be transferred to another
post in the near future. Chechelashvili will be Georgia’s ambassador
plenipotentiary and extraordinary to Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Payvand, Iran
Aug 26 2004
Armenia’s Central Bank governor welcomes closer ties with Central
Bank of Iran
Moscow, Aug 25, IRNA — Governor of Central Bank of Armenia Wednesday
in a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Yerevan Alireza Haghaqian
stressed strengthening bilateral economic and financial cooperation
between the two nations.
Tigran Sarkisian said that Armenia attaches importance to it
relations with Iran based on mutual respect.
He further added that closer cooperation with Iran can be positive in
reducing Armenia’s economic problems.
Iranian ambassador also said the two countries should use their
banking capabilities in joint projects.
The two nations have forged close economic and trade relations.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian said here in July that
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project is of great importance to Yerevan.
ArmeRuss Gazprom and Gazprom companies voiced readiness in June to
contribute to Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project.
The two companies have started feasibility study on the technical and
economic aspects of the project and a group of engineers, being
members of the working group, visited the regions in Armenia from
where the pipeline is going to pass.
Experts believe that Iran-Armenia pipeline project is of strategic
importance to Armenia for not passing the critical spots in northern
Caucasus and Georgia.
Iran and Armenia signed agreement on the 142-km gas pipeline project
in 2001, under which the republic would receive 1,500,000 cubic
meters of gas from Iran a day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

82 HOUSES BUILT IN ARMENIA WITH HFH SUPPORT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24. ARMINFO. During a press-conference today the
Diocesan Legate of the Ecumenical Office of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern Diocese) Bishop Vicken Aykazyan and the President of
Habitat for Humanity Michigan Rev Ken Bensen shared the results of
their meeting with His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos and Supreme
Patriarch of All Armenians during which the partnership possibilities
among Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity International and the
Worldwide Armenian Church were discussed.
Habitat for Humanity Armenia is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity
International and supports community development in the Republic of
Armenia by assisting in the construction and renovation of simple,
decent and affordable homes. The purpose of the organization is to
help families in need improve their living conditions,m to raise funds
to support the vital work and to give hope to thousands of people
across the country. The organization was formed in Mar of 2002 and to
date has dedicated 82 homes and given shelter to 473 people.
Benson said that the selected target of HFH Armenia is families living
substandard,m over-crowded and unacceptable;e living quarters. This
group comprises more than 50-60% of the country’s current
population. These families are unable to purchase their won homes as
they do not have sufficient income to save to pay for the entire house
cost up front nor can they risk and would they be eligible for a
high-interest loan from a commercial lender.
Middle-income families are given no-interest loan – up to $10,000 for
20 years. $222,000 will be allocated this year for the construction of
40 houses and $300,000 more in 2005 under the direction of the former
US president Jim Carter.

FOUR IRAQI-ARMENIANS ARE GOING TO VISIT ARMENIA FOR FIRST TIME
YEREVAN, August 24 (Noyan Tapan). Four Iraqi-Armenians Khachik
Movsisian, Vardges Minasian (secretary of the Kerkuk district
council), Hovhannes Chibukhchian (a Kerkuk sportsman) and Yurik
Ohannesian (a Baghdad citizen) visited the publishing house of the
“Alik” (“Wave”) daily newspaper of Tehran on August 22. According to
the “Alik” (“Wave”) daily newspaper of Tehran, the Iraqi-Armenians,
receiving visas from the Embassy of Iran in Baghdad, went to Iran by
land with the purpose of visiting their relatives there. During their
first visit they traveled over the city of Tehran, visited the
“Ararat” sport complex, the churches of St. Sargis and St. Virgin. “We
are going to visit our Homeland, Armenia, for the first time, and
Armenian Plenipotentiary Ambassador Mr. Gharibjanian supported us in
this issue…,” mentioned the Iraqi-Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 25, 2004 Wednesday 8:34 AM Eastern Time
Fresh nuclear fuel delivered to Armenian plant
By Tigran Liloyan
METSAMOR /Armavir region in Armenia/, August 25 -Armenia’s Energy
Minister Armen Movsesyan said fresh nuclear fuel had been delivered
to the Armenian plant in advance for the first time, before the
beginning of repair works.
Movsesyan, who arrived at the plant to inspect the progress of
repairs, praised the Russian financial management which had made it
possible.
“Improvement of the nuclear plant’s safety remains our priority,” he
said, adding that the republic had spent on this purpose some 40
million dollars after de-mothballing the facility.
Safety measures are financed by international donor organizations,
the European Union and the U.S. energy ministry.
According to the minister, repair works are carried out according to
schedule. Half of all planned repairs have already been completed.
The nuclear plant will go on line on October 4, he said at a meeting
with the plant’s officials.
“We won’t talk about shutting down the plant until Armenia creates
alternative power generating capacities,” Movsesyan said.
The construction of a new nuclear power plant is under discussion.
The main problem is a lack of funding, as the project requires some
one billion dollars, he said.
The Armenian nuclear power plant, located 40 kilometers west of
Yerevan, was commissioned in 1979. It was shut down after a
devastating earthquake of 1989.
In 1996, Russian specialists helped Armenia de-mothball the plant and
launch its second reactor. The facility accounts for some 40 percent
of all electricity generated in Armenia.
However, the European Union is anxious to see the plant closed. Last
year, the financial management of the plant was handed over to a
daughter company of Russia’s RAO Unified Energy Systems.

11 SCHOOLS INCLUDING ARMENIAN TO BE REPAIRED BY DECISION OF TSALKA
REGIONAL SACREBULO
AKHALKALAKI, August 24 (Noyan Tapan). The regional budget of Tsalka
enriched itself with 100,000 lari in connection with granting some
constructions on lease to employees of the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeihan oil
pipeline construction. This sum will be used for the repairs of the
most accident-prone schools of the regions. According to Razmik
Hanesian, Chairman of the regional sacrebulo, the sacrebulo decided to
repair 11 schools, including schools of the Armenian villages of
Ayama, Odzni, Dashbash, Nardevan. According to the “A-Info” Agency,
the construction work started on August 23, and everything will
complete till the beginning of the new academic year, September 20.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 24 2004
OSCE is waiting for a meeting between Zhvania and Kokoiti
As reported in the newspaper Alia, “the leaders of CIS states will
try to convince Mikheil Saakashvili to sit at the same negotiation
table together with the so called leader of Ossetia,” declared the
President of Russia Vladimer Putin in Sochi at a meeting with
Armenian president.
According to them, neither Russia nor Armenia, is going to watch
indifferently while the current situation in the Caucasus escalates.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Compensation row prompted violent pipeline protest in Georgia
A-Info news agency
20 Aug 04
AKHALKALAKI
On 20 August in the morning an extraordinary situation arose again in
the village of Tabatsquri in Georgia’s Borjomi District. Some
residents of the village, anti-Ceyhaners who oppose the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline , are demanding compensation and say that
compensation should be paid to all the villagers, so they tried to
obstruct construction work on the pipeline. The police who were there
used force against the villagers. In turn the villagers threw stones
at the policemen and BP cars.
The previous evening representatives of the district administration
handed to some villagers property certificates for their land used by
BP . The villagers who did not receive privatization certificates were
amazed that their fellow-villagers had been given the certificates
away from the village and outside working hours.
The employees of BP hoped that the problem had been resolved and they
could get back work, so they tried to move their equipment to
Tabatsquri. There they met resistance, resulting in the scandal.
Passage omitted