Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN PREMIER MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF
TBILISI, VISITS PANTHEON OF ARMENIAN CULTURAL WORKERS
TBILISI, July 26 (Noyan Tapan). Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian arrived in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on a two-day
official visit July 25.
RA Government’s Information and Public Relations Department reported
to NT, the premier, who is also co-chairman of the Armenian-Georgian
Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, and the
delegation headed by him, attended the opening ceremony of the
Commission’s third meeting in the morning.
The Armenian delegation members were hailed by Georgian Co-Chairman of
the Commission, Georgian Prime Minister Zourab Zhvania followed by
Andranik Margarian’s speech. Further, the Armenian premier visited the
memorial complex devoted to the memory of the heroes who persihed for
the sake of Georgia’s unity, the pantheon of Armenian cultural workers
and laid wreaths. During his visit to St. Etchmiadzin Church,
Andranik Margarian met with the representatives of the Armenian
community. Later, the Armenian premier visited the Georgian Government
building to meet with his Georgian counterpart Zourab Zhvania. RA
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian is expected to meet with Georgian
President Mikheil Sahakashvili later today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Counting on Success: A family takes to the hills to master the art of sheep
farming
armenia.now.com
23 july 2004
By Julia Hakobyan ArmeniaNow reporter
On a foot of a hill near Lake Sevan, where four-legged creatures
vastly outnumber the upright, an Armenian family has found a new home
and a chance for well being.
The Ghalichyan family left their home in Shorzha village two years ago
for the sake of their sheep, for grassland and vast expanses, and for
the chance to harmonize with nature.
Roam with a view
“We chose a place near pasture and a spring and built a house and
cattlepen,” says the head of the family Edik Ghalichyan. “We have
here all that is needed for living: shelter, food, work. We installed
electricity, built a bath and a basement for keeping food. The only
thing what we don’t have are neighbors, but by now we’ve gotten used
to it.”
Ghalichayn, 58, his wife Yunik, their two sons with their families
made the decision to go to the mountains on an invitation from the
Tufenkian Foundation.
Four years ago the foundation launched “Sheep Farms”, a project that
promotes livestock breeding and offers farmers a way establish livable
business.
The foundation (established in 1996 by U.S. businessman James
Tufenkian) distributed 258 sheep (eight rams and 250 ewes) among 10
families in each of four villages in Gegharkunik Region. Each group of
10 families also received a $4,500 loan for maintenance of the
heard. The families agreed to pay back the money and return a
same-sized herd within five years.
The Ghalichyans may turn out to be an exception in a program that has
proved challenging. Their individual herd (some 300) is bigger than
the collective herd from four years ago.
The Ghalichyans settled near grazing land
“We didn’t intend to leave the village in the beginning,” says
Ghalichyan.
“But a big herd needs a big pasture. We had to take the herd each day
to the mountains, several kilometers from our house and stay there the
all day long. And once I came here with the sheep and decided to
stay.”
It was not an easy decision to live communal village life for the
savage landscape and a herd of sheep. But the family was experiencing
financial hardships as most of the villagers and the idea of having
their own farm prevailed over the fear of social isolation.
The transition from small herd to family business has not been
easy. For example, brucellosis spread in the herd, and the
Ghalichyan’s had to destroy half their stock.
“We had been keeping sheep before, but taking care of such a big herd
caused many unexpected problems,” says Yunik, 52. “It took over two
years to learn all the details of farming from our own mistakes.”
Yunik says that they learned among other things that the first portion
of milk causes death for newborn lambs, a detail that they did not
know before.
“When we had a small herd while in our village and some lambs were
dying it did not disturb us, but now since we have a big herd the
death of lambs is very harmful for the further herd development,” she
says.
Even though the herd has increased, the Ghalichyans have not yet
turned a profit. The seed money from the foundation covers expense for
80 tons of hay for feed during winter. Money made from selling wool
goes to cover costs of renovating sheep pens and buying vaccinations.
“We could not imagine how hard it would be to develop the farm,” says
Edik, “however we do not regret that we are here. Life was easy in
Soviet times, nowadays it is hard, but if you are ready to work hard
you will survive anywhere and in any times. Now we see the results of
our work and I hope soon our sheep will bring us profit”
The Ghalichyans also have cows, turkeys, hens and cover their daily
ration by trading milk, cheese and mutton for household necessities.
Samvel Gevorgyan, manager of Sheep Farm Project says that the project
implementation caused unexpected problems for the organizers as well.
The foundation founder and the flock
Gevorgyan says that they chose Gegharkunik as the most economically
area economically for the project, however could not expect that
farmers would have problems with farming.
Now, however: “Our experience in working with farmers demonstrates
that the villagers were not ready to work,” he says. “They experience
difficulties which we did not expect and for most families that work
appeared to be too hard.”
Only eight families (including Ghalichyan’s) out of the initial 40
succeeded to maintain the herds they got.
“In some cases the heads of the villages were not eager to cooperate
with us and were hindering the works of the families,” Gevorgyan
says. “It is because they do not have a clear idea what the contract
is, that we give loans, not money. We regularly organize meetings with
villagers to explain the project, their responsibilities and
duties. We hope that Armenian farmers will realize the advantages of
having their own farms.”
As for Ghalichyan family they hope they will manage to return the loan
and herd to foundation. The head of the family says that he would work
as hard as possible to secure the life of his family. Edik hopes that
his grandsons and their families would inherit his farm and the small
oasis in the mountain would become a successful family enterprise.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Contra Costa Times, CA
July 24 2004
Helping Armenians fulfills a family
RELATIVES TRAVEL TO ARMENIA WITH DONATIONS – Alamo resident Mary Kate
Tengler; her mother, Nancy Tengler, and grandmother Lorraine Caven
recently returned home from a trip to Armenia, where they delivered
school supplies to Norashen Michnagarg School, which had recently
been built thanks in large part to Lorraine.
The Tengler family and Lorraine are members of the Bay Area Friends
of Armenia. It turns out that Lorraine, 80-plus years young and young
at heart, works in the copy room at Walnut Creek Intermediate School
and has been sending her entire paycheck to BAFA with the expressed
purpose of funding the rebuilding of this school, destroyed in a 1988
earthquake.
“The school needed to raise 10 percent of the construction cost to be
eligible for government funding. My mother’s contribution comprised
virtually all of the 10 percent, and through her efforts the school
rebuilding was accomplished,” said Nancy.
Mary Kate, 13, began her project of helping the students of this
school last year. It started when the pastor of Community
Presbyterian Church in Danville, Scott Farmer, distributed $100 bills
to the congregation with the intent that the money be used to help
others. A member of the church donated a total of $10,000.
Mary Kate took the $100 and used it to buy supplies to make Salvation
Bracelets, which she sold to other children at her school. Together
with her sales and other donations, Mary Kate collected $700, which
she in turn used to purchase New Testament bibles and school supplies
for two Armenian schools. During this time, Mary Kate, Nancy and
Lorraine collected stuffed animals, refurbished and cleaned them and
had them sent to a soup kitchen in Armenia.
This year, Mary Kate’s eighth-grade class at San Ramon Valley
Christian Academy and the junior high student council raised money
and collected school supplies and more stuffed animals, which are
being shipped this month to more schools in Armenia.
Even though the Norashen Michnagarg School has been open for a year
now, this is the first trip the three women have taken to Armenia,
and they missed the school’s official opening ceremony. During this
recent trip, the Norashen officials decided Lorraine should have a
special ceremony during the visit.
A dedication plaque was hung outside the gymnasium and a ceremony was
conducted thanking Lorraine for her contribution. Children sang songs
and recited poems, and even though they don’t speak the language,
Lorraine and her family appreciated the heartfelt performance. A
translator helped them to understand some of the wonderful messages
of thanks the children were conveying.
“It was an experience of a lifetime; each day I recall a special
memory,” Lorraine said. “All of the kids shouted out ‘thank you’ in
Armenian. I could cry thinking about it now.”
This time, Mary Kate hand-delivered the school supplies and bibles to
the children and had the opportunity to meet them; some of them are
her age.
And Lorraine finally got to see the school she helped build.
“One of the kids thanked me and asked if there was something nice
they could do for me in return, and I told my mom they already did,”
added Mary Kate.
Nancy agreed it was a rewarding trip for the three ladies — “It is
one of the most fulfilling things I can think of to help people who
are so eager to join in and help themselves,” she said. “They simply
need a little something to work with.”
The end of the trip left the three exhilarated and with lots of
memories.
Driving away from the schools and soup kitchens, Nancy reflected on
the similarities of Mt. Ararat and the people of Armenia. In an
excerpt from an article she wrote for the BAFA newsletter, she
reflected on their experience. “At each twist and turn in the road,
Mt. Ararat loomed in the background. It is magnificent to behold and
the ease with which it rises to its height of almost 17,000 feet
gives off a surreal image that is impossible to erase from your mind.
Much like the Armenian people, I mused. Strong, magnificent and
rugged,” she wrote.
For more information on BAFA contact the Tenglers by email at
[email protected].
Have a great week!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger, Georgia
July 23 2004
Zurabishvili meets president of Armenia
After meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili in
Yerevan Thursday, the president of Armenia Robert Kocharian declared
Yerevan’s interest in Georgian stability, Mediamax reports.
According to the Armenian president’s press service, Kocharian and
Zurabishvili discussed Armenian-Georgian relations and the prospects
of development of the South Caucasian region.
Pointing at that the two countries’ actual economic relations fall
short of both the potential and aspirations of Armenia and Georgia,
Kocharian underlined the necessity of the two governments’ working
together to further economic cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
July 23 2004
Georgia: Frustration Grows Among Azeri Community
By Jean-Christophe Peuch

While Georgia is striving to restore control over its northern
separatist province of South Ossetia, tension is brewing in its
predominantly Azeri southern districts. Local residents blame the
Georgian president for failing to deliver on pre-election pledges to
improve social conditions in the region. The situation has sparked
concerns in neighboring Azerbaijan, where voices are rising in
defense of Georgia’s largest Muslim minority.
Prague, 23 July 2004 (RFE/RL) — Since they were elected a few months
ago, the two young leaders of Azerbaijan and Georgia have been vowing
mutual friendship and pledging to take neighborly ties to new
heights, while increasing bilateral trade to unprecedented levels.
Yet, concerns over the fate of Georgia’s sizable Azeri community have
cast a shadow over this idyllic picture.
Estimates generally put the number of Georgia’s Azeris at around
350,000. Most of them live in four of the six administrative
districts of the southwestern Kvemo Kartli region, an area that is
known as Borcali in Azeri. Azeris account for nearly 50 percent of
the Kvemo Kartli population.
Tensions began rising after Georgian security forces two months ago
raided Azeri border villages and arrested a number of residents as
part of what was officially presented as an attempt to put an end to
smuggling operations from Azerbaijan.
In recent weeks, Baku-based newspapers have been reporting on alleged
extortion, arbitrary detentions, and other forms of harassment
against Azeri community leaders. First among them has been the
Russian-language “Zerkalo” daily, which has been spearheading a
campaign of support to Kvemo Kartli Azeris.
But Georgian authorities deny any wrongdoing.
Kvemo Kartli Governor Soso Mamzishvili tells our correspondent that
such accusations are unfounded:
“All these reports about alleged violations of ethnic Azeris’ rights
are out of place. What [these people in Baku] say or write is sheer
provocation. Neither I nor any other Georgian has had any conflict
[with ethnic Azeris]. There can be no talk of rights violations
against [Georgia’s] Azeris,” Mamzishvili said.
Azeris are Georgia’s second-largest ethnic minority group after the
Armenians.
They are also among the least integrated — a circumstance that
officials in Tbilisi generally ascribe to the fact that 90 percent of
them reportedly do not speak Georgian.
Azeris, in turn, blame the successive Georgian governments that took
over from Soviet rule.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, collective property was abolished
throughout Georgia. But as Azerbaijani poet Eyvaz Borcali tells
RFE/RL, the then government of hard-line nationalist President Zviad
Gamsakhurdia denied Kvemo Kartli Azeris the right to purchase land.
Borcali is a native from Kvemo Kartli who runs a Baku-based
nongovernmental group known as the Borcali Society. He says most
Azeris continued to be denied land ownership rights after former
Georgian Communist Party head Eduard Shevardnadze returned to power
following Gamsakhurdia’s ouster.
“Shevardnadze has done nothing good [for the Azeris]. He made only
empty pledges, and he did nothing [to correct his predecessor’s
policy]. Many Azeris are denied access to lands that belonged to
their ancestors. Those lands have been taken by Georgians and are
being given to Azeris for temporary use. [Sometimes] the Georgian
owners are not even from the region. There are cases of urban
Georgians who own lands in villages that have been Azeri since the
dawn of time and let them to local residents,” Borcali said.
Unofficial figures show up to 70 percent of Kvemo Kartli’s
predominantly rural Azeris are still denied access to land and are
forced either to rent plots or hire themselves to Georgian farmers.
Georgia’s Azeris are now showing signs of impatience.
Earlier this year, Azeri demonstrators picketed Saakashvili’s office
in Tbilisi to request that land be redistributed fairly among Kvemo
Kartli residents. They also demanded that steps be taken to restore
Turkic village names that were
“Georgianized” under Gamsakhurdia and that Azeris be better
represented in local administrations.
Observers generally agree that simmering tension in Kvemo Kartli
partly stems from the high expectations raised by the recent change
of political leadership in Tbilisi.
During his election campaign in December 2003, Saakashvili promised
Kvemo Kartli residents that he would meet their political and social
demands, vowing to grant all citizens equal rights regardless of
their ethnicity.
As other Georgian regions, Kvemo Kartli voted massively for
Saakashvili’s National Movement-led coalition in the 28 March
legislative elections. But now local Azeris are demanding action.
Unlike many in Baku, Azerbaijani lawyer Isaxan Asurov — another
native of Kvemo Kartli — does not believe the situation of Georgia’s
Azeris has significantly deteriorated under the new Georgian
leadership. Yet, neither has it improved, he says.
“One cannot say that the situation has worsened. Simply it remains
unchanged, and that worries people. During his election campaign,
Saakashvili himself raised such issues as the land reform or the
under-representation of local Azeris in official structures. But he
has still to fulfill his promises. That explains why we are unhappy,”
Asurov said.
Kvemo Kartli Governor Mamzishvili denies Georgia’s new leaders have
remained idle in the past seven months and says measures are being
taken to address the land issue.
“We are taking steps. We are currently reviewing all land contracts.
With respect to land, Georgians and Azeris alike face problems. We
are taking back all lands that have been purchased without being put
up for auction and we will organize new tenders. We are
redistributing land according to the existing legislation,”
Mamzishvili said.
Mamzishvili is the third governor to run the region since
Shevardnadze’s ousting. He claims that, since he was appointed last
February, he has managed to bring gas and electricity supplies in the
region to near nationwide standards.
Borcali says that, even if that were true, that would not be enough
to alleviate the plight of Kvemo Kartli Azeris. “When one is supplied
with gas and electricity,” he says, “that does not mean that one’s
problems are solved.”

Drug Week
Medicine & Law Weekly
July 23, 2004
ALZHEIMER DISEASE;
Polypeptide protects brain neurons in aluminum neurotoxicosis
Hypothalamic proline-rich polypeptide protects brain neurons in
aluminum neurotoxicosis.
According to recent research from Armenia, “The damaging effect of
aluminum ions (Al) on the organism is widely investigated in clinics
and experiments that indicate its role as a participant in the
synthesis of precursors for amyloid proteins and as a potential agent
in the etiology of Alzheimer disease.
It has been shown that aluminum produces neurotoxic effects. We
established that AlCl produces degenerative changes in the
ultrastructure of Hasserian neurinoma cells in vitro and in L-929
fibroblast cells.”
“Proline-rich peptide-1 (PRP-1) isolated from neurosecretory granules
of bovine neurohypophysis is a potent antineurodegenerative agent
against spinal cord hemisection and crush syndrome-induced
neurodegeneration of brain and spinal cord neurons,” reported A. A.
Galoyan and colleagues at the M. Heratsi State Medical University in
Armenia and the Russian Academy of Sciences. “PRP-1 is one of the
neurotrophic brain factors. By electron microscopic study of the rat
hippocampus and other tissues, we succeeded in visualizing the
epithelioprotectory effect of PRP-1, contributing as a powerful agent
in removal of aluminum accumulation in different tissues in
experimental aluminum neurotoxicosis.”
Galoyan and associates published their study in Neurochemical
Research (Hypothalamic proline-rich polypeptide protects brain
neurons in aluminum neurotoxicosis. Neurochem Res,
2004;29(7):1349-1357).
For additional information, contact A. A. Galoyan, H. Buniatian
Institute of Biochemistry, Sevag Str, Yerevan 375014, Armenia.
E-mail: [email protected].
Publisher contact information for the journal Neurochemical Research
is: Kluwer Academic, Plenum Publishing, 233 Spring Street, New York,
NY 10013, USA.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas
of Alzheimer Disease, Neurodegeneration, Neuroscience, Neurotoxin,
Neurology, and Proteomics.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES PROPOSAL OF MILITARY ACCORD WITH POLAND
Arminfo, Yerevan
22 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The government of Armenia has approved a proposal to conclude an
agreement “On cooperation in the defence field between the governments
of Armenia and Poland”.
The conclusion of the agreement will help develop Armenian-Polish
relations, exchange experience within the framework of NATO’s
Partnership for Peace programme, form and operate multi-functional
military units and support international peacekeeping and humanitarian
missions, including upgrading military medicine, armament and military
hardware.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT MAKES DECISION TO ESTABLISH STATE NONCOMMERCIAL
ORGNAIZATION “NATIONAL EXPERT LABORATORY”
YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMINFO. Today the Armenian Government made a
decision to establish a state noncommercial orgnaization “National
Expert Laboratory” attached to the National Academy of Science of
Armenia.
The Governmental Press-Service told ARMINFO that the decision is
motivated by an agreement of cooperation in the law-enforcement sphere
earlier signed between the USA and Armenia, by control over drugs, as
well as by the RA Law On state noncommercial orgnaizations. The
Government also made a decision to provide a three-storeyed building
(1.092 sq/m) to the new organization. The building earlier belonged to
the state noncommercial orgnaization “Scientific Center for Soil
Science, Agrichemistry and Melioration after G.Petrossyan.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Interfax
July 21 2004
Building costs for Armenian gas pipeline section $140 mln
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Russian gas giant Gazprom has completed
feasibility study preparations for the Armenian section of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, which indicate a work cost of roughly $140
million, senior Gazprom executive Alexander Ryazanov said in an
interview with an Armenian media company.
Gazprom is one of the main stockholders in Armrosgazprom, which
intends to be involved in the building and operation of this
pipeline.
The construction work includes laying a 41-kilomenter section of
pipeline from the Iranian border to the two of Kajaran (320 km from
Yerevan in southeastern Armenia), as well as overhauling and replace
parts of the Kajaran-Yerevan gas pipeline.
The project recoupment period is an estimated nine years, Ryazanov
noted.
“Financial sources for the project need to be found now, after which
there will be no other problems for construction,” he said.
Possibilities are inter-governmental loans and “the involvement of
Russia,” he said. The Armenian section of the pipeline might also be
built with “Gazprom funds,” he added.
This pipeline is of great strategic value to Armenia in terms of gas
supply and energy security, Ryazanov said. An inter-governmental gas
cooperation agreement is being readied for Armenia and Russia to
sign, he added.

Armenian foreign minister upbeat about relations with Georgia
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Relations between Armenia and Georgia are becoming more interesting
with every passing day and the agenda is deepening, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told Armenian Public Television,
commenting on the upcoming visit of Georgian Foreign Minister Salome
Zourabichvili to Armenia.
At the same time, the minister said that serious conceptual tasks were
added to the issues to be discussed. “The expansion of NATO is taking
place around us, and Georgia clearly wants to join this organization,”
the minister said.
He added that they also need to discuss such conceptual issues as the
expansion of the European Union, a gas pipeline and railway
communication. It is necessary to coordinate our work to avoid the
emergence of any dividing lines in the Caucasus, the Armenian foreign
minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress