Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Environment and Energy Publishing, LLC
Greenwire
May 8, 2006 Monday

OIL AND GAS: Bush questions Russia’s willingness to use energy as
political weapon

President Bush questioned Russia’s energy policy today, rebuking
President Vladimir Putin for using oil as a political weapon.

In an interview published today in the German newspaper Bild, Bush
said: “One of our concerns is economic nationalism, to a certain
extent, where [Putin] is using his oil companies to achieve what
appears to be political objectives.” He added: “And we make our
concerns known when someone uses natural gas, for example, to send
signals to government.”

Bush also said there is full agreement between Moscow and Washington
about nuclear non-proliferation. “It is very important that the
United States and Russia work closely to make sure that nuclear
materials are stored as safely as possible,” he said (Agence
France-Presse, May 8). Russia responds to Cheney’s accusations

The comments came after Vice President Dick Cheney last week accused
Russia of betraying democracy by using oil and gas supplies to bully
its neighbors, speaking at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

“No legitimate interest is served when oil and gas become tools of
intimidation or blackmail, either by supply manipulation or attempts
to monopolize transportation,” he said.

Cheney said Russia must return to democratic reform soon, rather than
trying to harness its position as an energy giant. Russia drew
worldwide criticism for turning off natural gas supplies to Ukraine
earlier this year (Greenwire, May 4).

Today, Russian officials responded to the criticism, saying it is
time the West came to terms with Russia’s progress as a market
economy.

“We are deeply puzzled by recent commentary in the West that distorts
Russian energy policies,” Russian Energy and Industry Minister Viktor
Khristenko wrote in the Financial Times. “The truth of the matter is
that Russia has moved away from Soviet-era arrangements of subsiding
the energy prices of our neighbors and turned to market-based pricing
mechanisms.”

Khristenko said Russia’s policies on energy and market and democratic
reform were “consistently misinterpreted.”

“We are aware that old impressions fade slowly, but it is time for
the West to recognize and acknowledge the maturing role and state of
progress that Russia has achieved,” he wrote. “At a time when Russia
has embarked on a speedy transition to market principles, we are
accused of politicizing the energy issue” (Agence France-Presse, May
8). Natural gas price hikes spurring efficiencies

While former Soviet republics now pay substantially more for their
natural gas after Russia started raising prices, the jolt is starting
to force fundamental change on some of the most energy-wasteful
economies in the world.

Georgia scrapped plans to build new gas-fired power stations. It is
going to build a hydroelectric plant instead. Armenia also has
ordered a plan targeting gas consumption.

Maxim Burtovy, director of an energy savings company called Energy
Alliance, is trying to put together a project to capture more waste
heat from an electricity-generating station and pump it into the
city’s heating system. He estimates that doing so could cut gas
consumption by 500 million cubic meters per year, worth about $47.5
million at the price Ukraine currently pays for gas from Gazprom, and
twice that on world gas markets (Marc Champion, Wall Street Journal
[subscription required], May 8). — LK

IS AN NKR-ARMENIA JOINT STATEMENT LIKELY?

Lragir.am
09 May 06

The past month in Karabakh was full of meetings with Armenian public
officials. Debates, parliamentary hearings and the meeting of the
parliamentary committee were held. Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan
Oskanyan gave a surprise, visiting Stepanakert, and delivered a
lecture at Artsakh State University.

On May holidays Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan is visiting
Karabakh. What is the reason of such interest?

Vahram Atanesyan, Chair of the NKR Committee of External Relations,
said there is no need to look for a political context of this
activity. He mentioned that the delegation headed by Tigran Torosyan
arrived in Karabakh for the meeting of the parliamentary committee,
the delegation headed by Armen Rustamyan visited NKR for the
parliamentary hearings. For Oskanyan, he said you had better ask
him. In answer to our question if Karabakh and Armenia disagreeon the
principles of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the leader of the
Democratic faction Vahram Atanesyan said at the moment Armenia should
not recognize the independence of NKR, and should claim a status of
Karabakh in the talks, which will not be inferior to the present
status. The leader of the parliamentary group ARF-Movement 88 Armen
Sargsyan said his political party claims the dominance of NKR in the
liberated territories, and silence over refugees and peacemakers, for
these would cause the war to ignite.

We possess information that during the NKR-Armenia Parliamentary
Session the two parliaments arranged to make a joint statement on the
settlement of the Karabakh issue. This statement has not been
considered so far. Answering the question of KarabakhOpen.com, NKR
Deputy Speaker Rudik Hyusnunts said, =80=9C During the session of the
Karabakh-Armenia Parliamentary Committee on April 26 and 27 in
Stepanakert a series of important legislative, political and social
questions were discussed, including the present state of debates on
the Karabakh issue in European organizations and parliamentary
relations, and the opportunities of spurring cooperation between the
parliaments of both countries.

During the debates the participants voiced the idea of issuing a joint
statement. However, considering the statement of the parliamentary
hearings involving the parliamentarians of both states on the Karabakh
issue, there was not a final decision on issuing another message.’

Bodies returned home to Armenia after Black Sea plane crash

Agence France Presse — English
May 5, 2006 Friday 2:34 PM GMT

YEREVAN, May 5 2006 — The first bodies of passengers killed when an
Armenian Airbus crashed into the Black Sea were flown back to Yerevan
early Friday, an airline spokesman said.

All 113 passengers and crew on the flight from the Armenian capital
are thought to have died when the Airbus A320 plunged into the sea
early Wednesday as it tried to land at Sochi, southern Russia, in
bad weather.

A total of 53 bodies have so far been fished out of the water and 37
have been identified, including that of an air hostess.

Of these, 26 were returned to the Armenian capital Yerevan early
Friday on board a Russian emergency ministry aircraft, a spokeswoman
for Armenian airline Armavia said.

Relatives of the victims had earlier overwhelmed the authorities in
Sochi when they began the grim task of identifying their loved ones
from photographs taken of the bodies, including that of a child.

Hopes for an orderly process quickly evaporated when relatives rushed
all at once to view the photos posted in a Sochi hotel.

Two people passed out and doctors attempting to comfort relatives
with drinks of water and sedatives ran out of drugs.

“We don’t have any more sedatives and we have the whole night ahead
of us,” said one nurse.

The repatriation of the bodies of victims already identified
was briefly delayed by a shortage of coffins, according to Andrei
Agajanov, a spokesman for the Armenian airline Armavia, which owned
the ill-fated plane.

“I hope that all the other families can recover the bodies. The
important thing is to be able to bury the victims so that there is
a place where you can go to cry,” said Arman Davtian, a 20-year-old
just returned from Sochi where the remains of his brother have been
identified.

For another grieving man, his eyes red through crying and fatigue,
the search for a brother-in-law continues.

“The victims’ bodies are unrecognisable, horribly disfigured. A mother
wouldn’t know her own son,” the young man said.

Russian authorities intend to carry out DNA tests on the corpses which
cannot be otherwise identified, said Russian Transport Minister Igor
Levitin in Sochi.

Some people who arrived at Yerevan airport late Thursday to reclaim
their relatives’ bodies left again in angry mood after being informed
of the delay which meant the plane carrying the victims remains would
not arrive until Friday.

Friday is a day of national mourning here and in Russia with religious
services planned throughout the Armenian diaspora.

The Armenian state will grant 3,300 dollars to victims’ families who
can expect another 20,000 dollars each in insurance payouts.

The two “black box” flight recorders have been located, Levitin said.

Neither the Russian Black Sea fleet nor the Northern Fleet was fully
equipped to retrieve the recorders, he said, and appealed for help
from foreign countries in raising them from the seabed.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CLEARLY SAY TO AZERBAIJAN THAT KARABAKH ISSUE HAS NO MILITARY WAY OF SOLUTION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

VILNIUS, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian participated on May 4 in the conference entitled
“Common Vision for Common Neighborhood” in capital of Lithuania,
Vilnius. The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland made opening speeches
at the conference. At the beginning of the conference, on behalf
of participants, President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus expressed
condolence over the tragic crash of the Armenian plane. Heads and
Foreign Ministers of a number of Baltic, CIS and Eastern European
countries, other high-ranking officials participated and made
speeches in the conference. In his speech Minister Oskanian first of
all thanked the participants for the words of condolence, then spoke
about political developments in the post-Soviet region. The Minister
presented the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as
well. “Democracy is not an issue to be settled immediatly, it may not
be established in a night. We know and are sure that as far we are
on a right way and are sure that we move forwards, evolutionary and
ascending approach towards democracy is more effective and certain,”
Minister Oskanian said. Speaking about the process of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Minister emphasized that “with
oil reserves and present high prices for oil, the Azerbaijani side,
unfortunately, has come to the conviction or at least states publicly
that they have at hand the variant of solving the problem in the
military way. It will not be easy to go to mutual compromise with such
a thinking. But, they must be clearly told by the EU and international
community that the issue has no military way of solution, and that
necessary mutual compromises must be implemented to reach settlement,
just like ones, Armenia has alreday done.” As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
Minister Oskanian had a number of bilateral meetings within the
framework of the conference. The process of negotatians which are at
the final stage of development of the Armenian-EU Actions Plan within
the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy was discussed with
Javier Solana, the High Representative for the EU Common Foreign
and Security Policy. The interlocutors discussed the process and
prospects of the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement as
well. Armenia-OSCE cooperation issues as well as the present stage
of the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
were discussed with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel de Gucht. The
Ministers touched upon the Armenia-Belgium relations as well,
discussing possibilities of further development of mutual cooperation.

Minister Oskanian met with Foreign Minister of Romania Razvan Ungureanu
as well. The Ministers discussed issues of bilateral cooperation
as well as issues concerning the “Dialogue and Partnership Forum”
Black Sea conference to take place in Bucharest in coming June.

NEW POST

A1+
[01:20 pm] 05 May, 2006

By the May 4 decree of Robert Kocharyan Arshak Poladyan has been
resigned from the post of the Armenian Ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to the United Arab Arabian Emirates (Abu Dhabi).

Vahagn Meliqyan has been appointed instead.

Let us remind you that two days ago by the decree of RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan Vahagn Meliqyan had been resigned from the post
of hte head of the agency of “State Ceremonial Service” of the RA
Foreign Ministry.

TURKEY CONDOLES ON PLANE CRASH

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2006 01:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sent a message
to his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian and expressed sincere
condolences to relatives of Armenian citizens killed in the crash.

Turkish sources confirmed that Gul’s message of condolence to Vartan
Oskanian would be sent to Yerevan through diplomatic channels. They
didn’t provide any more details, The New Anatolian reports.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT ROBERT
KOTCHARIAN AND THE CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS KAREKIN II

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia expressed his deep
condolences in letters sent to the president of Armenia Robert
Kotcharian and the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II
after an airplane belonging to the Armenian Armavia Airlines crashed
into the Black Sea in the early morning hours of May 3, killing about
113 passengers and crew members.

“On this sad occasion we share your, our motherland’s and our
nation’s pain.

We ask God to grant heavenly rest to the innocent victims of the
crash and to console their relatives with the Holy Spirit,” the
Pontiff wrote.

The Catholicos also informed that requiem services will be held this
Sunday in memory of the victims of the crash in the Mother Cathedral
of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias and in all the Dioceses
of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

EU’S POLAND SUGGESTS MEDIATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

ABHaber, Belgium
May 2 2006

Warsaw conveys to Ankara list of proposals aiming to assist
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkish govt
welcomes Polish offer, which includes mediation between Turkish and
Armenian govts, conference on genocide claims with participation of
Turkish, Armenian and Polish scholars

AYHAN SIMSEK

Poland recently offered Ankara its services to act as a mediator
between Turkey and Armenia to overcome their differences over genocide
claims and to normalize relations, The New Anatolian learned yesterday.

Diplomats said that Warsaw’s proposals include the Polish government
acting as a mediator between the Turkish and Armenian governments,
organizing meetings and conferences between Polish, Turkish and
Armenian scholars and further sharing Polish experience in conflict
resolution and reconciliation with neighbors.

European Union member Poland is also an important ally to Turkey in
NATO. The Polish Parliament’s decision in April last year to adopt a
resolution backing the Armenian claims of genocide triggered a sharp
response from Ankara at the time. Later statements by Polish government
officials disassociating themselves from the resolution and further
steps by the two countries prioritizing their common foreign policy
goals brought relations back to an even keel. Poland has become one of
the main supporters of Turkey’s EU accession process, and Turkey has
offered humanitarian assistance as well as transportation to Polish
troops in Iraq.

According to diplomats, Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller, during
his visit to Ankara two weeks ago, conveyed to his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul a list of proposals including mediation by Poland aimed
at a normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Foreign
Minister Gul reportedly responded positively to Meller’s ideas and
stressed that Turkey is willing to overcome differences over genocide
claims and normalize its relations with Armenia. Gul further said
that Ankara’s suggestions so far have not received positive response
from Yerevan but also added that he is willing to go forward with
the Polish proposals if they will facilitate proper grounds for the
normalization of relations with Armenia.

Diplomatic sources told TNA yesterday that due to talks of a new
coalition government in Poland and the foreign minister handing in
his resignation, Ankara now waits for the new government before having
more detailed talks on the issue.

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF KYRGHYZSTAN HANDS COPY OF HIS CREDENTIALS TO RA FOREIGN MINISTER

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 2, newly appointed Ambassador of
Kyrghyzstan to Armenia Apas Jumagulov (residence Moscow) handed the
copy of his credentials to RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. RA
Foreign Minister congratulated the Ambassador of Kyrghyzstan on
the occasion of his appointment and wished him success in his
high mission. Expressing satisfaction with the current state
of Armenian-Kyrghyz relations the interlocutors mentioned that
there is still much to do in the direction of deepening the ties
to which implementation of joint programs in concrete spheres
can contribute. The Ambassador emphasized that Kyrghyzstan has
centuries-old friendly contacts with Armenia and intends to develop
cooperation in different spheres. The interlocutors spoke about
deepening cooperation in international organizations. According to
RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, Apas Jumagulov
was born in 1934. He graduated from the State University of Oil
and Gas after Gubkin, he is an academician of RF Academy of Natural
Sciences. In 1993-1998 he was the Prime Minister of Kyrghyzstan. In
1998-2003 he was the Ambassador of Kyrghyzstan in GDR, in the Kingdoms
of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Since 2005 he has been the Ambassador
of Kyrghyzstan to Russia.

SOUREN ZOLIAN:TODAY, NAGORNO KARABAKH HAS APPEARED IN THE SITUATION OF A PERSON WITH NO PASSPORT

Stepanakert, May 02. ArmInfo.Professor Souren Zolian, Doctor of
Philology, Rector of the Yerevan State Linguistic University, is
delivering lectures at the Artsakh State University currently.

ArmInfo correspondent informed that Mr. Zolian said in the interview
to NKR Public Radio that the professors of the YSLU regularly arrive in
NKR to deliver lectures at the Artsakh State University. Mr. Zolian is
going to hold lectures on Linguistics. “We witness the construction
process of the Artsakh University, it develops and grows, new
professions are being taught. This testifies to the fact that NKR lives
a full fledged life,” he said. As for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, he said that at present, unfortunately, NKR has appeared
in the situation of an individual with no passport. Certainly, the
political recognition is very important, but at last, a person is
recognized for his true features and not by its passport,” he said.