Author: Jagharian Tania

IF COALITION FAILS TO FULFILL ITS TASKS, ARFD WILL WITHDRAW FROM IT:
CHAIRMAN OF ARFD SUPREME BODY ARMEN ROUSTAMYAN
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1. ARMINFO. ARF Dashnaktsutyun joined the ruling
coalition with the object of solving the country’s urgent problems, if
the coalition fails to fulfill its tasks, ARFD will withdraw from it,
Chairman of ARFD Supreme Body Armen Roustamyan said at a
press-conference today.
At the same time, he said that if ARFD withdraws from the ruling
coalition, it will not join the opposition, as it has its own place in
the political arena. Meanwhile, Roustamyan said that in spite of
definite gaps in the activity of the coalition, the latter has a
achieved considerable results, in particular, Armenia’s international
authority has been upgraded and the domestic political situation has
been stabilized just due to the ruling coalition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey’s president views internal, external issues in keynote speech
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
1 Oct 04
In his keynote speech at the Assembly to mark the beginning of a new
legislative year, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that Turkey was
making steps to become a” powerful country by means of social
consensus”, and emphasized that the “secular and democratic Turkey”
made these reforms possible. Sezer said that Turkey had “reached a
significant point at its EU membership process” but warned that “we
should not give any pretext that would strengthen those who want to
keep Turkey outside of the European Union”. The Turkish president
complained that the USA and its allies had done nothing to stop the
Kurdish rebels in Iraq but insisted that “Turkey’s relations with the
United States should be carried out on the basis of alliance and
friendship”. Sezer also said that “ending unjust isolation of Turkish
Cypriots is a requirement of credibility and consistency of
international society”. Concluding his speech, Sezer said that “Turkey
would continue to support a democratic, prosperous Iraq” with “its
territorial and national integrity preserved”. The following is text
of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia
Ankara, 1 October: Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday
1 October : “In systems where the rule of law prevails, supremacy of
one of the legislative, executive or judiciary organs over the others
cannot be in question.”
In his keynote speech at the parliament to mark the beginning of the
new legislative year, President Sezer said: “Our parliament is
representing the national sovereignty and is the basic institution of
our democratic regime. The parliament speeded up development of the
secular and democratic Republic of Turkey with its decisions.”
“The world and Turkey are going through an important period. In the
light of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s reforms and constitutional
principles, we are making the necessary steps to reach the joint goal
of modern society-modern state-powerful country by means of social
consensus,” he said.
“I want to emphasize once again that the republic which was founded by
our nation with great sacrifices under the leadership of Ataturk, is
our most precious wealth. The secular and democratic Republic of
Turkey led us to make all those reforms which were appreciated by the
world. The republic is the most important warranty of a brilliant
future. We do not have any doubt that our citizens will act with
solidarity and responsibility in order to protect Ataturk’s principles
and reforms as well as our unity. When we fulfil our responsibilities,
we will easily reach a better future,” he said.
President Sezer added: “The most advanced and modern stage in social
structure is the rule of law. The values which have been adopted under
the Constitution are the guarantee of all other characteristics of the
republic. The rule of law also includes prevention of abuse of state’s
power because the rule of law is the essential tool to prevent a
political power turning into a repressive regime. In systems where the
rule of law prevails, supremacy of one of the legislative, executive
or judiciary organs over the others cannot be in question.”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that Turkey reached a
significant point at its EU membership process, adding “yet at the
point we have reached, we should not give any pretext that would
strengthen those who want to keep Turkey outside of European Union.”
He also noted that Turkey should test the sincerity of EU countries.
In his keynote speech at the parliament to mark the beginning of the
new legislative year, President Sezer said, “our EU membership
symbolizes universal values and high living standards and means
concretization of most important social projects to reach the level of
contemporary civilization that was put forward by Ataturk. EU
membership will also be an additional assurance for secular,
multi-party democratic structure of Turkey and will strengthen our
country against every kind of extremism.”
Recalling that Turkey had undertook significant constitutional and
legislative changes to strengthen itself and take under guarantee
basic rights and freedoms, as well as democracy and supremacy of law,
Sezer said, “we have clearly put forward our determination and
capability to take them further.” Sezer said Turkish nation who
carefully noted the statements emanating from Brussels, expected a
just and unbiased evaluation from the EU. “In the Progress Report that
will be issued by the EU Commission we expect a fair evaluation on
comprehensive reforms Turkey has fulfilled and a clear statement on
starting negotiations as soon as possible as it happened with other
candidates,” he said.
Sezer added that contributions that Turkey’s membership would bring to
EU’s global values were obvious. Sezer said EU’s starting membership
talks with Turkey and Turkey’s membership in the end of this process
is the most important message that will be given to Middle Eastern
countries and, in a wider sense, to Islamic world. “This message is
that: values like democracy, human rights and supremacy of law are
universal and the line that separates societies today passes not
between civilizations and religions, but between those who adopt these
values and those who do not. And the West and Islam can embrace each
other by taking these values as basis.”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that it was unacceptable
to describe Turkey as an Islamic republic or to propose a meaningless
model like “moderate Islam” for Turkey and to show Turkey as a model
country with the pretext of Greater Middle East Initiative. In his
keynote speech at the parliament to mark the beginning of the new
legislative year, President Sezer said, it was impossible to bring
together democracy and a state of religion whether it is “moderate” or
“radical”. Noting that Turkey has chosen its political regime 81 years
ago with proclamation of the republic, Sezer said the regime of
Republic of Turkey is built on the basis of a secular, democratic and
social state of law. He said: “Abuse of religion causes significant
harm both to our constitutional order and democratic progress and to
Islam religion. The reactionary movement continues to pose a major
threat against our democratic and secular state, based on the rule of
law,” adding that fight against fundamentalism should continue with
determination.
Regarding the existence of terrorist organization PKK Kurdistan
Workers’ Party in Iraq, he said that the failure of the United States
and international force in Iraq in starting initiatives against this
terrorist organization in the north of Iraq, contradicted Turkish-US
friendship and international responsibilities in fighting against
terrorism.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that ending unjust
isolation of Turkish Cypriots is a requirement of credibility and
consistency of international society. In his keynote speech at the
parliament to mark the beginning of the new legislative year,
President Sezer said they were pleased to see that Turkey’s efforts to
establish good relations with its neighbours yielded more significant
results every year. “We are taking necessary steps to take further our
relations with Greece, which is an ally and which we target to be a
close partner through the European Union,” Sezer said.
Noting that sincerity and dialogue constituted two essential elements
in relations with Greece, Sezer added: “Turkey thinks the steps it has
taken through this dialogue will not remain unanswered. It should not
be disregarded that sincerity and dialogue are insufficient to
overcome all problems in international relations. It is very obvious
that no just point has been reached in Turkey’s and Turkish Cypriots’
rightful case in Cyprus despite their self-sacrifices and sincere
compromises. Turkish Cypriots have clearly put forward their will to
compromise through democratic processes with the support of
international community, including the UN and the EU. The Greek
Cypriot side had succeeded to make international community believe
just the opposite. Now against insistent attitude of Greek Cypriots in
refraining from peace and unification, ending unjust isolation of
Turkish Cypriots should be a natural result of requirement of
complying with rules of law and justice, political sincerity,
credibility and consistency of international society. We expect some
initiatives that has been started to end this isolation of Turkish
Cypriots to be resulted in a way that meets expectations in a short
period of time.”
Noting that neighbours such as Bulgaria and Romania responded
affirmatively to Turkey’s friendly and constructive attitude, Sezer
said the point reached in relations between Turkey and Russian
Federation was also pleasing. Sezer said reaching permanent stability,
security and prosperity in South Caucasus was of significant
importance for Turkey, which tried to contribute to solutions of
problems through peaceful means. Sezer said the reasons why relations
with Armenia could not be normalized so far were obvious, adding that
“it is Turkey’s sincere wish that this situation created by Armenian
policies should be overcome and the cooperation ring in South Caucasus
should be completed. For this, Armenia should pursue a foreign policy
complying with rules of international law and good neighbourliness
with a will to compromise. It is certain that Turkey will respond in
the same manner to the positive steps that will be taken in this
direction. Every country acting openly, friendly and without
prejudices towards Turkey benefits from this. We expect Armenia to act
with this understanding.”
Sezer said that Turkey’s relations with the United States should be
carried out on the basis of alliance and friendship. He added that the
maturity and mutual benefits of this friendship and alliance have been
proved. “We cannot close our eyes to terrorist organization PKK’s
finding shelter in Iraq and infiltrating from our borders. It is very
obvious that we will not permit restarting of terrorist acts against
Turkey taking advantage of developments in Iraq. We expect our
strategic partner and ally United States to fulfil its
responsibilities on this issue.”
Noting that Turkey would continue to support a democratic, prosperous
Iraq of which its territorial and national integrity are preserved,
Sezer said Turkey’s attributing importance to situation of Turkomans
who were kinsmen to Turkish people should be considered natural. He
added that the uneasiness created by the efforts to possess Kirkuk by
any ethnic group would not be limited to this town, and a turmoil that
would spread to the whole of Iraq would ignite a regional instability
of which its results could not be predicted.
Sezer said that developing relations between Turkey and Syria revealed
benefits of Turkey’s constructive approach. “We think we support
searches for peace and stability in the region as we develop our
relations with Syria. Syria’s establishing normal relations with other
countries, especially Western countries, is to the interest of
Turkey. We will continue to encourage Syria in this direction.” Noting
that normalization in the Middle East was a necessity which should
have been reached much earlier, Sezer said Turkey was ready to make
any contribution that would be asked by the sides for solution of
problems in the region, especially Israel-Palestine dispute. He said:
“We believe that acting together with regional countries and western
friends as well as Israeli and Palestinian authorities will yield a
result in solution of this dispute.”
Sezer added that Turkey would continue to support Afghanistan with
which it has historical and close ties.

CENN – OCTOBER 1, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. EBRD — Country strategy for Georgia
2. Workshop on SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) in Tbilisi and
Pilot Project as the Capacity Building Tool for SEA Protocol
Implementation in Georgia
3. Public Movement “Stability” Intends to Unite All Public Organizations
of Armenia to Strengthen Activity of Public Sector
4. Armenian Metallurgical Plants Report Major Output Growth
5. Russian energy group plans expansion drive
6. Invitation to Workshop on Clean Development Mechanism and Project
Financing in Tbilisi, Georgia
1. EBRD — COUNTRY STRATEGY FOR GEORGIA
Please be informed that the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) country strategy for Georgia is now available at:
2. WORKSHOP ON SEA (STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT) IN TBILISI AND
PILOT PROJECT AS THE CAPACITY BUILDING TOOL FOR SEA PROTOCOL
IMPLEMENTATION IN GEORGIA
First workshop on Strategic Environmental Assessment took place in
Tbilisi on September 29-30, 2004. Representatives of UNDP and REC for
Central and Eastern Europe presented their vision on SEA, UN/ECE SEA
protocol, its implementation in South Caucasus countries. Leading
specialists of the MoE made a national overview on problems, gaps, needs
and challenges related to the environmental assessment in Georgia.
Representative Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) presented
results of the regional project on effectiveness of EIA system in South
Caucasus countries implemented by the organization and also informed
attendants about new projects of CENN in environmental assessment field,
namely two new projects:
In October 2004, CENN starts a new project: `Strengthening of
Environmental Assessment (EIA/SEA) System in the South Caucasus
Countries’.
The objectives of the project are:
(i) Improvement of EA legislation in Georgia – Elaboration of Law on EA
(incorporating provisions both on EIA and SEA) for Georgia;
(ii) Increase of public environmental awareness through nation and
region wide campaign in the South Caucasus region to stimulate active
public participation in environmental decision-making.
– Establishment of Public EA library in Georgia;
– Organization of public oversight of EA activities in the South
Caucasus countries;
In November 2004, CENN plans to start a new Project on: Improvement of
EA Practice in Georgia through Development of EA Implementation Tools.
The Project aims at improvement of EA practice in Georgia through
development of EIA implementation tools – sector guidelines that will
significantly promote effective application of the EIA related legal
requirements.
Ecoline EIA Centre, Moscow presented suggested principles for quality
control of SEA within environmental review.
Pilot SEA project was chosen as the capacity building tool for SEA
protocol implementation in Georgia (Port Development Concept).
The Seminar was organized by the UNDP Georgia country office and the
Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe.
Prepared by: CENN
Katya Nakashidze
3. PUBLIC MOVEMENT “STABILITY” INTENDS TO UNITE ALL PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
OF ARMENIA TO STRENGTHEN ACTIVITY OF PUBLIC SECTOR
Source: ARMINFO, September 28, 2004
The Public Movement “Stability” intends to unite all the public
organizations of Armenia to contribute to the vulnerable groups of the
population, Head of the Initiative Group of “Stability” Tigran
Urikhanyan made this statement today at the Constituent Congress.
He said that to implement joint programs, the possibilities and the
whole potential of the public sector of Armenia would be united.
Besides, the movement’s activity will be aimed at developing and
strengthening the public organizations interested in protection of human
rights. The supporters of the movement intend to contribute to the
fruitful activity of the state bodies of Armenia cooperating with them.
At present, 174 public organizations of Armenia have joined the
movement, such as the Fund of Armenians Aryans, the public organization
of invalid freedom fighters “Heritage,” the Union of Progressive Women
and others. Urikhanyan, who also heads the Progressive Party of Armenia,
said that any parallels between the activity of the movement and the
party are ruled out.
The Initiative Group of the Movement consisting of 174 NGOs was
established on June 9, 2004. That day a Declaration on Establishment of
the Stability Public Movement was signed,
4. ARMENIAN METALLURGICAL PLANTS REPORT MAJOR OUTPUT GROWTH
Source: ArmenPress, September 28, 2004
Output of 26 ore mining enterprises in the first eight months of this
year, monitored by a trade and development ministry department,
amounted, in terms of money, to 90 billion Armenians Drams, virtually as
much as in the first eight months of last year. The department head,
Arthur Ashughian, said last year’s figure included also the 11 billion
AMD output of Armenal foil manufacturing plant. Armenal is not operative
now because of undergoing a sweeping process of equipment upgrading.
This year’s increase was due to efficient operation of an ore mining
plant in Agarak, in southern Armenia, whose production capacity has gone
up by 25 percent after it was privatized by a foreign company. The plant
has doubled its production growth rate against last year. Another ore
mining plant in Kapan, also in southern Armenia, has also doubled its
output after implementation of a development plan of Shahumian mines.
The leading Armenian metallurgical company, the Armenian Copper Program,
has designed developments plans for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh,
reporting also a 20 percent output increase. According to
Ashughian, if Armenian metallurgical plants maintain this dynamic, their
overall output may amount to $280 million by the end of the year against
$170 million in 2003.
He said a total of $8 million were invested in Agarak and Kapan plants,
more than committed by their new owners.
The gold extracting plant in Ararat has produced this year 10.5 billion
worth gold, 30 percent less than last year. According to Arthur
Ashughian, the decrease had been planned after the Zod mines began
exploring new mines. He said the current capacities of the mine ould be
exploited for another 6-7 years, as it has been exploited for decades.
He said there are other gold mines in Armenia, but added that they do
not contain much gold.
5. RUSSIAN ENERGY GROUP PLANS EXPANSION DRIVE
Source: FT, September 29, 2004
Unified Energy System, the Russian electricity monopoly, is considering
politically sensitive moves to supply power to Iran, Turkey and China as
part of an international expansion drive.
The group is planning investments in power generation and/or
distribution in the countries of the former Soviet Union on Russia’s
southern borders, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which
would complement existing UES investments in Georgia and Armenia. Once
these are in place, UES will be in a position to build connecting links
to Iran, Turkey and China and use an existing link between Armenia and
Iran.
Anatoly Chubais, UES chairman, said the moves would make sense
commercially in spite of the political challenges involved in dealing
with several different countries lying in a politically sensitive
region. “There’s a business logic. There’s a good price for electricity
in Iran, China and Turkey,” he said.
The planned investments by the state-controlled UES might be seen in
some of the former Soviet republics as a new form of Russian
imperialism.
But Mr. Chubais, a leader of Russia’s liberal Union of Right Forces
party, said UES’s plans were in tune with his programme of “liberal
imperialism” in which businesses, not governments, took the initiative,
acting out of commercial, not political, motives. Mr Chubais said the
proposed Kazakh investment was a stake in a large power station but he
declined to give details of the plans in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as
talks were at a sensitive stage.
The group’s existing investments in the region include about 20 per cent
of Georgia’s generating capacity and 35 per cent of its distribution
network. In Armenia, it controls 85 per cent of generation through its
management contract for the Metsamor nuclear plant. Mr. Chubais said
these investments could open doors to larger markets.
Earlier Mr Chubais told an investment conference that the company was
preparing for reform of the domestic electricity market, in spite of the
fact the government postponed key decisions this year.
Under the plan, UES would be broken into distribution, transmission and
generating companies which would mostly be privatised. But Mikhail
Fradkov, the prime minister, delayed implementation, saying he needed
more time to study the mechanism of deregulation and its impact on
households.
The government is now due to reconsider the reforms on December 2.
Mr Chubais said yesterday that UES had proposed new plans under which
prices would be liberalised only slowly – over 3 to 5 years – to protect
vulnerable consumers.
6. INVITATION TO WORKSHOP ON CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM AND PROJECT
FINANCING IN TBILISI, GEORGIA
Dear Sir/Madame,
Two-day workshop on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and project
financing will be held on 18-19 October at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel,
Tbilisi Georgia.
We would like to formally extend an invitation for your attendance at
the workshop which is aimed at project developers, governments
(Designated National Authorities), banks, and consultancy organizations
in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The workshop is organized by Ecofys under assignment from the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and is sponsored by the
Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and The Environment, through
the Netherlands Environment Trust Fund at the EBRD. It is being held in
partnership with the PPC, back-to-back with the Second Joint Meeting of
the EAP Task Force/PPC and the Conference of Environment Ministers from
the countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) and
their Partners, taking place in Tbilisi on 21-23 October.
If you are interested in attending the workshop, please send your full
detail (Name, Organisation, Address,
City, Country, Zip/Postcode, Telephone/Fax numbers and E-mail address)
to: Yvonne Hofman (Ecofys) at [email protected].
If you have any questions concerning the workshop, please contact Yvonne
Hofman directly.
For the more detailed information please see the following link:
announcement.doc
Drs. Yvonne Hofman
Energy & Climate Strategies
Ecofys bv
Kanaalweg 16-G; P.O. Box 8408; NL-3503 RK Utrecht; The Netherlands
T: +31 (0)30 280 83 39; F: +31 (0)30 280 83 01
E-mail: [email protected]
Info:
—
*******************************************
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

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
September 30, 2004
ST. VARTANANTZ CHURCH HOSTS RECEPTION
FOR “PILLARS OF THE PRELACY”
by Yn. Joanna Baghsarian
PROVIDENCE, RI – On behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
the Executive Council of the Eastern Prelacy and the Sts. Vartanantz
Board of Trustees and Delegates, Rev. and Mrs. Gomidas Baghsarian
hosted a reception for the “Pillars of the Prelacy” on Sunday,
September 12, 2004, at their home in Cranston, Rhode Island.
The star-studded sky illuminated the white tent that beckoned the
arriving guests to enter its portals and partake of classical music,
fine wines, and the best of Armenian delicacies prepared by the women
of the community.
The beautiful setting created an ambiance of solidarity and friendship
as guests arrived. Centered on every table was a crystal pillar and
perched delicately on the rim of each slender column, stood a white,
wing-spanned dove. A tapered lit candle was the crowning finishing
touch and strongly reflected the people-the invited “Pillars of the
Prelacy”-who came to give their financial and moral support to the
Prelacy and the many Prelacy programs that contribute to the glory
of the Armenian Church.
The arrival of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan as the honored guest
allowed everyone to engage in personable and pleasing conversation
with His Eminence.
Rev. Fr. Gomidas, the pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, welcomed
everyone and invited Peter “Doc” Bedrosian, Chairman of the Board,
and Hagop Khachadourian, a member of the Prelacy’s Executive Council,
to address the guests.
Archbishop Oshagan, offered his words of welcome and thanks to the
hosts and explained in detail the importance of the stewardship
fund appropriately entitled, “Pillars of the Prelacy.” His Eminence
elaborated on the significance of the Sunday school, the Armenian
school, the St. Gregory of Datev Institute, the Siamanto Academy, the
Orphan Sponsorship program in Armenia and Artsakh, and the important
task of recruitment and training of clergy candidates. All of these
programs benefit from the annual commitment made by the Pillars.
Because the Armenian Church is the traditional keeper of our Christian
ministry and the guardian of our national culture, these youth-oriented
programs must not only continue but also expand to meet the growing
needs of our community, the Prelate said. The Pillars agreed that the
Prelacy is the heartbeat of the community and needs and deserves the
support of all of the faithful.
The following individuals from the Providence community are proud
to stand tall as a “Pillars of the Prelacy:” Roxanne Arzoomanian,
Peter ‘Doc’ and Oppie Bedrosian, Ray and Gladys Boornazian, Aram Der
Manuelian, Mary Fermanian, The Hon. Aram and Jane Garabedian, Elyse,
Louise and Rosette Garabedian, Azarig and Liz Kooloian, Eddie and Liz
Kopoian, Everett and Rose Marabian, Varkis and Lillian Markarian,
Vark and Lynn Markarian, Charles and Irene Matoian, Anto and Carol
Mesrobian and Children, Souren and Sally Mouradjian, Mark and Nancy
Nahigian-Tavitian, Ara and Maggie Nalbandian, Vahe and Hermine
Oharonian, Raffi and Lucy Rafaelian, Harout and Anoush Taraksian,
Harry and Agnes Toumasian, Joyce Yeremian, Ramon and Sonya Zorabedian.

Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press
September 29, 2004
SOCHI COMPACT. — Russia Casts Its Vote for President of Abkhazia.
Kommersant, Aug. 31, 2004, p. 9. Condensed text of first and complete
text of second of two items:
(By Alla Barakhova in Sochi and Vladimir Novikov in Tbilisi). —
Moscow has made its choice for the presidential election in Abkhazia,
set for Oct. 3. On Sunday evening [Aug. 29], . . . Russian President
Vladimir Putin, who was vacationing in Sochi, met with Abkhaz Prime
Minister and presidential candidate Raul Khadzhimba. In Tbilisi,
officials saw the meeting as indicating that, for all practical
purposes, Moscow has recognized Abkhazia’s independence.
Mr. Putin’s visit to Sochi’s Dagomys Hotel, which is about a
30-minute drive from Bocharov Ruchei, the president’s Sochi
residence, was portrayed as an impromptu occurrence. The head of
state was accompanied by just a few bodyguards and a small group of
reporters. . . .
Vladimir Putin . . . sequestered himself with Raul Khadzhimba in
the Panorama Cafe, on the Dagomys Hotel’s 22nd floor.
Members of the Kremlin administration have declined to comment on
what the Russian president and Abkhaz premier discussed at the
meeting. According to the official account, the parties discussed
“matters relating to cooperation between Russian and Abkhaz veterans’
organizations.” Unofficially, however, Kremlin spokesmen have
acknowledged that the meeting was directly connected to recent
developments in Georgia. It may be recalled that, one week ago,
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said in an interview in the
French newspaper Liberation that Georgia was “on the brink of war
with Russia.” At the same time, mass protests were being held in
Georgia in front of the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi. The Russian
leadership was particularly outraged by slogans that were projected
onto the building and that read, “Putin is a liar” and “The
double-headed eagle is a two-faced birdie.” In connection with these
actions, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent a protest note to the
Georgian leadership, and the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi was even
forced to suspend its operations for a time. . . .
A source in the Kremlin administration told Kommersant that the
meeting between Putin and the Abkhaz prime minister at the Dagomys
should serve as a “lesson in peaceableness” to the Georgian
president. The source added, “If we wanted to destroy Georgia, all we
would have to do is switch off the gas. End of story.”
Messrs. Putin and Khadzhimba left the Dagomys together around 8
p.m., to the sound of applause from vacationers [who had gathered in
front of the hotel]. . . . Kremlin officials conceded later that that
“lesson” might not find much favor with Mikhail Saakashvili, who has
repeatedly voiced his intention to reassert Georgian control over
Abkhazia. According to the Kremlin, however, technically he has no
grounds for complaint, since no political statements were made at the
meeting.
In Tbilisi, reports of the Sochi meeting between Putin and
Khadzhimba set off shock waves. Members of the Georgian Parliament
whom a Kommersant correspondent asked for comment were bewildered,
and even said initially that the reports were disinformation, “since
Vladimir Putin could not possibly have taken such a step.” Officials
at the Georgian Foreign Ministry told Kommersant they were studying
reports of the meeting between the Russian president and the Abkhaz
prime minister, and that an official response might come later. . . .
In the absence of Georgia’s president [who was away in Athens], the
chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament, Nino Burdzhanadze, commented
on the meeting between Putin and Khadzhimba. After expressing
puzzlement at the very fact the meeting took place, she posed a
question: Does this mean that Russia recognizes Abkhazia’s
independence and the legitimacy of a presidential election that will
be held “in the absence of two-thirds of Abkhazia’s population?”
[Burdzhanadze was alluding to the Georgian refugees who fled during
the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in 1992-1993. — Trans.] She promptly
answered her own question: Russia would find itself the only country
in the world taking the Abkhaz election seriously. “Along, perhaps,
with Belarus,” Ms. Burdzhanadze added, correcting herself.
Our sources in Tbilisi confirm that during the Putin-Khadzhimba
meeting, one of the matters discussed was that of reestablishing rail
links. As long ago as last year, Putin and [former Georgian
President] Eduard Shevardnadze agreed on the need to open a
through-traffic rail line from Russia through Abkhazia and on to
Tbilisi and Armenia, but the Georgian side linked the issue to a
return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia’s Gali District, which was
inhabited almost exclusively by Georgians prior to the war. Tbilisi
and Sukhumi have deep disagreements over this matter. And that is why
no decision on restoring full-scale rail connections has been reached
as yet. Nevertheless, all indications are that a Sukhumi-Moscow route
will start operating at full capacity in the near future, first for
freight trains and later for passenger service.
Overall, the meeting between the Russian president and the Abkhaz
prime minister indicates that the Kremlin has cast its lot with Mr.
Khadzhimba in the upcoming presidential election in the unrecognized
republic. The Abkhaz prime minister is supported not only by the
“party of power,” but also by the republic’s incumbent leader,
Vladislav Ardzinba, who will not be running in the election. Mr.
Ardzinba is seriously ill and is quitting the political arena,
although he remains a very respected figure in Abkhazia, since he
symbolizes Sukhumi’s victory in the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993
and Abkhazia’s secession from Georgia. The Abkhaz leader’s top aides
believe that Raul Khadzhimba will continue Mr. Ardzinba’s policies.
As does Moscow, apparently.
* * *
What’s at Stake. (By commentator Gennady Sysoyev). — Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the prime minister of
Abkhazia, a candidate for president of that unrecognized republic,
had nothing to do, of course, with discussion of the social welfare
of Great Patriotic War veterans, as the official protocol reads. The
meeting was immediately taken as a sign of Moscow’s direct support
for Mr. Khadzhimba’s candidacy in the coming election. Abkhazia is a
tiny republic, so the news that its premier had met with the
president of Russia would presumably spread to the whole population
in minutes, and everyone would know which candidate to support on
Oct. 3.
This is all undoubtedly true. But the real import of the meeting at
the Dagomys Hotel lies much deeper. By arranging the meeting, Moscow
clearly indicated that it views Abkhazia as, at the very least, a
zone in which it has special interests. And there are a great many
reasons for this.
Abkhazia is traversed by a road that connects Russia with Armenia,
Moscow’s chief ally in the Transcaucasus. Not far from the Abkhaz
city of Gudauta is a strategically important air base that
specialists describe as unique: Takeoffs of military aircraft from
this base are virtually undetectable by NATO radar installations in
Turkey. In addition, the Russian president’s southern residence,
Krasnaya Polyana, is situated on the Psou River within 10 kilometers
or so of the unrecognized republic’s border, and Abkhaz leaders
regularly remind Moscow that the moment Georgia regains political
power in Sukhumi, a NATO observation and listening post will go up in
that same area along the banks of the Psou. Finally, Moscow has
financial motives for keeping Abkhazia within its zone of influence
as well: Over the past few years, Russia has acquired a considerable
amount of real estate in the unrecognized republic, and the drumbeat
of statements from Georgian politicians about reviewing privatization
outcomes in Abkhazia once Tbilisi reestablishes its rule there is
compelling Moscow to do everything it can to prevent Tbilisi from
doing so.
But that’s still not all. Moscow would like to preserve its
influence with Georgia, since in view of its strategic partnership
with Armenia, this would give it control over the Transcaucasus as a
whole. And retaining its influence in Tbilisi is something Moscow
expects to do primarily through preserving its control over Abkhazia.
Formally, Moscow is unlikely to question the territorial integrity
of Georgia, which officially includes Abkhazia. And so Abkhazia is
unlikely to become part of the Russian Federation. But there is no
need for it to do so. From Moscow’s point of view, it is sufficient
that virtually all the residents of Abkhazia hold Russian
citizenship. This, Moscow considers, gives it the right — at the
very least — to keep Abkhazia under its special care.
Georgia could, of course, take umbrage at this and resume drawing
parallels between Abkhazia and Chechnya. It might ask, as Georgian
Defense Minister Georgy Baramidze did, why it is that when Russia
defends its borders, it’s entirely within its rights, but when
Georgia tries to do the same, it’s engaging in aggression. To all
such objections, it would appear that Moscow has a ready answer:
There are no Georgian citizens in Chechnya, and the Abkhaz aren’t
blowing up Georgian airliners.

Russia electricity holding could enter Afghanistan – Chubais
28.09.2004
MOSCOW, September 28 (Itar-Tass) – The Unified Energy Systems of
Russian (EES Rossii) could enter Afghanistan’s energy system via
Tajikistan, the chief of the national electricity utility, Anatoly
Chubais , said.
He told a news conference on Tuesday that “this will be possible in
case of the implementation of our projects in Tajikistan, to which
three to ten years are given.”
Chubais stressed that “Afghanistan is even now receiving electric
energy from Tajikistan that is in turn connected to Russia”.
“We are seriously analysing grid projects for Afghanistan,” he said.
Chubais did not rule out that the EES Rossii could join China’s energy
system in prospect.
“At present this topic sounds hypothetically, but it could become a
reason for serious talks in a year,” Chubais said at the conference
Russia: Investment in the Economy of Growth.
“China is now present in discussions of our plans, even though Iran
sounds in them far more often, which, one the one and, works in a
synchronous regime with Azerbaijan and, on the other, with Armenia,”
Chubais said.
He added that he could probably hold talks in Iran soon.
As for other operations of EES Rossii abroad, Chubais said “large-
scale projects could appear in the nearest time in Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan”.
He admitted that talks on the Russian company’s buying a 50 percent
stake in Kazakhstan’s Ekibastuz hydroelectric station were difficult,
but were nearing completion.
Besides, “we have got positive results in Georgia”.
“Despite the most acute political events, our business in this country
is developing positively, and the Georgian leadership on the whole
has been able to find a sound approach to solving this issues,”
Chubais said.
He expressed hope that the coming winter in Georgia, whose energy
system EES Rossii owns, would go without failures of the energy and
heat supply.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 27, 2004, Monday
ARMENIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR SIGNED A MEMORANDUM
ON COOPERATION IN THE DEFENSE SPHERE
Armenia’s Defense Minister Serzhik Sarkisyan and UK Ambassador to
Armenia Thorda Abbott-Watt signed a memorandum on mutual
understanding and cooperation in the defense sphere on Friday.
As reported by the press service of the British embassy to Armenia,
the memorandum is aimed at developing the current nice relations
between defense ministries of both states. The document is supposed
to become the foundation for growing cooperation in the defense
sphere between both states. (…)
Last year the UK financed involvement of 16 Armenian servicemen in
various retraining courses abroad. The British Secretary of Defense
is also financing the English courses in the framework of the British
Council’s program on training the peacekeeping forces.
Translated by Andrei Ryabochkin

The Age, Australia
Sept 23 2004
One-way odyssey
September 23, 2004

Exciting jobs created by the Olympics have made young Greek
Australians want to stay in Athens. Victoria Kyriakopoulos reports.
Four years ago, Melbourne chef Costa Garyfallou quit Australia to try
his luck in Greece, curious about the heritage he had resisted for
most of his life.
His first taste of Greece had been during a working European holiday
in 1997 and he was determined to return and see more of the country
his parents had left behind. In 2000, he did six months in the Greek
army to get his Greek citizenship before landing a job in one of
Athens’ trendy new restaurants.
Since then, Garyfallou, 32, has cooked Australian-style fusion at
leading restaurants in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, spent a summer
as the chef on a private cruiser, and cooked for the Prime Minister
and Greece’s top businessmen, actors and celebrities. This year he
landed the plum job of executive chef at the Karaiskaki soccer
stadium, cooking for 1500 people a day during the Olympics.
“The irony is that the land of opportunity for me has been Greece,”
says Garyfallou, who grew up in Keilor Park and learnt his craft at
Melbourne restaurants including Cafe e Cucina in South Yarra. “Doors
opened for me here that I couldn’t have dreamed of in Australia.”
Garyfallou is part of a small but steady wave of young Greek
Australians who have been drawn back and are thriving in the country
their parents or grandparents forsook to give their children a better
life.
But in contrast to their parents, who migrated to Australia as
largely uneducated, unskilled workers, this generation has returned
to Greece equipped with education, professional skills and
confidence. To their surprise, many are finding themselves staying.
“I came here to find out what my heritage was about. It’s something
that I came to embrace late. Before that I was almost anti- Greek. I
didn’t even want to speak Greek,” Garyfallou recalls. “Greece gives
me work and it gives me a good life and lifestyle and it gives me
history, culture and a sense of belonging.
“I can’t see myself going back (to Australia). Here I work to live
not live to work. It’s not a work ethic but a life ethic. It’s just
that I’ve now split the family in two.”
More than 40,000 Greek Australians are estimated to be living
permanently in Greece, a reverse migration that began in the 1970s,
when some families started returning while their children were
relatively young. Others, many of them young women, came to Greece
for a summer holiday and ended up getting married and staying. Others
have come back to retire.
While most Greek Australians feel a strong sentimental pull, Greece
was until recently seen as a great place to visit but not to live.
Few seriously contemplated leaving steady jobs in Australia to work
in the urban jungle of Athens. But Greece today is a far cry from the
poverty-stricken country their parents left. And in the past five
years, Athens has developed rapidly.
Melbourne architect Kalliope Malapani, 34, was one of many Greek
Australians who jumped at the chance to work in Athens for the
Olympics, arriving at the end of 2000 to work on the design of the
stadiums. She has since taken a longer-term job that allows her to
stay on indefinitely.
While Greece’s notorious bureaucracy remains a major source of
frustration, Malapani says she takes the negative in her stride and
uses the experience she gained in Australia to her advantage. “One of
the fantastic things about professional life in Australia is they
take you and, if you have smarts, they push you. You can be well
rounded at a relatively young age. Here the 35-year-olds don’t have
the confidence.”
She is thrilled that her Greek is now good enough to be making
presentations in Greek architecture-speak. Malapani feels something
innate and comfortable about living in Greece, but she is still torn
about whether she will make the choice for life. Feeling
professionally challenged is paramount, but social and emotional
aspects weigh heavily on her decision. “Part of what drove me here
was a need to live my culture, and then maybe reject it and put it in
a box, but I remember thinking when I came here how far it had
slipped away from me.
“It’s a complex and beautiful city and country, and I am challenged
on all levels. It’s enlivening and you are not getting into the rut
that can exist in professional and social life in Australia.
“But having been given the gifts of Australia, and coming here and
making an intelligent, informed choice to stay, it’s very difficult.”
While her family in Melbourne is proud she got the Olympics job, no
one anticipated it could be a permanent move. “I think they feel some
sort of comfort from the fact that they know the environment I have
put myself in, but if I called up and said `Mum I just met a Greek
and I am about to commit to living here,’ I don’t know what they
would say.” For men, a major deterrent has always been the mandatory
military service, but these days many are opting to do a commuted
six-months’ service to secure citizenship and a coveted EU passport.
Shipping lawyer George Panagopoulos, 35, has just finished his stint
in the army, clearing the way for a future in Greece. He moved to
Piraeus, the heart of Athens shipping industry in 2001, from London,
and later joined the international firm Richards Butler.
“The opportunity arose to come here and it was too good to refuse,
professionally and in all sorts of ways. I know both cultures and
both languages and it was a great way to utilise all my skills.”
With the Olympics and the introduction of a common European currency,
the timing could not have been better. “Professionally it’s been a
good place to be. The work here is very interesting, it’s very
international and probably more international that I would have been
doing in Australia.”
Panagopoulos has no short-term plan to return to Australia but does
not discount the possibility. “If I was going to leave Greece I would
go back to Australia. I think it is a bit easier to bring up a family
there. But Australia is not like it used to be. It is a totally
overregulated society in many ways. Greece is still quite liberated.”
Panagopoulos, an only child, says his parents, who are retired and
spend time in Greece, have been positive about his decision, and are
even considering returning themselves. “I think they are going to
come back for good if I don’t go back to Australia.”
Not everyone has that option, and many families are dealing with the
trauma of being split again, with children and grandchildren now
living in both countries. In one family all three children moved back
to Greece, leaving their parents alone in Australia waiting until
they were eligible for their pensions.
Musician Hector Cosmas was drawn to Greece in 1998 by the music, but
has now married and started a family in Athens. A third-generation
Australian, he arrived in Greece with his violin, very poor Greek and
a passion for rebetika (Greek blues) and traditional Greek music.
“A lot of Greek Australians of my generation come to Greece on
holidays and feel some sort of connection to this place. For a Greek
musician that connection is something more.
“I felt that in Australia I was stagnating a little and I knew that
if I wanted to grow as a musician this was the place to be. I didn’t
really think about where I would be 10 or 20 years down the track.”
Cosmas has been playing with one of the most established rebetika
musicians and has had the opportunity to work with some of the finest
artists in the country. He married a Greek-Canadian in 2000 and has
two children. “Athens has improved dramatically as a place to live,”
he says. “As a musician I can see a future here for myself and I can
see us being here long-term, but when you have a family with kids
there are other considerations.
“But for now Greece is home.” Cosmas believes Australia has gone
backwards in terms of multiculturalism, and has become more
xenophobic. “There have been lots of times in the last few years that
I’ve felt glad I’m not living there.”
Tania Nassibian, 25, has been in Greece for five years making a
career as a singer, recording two CDs with Sony Music and
collaborating with some of Greece’s leading artists. “I never thought
I’d work here. It never crossed my mind, but I have loved the
experience. I’m happy that I’ve finally learnt Greek. I have family
here and it was a good opportunity to get to know them.”
Nassibian grew up in Sydney where her Greek mother ran a folkloric
dance school and her Armenian father ran a business. She had finished
school and was living in Paris when she was offered the recording
contract in Greece.
Nassibian, who sings in English, Greek and French, is now trying to
break into the international scene and expects to stay in Greece for
the short term at least.
“I love Greece. It is the land of opportunity because you can do
whatever you want. I have enjoyed my life here but I’ve also
struggled a lot because of the disorganisation. I don’t think that
I’d like to permanently stay here,” she says.
“I have sacrificed my family and I never expected to be overseas for
so long. I love the craziness of Europe but I also miss the
Australian way of life, and I miss my brothers and dad. “Australia
has everything except the life and spirit that Europe has. I have a
feeling I will end up in Australia. The ideal thing would be to have
a house there and a house here.”

“CILICIA” ON ITS WAY TO CILICIA
By Tamar Minasian
Azg/am
17 sept 04
On September 21-23 “Cilicia” will reach the territory of the historical
Cilicia. Alexander Margarian, member of “Ayas” Marine Research Club,
informed Azg Daily about this. He sailed on the ship till Athens. At
present, he is in Armenia and is coordinating the works on the
shore. “Cilicia” is sailing to Syria, Latakia, from Beirut. He will
leave for the historical Ayas, Korikos. The sailors say there is almost
nothing today in Korikos. But sailing by the coasts of Cilicia is a
tribute to our history, ancestors and a display of historical interest.
“We will receive permission to enter the harbor just before approaching
it,” Alexander Margarian said. “No problems occurred till now. I am
hopeful we will not have them this time too,” he added. In case of
getting the permission, the ship will find shelter in the harbor,
if not they will merely sail around “the Armenian waters.” After this
voyage of tribute in the marine territory of the historical Cilicia
the ship will return to Athens.

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Marc Mamigonian
GERARD LIBARIDIAN TO OFFER SEMINAR
ON “ARMENIA TODAY: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS”
AT NAASR CENTER
Prof. Gerard J. Libaridian, Alex Manoogian Visiting Professor of
Modern Armenian History at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, will
conduct a one-day seminar on “Armenia Today: Problems and Prospects”
at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research. It
will take place on Saturday, October 9, 2004, at the NAASR Center,
395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. The seminar will run from 9 a.m. until
4 p.m. with breaks for coffee and lunch.
Prof. Libaridian’s seminar will serve as a follow-up to his
well-received October 2003 seminar “Making Sense of the Armenian
Republic,” at the end of which Libaridian said he had only gotten
through a portion of what he had to say on the subject. “Armenia Today:
Problems and Prospects” offers both to those who attended last year’s
seminar as well as newcomers the opportunity to gain even greater
understanding of the complexities of modern Armenia.
In addition to Libaridian, NAASR’s program of adult education seminars
and mini-courses has included such authorities as Harvard University
Prof. James R. Russell, Prof. Simon Payaslian of Clark University,
Dr. Suzanne Moranian, and Dr. Barbara Merguerian. This series of
courses represents a new aspect of NAASR’s ongoing efforts to give
the public access to leading Armenian Studies scholars and their
research in an in-depth and meaningful fashion.
Focus on Recent Developments in Armenia and Karabagh
The seminar will explore the most recent developments in the Armenian
Republic in the areas of politics, economics, and foreign policy,
including the Karabagh negotiations. It will attempt to view these
developments from a variety of perspectives which will lead to
assessments regarding future developments.
Special attention will be paid to the actions and strategies of the
opposition parties and the response of the government beginning in
April 2004, the implications of these positions for the development
of democracy and economic viability, as well as for the resolution
of the Karabagh problem.
Experienced Scholar and Policy Maker
Gerard J. Libaridian received a Ph.D. degree in history from the
University of California, Los Angeles, and served as an advisor to
President Levon Ter Petrossian of Armenia from 1991 to September 1997.
During his time as a presidential advisor he served as Senior Advisor
for foreign policy and security issues (1994-97), First Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs (1993-94), negotiator for the Karabagh conflict,
and coordinator of conflict-related policy in the office of the
President. He is the author of Armenia at the Crossroads: Democracy
and Nationhood in the Post-Soviet Era, The Challenge of Statehood:
Armenian Political Thinking Since Independence, and most recently
Modern Armenia: People, Nation, State.
Admission is open to all, but enrollment will be limited in order to
encourage active discussion and interaction. It is strongly urged
that participants register by October 1. Please contact NAASR for
information about registration fees.
The NAASR Center is located near Belmont Center and is directly
opposite the First Armenian Church and next to the U.S. Post Office.
Ample parking is available around the building and in adjacent areas.
More information on Prof. Libaridian’s seminar or about NAASR and
its programs for the furtherance of Armenian studies, research, and
publication may be had by calling 617-489-1610, by fax at 617-484-1759,
by e-mail at [email protected], or by writing to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave.,
Belmont, MA 02478.