Author: Kalashian Nyrie

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
June 7, 2005 Tuesday 4:17 PM Eastern Time
China in talks over acquisition of Armenian synthetic rubber plant
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
China is planning to acquire a stake in the Yerevan-based Nairit
chemical plant to set up a joint venture and produce synthetic
rubber, Armenia’s Finance and Economics Minister Vartan Khachatryan
said.
China is presently conducting talks with the country’s Energy
Ministry, the holder of the Nairit stock. Until recently the plant’s
official name was Nairit-1.
The setting up of the joint venture aims to boost the production and
sales of Armenian rubber. The size of the stake negotiated by China
as well as the name of the state-owned Chinese company will be
announced after completion of the talks, Khachatryan said.
Nairit, established in 1936, is a unique enterprise in the entire
post-Soviet space which produces chloroprene rubbers. This chemical
giant was the only Soviet supplier of synthetic rubbers and polymeric
latex adhesives – important strategic materials used in the aviation
industry, shoe-making, etc.
In 2001, the enterprise split into Nairit-1 and Nairit-2. The former
repeatedly changed hands. Russia’s Volgaburmash took it over last
year. However, all the transactions failed to pull the company out of
the crisis. It is Nairit-1 that is the subject of talks with the
Chinese at present.
Meanwhile, the Nairit-2 equipment is now being dismantled and taken
to the Chinese province of Shaanxi, where an Armenian-Chinese joint
venture ChinArmenpren will be set up to produce rubber using Armenian
technologies.
It will begin operation next year, Nairit-2 director Albert Sukiasyan
said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 926-8733
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 6, 2005
Armenia’s Shikahogh Nature Reserve and Mtnadzor Forest at Great Risk
–ATP working with coalition of NGOs to protect this irreplaceable national
treasure
Armenia, a country which historically had forest cover of 40-45 percent, is
today at perilous risk of becoming completely deforested. Current estimates
place forest cover at around eight percent, and at current rates of cutting,
the last of the forests could be gone in as little as 20 years.
Despite this, the government recently announced plans to build a new highway
in southern Armenia right through the middle of the old growth Mtnadzor
(Dark Canyon) forest, which occupies about half of the Shikahogh nature
reserve, one of only three pristine reserves in the country.
According to news reports, the plans call for cutting at least 14,000 old
growth trees and 90,000 younger ones. The Shikahogh reserve, established in
1958, is home to innumerable rare and endangered plant and animal species,
including up to 12 leopards, whose habitats would be gravely threatened by
the road’s construction and the ensuing traffic pollution.
A coalition of organizations and individuals, including Armenia Tree Project
(ATP), Armenian Forests NGO, World Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of
America have been working together to identify viable alternatives to the
proposed route which would do less environmental damage, and put a stop to
the plan to begin immediate construction until public hearings are held.
ATP founder Carolyn Mugar sent a letter on May 25 to President Robert
Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, in addition to the Minister
of Nature Protection, Minister of Transportation, and other high-ranking
officials. `The Shikahogh forest reserve provides unique habitats for many
rare and endangered plants and animals whose survival depends upon the
government’s responsible stewardship. We call on you to protect this reserve
for the sake of future generations of Armenians and the world’s ecosystem,’
wrote Ms. Mugar.
The Armenian government has cited `strategic’ reasons for choosing the route
through the reserve, but hasn’t provided adequate justification for the
plan, which would violate numerous national laws and internationally signed
treatises to protect such nature preserves, which are widely regarded as
part of a national heritage.
To date, the Ministry of Transportation as well as the Ministry of Defense
have stated their intention to move forward with construction plans and
ignore any proposed alternatives. In response, the Minister of Nature
Protection announced his intention to resign if the road is constructed
through the reserve. This stated determination to ignore alternative routes
has led many to question the true motivation for the government’s plan,
given the monetary value of the oak trees from the old growth forest that
will be destroyed.
`The construction of the proposed road through the preserve will introduce
pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine forest, destroy
the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and attract illegal
logging, depriving future generations of Armenians of an irreplaceable
resource. The encroachment by illegal loggers has already destroyed much of
Armenia’s forests during the past decade,’ added the ATP founder in her
letter, which was also sent to government officials by Armenian Assembly of
America Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
`[If Armenia’s government] does not demonstrate responsible management of
its natural and historical heritage, it weakens its ability to protect
Armenia from the impact of destructive policies in neighboring countries.
Any gains that may be realized by building this road through the preserve
will be far outweighed by the long-term environmental and political damage
that Armenia will suffer. We most urgently ask you to consider an
alternative route,’ concluded Ms. Mugar in her appeal.
The full text of the letter from ATP is available on the Web site
Those who wish to express their opinions on this issue
are encouraged to communicate with Minister of Nature Protection Vardan
Ayvazyan via the Web site , and send letters to President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, and Minister of
Transportation Andranik Manukyan, via Tatoul Markarian, Armenian Ambassador
to the United States, 2225 R Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202)
319-1976, fax (202) 319-2982.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Shikahogh reserve.jpg
A coalition including Armenia Tree Project, Armenian Forests NGO, World
Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of America are advocating for an
alternative to the proposed route of a highway in the Shikahogh nature
reserve in southern Armenia (Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
Construction machinery.jpg
As of late last month, construction equipment was lined up at the site to
begin construction through the Shikahogh nature reserve in southern Armenia,
which would result in the cutting of at least 14,000 old growth trees and
90,000 younger trees (Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)
Leopard in Armenia.jpg
The Shikahogh nature reserve, established in 1958, is home to innumerable
rare and endangered plant and animal species, including up to 12 leopards,
whose habitats would be gravely threatened by the road’s construction (Photo
courtesy of World Wildlife Fund Armenia)

AZG Armenian Daily #103, 07/06/2005
Neighbors
ETHNIC MINORITIES IN GEORGIA
Publication of an international fact-finding mission Report
Paris, 2 June 2005 – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
publishes a report entitled “Ethnic Minorities in Georgia” following an
international fact-finding mission into the rights and freedoms of the
ethnic minorities.
This mission was set up in the context of a huge influx into Western Europe
of asylum seekers from Georgia who complained of discrimination. The mission
took place in Tbilisi and in the provinces (Tsalka, Akhalkalaki,
Akhaltsikhe). The mission mainly focused on cases relating to the Yezidi
Kurds, and the minorities in the regions of Tsalka and Samtskhe-Javakhetia.
The publication comes just when Georgia has committed itself, at the
beginning of the year, to ratifying the European Framework Convention on
National Minorities by September 2005.
The problem of minorities in Georgia is historical, ideological, political,
legal and economic. It is made all the more complex as it involves an
attempt to reconcile protecting the identity of minorities with ensuring
their social integration. If the system for protecting minorities fails,
minority groups will become isolated and, as a result, socially excluded, or
else, they are assimilated and disappear.
Decisions and policies regarding the question of minorities is also either
the cause or the effect of the State’s nationalism which is reflected in
minority groups. Bilateral relations between Georgia and the countries of
origin of these groups, or between Russia, the minority groups and their
country of origin often determine the policies relating to minorities.
Inequalities are heightened by the economic and social situation in the
country, the effect of which is all the more evident amongst minority
groups. In addition, all the spheres where human rights apply are affected
by corruption, as are the minorities, and especially, the most vulnerable
members of society, who often belong to the minority groups.
The FIDH asks the Georgian government to conform in all respects to the
international treaties and conventions to which the State of Georgia is
party in order to ensure the rule of law; to make sure that the cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment and any form of discrimination inflicted by
the law enforcement agencies on Georgian citizens, particularly those from
minority groups, because of their ethnic, religious and/or national origins
(Yezidi Kurds, Azeris, Armenians etc) is ended; investigate these
violations, identify their perpetrators and punish them in accordance with
the relevant regional and international laws so as to put an end to their
impunity; combat corruption which is ruining at the country and hindering
observance of the economic, social and political rights of all citizens and
especially of those belonging to minority groups.
The FIDH asks the Georgian government to ratify the European Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as soon as possible.

Financial Times Deutschland
3. Juni 2005
Vorbei, aber nicht vergessen;
90 Jahre danach: Rolf Hosfeld fordert die Aufarbeitung des Genozids
an den Armeniern
von Ralf Hanselle
Die Vergangenheit fordert immer ihren Tribut. Die moderne Turkei
hätte diese Beobachtung bereits vor Jahren machen konnen. Doch 90
Jahre danach, ist man in Ankara noch immer nicht bereit, den
Volkermord an den Armeniern als das anzuerkennen, was er war: Ein
staatlich durchgefuhrter Genozid.
Doch die Geschichte lässt nicht locker. Nun hat der deutsche
Journalist Rolf Hosfeld uber die barbarischen Vorkommnisse in
Ostanatolien während des Ersten Weltkriegs ein Buch veroffentlicht.
Gestutzt auf historische Quellen und Augenzeugenberichte erzählt
Hosfeld die Geschichte des Volkermords an den christlichen Armeniern
im osmanisch-russischen Grenzgebiet nach. Zwischen 1915 und 1918
kostete er mindestens 800000 Menschen das Leben.
Hosfelds Buch “Operation Nemesis” lässt keine Zweifel: Die
Vernichtung der Armenier war von langer Hand geplant. Ausfuhrende:
Die seit der Revolution von 1908 herrschenden Jungturken und ihr
“Komitee fur Einheit und Fortschritt”. Sowohl die Regierung des
Großwesirs Said Halim als auch die Talaat Paschas wussten die
Uneinigkeit im “europäischen Konzert” zu nutzen, um die seit dem
Berliner Kongress offene armenische Frage zu entscheiden. Ziel war
es, so Talaats Worte, mit den “inneren Feinden grundlich aufzuräumen,
ohne dabei durch die diplomatischen Interventionen des Auslands
gestort zu werden”.
Dieses “Aufräumen” folgte immer gleichen Mustern. Region fur Region
wurden zunächst die Intellektuellen und Geistlichen inhaftiert,
gefoltert und erschossen. Danach folgte die normale Bevolkerung.
Protagonisten der Vernichtung waren neben einem dem Innenministerium
unterstehenden “Totenkopfverband” auch das Militär und kurdische
Milizen.
Im Gegensatz zu den Progromen gegen die Armenier am Ende des 19.
Jahrhunderts tobte hier nicht der Mob, sondern ein panturkischer
Weltanschauungskrieg. Infiziert von rassistischem Gedankengut und
getrieben von einem Nationalismus, der von der Einheit sämtlicher
Turkvolker fabulierte, nutzten die Jungturken die antiarmenischen
Ressentiments fur eine geplante “Endlosung”. So ist es nicht
verwunderlich, dass auch später der “Vater der Turken”, Mustafa
Kemal, von diesem Genozid nichts wissen wollte. Zu verwurzelt war
sein modernistisches Gedankengut in den Anschauungen des “Komitees
fur Einheit und Fortschritt”; zu abhängig war seine Regierung von den
Befehlshabern des Mordens in Ostanatolien.
“Operation Nemesis” verweist nachdrucklich auf die historische
Verantwortung der Turkei, es macht zudem aufmerksam auf das deutsche
Versagen unter dem damaligen Reichskanzler Bethmann-Hollweg. Es
beeindruckt durch seine akribische Recherche und liefert wichtige
Hintergrundinformationen zur aktuellen Armenien-Debatte. Es ist ein
Lehrstuck daruber, das vergangene Gräuel nicht verdrängt werden
konnen, sondern bewältigt werden mussen. Die Auseinandersetzung mit
dem Volkermord zu fordern ist eine Aufgabe der aufgeklärten
Zivilgesellschaft – darin zeigt sich nicht zuletzt auch ihre Macht.
lllll
Rolf Hosfeld
“Operation Nemesis”, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 288 S., 19,90 Euro
Bild(er):
Präziser Rechercheur:Rolf Hosfeld – Ernst Rudolf Achinger
–Boundary_(ID_9M3f2DFqmqJj8eO0ny7eSw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVENT DEDICATED TO WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY TO BE HELD IN UN OFFICE IN ARMENIA ON JUNE 6
YEREVAN, June 3. /ARKA/. An Event Dedicated To World Environment Day
Will Be Held In UN Office In Armenia On June 6. According To United
Nations Department For Public Information (UNDPI), Presentation Of
Books Published By The Association For Sustainable Human Development
And Environmental Academy NGO Will Be Held During The Event. The Books
Are On Problems Of Sustainable Development, Biological Security And
Environmental Education.
Also, Discussions Are Planned On The Pressing Environmental Problems,
In Particular, Preservation Of Shirak National Park, Rich A Unique
Biological Variety Of Which Currently Faces Extermination.
The Event Is Organized By Association For Sustainable Human Development
And The National Committee Of United Nations Environmental Program
(UNEP) With The Assistance Of UNDP And Kavkaz Regional Environmental
Centre. L.V.-0–

KOCHARYAN HAS DECIDED TO ENCOURAGE EDUCATION
A1plus
| 15:27:51 | 03-06-2005 | Official |
On June 2 Robert Kocharyan signed an order to establish annual
educational awards of the President in the field of informational
technologies.
The awards will be given to the best pupil and best students of the
bachelor degree, of the MA degree, and of the post-graduate course.

SPECIAL ISSUE OF “IRS” MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO KARABAKH PUBLISHED IN MOSCOW
[June 03, 2005, 18:14:37]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 3 2005
The special issue of the International Azerbaijan magazine
“Irs-Heritage ” named “Karabakh ” and completely devoted to this
pearl of Azerbaijan was published in Moscow.
The edition is an original mini-encyclopedia of Karabakh and first
such edition, which was released abroad. This colorfully 112-page
polished magazine-almanac is devoted to the history and culture of
Karabakh. It is unusual for its contents, and was prepared on the
basis of authentic historical materials and unique photos, documents
and little-known ancient maps of Karabakh. The magazine covers all
period of the existence of Karabakh, since times of antiquity (the
Albanian period) up to date. It has references from more than 100
sources, over half from which are researches and historians not from
Azerbaijan – as Strabon, Trever and others annalists. It includes
about 30 articles of the Azerbaijan scientists.
In the edition, also have been published ethnographic monuments of
Karabakh, materials about cult architecture, the Karabakh folklore.
There are also materials with photos “Glory of the Karabakh racers”,
“Shusha – musical capital of Azerbaijan”, ” Pearls of the Karabakh
cuisine”.
The rare maps of region published in magazine “Karabakh: 1747-1805s”
and tables with the demographic parameters, showing dates and number
of the Armenians who have moved to Karabakh, evidently show their
nomadic way of life. All this does not leave doubts that Karabakh is
truly Azerbaijani land.
“The purpose of this special edition is to show reliability of
historical events and the facts about Karabakh, we consider that the
public should know roots of the problem and historical objectivity,
understand, at last, the aggressive policy of the Armenians, which,
not having the territories, using forces of allies, insidiously
annexed our lands”, the editor of magazine Musa Marjanly says.
It is necessary to note that in spite of the fact that magazine
“Karabakh” was published a few days ago, it has already caused big
resonance: the Armenian sources already accuse it of “rewriting
the history”.

If you refuse to kill in Russia, you will go to prison
Kavkaz-Center
Fri, 06 3 2005
In his interview to “Real Azerbaijan”, Alexander Litvinenko responded
to the statement of the Russian Embassy in Armenia
– Mr. Litvinenko, what is your comment on the statement of the Russian
Embassy in Armenia concerning your announcement about connection of
the GRU to the shooting of Armenian parliament that is the consequence
of Boris Berezovsky’s political order and insinuations against the
Russian-Armenian relations?
– Russian Embassy in Armenia is trying to wash away the crimes of
Russian Special Services by all means. I declare once more that
shooting of the Armenian parliament was organized by the GRU.
Boris Berezovsky is a political figure. And the fact of recognition
of his status by the Russian Embassy indicates that all former
statements of the official Kremlin about Berezovsky are deprived of
any grounds. Berezovsky has never mentioned that he is interested
in weakening of Russia ‘s role in the region and in deterioration of
relations between Russia and the states of the Southern Caucasus .
Moreover, as Executive Secretary for the CIS in the past, Berezovsky
has done a great deal for the development of Russian-Armenian
relations. The Russian diplomats in Armenia present the desirable for
the actual when they note that I speak for Berezovsky and implement his
will. At present I am a veteran of military service, lieutenant colonel
transferred to the reserve. Even when the judge advocate brought in
an action against me to reduce to the ranks (as it is known, hearing
of the case was held in my absence), the court rejected his suggestion.
I was dismissed from the FSB on the basis of the edict issued by
Vladimir Putin, and it was related with the “organizational” measures.
The embassy is casting aspersions on me.
– Some Russian media, close to the Kremlin have reported that you
are abusing your once high position in the leadership of FSB and
misinform the public.
– But then I am asking – Why have not they brought action against
me? My books were on sale in Moscow for a long time. Then they banned
my books. As to my second book, it was sold even in the building
of State Duma. No one has ever brought an action against me. No
one, neither Putin nor the FSB insisted on refutation. Each of my
statement was confirmed with the corresponding documents of special
services. Anywhere, in Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria, etc., in any country,
the representatives of Russian embassies said that it was insinuation
and nothing else. I produce the documents, name the witnesses, and
give detailed interviews. But they respond to all that with one word –
insinuation! And there is no one to say anything.
As to the statement concerning Russian Embassy in Armenia, I repeat,
they are trying to wash away terrorism and dirt from their special
services. Russian Special Services is a terrorist organization.
– Taking the opportunity, I would like to ask you if you have any
information regarding the relatives of Aslan Maskhadov and field
commander Doku Umarov, captured by the Russian Special Services.
– I also read Doku Umarov’s interview published by the Chechen sites,
in which he says that his relatives were taken hostages by Russian
special services. As to the whereabouts of Maskhadov’s relatives,
nothing is known to me. The Chechens suppose they are killed. Let
the Russian ambassador in Armenia answer this question – Where are
Aslan Maskhadov’s relatives? According to the Russian legislature,
they are considered the citizens of Russia, aren’t they? What has
become of them ? Where are they today?…
If you refuse to kill in Russia, you will go to prison.
Interview with Mr. Litvinenko was conducted by Elnur Eminogly,
“Real Azerbaijan”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN, TURKMENISTAN TO BUILD HYDROGEN POWER PLANT
IPR Strategic Business Information Database
June 2, 2005
According to “Tehran Times”, Iran and Turkmenistan are determined
to construct a 1,000-megawatt hydrogen-fuelled power station, an
Iranian official said. Ramezan Vahidi, director for research center of
renewable energies, told reporters no private financier has dared to
get involved in the project “because of big expenses”. The first phase
of investment requires 2,000 euros per kilowatt, he said, adding the
costs would fall in the next stages. Iran has also cooperated with
Armenia in construction of windmill to generate electricity.

GOVERNMENT OF ITALY TO RENDER TO AZERBAIJAN FOOD ASSISTANCE
[June 01, 2005, 18:40:45]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 1 2005
The government of Italy will render to Azerbaijan humanitarian food
assistance at amount of 1 million Euros. The agreement on it has been
signed on June 1 in the Cabinet of Azerbaijan. From the Azerbaijan
side, the agreement was signed by Vice-Premier, Chairman of the State
Commission on International Humanitarian Assistance Ali Hasanov,
from the Italian side – by the ambassador of Italy to Azerbaijan
Margarita Costa. The food assistance, aimed for the IDPs driven
form their homelands as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, will consist of packages of Parmesan cheese, rice,
granulated sugar.
Vice-Premier Ali Hasanov, expressing gratitude to the Italian
government for this noble action, has emphasized that Italy rendered
great volume of the humanitarian assistance to the Azerbaijani refugees
among all European countries. It has been marked that the present
aid appears after official visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev to Italy. The first humanitarian assistance has been rendered
to Azerbaijan on results of visit of the national leader, President
Heydar Aliyev in 1997 by oil company “ENI” at amount of 2,2 million
US dollars. The Azerbaijani refugees have received assistance also
during visit to Azerbaijan in May 2002 of the head of the Catholic
Church, the Pope of Rome.
At the ceremony of signing, also were present representatives of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy.