Author: Kanayan Tamar

‘METSAMOR NUKE PLANT MAY CAUSE GRIEVER CONSEQUENCES THAN CHERNOBYL’

news.az
Nov 3 2011
Azerbaijan

Metsamor nuke plant blast may cause griever consequences than Chernobyl
in case of a 7-magninute earthquake.

The statement came from Turkish MP, honorary chairman of the
Turkey-Azerbaijan Association Sinan Ogan at a press conference he
gave to highlight the danger posed by the Metsamor nuclear power
plant in Armenia.

Ogan said Metsamor nuke plant, located just 16 kilometers away from
Turkish city of Igdir, represents a serious source of danger for
the region.

“The radiation leakage caused in the plant built in 1976 by the
1988 earthquake in Armenia lasted three months. This, in turn,
caused a sharp increase in cancer cases in Igdir, Kars, Agri and
Erdahan provinces of Turkey. Operated by old technology, Metsamor
nuke plant blast may cause griever consequences than Chernobyl in
case of a 7-magninute earthquake,” the MP added.

The MP noted that the decision issued by the European Union to close
down this dangerous facility back in 2004 still remains unfulfilled.

“The then British ambassador to Armenia also said a strong earthquake
would destroy this station and this nuclear disaster would kill all
living beings. It is not coincidence that Metsamor features among
top ten dangerous facilities out of 442 around the world in a report
released in London” Ogan noted.

The MP said all these matters have been submitted to the relevant
commission of the Turkish parliament to be debated in future.

AZERBAIJANI-TURKISH GAS DEAL SEEN AS BLOW TO RUSSIA’S GAZPROM IN EUROPE
by Yuriy Roks

Nezavisimaya Gazeta website
Oct 27 2011
Russia

Azerbaijan Will Assure Energy Security of Europe. Aliyev and Erdogan
Wrecking Russia’s Plans for Gasification of Old World

A few days ago Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a package of gas agreements
concerning the second stage of the Shah Deniz project. It is viewed as
the main source for the projects of the Southern Gas Corridor, which
are alternatives to Russian projects to supply gas to Europe. According
to the agreement reached, Azerbaijan will supply 10 billion cubic
meters of gas to Europe annually. The agreement was signed during
the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Turkey.

Ilham Aliyev’s visit was announced in the Azerbaijani press modestly –
the president is going to Izmir, where he will take part with Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a formal ceremony to lay the
foundations of a new oil refinery, in the construction of which the
Azerbaijani side has invested $5 billion. In practice the meeting
between Aliyev and Erdogan confirmed the profound strategic relations
between the fraternal countries, encased in a wrapping of a whole
number of grandiose events, and dealt a blow to Gazprom’s position
in Europe.

Apart from laying the foundations of the joint oil refinery, Aliyev
and Erdogan opened via video linkup the AYPE-T plant, which is going
to produce low-density polyethylene, which is in wide demand in the
world. Apart from 16,000 tons of this material the plant will produce
output of 11 items annually. After this the Azerbaijani president
and the Turkish prime minister took part in laying more foundations –
those of the building of the Heydar Aliyev Technical and Industrial
Vocational Lyceum. In the words of Erdogan, the educational institution
– which will become a symbolic educational bridge between the Aegean
and Caspian seas – is intended to embody the words of Aliyev Senior
about Turkey and Azerbaijan: “One nation, two states.”

The lycee is a whole group of residential, sports and educational
buildings designed for teaching almost 1,000 people.

The formal events were accompanied by speeches from Erdogan and Aliyev
in which there was no shortage of assurances of eternal brotherhood,
joint pain about Nagorno-Karabakh, and the joint fight to return it.

In this context Erdogan congratulated Aliyev on Azerbaijan’s election
as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, which is capable
of facilitating a solution to the Karabakh question. But as a whole
there was not a great deal of pure politics this time. But there, in
Izmir, the first session of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic
Cooperation Council took place with the participation of ministers
and heads of departments from the two countries. Questions of the
development of various spheres of bilateral relations were discussed
at it. The signing of the gas agreement became the main event in Izmir.

Apart from annual supplies of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani
gas in the European direction, the sides agreed volumes of gas
supplies to Turkey from that same Shah Deniz-2 field after 2017
and a transit agreement for the transportation of Azerbaijani gas
through Turkey. Ilham Aliyev also emphasized that in the coming years
Azerbaijan will substantially increase supplies of gas: Within the
framework of the contract for the first stage of development of Shah
Deniz Turkey should receive 6.6 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani
gas annually, and within the framework of the second supplies of
another six billion cubic meters of gas are envisaged.

Analysing the agreements signed in Izmir, Seymur Aliyev, an expert
in the sphere of energy, described them as “historic both for these
countries and for Europe and the countries of the Caspian basin.”

“Essentially, these agreements – among which there is a most important
document on gas transit through the territory of Turkey – have opened a
direct route for Azerbaijani gas to Europe. Apart from this, in signing
this agreement Azerbaijan removed the final obstacles to implementing
a number of large energy projects, such as the development of the
second stage of the gigantic Shah Deniz field and the construction
of large export pipelines (Nabucco, IGI, TAP).

Moreover this agreement will facilitate the implementation of such
projects as the trans-Caspian gas pipeline, and the development of
new gas fields in the Caspian and in the first place in Azerbaijan,”
Aliyev writes.

In his opinion, the agreement on gas transit allows Baku to
definitively determine the transportation route for its gas to Europe.

Previously the Nabucco, IGI, and TAP projects, which are part of the
Southern Gas Corridor, have presented proposals to their partners in
Shah Deniz, and in the near future the route will be chosen and by the
end of this year authorizations to implement the second stage of Shah
Deniz will be granted. The gas extracted from this field is viewed
as the main source for the projects of the Southern Gas Corridor,
which is one of the priorities for EU energy projects and is intended
to diversity routes and sources of energy supplies and thus increase
EU energy security, writes Seymur Aliyev.

However, supplies of gas to Europe could start much earlier than 2017.

Already today Turkey is re-exporting some Azerbaijani gas to Greece.

The existence of a transit agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey has
basically connected the energy chain of Europe and the Caspian region.

This agreement opens the route to Europe not only for gas from Shah
Deniz but also from other Azerbaijani fields. “With the signing of
the transit agreement Europe has become even closer to Azerbaijan.

Precisely Brussels has become closer to Baku, which is explained by
the vital need for diversification of energy supplies to the European
Union. This is also explained by the fact that today Azerbaijan is the
sole realistic supplier of natural gas in this direction, possessing
large proven reserves of 2.6 billion cubic meters,” Seymur Aliyev
sums up.

[translated from Russian]

YENI MUSAVAT: AZERBAIJAN CLOSES LAST RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Panorama
Nov 3 2011
Armenia

Azerbaijan has closed all religious schools in the country, the parents
of the students of Azerbaijan’s last madrasah told Yeni Musavat. They
noted that police officers demanded closure of the school a couple
of days ago. The law enforcers said that head of Azerbaijan’s State
Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Hidayat Orujov made
the decision to close the school.

The newspaper said that the last four madrasahs have been closed in
this way in Badamdar, Shaki, Lenkoran and Zaqatala lately. The press
service of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations
refrained from revealing the reason why all 14 religious schools
working since 2001 were closed in Azerbaijan.

LET’S SEE WHETHER AZERBAIJAN WOULD ABANDON MILITARISTIC POLICY AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL – ARMENIAN FM

news.am
Nov 3 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – All that remains is to see whether Azerbaijan would
abandon its militaristic policy and aggressive statements at UN
Security Council (UNSC), Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandian stated at
the National Assembly, on Thursday.

As per Nalbandian, numerous emotional statements are recently made
concerning Azerbaijan becoming a UNSC non-permanent member.

“With respect to transferring the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) issue to UNSC
platform, I would like to say that the OSCE (Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe) Minsk Group’s Co-Chairing countries,
which are UNSC permanent members, have announced that the NK issue
shall be resolved within the OSCE Minsk Group framework. Therefore,
there is no need to get emotional over some statements by Azerbaijan,”
Armenia’s FM maintained.

Also reflecting on official Baku’s viewpoint that the latter took
part in UNSC through international support, Nalbandian noted that,
with its present-day policy, Azerbaijan has put itself in an impasse.

“The international community already expressed its views, which
coincide with Armenia’s position and do not coincide with Azerbaijan’s
position,” Nalbandian recalled. In his words, the nature of
Azerbaijan’s position manifested itself during the trilateral meeting
in Kazan, Russia, when Azerbaijan evaded the presented document.

“Let us see whether Azerbaijan can now abandon its militaristic policy
and aggressive statements, albeit it is difficult to believe that.

Armenia will continue the balanced and calm policy, without any nervous
shocks, both in settlement of the Karabakh issue and in safeguarding
its security,” Armenian FM concluded.

IMAGES OF ARMENIA
By Cliff Newell

West Linn Tidings

Nov 3 2011

Lake Oswego’s Emily Haas wins Peace Corps award with her photos
depicting a country still in the grips of tragedy

Emily Haas is such a fine photographer that she captured Armenia at
its very best.

One of her photos shows a picturesque town set in front of rolling
mountains, a place where you would want to live, not just visit. A
visual fairytale. More like a painting than a photograph.

However, many other photographs by the young Lake Oswego woman search
beneath the postcard surface and show an ancient nation ravaged by
centuries of war, haunted by its Communist past and plagued by the
vast corruption of today.

Yet Haas’ close-up shots of the faces of elderly people of the village
are perhaps the truest portrait of Armenia, showing not just suffering
but warmth and hospitality. They bring you right up to the table of
an old Armenian lady, close enough to sit down and have a cup of tea
with her, as Haas did in an award-winning shot.

“It was such a unique experience,” said Haas, 25, who spent two years
in Armenia as a volunteer with the Peace Corps, returning this August.

“You live with the Armenian people. It was a great opportunity that
you don’t get very often.

“Armenians are very hospitable. They bring out absolutely everything
they have.”

Sometimes Armenians were too hospitable in Yeghegnadzor, the town
where Haas lived. One mother was constantly coming over to Haas’
little apartment and asking Haas to marry her son.

Fortunately, Haas could speak Armenian and could politely but firmly
reject the mother’s request every time.

Haas’ main purpose with the Peace Corps was to help create a media
center, which was a very difficult job. Once dominated for decades
by the Soviet Union, Armenia had no history of freedom of the press.

“It was extremely frustrating,” Haas said. “But now, thanks to the
media center, not only are the people of the Vayots Dzor region
consuming real, local news, they are also learning of events via a
very new – to them – technology: the Internet.”

When not on the job, Haas took her camera and sought to capture her
host nation, something she was quite qualified to do since she had
just earned her degree in photo journalism from the University of
Montana. She discovered much in Armenia that is good.

“The creativity of the people is amazing,” Haas said. “They are so
hard working, and their land is very fertile. They grow apricots,
pomegranates and grapes. Churchill used to drink Armenian cognac.”

On the other hand, Armenia is a country with lots of troubles.

“Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union their borders have been
closed, except for Georgia and Iran,” Haas said. “The corruption is
terrible. Most of the money goes into the oligarchs’ pockets. There
is much censorship.”

Most of all, Armenia is a nation that cannot escape from its tragic
history.

“It’s a fascinating place, but the people have a sadness over wars and
hardships,” Haas said. “There are churches and fortresses everywhere,
some of them from the ninth century.”

The worst tragedy that happened to Armenians was the genocide that has
never been admitted by the nation that did it. One million Armenians
were killed by Turkey during World War I. Some of Haas’ most moving
photos show the Armenian Genocide Memorial, with flower petals being
spread to reperesent the countless victims.

These many woes made Haas have even more compassion for the Armenian
people. They also made her appreciate her native country much more.

“I’m a lot more positive about the USA than before I went there,”
Haas said. “We have it pretty good here. There is so much corruption
in Armenia, but we have a system that can prevent too much of that
from happening here.”

There was one more thing Haas gained from her two years in Armenia
– winning the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary photo contest with her
photo of her fellow Peace Corps volunteer Danny Lovell sitting down
to have tea with his grandmother.

It is truly a lovely, evocative shot, capturing an everyday occurrence
in its full warmth and depth, just like a photo that would appear in
National Geographic.

But to truly appreciate Emily Haas’ accomplishment in Armenia you
must view many, many more of her photos. Her lens captured the
soul of a nation. To see more of her work, check out her blog at
.

ARMENIA’ AGRICULTURE NEEDS SYSTEM STRATEGY

Tert.am
03.11.11

The opinion that the government should not interfere in economy is
totally wrong, and the recent crisis proved that, the management
expert Harutyun Mesrobyan told journalists Nov. 3.

“It is disastrous for the economy the government must play a serious
role in the economy, particularly in managing agriculture,” he said.

Agriculture has been a risky sector, and government donations to it
are highly important.

“We cannot resolve any problem without having a clear idea of the
economy we want to have. Since Armenian gained independence, we have
allotted land to farmers and left them face to face to their problems.

We do not have a system strategy in agriculture,” Mesrobyan said.

He pointed out that an oligarchic economic system has recently formed
in Armenia. People purchase large areas of land and “either use them
or don’t.”

“A government with self-respect must resolve food supply and safety
problems~E The Russian-Georgian war caused a petrol shortage in
Armenia,” the expert said.

Armenian ambassadors to foreign countries should have economic
attaches, who are to promote export of agricultural produce. The
government should, first of all, resolve the problem of
self-sufficiency, Mesrobyan said.

“When things go well in agriculture, the government thinks highly of
itself. Otherwise, the government accuses the weather,” Mesrobyan said.

CANADIAN SUN PROVIDES COVERAGE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Tert.am
03.11.11

The Canadian TV channel SUN has devoted one of its programs to the
Armenian Genocide.

Armenian activist and Genocide recognition advocate Jerry Tutunjyan
was the guest of the popular TV show “Arena with Michael Coren”.

At the beginning, the host briefly introduced the history of the
Armenian massacres, saying that more than 1 million Armenians
were slaughtered by the Turks between 1915-22. He emphasized that
the attempted Genocide is still officially denied by the Turkish
government.

Tutunjyan provided further details on the Armenian Genocide,
elaborating on its international recognition and Turkey’s denial
policy. He said the Turkish authorities misrepresent the facts relating
to the Genocide, jailing public figures and journalist who attempt
to voice the issue. He stressed that such policies infringe freedom
of speech in the country.

DREAM ETHNIC SPHERE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
Siranush Papyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 18:07:28 – 03/11/2011

Interview with the ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan on the bills on
amendments to the law on tax on property, the law on tax on land and
the land code

The parliament voted 74 to 5 for the bill on amendments to the law
on tax on property, the law on tax on land and the land code was
passed on first reading. Under this bill, 286 premises, hospitals,
detached houses, villas are exempt from tax. In your opinion, why is
this law needed when the church is already rather free of taxes.

I think this law will foster the ambitions of the church because there
were concerns that the property of the church would be expropriated
soon. In addition, the international organizations are pressing out
country for the insufficient level of tax collections. This law will
exempt from taxes a major proprietor which will cause a backlash.
Obviously, however, the law simply legitimized the practice in place.

Interestingly, when Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan presented the
bills, he said the government is trying to return what had been stolen
from the church. There is logic there but only in case of general
restructuring of property, and what has been stolen in Soviet times not
only from the church but also separate persons is returned. Otherwise,
it looks like that those who are on good terms with the government
can solve this issue. Although it became known that pretensions are
more than what is being discussed today.

In fact, I don~Rt mind encouragement of spiritual activities in
the country but I am against the violation of the principle of the
separation of the church and the state. So, out of good will, the
law is violated.

I think this bill should not be passed at least because it was
drafted with violations. The government is actually handling community
property which it is not eligible to do. We need to define clearly
that at what stage of church development, conflict development we are.
It is possible that the government thinks that the Armenian Apostolic
Church is concerned but we must announce about it and in that case we
will be able to state that the AAC has launched an offensive against
other churches.

Besides, we cannot assess realistically how intolerant our church is
towards the Armenian Muslims, for instance, and whether it considers
as Armenians only the followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Isn~Rt it a dividing line among ethnic communities? What are we headed
for, to an ethnic or confessional society?

Judging by the steps of the prime minister, the desired ethno
sphere formed by him is transforming into the AAC sphere, and the
identification of the Armenian ethnicity with the apostolic church
is underway. This issue has always been urgent in the history of the
Armenian people. We have always lost in ethnic terms, finding out
whether the Armenians are Chalcedonic, Evangelist or Muslims.

At some time, we came to the conclusion that ethnicism is more
important but now this conclusion is intensively torpedoed by the
government, unfortunately.

Will the church pursue modernization?

The church must have a clear social doctrine which is not in place yet,
and the activities of the church are highly personified. The church
owns a hospital which is not a charity hospital. Ok, let the church
get the profit. But in that case what is the reason for exempting
the church from taxes? What kind of activities of the church are we
trying to foster ~V religious or spiritual? Are the social activities
of the church adequate to the social policy of our government?

It is necessary to answer one question. What for is the government
rewarding the Armenian Apostolic Church? In order for it to continue
to divide Armenians into followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church
and others? Does the Armenian society share this approach? What does
the phrase ~Snational church~T mean in the Constitution? Is national
ethnic? But the National Assembly is an assembly of citizens, it is
a government body, it is not an ethnic one.

The church interprets the phrase ~Snational church~T in the
constitution as ~Sstate church~T. But if it is a state church, does
it belong to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

There is no answer to this question in the political space, in the
moral sense they are not intelligible, in the public life it has
specific expressions but it is not a concept.

SADOYAN ASKS ANC: WHAT WILL YOU DO AFTER COMING TO POWER?

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 2011
YEREVAN

Leader of the Armenian National Congress Levon Ter-Petrosyan does
not have a program of the RA for the coming five years, leader of the
National Democrats Alliance Arshak Sadoyan told news conference today.

He said it is very painful and even offensive that instead of
presenting a program on the future of the republic Levon Ter-Petrosyan
highlights whether the “political forces back Serzh Sargsyan or not
and in this way decides whether they are their enemies or not”.

As to the demand of the Congress on conduction of snap elections,
Sadoyan considered it funny. “There is a controversy even inside the
ANC members: Aram Sargsyan says snap elections, Levon Ter-Petrosyan
says it is possible without snap elections. What is the difference –
regular or snap? If you can – go and win or what will you do after
coming to power?”

METRO EXPECTED TO CONNECT ZVARTNOTS TO YEREVAN AND REGIONS

epress.am
11.03.2011

The Government of Armenia today approved a plan to build transport
infrastructure and an international logistics center near Zvartnots
International Airport. The plan is one of the components of creating
a free economic zone, which involves building a new motor highway
and railway linking the airport with the capital and other areas of
the country.

The planned railway will connect the airport’s passenger terminal
with the Charbakh metro station in Yerevan, while freight cars will
transport cargo to Karmir Blur station via an express train.

Construction of the logistics center is expected to take 3 years and
cost 25 million euros (which will be financed by the state and the
private sector).