Author: Kanayan Tamar

Environment and Energy Publishing, LLC
Greenwire
September 27, 2006 Wednesday
OIL AND GAS: Black Sea summit discusses pipelines, energy contracts
Russia and 10 other countries in the Black Sea region began talks
today on new pipelines and long-term natural gas contracts at a
summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation organization.
Russia is this year’s chair of the BSEC as well as of the Group of
Eight. Ministers affirmed their commitment to energy security today,
as G8 ministers did in July in St. Petersburg, Russia. The BSEC
includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece,
Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine.
Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said Russia has made
“significant progress” on the Burgas-Alexandropoulis oil pipeline,
which will carry 30 million-35 million metric tons of oil to Europe
annually. He also said BSEC would discuss extending the
Russian-Turkish Blue Stream gas pipeline, which the two countries
have been arguing about since it came online in 2003. Khristenko said
he wanted to extend it to Israel and possibly southern and central
Europe, which would allow Russia to increase shipments regardless of
decreased demand from Turkey.
Khristenko is expected to meet with Ukrainian Energy Minister Yury
Boiko to discuss a new gas supply contract, sorely needed after the
two countries’ pricing dispute led to a supply cutoff in Western
Europe in January.
Ukraine published a strategy document on its Web site today that
projected it would cut imports of natural gas by increasing its own
production. According to the document, Ukraine plans to reduce its
annual consumption from more than 77 billion cubic meters to less
than 72 billion by 2010.
BSEC countries will also discuss Russia’s failure to ratify the
Energy Charter Treaty, which supports market liberalization. Armenian
and Moldovan representatives are expected to press Russia to ratify
the charter (Stephen Boykewich, Agence France-Presse). Russia defends
enforcement of Sakhalin enviro regs
Russian officials continued today to defend their sanctions of
Shell’s Sakhalin II oil and gas project on environmental grounds,
rejecting accusations that they are targeting foreign-owned projects.
On Sept. 5, the Environment Ministry said it was filing suit against
Shell and the other members of its Sakhalin Energy consortium for
failing to prevent erosion and violating other environmental
provisions in the group’s contract to build a pipeline and liquefied
natural gas facility on Sakhalin Island (Greenwire, Sept. 20). Last
week, officials said work could continue on the pipeline.
“The idea that foreigners are being pushed out of the Russian energy
market has no basis,” said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russia’s
demands “are based exclusively on the demands of the law,” he said.
Ian Craig, head of the Shell-led Sakhalin Energy consortium, said it
was “quite possible” the dispute was linked to state-owned Gazprom’s
attempts to buy a 25-percent stake in the project. He said a one-year
delay in the project would cost $10 billion and “the greatest damage
of all by far would be the damage to Russia’s reputation as a
reliable energy supplier” (Dario Thuburn, Agence France-Presse).
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned at the BSEC meeting that he
would take action against “unconscientious” energy firms that do not
fulfill their contractual obligations. “I expect the [natural
resource] ministry and the government as a whole to take such
decisions, including as regards companies that work
unconscientiously,” he said.
Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev said the number of inactive
wells and reserves is currently “twice the legal norm” (Agence
France-Presse). Iran tells Japan to develop its oil field or lose it
Iran today warned Japan that if it does not finalize a $2 billion
deal by Friday to develop the onshore Azadegan oil field, it will
give the project to an Iranian contractor.
“If the Japanese response for development of this oil field is
negative, the development operations will start through domestic
sources,” said Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh. The deadline for
Japan’s Inpex Corp. to start developing the field has been pushed
back from March 2005 to this Friday. Azadegan has an estimated 26
billion barrels of oil (Aresu Eqbali, Agence France-Presse).
Production resumes at eastern Prudhoe field
BP restarted oil production yesterday on the eastern side of the
Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and said it expects to reach near-normal
capacity of 150,000 barrels per day by the weekend.
Production will still be 50,000 bpd below capacity because the
corroded transit line that originally prompted the shutdown Aug. 10
is still shut down. BP is building a bypass for that line and hopes
to begin constructing a replacement pipe by early next year (Mary
Pemberton, AP/Anchorage Daily News). (All cites Sept. 27 unless
noted.) — DK

Eurasianet, NY
September 28, 2006
ARMENIA TO DIASPORA: IT TAKES A GLOBAL VILLAGE
by Haroutiun Khachatrian
In a bid to boost economic development, Armenia has unveiled an
ambitious plan to enlist the support of the country’s Diaspora
population to promote the revitalization of border villages.
Representatives of the Diaspora have reacted positively to the plan,
but conditioned their support on a government commitment to
democratic principles.
`The development gap between Yerevan and the marzes (provinces)
remains one of the key challenges of modern Armenia,’ President
Robert Kocharian said in opening a three-day conference of Diaspora
members in Yerevan on September 18. Though Armenia’s economy has
posted double-digit growth for the past five years, Yerevan, with
one-third of the country’s population of roughly 3 million, produces
more than half of its Gross Domestic Product. Poverty is higher
outside of the capital, and migration a severe problem, with some
remote regions facing depopulation.
To reverse that situation, the Armenian government is looking to the
Diaspora to take on responsibility for the rehabilitation of roads,
irrigation systems, schools, and leisure facilities in 50 villages
along the frontier with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Georgia. `We
expect that, after restoring the rural infrastructures, [the
villages] will become more attractive for investors, and moreover,
hopefully, part of the population who left those villages may
return,’ Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told conference attendees.
The government sees the sponsorship of 50 border villages by Diaspora
communities, organizations or individuals to act as the first stage
of rehabilitation for all of Armenia’s 159 border villages, Oskanian
said. The average cost of meeting a village’s needs is estimated from
$500,000 to $700,000. According to the minister, the government has
already received sponsorship pledges for over 30 villages, and hopes
that all 50 villages will find sponsors by March 2007. The Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia has also announced plans to
sponsor one border village.
Armenia has long looked to its Diaspora, at least twice the size of
the country’s own population, to provide investments and various
forms of assistance. The Diaspora, in turn, has looked to Armenia for
inspiration in preserving a sense of national identity and heritage.
Two previous conferences, in 1999 and 2002, elaborated various ideas
for preserving Armenian national unity, but without advancing
concrete initiatives.
Much of the motivation for Diaspora members’ pledge of support at
this year’s conference comes from the border regions’ strategic
status as a potential frontline in what many conference participants
termed Armenia’s new, `economic war’ with neighboring, oil-rich
Azerbaijan. The proposal has received the support of all
Diaspora-connected political parties and all of the country’s
principal religious organizations.
`Initially I thought that they again are just asking the Diaspora to
give money,’ conference participant Samvel Shnothogian told Armenian
public television, referring to government officials. `But I saw that
they are sincerely interested in getting a real outcome.’ The
government has also indicated that all options are open for
implementation of the plan, including having Diaspora sponsors
directly manage the future rehabilitation of all 159 border villages.
Diaspora members, however, had their own demands for the government.
Most conference speakers stated that they expect the Armenian
government to take decisive efforts to meet democratic standards.
Failure to satisfy this expectation would prevent a deepening of
Diaspora involvement in development projects. Current Diaspora
investment in Armenia is estimated at between $200 million and $300
million. `Diaspora Armenians need a new inspiration and this
inspiration can be provided by Armenia only. But not by this
Armenia,’ Petros Terzian, a French Armenian, said at the conference’s
closing session. `We need a democratic, fair country, free of
corruption. If you [local Armenians] fail to create such an Armenia,
we [the Diaspora Armenians] cannot do it either.’
With the exception of Foreign Minister Oskanian, most Armenian
government officials at the conference avoided discussing this topic.
The minister, who is expected to run for president in 2008, cited
corruption and the ability `to hold free and democratic elections’ as
among the `internal challenges’ that face Armenia along with the
`external challenges’ created by the operation o the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and growing cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Turkey. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].
While details about implementation of the Diaspora-sponsored village
program remain undefined, international organizations have recently
provided the government with fresh impetus for revitalization of
Armenia’s border regions.
Three large-scale programs totaling around $40 million and supported
by the World Bank, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe and the United Nations Development Program have been approved
to boost the development of rural areas, according to Agriculture
Minister David Lokian. Later in 2006, a $235 million rural
infrastructure program financed by the US Millennium Challenge
program, and a project financed by Armenian American billionaire Kirk
Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation will also start work in the regions. The
government maintains, however, that these programs alone are not
sufficient to cover the rehabilitation needs of rural Armenia.
In apparent recognition of that assistance, representatives of
foreign donors such as the United States Agency for International
Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, among others,
were invited to the conference for the first time.
NOTES: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer specializing
in economic and political affairs.

PARLIAMENT DELIBERATES DRAFT BILL ON TV AND RADIO
Panorama.am
17:50 27/09/06
The National Assembly of Armenia deliberated amendment to the Law on
TV and Radio, among others. The deputies criticized a provision saying
that Public TV has no obligation to broadcast the work of parliament at
set hours. Arshak Sadoyan said the bill is unconstitutional, incorrect
and criminal. Viktor Dallakyan, on the other hand, stated that it is
“a slap in the face of the legislature.” Gegham Manukyan, from the
ruling coalition, also thinks that the bill should not be adopted. He
said if the 5% limit of ads is eliminated, public TV may attract too
many ads and become monopolistic in the market.

FM MEETS WITH OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2006
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov participating in the 61st session
of the United Nations General Assembly in New-York met September 26
with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.
Ways of finding solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed during the two-hour close-door meeting.
“The Co-Chairs expressed their wish to visit the region shortly”,
Elmar Mammadyarov said after the meeting.
He noted the Co-Chairs are dealing with the problems impeding the
peace negotiations.
The Minister added that the Minsk Group Co-Chairs will go to Finland’s
capital, Helsinki, later this week to report on the current stage of
negotiations to the presidency of the European Union.
The same day, the OSCE Mink Group Co-Chairs and Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk also met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

“UNITED JAVAKHK” ALLIANCE STARTS PRE-ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “United
Javakhk” democratic alliance started its pre-electoral campaign on
September 25. According to the “Javakhk-Info” agency, a car column
consisting of more than 40 cars went through villages of Orja, Khando,
Varevan, Alastan, Kokia, Korkh, Totkham, Majadia, Aragova, Balkho of
the region of Akhalkalak.
As Vahagn Chakhalian, a member of the “United Javakhk” chairmanship
mentioned, “though no party agreed to cooperate with “United
Javakhk,” however, with the help of initiative groups, we nominated
candidates in 22 regional electoral districts of Akhalkalak.” In
V.Chakhalian’s words, the local authorities already prepare for
electoral falsifications. “They well know that they will be able to
help pass candidates nominated by them only with the help of electoral
falsifications.” In V.Chakhalian’s words, the people is this time
full of decisiveness and “will not allow any local clan to hold the
elections like the previous ones.”
“We call on the people to vote on September 5, and to gather on
September 6 in the Mesrop Mashtots square of Akhalkalak and to stand
for the own vote,” V.Chakhalian stated.

ARMENIAN PRAPORSHCHIK KILLED IN A VIOLATED CEASEFIRE
Panorama.am
16:38 25/09/06
Violation of cease-fire by Azerbaijan was reported on Saturday
afternoon. Armenian defense ministry press services report that Garnik
Melyan, 42, was shot dead at Ijevan military unit. Melyan served at
the military unit as a praporshchik on contract basis.

CIS SECURITY SERVICES TO HOLD ANTITERROR EXERCISES IN ARMENIA
ITAR-TASS, Russia
Sept 25 2006
MOSCOW, September 25 (Itar-Tass) – Security services of the Collective
Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) countries will be held at the
Armenian nuclear power plant on September 26-29, the CIS Antiterrorist
Centre’s chief Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov said.
He told reporters on Monday that the Atom – Antiterror 2006
operative-strategic exercises would be a drill of planning and
conducting the search “to reveal and destroy sabotage groups that
infiltrated the territory of Armenia and seized a nuclear power plant
in the city of Metsamor”.
Workers of the Armenian National Security Service and the Russian
Federal Security Service’s Special Task Centre will act as “terrorists”
secretly moving in Armenia, Mylnikov said.
He said that antiterrorists divisions of CIS security services would
hold the exercises of this scale for the first time jointly with the
allied headquarters of the CSTO and Armenian army units that are a
part of the CSTO Collective Rapid Deployment Forces.
The Armenian National Security Service and antiterrorist units of the
FSB Special Task Centre will play a main role in the exercises. When
“terrorists” are spotted, the Armenian army’s motorised infantry
battalion of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in the
Trans-Caucasus and two companies of special forces will join the
action, Mylnikov said.
Representatives of G8 countries, the antiterrorist division of the
OSCE Secretariat, the counter-terrorist committee of the UN Security
Council, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation’s Regional Antiterrorist Structure have been invited to
the exercises in a capacity of observers.
“Azerbaijan has refused to participate in the exercises considering
the complex relations with Armenia because of a lack of settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,” Mylnikov said.

AZG Armenian Daily #181, 23/09/2006
Event
FAR CONGRESS IN YEREVAN
It has been 15 years now that the Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR) functions in Armenia. With its 18
thousand employees FAR today organizes new projects
and sets new goals. With a purpose to present and
discuss these projects and goals FAR yesterday
convened a meeting titled “Fund for Armenian Relief
Serving Fatherland and Armenians.” It was said that
thanks to its representatives in 56 settlements of
Armenia FAR manages to get first hand information
about problems and priorities all over the country and
to implement its projects. Thanks to Armenian and
foreign benefactors, from 1992 to date FAR has taken
care after 7418 orphans in 30 countries. It is planned
to carry out a project for orphaned students that
would help relieve their burden. Within the framework
of its project of kindergarten construction, FAR has
already built 14 kindergartens in Artsakh. The
activity of FAR optics is well-known: for many years
it has been providing glasses to socially vulnerable
people free of charge. FAR’s projects are versatile,
and deputy of the National Assembly, chairman of FAR’s
regional department, Alvard Petrosian, says the Fund’s
activities go in line with the challenges that Armenia
faces. In Armen Rustamaian’s words, chairman of
foreign relations committee at the parliament, the
most vital of the challenges is securing a safe place
for Armenia in a world that heads for globalization
meanwhile looking at the human values through the
national prism. FAR has demonstrated a good example of
the latter during the 96 years of its existence,
Rustamian said. In his greeting speech vice-speaker of
the National Assembly Vahan Hovhannisian highly
assessed FAR’s activities and its prospects.
By Nana Petrosian

INVESTIGATION OF ARMENIAN JET CRASH GOING ON
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.09.2006 13:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The investigation of the Armenian A-320 jet crash
has not been completed yet, Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chayka
told reporter in Yerevan today. “The investigation is not over yet
and a number of examinations are being carried out.
Presently an aerotechnical forensic examination is being conducted to
reveal possible faults of the aircraft, violations of rules by the
crew and flying control officers. Now we are awaiting the results
and then decide on those guilty,” he said.
For his part, Armenian Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan emphasized
that the case serves as example of close cooperation between the
prosecution offices of the two states. “After the criminal case was
initiated our investigators departed for the crash site and held
a number of examinations jointly with the Russian team,” he said,
reported newsarmenia.ru

AZG Armenian Daily #180, 21/09/2006
Culture
“GEGHARD” REPRESENTS ARMENIAN DANCE IN FESTIVAL IN
GREECE
On August 21-28, the Ninth International Dance
Festival took place in Agrinion, Greece. Various folk
dance groups from dozens of countries arrive in Greece
every summer to participate in the festival. Agrinion
becomes a capital of culture where representatives of
different cultures have the chance to cooperate.
This year, dance groups from Armenia, Greece, Moldova,
Poland, Russia, Georgia, Italy, Czech Republic and
from other countries perform their folk dances at the
festival. Armenia is represented by “Geghard” folk
dance group at the festival. The dance group is well
known in Syria, Jordan, France, Egypt, Bulgaria, Iraq
and elsewhere. The dance group was established 25
years ago and managed to win many prizes and diplomas.
The Armenian dancers were perfectly prepared for the
festival and won the hearts of the foreign art lovers.
They performed “kochari,” “shalakho,” “shatakhin and
other Armenian dances at the festival.
Albert Kizirian, the founder and the leader of
“Geghard,” emphasized the importance of participating
in such festivals from the viewpoints of cultural
cooperation and the international recognition of the
Armenian culture.
By Gayane Khachatrian