Author: Karakhanian Suren

Russia’s Putin sends New Year greetings to CIS leaders
ITAR-TASS news agency
30 Dec 04
Moscow, 30 December: Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent New
Year greetings to foreign leaders, the Russian presidential press
service announced today.
The greeting to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev says that “during
the outgoing year a firm basis was laid for further strengthening
strategic partnership relations between Russia and Azerbaijan and for
developing the friendship between the peoples of our countries”.
The message to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan points, amongst
other things, to “fruitful work on many levels in the outgoing year on
further developing Russo-Armenian relations, which are based upon
friendship over many centuries and strategic partnership between our
countries, and confidence was also expressed “in strengthening our
close cooperation in the year ahead”.
Congratulating Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Vladimir Putin
stressed that “the planned steps in the sphere of integration and
building a union will undoubtedly help to form bilateral cooperation
of a new quality and to ensure the social and economic development of
Russia and Belarus”.
Addressing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, the Russian head of
state expressed his conviction that “the traditions of many centuries
of friendship and good neighbourliness between our peoples are a
reliable guarantee that Russo-Georgian relations will develop on the
basis of mutual respect, trust and aspiration towards fruitful
cooperation”.
The message to Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, points
out with satisfaction that “2004 was a successful year for relations
between Russia and Kazakhstan”, and the certainty is voiced that “the
traditional bonds of friendship, good-neighbourly relations and
alliance will continue to develop for the well-being of the peoples of
Russia and Kazakhstan”.
The greetings to Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev value highly the
results of the cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan in the
outgoing year. The Russian president voiced his conviction that
“Russo-Kyrgyz relations of alliance and strategic partnership will be
further developed for the well-being of our people, in the interests
of strengthening stability and security in the Central Asian region”.
Congratulating Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, the Russian
president expressed his conviction that “the development of bilateral
relations on the basis of mutual respect, trust and the mutual
aspiration towards effective cooperation on many levels meets the
long-term goals of Russia and Moldova” and he also expressed the hope
that Russo-Moldovan ties would gather pace in a positive way.
Addressing Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov, the Russian president
commented that “the outgoing year was a significant one for the
further deepening of the traditionally friendly Russo-Tajik
relations”. Putin expressed the conviction that “the consistent
implementation of the provisions of the bilateral documents signed in
Dushanbe in October 2004 will work for the good of the peoples of our
countries and in the interests of ensuring stability and security in
the Central Asian region”.
The congratulations to Turkmen President Saparmyrat Nyyazow voice
certainly that there will be “further all-round development of
Russo-Turkmen relations based upon the firm traditions of friendship
and mutual cooperation”.
Addressing Uzbek President Islom Karimov, Vladimir Putin pointed to
“considerable progress in developing Russo-Uzbek cooperation in all
areas in 2004″, an important landmark of which was the signing of the
Strategic Partnership Treaty. The Russian president voiced his
conviction that ” purposeful joint efforts will be crowned with fresh
successes in strengthening bilateral relations for the good of the
peoples of Russia and Uzbekistan, in the interests of peace and
stability in Central Asia”.
The message to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma expresses the
conviction that cooperation between Russia and Ukraine “will continue
to develop actively in the spirit of strategic partnership and on the
principles of mutual trust and respect, which fully reflects the
aspiration of the citizens of our states to live in friendship and
harmony”

LOUISE SIMON-MANOUGIAN’S VISIT TO STEPANAKERT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
29 Dec 04
On December 24 American Armenian benefactor Louise Simon-Manougian
arrived in Stepanakert. The aim of her visit is to see what works have
been done on the means donated to Artsakh by her. Accompanied by
President Arkady Ghukassian, Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian and
other officials Louise Simon-Manougian and her daughter Christine
visited several building sites, as well as the chess school, the
11-storey block of flats provided to the families of killed
azatamartiks, the old people’s home, several shops and other
publicplaces in the city. Louise Simon-Manougian was interested in
everything: conditions of life, the amount of shop customers,
technical problems of the new building of the school N 7, problems of
comfort and design. `The keen attention of Louise Simon-Manougian
towards Karabakh is natural,’ mentioned Arkady Ghukassian in the
end. `The fact that Louise Simon Manougian is here today is also
symbolic for both her and us.’ In reference to the new programs of the
benefactor, Arkady Ghukassian said, `You know that this year Louise
Simon-Manougian sponsors the building of a school. During the telethon
she donated 2 million dollars. Asthe programs financed by her have not
been completed yet, it is still early to speak about new programs.’
SUSANNA BALAYAN.
29-12-2004

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
29 décembre 2004
Le génocide arménien
« Le débat est engagé en France sur l’entrée de la Turquie dans
l’Union européenne. Les Français sont majoritairement contre pour
diverses raisons : limites géographiques, droits de l’homme,
importance démographique, religion, annexion du Nord de Chypre, etc.
« Mais il est un événement historique que peu de gens abordent, alors
qu’il devrait être un argument essentiel pour la décision finale. Il
s’agit du génocide des Arméniens en 1915. En effet, 1.500.000
Arméniens ont été massacrés en 1915 par les Turcs, ce qui a provoqué
une immigration vers l’Europe de l’Ouest des rescapés de cette
extermination massive.
« Les immigrés arméniens et leurs descendants, soutenus par quelques
parlementaires, demandent simplement à la Turquie de reconnaître ce
génocide et de faire amende honorable. Cet engagement devrait être
une condition sine qua non à l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Europe,
comme le stipule une résolution du Parlement européen du 18 juin
1987, réaffirmée le 1er avril 2003.
« Mais le gouvernement turc est loin de reconnaître ces faits et
encore moins de faire profil bas face aux descendants des rescapés de
ce terrible drame.
« En effet, l’article 306 du nouveau code pénal turc, voté le 26
septembre 2004, stipule que tout Turc qui affirme qu’il y a eu un
génocide arménien est passible de dix ans d’emprisonnement. De plus,
on enseigne officiellement dans les écoles le déni du génocide
arménien (circulaire du ministère turc de l’Éducation nationale du 14
avril 2003).
« Comment ouvrir les portes de l’Europe à un pays qui renie son
histoire ? »
Je m’appelle trottoir
« J’ai été créé pour permettre aux piétons de marcher en toute
sécurité. Eh bien non ! Voilà que nos bons vieux trottoirs sont
envahis par les voitures, obligeant les mamans et leurs enfants, les
personnes gées et handicapées à marcher sur la voie publique avec le
risque de se faire renverser par des chauffeurs pressés. Pourtant, il
existe des parkings, mais ils sont peut-être un peu loin des
commerces !
« La marche n’a jamais fait de mal à personne, bien au contraire. Il
serait grand temps que nos responsables prennent des mesures afin de
pousser les gens à être un peu plus civilisés. »

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
December 28, 2004 Tuesday 1:50 PM Eastern Time
Georgia to have non-stop electricity supply on New Year holidays
By Eka Mekhuzla
`
TBILISI
The electricity supply will be non-stop throughout Georgia on
December 29 – January 3, Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said on
Tuesday.
He said they would be generating electricity at all the Georgian
power plants, many of which had been repaired. After the New Year
holidays the electricity supply will keep to the previous schedule
that depends on local payments for electricity, the minister said.
As for reasons for the energy crisis, Gilauri blamed “incompetence of
former energy ministers, corruption and ruin of the energy industry
for the past 12 years.” “The national energy industry was under
methodical destruction for the past 12 years, and it is impossible to
change things for the better within several months no matter how hard
we try,” he said.
Georgia receives about 20% of electricity it consumes in winter from
Russia, and another 5% comes from Armenia. The energy crisis in
Georgia began in 1992. In winter cities have eight to twelve hours of
electricity supply a day, while villages have two or four hours of
electricity supply a day.

MaxBoxing
Dec 28 2004
Simonyan Fighting for A Title, and So Much More
By Thomas Gerbasi (December 28, 2004)

Motivation comes in a number of different forms. For some in the
fight game, it’s money; for others, it’s the chance to make history
or to be able to put a world championship belt in their trophy case.
For junior featherweight contender Artyom Simonyan, who challenges
for his first world title tonight against IBF champion Israel Vazquez
at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, California, his
motivation can be found in the picture he carries with him wherever
he goes.
It’s his four-year-old daughter, and while that isn’t the greatest
surprise in the world, as most fathers carry their children’s
pictures around with them, in the case of the 29-year-old Simonyan,
it’s the closest he’s ever come to his only child, who was born after
he left Armenia for California in 2000.
`It’s very tough,’ said Simonyan’s manager Harry Kazandjian. `He
carries his daughter’s picture with him all the time, they talk on
the phone and he watches her videotapes that they send him from
Armenia. It’s tough, that’s why I say I think whatever it takes, he
will do it to win this title, so hopefully after the fight he can go
visit his family.’
It’s what keeps Simonyan in the gym constantly, working hard and
honing his craft, hoping that not only skill, but sweat will push him
through the tough times against the veteran Vazquez, who while two
years younger, dwarfs the challenger in professional experience, with
39 fights to Simonyan’s 15.
Yet since a 2002 stoppage of then-once beaten Radford Beasley,
Simonyan has shown that he has what it takes to compete at the higher
levels of the sport. Three victories followed the Beasley fight, over
quality foes Ablorh Sowah (TKO 6), Carlos Contreras (W12), and Fahsan
3K-Battery Por Thawatchai (W12), and coupled with Simonyan’s past
sparring sessions with the likes of Vazquez and Manny Pacquiao,
Kazandjian is confident that his charge will take care of business
against the champion tonight, even if the two combatants are friendly
outside the ropes.
`He knows that this is a world championship fight, this is a war,’
said Kazandjian. `There is no friendship and he knows that he has
been here four and a half years, he hasn’t seen his family, his wife,
and his daughter. He knows how important this fight is. There’s no
friendship; this is a war.’
If Simonyan can pull off the upset, he will become the second world
champion from Armenia to be crowned this month, joining buddy Vic
Darchinyan, who stopped previously unbeaten Irene Pacheco in 11
rounds on December 16 to win the IBF flyweight title. With
Darchinyan, Simonyan, featherweight contender William Abelyan and
2004 US Olympian Vanes Martirosyan (who was born in Armenia) all
making noise in the boxing world, are we witnessing the birth of a
new breed of world-class Armenian fighters?
`With the situation now between the countries, they have a chance to
get out and expose their talents,’ said Kazandjian. `The Darchinyan
kid, he and Art were in the same league and Art was the number one
pick to go to the Olympics at his weight, and Vic actually did go to
the Olympics, to Sydney. And he ended up staying over there. But they
know each other, they’re very close friends. They were talking on the
phone before and after Vic’s fight. I think it’s a lot easier to get
out of Armenia now to visit the United States, so they’re all trying
to take a shot, to come here and expose their talent. There are a lot
of talented fighters in Armenia.’
Simonyan, a highly touted amateur who compiled a 195-20 record
including three national championships, didn’t make the trip to
Sydney because of political issues, according to Kazandjian, but he
did make the trip to Glendale, California in 2000 to chase his boxing
dreams. Luckily, Glendale has a huge Armenian population of 350,000,
making his adjustment to the States a little easier, though there
still were the expected rough spots.
`Getting adjusted to the lifestyle here in the United States, which
is totally different from Armenia (was the biggest challenge),’ said
Kazandjian. `But he got adjusted very fast, which helped him in his
boxing career. He even adapted very fast from the amateur to the
professional style. But no matter how much he likes to be here, he
always misses his family.’
Yet Simonyan is here on business, which is what he told his manager
upon setting foot in sunny California. `When he got here he said he
wanted to become world champion,’ said Kazandjian.
He’s got his chance tonight, to take all the years of toil and
frustration of being away from home and put them into 12 rounds of
boxing that he hopes will unseat Israel Vazquez as champion. It’s a
tough life, but one which Artyom Simonyan has accepted.
`It is what it is, and there’s no going backwards right now,’ said
Kazandjian. `We’re right at the end, and he just has to do the best
he can, hopefully win the title, and then he can visit his country as
a world champion.’
And finally meet the little girl he’s only seen in pictures.

CENN – DECEMBER 24, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. SOCAR Thinks Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline May be 11 % Over Budget
2. BP, TNK-BP Discuss Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipe
3. Detained Poacher has Wounded Employee of Ministry of Ecology and
Natural Resources
4. Ceremony Marks Opening of Aerial Tramway at Tsakhkadzor Resort
5. Iranian gas pipeline to ensure diverse energy sources for Armenia
6. Unluckiest Village in Armenia
7. Armenia Eligible to Receive Loan from OPEC Fund for International
Development
8. UNECE seminar of the Working Group on IWRM of the Water Convention
9. USA Ambassador in Azerbaijan Mr. Reno Harnish Expressed Concern About
the Events Taken Place in Azerbaijani advocacy
1. SOCAR THINKS BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PIPELINE MAY BE 11 % OVER BUDGET
Source: EINnews, December 23, 2004
The cost of building the nearly completed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil export
pipeline could hit $ 4 bn, SOCAR said, just days after Azerbaijan’s
state oil company downplayed the extend of cost overruns. The pipeline
was originally budgeted to cost $ 3.6 bn.
“Total expenses may increase by $ 350 mm-$ 450 mm,” SOCAR General
Director Natik Aliyev said. “We’ve reached the conclusion that costs may
reach $ 4 bn.” Aliyev said the pipeline could exceed its budget by 5 %
to 7 %. Costs of $ 4 bn represent an 11 % increase.
One reason for the increase is the rising price of oil. After a pipeline
is built, the operator must fill it with the requisite minimum amount of
oil that’s to be in the pipeline at all times. BP, which leads the
consortium of companies that own the pipeline, originally estimated that
it would have to spend $ 40 a barrel on this so-called technical crude,
Aliyev said.
Pipeline shareholders plan to buy 10 mm barrel of oil from the nearby
Azer-Chirac-Guneshli project to fill the pipeline in the first stage.
“But now it’s impossible to tell what the price will be in January or
February of next year,” he added. “It could be $ 60 a barrel, or it
could fall.”
Rising global demand and political instability in the Middle East have
caused prices to rise to as high as $ 55 a barrel in the past several
months. Other reasons behind the cost overruns include responding to
protests by nongovernmental organizations, a temporary work stoppage in
Georgia, a rise in the costs of transporting pipes from Japan and an
increase in the price of those pipes.
The falling dollar also played a role, Aliyev said.
“Most of the equipment was procured in Europe, and its
dollar-denominated price rose” with the falling dollar, he said.
Apart from BP, SOCAR, ENI, Itochu, Unocal, Statoil, ConocoPhillips and
Total are shareholders in the project.
2 BP, TNK-BP DISCUSS BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PIPE
Source: Interfax, December 21, 2004
British Petroleum and TNK-BP are discussing the possibility of
transporting TNK-BP oil through the Baku- Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, BP
Azerbaijan President David Woodward said.
He said that they have not yet reached the stage of discussing volumes
and transport schedules and that they are only discussing transport
options and possibilities.
He said that one potential option for transporting Russian oil through
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline might be to reverse the Baku-
Novorossiisk pipeline to Baku. David Woodward also said that it is
possible to supply oil by sea from Astrakhan to Baku, for further
transportation through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
3 DETAINED POACHER HAS WOUNDED EMPLOYEE OF MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag,
December 22, 2004
During a raid aimed at revealing of the illegal facts of hunting, which
was held by the 2nd Territorial Department of the Ministry of Ecology
and Natural Resources in territory of Duyarli village of Shamkir region
was detained by poaching the resident of region Samir Ismailov.
As informed correspondent AzerTAj from the press-service of the
Ministry, the poacher who has not obeyed requirements of ecologists, has
opened fire and wound the employee of department Elmar Aliyev. The case
investigated by the Office of Public Prosecutor Shamkir region.
4 CEREMONY MARKS OPENING OF AERIAL TRAMWAY AT TSAKHKADZOR RESORT
Source: President.am, December, 2004
President Robert Kocharian participated in the opening ceremony of the
newly renovated aerial tramway at the Tsakhkadzor resort.
Kocharian hailed the completion, adding that the last section of the
tramway would be ready by next year, meeting all international
standards. “The new aerial tramway is built on a higher level than
Tsakhkadzor’s entire infrastructure. We should encourage businesses and
investors to build new hotels here, introduce services and leisure
places to make Tsakhkadzor a true tourist attraction. Only in that case
can we claim that we reached our goal,” Kocharian stressed.
The 2500 meters long aerial tramway has been renovated by a prominent
Swiss company specializing in assembling aerial tramways and other
construction works. The Tsakhkadzor resort is on the eastern slope of
Mount Teghenis and is famous for its numerous lodges and sport
facilities
5 IRANIAN GAS PIPELINE TO ENSURE DIVERSE ENERGY SOURCES FOR ARMENIA
Source: Mediamax news agency, December 22, 2004
Yerevan, December 22, 2004: The possible transit of gas by the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is “an issue of the future”, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today.
Oskanyan told a press conference at the National Press Club that the
main goal in the construction of the gas pipeline is to have diverse
energy sources for Armenia.
Asked if Russia could interfere in this issue, Oskanyan said “Armenia is
always taking into account the interests of the neighbouring countries,
but is acting, first of all, in line with its own interests”.
Commenting on a project to construct a railway between Iran and Armenia,
Oskanyan said the project requires large funds. However, he said as the
trade between Armenia and Iran is growing day by day, there is a need
for a railway between the two countries.
“This issue needs to be discussed and analysed seriously,” Oskanyan
said.
6 UNLUCKIEST VILLAGE IN ARMENIA
Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting, December 22, 2004
The New Year will not be a cheerful one in Vanand. Outside it may be the
21st century, but the villagers will be celebrating the arrival of 2005
as they have done for centuries – in the dark without electricity, gas
or running water.
Vanand is located in the Armavir district of western Armenia right on
the border with Turkey. It has a population of 500, with the same number
having left over the past decade, mainly for Russia.
Like nowhere else, this place feels the impact of the seasons, being
very hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter. In cold weather they use
whatever comes to hand to heat their houses, mainly timber and dry dung.
Winter can be easier than summer. Karine Hakopian, a mother of three,
said, “Maybe nature will take pity on us and we will get a snowy winter.
Then we can melt the snow and there will be water for us and our
animals.”
Drinking water is worth more than gold here. Ohanes Margarian, a
40-year-old villager, told IWPR that water is brought into the village
once or twice a week in churns. “We can’t even drink an extra cup of
coffee, let alone have a hot meal,” he said. “Because of lack of water
we often have to eat dried food. I believe that the local authorities
are to blame that we live in such primitive conditions. They couldn’t
care less about us. This is a border village and they can’t be bothered
with it.”
That makes the hot season especially hard. Javan Manukian, the head of
the community, said that last summer they had been given irrigation
water on just three occasions, even though temperatures at that time of
year in the Ararat valley, where Vanand is located, can rise to 50
degrees centigrade.
When the villagers asked the local authorities for help, they were told
they had to pay for the water. “And where can people get money from?”
Manukian asked. “There’s no work and no harvest. Take a look yourself,
all the trees in the peasants’ plots have withered. The peaches, apples
and grapes have gone because of the lack of water.
In 2003, the Armenian government adopted a programme on improving the
socio-economic condition of border villages with plans to provide them
with gas and water. Parandzem Karapetian, head of administration in the
Armavir mayor’s office, said, “We do what we can but our capacities are
limited.”
Meri Harutiunian, head of the Armenian government’s press office, said
that Vanand was on a list of border villages which were entitled to
government investment in a special programme due to begin next year. But
details of the plan are still sketchy.
The villagers say they have never had gas, but before independence in
1991 they at least did not have the mass unemployment they have now.
The bread factory worked properly and there were farms that employed
local people. Nowadays the bread factory works at five per cent of its
capacity and the farms are just memories.
A gas supply is just a distant dream. Shushan Sardarian, press secretary
of the gas company ArmRosgazprom, told IWPR, “Today we are laying gas
pipes in the towns and big villages of Armenia. Only when that is
completed can we begin to talk about gas supplies for outlying
villages.”
Karine Hakopian’s two school-age children, Arevik and Araik, go to
school ten kilometres away in the next village of Artamet on foot. If
the road is blocked by snow, they do not make it to school at all.
And even when they get there, it is hard to call it a school at all. It
is a collection of railway carriages, each holding a class, some with as
little as two pupils.
Some children in Vanand and Artamet do not go to school at all because
their parents can’t afford to clothe them. “My son hasn’t been going to
school since September,” said Ripsime Danielian. “My husband recently
went to work in Russia and he can’t help us at the moment. And the boy
is ashamed of going in old clothes. Never mind, he can help me round the
house for the time being and next year if things get better in our
family he can start his studies again.”
The Danielian family is, like most households in this village, headed by
the mother because the father is away in Russia, sending home occasional
remittances.
They get electricity once a day and sometimes less than that. “We’re
used to it,” said Ripsime. “We use wood-burning stoves. Though wood
costs money too, it’s hard for us to get it. Some people get help from
relatives, others get by somehow. We pass the long winter evenings by
kerosene lamps. It’s not so bad for us adults but I feel sorry for the
children who have to live in the dark. I don’t know who should answer
for the way we live in the Stone Age.”
Despite all the hardships of living in Vanand, IWPR found that people
are still planning to stay here. “Those who wanted to leave have already
done so. As for me, I’m not going anywhere,” said Seiran Muradian.
“A few times people have given my family the chance to move to the town
and offered them help with moving and finding a flat. But I can’t leave
the land where my ancestors are buried. And after all our village is
right on the border with Turkey. It’s like a wall and we are the
defenders of our country.”
“Our young men went off to war from here,” said a young woman named
Srbui. “Many of them didn’t come back. We put up memorials to them.
We are poor but at least the cemetery is well looked after. I love my
village and my neighbours and I hope that life will sort itself out
here. There ought to be a party one day on our street too.”
7 ARMENIA ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE LOAN FROM OPEC FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Source: ArmenPress, December 22, 2004
United Arab Emirates-chaired OPEC Fund for International Development
announced December 21 it approved loans worth a total of USD
157.4million at a recent board of governors meeting in the Fund’s Vienna
offices.
Jamal Nasser Lutah, the board’s chairman and assistant undersecretary of
Industry at the UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry (MOFI), unveiled
the details of the loans. He said: ‘The board has approved 17 loans
totaling $157.4 million to offer credit finance for projects in Angola,
Armenia, Bosnia, Congo, Jordan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.”
The loans are for as long as 20 years. The first five years offer a
grace period and the interest payable varies from 1 per cent to 1.75 per
cent.’
The announcement did not say how much Armenia is expected to get. The
Armenian finance and economy ministry said it did not discuss yet how
the loan could be used.
The OPEC Fund for International Development was established in January
1976 by the member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC). The Fund was established to support
low-income countries in their efforts to make economic and social
progress. It aims to promote cooperation between member countries of
OEPC and other developing nations.
8 UNECE SEMINAR OF THE WORKING GROUP ON IWRM OF THE WATER CONVENTION
Dear Friends,
At the UNECE seminar on ecosystems as water suppliers (13-14 December
2004 in
Geneva)(),
the annexed draft decision on Integrated Management of Water Resources
for the 23rd session of the Governing Council of UNEP (Nairobi, Kenya,
21-25 February 2005) was given to the Swiss delegation for consideration
by the Mexican delegation.
Given the importance of water-related ecosystems for water management
that was demonstrated during the seminar Switzerland proposed to
distribute the draft decision to all of us, participants of this seminar
and the meeting Working Group on IWRM of the Water Convention that took
place on 15 December 2004.
As participant of mentioned seminars I just received e-mail from Sibylle
Vermont, Head of mentioned working group for comments to attached draft
documents.
If you are interested in providing comments you can send them to me. I
will collect them and send them to her.
They need your support on this decision. Our region has a lot of
experience on the relation of ecosystems and water. It is time now to
promote it to other regions and stimulate further work on the topic.
My personal opinion regarding to this document is positive and in order
to corporate it with the Statement of UNEP which is sent to you by me
two days ago I would suggest to add following comments:
– Importance for UNEP to work on the implementation of JPOI and EU water
– initiative and support:
– Development of IWRM plans in all countries;
– Actively support and promote involvment of civil society in this
process
You cal also add comments on transboundary(national level) issues like:
Support and promotion of upstream and downstream level data exchange,
dialoge and activity coordination;
Best regards and I wish you all Happy New Year!
Rafig Verdiyev,
ECORES
E- mail: [email protected]
9 USA AMBASSADOR IN AZERBAIJAN MR. RENO HARNISH EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT
THE EVENTS TAKEN PLACE IN AZERBAIJANI ADVOCACY
Dear Colleagues,
Please find the statement of USA Embassy in Azerbaijan concerning the
establishment of advocacy in Azerbaijan.
Statement of USA Embassy in Azerbaijan:
Ambassador in Azerbaijan Mr.doc
Intigam Aliyev,
Co-chairman of Azerbaijan Lawyers’ Forum
Tel.:(994 12) 498-81-75, 498-94-80
Mob.: (994 50) 204-70-10
Email: [email protected]
Address: 199 Shamil Azizbeyov str, Apt. 7
AZ 1010, Baku, Azerbaijan
—
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CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
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ABDULLAH GUL CONSIDERS THAT ISSUES OF OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH
BORDER AND RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE NOT INCLUDED IN EU CRITERIA
YEREVAN, December 17 (Noyan Tapan). The issues of opening of
Armenian-Turkish border and recognition of Armenian Genocide aren’t
included in the EU criteria. Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister of Turkey,
declared this answering the question of the Yerkir-Media Armenian
TV company. According to the Regnum agency, Gul declared to the TV
company: “These issues are absolutely different. We’ll speak about
these issues separately but they aren’t within the framework of EU.”
Answering the question, when Turkey considers it possible to open the
Armenian-Turkish border, Gul said: “Our region needs development of
cooperation and neighbourly relations. That’s why we attach importance
to settlement of the problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” He
expressed hope that “the issue will be solved in peace and will be
closed for ever.” The closure of the issue, according to him, means
“formation of a new atmosphere in the region.”
Gul even made it clear that besides Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora
should also bear the responsibility for the Armenian-Turkish relations:
“I think it is doing wrong complicating Armenia’s business. Turkey is
the most important and largest country of the region, it’s large both
in the respect of number of its population and economic power. So,
we want not only our country but the whole region, including Armenia,
to develop, and peace and security to be established in the whole
region. It’s no use instigating hostility, renewing the issues,
in which the historians should be engaged, and attaching topicality
to these issues. I am sure that the Diaspora also has an important
obligation in this issue.”

Armenia urges EU summit to consider Turkey accession demands
Mediamax news agency
17 Dec 04
Yerevan, 17 December: Armenia “welcomes the decision of the European
Parliament calling on the European Commission and the European Union
(EU) to demand that the Turkish authorities recognize the historical
fact of the genocide of Armenians and immediately open its border
with Armenia,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement
circulated in the evening of 16 December in Yerevan.
“Turkey’s EU membership can be beneficial for Armenia and have a
positive impact on the region, if Ankara entirely complies with all
EU demands,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry statement says.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry recalled that Turkey was unilaterally
keeping its border with Armenia closed, had introduced criminal
responsibility for the use of the term “genocide” and was also putting
forward unacceptable preliminary conditions for the normalization of
relations with Armenia.
“Judging by the European Parliament’s decision, the European community
shares Armenia’s concern over the current unacceptable state of
Armenian-Turkish relations,” the statement says. “With all of its
uncertainty this situation is a serious danger for the development
of the South Caucasus as well as European prospects,” the Armenian
Foreign Ministry statement says.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry also said it wished for “the EU summit
to take into account with all seriousness and responsibility the call
of the European Parliament”. Yerevan “is convinced that if Turkey
listens to the calls of the European community, this will make it
easier to overcome all obstacles and ensure lasting stability and
the development of the region”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

16 SLOVAK MPS TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTING AT EU ASSEMBLY
Azg/arm
17 Dec 04
Recently the Republic of Slovakia officially recognized the Armenian
Genocide. Ashot Grigorian, our compatriot, businessman, head of
the Armenian community of Bratislava, greatly contributed to the
achievement of this recognition. “A wide-raging movement is unfolded
for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Slovakia. This movement
is well highlighted in the local press and mass media. The movement
is directed against Turkeyâ~@~Ys denial of the Armenian Genocide”,
Mr. Grigorian said in a telephone interview to Azg Daily.
16 Slovak MPs will participate in the voting at the EU Assembly in
Brussels today. Ashot Grigorian promised to keep us well informed
about the details of further events.
By Hamo Moskofian
–Boundary_(ID_M3iucBqs8UporzB+ZxGR7A)–

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH CAREFUL ATTITUDE
OF RF AUTHORITIES TO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
ETCHMIADZIN, December 16, (Noyan Tapan). On December 15, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received
Mr. Boris Grislov, President of the State Duma (Parliament) of the
Russian Federation.
His Holiness welcomed the honored guest to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and reflected on the increasing cooperation between
Armenia and Russia in economic and cultural spheres. Thanking His
Holiness for the audience, Mr. Grislov informed the Catholicos of
the details of his recent visit to Armenia and the agreements which
were made between the two governments.
His Holiness and Mr. Grislov also spoke of the close ties that exist
between the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox Churches. Offering
his best wishes to the President of the Duma, the Catholicos of All
Armenians extended his appreciation to the Russian authorities for
their care and attention to the Armenian community in Russia.
Present for the meeting were His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrossian,
Director of Inter-Church Relations for the Mother See; Mher
Shahnazarian, president of the standing committee for defense,
national security and internal affairs for the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia; and Anatoly Dryukov, Ambassador of the
Russian Federation to Armenia.