Author: Maghakian Mike

IRAN, ARMENIA TO WORK ON JOINT RAILWAY PROJECT
Persian Journal, Iran
Sept 29 2005
Sep 28, 2005
The official in charge of the Public Relations Department of Armenia’s
Ministry of Transport, Arthur Sarkisian, said on Wednesday that the new
government in his country will examine a new project on Armenia-Iran
railway track.
Speaking at the joint meeting of the “UN Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and Pacific Affairs” and “Russia’s Railway Company”, he
added that the new railway line will connect Armenia to Iran without
passing through Turkey and Azerbaijan.
He noted that at present the technical and economic dimensions of the
project are being assessed and that the prospect of connecting it to
the railways of Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia is likely to be examined.
Turning to Armenia’s geopolitical position, he said that given his
country is situated at the intersection of North-South and East-West
corridors, its transport facilities can help develop these corridors.
Referring to Armenia’s political discord with Azerbaijan and
Turkey, Sarkisian noted that using such facilities will cause many
difficulties.
The railway connection from Armenia to Azerbaijan has practically been
disrupted since disintegration of the ex-Soviet Union in early 1990s.
Meanwhile, Iran-Armenia railway connection has also been disrupted on
account of breakout of relations between Armenia and the Autonomous
Republic of Nakhichevan.

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
(CENN)
Weekly Digest
September 28, 2005
NEWS FROM GEORGIA
Georgia: First Poverty Reduction Support Operation
Source: Ein News, September 15, 2005
The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of
Executive Directors:
IDA Credit amount: US$13.5 million
Terms: Grace period =3D 10 years; Maturity =3D 40 years
Grant amount: $6.5 million
Project description:
<; more Ten Years Left on MDGs, Poverty Still a Concern Source: The Messenger, September 19, 2005 Five years after signing the Millennium Development Goals, Georgia has accomplished little progress against poverty, the senior UN development official in Georgia said on Friday. <; more MCG Establishes Consultant Committee Source: "24 Saati" (""24 Hours), September 20, 2005 The consultant committee of Millennium Challenges Georgia (MCG) will be created until the end of month. Committee will be the tool for the representatives of private sector, non-governmental organizations, local and regional government to express and submit their recommendations on the implementation of MCG projects. <; more Agricultural lands' privatization begins Source: the Messenger, September 21, 2005 The government is preparing for yet another massive privatization initiative. The sale of the majority of agricultural lands remaining in state possession will begin from October 2005, bringing to the budget an estimated GEL 80 million in revenues. <; more World Bank sets Georgia strategy for 2006-2009 Source: The Messenger, September 21, 2005 In Tbilisi on September 18, the government of Georgia and the World Bank signed a financing agreement for the country's first Poverty Reduction Support Operation (PRSO) provided for in the new World Bank strategy for Georgia. <; more Cracks revealed in BTC oil pipeline Source: UPI Energy Correspondent: By Andrea R. Mihailescu, Published September 21, 2005 One of the most expensive pipeline systems in the world, the $3.6 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, will fill its first tanker in less than two months and the pipeline is already showing cracks, but Georgian officials assert they pose no ecological threat. <; more The Unique Forests of Borjomi are under the Danger of Extinction Source: "Sakartvelos Respublika" ("Georgian Republic"), September 21, 2005 As NGOs declared due the influence of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in Borjomi forests the fir-tree groves are withering. <; more NEWS FROM Azerbaijan Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have solved almost every question on inter governmental agreement on BTC Source: Our Century, September 25, 2005 "Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have completed discussion of almost all questions related to intergovernmental agreement required to fill in the Baku -Tbilisi -Ceyhan oil pipeline with the Kazakhstan oil. This meeting was held <; more BTC WORKING GROUP HOLDS SITTING Source: AzerTag, September 26, 2005 A regular sitting of the inter-governmental working group formed in connection with Kazakhstan's joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main oil pipeline / BTC MEP/ took place in Almaaty. A delegation of Azerbaijan <; more "SHAHDENIZ" PROJECT ACTIVITIES PROGRESSING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE Source: AzerTag, September 26, 2005 The construction works for the "Shahdeniz" project are 55 percent complete. The works are progressing 6 percent ahead of schedule. With four production wells drilled in the field one more test hole is to be drilled. The platform will include <; more News From Armenia COMSUP COMMODITIES PLEDGES 21 MILLION DRAMS TO MUNICIPALITY Source: ARMENPRESS, September 19, 2005 The owners of a copper and molybdenum plant in the southern Armenian Agarak, near the border with Iran, have pledged to release 21 million Armenian drams <; more UNICEF's PARTNERSHIP WITH MILLENNIUM ARMENIAN CHILDREN'S VACCINATION FUND HELPS SAVE CHILDREN'S LIVES Source: ARMENPRESS, September 19, 2005 Partnering with Armenian Diaspora organizations such as the Millennium Armenian Children's Vaccination Fund (MACVF) is crucial for successful implementation of programs benefiting children, UNICEF said today, speaking of the importance of the vaccination program in Armenia. <; more ARMENIA'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN Source: Pan Armenian News, September 20, 2005 Growth of Productivity and Competitive Ability: Strategy of Sustainable Development of Armenia forum, organized by Armenia 2020, opened in Yerevan today. During the opening ceremony Armenian President's Advisor for Economic Issues Vahram Nersisyan read R. Kocharian's message to the forum participants. <; more OSCE TO SUPPORT ARMENIA IN ECOLOGY INITIATIVES Source: ARMINFO News Agency, September 23, 2005 "We and our Planet" educational and environmental program was presented today at the Yerevan Museum of Armenia's Nature. The program has been initiated and implemented by "Khazer" environmental and cultural NGO with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Aarhus Center. <; more International News EPA and LDEQ Report Potential Health Risks from Sediments Source: Environmental Protection Agency, September 16, 2005 (9/16/05) Eighteen sediment samples from across the New Orleans area were collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) on September 10, 2005 and analyzed for bacteria and chemicals. <; more ENVIRONMENT: Pollution Takes a Backseat in Congo Source: Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS): by Anjan Sundaram, September 17, 2005 Yellow flames from oil rigs light up the night sky, helping Richard Vuadi guides his boat as he sets out to cast his nets along the Democratic Republic of Congo's coast. Oil rigs that dot the horizon have polluted the water, so much that fishermen say they pose health risks. <; more MIDWEST BLAZES ENERGY EFFICIENCY TRAIL: 2ND ANNUAL INSPIRING EFFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED Source: World Wire, September 19, 2005 The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) announced its 2005 winners of the Inspiring Efficiency Awards. These awards recognize innovators for their dedicated work in developing and applying energy efficient technologies, programs and policy initiatives. <; more A Global Strategy for Protecting Health & the Environment from Chemicals Risks Source: UNEP Press Release, 19 September, 2005 Representatives of the world's governments, intergovernmental organizations and other stakeholder groups are meeting here this week to finalize arrangements for the launch of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). <; more EU to Re-Launch Air Quality Initiative with Changes Source: Planet Ark, September 21, 2005 Brussels - The European Commission will re-launch a package of measures on Wednesday aimed at improving air quality after cutting anticipated annual costs by about 5 billion euros ($6.08 billion), according to EU officials. <; more ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY Source: Environmental Investigation Agency Press Release, September 21, 2005 Environmentalists Call on European Countries to Stop Producing Ozone-Destroying Chemicals as Ozone Hole Approaches Record Size <; more EU Tackles Air Pollution in Multi-Billion Euro Plan Source: Planet Ark, September 22, 2005 Brussels - Wide-ranging proposals to clean up Europe's polluted air won approval from the European Commission on Wednesday after a debate over the package's multi-billion euro price tag threatened to scupper it. <; more Seminars, conference and meetings International Symposium - Yerevan, Armenia Source: <; NGOC, September 14, 2005 Location - American University of Armenia (AUA) Armenia Marriott Hotel Dates & Time Monday, October 10, 2005, 14:00 to 19:30 Tuesday, October 11, 2005, 15:00 to 19:30 Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 15:00 to 19:30 Thursday, October 13, 2005, 9:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 21:00 <; more Announcement Explore Georgia with Caucasus Travel - Mtiuleti and Khevi Provinces Source: The Messenger, September 16, 2005 We will experience the Mtiuleti and Khevi Provinces, situated on the slopes of the Caucasus mountain range: =07 Have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery on horseback. Sheep, well protected by brave Caucasian sheep dogs, may interrupt your voyage. =07 Try the local dish Khinkali - boiled minced meat in dough. =07 Spend a nice evening in the quite cozy atmosphere of the Panotama Hotel. <; more INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR CONFERENCE Source: Mountain Forum - Global, September 21, 2005 International Mountain Corridor Conference will be held from 24 to 31 October 2005 Les Planes de Son, Spain (24-27) Vitoria, Spain (27-29) Cantabria, Spain (29-31) <; more Job Announcements The USAID funded Program for Institutional and Regulatory Strengthening of Water Management in Armenia started in October 2004 and is being carried out by PA Government Services Inc. The anticipated completion date of the Program is 2008. The Program is designed to provide assistance to the development of the National Water Program, the improvement of the legal framework of the water sector, and the strengthening of selected agencies with responsibilities in water management. Because of broadening and deepening of our activities, the following specialists will strengthen our team: 1. A communication/training specialist; 2. A water resources monitoring specialist; 3. A groundwater monitoring specialist; 4. A river basin planner/IWRM specialist; 5. A database programmer. <; more Eurasia Foundation Vacancy Announcement Source: Georgian Office of the Eurasia Foundation, September 26, 2005 The Georgian Office of the Eurasia Foundation announces vacancy Title: PMDI Program Coordinator Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Program Coordinator is responsible for developing and managing the Pipeline Monitoring and Dialogue Initiative (PMDI). PMDI is a new Initiative implemented by Eurasia Foundation in cooperation with BP, UNDP, IFC for building capacity of Georgian NGOs in Monitoring Methods for Pipeline Construction & Operations. PMDI supports a series of activities aimed at developing monitoring skills amongst NGOs and their members, providing an effective channel for increased public dialogue related to pipeline-oriented issues. <; more Ecology and Economy in Harmony Source: The Messenger, September 26, 2005 We believe we can have a real, measurable and positive impact on the biodiversity of the world. If you are a non-governmental organization (NGO) or an environmental agency who thinks the same way, please read on:Building on last 3 years' success BP is pleased to announce the fourth Georgia Biodiversity Competition. The competition, which is a part of BP's Biodiversity Strategy in Georgia, support our commitment to undertaking a serious of species biodiversity initiative in the countries and areas where we operate. This year competition will conduct on 2 categories: 1. Biodiversity projects; 2. Biodiversity article and video materials. <; more ******************************************* ********************************* Subscribing Information CENN lists are created to maintain e-mail discussions of Caucasus Environmental NGO Network members. CENN has been distributing information since 1998. All the published digests and bulletins issued in both English and Russian languages present incredibly rich environmental information base that give the reader the whole picture of the environmental process taking place during the recent 5 years in the South Caucasus region as well as abroad. To subscribe or unsubscribe from CENN mailing list service, please send an email to [email protected] and place the “subscribe”
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Kurdish Info, Germany
Sept 23 2005
Human Rights says Turkey does not want to confront with her past

ISTANBUL (DIHA) – Istanbul Branch of Human Rights Association stated
that the postponement of the Armenian Conference to be held today in
Bogazici University shows how dependent is the jurisdiction. The
association indicated that there is no freedom of speech in Turkey
yet.
The association released a written statement about the decision of
the court postponing the conference entitled ‘The Armenian of Osmanli
in the falling period of the Empire’. The statement declared “This
decision assessed even by the PM Erdogan as ‘against to democracy’
has once more proved the effect of the military on the jurisdiction
which we said for many times before. The existing system does not
desire a discussion environment. It does not want Turkey to confront
with her past.”

A1+
| 18:20:57 | 23-09-2005 | Social |
THE DISASTER ZONE ELIMINATED?
The Lins Fund office «Disaster zone rehabilitation» ceased its activity.
This is accounted for by the fact that money from the fund will not be spent
on reconstruction works in that territory.
Nevertheless, the fact does not come to prove that Robert Kocharyan has kept
one of his pre-election promises – eliminate the «disaster zone» phenomenon.
Let us remind you that the Lins Fund has build 3700 houses in the disaster
zone.

Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, Yerevan, in Armenian
17 Sep 05 p 2
SEPARATIST MINISTER NEGATIVE ABOUT AZERI LEADERSHIP’S BELLICOSE
STATEMENTS
“I am sure that the world will recognize Nagornyy Karabakh”
An interview with the foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR], Arman Melikyan.
Asked about his attitude towards the International Crisis Group’s
report on Armenia, Arman Melikyan replied: “There are impartial and
sensible points in it, but there are also views that contradict our
position. At present, I would not like to talk about the details of
our approaches, but a certain policy can be noticed from the first
pages of the document.” Then, he added that the report is being
studied in detail and the attitude of the NKR Foreign Ministry
towards the report will be presented in a written form.
Journalists also wondered about the details of discussions on the
Karabakh issue at the sitting of the temporary commission of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The minister said:
“In fact, it is already noticeable that different international
organizations understand that without the NKR, it is difficult to
find a way to solve the issue.” Asked about the steps taken by the
Foreign Ministry for the international recognition of the NKR,
Melikyan replied: “It is no secret that the beginning of legislative
work is one of the most important components for the international
recognition of the country. The NKR parliament recently adopted a
number of laws concerning our system. I would emphasize the law ‘On
the international agreements of the NKR’, which will become a basis
for establishing official relations with our country. I hope that we
shall join a number of international conventions by the end of the
year. I am sure that the NKR will be internationally recognized in
the near future.”
Asked about Melikyan’s attitude towards [International Crisis Group
representative] Alain Deletroz’s statement that a referendum should
be conducted in the NKR in 10-15 years’ time to define the status of
the NKR and asked whether Deletroz had grounds to say this, Melikyan
replied: “I do not doubt that the group is not interested in a
long-lasting peace in the region. As for the conditions that have
been offered, we may not accept them, especially as idea of holding a
referendum is not at a stage when we should discuss such an option.
There are always pre-conditions. But the principle of adequacy should
become one of the main principles in the negotiations, however, in
fact it does not exist yet.”
“Mr Melikyan, how will you comment on the fact that there was no
comment in Armenia and Azerbaijan after Kazan meeting between
[Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan and [Azerbaijani President
Ilham] Aliyev?” Melikyan did not deny that maybe this time Aliyev
decided to keep to the principle of confidentiality. Asked about his
attitude towards the openly bellicose statements of the Azerbaijani
leadership, Melikyan replied: “Of course, my attitude is negative. I
think that war is unlikely at the moment.” At the same time, the
minister did not rule out that war is possible.

Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust foundation to become part of university
.c The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, a repository
of Holocaust testimonials, is becoming part of the University of
Southern California’s College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Spielberg, the foundation’s chairman and a USC trustee, said moving
the collection to USC will ensure its preservation and access to the
public.
“All of us know that the survivors and witnesses have given us a
precious gift whose wise use will build a better world for this and
future generations,” Spielberg said in a statement.
The repository’s 52,000 testimonials from survivors and witnesses will
be transferred Jan. 1 to USC indefinitely under an agreement announced
Friday between the university and the Survivors of the Shoah Visual
History Foundation.

09/17/05 18:15 EDT

Fresno Bee
Sept 15 2005
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
Turkey in denial
Bid to join European Union entangled in genocide dispute.
(Updated Thursday, September 15, 2005, 5:55 AM)
For nearly a century debate has roiled over what the Turkish
government and most Turks call a human tragedy brought on by the
chaos of World War I and what most of the world – including The Bee –
call the Armenian genocide.
Now the issue has become enmeshed in Turkey’s faltering effort to
join the European Union. How the conflict turns out is important –
for Turkish-Armenian relations and for the future of Turkey, a
country that straddles Europe and the Middle East.
Turkish officialdom has always denied that forces of the collapsing
Ottoman Empire sought to exterminate Turkish Armenians starting in
1915, when ethnic Armenians say the Turks killed as many as 1.5
million Armenians over eight years. Turkish officials agree that
hundreds of thousands of Armenians died, but say that disease, famine
and exposure, as well as fighting caused by Armenian guerrilla raids
against retreating Turkish troops, were the primary causes.
There matters stood until last spring, when Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited foreign scholars to study Ottoman
archives to determine what really happened.
That encouraging gesture has had little hopeful result. Scholars have
run afoul of Turkish officials and military leaders, who forced
cancellation of a conference. An ethnic Armenian publisher has been
accused of defaming Turkey by calling himself “an Armenian of
Turkey,” and a prominent Turkish novelist faces a similar charge for
saying in an interview that Turks killed 1million Armenians and, more
recently, 30,000 Turkish Kurds in a guerrilla war, and that “no one
but me dares to talk about it.”
The timing of these charges – just weeks before negotiations are to
begin on Turkey’s application to join the EU – has raised suspicion,
and charges that some nationalist elements, already angered by
growing European opposition to Turkish EU membership, are trying to
sabotage the process. The criminal charges fly in the face of
extensive changes in Turkish law, including abolition of the death
penalty and ending a ban on speaking Kurdish, to satisfy EU
requirements for membership. France opposes Turkey joining, and if
the Christian Democrats win Germany’s election, another prominent
negative voice would be added.
What’s at stake goes well beyond the Armenian issue, coming as
millions of Europeans – even in such liberal bastions as the
Netherlands – are rethinking their traditional welcome to immigrants.
And Muslims rank highest in this reassessment.
Turkey, with an overwhelmingly Muslim population but a staunchly
secular political system, is seen by many as a bridge between the
Christian West and the Muslim East. But as Europe’s welcome mat is
pulled away, many Turks resent what they regard as rising religious
and cultural bigotry among Europeans.
Although it’s hard to envision Turkey’s secular leaders rejecting the
West and embracing Islamic tradition, the roadblocks in the path of
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation raise again the question of whether
Turkey and Europe can ever share a common home.
There’s a simple solution, though it would by no means be easy:
Turkey should simply recognize and acknowledge the past. That would
both smooth Turkey’s path toward EU membership, and begin to right a
historic wrong.

AZG Armenian Daily #166, 16/09/2005
Karabakh issue
RESUMPTION OF WAR IN KARABAKH IS VERY PROBABLE
ICG’s Report Contains A number of Unpleasant Moments for Armenia
The lasting Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the
most significant obstacle to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. On
September 14, the International Crises Group made public its first report on
Karabakh regulation titled “Viewing the Conflict from the Ground”. “Whatever
is being done at the internationally mediated negotiations, at ground level
resumed war appears a real possibility”, the report says. The 30 page long
report presents situation in Nagorno Karabakh, in 7 Armenia-controlled
territories as well as the living conditions of the Azeri refuges in special
refugee camps.
The report contains a number of unpleasant formulations for Armenia and NK.
“Nagorno Karabakh has inspiration for independence and argues with some
reason that it has a democratically-elected government that is meeting the
preconditions of statehood… Nagorno Karabakh has mono-ethnic institutions
and become one of the world’s most militarized societies”
“Nagorno Karabakh forces, reinforced by many conscripts and contracted from
Armenia, occupy some 13.4 per cent of Azerbaijan’s land (11.722 sq. km.).
This includes some 92.5 per cent of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous
Oblast (NKAO), five districts outside Nagorno Karabakh, and significant
segments of two others. The occupied territory outside the former NKAO
amounts to 7.409 sq. km., close to double the territory of the former Soviet
oblast… This includes part of the districts of Martuni and Mardakert (327
sq. km.), which were in the NKAO, as well as the pre-war Shahumian district
and Getashen Settlement (701 sq. km.) northeast of the NKAO. Stepanakert
authorities claim these last two should be part of present day Nagorno
Karabakh as they also declared secession from Soviet Azerbaijan in 1991. In
addition they consider Lachin (1.835 sq. km.) to be part of Nagorno Karabakh
and say ‘it cannot be subject to compromise, as it connects Karabakh to the
outer world’, even though it was never part of NKAO, and no Armenians lived
there before the war”.
“Probably some 413.000 Armenians fled Azerbaijan and regions in Armenia
bordering it, and 724.000 Azerbaijanis (and Kurds) were displaced from
Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts… Before the war
the 424.900 inhabitants of those districts were almost exclusively Azeris,
none of whom remain. Towns like Agdam (28.200), Kelbajar (8.100), Jebrail
(6.200) and Fizuli (23.000) have been systematically leveled so that only
foundations remain. Even electrical wiring, pipes, and other infrastructure
have been sold as scarp. Authorities in Stepanakert have done nothing to
stop the destruction process”.
“Stepanakert’s settlement policy in Lachin and Kelbajar, and to lesser
extent Agdam, appears to be a violation of international law and is likely
to complicate the implementation of any political settlement… As the chair
of the Nagorno Karabakh parliament said, ‘once Armenians start burying their
dead there, it will be difficult to move them again'”.
A chapter of the report title “Life in Nagorno Karabakh” says that though
internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh is
independent de facto and its military and economic safety is guaranteed by
Armenia.
The report provides detailed account of construction of Karabakh’s armed
forces. “NK may be the world’s most militarized society. The highly trained
and equipped Nagorno Karabakh Defence Army is primarily a ground force, for
which Armenia provides much of the backbone. A Nagorno Karabakh official
told Crises Group it has some 20.000 soldiers, while an independent expert
estimated 18.500. An additional 20.000 to 30.000 reservists allegedly could
be mobilized… According to an independent assessment, there are 8.500
Karabakh Armenians in the army and 10.000 from Armenia. If these figures are
accurate, Nagorno Karabakh’s 65 persons per 1.000 inhabitants under arms
would surpass almost all other countries for proportion of population in the
military”. Based on hundreds of interviews and observations, the ICG arrived
at a conclusion that the NK armed forces played a significant role in
politics. The situation has changed after the then commander-in-chief of the
army was imprisoned.
The report underscores that Armenia fills up half of Karabakh’s budget. “The
US is the only other state that provides direct governmental assistance [to
Karabakh]”.
A whole chapter deals with Azeri IDPs (internally displaced persons). It
says that they keep on living in terrible living conditions and meanwhile it
cites accusations that the IDPs have turned into “political pawns” in
Azerbaijan’s politics.
The most serious obstacle to dialogue and reconciliation between Armenian
and Azeris is nationalism, the report says. The report ends with a very
unpleasant sentence for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The ICG quotes
the words of an Armenian student who says, “I am Yerevani and refuse to
serve in the army once I graduate. I will simply leave Armenia because
people from Karabakh are even worse than Azerbaijanis. Why do we have to
serve them?”
By Tatoul Hakobian

Armenian premier, US reps discuss Millennium Challenge programme
Arminfo
14 Sep 05
YEREVAN
As part of his visit to the USA, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markaryan has met the interim chief executive officer of the US
Millennium Challenge Corporation [MCC], Charles Setness, and the MMC
vice-president for country programmes, John Hewko.
Markaryan stressed the importance of Armenia’s cooperation with the
MMC and said that the Armenian delegation would visit Washington soon
to clarify mechanisms of cooperation. The participants in the meeting
voiced satisfaction with cooperation between working groups.
The MMC representatives said they pleased that Armenia had
substantiated economic indices in a draft programme it submitted
within the framework of Millennium Challenge programme.
For his part, Markaryan said that the programme paid special attention
to agriculture and particularly the development of farms.
The MMC representatives said that it was important that Armenia
ensured transparency during the elaboration and implementation of its
programme.
Markaryan said that the Armenian government was ready to involve
members of public organizations and public representatives in the
process to ensure transparency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA WILL NOT BE AN OBSTACLE
A1+
| 13:27:39 | 14-09-2005 | Politics |
Azerbaijan will not cooperate with Armenia within the framework of
the World Trade Organization (WTO) till the final establishment of
peace. The Azeri deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud Mamedkuliev mentioned
about it, day.az reports.
According to the deputy Minister, this does not contradict to UN
provisions taking into account the fact that Armenia has taken up
the commitment not to hinder Azerbaijan~Rs entering the WTO.
According to Mr. Mamedkuliev, in the initial phase of negotiations
with WTO Azerbaijan managed to make the RA Foreign Minister take up
the commitment.
Armenia has been member of the organization since 2001.
According to the deputy Minister, the fact that Armenia was quicker
than Azerbaijan is accounted for by the fact that Armenia had applied
earlier and has been accepted with certain concessions.