Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

PRESS RELEASE/NEWS REVIEW
MELKONIAN ALUMNI CYPRUS
Contact: Masis der Parthogh
P.O. Box 16077, CY 2085
Nicosia, Cyprus.
Tel. +-357 22 678666
Fax. +-357 22 678664
Email: [email protected]
Founders’ nephew joins Melkonian campaign
Cyprus Weekly – Friday, September 10, 2004
THE worldwide campaign to save the Melkonian School in Nicosia took
a new turn this week as Jack R. Melkonian, a nephew of the founders,
joined the campaign at a crucial meeting in London with delegates of
the alumni and friends.
The London meeting decided to take joint action to challenge and
prevent a decision if the US-based central board of the AGBU (Armenian
General Benevolent Union) to close down the Melkonian next year.
Taking part in the meeting were alumni representatives from Cyprus,
the UK, the USA, Canada and Lebanon, while Jack Melkonian represented
the family of the brothers who founded the shool 80 years ago.
An announcement by the alumni said: “It was a most interesting meeting,
Mr Melkonian is fully in agreement with the joint strategic and legal
action to be taken, on the advice of legal counsel presented by law
experts in Cyprus and overseas.”
The meeting expressed its gratitude to the government of Cyprus for
its support and the warm hospitality it continues to provide the
Melkonian Educational Institute and the welfare and education of the
Armenian community.

WOULD BIN LADEN ENTRUST A DEED TO ISHKHAN?
A1 Plus | 15:32:33 | 07-09-2004 | Sports |
“Are you aware that the sport school in Tsakhkadzor was wrecked to
build a restaurant instead and that you have allotted the area to an
MP?”, journalists have today asked Ishkhan Zaqaryan.
Mr. Zaqaryan refuted the information this way: “Maybe journalists
would write that Ishkhan is Bin Laden’s agent in this region?”.

CENN – SEPTEMBER 6, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Request for Donation of Computers for Schools Active in Environmental
Issues
2. Request for Proposals (RFEP) — Waste Clean-up Actions and Upgrading
of Landfills for the Solid Waste Program in Borjomi Region of Georgia
3. Georgia Believes itself Cheated by BP
4. Thugs Beat up Journalists, with the Connivance of Parliament Members
5. Working Group on Genetically Modified Organisms
6. The IFC the world’s leading conference for fundraising professionals
7. FSA Contemporary Issues Fellowship Program
8. Earth Institute Fellows Program Information
9. The 3rd World Youth Congress
1. REQUEST FOR DONATION OF COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS ACTIVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES
CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network is conducting environmental
education and awareness raising activities and school campaigns in 8
schools of Georgia, out of which 2 are located in the regions –
Bakuriani and Bolnisi and 6 in Tbilisi (Varketili, Nadzaladevi, Didube,
Avlabari, Chughureti, Nutsubidze districts). In Tbilisi schools,
educational campaign is focused on energy efficiency issues; in
Bakuriani – on forestry and sustainable tourism; and in Bolnisi – on
wise use of transboundary resources. The school campaigns aim to raise
environmental educational and awareness of the young generation and
promote their active participation in environmental decision-making.
CENN school environmental educational and awareness raising campaign
team is looking for secondhand computers for donation to the active
schools to make environmental campaign more effective.
We address national and international organizations programs and
projects to render assistance and contribute to this valuable
initiative. Your contribution will be highlighted through CENN network
and publications.
Interested persons please contact:
Irina Kitiashvili
CENN Regional Coordinator
Tel: +995 92 39 46
Cell: +995 99 57 27 86
Fax: +995 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
2. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFEP) — WASTE CLEAN-UP ACTIONS AND UPGRADING
OF LANDFILLS FOR THE SOLID WASTE PROGRAM IN BORJOMI REGION OF GEORGIA
The program is initiated and funded by BP operator of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyahn (BTC) pipeline and South Caucasus pipeline (SCP)
The Executor of the Program GTZ is German Technical Cooperation,
International Services in coordination with Borjomi District Government
– is seeking for interested private companies to take pat in the biding
process for short-term solid waste program in Borjomir region.
Issuance Date: September 7, 2004
Closing Date and Time: 15:00 pm Tbilisi 22 September 2004
The project aims to improve the sanitary and environmental condition in
Borjomi and Bakuriani by different activities aiming for better waste
management and environmental protection:
o closure, clean-up and restoration of illegal dumps;
o improvement of current landfills and their access roads;
o delivering of equipment for waste collection and landfill operation;
o instructional and training of personnel;
o public awareness campaigns to involve the population.
The project activities concerning the present invitation for bidding
cover the following performances:
1. Clean-up camping in Borjomi
2. Clean-up camping in Bakuriani
3. Improving of the Borjomi landfill and its access road
4. Improving of the Bakuriani landfill and its access road
Bidders who wish to obtain additional explanations and comments are
invites to contact:
Mr. Iuri Maisahvili
Tel: (+995 32) 93 674 809
Fax: (+995 32) 32 420 990
E-mail: [email protected]
Together with the fully pried and competed officer, each page to be
signed, the following documents are requested:
1. Copy of documents about the legal registration of the company
2. Documentation to prove bidder’s qualifications, experience and
reliability
3. The list of equipment and machinery to be used for forthcoming work
performance
4. Certification from the tax office about the debt burden absence
5. Declaration of bidder
The bidder is amenable to law on accuracy of presented documents.
Bidders are requested to hand in the completed officer Document together
with all Appendices, completed and signed by a duly authorities person,
in a sealed envelope, plainly marked as follower:
“Offer for waste clean-up actions and improvement of landfills in the
Borjomi Region.”
Bidders are invited to collect Request for proposal documents starting
from September 7, 2004 from:
GTZ Office Tbilisi
41, Shartava str., (bordering Saburtalo Bazari), 0160, Tbilisi, Georgai
and
Borjomi Inforamtion Center 129, Rustaveli ave., Borjomi, Georgai
The Bidder shall be bound to his Officer until 31.12.2004.
3. GEORGIA BELIEVES ITSELF CHEATED BY BP
Source: The Echo, #163, 25 August 2004
Official Tbilisi asks international financial organizations for
assistance in ensuring environmental security of Borjomi section of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
By M. Bagirov
The situation around construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline in Georgia remains to be tense. Moreover, as the Echo has
learned from informed sources in the neighboring country, Georgian
authorities still have not settled with BP – the leading operator of the
project – the Borjomi section problem and the discontent in the
government’s high echelons in connection with the above is growing.
According to the information obtained, Tbilisi had to explain itself
with the executives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC),
who, as is known, participate in financing of the project. In a letter
sent by the Georgian party to international financial institutions, BTC
Co. (a consortium of the companies participating in the construction of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan – M.B.) is accused of “illegal construction” in
Borjomi.
That all this can be fraught with serious complications hardly needs to
be explained. Therefore, it seems expedient to consider in a greater
detail the question
WHAT DOES GEORGIA WANT?
An answer to the question has been repeatedly declared by the
neighboring country’s officials: the securing of environmental safety of
the Borjomi section of the pipeline through establishing of stringent
control over all the factors capable of causing the spilling of oil
(dangerous geological processes, technical defects and operators’
mistakes and, finally, subversive activity by third parties), and the
reduction of risk to a controllable level. Here, certainly, arises a
question – how grounded the claims of the Georgian party are. It should
be said that much depends on the answer to this question, including,
presumably, the future of the Azerbaijani-Georgian relations too. Many
reproaches have been sounded in relation to Georgia lately, the most
offensive of them being obviously the one revealing an alleged striving
of Georgia to achieving some added advantages for itself through
speculations about the issue.
Meanwhile, as our paper managed to clear up from the sources in the
Georgian government, a significant role in the current tension around
the Borjomi issue is being played by the unwillingness of the company BP
to meet its existing commitments in the said section. The matter
concerns environmental permits for the oil pipeline construction issued
by the Ministry of Environment of Georgia on 30 November 2002. As our
Georgian sources note, this is the single document approving the
pipeline route, in particular within the Borjomi section. Specifically
for the Borjomi section, the environmental permit requires a change of
the pipeline construction design in accordance with the criteria set
forth in the document. It was then, that the parties in the name of the
Georgian government and BTC Co. agreed that in order to attain the risk
level close to zero, BTC Co. would employ the best available
technologies, multiple lines of defense and the principle of redundancy
in the technical design and in the course of operations. The necessity
of applying special security measures in the event of an “intervention
of a third party” was specially negotiated. It was noted that the
pipeline had to be designed and constructed in a way that in the case of
a negative intervention, there would be sufficient time for neutralizing
the threats to security. In the opinion of the Georgian party, who
refers to the views of international experts, citing, in particular, the
independent structure Jane’s Consultancy, laying of the pipeline in
Borjomi at a depth of not less than 3 meters, combined with other
measures, would be quite sufficient steps on the part of BTC Co.
Nevertheless, as mentioned, BP has failed to comply with its obligations
concerning the environmental security of the Borjomi section and, as the
informed sources in Tbilisi note, has decided to apply its customary
tactics in Georgia – to construct as it is suitable to the company,
using the pressing schedules of the project completion as a cover. The
company stated that the pipelining at a depth over 1.5 m would cause a
serious delay in the conduct of construction work. Georgia has not
consented to this argument having produced expert opinions, which stated
that the pipelining at a depth of 3 m was quite feasible within the
planned schedules. An outcome of the differences was a two-week stoppage
of the pipeline construction in the late July. Thereafter, as is known,
intense negotiations in London and in Tbilisi started, the course of
which was more than sufficiently highlighted by media. The United States
also had to enter the talks. As a result, an agreement to resume the
pipeline construction in Georgia was reached. It turns out, however,
that
THINGS ARE RIGHT WHERE THEY STARTED
As the head of press service of BP Tamam Bayatly commented to the Echo,
the resumption of construction work became possible after the oil
company had agreed with Georgia the question of joint development of the
so-called “Integrated Security Plan” for the Borjomi section. Later, on
August 16, at a press conference in Baku the head of BP David Woodward,
commenting the situation, said that the new Georgian government “wanted
to make certain of the conscientiousness of BP”. The words of the head
of Bp meant that the company produced all the proofs of
conscientiousness, having forwarded, in particular, to the Georgian
environmental agency all the materials indicating how BP was going to
secure the pipeline safety in the sensitive area. True, no details on
the contents of these materials have been told by D. Woodward to the
press conference.
Meanwhile, as it becomes evident, BP’s action plan concerning Borjomi
has not met with the approval in Georgia. According to the informal
Georgian sources, in the course of the negotiations held in Tbilisi, the
representatives of the oil company agreed with the arguments of the
Georgian party naming them sound and promised all the fears would be
given due consideration in the security plan on Borjomi. However, they
have defaulted to do so. Currently, Tbilisi is more and more inclined to
think that BP is trying to commission the pipeline as soon as possible,
and that in case anything happens in Borjomi, to charge the Georgian
party therewith. Obviously, the situation is being strained again.
The official Tbilisi had, as mentioned, to express itself before the top
executives of EBRD and IFC – to whom BP apparently addressed its
complaint earlier. In the Georgian party’s letter forwarded to
international financial institutions, it is indicated that after it had
found BTC Co.’s attempts to evade by all means possible the compliance
with its commitments regarding Borjomi as set forth in the 2002
environmental permits, Georgia had no other choice but to stop the
“illegal construction”. In its message, the official Tbilisi refers to
the groundlessness of BP’s arguments regarding a delay in the project
implementation due to the requirements of Georgia concerning Borjomi,
and asks to support the Georgian government in the issue.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE OPERATOR
Already yesterday, the Echo addressed the press service of BP with a
request to comment on the information concerning the Georgian party’s
discontent over the Integrated Security Plan’s contents for the Borjomi
section. Tamam Bayiatly, head of the company’s press service, underlined
that the above-mentioned document had been drafted in the course of
joint discussions of BP experts and representatives of the Georgian
government. “This very document agreed by the parties was presented to
Georgian authorities before August 14”, – concluded T. Bayatly. The
question whether signals of the Georgian party’s discontent were
received by the company after August 14, the press-service head did not
answer…
We still hope that if the differences between BP and the Georgian
government continue to take place, the company will, nevertheless,
notify the Azerbaijanian public thereof, and we shall have detailed
information about existing contradictions and attempts to overcome them
all the time, and not only when the pipeline construction in Borjomi is
stopped again. Let’s hope it will not come to that….
4. THUGS BEAT UP JOURNALISTS, WITH THE CONNIVANCE OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS
Source: , September 1, 2004
On August 24, 2003, Armenian journalists were physically attacked once
again. This time, in Tsakhkadzor, Gagik Stepanyan, a bodyguard of
parliament member Levon Sargisyan, beat photojournalist Mkhitar
Khachatryan of the news agency PhotoLur and reporter Anna Israelyan from
the newspaper Aravot.
Covered in forests, Tsakhkadzor is a resort area famous since Soviet
times. Many USSR sports teams used to train here, but today Tsakhkadzor
is better known as a vacation spot favored by President Robert
Kocharyan, and, in direct connection, the place where oligarchs and
government officials build private getaways. Since there is no room in
the town itself, they cut down forests and fence in land for their
mansions.
Stepanyan and Israelyan were putting together material on these mansions
when they were attacked by several shaved-headed thugs, Stepanyan among
them. His boss, MP Levon Sargisyan, is known to the public as “Flour
Mill Lyov”. A member of Serge Sargisyan’s circle, Sargisyan is known as
an active participant in and big contributor to Robert Kocharyan’s
election campaign.
His companies import and produce flour, and the Ministry of Defense buys
flour for the Army exclusively from him. Thus, he is unlikely to ever
have trouble selling his product, as long as Serge Sargisyan is minister
of defense.
Interestingly, when on April 5, 2004, journalists covering an opposition
rally near the Nairi Cinema were beaten up, “Flour Mill Lyov” happened
to be at the nearby Oscar CafÈ. His bodyguards were among the
perpetrators of the violence. It looks like he was directing their
actions from a short distance away.
The other thugs who attacked the journalists on April 5 th were
bodyguards of MP Gagik Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan, who is known by the name
“Dodi (Stupid) Gago”, denied that these men worked for him. But the fact
is that until April 5 th they worked as his bodyguards. Tsarukyan is a
member of Robert Kocharyan’s inner circle and one of the richest
businessmen in Armenia . (Of course, on paper, his companies are
unprofitable). This oligarch cut down a huge section of the forest in
Tsakhkadzor to built private houses and cottages.
On August 27, 2004 the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia
announced that criminal proceedings had been instituted regarding the
violence against journalists.
On August 28 th a number of media outlets organized a joint protest in
which ninety journalists went to Tsakhkadzor in nineteen cars. They
drove around the town taking pictures of the forests that have been cut
down and the private houses of various government officials and
businessmen.
Staring today, we will publish the names of the owners of the houses
built in the green areas of Tsakhkadzor.
The journalists’ first stop was the home, or as a sign at the entrance
states, “recreation area” of the president of the company Multi Group
and member of parliament, Gagik Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan first purchased the
Tereshkova Camp for Children, two buildings on one hectare of land.
Subsequently, his territory was expanded to 20 hectares, and a section
of the forest was destroyed and 21 cottages built. According to the
mayor of Tsakhkadzor, Garun Mirzoyan, “There will be 26 cottages here,
according to the design.”
5. WORKING GROUP ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
Background
The first meeting of the Parties to the Convention (Lucca, Italy 21-23
October 2002) adopted decision (I/4) and the Guidelines on Access to
Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice with respect to
Genetically Modified Organisms. A new Working Group was established to
examine and build upon the preparatory work undertaken by a previous
Working Group on GMOs established by the Committee on Environmental
Policy (the first Working Group).
The task of the Working Group is to explore the options for a legally
binding approach to further developing the application of the Convention
in the field of GMOs, including through possible instruments and to
develop selected options for consideration and possible decision or
adoption by the Parties at their second meeting.
Fourth meeting of the Working Group
The fourth meeting of the Working Group will take place on 18-20 October
2004.
Additional information is available on the following address:
6. THE IFC THE WORLD’S LEADING CONFERENCE FOR FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS
The 24th International Fundraising Congress (IFC) will take place on 12
-15 October 2004, at the NH Leeuwenhorst Hotel, The Netherlands.
Additional information is available on the following adders:
;subsectionid=75
7. FSA CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The FSA Contemporary Issues Fellowship Program, a program of the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State and
administered by IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board),
provides opportunities for experienced professionals and specialists in
Eurasia to conduct policy-oriented research in the United States for
four months. Fellowships are available to citizens of: Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova,
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Program highlights
Eligible Professions:
o Economists
o Government Officials
o Lawyers
o Political Advisors
o Public Health Specialists
o NGO Leaders
o Journalists
o Other Policy Developers
All applications must contain developed and focused research projects
that are policy-driven with practical application in Eurasia. Research
proposals must address one of the following categories:
o Business Administration
o Journalism & Media
o Civic Education
o Law Enforcement
o Educational Policy
o Economics
o NGO Development & Management
o Energy Policy
o Political Science
o Environmental Policy
o Public Administration
o Human Rights
o Public Health Policy
o International Relations
o Rule of Law
o Social Welfare
The fellowship is fully funded and provides:
o Round-trip travel from fellows’ home cities in Eurasia to their US
host institutions;
o Housing and monthly stipend for living expenses in the United States;
o Professional development allowance;
o Accident and sickness medical coverage.
Contact Information for Ukraine:
IREX-Kyiv Office 01004, Kyiv vul. Velyka Vasylkivska, 14, suite 19,
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel/Fax: (044) 537-06-04
8. EARTH INSTITUTE FELLOWS PROGRAM INFORMATION
Application Deadline: The next deadline for receipt of applications is
December 1. Applications submitted by this date will be considered for
two-year fellowships that start the following September. The Earth
Institute will notify applicants of acceptance decisions in late
January. Applications must be completed on time and in their entirety to
warrant consideration by the selection committee. We strongly encourage
that applications be submitted online.
Fellowship Eligibility, Start Date and Duration: The Earth Institute
Post-Doctoral Fellows Program seeks outstanding scholars with recent
doctorates in the natural, social, engineering and health sciences that
possess a strong interest in sustainable development. The Program
provides innovative scholars with the opportunity to build a deeper
foundation in one of these core disciplines while at the same time
acquiring the cross-disciplinary expertise and breadth needed to
addresses critical issues related to sustainable development, including
reducing poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental degradation.
Fellows are appointed for two years. Appointments begin September 1st.
However, if individual circumstances warrant, Fellows may begin their
appointment as early as July 1st. Fellows must receive their Ph.D. prior
to beginning their appointment.
Additional information is available on the following address:
9. THE 3RD WORLD YOUTH CONGRESS
The 3rd World Youth Congress is coming to Scotland from July 30th to
August 8th 2005.
The event is open to young people aged between 18 -25 (you must be at
least 18 on 30th July 2005) and the congress theme is “Young People
working together for a sustainable world community”.
The main goals of the WYC series are to promote volunteering and global
citizenship as well as sustainable lifestyles. Delegates will draw to
the attention of government and aid agencies worldwide how much young
people do and are doing to support the achievement of the UN Millennium
Development Goals. This congress will bring together young development
activists and government and UN development professionals to review best
practice in youth led development and devise strategies to mobilise more
young people to take part in them.
Who can apply?
All applicants must be 18-25 years old on 30th July 2005 and will fall
under four categories:
1) Activists
This conference is chiefly for young leaders in the youth-led
development field. In order to qualify in this category you have to show
your commitment to action by working on a pre-congress action project,
that you can report on at the Congress. If you plan and implement a
youth-led community improvement project between now and August 2005, we
will welcome you to this Congress! All you have to do is pay your travel
expenses – a limited number of scholarships may be available. It is,
however, best to seek your own sponsorship. This is a conference where
you will do more than sit around and draw up fine-sounding declarations:
for at least 3 of the 10 days you will be out across Scotland working on
projects.
2) Performers/Artists
If you have a performance group of dancers, singers, actors, comedians
with material that relates to the Congress themes, send us a video with
some reviews and photographs, and we will consider you for the cultural
programme that will take place every evening of the Congress.
3) Young Journalists
If you work for a newspaper, radio or TV station, ask your employer/line
manager to send you to report on this important world event.
4) Participants
If the above goals interest you and you would like to learn about these
issues from your peers around the world, send in an application form.
For further details and an application form visit
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

Armenian visit angers Azeris
BBC News
Sept 4 2004
Large parts of the Azeri media have staged an orchestrated protest
against the planned presence of military officers from neighbouring
Armenia at Nato-sponsored exercises later this month.
Leading private and independent daily newspapers on Saturday published
blank front pages under the words “The media of Azerbaijan protest
against the arrival in Baku of the Armenian military”.
The private TV station ANS stopped broadcasting for three hours,
showing a blank screen with the same protest message.
Official and pro-government media outlets have not joined the
protest. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry has said it has expressed
its concern to Nato over the Armenians’ presence, but refused to
lodge an official complaint.
‘Insult’
The protest was announced in a statement published in Friday’s papers
and signed by nine newspaper editors.
“We believe that the admission of the Armenian officers to Baku is
an insult to the Azerbaijani people,” it said.
There have been repeated outbursts of public anger against Armenia
ever since the war between Azerbaijani and Armenian-backed forces
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in 1994.
The area is still under Armenian occupation and no peace deal has
been signed.
Earlier in the week, six members of a group campaigning for Karabakh
to be brought back under Azeri control, including its leader, were
sentenced to between four and five years in prison following protests
on 22 June against the Armenian officers’ visit.
The exercises, organised under Nato’s Partnership for Peace programme,
are scheduled for 13 to 26 September.

Turkey trying to organize Azeri-Armenian meeting in New York – envoy
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
1 Sep 04
[Presenter] The Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ahmet Unal Cevikoz,
met Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov today to discuss
the forthcoming meeting of the Turkish, Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers.
[Correspondent over video of the Turkish ambassador] Official Ankara
is making efforts to ensure that the Turkish, Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers hold a meeting in New York. Cevikoz said that he
had discussed this issue with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, adding that all three sides were interested in the
meeting.
[Cevikoz in Turkish] The Turkish, Azerbaijani and Armenian sides
want to hold a meeting. We will do our best to bring the three sides
together.
[Correspondent] Although there is still no official agreement on
holding the meeting, the Turkish diplomat is confident that the
meeting will take place.
[Cevikoz] There is no problem. We are simply trying to organize a
meeting in this place, in New York, where all three ministers will
gather. It is important for us to set the date for the meeting. When
we set the date, we will organize the meeting.
[Correspondent] Cevikoz said that a number of issues would be resolved
in the trilateral meeting. He added that the Nagornyy Karabakh issue
would be the main subject at the meeting. The Turkish side will also
try to tackle problems in Turkish-Armenian relations.
Mahsati Sarifova and Vidadi Bayramov for “Son Xabar”.

Azerbaijani, Armenian foreign ministers to meet in Prague
Interfax
Aug 31 2004
Baku(Interfax) – Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov and
his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian will meet in Prague on August
30 to discuss ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“During the meeting, the ministers will discuss the issue of settling
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry’s press service told Interfax on Monday.
Confidentiality will be one of the principles of the upcoming talks,
the ministry said.
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven neighboring
districts as a result of a conflict with Armenia in the early-1990s.
The UN Security Council has denounced Armenia’s occupation of
Azerbaijan’s territory and has called on Armenia to withdraw its
troops. The United States, Russia and France, as co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group, have been assisting Armenia and Azerbaijan in
settling their dispute.

OSKANIAN-MAMEDIAROV MEETING USEFUL AND POSITIVE
ArmenPress
Aug 31 2004
PRAGUE, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers
Vardan Oskanian and Elmar Mamediarov held their regular meeting
on Karabakh conflict resolution yesterday in Prague. According to
Armenian foreign ministry press services, present were at the meeting
American, Russian and French co-chairs of Minsk Group Steven Mann, Yuri
Merzliakov, Anry Jakolen and Andrey Kasprchik, personal representative
of OSCE president in action. As before, the meeting did not have a
special agenda.
Armenian and Azeri foreign minister went on to discuss different
standpoints on Karabakh conflict resolution and issues relating to
prospects of conflict resolution, continuing exchange of opinions
started in the previous three meetings.
The present said the regular meeting of the ministers was useful
and positive.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, August 30, 2004
AGBU TO HOLD 83rd WORLD CONFERENCE IN ARMENIA
PLANS AMBITIOUS AGENDA
New York, NY – AGBU leaders, members and friends worldwide will come
together this October in their ancestral homeland on the occasion of
AGBU’s 83rd Biennial General Assembly to review current programs,
exchange ideas and discuss new initiatives.
Beginning with a welcoming dinner on October 1st, AGBU members and
guests can expect a full agenda with meetings and site visits
throughout the week. Conference sessions will include an opening
ceremony with government officials; the General Assembly;
Chapter-specific meetings; and panel discussions. A unique program and
a series of events are planned for AGBU Young Professionals, who will
also be in attendance.
In addition, conference participants will have the opportunity to
visit AGBU-funded projects, such as the Children’s Centers, the Soup
Kitchens, the American University of Armenia, the Ultrasound Center,
the Vaskenian Seminary, as well as enjoy performances of the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra and a production of Armenia State Opera’s
“Anush” sponsored by the AGBU. A two-day visit to Nagorno Karabakh is
also scheduled.
“As we approach our centennial anniversary, it is with great
enthusiasm that I look forward to welcoming our membership to our 83rd
General Assembly and World Conference in Armenia,” said AGBU President
Berge Setrakian. “It is only fitting that we convene in Yerevan to
review our programs and activities across the globe as we look to the
future,” Setrakian continued.
The conference will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from October
1-7. The Karabakh trip is scheduled for October 7-9. With over 250
people registered, hotels and flights are filling up fast. For more
information or to register, please call the AGBU Central Office at
(212) 319-6383 or contact Maral Achian at [email protected].
AGBU () is the largest international, non-profit Armenian
organization in the world, and is dedicated to preserving and
promoting the Armenian heritage and culture through humanitarian,
educational, cultural and social programs that serve some 400,000
Armenians annually.

Patna Daily, India
Aug 25 2004
Adding More Masala…
by Avishek Suman
I must thank Mr. Rakesh Chaubey for his recent article titled
“Politically Speaking… Thoughts to Mull Over” wherein he presented
a snapshot of American politics in the wake of coming election in US.
This article of mine will try to add more spice to the American
election.
A peep into Dick Cheney’s antecedent tells us that before assuming
the post of Vice president of US, he was the CEO of a company called
Halliburton. He served Halliburton from 1995 to 2000. Halliburton is
a company that has always been in controversy. The company was first
criticized for doing business with Libya, Azerbaijan and Burma
despite the fact that US government had banned any trade with these
countries. (US ban on Libya was for bombing a German disco in 1986
wherein two US soldiers died, Azerbaijan for ‘ethnic cleansing’ of
Armenians and Burma for curbing democracy).
Cheney’s tenure in Halliburton also witnessed several unethical
practices by the company. As a matter of fact unethical practices
peaked during his time. The company allegedly altered its accounting
policy in 1998 for which it is still investigated by SEC (US
counterpart of SEBI). When Cheney left Halliburton to join the Vice
president office he was awarded with the compensation package of $20
million.
Then as we all know in March 2003, Iraq war II happened. For all
logistic support for the war US government awarded several contracts
to Halliburton. The work involved erecting camps for soldiers,
feeding US army, extinguishing oil wells in Iraq and supplying Iraq
with the required oil. There were two interesting features of the
contracts. Firstly, these were “no bid contracts”, that is government
had awarded Halliburton without considering any other company.
Secondly, these were “cost plus contracts” that is whatever the cost
the company incurs plus its margin will be paid by the government to
the company. A lot of people started raising their voices that
Halliburton was a corrupt company and contracts were given to it only
because of its ties with Cheney.
In August, 2003 Pentagon complained that the meals that the company
was serving to the troops were unhygienic, as they were prepared in
most dirty conditions with blood all around. Pentagon asked the
company to “clean up”. But the company failed to do so.
In December 2003 Pentagon alleged that the company had overcharged to
the extent of $61 million for oil it imported from Iraq and charged
$186 millions for food that was never delivered. This brought the
company under sever criticism. The strongest voice of course came
from the Democrats.
To make the matter worse for Halliburton and Cheney, two employees of
the company met Henry Waxman (a Democrat from California) and told
him that the company had wasted millions of dollars of US tax-payers
because the company did not mind the cost (the contracts were all
cost plus!). They gave many examples of wasteful activities, which
included abandoning of trucks worth $85,000 because of flat tires and
minor problems.
Mr. Kerry now says “Halliburton is guilty of shameful
war-profiteering, and they need to be held accountable” whereas the
company says it has become the target of “Political profiteering” and
Cheney has been keeping mum.
While Pentagon investigates the “over-billing issue”, democrats have
got enough masala for the election campaign.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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08/25/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian-Americans Deliver United Message to US House Leadership 2) Territorial Integrity Should Be Respected, Stresses Saakashvili 3) Aliyev Holds Private Meeting With German President 1) Armenian-Americans Deliver United Message to US House Leadership Grassroots Organizations Protest Congressional Opposition to Genocide Legislation WASHINGTON, DCMore than a dozen national grassroots Armenian-American organizations came together this week to communicate the "extraordinary disappointment" of the Armenian-American community over the Congressional leadership's opposition to legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). "We have seen, in recent weeks, a tremendous groundswell of opposition from across the Armenian-American community to the Congressional leadership's attack on the Schiff Amendment, and their stubborn refusaldespite the strong, bipartisan support enjoyed by the Genocide Resolutionto schedule a vote on this human rights initiative," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. The letter, written on behalf of the collective leadership of the Armenian-American community to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, gives voice to the community's unequivocal opposition to the House leadership's efforts to reverse the Schiff Amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Foreign Operations bill, H.R. 4818, and expresses the community's "great dismay with your public statement against holding a vote on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193." The letter comes in the wake of the adoption by the US House, last month, of the Schiff Amendment, which seeks to block the use by Turkey of US foreign aid to lobby against the Genocide Resolution. It was adopted by voice vote, without any opposition, on July 15. Within hours of its passage, the Schiff Amendment came under intense attack by the Congressional leadership, with the Speaker of the House and his top deputies issuing a statementposted prominently on the first page of the Speaker of the House's websitethat they would use their influence to block its adoption as part of the final foreign aid bill. The organizations that signed the community-wide letter were the ANCA, the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic ChurchEastern and Western US, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic ChurchEastern and Western US, the Armenian Missionary Association of America, and the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics, as well as the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party, United Armenian Fund, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Bar Association, National Organization of Republican Armenians, Armenian Youth Federation, HomenetmenArmenian General Athletic Union, and Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Association. The signatories to the letter stressed that the Schiff Amendment, which was adopted by the US House on July 15, "simply underscores the importance of protecting American people from having their tax dollars used by the government of Turkey for a purpose they find patently offensivethe denial of the Armenian Genocide." They also noted that the adoption of the Amendment "reflected the breadth of the bipartisan opposition to Turkey's shameful campaign against H.Res.193, and, just as importantly, demonstrated the clear and overwhelming support of a majority of Members enjoyed by the underlying legislation." The Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193, was introduced last year by Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone. It has been cosponsored by 110 US Representatives and was approved, without opposition, in May of last year, by the Judiciary Committee. This genocide prevention measure is supported by a diverse coalition of over one hundred religious, civic, ethnic and human rights organizations, including American Values, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, NAACP, Sons of Italy, and the National Council of La Raza. The full text of the Armenian American community letter to the Speaker of the House is provided below. Text of Community Letter to Speaker Dennis Hastert Dear Speaker Hastert: We are writing, as the collective leadership of the Armenian-American community, to voice our extraordinary disappointment with your opposition to the Schiff Amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Foreign Operations bill, H.R.4818, and to express our great dismay with your public statement against holding a vote on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193. The Schiff Amendment simply underscores the importance of protecting American people from having their tax dollars used by the government of Turkey for a purpose they find patently offensivethe denial of the Armenian Genocide. The adoption of this measure on July 15th by the full US House of Representatives reflected the breadth of the bipartisan opposition to Turkey's shameful campaign against H.Res.193, and, just as importantly, demonstrated the clear and overwhelming support of a majority of Members enjoyed by the underlying legislation. As you know, H.Res.193, which was introduced by Congressmen George Radanovich and Adam Schiff, and Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone, has been cosponsored by 110 of your colleagues and was approved, without opposition, in May of last year, by the Judiciary Committee. This genocide-prevention measure is supported by a diverse coalition of over one hundred religious, civic, ethnic and human rights organizations, including American Values, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, NAACP, Sons of Italy, and the National Council of La Raza. We respectfully call upon you to reconsider your opposition to the Schiff Amendment and to immediately schedule a vote of the full US House of Representatives on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193. We make this request on several levels. First is that the adoption of such a resolution represents a moral imperative that we, as Americans, must take to defend human rights and protect human lives against the crime of genocide. Secondly, we should not allow a foreign nation, particularly one that so brazenly flaunts basic American values and which blocked the US-led coalition from opening a northern front in the Iraq War, to impose its dictates on the US Congress. Thirdly, the clear majority of Members who support this resolution should not be denied the opportunity to take part in an up-or-down vote on this human rights measure. Finally, by bringing this measure to the floor, you would be honoring your public pledge to our community on this subject made in October of 2000. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. We would be pleased to meet with you personally to discuss this matter further. Sincerely, 2) Territorial Integrity Should Be Respected, Stresses Saakashvili TBILISI (Combined Sources)--Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said that relations between Georgia and Russia should be based on mutual respect for each country's territorial integrity. "I demand that officials of the Georgian government compare Georgia with Chechnya, as we respect Russia's territorial integrity and want Russia to respect our territorial integrity," Saakashvili told a briefing on Tuesday. Saakashvili said that Russia is in fact a participant in the conflict in Tskhinvali region. "The fact that Russia is taking part in the conflict has been known to us for a long time," he said. Russian troops are gathering near South Ossetia, he said. "Our special services have had information about Russian troops and military vehicles gathering near the entrance to the Roki tunnel for a long time," Saakashvili said. Thanks to measures taken by the Georgian authorities, "large-scale military activity" was avoided, Saakashvili said. "The country has to be ready to defend itself at any moment," the president said. "We would like to negotiate with Russia, but it is not making any steps to help this," he said. The Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday dismissed as "inventions" and "unfounded statements" allegations by Georgian politicians that Russia has moved more troops to the vicinity of the Georgian border. A current Russian army exercise, which has been interpreted in Georgia as preparations for an invasion of the country's breakaway region of South Ossetia, is a routine operation that was planned in 2003 and "has nothing to do with current events around Tskhinvali," ministry spokesman Col. Vyacheslav Sedov told Interfax. The exercise is being held at a training ground in North Ossetia, a Russian region bordering South Ossetia, he said. "Maybe it is seen in Georgia as a large-scale exercise, but for Russia it is part of daily routine," he said. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Defense and National Security Committee of the Georgian parliament, Givi Targamadze, urged his country to prepare for a Russian attack. "It appears that we cannot avoid Russian aggression, and so we must stop it, which is by no means an unfeasible task if one takes into account the Chechen experience," Targamadze told a news conference in Tbilisi. Three hours before Georgia withdrew its forces from the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone last week, "Russian troops in North Ossetia were readied for march and were to enter the territory of South Ossetia via the Roki Tunnel," he said. "Airborne troops and up to 40 combat helicopters were moved to a military airfield near the village of Upper Gizel, in the immediate vicinity of the Roki Tunnel," he said. There were still up to 80 armored vehicles at a Russian military base near Oktyabrskoye village that "are intended to be moved into South Ossetia," he said. Peacekeepers monitoring South Ossetia have located trip wires and US-made mines in the area, Irina Gagloyeva, head of the South Ossetian press and information committee, told Interfax by telephone on Tuesday. "More than ten trip wires were discovered in the area of the Tskhinvali bypass road, from where Georgian servicemen were withdrawn. Twenty-five US-made mines were found in Georgian villages. Apart from peacekeeping units, the monitoring operation in the area involves representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, she said. The situation in the region is generally calm. No shelling has been reported so far. But people are waiting for what might happen with concern," she said. Referring to South Ossetian security agencies, Gagloyeva said that Georgian servicemen are continuing to dig trenches and to build other fortification facilities near the villages of Tamarasheni, Kekhli and Kheit. 3) Aliyev Holds Private Meeting With German President GERMANY (Azertag)--Following an official welcoming ceremony, a private meeting was held between Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and President of Germany Horst Koehler on August 25, AzerTag personal correspondent reports. During the conversation, President Koehler highly valued the Azeri leader's first official visit to Germany, stressing it would have a positive impact on the development of bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation between the two countries. Expressing satisfaction with the hospitality shown to him during the visit, Aliyev pointed out the importance of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany, particularly in regards to international organizations and integration of Azerbaijan into European structures. Regarding the Karabagh conflict, Koehler stated that Germany completely supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and will adhere to this position in the future. Germany as an OSCE member will intensify its efforts concerning the problem, he said. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.