Author: Nalbandian Eduard

Interfax
Oct 20 2004
Rosneftegazstroi to prospect for oil, gas in Armenia
Moscow. (Interfax) – Russia’s Rosneftegazstroi is registering a
license with the Armenian Energy Ministry to prospect for oil and gas
in the Shirak province, 120 km from Yerevan, Ruben Melikonian, the
company’s vice president, told Interfax.
Melikoian said Armenia had commercial oil an gas reserves. “We will
use modern technology to find these deposits,” he said.
Geologists have drilled more than 200 prospecting wells, mostly in
Central Armenia, since 1947 and found little to show for their
efforts. Even so, the Soviet government estimated in 1979 that
Armenia hosted a potential 100 million tonnes of oil and 100 billion
cubic meters (bcm) of gas.
Rosneftegazstroi will go on to prospect for oil and gas in other
regions of Armenia, Melikonian said.
Rosneftegazstroi is thinking of setting up a joint venture and
opening a representative office in Armenia, he said.
The company is also interested in the Iran – Armenia gas pipeline
construction project, he said.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2004
Opposition pickets US embassy
Some 50 members of the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (WAPFP)
held an unsanctioned picket outside the US embassy in Baku on Tuesday
in protest against the Armenian parliament members’ planned
participation in the 58th `Rose Roth’ seminar of the NATO
parliamentary Assembly due in Baku.
Despite interference by the police, the protesters showed placards
`Respect the Azerbaijani people’, `End to double standards’, `Don’t
bring enemies to Azerbaijan!’, `Down with Armenian invaders’ and
`Freedom to Garabagh’ and forwarded a resolution to the embassy. No
protesters were detained during the picket.
WAPFP plans to hold similar actions outside the embassies of other
NATO member states accredited in Baku. The party will picket the
Turkish embassy on October 26.
WAPFP attempted to hold an unsanctioned protest action outside the
Milli Majlis (parliament) on October 12.*

ARKA News Agency
Oct 20 2004
Construction of three lines of rope-way in Tsakhkadzor (Armenia) to
be finished in 2005
Seismic protection system must be in the same raw of Armenian
priorities
Political will to allow conducting normal elections in Armenia, RA NA
Vice Speaker
The President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan to leave for Georgia for a
three-day official visit on October 22
*********************************************************************
CONSTRUCTION OF THREE LINES OF ROPE-WAY IN TSAKHKADZOR (ARMENIA) TO
BE FINISHED IN 2005
YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. Construction of three lines of rope-way
in Tsakhkadzor (Armenia) will be finished in 2005, RA President’s
press office told ARKA. Today the President got familiar with the
construction works at the rope-way and make an assignment to start
works on projecting the third line. In 2004 it is planned to finish
construction of 1st and 2nd lines, the works on which started on Aug
9, 2004. Along with that the works on construction of necessary
infrastructures are also being held.
Construction works on reconstruction of rope-way are made by Swiss
Company Lightner the agreement with which was signed in April 2004.
L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
SEISMIC PROTECTION SYSTEM MUST BE IN THE SAME RAW OF ARMENIAN
PRIORITIES
YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. Seismic protection system must be in the
same raw of Armenian priorities, the Chairman of Association of
Armenian Seismology and Land Physics Sergey Balasanian told ARKA
talking about the results of 5th General Assembly of Asian Seismic
Commission finished to day in Yerevan. According to him, for
strengthening of seismic protection Armenia needs in political
decisions. `The biggest achievement of this Assembly is general
conclusion that all newest achievements in the field of seismic
protection are not yet reflected on security of people. And it
considers all countries of the world’, Balasanian said.
At this Balasanian said that at the Assembly one of the leading
Japanese scientists stated that in near 10 years problem of absolute
predictability of earthquakes will be solved. In the whole he called
the Assembly `unusually successful’ and mentioned the support of RA
Government and Yerevan Municipality.
5th General Assembly dedicated to 15th anniversary of Spitak
earthquake took place in Armenia on Oct 18-20. Representatives of
more than 46 countries arrived in Armenia for participation in the
Assembly. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
POLITICAL WILL TO ALLOW CONDUCTING NORMAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA, RA NA
VICE SPEAKER
YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. Political will will allow conducting
normal elections in Armenia, RA NA Vice Speaker Tigran Torosian.
According to him, conduction of similar election process during next
presidential and parliamentary elections to have exceptional meaning
for the future of Armenia. `If Armenia conducts similar elections,
it’ll receive good opportunity for development. If not, it will have
to take place among corresponding countries’, Torosian said.
Torosian noted that present Election code has some defects,
contributing to election violations, namely the issue of election
lists, role of trustees during calculation of votes. `It would be
naive to think that only changes of EC will achieve the full election
process’, he said. The responsibility for violations taken by some
party will also not lead to a result, before political powers realize
the necessity of quality changes in election process. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA ROBERT KOCHARYAN TO LEAVE FOR GEORGIA FOR A
THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT ON OCTOBER 22
YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. On October 22, the President of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan will leave for Georgia for a three-day official
visit. According to RA President’s Press Service Department, the
official ceremony of meeting RA President will take place near
Bagratashen frontier point. Then in the residence of the Georgian
President Michael Saakashvili and Robert Kocharyan will have a
meeting behind the closed doors followed by the negotiations at the
highest level between the delegations of two countries.
According to the press release, in the course of the visit of the
Armenian President to Georgia, he will met the Speaker of the
Georgian Parliament Nino Burjanadse, the Prime Minister Zourab
Zhvaniya, the Catholicos of All Georgians Iliya the Second. Besides,
Kocharyan will put a wreath to the Memorial to heroes, perished for
the integrity of Georgia, and will participate in festivities devoted
to the Day of Tbilisi. Besides, Kocharyan will meet the authorities
of the Armenian community of Georgia. A.H. – 0–

Anadolu Agency
Oct 17 2004
Turkish Associations In United States React To Kerry
NEW YORK – Turkish associations in the United States sent a letter to
Democratic presidential candidate Senator John F. Kerry who confirmed
his support to recognition of so-called Armenian genocide through his
spokesman, to express their reaction and disappointment.
The letter signed by Federation of Turkish-American Associations
(TADF), Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI), and
Association of Turkish American Architects, Engineers & Scientists
(MIM USA), expressed Turkish people’s disappointment with statements
of Kerry over the so-called Armenian genocide.
Stressing that Turkey and the United States had been friends and
allies for years, the letter underlined that the two countries had
been cooperating with each other for peace and security of the world.
”Turkey, a powerful and stable partner of the United States in one
of the most unstable regions of the world, is one of the most
reliable allies of the United States in its fight against terrorism.
We, as American citizens of Turkish origin, have been expending
efforts to further improve the percent relations between our
countries. We are determined to support the presidential candidate
who is aware of importance of the bilateral relations between Turkey
and the United States, in the upcoming elections,” it said.
The letter noted, ”we want to express our disappointment with Mr.
Kerry’s statements for recognition of Armenian allegations saying
that the Ottoman Empire committed genocide against Armenians during
the World War I. These allegations are totally baseless and wrongful.
Any attempt distorting historical facts, will have a negative impact
on the bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States. We
call on Mr. Kerry to review his intention for recognition of such
allegations.”

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
10/14/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Senate Adjourns Before Adopting Key US-Armenia Trade Provision 2) French Parliament Debates Turkey's EU Accession Bid 3) Spitting Incident Digs up Deep Rooted Old City Tensions 4) Media Groups Condemn New Attack on Journalist 1) Senate Adjourns Before Adopting Key US-Armenia Trade Provision Though US House gives final approval to extend permanent normal trade relations status to Armenia, post-adjournment session may approve measure only after election WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)US Senators left Washington yesterday to hit the campaign trail before taking up a large trade bill that includes a provision to permanently normalize trade between the US and Armenia. Senate's failure to act on the provision that would grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to Armenia, was due to entirely unrelated concerns about other parts of the larger trade measure, HR 1047the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act. The US House passed this bill on October 8. The last opportunity for Congress to approve this measure during the 108th Congress will be during a rare post-adjournment session of Congresseither before or, more likely, after the November 2 election. This session will deal primarily with approving appropriations bills and finalizing legislation on intelligence reform. Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) was the first to raise the issue of Armenia PNTR in Congress. His legislation, HR 528, introduced last year was supported by the Armenian Caucus and cosponsored 112 other Members of Congress. A companion bill was introduced on the Senate side by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and cosponsored by 21 other Senators. The strong support for these measures paved the way for serious consideration of their inclusion by members of Congress negotiating the final version of the larger trade measure. "We want to thank Congressman Knollenberg, Senator McConnell and all those who played a role in bringing Armenia PNTR to the brink of final adoption," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "While we would have liked to have seen the Senate act before adjourning, we remain hopeful that this measure will be enacted into law before the end of the 108th Congress." Over the past two years, the ANCA has worked, in Washington, DC and in local communities throughout the country to generate bipartisan support for the measure among legislators, including those serving on key trade subcommittees. The trade bill represents a core element of the ANCA's efforts to expand bilateral economic relations, provide new commercial opportunities, and further strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples. Over ten thousand pro-Armenia activists sent ANCA WebFaxes to Congress, thousands more made phone calls in support of PNTR, and this important issue was raised in several hundred Congressional visits, both in District Offices and the nation's capital. The sample ANCA WebFax letter for activists included several reasons to support this legislation, among them: nIncreased US-Armenia trade and investment advances US foreign policy by strengthening Armenia's free market economic development and integration into the world economy. nExpanded US-Armenia commercial relations will strengthen bilateral relations and reinforces the enduring friendship between the American and Armenian peoples. nAdoption of PNTR for Armenia will help offsetat no cost to US taxpayersthe devastating impact of the dual Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, estimated by the World Bank as costing Armenia up to a third of its entire GDP (as much as $720 million annually) and half of its exports. The Trade Act of 1974 excluded all Soviet countries from having normal trade relations (NTR) status with the United States. One particular provision of the Act, known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment, required the President to deny NTR to those countries that restricted free emigration. The policy was adopted, in part, in response to Communist government restrictions on the emigration of Jews. According to the terms of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, when the President determines that freedom of emigration rights have been reinstated in a country, normal trade relations may be granted. To maintain NTR, the President must report to Congress twice a year that Jackson-Vanik requirements have been met. While successive Presidents have waived the Jackson-Vanik Amendment restrictions on Armenia during the past decade, the passage of the Knollenberg bill, would grant Armenia permanent normal trade relations status, without the need for semi-yearly Presidential determinations. The depth of American support for Armenia PNTR was made clear in the responses from around the nation to the multi-issue candidate questionnaires circulated this election season by the ANCA. Challengers and incumbents from both parties have stressed their support for legislation that would grant (PNTR) status. 2) French Parliament Debates Turkey's EU Accession Bid Turkey 'not ready' yet to join EU according to French Prime Minister PARIS (AFP)--French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Thursday that Turkey is not ready to join the European Union but should pursue its membership bid; Raffarin was speaking during a parliamentary debate on the issue that has polarized the country. "Neither Europe nor Turkey" are "today ready for Turkey to join" the bloc, he told parliament in his opening remarks, but said "Turkey's request is not illegitimate." The debate was set to highlight major arguments raging in France--and in other EU countries--over Turkey's four-decade-old bid to become a member of the expanding European Union. However, in an unusual approach criticized by many MPs and underlining the deep divide over the issue, the exchange was not to be put to a vote. The debate was being held ahead of an EU summit on December 17 at which EU leaders will decide how to act on a recommendation from the bloc's executive arm to open accession talks with Ankara. President Jacques Chirac has pronounced himself in favor of Turkey's accession. At the same time, Chirac has bowed to public concern by promising to put the matter to a referendum and pointing out that France could veto negotiations at any time. Many in his ruling Union for a Popular Movement party, including ministers, have declared themselves opposed to the future inclusion of a country that is predominantly Muslim and comparatively poor. The opposition Socialist party is similarly divided, while a newspaper poll earlier this week found that 75 percent of people would vote against Turkish entry in a referendum. Turkish MPs visiting France this week expressed surprise at the resistance to their country's bid. "Some French politicians are asking whether our civilizations are compatible, whether Turkey belongs to the European continent, but we haven't changed our religion, our size or our geographical position," said Onur Oymen, of the center-left People's Republican Party. "Turkey today is better prepared than several other countries recently admitted to the EU, especially in the fields of economy, banking and finances," said Ibrahim Ozal, of the ruling Justice and Development Party. Chirac is to meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at three-way talks October 26 in Berlin hosted by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Germany also has a sizable, mainly conservative faction opposed to Turkey joining the bloc, although not on the scale as France. France is said to be pushing for any start date for accession talks to be put back until at least the second half of next year, fearing it could hit the government's drive to get the EU's first constitution accepted by referendum. 3) Spitting Incident Digs up Deep Rooted Old City Tensions JERUSALEM (Combined Sources)The recent altercation between an Armenian Orthodox bishop and an ultra-Orthodox Jewish youth has spotlighted the issue of such religious confrontations, which according to some observers, is on the rise. The incident occurred October 10 when a Jewish student spat at a cross carried by Archbishop Nourhan Manougian during a procession marking the exaltation of the holy cross in Jerusalem's Old City. The archbishop's ceremonial medallion, which has been in use since the 17th century, was broken during the ensuing brawl, during which he slapped the student. The archbishop and the student were questioned by the police, and the student was arrested. The Ha'aretz newspaper said religious Jews often spit on the ground when they see the cross. The newspaper quoted the archbishop as saying he had grown accustomed to people turning around and spitting when he walked past, but to have a cross spit at during a religious procession was a "humiliation we are not prepared to accept." Manougian denounced the "shocking silence" of the Israeli religious establishment toward "these unacceptable acts." "You meet a fanatic segment of Jews who have their own ideas; sometimes when they see Christian clergy walking on the Via Dolorosa with the cross, some fanatics [may say something or spit] but we can't generalize. It is not the sort of thing you see in general," said Father Shawki Baterian, chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. "It may happen to individual priests sometimes, but they don't [lodge] complaints or pay attention to it." He said Archbishop Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem has never been insulted or abused in such a manner. Daniel Rossing, former adviser on Christian affairs for the Religious Affairs Ministry and director of the Jerusalem Center for Christian-Jewish Dialogue, said, however, that the Armenian and Syrian Orthodox churches are generally the ones facing the brunt of such antagonism because their communities are located closer to areas where Orthodox Jews go and so have more chances of contact. "You don't hear of a lot of incidents near the Latin Patriarchate area or near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, because those are not areas where in general Jews are passing, [but] the Armenian Quarter is along a major thoroughfare, with a human traffic flow of Jews going to the Jewish Quarter and to the Western Wall," Rossing said. In general, Rossing said such attacks are perpetrated by younger male members of the Orthodox Jewish community. He said his center is planning to ask Christian churches to report all such incidents so it can build a solid statistical base with which to approach leading rabbinical figures to ask for their assistance in curbing the abuse. Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said police have had only two complaints from Christians in the past year. In both cases, the culprits were caught and punished, he said, adding that police deploy a large number of patrols and employ special technology in the Old City to try to maintain order. Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, said there have been increasing reports of such incidents. "There is a lack of education in a very certain quarter of Jewish life, but it is not sweeping Israeli society. It tends to be in the areas of Jerusalem where [Christian clergy] come in contact with ultra-Orthodox [Jews]," he said. "It is not an epidemic, but it is increasing." The problem is most intense in the Old City, he said, recalling an incident when he accompanied a visiting Catholic cardinal to the Western Wall, and an Orthodox Jewish youth shouted disparaging remarks at the religious leader. The cardinal ignored the shouting, and his visit continued as planned. "There needs to be more education and statements by some leading figures in the Orthodox [Jewish] world in Israel," Rabbi Kronish said. "But it is hard to educate people who are not open to dialogue. More awareness that this is a city of three faiths would be helpful." In its lead editorial, Ha'aretz called the incidents "Jerusalem's disgrace" and charged the police and Interior Ministry with not doing enough to prevent such attacks. "It turns out that for some time the Christians in Jerusalem have been suffering from... provocations by wild young people. The provocations. . . have become an ugly routine in recent years, fitting right in with the increasingly extremist political atmosphere," the newspaper said. It called on the city to "take firm action" against the offending youth. "It is intolerable that Christian citizens of Jerusalem suffer from the shameful spitting at or near a crucifix," the paper said. Many Orthodox Jews see the cross as a symbol of the violence perpetrated on Jewish communities by Christians over the centuries. According to Albert Aghazaryan, one of the prominent leaders of the Palestinian Armenian community, the act of spitting on Christian symbols is "deep rooted in the Jewish religious doctrine." "Hostility to Christianity is intrinsic in religious Jewish thinking," Aghazaryan said. A few weeks ago, a similar incident took place when another religious Jew, reportedly an old man wearing a skullcap, spat at a Christian Orthodox leader as he opened the window of his car. A few years ago, Jewish religious students burned down a Jerusalem flat in which two Christian college students were living. The two students fled unharmed. According to the famous Jewish author and philosopher Yisrael Shahak, much of the Jewish Orthodox hostility to Christianity originate in theology. In his book "Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three Thousand Years," Shahak pointed out that "it became customary to spit [usually three times] upon seeing a church or a crucifix." On page 98, Shahak points out that Christianity as a religion is classed by Rabbinic teaching as idolatry. "All the Christian emblems and pictorial representations are regarded as idols. . . even by those Jews who literally worship scrolls, stones or personal belongings of 'Holy Men.' " According to Shahak, some Orthodox Jews are enjoined to recite the following curse on hearing the name Jesus: "May his name be damned and his memory be erased." Interior Minister Avraham Poraz issued a strongly worded statement Tuesday against incidents of Jews spitting at Christian clergy in Jerusalem, saying he was "repulsed" by the repeated attacks." Poraz called such behavior by ultra-Orthodox Jewish students "intolerable," and asked Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra to "take all the necessary steps to prevent these incidents in the future." Poraz also expressed his dismay to the heads of the churches in Israel and noted "Israel's commitment to freedom of religion." 4) Media Groups Condemn New Attack on Journalist YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--Armenia's three leading media associations condemned on Thursday a reported attack on the editor of a provincial newspaper, calling it the result of the failure of authorities to properly investigate similar incidents earlier this year. In a joint statement, the Yerevan Press Club, the Journalists Union of Armenia, and the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression demanded an "objective investigation" into the incident and punish the guilty. Samvel Aleksanian, the editor of the "Syuniats Yerkir" newspaper based in the southeastern town of Ghapan, said he was beaten up by three young men in his office on Wednesday for publishing articles that criticized the government's decision to close two regional schools. He described the attackers as the local leaders of the youth league of the Republican Party (HHK). Police in Ghapan have pledged to investigate Aleksanian's claims. "If they are guilty they must not only be expelled from the party but also punished by law," said Galust Sahakian, the leader of the HHK faction in parliament. "Apparently, the lack of punishment in a number of recent incidents of violence against media representatives or the mild punishments imposed on their perpetrators led some people to think that they can intimidate journalists," said the statement by the journalist unions. 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.

L’Express
11 octobre 2004
Turquie: la Commission contre l’opinion;
Tribune libre
par Leylekian Laurent
Si l’on veut donner tort aux eurosceptiques, il ne faut pas laisser
une instance non élue prendre en sous-main des décisions d’une telle
importance
La Commission européenne a rendu le 6 octobre un rapport largement
positif sur la candidature turque à l’Union et, le 17 décembre, le
Conseil devrait autoriser dans un délai plus ou moins bref le début
des négociations d’adhésion avec Ankara. Tant pis pour l’occupation
du nord de Chypre ou les réformes législatives, qui, comme à l’époque
du Tanzimat, resteront sur le papier. Tant pis aussi pour ce que
l’International Publishers Association nomme les six tabous de la
Turquie: la place de l’armée, le problème kurde, le génocide
arménien, le kémalisme, l’émancipation des femmes et la loi
islamique. Si cela advenait, ce serait une double faute dont les
répercussions dépasseraient de loin la question turque.
En ce qui concerne la méthode, cela attesterait l’évolution de
l’Union vers une “technocrature” où une Commission “technique” impose
des décisions majeures contre l’opinion. Rappelons que la seule
instance élue, le Parlement européen, s’est souvent exprimée de
manière très critique sur la candidature turque. On appréciera à cet
égard le fait que la Commission arguë de sa volonté “ne pas blesser
l’opinion publique turque”, qui semble revêtir plus d’importance que
la nôtre. Si l’on veut impliquer les Européens dans la construction
européenne et donner tort aux eurosceptiques, il ne faut pas laisser
une instance non élue prendre en sous-main et en toute opacité des
décisions d’une telle importance.
Sur le fond, cette adhésion constituerait une formidable régression
éthique de l’Union, qui représentait un fantastique espoir: pour la
première fois, des peuples renonçaient à une part de leur
souveraineté pour se choisir un avenir commun. L’objectif – ne plus
connaître les ravages du nationalisme – impliquait un ticket
d’entrée: Etat de droit, respect des minorités… bref, les fameux
critères de Copenhague. Mieux encore, nous prétendions ériger ces
principes en exemple jeté à la face du monde. Or l’Europe, dans son
souci de montrer qu’elle n’est pas un “club chrétien” – c’est
l’antienne chère aux zélateurs d’Ankara – soulignerait surtout, à
travers l’adhésion de la Turquie, qu’elle récompense les régimes
xénophobes, militaristes et ultranationalistes.
A terme, l’Union ne résisterait pas à un tel reniement. Soumise à des
contradictions insoutenables et à des forces centrifuges croissantes,
elle se réduirait alors au champ clos de toutes les luttes
d’influence – l’Europe du congrès de Vienne, en quelque sorte. On
connaît la fin. Mais peut-être est-ce le but visé…

ONU (Communiqués de presse), NY
Oct 13 2004
UNESCO Recruits Communication and Information Adviser for Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and the Russian Federation
13-10-2004 (UNESCO)
UNESCO seeks its Communication and Information Adviser for Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and the Russian Federation.
Based in the UNESCO Office in Moscow, the Adviser will conceptualise
and design programmes and projects in communication and information
for UNESCO regular and extra budgetary funding.
Under the overall authority of the UNESCO’s Assistant
Director-General for Communication and Information, and the immediate
supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Office in Moscow and the
Directors of the Communication and Information Sector, the incumbent
will carry out the following duties:
Implement, monitor, evaluate and report on the communication and
information programme activities and projects decentralized to the
Office by, inter alia : a) assessing the needs in Member States with
regard to emerging trends in the fields of information and
communication and proposing activities based on those needs; b)
identifying, negotiating and designing projects in cooperation with
national, regional institutions and nongovernmental organizations, as
well as with the media and individuals; c) executing projects in
cooperation with governments, NGOs, consultants; d) preparing/editing
technical guidelines and other documents; e) evaluating programme
results and final outputs of projects;
Conceptualize and prepare extra-budgetary projects and negotiate with
donors the mobilization of extra-budgetary funds in the areas of
communication and information, namely, Freedom of Expression,
Democracy and Peace, Communication and Information Society. Plan and
implement approved extra-budgetary projects;
Contribute to and promote inter-disciplinarity in the
multi-disciplinary team effort of UNESCO Office in Moscow,
particularly with regard to communication and information and
sustainable development;
Collect, maintain, analyze information on communication and
information as part of the overall effort of the UNESCO Moscow Office
to establish a country specific and sub-regional data-base, as well
as for use by Headquarters, contributing to the drawing up of UNESCO
country profiles for the countries of his/her assignment;
Contribute to preparing the input of the Office and the Sector to
reports of the Director-General on implementation of programmes;
Provide on a regular basis news and information on communication and
information programmes in Member States through UNESCO’s website and
newsletters.
The candidate should have
an advanced university degree in communication and/or information
sciences.
At least 5 years experience working on communication and information
programmes at international level.
Experience in planning and implementing projects, preferably in
international organizations.
Excellent communications skills
Good IT skills.
Excellent knowledge of English and French and good knowledge of the
other language. Knowledge of Russian desirable.
Conditions of employment UNESCO’s salaries are calculated in US
dollars. They consist of a basic salary and a post adjustment which
reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange
rates. For this post, the annual remuneration will start at the
current exchange rate at US$ 75,145 (US$ 70,143 if without
dependants), exempt from income tax. In addition, UNESCO offers an
attractive benefits package including 30 days annual vacation, home
travel, education grant for dependant children, pension plan and
medical insurance. The initial appointment, which is for 2 years,
includes a probationary period of 12 months, and is renewable,
subject to satisfactory service. Worldwide mobility is required as
staff members have to serve in other duty stations according to
UNESCO’s job rotation policy. UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.
Closing date for applications is 11 December 2004.
Candidates should use UNESCO’s online application system at
Candidates without access to internet may
send a paper application by completing the official UNESCO CV form
(available at Headquarters, UNESCO Offices, National Commissions in
Member States, or any office of a United Nations Resident
Representative) in English or French to Chief, HRM/RCR, UNESCO, 7
place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France, before the closing
date, quoting the post number.
;URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base français
5 octobre 2004
UE – Turquie Un “oui” de l’UE enverrait un bon signal aux minorités
turques Entretien par Daniel Karst, ats
Berne (ats) Si l’Union européenne (UE) accepte d’ouvrir des
négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie, cela profitera aux quelque
60 minorités turques, estime l’historien Hans-Lukas Kieser,
spécialiste de cette région. En revanche, un “non” signifiera un
recul pour elles.
La vigueur du processus de réforme qui garantit une meilleure
protection pour les minorités pourrait être stoppée nette par un
refus de Bruxelles d’entrer en matière sur l’adhésion de la Turquie,
explique Hans-Lukas Kieser, qui enseigne comme privat-docent à
l’Université de Zurich.
Si la protection des minorités était améliorée parallèlement à
l’économie, cela freinerait à long terme l’émigration des Turcs dans
l’UE et accessoirement en Suisse, estime M. Kieser. Beaucoup de
membres des communautés kurdes, alévites ou chrétiennes ont fui vers
l’Ouest ces dernières décennies.
“Une réponse positive des Vingt-cinq serait ainsi dans l’intérêt de
ceux qui demandent à l’Ouest une politique plus dure à l’égard des
demandeurs d’asile et des immigrés”, souligne le chercheur.
Décision ouverte
La décision de l’UE dépend aussi du rapport qui sera publié mercredi
par la Commission européenne. Ce document, bien que critique et
exigeant des mécanismes de contrôle, recommandera l’ouverture de
négociations, a expliqué lundi le futur commissaire chargé de
l’élargissement, Olli Rehn.
Hans-Lukas Kieser tempère toutefois cet optimisme: un “oui” au sommet
de l’UE en décembre prochain n’est pas encore acquis car des
objections de principe vont subsister. Plusieurs raisons sont
invoquées pour refuser l’entrée de la Turquie.
Ce pays, qui comptera 82 millions d’habitants d’ici 2010, soit plus
que l’Allemagne, est essentiellement agricole. Sa surface cultivable
est presque aussi grande que celle cumulée des dix nouveaux Etats
membres. Cela signifie un pays cher en termes de subventions.
La Commission européenne a finalement estimé que ce handicap pouvait
être surmonté avec le temps, selon l’avis exprimé par le commissaire
à l’élargissement Günther Verheugen, rappelle l’historien suisse.
Islam dans l’Europe
Reste la question religieuse, à savoir si l’Europe chrétienne peut
accueillir en son sein un pays musulman. “Celui qui croira en
l’Occident chrétien sera opposé à l’adhésion de la Turquie. Et ceci
même si Ankara était allé plus loin dans les réformes”, explique M.
Kieser.
En revanche, celui qui comprend l’Europe comme une construction
moderne et une réponse aux catastrophes du XXe siècle sera favorable
à l’entrée de la Turquie dans le club des 25. Ce d’autant plus que
l’empire ottoman était impliqué dans la première Guerre mondiale”,
ajoute l’historien. “Dans cette logique historique, la Turquie est
européenne.”
Réformes indispensables
Toutefois, les efforts ne doivent pas seulement être consentis par
l’Europe mais aussi par la Turquie. Hans-Lukas Kieser reconnaît que
le pays a déjà fait beaucoup de progrès mais il n’a pas encore
atteint les standards démocratiques tels qu’on les pratique en
Europe.
Le Blois cite en exemple l’article 306 sur la sécurité nationale qui
a été adopté récemment dans le cadre de la réforme du Code pénal: ce
passage stipule que toute information sur le génocide arménien (1915)
est punissable. Cela contredit clairement le principe de la liberté
d’expression.

Agence France Presse
7 octobre 2004 jeudi 12:22 AM GMT
Turquie/UE : une association arménienne dénonce “l’indulgence” de la
Commission
PARIS 7 oct
Le Comité de défense de la cause arménienne (CDCA) dénonce jeudi
“l’indulgence” de la Commission européenne à l’égard de la Turquie et
souhaite qu’il n’y ait “pas de Turquie dans l’Union européenne sans
reconnaissance du génocide des Arméniens” de 1915.
Dans un communiqué, le CDCA exprime sa “profonde déception” à propos
du rapport de la Commission recommandant l’ouverture conditionnelle
des négociations d’adhésion à l’UE avec la Turquie.
L’association “dénonce l’indulgence avec laquelle la Commission
européenne traite un Etat négationniste, responsable d’un crime
contre l’humanité”, et souhaite que le président de la République
Jacques Chirac transmette au Conseil européen du 17 décembre “la
position des citoyens français d’origine arménienne : pas de Turquie
dans l’Union européenne sans reconnaissance du génocide des
Arméniens”.

Armenia Readies for Direct Flights to Sofia
novinite.com
Business: 5 October 2004, Tuesday.
Regular flights between Sofia and Erevan are likely to kick off in
April 2005, the two countries agreed during the official Bulgarian
delegation’s visit in Armenia.
The transport ministers of Bulgaria and Armenia also declared
readiness to launch the ferryboat line connecting the Black Sea ports
of Varna and Caucasus.
During the visit of Bulgarian delegation headed by President Georgi
Parvanov Bulgaria’s Transport Minister Nikolay Vassilev and his
Armenian counterpart Andranik Manukyan discussed the options for
boosting bilateral economic relations.
The volume of trade turnover between the Balkan and the Caucasian
countries have increased more than 100 times over the last three
years.