Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

CAN GEORGIAN TERRITORY STAND AN ATOMIC POWER STATION?
Fridon Dochia

Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 25 2007

You have a problem with the place" – Evgeni Reshitnikov

Georgian Times has already offered you various opinions of Georgian
scientists and dedicated some articles to the issues concerning the
possible building of atomic electicity generating power station in
Georgia, with all its perceived threats and benefits. While visiting
France Georgian President Michael Saakashvili’s was offered the
opportunity to build an atomic power station in Georgia. Obviously,
this proposal has many supporters and opponents.

Evgeni Reshitnikov is well known amongst Georgian scientists in
the sphere of atomic energy and he has dedicated his career to this
sphere. Since 1987, when the Ministry of Energy was created during the
time of Soviet Union, he served as its deputy minister and afterwards,
1990-1992 was served in the postion as Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy
and Industry. More recently, 1992 to 2005, and prior to retiring,
he had the post of deputy minister of atomic energy ministry for the
Russian Federation. However, he didn’t receive his pension for long
and was soon invited to serve as the vice president of the company
Atomstroiexport(Nuclear Construction Export).

Currently Evgeni coordinates the construction of atomic power station
and Atomstroiexport" has constructed atomic power stations in China,
India and Iran.

Georgian Times talked with vice president of Russian company
Atomstroiexport. Mr. Evgeni Reshetnikov discussed the expecting
threats and benefits from construction of atomic power station, why
was construction of atomic power station blocked in Georgia during
Soviet Union? These are the issues:

Georgian Times: French offered us the opportunity to build a nuclear
power station in Georgia. What positive and negative aspects may
it have?

Evgeni Reshetnikov: You have a problem with the place ("Ploshadka")
of the construction site. Even in 1986-87 when we intended to start
construction of atomic power station in Georgia, the only place where
we could build it was Gali region, as we couldn’t find any other
location that would be an appropriate place for it, and eventually
we stopped talking about this issue. The most important issue this
regard is to find an appropriate place. By the way, an atomic power
station is something that Georgia desperately needs.

GT: I cannot say it definitely but as far as I’ve heard it was
Vladislav Ardzinba, former leader of breakaway Abkhazia, who played
a vital role laying out the plans to build an atomic power station
in Gali. Is it right?

ER: Frankly speaking he was not the only reason involved Even there the
location is very expensive for construction as there are underground
waters. It would be necessary to strengthen the soil structure and and
that would involve expensive engineering. That time it took us three
days to discuss this issue with Ministers’ Council of Georgian SSR We
came to the conclusion that it would be better to build a high-voltage
line that would provide Georgia with power from Azerbaijan and
Russia. However, we still agreed to continue our discussions about
construction of atomic power station for a later date.

GT: That time Ardzinba was not in Abkhazia at all, and under such
circumstances how could he oppose the building of an atomic power
station in Gali? What kind of leverage t did he have to prevent this?

ER: As I remember he worked in "Sakhmsheni" ("Gosstroi").

GT: As the government states if French build atomic power station
Georgian would become an energy independent country. Do you agree
with such assessment?

ER: Evidently, in such cases every country acquires energy independence
as it is always possible to import fuel.

GT: We still remember Chernobyl tragedy in the Ukraine, and that’s
why there are opponents who take exception to this possibility. How
safe are atomic power station today?

ER: Do you know what’s the point? You should know the history of the
Chernobyl Unit 4 catastrophe. There were some experiments forbidden
by safety instructions and regulation and they were launched there,
and that is why the accident occured.

GT: By the way, Georgian Times had already written about that based
on Georgian Scientists, but let’s explain the reasons anyway.

ER: Let’s say it in simply terms; we have traffic rules saying that
driving on red light is forbidden. They violated this rule and drove
on red light. Atomic power station represents different technology
excluding incidents like Chernobyl. Modern technologies imply double
degree of protection coverage and special containment beneath.

GT: Georgia is located in a seismological active region. That is why
we are all interested in how much safer modern atomic power stations
are in terms of seismology.

ER: We are well aware of this and consideringmodern atomic power
station construction technology, all these aspects are being
considered. Plants are designed to withstand an earthquake up to 9
on the Richter scale. If you remember during the Spitak earthquake
at the Armenian atomic power station that it did not cease to operate.

GT: Evgeni Alexandovich, France offered to help with the construction
of an atomic power station. Does the Russian Federation have the
desire to have such stations as well?

ER: Sure, if government applies we can negotiate with them as soon
as possible.

GT: How do you think, what is the reason our government didn’t address
Russia, is the reason lack of confidence?

ER: There is something about it, I suppose. But this conflict is very
unpleasant for those, who know Georgia well.

GT: What is your personal attitude towards Georgians and Georgia?

ER: I have wonderful relations with both Georgians and Georgia. I
have many friends, we have worked together for a long time, and
we know each other very well. Now I remember how we built Georgia
together. There was such a unit "Sakhidroenergomsheni" (Georgian
Hydro Energy Builder) with the head Dadiani, he was a noble man; I
still have friendly relations with him. We had many Georgians at the
Kurtsk atomic power station. A Georgian was chief engineer but he has
unfortunately passed away. The conflicts that people have today are
not between ordinary people and what conflicts exists are actually
between those who are on a high level.

ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS OF ST. PETERSBOURG TO BE DIGITALIZED
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
20/06/2007

The ancient manuscripts and unique books kept at the St. Petersbourg
University are being digitalized.

ITAR-TASS informed that Milana Azarkina, Librarian-in-chief of the
ST. Petersbourg University, stated about this.

She said that the University had already purchased special equipments
for digitalization. The equipment costs about $20 thousand in
total. The list of the books prepared for digitalization includes
Arabic and Ottoman manuscripts, books in Old Japanese, as well as
other unique pieces. Yet, it isn’t specified which company will carry
out the digitalization.

RETROSPECTIVE SHOW OF ARMENIAN FILMS IN GERMANY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2007

BERLIN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first retrospective
show of Armenian films under the title ‘Nostalgia’ was held on
May 5-31, 2007 in Germany under the initiative of the ART COMBAT
Transnational (ACT) German organization, with the sponsorship of the
European Cultural Parliament, and with the assistance of the steering
committee of the Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) film festival.

Film directors Haroutiun Khachatrian, Vigen Chaldranian,
cinematographer Garegin Zakoyan and RA Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Germany Karine Ghazinian represented Armenia at
the event. 20-30 Armenian films (most of them from state archives),
with the commentaries by a responsible person from the Armenian cinema
archives, cinematographer Garegin Zakoyan, presented the present and
the past of Armenian cinema.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Armenian National Cinema Center,
besides film shows, historic, political, scientific discussions,
and disputes dedicated to the subject of Genocide in cinema were
also held within the framework of the project. As film director and
cameraman Fred Clemen, Director of ART COMBAT Transnational, evaluated,
the project’s goal is to present a type of national cinema which has
given wonderful film directors and has a unique voice in world cinema.

The subjects of public discussions that followed the screening were:

The history of Armenian cinema and the traces of the Armenian
Genocide in it (with the participation of Haroutiun Khachatrian,
Garegin Zakoyan, and Vigen Chaldranian),

Germany’s participation in the Genocide (the participants were
professor Herman Goltz and Hilmar Kaiser),

Cinematographic art and deportation: the loss of homeland and Diasporan
cinematographic art (participants Atom Egoyan, Arsine Khanjian,
Karine Torosian, and Garegin Zakoyan).

The month of Armenian films, which was also accompanied by interesting
discussions, gave a unique resonance to the issue of presentation
of the subject of the Armenian Genocide in cinema and in particular,
Armenian cinema.

ACCORDING TO DATA OF SOCIOMETER, MOST OF VOTERS IN REPUBLIC OF NAGORNO KARABAKH WANT TO SEE BAKO SAHAKIAN IN POST OF PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Jun 18 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. In the presidential elections of the
republic of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakian, the Head of the National
Security Service, will struggle against Masis Mayilian, the Deputy
Prime Minister, though they "have different political weight." This
prevision was made by Aharon Adibekian, the head of the sociological
center Sociometer, at the June 18 press conference.

According to a social survey data conducted by the center in Artsakh,
45% of voters want to see Bako Sahakian in the post of the future
President of the republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and M. Mayilian,
who received 5% of the participants of the survey, is in second
place. Among the other candidates Hrant Melkumian received 3% and
Armen Abgarian and Vanik Avanesian about 1%.

In response to the question of whom they think is capable to solve
the primary problems of Nagorno Karabakh, 44% of the participants
of the survey mentioned the name of B. Sahakian, about 4.5% that of
M. Mayilian, and about 2.5% mentioned the name of H. Melkumian. The
other two candidates received approximately 1% of the votes.

In response to the question of what characteristic features the
president of the country should have, 38.5% of those asked mentioned
"considerate, thinking about his people", 17% said "educated,
literate", 12.3% "experienced, skillful", 9.5% "incorrupt", and 7.8%
said "patriotic." The answer "making a contribution to the movement"
was mentioned by only 3.5% of voters, whereas, in A. Adibekian’s
opinion, this feature was of primary significance for voters ten
years ago.

In response to a journalist’s question of whether anyone had mentioned
the fact about B. Sahakian being a drug addict, A. Adibekian answered
that among the 700 people taking part in the survey, nobody spoke
about it in that way.

"A person should not be reproached for the mistakes made when he was
young throughout his life," the sociologist added.

Armenia opposition holds rally in Yerevan

Arminfo
15 Jun 07

Yerevan, 15 June: Another rally organized by opposition parties is
under way in Yerevan. About 300 people are in attendance.

Only the leaders of the Impeachment bloc and the Alternative movement
are seen at the rally held near the Matenadaran [institute and museum
of manuscripts in Yerevan].

[Passage omitted: other party leaders did not attend due to various
reasons.]

Addressing the rally, Vahagn Khachatryan of the Impeachment bloc said
that the Constitutional Court’s ruling on 10 June not to invalidate the
parliamentary election had proved that the court totally depends on the
authorities.

"All of us would like not to discuss but to trust the Constitutional
Court’s ruling. But the constitutional court simply does not exist in
this country," Khachatryan said.

Addressing the rally, Melissa Brown, the wife of the former Foreign
Minister Aleksandr Arzumanyan, who is custody, said Arzumanyan welcomed
the rally. She called Arzumanyan a political prisoner fighting for
freedom.

The rally was mainly dedicated to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. Those
addressing the rally repeated their critical comments regarding on the
Armenian authorities’ policy on the Karabakh issue. It is unlikely that
after the rally the opposition members will hold a march [presumably to
the Republic Square where a complex of the government offices is
located].

BAZE GATHERS IN JERMUK THIS YEAR

KarabakhOpen
15-06-2007 11:26:13

This year the BAZE All-Armenian Youth Gathering will be in Jermuk
and last from July 12-19. 650 young people aged 18-30 from Armenia,
Artsakh, Javakheti and the Diaspora will participate in contests and
have interesting meetings and leisure.

Young people will compete in table tennis, chess, mini-football,
volley-ball, as well as song and dance contests, design of clothes,
woodcarving, drawing, Brain Test, Brain Ring and Baze Poet.

The gathering is organized by the All-Armenian Youth Foundation.

Marianna Hakobyan, officer of the ministry of education in charge of
youth, said 12 young people will go from Artsakh. They are selected
by a contest.

OPPOSITION IS PEOPLE WHO SHOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WITH A SINGLE CANDIDATE, FELIX KHACHATRIAN IS CONVINCED

Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "By saying opposition I understand
citizens of the Republic of Armenia and that opposition should run
for the 2008 presidential elections with a single candidate." Felix
Khachatrian, member of People’s Party of Armenia, member of Central
Electoral Commission, stated at the June 15 press conference. In his
words, "the people has a huge energy and seeing the unfairness at
the parliamentary elections, this time the instinct of protecting
its rights will wake up in the people."

As F. Khachatrian affirmed, the parliamentary elections were held
with many violations. In his words, for disclosing them they should
check protocols at each polling station and reconsider the results
of elections in the presence of representatives of law enforcement
bodies, members of constituency, district and central electoral
commissions. In F. Khachatrian’s opinion, there will be few polling
stations where no violations have been registered.

2 BERRY FACULTY MEMBERS HONORED

Rome News-Tribune, GA
June 14 2007

Two Berry College professors have been honored for their work in and
out of the classroom.

Dr. Steven Bell, professor of psychology and education, has received
the Dave and Lu Garrett Award for Meritorious Teaching for the second
time in his career at Berry. The award is given annually to faculty
members judged to best exemplify effectiveness in undergraduate
education during the academic year.

Bell joined the Berry faculty in 1976 as an assistant professor
of psychology. He was promoted to associate professor in 1982
and granted tenure in 1983. From 1992 until 1996, he served as
director of graduate studies. In 1996 he was named coordinator of
the psychology department. He was presented the Dave and Lu Garrett
Award for Meritorious Teaching in 1997 and promoted to the position
of professor in 1998.

Dr. Michael Papazian, associate professor of philosophy and chair
of the religion and philosophy department, is the 2007 recipient of
the Mary S. and Samuel Poe Carden Award for outstanding teaching,
scholarship and service.

A faculty member since 1998, Papazian teaches general education and
upper-level philosophy courses at Berry. He has been department chair
since 2004 and also is advisor for the student organization Philosophia
Religioque. He is a past director of Berry’s Honors Program.

His scholarly accomplishments include the completion of three books
concerned with Armenian studies and numerous journal articles and
presentations.

ORHAN PHAMUK INVOLVED AS AGGRIEVED NOT TO TAKE PART IN COURT HEARING OF HRANT DINK’S MURDER CASE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 14 2007

ISTANBUL, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Turkish writer,
Nobel prize winner Orhan Phamuk, will not take part in the court
hearing of the murder case of Hrant Dink, the former editor-in-chief
of the Weekly "Akos".

This information was provided by the Cihan agency.

Orhan Phamuk, expressing his position as an aggrieved party, gave a
statement through his lawyer Haluk Inanj that he can not take part
in the court hearing to be held on July 2 because of his busy working
schedule in abroad.

It should also be mentioned that Yasin Hayal, the defendant charged
with Dink’s murder, threatened Orhan Phamuk saying: "Phamuk should
show some sense." On the basis of this statement, the court has
decided to involve Orhan Phamuk in the case as an aggrieved party.

DOZENS PROTEST OUTSIDE AS NEW CABINET MEETS
By Shake Avoyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 14 2007

Scores of residents affected by massive redevelopment schemes in
downtown Yerevan protested outside the government building on Thursday
as the new Armenian government were holding their first meeting inside.

Activists representing hundreds of citizens controversially evicted
from their city center homes to give way to multimillion construction
projects accused Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian of going back on his
promise to meet them and discuss ways to settle their problems.

Vachagan Hakobian, who set up a nongovernmental organization to
advocate the property rights of evicted citizens, says the authorities’
inaction to provide solutions to their problems made them resort to
a protest action again after a two-month interval.

"During the pre-election campaign we hoped that the premier would
fulfill his promise after the elections. But two months have passed,
people feel disillusioned and have decided to go outside again,"
Hakobian told RFE/RL, adding that the protest was staged at a very
short notice and therefore was not attended by all who would wish to
join the action.

Many residents whose homes were demolished by city developers are
unhappy with the modest amount of compensations they got from the
state, alleging high-level government corruption. Some have resisted
eviction by filing lawsuits and even building barricades as they
protested the government action as illegal and unconstitutional.

"We will push for a meeting with the prime minister," the activist
said. "He’d better personally tell us whether he will keep his promise
or not so that we decide on our further action."

Meanwhile, the Cabinet members sitting inside seemed untroubled by
the protest action and proceeded with their meeting as usual.

Before passing to the discussion of agenda issues, Premier Sarkisian
urged his Cabinet to work as effectively as possible and show
everything it is capable of. According to him, the need for this is
prompted by the short-term nature of the current government, which
is likely to be dissolved in an eight months’ time in view of the
presidential election in the country.

The government plans to finalize its program of action and submit it
to the National Assembly for approval by the end of this month.