Category: News

IN THIS ISSUE:
*** PROMOTING INTERACTIVE TEACHING METHODS OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN
ARMENIA
*** NGO CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
*** AAA NGO CENTER’S COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM UNDERWAY
*** REGIONAL REFUGEE SUPPORT PROJECT
*** DEMOCRACY TODAY NGO AGAINST TRAFFICKING
*** COMMUNITY EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN REGIONS
*** TRAINING COURSES ON PEACEBUILDING, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND TOLERANCE FOR
CREATIVE REFUGEES
*** PROMOTING INTERACTIVE TEACHING METHODS OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN
ARMENIA
On the initiative of Abovyan-based Family and New World NGO, foreign
language training materials on human rights were translated into Armenian
and video films and brochures on interactive games were prepared. The
materials are intended for secondary school teachers of Human Rights courses
and human rights protectors. Materials were disseminated to 13 school
libraries in the Kotayk region and regional representatives of Junior
Achievement for distribution to teachers. Materials also are posted on the
website.
Contact: Julieta Ter-Martirosova
Family and New World NGO
3 Geghard St., apt. 32
Abovyan, Armenia
Tel.: (374-22) 2-36-04
E-mail: [email protected]
*** NGO CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
During the recent appeal process about written exams of university entrants,
the University Scientific Education Union NGO revealed some drawbacks in the
university examination assessment system and the suggestion to improve the
process was presented to the ROA Ministry of Education and Science. The
investigation into the appeal process is being carried out within the NGO’s
Protecting University Entrants’ Interests project, implemented with the
assistance of German EED Development Service. The goal of the project is to
raise awareness of university entrants, their parents, teachers, NGOs and
Mass Media on the current and new systems of University entrance
examinations. During seminars and discussions, suggestions and opinions of
beneficiaries were revealed, objective and subjective obstacles facing
university entrants were defined and their reasons identified. Subsequently,
the NGO will develop a suggestion package, which will be presented to the
Ministry of Education and Science for incorporation into the new 2006 system
of university entrance examinations.
Contact: Arthur Aslanyan
University Scientific Education Union NGO
61 Shirakatsi St., 19-11
Gyumri, Armenia
Tel.: (0-41) 3-63-20
E-mail: [email protected]
*** AAA NGO CENTER’S COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM UNDERWAY
This grants program is aimed at advancing civic participation and prosperity
of communities in the earthquake zone of Armenia. The program, targeting
Bazum and Vanadzor neighborhoods in the town of Vanadzor, was designed and
is being implemented based on community needs as prioritized by members of
those neighborhoods. Eighteen NGOs applied for the grants program
competition; three proposals were selected by the review board. Funding for
the grants program is provided by the US Agency For International
Development. Below is a brief description of project activities:
ž The Reflection Social and Economic NGO will create sites for organization
of outdoor rest and leisure time of the community population in the Bazum
neighborhood. The entire community, local self-governing bodies and
entrepreneurs are involved in solving their own problems; they participate
in construction activities, fencing and tree plantings. As a result, a
playground will be constructed and a park created for the neighborhood
population.
ž The Pan Armenian New Generation Youth Union NGO’s project is aimed at
solving the garbage management problem of the Vanadzor neighborhood.
Household garbage and construction waste containers are placed, garbage
removal schedules are developed, leaflets on the new waste removal system
are distributed and video clips broadcast on the NGO activities.
ž The Khachvogh Ughiner (Crossing Ways) Social NGO will promote the creation
of an information society and improvement of living conditions for members
of the Bazum neighborhood members by creating a Community Development and
Civic Initiative Center. The Center provides the following services to the
community: computer classes and NGO capacity building training; free access
to computers and the Internet; photocoping; presentation of educational
films; and organizing games. Local and national newspapers are available for
the population. The Bazum Newsletter will be issued within the framework of
the project. A database on target groups of the community will be developed
and various events for children will be organized.
Contact: Lilit Aramyan
Reflection Social and Economic NGO
Vanadzor, 59 Tigran Mets St., #48
Tel.: (374-51) 2-35-63
E-mail: [email protected]
Armen Matinyan
Pan Armenian New Generation Youth Union NGO
Vanadzor, 86/25 Aghayan St.
Tel.: (374-51) 5-53-03, 2-12-07
E-mail: [email protected]
Narine Ghazaryan
Khachvogh Ughiner (Crossing Ways) Social NGO
Vanadzor, 147/29 Yerevanyan Khchughi
Tel.: (374-51) 2-33-31, 5-57-29
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** REGIONAL REFUGEE SUPPORT PROJECT
The Zinvori Mair (Soldier’s Mother) Republican Committee NGO’s and the
Society of Humanitarian Research of Azerbaijan NGO’s regional Hope Mail
Service project is currently underway with the assistance of Danish Refugee
Council. The NGOs are striving to re-establish former amicable links between
refugees in Armenia and Azerbaijan and contribute to their contiguity.
Information exchanges, via letters, are carried out. NGOs receive letters
from the neighboring country, search for the addressees, and deliver the
letters, thus restoring relations between long-lost friends. A considerable
number of letters from outside the geographical framework of the project
have been received, for example, from Turkey and the USA. The project is
characterized by increased correspondence among women beneficiaries and
exchange of videocassettes and materials on media coverage on refugees.
Considering current political tensions, the authors of the project are
convinced that regional NGO cooperation is a positive way for the peoples of
both countries to make steps forward and towards each other.
Contact: Greta Mirzoyan
Zinvori Mair (Soldier’s Mother) Republican Committee NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 52-99-31; 52-32-02
E-mail: [email protected]
*** DEMOCRACY TODAY NGO AGAINST TRAFFICKING
Within the framework of UMCOR’s Assisting Victims of Trafficking program,
the Democracy Today NGO carries out the following activities: identification
of victims and forwarding them to rehabilitation center; projects aimed at
reintegration of victims into society and their families; public awareness
raising campaigns about trafficking prevention throughout Armenia; and
training courses for program staff and officers of state structures dealing
with victims. UMCOR’s Assisting Victims of Trafficking program also provides
a free hotline providing consultancy services: 0800.558.
Contact: Hasmik Edilyan
Democracy Today NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 27-22-73; 56-56-80
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** COMMUNITY EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN REGIONS
Starting from August 2004, the E-Armenia Foundation NGO initiated an
educational campaign within the framework of the E-Governance for
Territorial Administration project, implemented by UNDP, jointly with the
ROA Government. The project is aimed at increasing participation and access
to information on the regional level through creating web-based e-governance
systems hosted by regional administrations and the ROA Ministry of
Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Coordination
() The goal of the E-Armenia NGO’s project is to raise
public awareness on e-Governance and, in particular, on existing regional
web resources. The campaign components include: training courses for
specialists of Internet centers within Project Harmony Armenia’s School
Connectivity Program, distribution of printed manuals on usage of regional
web sites; a series of workshops and discussions with different sectors in
communities; public awareness campaign using local media, and distribution
of printed promotional materials, including posters and fact?sheets.
Campaigns already have been conducted in three towns of Shirak region and
two towns of Kotayk region. The campaign will conclude in December 2004. All
are invited to cooperate within the Community Education Campaign.
Contact: E-Armenia Foundation
17 Charents St., 2nd floor
Tel.: (374-1) 57-02-60
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
*** TRAINING COURSES ON PEACEBUILDING, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND TOLERANCE FOR
CREATIVE REFUGEES
The goal of these training courses is to raise awareness of refugees in the
arts and cultural fields on peace building, and engage them in peace
building processes for establishing peace and stability in South Caucasus.
The courses are comprised of two parts. The first was organized recently by
the Armenian Refugee Supporting League NGO jointly with Future Generation,
Zinvori Mair (Soldier’s Mother), and Back to Hayk NGOs. The main topics
presented during the training were peace building, conflict management and
tolerance. Lectures were accompanied by role playing and other exercises,
situation analysis and discussions. Particular attention was paid to the
topic of Cultural Creativity and Its Impact on Peace building Activities,
Preventing Conflicts and Establishing Peace and Stability. The project is
implemented through funding received from Danish Refugee Council and
consultancy provided by the Center for Conflict Management and
Peacebuilding, Norway. The second part of the courses will be held for
creative refugees of South Caucasus countries.
Contact: Nina Baghdasaryan
Armenian Refugee Supporting League NGO
14 Baghramyan 1st sidestreet, # 74
Tel.: (374-1) 58-10-77
E-mail: [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________
Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for
the NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is
provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Individual NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the
NGOC. The NGO Center is not responsible for the clarity of information
provided by individual NGOs.
Dear Readers,
The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector per any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.
Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
NGOC staff.
Contact Information:
In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St., Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (3-741) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
Fax: (3-741) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
In the United States:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC
[September 14, 2004, 22:14:22]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 14 2004
Foreign ministry of the Azerbaijan Republic expresses deep regret
in connection with cancellation of the exercise Co-operative Best
Effort 2004, which was scheduled to begin on September 14-26, 2004, in
Azerbaijan in the frame of Partnership for Peace Program of the NATO.
The Republic of Azerbaijan considered these exercises in its territory
a landmark and important event on the way to integration to the
Euro-Atlantic space and had created every condition to conduct them.
The Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation links have successfully developed
in the last years and as a result, the Republic of Azerbaijan as
one of the active partners of NATO had presented the management of
the Organization the Operation Plan on Individual Partnership in May
current year.
As a military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan Republic,
the country, where the exercises were to conduct, 20 percent of
the territories are still under occupation and over one million of
Azerbaijanis are refugees and IDPs.
Leadership of this country holds a sharp and non-constructive position
in the carried out peace negotiations. In this case, for Azerbaijan,
participation of the Armenian militaries in the exercises in the
territory of the country was impossible.
The Azerbaijan side once again states its adherence to the principles
of the Euro-Atlantic values and deepening its partnership with the
Northern Atlantic Alliance and expresses hope that the years-old
successful and effective partnership relations between NATO and the
Republic of Azerbaijan will develop dynamically in the years coming.

Red Cross honors Central Mass. ‘Everyday Heroes’
by Lisa D. Welsh; TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Massachusetts)
September 13, 2004 Monday, FINAL EDITION
Three years ago, Ross Ogden was an American Red Cross volunteer
participating in the relief effort at the World Trade Center.
“We all remember the stories of the heroes,” Mr. Ogden said during his
keynote speech at Friday’s Third Annual Heroes Breakfast, presented
by the American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts. “There were a
lot of heroes then, but there are a lot of heroes here today, too.”
Mr. Ogden, a member of the National Board of Governors of the American
Red Cross, came from headquarters in Virginia to recognize nine local
“Everyday Heroes,” and the professional heroes of Central Mass.
Representing their profession were: Lt. John Franco of the Worcester
Fire Department; Chief George Sherrill of the Holden Police Department;
Jack Chilton III of the West Boylston Fire Department; and Charles
Grosvenor of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team. Also in the room,
were the heroes whose names don’t usually appear in the newspaper.
“While heroes are defined in Webster’s Dictionary as ‘one of great
strength and courage, favored by the gods and in part descended from
them …’ the real heroes are the ones that no one knows about,”
said Mr. Ogden who has been an active disaster volunteer in numerous
relief efforts, including Hurricane Andrew and the 1994 California
earthquake in addition to the World Trade Center attacks.”People like
those who are in this room, who are called to action from within.”
The “Everyday Heroes” breakfast was the first event in the Red Cross’
new initiative called “Together We Prepare.” As stated by Mr. Ogden,
anyone can be a hero by being prepared and doing a few things before
the emergency strikes. “Build a kit, get trained, volunteer, give
blood and pledge to prepare,” he said.
The “Everyday Heroes” that were recognized at the ceremony were:
Robert Garabedian, of Worcester, who became a blood donor in 1997 when
his 31/2-year-old daughter Susan was diagnosed with leukemia. As she
began the process of treatment, Mr. Garabedian felt a need to take
action. After learning that the Armenian blood supply was one of the
last to be “typed” or chronicled, he began organizing blood drives at
his Armenian church and established an unofficial Armenian-American
Blood Bank. Susan has been cancer-free for five years.
Leo Provencher, of Templeton, a “seven gallon whole blood donor”
who has donated platelets every two weeks for the last three years.
Since discovering that he was a match with a patient in Worcester, he
started traveling once a week for five consecutive weeks to donate his
platelets. With every donation, Mr. Provencher also designated some
of his blood for pediatric AIDS research done at the UMass Memorial
Medical Center.
John Crowley, of Leicester, for boating into the night water to
save a stranger who had fallen overboard. As Mr. Crowley was reading
quietly at his home on Stiles Reservoir, he heard yelling. He took
a flashlight and his boat key and went outside where he saw a man
searching in the water for his friend whose canoe had capsized. Mr.
Crowley’s wife called 911 as he took his motorboat out to find
the missing man. Piloting carefully in the dark, he noticed an arm
sticking out of the water. Mr. Crowley reached in and pulled the man
out of the water and brought him to the ambulance waiting on the shore.
Rebecca Delano, of Dudley, for saving the life of a child. As she
dropped off her child at the YMCA’s day care, Ms Delano heard someone
say that an infant was not breathing. A Red Cross first-aid course
graduate, Ms. Delano began administering back blows and the infant
started to cough. She and a day care staff member worked to remove an
object from the infant’s mouth, which turned out to be a tiny sliver
of dried glue.
Orville Thompson, of Wheelwright, who was on his way to Barre Plains
when he thought he noticed smoke as he passed a house. Continuing down
the road, something told him to turn around. He pulled in across the
street and saw that the house was on fire. Mr. Thompson ran to open the
door where he encountered heavy smoke and heat. He couldn’t see anyone
but could hear the voice of 11-year-old Paul White who was still inside
the home calling for his dog. Knowing that the smoke was too intense
for him to enter, Mr. Thompson began to call for the boy to exit the
house. Minutes after he was able to direct the young boy to safety,
flames came through the roof and consumed the entire structure.
Michael Crimmins, 11, of Douglas, who was outside playing when he
noticed smoke coming from the chimney while his older brother was
inside. Without Michael’s quick thinking, alerting his mother about
the smoke and calling 911, his house may have burned down. Michael
had taken part in the “Student Awareness Through Fire Education”
program at his school and put the tools he learned into use.
Danielle Leary, a Shrewsbury High School student who took action after
reading an article about a high school football referee who had been
saved from a heart attack by an automatic external defibrillator
(AED). Ms. Leary decided that her own school system would be safer
by having all schools equipped with an AED unit. Through her efforts,
she raised more than $13,000 and worked with town officials to install
the AEDs at strategic sites. Ms. Leary is now certified in CPR Life
Safety and AED and has helped all those who live in her community.
Wally and Michele Connor, of East Brookfield who, after hosting
an exchange student from Abakan, visited that city in south central
Siberia. While there, they took a tour of the Yoletchka Children’s Home
where 95 children lived in a state-run home. The government supplied
food, heat and electricity but little or no clothing or supplies. As
a result of what they saw, the couple developed a system of providing
aid to the home: sending candy, toothbrushes, pens, hair clips and
toys; and starting the “Socks for Siberia” program that to date has
collected more than 600 pairs of socks, and 400 pairs of underwear
and pajamas for the children’s home.

PRESS RELEASE
September 14, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Armenian Children’s Paintings Recall 9/11, Present “Message of Freedom and Hope”
On September 13, 2004, an exhibition of paintings by Armenian children
was held in the Rayburn Congressional Building in Washington,
DC, in remembrance of the third anniversary of the tragic events
of 9/11. The exhibition, entitled “Message of Freedom and Hope,”
presented some 44 paintings by young Armenian artists, between ages
6 and 14, who created their works in the aftermath of 9/11. Most of
the young Armenian artists are affiliated with the Children’s Center
of Fine Arts in Yerevan; the exhibition was made possible by the Kamk
Benevolent Fund of Armenia.
The exhibition was hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Affairs and the Embassy of Armenia. In his remarks during the opening
ceremony, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian
noted that the impact of the tragedy of 9/11 was felt in Armenia
as well because Armenia and the United States share common values,
such as respect for freedom, democracy, human life and dignity. He
explained that the Armenian children, including the young artists whose
work was presented on the Hill, had been deeply moved and touched
by the terrible scenes of 9/11 broadcast by TV networks around the
world. Ambassador Kirakossian noted that the exhibition was entitled
“Message of Freedom and Hope” to show that the terrorist attacks
only motivated the people of the United States, Armenia, and other
countries of the world to rally to the cause of freedom. Freedom
and hope were themes vividly and artfully expressed by the Armenian
children’s paintings presented during the exhibition.
The Armenian Ambassador thanked Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Armenian Caucus, Representative Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone for
helping organize the event and for their leadership on the Armenian
issues. In turn, Congressman Knollenberg remarked that he was touched
by the artwork of the Armenian children, who, he said, had been able
to present a very important message, that the terrorist acts of 9/11
were attacks not only on the United States, but the rest of the world
as well. Congressman Pallone complemented the creative talents of the
Armenian children who expressed a very complex subject like 9/11 in
a straightforward and simple way.
The opening ceremony was attended by Members of Congress, congressional
staff members, U.S. government officials, representatives of the
foreign diplomatic community and the Armenian-American community of
Greater Washington area.

Police Breaks Up Radical Group’s Picket Outside Foreign Ministry
Baku today
14/09/2004 14:27
On Monday, the Karabagh Liberation Organization (KLO) picketed the
Foreign Ministry in protest against the planned visit by Armenian
officers to Baku.
The protesters showed placards â^À^ÜEither Karabagh or
death!â^À^Ý and â^À^ÜDown with Armenians!â^À^Ý.
The police break up the protest action and took some of the radical
group members, who attempted to march towards the Interior Ministry
along Husu Hajiyev Street, to the police precinct. The detainees were
released later. The KLO will hold another protest action outside
the Defense Ministry on Tuesday.

Russian energy chief laments Georgian “aggression”
By Keti Sikharulidze
Tuesday, September 14, 2004, #174 (0698)
The head of RAO-UES in Georgia Andrei Rappaport says that he is
no longer comfortable in Georgia owing to the “aggression” of the
Georgian government.
RAO-UES owns Telasi, the energy company which distributes electricity
in Tbilisi, but Rappaport, who is a deputy head of the Russian company
and head of its activities in Georgia, says that he is opposed to
further investment in the Georgian energy sector owing to the current
situation.
“In Armenia, they are very kind to us. If there is any problem it
is solved at once,” Rappaport said in a wide-ranging interview with
the Russian paper Gazeta concerning the company’s activities. The
interview was also published on RAO-UES’s website.
“I cannot say that we are broadening exports [in Georgia], we are
just stabilizing the situation,” Rappaport said
He added that income from RAO-UES’s Armenian utility is about USD 80
million but only USD 15 million in Georgia. “They have problem paying
money in Georgia and Georgia has about 53 million lari in debts. We
also have problems with local authorities, there is some aggression
toward us, but it is unclear what the cause of it is since Georgia
is eager to welcome new investors in the country,” Rappaport said.
“As I have declared at my last negotiations with Georgian authorities,
I am not feeling very comfortable, so I am not planning any serious
investment in Georgia. Our position is based on business logic –
if you want energy pay for it, and if there is not any money to pay,
then good-bye,” he told Gazeta.
Last summer, RAO-UES took over the Telasi electric company from the
American firm AES.
As for specific examples of aggression, Rappaport said, “for instance
the tax police tries to block our account numbers of the company. The
situation is as follows. The budget owes us about GEL 5 million for
the import of energy but we also have to pay to the budget the amount
of 3 million lari for tax payments.”
“We will not pay taxes until Georgia will pay us what they
own. Moreover, some authorities of the Georgian government try to
revise the negotiations that was signed before. We have already paid
all debts in the amount of 40 million dollars and we are going to
appeal to the court of London,” Rappaport said.
Analysts forecast that Rappaport’s statements could reflect major
problems within the Georgian energy sector, as he is chairman of the
supervisory boards of both the biggest electricity company Telasi
and the joint Georgian-Russian company Sakrusenergo.
Furthermore, he is the only person entrusted by Russian electricity
companies to resolve difficulties in Georgia; and intended this
week to hold negotiations with the Georgian government regarding
Georgia’s debts to Russia, although later he postponed his meeting
and now intends to meet the representatives of Georgia during the
CIS Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Part of this debt is due to rehabilitation work carried out on
high-voltage lines in Abkhazia in 2000. The Ministry of Energy
agreed that the work would be partly financed by Sakrusenergo, which
contributed USD 180,000, and partly by the Abkhaz Energy Company
ChernomorEnergo, which received USD 600,000 from the Russian Energy
Ministry towards the project of rehabilitating the lines that connected
Enguri and Sochi.
The head of Sakrusenergo Gia Maisuradze told Georgian television that
“the Georgian side agreed during negotiations with the Abkhaz side to
help to restore the electricity lines that were destroyed during the
war. The then-Minister of Energy David Mirtskhulava issued a decree
and I was obliged to follow it, though these lines did not belong to
the company .”
This restored line is now a subject of controversy, as it is believed
by Georgia that it is being used to illegally move electricity from
Georgia to Abkhazia.
“The energy that is used by Abkhazia is equal to the energy that is
used by nearly the whole of Georgia. Then the Abkhaz sell this energy
in Russia and afterwards we buy the same energy back at much higher
prices,” the president Mikheil Saakashvili told members of the Abkhaz
Supreme Council on Friday.
As reports Rustavi-2, a General Prosecutor’s Office investigation
found that much of the energy produced by Enguri Hydroelectric station
was being moved to Russia through Abkhazia, after which Georgia was
buying it back at higher prices.
The investigation found that several intermediary firms, headed by
Georgian and Russian officials, were exploiting this difference in
price to make very high profits. Among these companies, the most
famous is Winfield, which was founded in 2000 (the year the Georgian
government contributed to rehabilitating the electricity lines in
Abkhazia) and is headed by Ilia Kutidze, who now lives in Moscow
where he works for RAO-UES.
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports on Rustavi-2 that the
director of Sakrusenergo Maisuardze may be dismissed from his post
when Rappaport next visits Tbilisi, and replaced by former Premier
of Tbilisi Gia Sheradze.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
14 September 2004
Sixth Armenia – European Union Cooperation Council Held in Brussels
On September 14, the sixth meeting of the European Union – Armenia
Cooperation Council took place in Brussels. Armenia’s Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian lead the Armenian delegation. Foreign Minister
Bernard Bot of the Netherlands, whose country currently holds the EU
presidency, headed the EU delegation.
This annual meeting was the first official one to take place following
Armenia’s inclusion in the European Neighborhood Policy last June. The
agenda included a discussion of that new approach to the Caucasus,
economic and political reforms, energy and regional issues, and
prospects for deeper cooperation.
Armenia’s foreign minister welcomed Armenia’s inclusion (together with
the other two republics of the South Caucasus) in the Neighborhood
Policy, and affirmed Armenia’s readiness to work with the EU to
correctly identify Armenia’s needs and priorities and work together to
benefit from the EU’s experience and resources. The Minister explained
that even as Armenia has embarked on a plan to approximate Armenia’s
legislation to EU standards, Armenia is prepared to go ahead with
additional legislative reforms.
The EU delegation noted Armenia’s successful political and economic
reforms, noting that there must be continuity in order for Armenia
to fulfill its international commitments. The Armenian delegation
commented on Armenia’s high economic growth of the last several years,
and affirmed Armenia’s efforts to sustain such growth in order to
continue to decrease the poverty level. Armenia also reiterated its
intention to obtain Market Economy Status from the EU, in order to
more confidently pursue exports and trade with Europe.
The issue of Armenia’s nuclear power plant and its eventual closure
was also on the EU agenda. Armenia reiterated its commitment to
ensuring the plant’s safety, even as efforts are undertaken to secure
alternative energy sources.
The two sides agreed to explore the possibility of establishing
a subcommittee to deal with issues relating to scientific and
technological research, as well as furthering the established exchange
and collaboration that exists between the two scientific communities.
Regional cooperation, conflict resolution and stability were at the
focus of the discussions. The Armenia-European Union Cooperation
Council also addressed the Nagorno Karabakh resolution process,
as well as the need to positively engage Turkey in regional processes.
The Armenian delegation included deputy ministers of Trade and Economic
Development, Finance and Energy. The European delegation included
the European Union’s Special Representative to the South Caucasus,
Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, and Nicolas Schmit, Minister Delegate
for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg, which next holds
the EU Presidency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La balkanisation du Caucase – Une prise d’otages inscrite dans un profond bouleversement politique
La balkanisation du Caucase – Une prise d’otages inscrite dans un profond
bouleversement politique
Kathia Légaré
Maîtrise en science politique, Université du Québec à Montréal
Édition du samedi 11 et du dimanche 12 septembre 2004
La prise d’otages de Beslan, la semaine dernière, se situe dans un contexte
géographique et politique beaucoup plus large que les républiques d’Ossétie et
de Tchétchénie, un contexte dépassant la politique de Poutine elle-même. Ce
drame s’est joué sur la trame d’un bouleversement politique profond de la région
du Caucase, région qui défraie les manchettes régulièrement depuis la fin du
communisme, au début des années 90.
Le Caucase est un large pont entre l’Europe et l’Orient, il semble chevaucher
une mer immense, qui est en fait divisée en deux parties, la mer Noire et la mer
Caspienne. Sa situation géographique et sa topographie lui ont donné une
fonction de montagne-
refuge, grâce à laquelle ont survécu des peuples historiques. Cet organisme aux
multiples mécanismes de protection montagneuse leur a permis de conserver leurs
singularités.
Le Caucase est si étroitement associé à ses populations qu’il serait possible de
croire que ses cultures ont émergé en même temps que les formations
montagneuses, car plusieurs de ces peuples n’existent nulle part ailleurs dans
le monde. Encore aujourd’hui, au moins une quarantaine de peuples vivent sur ces
440 000 km2. Ils se répartissent en quatre groupes de langues, dont plusieurs ne
sont pas intercompréhensibles, et en de multiples religions, qui se sont
elles-mêmes développées de façon originale. L’islam, par exemple, a
particulièrement été teinté de traditions locales.
Les fractures sous l’empire russe
La région est passée sous le contrôle de l’empire russe au terme d’une longue
guerre, avec laquelle les bolcheviques ont renoué, après la révolution de 1917.
Le Caucase du Nord a été intégré à la république soviétique de la Fédération
socialiste de Russie et les trois États du Caucase du Sud (Géorgie, Azerbaïdjan,
Arménie) sont devenus des membres de l’URSS.
Sous ce régime, la région a été fracturée en de multiples pièces, un aménagement
à l’origine de plusieurs conflits actuels. Staline n’avait en fait rien à envier
à Machiavel — si ce n’était de leur éloignement dans le temps, on aurait pu
croire que le premier a inspiré le second.
Staline s’est ingénié à créer une complexe cartographie qui se caractérise par
de multiples subdivisions, en une application ultime du principe «diviser pour
régner». Le régime soviétique avait en effet créé différents statuts
administratifs, dont le type le plus développé a été celui de «région ou
république autonome», un statut aussi attribué à des minorités dans les États
soviétiques unitaires.
À ce territoire autonome a été jumelé une minorité nationale, qui a
officiellement obtenu le contrôle des institutions politiques territoriales. Sur
le territoire de la Géorgie, les régions autonomes de l’Abkhazie et de l’Ossétie
du Sud ont été créées; en Azerbaïdjan, celle du Nagorny-Karabakh.
C’est dans le Caucase du Nord, où il n’y a jamais eu d’État indépendant au sens
moderne du terme, que la politique des nationalités de Staline s’est révélée
particulièrement machiavélique : sept républiques autonomes y ont été créées,
dont trois jumellent deux peuples que rien n’aurait amené à cohabiter : les
républiques tchétchéno-ingouche, kabardino-balkare et karatchevo-tcherkesse.
Il s’agit de véritables enclaves ethniques représentant parfaitement
l’instrumentalisation de l’appartenance nationale par le système soviétique. Ce
sont en fait de nouvelles lignes de division qui se superposent à la mosaïque
culturelle et lui donnent une autre signification. Ces structures «d’autonomie»
serviront en effet de leviers au pouvoir pour mater les révoltes et mettre sous
contrôle ces sociétés indépendantes.
En 1944, l’entreprise de Staline culmine dans la déportation, pour
«collaboration avec l’ennemi nazi», de deux millions d’habitants de cette région
vers des zones de peuplement d’Asie centrale. Kalmouks, Balkars, Karatchaïs,
Tchétchènes, Ingouches sont entre autres visés. Ils seront autorisés à retourner
dans leurs montagnes en 1956, mais ce rapatriement causera des tensions avec les
nouveaux habitants des lieux.
La transition post-communiste
Lorsque la structure soviétique s’effondre en 1991, l’espace soviétique entre
dans une transition très chaotique et incertaine. L’URSS se décompose en 15
parties et la Russie menace d’éclater en un casse-tête de 89 morceaux de taille
et de couleur différentes.
C’est pendant cette période de désorganisation, de flottement d’un système
autoritaire et centralisé vers «quelque chose» d’autre, que les frontières
administratives créées par Staline prennent une nouvelle signification, une
nouvelle fonction. Elles deviennent les contreforts de petits peuples qui, même
s’ils sont parfois minoritaires sur le territoire qui leur a été alloué,
contrôlent souvent les institutions politiques.
Partout en ex-URSS, on assiste à des replis régionaux et nationaux, seuls
repères dans cette période de bouleversement. Cependant, ce mouvement a une
signification particulière pour le Caucase, dont les nombreuses lignes de
division deviennent des fractures conflictuelles.
D’innombrables conflits ethnoterritoriaux ont lieu au cours des années 90, par
exemple entre les Ingouches et les Ossètes en 1992, à propos d’un territoire
cédé aux seconds après la déportation des premiers. Les trois républiques
binationales menacent aussi d’éclater, mais ce n’est finalement que la
république associant les Tchétchènes aux Ingouches qui se rompt en deux
républiques.
Dans le Caucase du Sud, les régions autonomes sont aussi des zones de conflit,
entre l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan pour le Nagorny-Karabakh — une enclave dont la
population est largement arménienne en territoire azéri — et sur le territoire
de la Géorgie (Abkhazie, Ossétie du Sud), qui éclate littéralement en plusieurs
pièces. Aujourd’hui, de nombreux conflits sont en dormance, mais d’autres sont
très actifs.
C’est aussi à cette époque que les Balkans éclatent en un conflit sanglant. Les
affrontements prennent là-bas une teinte génocidaire. Le terme «balkanisation»
n’est pas associé nécessairement à l’épuration ethnique, mais évoque surtout un
espace géopolitique largement fragmenté où émergent des micronationalismes sur
les lignes de faille.
Ce territoire aurait présumément été homogénéisé par les politiques du
communisme de type soviétique, mais ses divergences réémergent dans un certain
contexte politique, lorsque les forces centrifuges s’affaiblissent — ce qui est
survenu lors de l’effondrement du système autoritaire communiste.
Le conflit en Tchétchénie
La nouvelle République de Tchétchénie, issue de la scission de la République
autonome conjointe avec les Ingouches, n’est pas la seule à réclamer son
indépendance dans la Fédération de Russie, car plusieurs républiques la
déclarent aussi. Elle est pourtant la seule à être envahie par l’armée russe, à
la fin de 1994, car le Kremlin n’y a pas suffisamment d’influence pour forcer
les chefs locaux à se conformer au contrat fédéral.
C’est à partir de 1999 que les groupes radicaux prennent le dessus sur les
forces nationalistes. Le discours des combattants tchétchènes se teinte
progressivement de propos islamistes, une idéologie qui fortifie la résistance
parce qu’elle offre une vision simplificatrice du monde. En répudiant les chefs
modérés, le Kremlin leur a donné une arme supplémentaire : celle de
l’impossibilité d’un règlement pacifique.
Les extrémistes ont comme projet d’unir les musulmans du Caucase dans une
communauté politique, et c’est pourquoi ils tentent d’étendre à toute la région
le conflit en Tchétchénie en procédant à des raids et à des prises d’otages. Les
événements de Beslan en sont l’exemple le plus dramatique. Les Ossètes ne sont
pas largement musulmans, mais la propagation de la terreur servirait la cause de
ces radicaux en renforçant l’antagonisme des parties. Quelques semaines
auparavant, les groupes radicaux avaient déclenché des affrontements sur le
territoire de l’Ingouchie.
Jusqu’à maintenant, les Caucasiens ne se sont pas largement liés à leur cause,
mais la propagation de la violence fait lentement son chemin. L’acharnement du
Kremlin à placer ses hommes politiques fantoches en Tchétchénie ne contribue pas
à stabiliser la situation dans la république et à endiguer le flot des jeunes
combattants désillusionnés par la situation socio-économique désastreuse de la
région et par l’impossibilité d’échapper aux violences de l’armée fédérale.
La nouvelle conquête politique de la Géorgie
La Révolution des roses a réactivé les conflits ethnoterritoriaux en Géorgie. En
effet, le nouveau président, Mikhaïl Saakachvili, ayant dirigé le renversement
du président Chévardnadzé en novembre 2003, a remis en cause l’indépendance de
facto des régions autonomes sécessionnistes de l’Abkhazie (au nord-ouest, près
de la Mer Noire) et de l’Ossétie du Sud.
En rompant le statu quo, le président Saakachvili s’est engagé dans une lutte de
légitimité avec les chefs locaux, qui a donné lieu à des affrontements armés
dans les dernières semaines. Les chefs de l’Abkhazie ont chassé du territoire
des centaines de milliers de Géorgiens et ont établi leur indépendance — non
reconnue au niveau international — entre 1993 et 1994. Depuis lors, la région
vit séparément de la Géorgie. L’échec de Saakachvili à faire entrer son armée
sur le territoire de l’Ossétie du Sud laisse présumer que le règlement du
conflit sera pénible et douloureux. Les plaies ouvertes par la transition sont
loin d’être guéries en Géorgie.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
His Holiness Aram I expresses his condolences on the occasion of the death
of Pope Petros VII, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
Pope Petros VII, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa and
other members of the Patriarchate, including bishops, priests and lay staff,
lost their lives last Saturday, 11 September 2004, in a helicopter crash
over the Aegean Sea while they were traveling to the Mount Athos monastery
in northern Greece. On this occasion His Holiness Aram I sent the following
condolences to the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
Alexandria, Egypt.-
13 September, 2004
To The Holy Synod
of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
Egypt.
Dear Brothers in Christ
It is with deep sorrow and sadness that I came to learn the tragic accident
of His Holiness Petros VII Patriarch of Alexandria. I have known His
Holiness since 1970. As young priests we have been together in different
committees and meetings of the Middle East Council of Churches. Since then
we have developed a close friendship and ecumenical collaboration.
His Holiness Petros was a dynamic person committed to the service of his
church. He firmly believed in Ecumenical vision and brought an active
participation in Ecumenical witness on regional and international levels. We
will never forget his services particularly to MECC, to the cause of
Christian unity in the Middle East and to the Christian-Moslem dialogue.
On behalf of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and personally I want to convey my deepest
condolences to the Holy Synod and to the family of His Holiness.
May God accept his soul in His Eternal Kingdom
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

GROWTH OF LOAN INVESTMENTS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
13 Sept 04
Recently trade banks have been reporting growth of activity in the
financial sector. According to the data provided by the NKR National
Statistics Service, by July 1 of this year the amount of loans provided
by trade banks (in AM drams or foreign currency) totaled 8178.4 million
drams and from January 1, 2004 grew by 2144.9 million drams or 35.5 per
cent. About 76 per cent of the amount of loans which totals 6225.9 per
cent was provided in foreign currency. The amount of loans provided
in foreign currency increased from January 1 of the current year by
22.1 per cent or 1126.8 million drams. In the mentioned period the
amount of delinquent loans and extended loans totaled respectively
50.8 and 50.1 million drams. Against January 1 the amount of loans
with extended terms increased by 62.3 per cent, and delinquent loans
by 16.5 per cent. Foreign money transfers received during the first
half of 2004 totaled 5061.5 drams and grew by 89.5 per cent against
the first half of 2003. The share of the foreign money transfers by
natural persons was 19 per cent.
AA.
13-09-2004