Category: News

Iran capable of exporting gas to major markets
IranMania
27 Oct. 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004 – ©2004 IranMania.com
LONDON, Oct 27 (IranMania) – Iran will increase its natural gas
production capacity from 130 billion cubic meter per year to 300
billion cubic meter within next 10 years and the figure is expected
to hit 400 billion cubic meter in 20 years.
According to Petroenergy Information Network (P.I.N), Hadi Nejad
Hosseinian, deputy oil minister for international affairs, told
the conference on ‘energy transfer in Asia, Europe; challenges and
prospect’ in Brussels, Belgium that Iran is also planning to boost its
crude output from the current figure of 4.2 mln barrels per day to 6
mln barrels a day within next 10 years. He said during past seven years
more than $46 bln have been invested in Iran’s oil and gas industry,
65% of which came through foreign investment, adding, “We are planning
to invest about $100 bln in oil and gas industries by 2015.”
The official noted that Iran has made plans to export liquefied
natural gas to china, India, Japan, East Asia and Europe.
“We are currently exporting gas to Turkey and exports to Armenia,
Nakhichevan and the United Arab Emirates will start soon,” he noted.
Nejad Hosseinian added that Iran’s proximity to big gas producing
and exporting countries has given it many options in international
negotiations while geographical conditions of the country played a
great role in this regard.
The deputy minister said European countries’ dependence on natural gas
will increase in coming decades and European states are expected to
supply 65 percent of their needed natural gas through imports within
next 25 years (by 2030).
“Russia is currently supplying the lion’s share of the European gas,
but it may not be able to supply all needed gas to member states of the
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),” he said.
The official added that Iran, which is a neighbor to Russia,
Commonwealth of Independent States and Caucasus, is also capable of
meeting the needs of markets with exceptional demand such as Pakistan,
India, China, and even Japan. Nejad Hosseinian stated that transferring
Caspian oil to Persian Gulf through Iran was a vital projects that
would lead to bolstering regional cooperation, but “interference of
countries from outside the region that follow political goals will
result in an economic catastrophe.”
He mentioned financial requirements for gas transfer projects, low
price of gas, the need to predetermined customers, high value of gas
transfer, passage through various countries and political risks in
every country as major challenges facing gas transfer projects.
“I believe that high oil price which is partly due to inadequate
supply, is a warning for natural gas users among member states of the
European Union. Low oil price in past years preventing investment in
production which led to current undesirable situation,” he noted. He
noted that cooperation among Caspian littoral states will benefit
all those countries, noting, “Stability and lack of political chaos
are major factors ensuring safe signing of natural gas contracts.”
The conference on ‘energy transfer in Asia, Europe; challenges and
prospect’ was held in Brussels for two days and was attended by
representatives from Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, and Kazakhstan
as well as directors and representatives of major oil companies.
–Boundary_(ID_+ctZ4Vfjoxt5UcRxpMZCEg)–

Armenian President Fails to Elaborate After ‘Time-Out’
Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
27 Oct. 2004
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who requested some time at the
Astana meeting of the Azeri and Armenian leaders to clarify certain
issues, has not spoken out on the issue yet, according to Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
“The time-out taken by the Armenian party in Astana has expired”,
the Minister said.
The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan has already notified the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs about this. Kocharian’s failure to elaborate
on the matter has also led to the postponement of the meeting of the
two countries’ foreign ministers originally scheduled for this month.

British MPs’ Fact-finding Visit to Nagorno Karabakh
Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
27 Oct. 2004
The issue on recognition of the separatist Karabakh regime was not
discussed during the visit by British parliament members to Khankandi
on October 22, as the UK government’s position on the issue remains
unchanged, G. Matsen, head of the British parliamentary delegation,
said upon completion of the visit to Nagorno Karabakh region of
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan should not be concerned by this as this was a fact-finding
visit, the British embassy in Baku told AssA-Irada.
A delegation comprising Vice Speaker of the British House of Lords
Baroness Cox and 4 members of the House visited Nagorno Karabakh
through Yerevan on October 20 without prior permission from the
Azerbaijani government.
The Karabakh Liberation Organization put a black wreath in front of the
British embassy in Baku in a protest against the visit on the same day.
Armenia occupied former autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh region and also
seven other Azerbaijani districts in 1991-94 war, forcing over 700,000
Azerbaijanis to leave their homes. Despite an armistice signed in May
1994, no final solution has been achieved to the conflict between the
two countries.

Armenian church holds annual dance
Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY
27 Oct. 2004
Binghamton’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church will host
its fifth annual fund-raising Armenian Dance from 8 p.m. to “after
midnight” Saturday at the Kalurah Temple, 625 Dickson St., Endicott.
Featured will be Armenian delicacies, door prizes, raffles and dancing
to the New England Ararat Orchestra, which specializes in Armenian
and American music.
Admission: $25 (students and ages 6-18, $12). Buy tickets at the
door, or, for reservations, call 237-6330 or 722-8801, or visit
[email protected].

New Ministers
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Thursday, October 28, 2004
As the new Cabinet awaits the vote of confidence in Parliament,
scheduled to take place next week, these are the new faces that Prime
Minister-designate Omar Karami has put forth for approval.
Finance Minister Elias Saba
Orthodox. He was born in 1932 in the Koura town Kfarhata.
He graduated with a PhD in Economics from Oxford University. He escaped
death in 1943, after French soldiers and students attacked him in
Tripoli. The students were protesting the arrest of the late President
and Prime Minister, Beshara Khoury and Riad Solh respectively.
Information Minister Elie Ferzli
Orthodox. He was born in Zahle on Nov. 22, 1949.
He graduated in 1972 as a lawyer from the Lebanese University and
started practicing the profession before being elected as Zahle MP
and now a Cabinet minister. He was the target of three assassination
attempts, one of them on Sept. 14, 1987 in Zahle.
Education Minister Ahmad Sami Minkara
Sunni. He was born in Tripoli in 1943 and joined the Officers College
in 1959. He became brigadier in the Internal Security Forces.
He served as Tourism Minister in 1992 under former Prime Minister
Rashid Solh, but was unhappy with the appointment and resigned just
four months later.
Public Works Minister Yassin Jaber
Shiite. He was born in Nabatieh in 1951.
He went to school in Africa before coming back to Lebanon and going
to school here at the International College. In 1973, he graduated
in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut. He
served in 1995 and 1996 as Economy and Commerce Minister.
Social Affairs Minister Ghazi Zeaiter
Shiite. He was born in 1949 in the Hermel town of Al-Qasr. He graduated
as lawyer in 1973 from the Beirut-based Arab University. He worked
as a professional lawyer after graduation until 1990. He was first
elected as Baalbek-Hermel MP in 1996. He was appointed as Defense
Minister in 1996 and served in this post for two years.
Minister of State Albert Mansour
Greek Catholic. He was born in 1939 in the Bekaa town of Ras Baalbek.
He graduated with a degree in law studies in 1961 and holds a doctorate
degree in social studies.
He was elected to serve in Parliament in 1972.
He served as Minister of Defense in 1989.
Tourism Minister Farid Khazen
Maronite. He was born in the coastal Kesrouan town of Ghadir in 1970.
He graduated with a degree in law from the Saint Joseph University
and worked as a professional lawyer before being elected to Parliament
in 2000.
His father, Haikal Khazen, was Jounieh’s mayor for several years.
Economy and Commerce Minister Adnan Qassar
Sunni. He was born in Beirut in 1930. He graduated in law from Saint
Joseph University in Beirut. He was the first Arab to become the head
of the International Chamber of Commerce for two years, 1999 and
2000. He is still a member of that association. He is the chairman
of the Board of Directors of Fransabank in both Lebanon and France.
Minister of State Mahmoud Abdel-Khaleq
Druze. He was born in 1938 in the town of Majdel-Baana.
He served as president and vice-president of the Syrian Social
Nationalist Party.
He stood for election in the Baabda district in 2000, but failed to
secure a seat.
He was serving as member of the SSNP’s executive council.
Justice Minister Adnan Addoum
Sunni. He was born in January 1941 and went to school at the
International College.
He graduated as a lawyer in the 1960’s before joining the Judiciary
Institute. Upon his graduation as magistrate, he was appointed as
a member of Beirut’s Commercial Court judges panel. He became state
prosecutor in 1995.
Culture Minister Naji Boustani
Maronite. He was born in the Chouf town of Maasser Beiteddine. He
went to school at the Marists Brothers in Sidon.
In 1962, he graduated in law from the Saint Joseph University and
has been working as professional lawyer. However, has stood for a
seat in Parliament more than once in the 1970’s and failed to get in.
Energy Minister Maurice Nicolas Sehnawi
Greek Catholic. He was born in Beirut in 1943. He graduated from the
Economics program at Saint Joseph University in 1967.
Before his appointment, Sehnawi was Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Societe Generale Bank and a board member in the Sehnawi Group,
which is involved in industry, commerce, real estate and the IT sector.
Industry Minister Leila Riad Solh
Sunni. She was born in Beirut in 1946.
She is the youngest daughter of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Riad
Solh and the widow of the late Minister Majed Sabri Hamade.
Solh was the Vice-President of the Al-Walid bin Talal Foundation and
was the spokeswoman for this foundation in Lebanon.
Minister of State for Administrative Development Ibrahim Emile Daher
Maronite. He was born in Bsharri in 1948.
He graduated as an engineer from Saint Joseph University in 1971. In
1975, he graduated from the Paris-based Political Science Institute. He
served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the European company
ADIAL.
Minister of State Yussef Elias Salameh
Maronite. He was born in the Kesrouan town of Faraya in 1954.
In 1978, Salameh graduated from the Economic Studies program at Saint
Joseph University.
Before his latest appointment, he was economic adviser at the Council
for Development and Reconstruction.
Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalife
Shiite. He was born in Sarafand in 1961.
He graduated in general surgery in 1990 from AUB Medical School and
continued his surgery studies in the UK-based Watford University.
Before his appointment as minister, he was the head of the general
surgery department at AUB.
Minister of State Wafaa Diqa Hamzeh
Shiite. She graduated from the Agriculture program at the American
University of Beirut and has been working at the Agriculture Ministry
since 1991, where she holds the post of Head of the Food Technology
Authority. Hamzeh has been active in women’s affairs and has taken
part in several conferences abroad on the subject.
Minister of State Alain Tabourian
Armenian. He was born in Beirut in 1964.
Tabourian holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from
Harvard University and graduated from the Computer Studies program
at the University of California.
He last served as general manager of the Lebanon branch of the
Libbys Company.
Environment Minister Wi’am Wahab
Druze. He was born in 1964 in the Chouf town of Jahlieh.
Wahab worked as a reporter with Reuters and several newspapers. He
was a political adviser for Minister of State Talal Arslan. Since
2000, Wahab has been working as an independent politician, trying to
reconcile Arslan with his archrival Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt.

Young Armenians to gather in Upper Garabagh
Assa Irada
26 Oct 2004
The Pro-Armenian Foundation of International Youth Center plans to
hold a conference entitled “The activity of young people in conflict
arena: human rights, democracy and participation” in Upper Garabagh
on November 15-19.
Representatives of NGOs from Poland, Ukraine, France, the Netherlands,
Russia and Bulgaria have been invited to the event, a reliable source
told AssA-Irada.
Armenian youngsters make up most of the invitees. The Armenian
government and diaspora, by inviting young people from various world
countries, are trying to present the conference as an international
event.*

Wales recognizes ‘Armenian genocide’
Assa Irada
26 Oct 2004
Members of the city council of Cardiff, Wales have stated recognition
of the fabricated ‘Armenian genocide’ last week, a member of the
council and the Armenia-Wales friendship society Rodny Berman said. A
monument to the ‘genocide’ victims will be erected in Cardiff in 2005,
he noted.
According to Berman, recognition of the ‘Armenian genocide’ has been
a priority in the activity of the Armenia-Wales friendship society
over the last three years. The society members regard this step as
the first stage in recognizing the ‘genocide’ by the United Kingdom.*

British organization implementing mine clearance project in Upper Garabagh
Assa Irada
26 Oct 2004
Baku, October 26, AssA-Irada — British “The HALO Trust” organization
is implementing a landmine clearance project in Upper Garabagh. The
Khankandi-based organization spent $800,000 in 2002 and $1.4 million
in 2004 as part of the project. 75% of the funds were directed to
clearance of areas from landmines in Upper Garabagh and the remainder
– to purchase equipment, a spokesman for the organization said.
The project is mainly being implemented in settlements, schools and
nursery schools, and the areas with communications lines. 89 out of 482
sites have been cleared from landmines so far, the spokesman said.
With regard to the issue of mine clearance operations in Upper
Garabagh, an independent military expert said that landmines in
Upper Garabagh were buried by Armenian separatists from 1988 till
1993 in an effort to strengthen the borders of the self-proclaimed
Upper Garabagh Republic and annex the Azerbaijani region to Armenia.*
–Boundary_(ID_3rUc/UtGUMAQuNyHEVaqsQ)–

Opposition party intends to hold sanctioned protest actions
Assa Irada
27 Oct 2004
The opposition Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (WAPFP) has
postponed the picket it originally intended to hold outside the
Turkish embassy on Tuesday.
The picket comes as a protest against the Armenian parliamentarians’
planned participation in the 58th “Rose Roth” seminar of the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly due in Baku in November.
Commenting on the matter, the WAPFP press spokesman told AssA-Irada
that the party intends to continue sanctioned protest actions.
WAPFP has organized more than 10 unsanctioned actions in protest
against the planned visits by Armenian officers and parliament members
to Baku so far.
The WAPFP Managerial Board in its recent meeting decided to sue the
Mayor’s Office of Baku for violating the party members’ rights for
free gatherings.*

Syria and Armenia/ Agriculture Agreement
Syrian Arab News Agency
27 Oct 2004
Damascus, Oct. 27 (SANA)
Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nabi Rashid Mohammad and Armenian
Charge de-affairs in Damascus Youri Papa Qanyan on Tuesday discussed
cooperation between the two countries and means of boosting it.
Qanyan stressed the importance of the Syrian agriculture products
which have high quality and free from chemicals, pointing out to
his country’s desire for importing those products, particularly the
olive oil.
Mohammad underlined the two countries’ desire for developing relations
between them to meet the needs of both sides, pointing out that Syria
has surplus agriculture products that need new markets.
Batoul/ Idelbi