Category: News

CENN – Daily Digest July 15, 2004
Table of Contents:
1. In Search of Black Sea Oil
2. Information regarding the IMF / World Bank Annual Meetings
3. CIP Improved School Project Contract Awarded
4. ArcGIS Extensions Workshop – Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst for
Environmental Applications in Seattle, WA Sept. 1 – 2, 2004
5. Various Openings at NACRES
6. ATP 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at Garni Temple
7. Armenia sees growth in tourism
8. Armenia gets 23m dollars from World Bank to improve water supplies
1. In Search of Black Sea Oil
Source: The Georgian Messenger, July 15, 2004
The Company Anadarco continues the search for oil in Georgian territorial
waters in the Black Sea. According to the Company, the new exploratory
program is expected to last for three years and is targeted at estimating
oil reserves in the sea.
At a presentation conducted on July 12, 2004 the company authorities stated
that according to their estimates, there should be significant reserves of
oil and gas in Georgian territorial waters, particularly in the Adjara zone,
although they were not yet ready to give precise figures.
According to an agreement with the Georgian government, the company has
rights to conduct exploration works in Georgian territorial waters in
Abkhazia and Adjara. However, so far no works has been carried out in
Abkhazian territory.
Anadarco, which is a daughter company of Anadarco Petroleum Corporation, has
been active in Georgia since June 2000, and is working in partnership with
the Georgian state enterprise Saknavtobi.
Until now, Anadarco was carrying out two dimension explorations in the area.
Now it plans to carry out three-dimensional explorations, which will give
more precise information. The explorations are being conducted in the open
sea forty km northwest of Batumi.
Anadarco’s findings will be eagerly awaited by other companies operating in
the Black Sea. Georgian territorial waters are divided into ten blocks:
Anadarco is active in the 2a, 2b and 3 blocks, while other companies, such
as Ioris, Veli, Runko, Fronters Ninotsminda are operating in different
blocks.
Analysts believe it possible that Anadarco will complete its exploration
works within three years and then start drilling. Anadarco is currently
looking for a partner, as drilling is very expensive: one well is estimated
to cost USD 50-60 million.
As for the Georgian share of the venture, the figures have not been revealed
yet but it is believed that Georgia’s share in the profits would initially
be slim, but would increase as work enters a more advanced stage.
Meanwhile, Saknavtobi – the state organization responsible for over seeing
the administration of oil exploration – is still searching for a General
Director. Out of the 82 applications in the open competition, twelve have
been short listed. the name of the new General Director will be publicly
announced on July 20, 2004.
2. Information regarding the IMF / World Bank Annual Meetings
Dear Civil Society Colleagues:
This is to update you on relevant information related to the accreditation
process and civil society dialogues during the upcoming Annual Meetings of
the IMF and the World Bank that will take place in Washington, DC on October
4-5, 2004. You can also find this information at the World Bank’s website
for CSOs at:
ACCREDITATION
You can now apply online for accreditation to attend the 2004 Annual
Meetings and related events. To do so, please go to:
Once you submit your
request for accreditation, you will receive an instant email reply
confirming the receipt of your request, and advising you how to check on the
status of your application while it is being processed. As you might know,
all requests for visitors, including civil society, are subject to
clearance. Your request will be cleared by the Executive Director of the
country from which your request originates.
If you are unable to submit this request on-line, please fax your written
request, on your institution’s letterhead paper, to the Special Guests and
Visitors Office at: (1-202) 522-7408. Your request should include your full
name, title, complete mailing address and telephone/facsimile numbers, and
an e-mail address if possible.
We strongly encourage you to apply for accreditation as soon as possible.
Many of you will need a visa to enter the United States and that could take
a long time to obtain. Please initiate the visa process as soon as possible.
If the US authorities in your country request a confirmation letter or fax
in order to get your visa, please contact:
Special Guests and Visitors Office, World Bank
Telephone: (1-202) 458-0264
Facsimile: (1-202) 522-7408
After you’ve completed the online registration and have received the email
receipt they will be able to issue such letter/fax for you.
The deadline for accreditation is September 3, 2004. NO REQUESTS WILL BE
ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DEADLINE.
NGO/PRESS
Please note that as of this year, the NGO/PRESS badge will be discontinued.
We will provide the accredited CSOs with a meeting space close to the press
room in the IMF building for meetings with journalists, CSO press
conferences etc. The room will be equipped with work stations and a live
feed from the press conference room. We will also distribute in that room
all communiqués and other press releases as soon as they become public and
available to journalists. Also, a number of seats in the press conference
room will be reserved for CSOs, who will be accommodated on a first-come,
first-serve basis. We will do our best to facilitate your contacts with the
press covering the Annual Meetings.
POLICY DIALOGUE SESSIONS FOR CSOs
In an effort to address the major development challenges and in response to
requests coming from civil society, a number of Policy Dialogue Sessions for
interested CSO representatives will be organized before and during the 2004
Annual Meetings, between Wednesday, September 29 and Wednesday, October 6.
We welcome any suggestions and ideas of topics of these discussions. You can
submit your comments to: [email protected] for World Bank or:
[email protected] for IMF meetings. Details of these dialogues will be made
available at: closer to the date.
We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in Washington !
World Bank and IMF Civil Society Teams
_______________________________
Civil Society Team
The World Bank
Phone: (1-202) 473-1840
3. CIP Improved School Project Contract Awarded
Press Release
Source: The Georgian Messenger, July 14, 2004
BP, as the operator of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline and
South Caucasus (SCP) gas pipeline projects, is pleased to announce the
launch of the USD 2.4 mln CIP — Improved School Project in Georgia (ISP).
Improved School Project is an extension of the Community Investment Program
(CIP), implementation of which started a year ago, in March 2003. The aim of
CIP is to deliver tangible benefits to the communities along the pipeline
route by promoting sustainable social and economic development, focusing on
the projects relating to infrastructure repair/rehabilitation, agricultural
improvements, sustainable income generation through micro credit and
community capacity building. CIP has focused on the villages within the 2 km
corridor on either side of the pipeline.
Based on the consultations with various NGOs, government, local communities,
and with the aim to spread the CIP benefits to the towns along the pipeline
route, BP and its partners in the BTC and SCP projects have decided to
implement the CIP — Improved School Project in the towns along the pipeline
in addition to the current CIP activities.
The aim of the CIP -ISP is to promote sustainable socio-economic development
of urban areas along the pipeline route by preparing adolescent to
participate more effectively in Georgia’s future social and economic growth.
CIP — Improved School Project provides an opportunity to invest in both
physical infrastructure rehabilitation and capacity building for teachers,
administrators, partners and students of secondary schools, thus also
supporting the Government of Georgia’s Education System Realignment and
Strengthening Program.
Key outputs of the CIP -ISP project will include:
Infrastructure rehabilitation in over 50 secondary schools in the towns of
Gardabani, Marneuli, Rustavi, Tetristkaro, Bakuriani and Akhaltsikhe,
benefiting over 28,000 students and 2,000 teachers;
Over 275 teachers and administrators will be trained in specialized teaching
or management techniques;
Parents, teachers, administrators and students will be prepared for the
national wide move to the Schools Board model of school management.
As a pilot project, which if successfully, may be replicated in other towns
in the future, one school in Tsalka, Bakuriani and Akhaltsikhe will be
selected for installation of a computer lab powered by solar panels. This
will enable students in those schools to improve the skills that will better
prepare them to find employment in the future.
The CIP-ISP is being carried out by the two lead CIP implementing NGOs –
Care International and Mercy Corps, in cooperation with Technical Assistance
in Georgia as a local partner.
CIP-ISP is yet another example of how expansion related to the
implementation of the two major oil and gas pipeline projects in the
region – BTC and SCP – has resulted in significant investment by the BTC and
SCP partner groups to benefit the countries through which these projects
pass.
The CIP-ISP demonstrates strong commitment of the BTC and SCP projects to
being good neighbors, and will deliver real and tangible benefits to the
towns along the SCP and BTC Pipeline route.
4. ArcGIS Extensions Workshop – Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst
for Environmental Applications in Seattle, WA Sept. 1 – 2, 2004
ArcGIS Extensions Workshop – Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst for
Environmental Applications
Course ID: GIS-404
September 1 – 2, 2004, 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. (2 Days)
Allied Business Systems, Main Computer Lab
10604 N.E. 38th Place, Suite 118
Kirkland, Washington
(15 minutes east of downtown Seattle)
Instructors: Shawn Blaesing-Thompson, M.S.; and Jeffrey Berry
This 2-day hands on course builds upon GIS-403 and will cover the
environmental applications of Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions of
ESRI’s ArcGIS software. Each participant will have their own computer
workstation to create, edit, display and analyze real world environmental
data during numerous hands on exercises. Participants will be led through
exercises that simulate environmental issues (i.e., suitability, distance,
hydrologic, and surface modeling). The course topics will be covered while
working on the exercises.
Course Topics
Introduction to Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst Extensions
Modeling Surface and
Subsurface Features
Converting Features to Rasters
Draping 2D Data on 3D
Surfaces
Creating Continuous Surfaces from Point Features
Calculating Surface Area
and Volume from a TIN
Deriving Contours, Slope, View-sheds, Aspect, and Hill
Shade from Surfaces
Hands-on Exercises Using
Extensions:
Performing Map Algebra on Rasters
– Terrain Analysis
Carrying out Discrete Cell-by-Cell Analysis
– Watershed Pollution
Modeling
Performing Grid Classification and Display
– Flood Mapping
Building Surface Models (TIN)
– Site Suitability Analysis
Each day the course begins at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 5:00 P.M.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
Convert features into raster files
Create continuous surfaces from point features
Perform spatial analysis on surface features
Conduct map algebra operations on rasters
Perform discrete cell-by-cell analysis
Classify Grids and Displays
Build 2D and 3D surface models
Intended Audience: This hands on course is intended for environmental
scientist, engineers, and graphics professionals involved with the
collection, interpretation, and presentation of spatially related data.
About the Instructors:
Jeffrey Berry has been using GIS on a variety of projects across the country
for more than 10 years. He is a certified GIS instructor and frequently
teaches GIS workshops. Mr. Berry currently serves as Senior GIS Analyst with
Erlandsen & Associates. Shawn Blaesing-Thompson is currently serving as a
cartographer and GIS trainer for Washington Department of
Transportation. She has been teaching GIS workshops to WSDOT staff
throughout Washington.
Prerequisites: Previous ArcView 8 or ArcGIS 9 experience and/or completion
of GIS-403 or equivalent is recommended.
Registration: $495/$395* Discount applies to government; Native American
Tribes; nonprofits; students; teachers; and NEBC, NAEP, and NWAEP members.
Credit: 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Register Online
Directions
Download Registration and Information Packet (includes hotel info,
directions, and registration form for printing)
To request further information, call us at (206) 762-1976 or send us email.
Erick McWayne
Northwest Environmental Training Center
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit program of the Northwest Environmental Education
Council
4742 – 42nd Avenue SW, PMB 322
Seattle, WA 98116
Phone 206-762-1976
Fax 206-762-1979
5. Various Openings at NACRES
Noah’s Ark Center for the Recovery of Endangered Species (
<; ) a non-governmental and non-profit organization was founded in 1989 to research and safeguard biodiversity, especially endangered species in Georgia and the South Caucasus and to promote public awareness in the field of environmental protection. NACRES announces vacancies for the following positions: POSITION 1: Community mobilization and public relations coordinator POSITION 2: GIS specialist POSITION 3: Assistant to the Executive Director POSITION 4: Logistician Applications described below should be submitted in English only and should be sent either by fax or e-mail to: Mr. Kakha Artsivadze, Executive Director, NACRES Fax: 53-71-24 E-mail: [email protected] mailto:[email protected] NB: When sending application by e-mail, please do not forget to write in Subject line: Application for [and indicate which position you are applying for]; Otherwise your application might not reach the relevant staff within NACRES. Each applicant is eligible to apply for one position only, however selection panel might suggest a prospective applicant other position should the panel consider applicant's qualification more relevant to other vacancy. PLEASE NOTE: 1. Hand delivered applications will not be accepted !! 2. To keep the selection process fare NACRES staff will not respond to any inquiry phone calls, e-mail or fax messages!! All necessary information on NACRES can be found at NACRES website: DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 17:00, FRIDAY, 23 JULY 2004; LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED 1. COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR Duties and Responsibilities: Relationships with NGO sector, local communities and other stakeholders in the regions of Georgia Close coordination with NACRES partner NGOs in the regions of Georgia and also in Armenia and Azerbaijan Coordination of public awareness activities and trainings (does not mean facilitation of trainings in other fields rather then community mobilization and public relations) Relationships with local, central and international mass media Preparation of different publications including texts for NACRES website upgrades and annual reports Qualifications and key competencies: Excellent competency of spoken and written Georgian, English and Russian Good knowledge of environmental issues At least one year of working experience in public relations and community mobilization Excellent communications and team working skills Good computing (basically MS Office and internet) skills Good project management skills and job delegation abilities Proposed initial salary: GEL 630 (net) per month. NB: Please note that this is one of the key positions at NACRES and the proposed salary will at least double (may even gradually triple) during 9-12 months after employment if the selected person excellently performs requested abilities and successfully accomplishes tasks set by the organization. A successful applicant will receive extensive training in specific fields (e.g. biodiversity conservation) if needed and s/he will be required to pass through an initial three-month in-depth evaluation period. Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be in Georgian, English and Russian Interested candidates must submit application consisting of the following documents only: filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format) a letter of motivation in English, not exceeding one A4 format page printed in Times New Roman, Font Size 12, Spacing 1 at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience in the field 2. GIS SPECIALIST Duties and Responsibilities: Analysis of aerial photos and satellite images Development of GIS databases Development of different thematic maps Other relevant tasks in the GIS sphere Qualifications and key competencies: Minimum 1 year working experience in related field Excellent computer skills: ArcGIS 8.x (strongly desirable) or other ESRI software; Good English Academic Background (desirable but nor essential): natural sciences (biology, geology, geography or any environmental science) Proposed salary: GEL 630 (net) per month with potential growth after six months. A successful applicant will be required to pass through an initial three-month probationary period. Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be in English Interested candidates must submit application consisting of the following documents only: filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format) at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience in the field 3. ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Duties and Responsibilities: Support the Executive Director in ongoing activities including projects management Translation of current documentation from English into Georgian and vice versa Management of correspondence Maintenance of administrative and personnel filing systems Preparation of reports for donors and the Executive Director Perform of occasional office needs assessments for purchasing goods Qualifications and key competencies: Good knowledge of spoken and written Georgian, English and Russian is desired Desired (but not essential) background: natural sciences (biology, geology, geography or any environmental science) or at least two years of work experience in an environmental organization Good computing skills Proposed salary: GEL 439 (net) per month with potential growth after six months. A successful applicant will be required to pass through an initial three-month probationary period. Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be in English and Russian Interested candidates must submit application consisting of the following documents only: - filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format) - - at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience in the related field 4. LOGISTICIAN Duties and Responsibilities: - Assistance in procurement - Maintaining of the organization's vehicles in good working conditions - Assistance NACRES staff in travel throughout Georgia and the South Caucasus countries - Coordination of travel and accommodation of foreign visitors - Assistance in organization and management of fieldworks throughout the country - Management and inventory of property of the organization - Requirements: - Basic English (Desirable) - Good computer skills-MS Office (Required) - Driving license and owning of a vehicle (Required; NB: maintenance of personal vehicle and fuel to be supplied by the organization) - Experience in similar job (Desirable) Proposed salary: GEL 439 (net) per month with potential growth after six months. A successful applicant will be required to pass through an initial three-month probationary period. Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be mainly in Georgian, but some basic communication will also be in English Interested candidates must submit application consisting of two documents only: - filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format) - at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience in the related field 6. ATP 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at Garni Temple July 13, 2004 PRESS RELEASE Armenia Tree Project 65 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-926-8733 Email: [email protected] Web: Armenia Tree Project's 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at Garni Temple in Armenia YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow, combined sources)-Beneath a full moon over an ancient temple, the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia filled Garni with music on July 2. Maestro Aram Gharabekyan waved his orchestra into motion at 10pm, with "Dance of Rosy Girls," from Aram Khachaturian's ballet "Gayane," just as the moon made its way into view over the 1st century BC temple. Yellow lighting filled the inside of the temple, while purple, blue, and green lights successively highlighted its columns. It is the first time such a spectacle has been held in the gorge, one of Armenia's most popular tourist destinations. Seating was provided for 600, but about 100 others stood for the two-hour performance. The audience was a mix of dignitaries, citizens, and diasporan Armenians who received special invitations to the event. "It is the most extraordinary concert I have ever seen," said Heghine Zurabyan, 45, who lives in Garni. "I dream that my children will have many opportunities to hear such concerts." The orchestra was accompanied by soprano Gayane Grigoryan and soprano Nune Badalyan, who received a standing ovation for her performance of the last aria of the opera "Anush." Gharabekyan praised the work of the Tree Project, which over the past decade has planted 531,000 trees in 500 locations throughout Armenia. "The orchestra is honored to have a role in the protection and revitalization of our environment through music," Gharabekyan was quoted as saying. "Let's place our hands together across Armenia and across the world so that we can replant, replenish, and rebuild a new vision for the future." "It was just a breathtaking, stunning scene to listen to this music in front of this amazing temple," said Glenn Surabian, of Boston, who is in Armenia to work on a USAID-sponsored program. "These beautiful trees were lit up. I think it was just a wonderful celebration for the Tree Project." The orchestra produced a similar event last year in Shushi, at the College of Applied Arts and Sciences that was destroyed. The concert aimed to promote awareness of the college's reconstruction, just as the Garni concert publicized the Tree Project's reforesting efforts throughout Armenia. "One of the objectives of the orchestra has always been to play a part, not only in the cultural life of our society, but to make a meaningful contribution to the causes that impact our lives as citizens," read a statement by the orchestra about the performance. "Therefore, this evening's concert is not incidental, but a commitment whose roots can be traced to Shushi. Let's all ensure that we build a new society - one which places importance on ecology and the environment and one which our children will be proud to inherit," the statement concluded. Orchestra director Armen Arabyan said the Garni concert was a logistical challenge. He also said they spent about $20,000 to organize the concert and that the orchestra hopes to produce such events annually. The performance was filmed and will be produced as a DVD and recorded for release on CD. The ATP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 during Armenia's darkest and coldest years with the vision of safeguarding Armenia's future by protecting its environment. Funded by contributions from Diasporan Armenians, the ATP has planted and rejuvenated 531,000 trees at more than 400 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris. 7. Armenia sees growth in tourism Source: ArmenPress, July 13, 2004 Arthur Zakarian, the head of the trade and economic development ministry department for tourism, stated that the geography of foreign tourists visiting Armenia is expanding and visitors from EU countries are set to exceed those coming form ex-Soviet republics. According to him, this is the indication that Armenia is becoming gradually a tourist attraction for Europeans. "Armenian tourists industry sees annual growth and potentially has all prospects for becoming one of the largest sector of the Armenian economy," he said. He said the number of foreign travelers visiting Armenia raised by 12 percent to approximately 33,000 in the first quarter of this year. 8. Armenia gets 23m dollars from World Bank to improve water supplies Source: Arminfo, July 9, 2004 Armvodokanal [Armenian water canal] and the World Bank have signed a credit programme to the tune of 23m dollars for 40 years to restore Armenia's system of water supplies, the head of the Armenian State Committee for Water Resources, Andranik Andreasyan, told reporters at a press conference. The programme aims to choose a new operator in the system of water supplies. The French company [Water Utility] Saur was chosen as a new operator in a tender. The State Committee for Water Resources is planning to submit the package of the credit programme during the autumn session of the Armenian National Assembly. Moreover, two programmes of the German KfW bank to the tune of 94m euros are being prepared for the Armenian water supplies company Nor Akunk that operates in Armavir Region. For the implementation of the first programme, which envisages restoration work in Armavir Region, the German government will allocate a 14m-euro credit. The second programme, designed for restoration work in the country's Lori and Shirak Regions, will be carried out stage-by-stage. The overall funding of the programme is 80m euros, and 25m euros will be channelled into the implementation of the first stage. Mr. Andreasyan said that due to the need for massive work in these areas, the government of Germany has decided to allocate one third of the 25 euros (about 8m dollars) as a grant.' The security problem in all operating reservoirs will be resolved with the World Bank's new credit programme amounting to 7.5m dollars, the head of the Armenian State Committee for Water Resources, Andranik Andreasyan, told reporters at the press conference today. The programme will be a continuation of the already implemented World Bank programme to maintain security in strategic reservoirs, he said. Andreasyan also said that a programme of developing irrigation systems is being prepared at the moment. He said that for the time being, 54 leading organizations are operating in the country's irrigation system, whereas only one big company Dzhirar is engaged in water supplies. New tariffs have been established for services in the irrigation system at present, Mr. Andreasyan said. Thus, one cubic metre of irrigation water in Yerevan is 90 drams and 100 drams outside the capital. The difference in tariffs is explained by the fact that 45 pumping stations, which consume great amounts of energy, are operating in rural areas. CENN INFO Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46 Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47 E-mail: [email protected] URL:

Press Release
Armenia Fund USA
152 Madison Ave, #803
New York, NY 10016
Contact: Lisa Markarian
Tel: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: <; Armenia Fund USA Puts the Future Back into the Hands of the People of Karabakh Armenia Fund USA is redefining the very idea of sustainability by taking training to a new level with the staff and physicians of the new Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center in Karabakh's capital of Stepanakert. Under the leadership of public health expert Dr. Alina Dorian, the Polyclinic project has blossomed into a comprehensive health care program that involves everything from intensive training for administration and health care professionals to state of the art equipment with technicians and Armenian language manuals. "Developing a quality health system is a long-term process requiring fundamental changes in the culture of quality," says Dr. Alina Dorian. "The scope of quality includes not only the achievement of best outcome but also equity, safety, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, availability, access, acceptability, and user choice. The main challenge is to bring together the key stakeholders; this project brings together health care providers, health authorities, and the community to apply evidence-based thinking at the level of everyday practice." On board for the development and implementation of the training modules is an impressive list of collaborators including: UCLA's Center for International Emergency Medicine, Yerevan's Academy of Medicine, the American University of Armenia's Center for Health Services Research and Development, Johns Hopkins University's Center for International Emergency Disaster and Refugee Studies, MediTech Company, and members from Karabakh's local community for whom the Polyclinic is the only viable channel for medical care. Comprehensive training and the power of new medical knowledge and treatment modalities constitute the most direct route to ensuring the sustainability for both the Center and the state of healthcare in the Republic. Health care professionals in Karabakh have not undergone retraining since 1988. Since independence, the system has been severely plagued with a lack of funding and shortages of basic supplies, reagents, and modern equipment for diagnosis, treatment, and sterilization. Health education and counseling training are non-existent in the current health institute curricula. Once buildings are complete and equipment is delivered, it is the administrators, health professionals, and support staff that must manage and promote new standards for healthcare in Karabakh. The Center's training program involves four Modules that cover the spectrum in care and management. Designated modules will utilize multimedia CD-ROMS created exclusively for the health care needs of Karabakh, a first for the region. The educational program will also aim to improve the history and physical examination skills of care providers. The multimedia medical education program is efficient, portable, reality-based, and cost-effective. Large volumes of medical information, radiographic images, and patient-care scenarios are compiled into a resource that is both portable and easily duplicated. In order to provide comprehensive training support, five personal computers will be provided to the Polyclinic for ongoing educational purposes. "We are not just producing a building; buildings don't save lives. We are focusing on the physicians, the nurses, and the very people themselves. We are giving Karabakh an opportunity to be their own primary care givers and takers; we are empowering them with the ability to heal themselves, and that is far more powerful than the most impressive of building exteriors." Close to $300,000 worth of X-ray, ECG, EEG, and MRI equipment is being acquired from Meditech, a medical equipment and technology company based in Yerevan. The equipment will come ready with Armenian language operating manuals and will be staffed by engineers specially trained to maintain and repair the equipment. Furnishings ranging from beds and curtains to conference rooms are also incorporated in the facility plan. The Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center has many visionary philanthropists behind its success. Hirair and Anna Hovnanian made a generous contribution of $400,000 towards a journey of healing for the Republic of Karabakh. Fundraising efforts for the new medical complex were recently closed with a generous donation of $125,000 in addition to an existing commitment of $750,000 from philanthropist George Pagoumian. Thanks to the conscience of generous benefactors, the leadership of dedicated visionaries, and the involvement of leading health advocators, Karabakh stands the chance at providing its people with competent healthcare. Karabakh cannot be a viable and strong nation unless it is first a healthy one. Those who want to support Armenia Fund USA projects can send in a 100% tax deductible contribution to Armenia Fund USA, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 803, New York, NY 10016. Or, visit us on the web at <; to make your contribution online and learn more about our mission and projects. Armenia Fund USA us a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated exclusively to supporting large scale, self-sustaining, humanitarian initiatives in Armenia and Karabakh, as defined and determined by the rules and regulations in the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are 100% tax deductible.

Flights of imagination for an unforgettable vacation
Jul 15th 2004
>From The Economist print edition
This week we devote the whole of the section to reviews of novels that
could make great travelling companions
JUST over 40 years ago, Greek and Turkish book-lovers alike burst into
tears as they read a new Greek novel: in `Farewell Anatolia’, Dido
Sotiriou drew on her childhood memories to describe the comradeship of
two shepherd boys, one Christian, the other Muslim, who go on to fight
on opposite sides of the Greek-Turkish war of 1919-22. On the final
page, the Christian narrator mourns his native soil and his long-lost
friend-and curses the powers that divided them.
Until now, the human story of Ottoman society’s violent break-up,
under the pressures of war and nationalism, has largely been kept
within the Greek-Turkish family: not many people outside the region
know it, and even there it must be told elliptically because it flies
in the face of nationalist orthodoxies. Now a version of this story
will reach a wider audience: it is the theme ofa new novel-his first
for a decade-by Louis de Bernières, the British author who captivated
readers with `Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, a tale of love and war in
Greece.
`Birds Without Wings’ is not just about one friendship, although the
camaraderie of two boys later divided by war is one central theme. The
bookdepicts a whole tapestry of relationships in a close-knit but
brutish community in the twilight of Ottoman Anatolia, where Muslims
pray in Arabic and Christians in Greek, but the only language anyone
understands is Turkish. There is a gangof Christian and Muslim
children who play together and dream of marrying. Even more
impressively, the Muslim hodja’s wife and the Christian priest’s wife
are best friends, and their husbands get along well too.

But as the war clouds gather and finally burst, the Muslim boys are
taken off to hell-holes like Gallipoli, the Armenians are marched away
to exile or death, and the Greek Orthodox are press-ganged into
forced-labour units. After the war, the surviving Orthodox Christians
are shipped off to Greece, an alien world.
As a (broadly successful) storytelling technique, Mr de Bernières
presents a series of first-person accounts by village characters, in a
quirky, uneven style: sometimes naive and homely; sometimes
over-elaborate. The net effectis to give the impression of a text
translated from another language. Also interwoven, for historical
context, is a biography of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the
mono-ethnic Turkish republic which replaced the multi-ethnic Ottoman
world.
Given that his book is presented as a sort of history lesson, Mr de
Bernières will be challenged on his facts. How will he fare? His
account of a Turcophone world, where barriers between the monotheisms
had blurred, is not entirely implausible-even though the areas where
this situation existed wereabout 400 miles to the east of this book’s
notional setting. The author was inspired by the deserted ruins of a
once prosperous coastal town known as Kaya in Turkish and Livisi in
Greek. This is certainly a haunting, and perhaps indeed a haunted
place; but virtually all its people spoke Greek and knew they were not
Turks or Muslims.
Still, such quibbling should not spoil the pleasure of those who come
looking for an absorbing read about a remote but captivating time. The
Ottoman world’s break-up is a rich, poignant story, and Mr de
Bernières is a good storyteller. At times he is nearly as good as
Dido Sotiriou.

Armenian-Iranian relations said entering into new stage
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Jul 04
Armenian-Iran cooperation is entering into a new qualitative
stage. While presenting his credentials to Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the
Islamic Republic of Iran [IRI], Ali Reza Haqiqian, passed on Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami’s warm greetings. He said that Iran highly
assesses the Armenian president’s attention to bilateral relations and
the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and outlined
President Kocharyan’s official visit to Iran in 2001.
The Iranian president’s forthcoming official visit to Armenia would
also be a serious impetus for developing bilateral relations.
The Armenian president gave a positive assessment to the current level
of Armenian-Iran relations in all spheres and spoke in favour of their
future development.
[Video showed the ceremony and reception at the president’s office.]

Armenian opposition still undecided about parliamentary boycott
Mediamax news agency
14 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The faction of the opposition Justice bloc has not yet discussed
lifting its boycott of the autumn plenary sessions of the Armenian
parliament, the secretary of the Justice parliamentary faction, Viktor
Dallakyan, said at the national press club today.
Commenting on the criminal proceedings instituted against the
opposition activists, he accused the Armenian authorities of
attempting to transfer domestic political processes to the criminal
plane.
“If the authorities come back to a political course, we are ready to
consider lifting the boycott,” he said.

Armenian press distorts OSCE mediators’ remarks – Azeri analyst
MPA news agency
15 Jul 04
BAKU
“The statements made by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen in the course
of the current visit to the region do not contradict each other. The
co-chairmen believe that now is a good time to resolve the conflict
and both sides are satisfied with the proposals,” the head of the
Centre for Political Innovations and Technologies, Mubariz Ahmadoglu,
has told MPA news agency.
French co-chairman Henry Jacolin’s remarks that the European Union
will favour those countries which are good neighbours is a diplomatic
message for Yerevan, Ahmadoglu said. One could sense some harshness
towards Armenia in statements by the other co-chairmen, he
said. However, the Armenian press has tried to distort their words and
present them to the public in a favourable light.
The main issues confronting the mediators today are liberation of the
occupied territories and finding a common denominator to determine the
status of Nagornyy Karabakh. To a certain extent, the co-chairmen have
reached an agreement and much will be known in the wake of their
meetings with Azerbaijani officials, Ahmadoglu said.

Armenia keen to join North-South transport corridor, PM says in Moscow
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Jul 04

[Presenter] The North-South international transport corridor project
can be a guarantee of stability in the region. Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Markaryan and Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov have
discussed the possibility of constructing this transport
corridor. Iran and Georgia have signed an agreement on implementing
this project. Andranik Markaryan noted that the transport corridor has
great importance for Armenia too.
[Correspondent Tereza Kasyan from Moscow by phone] Speaking about
Armenian-Russian economic relations, Andranik Markaryan and Sergey
Mironov stressed cooperation between the Armenian regions and Russian
Federation. The participation of representatives of Armenian and
Russian business circles and local authorities in seminars and
economic forums will promote cooperation, the Armenian prime minister
noted.
The sides also spoke about the North-South international transport
corridor project. Andranik Markaryan said that Iran and Georgia had
agreed to implement this project. The specialists will adopt a final
decision by the end of this year. The Armenian prime minister and
Russian Federation Council speaker discussed the possibilities of
cooperation in education and science. The establishment of an
Armenian-Russian university in Moscow has been approved. Sergey
Mironov said that it will provide the opportunity to have a good
education not only to Armenian, but also to Russian young
people. Andranik Markaryan added that the Russian-Armenian university
in Armenia will promote the opening of the new education centre.
Sergey Mironov will pay a working visit to Armenia in October.

OSCE Karabakh mediators arrive in Azeri capital
Lider TV, Baku
15 Jul 04

[Presenter] After meetings in Yerevan and Xankandi [Stepanakert], the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen arrived in Baku this morning. Although
the Russian co-chairman, Yuriy Merzlyakov, described the talks as
fruitful, he said no new proposal had been made during the
discussions. Merzlyakov also commented on the participation of
Nagornyy Karabakh’s Armenian community as a third party in the talks.
[Passage omitted: Merzlyakov about the aim of the visit]
[Correspondent] How realistic is the participation of the Armenian
community of Nagornyy Karabakh in the talks as a third party?
[Merzlyakov] I cannot say. The issue of changing the format of the
talks should be resolved preliminarily by the current parties to the
conflict.
[Presenter] The head of the foreign relations department at the
Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov, said that
statements about the signing of the cease-fire agreement [in Bishkek
in 1994] by the occupation regime [in Nagornyy Karabakh] were wide of
the mark. Mammadov said that official Baku did not intend to give its
consent to the participation of representatives from the
self-proclaimed republic in the talks as a [third] party.
[Mammadov, speaking to microphone] Russian and other co-chairmen in
the OSCE Minsk Group should act in line with the mandate that the OSCE
granted to the group. This mandate does not envisage the participation
of the Nagornyy Karabakh community in the resolution process. Their
participation in the talks is envisaged only together with the
Azerbaijani community, as parties interested in the solution. We do
not recognize the signing by [the Armenian community of] Nagornyy
Karabakh of the document, later presented by Armenians in the form you
refer to.

Karabakh set to print own money – Azeri paper
Ekho, Baku
10 Jul 04

The Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho has announced alleged plans by
Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagornyy Karabakh to print its own
money. It says that the US-based Educational Coin Company is offering
NKR banknotes to international collectors. Ekho quotes an Azerbaijani
pundit as saying that by printing its own money the NKR is seeking
material evidence to flesh out “the myth of the NKR”. The manat
remains the only legal tender on Azerbaijani territory, including
Nagornyy Karabakh, says the governor of the National Bank of
Azerbaijan. Subsequent to this, a report from the Armenian news
agency Arminfo said that the head of the NKR government press service,
David Mikaelyan, had described Ekho’s report as “extremely
frivolous”. He said that the NKR was in a common economic zone with
Armenia and has a common currency with it – the dram. The following is
the text of N. Aliyev and N. Quliyeva’s report by Azerbaijani
newspaper Ekho on 10 July headlined “Separatists are minting their own
money”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially; all quotation
marks and ellipses as published:
Karabakh plans separate currency
Separatists in [Azerbaijan’s breakaway region] Karabakh are preparing
to circulate their own currency with the same name as the Armenian
dram. Thus,the NRK [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] may be the first
unrecognized entity on CIS territory to get its own money. Nothing of
this kind has been seen in the Dniester region, Abkhazia or South
Ossetia. The money is available in printed form. The Ekho editorial
board has pictures of two denominations, two drams and 10 drams,
available and has sent them to the National Bank of Azerbaijan
[NBA]. The paper money was printed for the NKR this year. There is no
reliable information about the company which assumed the
responsibility to issue cash for separatists. Nonetheless, Ekho has
found out that the Educational Coin Company based in New York is
currently promoting the new “currency” among collectors of paper
money. In all likelihood, this particular firm is directly connected
with the printing of “Karabakh money”. At the same time, Armenia
itself has its money printed in Europe. Probably, Xankandi
[Stepanakert] decided not to “fail” official Yerevan and refused to
use the services of Armenia’s European partner.
In a profile of its activity, the US-based Educational Coin Company
says it has 40 years of experience in supplying inexpensive world
coins and banknotes to be used as articles for resale, awards and as
“educational decorative components”. In any event, this or any other
company had no legal right to take on an order from separatists. Ekho
has learned that there are no uniform regulations for printing paper
money or minting coins.
Decision said “political manoeuvre”
Every state is entitled to set up such a mechanism on their own based
on their legislation. In Azerbaijan, for instance, the mechanism is
determinedby the law “On the National Bank”. It reads: “ýPaper
currency of the Azerbaijani Republic is an obligation of the National
Bank and is guaranteed with all of its assets. The National Bank has
the exclusive right to issue banknotes and coins that are legal tender
on the territory of the Azerbaijani Republic, to organize their
circulation and withdrawal from circulation.” There is another nuance
of importance. The printing of money is a pretty costly pleasure
forany state. For example, it was announced earlier that Azerbaijan is
planning tospend 75bn manats (15m dollars) in 2004 on the renovation
of old notes. The printing of new ones might cost the state several
times more. To what extent is the separatist regime capable of bearing
such expenses? It is known that the “budget” of the “NKR” totals only
about several million dollars. By all accounts, the attempt to
circulate its “own currency” looks more like a political
manoeuvre. The unambiguous design of the notes supports the
idea. Thus, forinstance, the separatist money bears the “official
name” of the unrecognized entity: the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic. The
emblem contains the word Artsakh [the Armenian name for Karabakh]. The
name of the “owner and customer” of the currency is also identified at
the bottom of the note: the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This
particular structure placed the order, as the NKR has no central bank.
Instead, it has Artsakhbank, a bank registered in Yerevan. It has for
a long time described itself as the NKR central bank. When most of its
partners broke off under pressure from Azerbaijan, Artsakhbank was
forced to declare itself an Armenian bank with branches in Karabakh.
The NKR leadership chose religious themes for the design of its
money. The two dram note depicts the Gandzasar Monastery and the St
Hovanes Mkrtich [John the Baptist] Cathedral. The other side shows
John the Baptist baptizing Jesus Christ. The 10 dram note features the
Dadivank Monastery. The other side shows patterns of a Karabakh
carpet, bunches of grapes and the Xudafarin bridge over the River
Araz.
Azeri National Bank probes report
The latter circumstance is especially curious. The bridge is located
in Azerbaijan’s Cabrayil District which is occupied by Armenia. It is
outside the geographical limits of the former Nagornyy Karabakh
Autonomous Region. Thismeans that the separatists have no plans to
return Cabrayil. It should be pointed out here that Armenia’s national
emblem features Mount Ararat which is located in Turkey. Armenian
drams have circulated in Karabakh until now. By issuing their own
“currency”, the separatists probably decided to additionally reduce
its exchange rate to the dollar. Currently, one dollar sells for about
540 drams in Yerevan. So the real value of two and 10 dram notes is
not high in Armenia. NKR separatists hope that their “own currency”
will get stronger as it comes into circulation.
“The introduction of an internal currency in the separatist NKR is the
funniest Armenian joke I’ve ever heard,” a well-known political
analyst, Eldar Namazov, commented on the situation for Ekho. He sees a
possible explanation for the separatists’ actions in a “pathological
ambition of Armenians to attach material evidence to the myth of NKR”.
As regards official reaction from the Azerbaijani regulator of money
printing, the National Bank of Azerbaijan, it was predictably
sharp. Ekho has learned that the National Bank of Azerbaijan had been
advised on the separatists’ plans to print their own money, but the
bank did not believe it was a serious project. Nonetheless they
launched a probe. “We have been receiving some data that need
verification. I’ve seen sketches that you provided and ordered that
the inscriptions on the notes be translated from Armenian,” Elman
Rustamov, the head of the National Bank of Azerbaijan, has told
Ekho. In his view, this might be just another separatist
provocation. Rustamov is not sure such currency might come into
circulation. “The Karabakh economy now totally depends on Armenia; the
separatists would not benefit from circulating their own moneyunder
such conditions,” Rustamov said.
Azeris unhappy with currency plans
In any event, it is against the law to print “Karabakh” money because
under the constitution, it [Karabakh] is Azerbaijani land where the
manat is the only legal tender. “It’s an outrage on justice,” Rustamov
said in conclusion. The design of most national banknotes of
Azerbaijan was drawn up in early in 1990s, at the beginning of
Azerbaijan’s independence. Later on, they underwent changes and larger
denominations were issued. Under current law, the par value, size,
weight, composition and other features of notes and coins which are
legal tender in Azerbaijan, shall also be subject to the regulatory
documents of the National Bank. It is the NBA board again that shall
decide on circulating new notes and coins or withdrawing old ones from
circulation and approve the patterns of new paper currency. According
to the law, a resolution to this effect is to be published in the mass
media, relevant decisions shall specify the time frame to replace
notes and coins and the credit organizations in charge of the
process. It is known that old notes are replaced with new ones every
four years, the last such replacement took place in 2000. The NBA has
long been placing its orders to print the manat with the UK company De
La Rue Int.
Experts have explained to Ekho that, prior to taking an order to print
paper currency, any company is obliged to make sure that the customer
has the legal right to make such an order. “For example, no autonomy
within the limits ofa state has the right to issue its own currency
without the permission of its central authorities. This is a grave
abuse of international law and no serious company would ever assume
this kind of responsibility,” a banking expert has told Ekho.
International organizations and the world community regard Nagornyy
Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, he recalled. Therefore, any monetary
and financial transactions should be done here on the basis of
Azerbaijani legislation, he said. “Given the conflict situation on
this territory, all serious international companies and firms refrain
from any cooperation with Karabakh. No company that respects itself
will allow itself to have ties with separatists,” the expert said.

Karabakh solution depends on conflicting parties – OSCE mediators
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Jul 04

The OSCE’s mediators on Nagornyy Karabakh have said that resolution of
the conflict depends on the sides’ political will. Addressing a press
conference in Yerevan on 14 July, US mediator Steven Mann said that
no-one could propose a magic solution: “The solution to the problem
will require compromises from the conflicting parties and they will
have to define those themselves.” Russian mediator Yuriy Merzlyakov
said that the OSCE team had travelled to Karabakh from Armenia, rather
than from Azerbaijan, because the last time they had travelled from
the Azeri side an Azerbaijani soldier had been wounded by a landmine.
The following is the text of a report by Armenian Public TV on 14
July:
[Presenter] The OSCE Minsk Group has described as unreasonable
statements that the negotiations on the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict have reached deadlock. The US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, said that the settlement of the
conflict mainly depends on the conflicting sides’ political
will. No-one, not even the international mediators, can propose any
magic solution to the conflict. The solution of the conflict will
demand compromises from the conflicting sides and they themselves will
have to define the level of the complexity of these compromises,
Steven Mann said.
[Correspondent over video of news conference] Such a difficult problem
as the Karabakh conflict cannot be solved in two or three
meetings. The negotiations need time, the French co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Henry Jacolin, said, asked when they will put
forward new proposals.
[Henry Jacolin captioned, in English with Armenian voice-over] Now
there is a new situation. The new president has been elected in
Azerbaijan. The two presidents [Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev]
must get to know each other. This requires time.
[US co-chair Steven Mann, captioned, in English with Armenian
voice-over] This is a process and we cannot stop after each step and
assess it. The question that is asked repeatedly is does the Minsk
Group have a new proposal? I can say that the solution of the conflict
depends on the sides. I do not think that the Minsk Group itself must
suggest a new proposal.
[Russian co-chair Yuriy Merzlyakov, captioned, in Russian with
Armenian voice-over] The co-chairmen consider that it is impossible to
miss the opportunity and the problem must be solved now. The new
presidents have been elected, the new agenda of the negotiations is
being discussed and we think that we must act right now.
[Correspondent ] Armenia and Azerbaijan should decide themselves the
issue of the involvement of the Nagornyy Karabakh side in the
negotiations. The conflicting sides themselves bear responsibility for
the resolution of the conflict, the US co-chairman of the Minsk Group,
Steven Mann noted.
[Steven Mann] The resolution of the conflict depends on the existence
of the conflicting parties’ political will. No-one, including
international mediators, can propose any magic solution to the
conflict. A solution to the problem will require compromises from the
conflicting parties and they will have to define those themselves. We
do not know what compromises they should be.
[Correspondent] Asked why they preferred to travel to Nagornyy
Karabakh via Armenia, Mr Merzlyakov said that the co-chairmen do not
want to be responsible for possible unpleasant incidents.
[Yuriy Merzlyakov] They also asked in Azerbaijan why we did not go to
Karabakh via Azerbaijan. The answer is clear, as a rule, we choose the
route that is possible. Unfortunately, last time that we crossed via
Azerbaijan, the security measures which were arranged ended with an
unfortunate result. When we crossed via the Azerbaijani side, an
Azerbaijani soldier lost his leg in the security zone and the
mediators do not want to bear responsibility for similar incidents.
[Correspondent] Mr Merzlyakov denied information disseminated in
Azerbaijani newspapers that he had said in Baku that the Armenian
forces’ withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territories must be one of the
main subjects of the negotiations.
[Yuriy Merzlyakov] I did not and could not make such a
statement. Somebody has got something confused.
[Correspondent] The Minsk Group has not been able to suggest a
solution to the conflict so far.
[Henry Jacolin] The two countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia] did not use
the assistance which the OSCE is suggesting for the solution of the
problem.
[Correspondent] Jacolin hoped that it will be possible to achieve
something soon.
Tatevik Nalbandyan, “Aylur”.