Category: News

LITHUANIA CONTINUING COOPERATION WITH SOUTH CAUCASIAN, CIS STATES
Baltic News Service
June 1, 2004
VILNIUS, Jun 01 — Representatives of the Armenian, Azerbaijani,
Bulgarian, Romanian, Slovak, Ukrainian and Uzbek armies are starting
a four-day visit to Lithuania on Tuesday, during which they will get
acquainted with the country’s system of military training.
This is the first visit of the kind, the Defense Ministry has reported.
The guests are scheduled to go to the Kaunas-based Division General
Stasys Rastikis NCO School, Nemencine-based General Adolfas Ramanauskas
Military Advanced Training Centre, Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonusas
Radvila Training Regiment in Rukla, General Jonas Zemaitis Military
Academy of Lithuania in Vilnius.
The military officers will hold a meeting to discuss results of
the visit.
In the framework of the Partnership for Peace Program, in the end
of 2003 Lithuania proposed military officers from South Caucasian,
some Central Asian and CIS countries training at the Lithuanian
Military Academy. Lithuania also suggested sharing experience in such
fields as crisis management, resource planning, military strategies,
security policy.
The training at the Military Academy — intensive 4-month English
language classes arranged according to NATO program and international
courses for captains — has been favored the most.
Since 2002 the Lithuanian Defense Ministry has sponsored education
of Georgian officer in the Baltic Defense College, and from this
year will pay for studies of two Georgian officers, one officer from
Armenia and one from Azerbaijan.

Take Ten; On visiting Nazareth – 2
by Behn Cervantes
BusinessWorld
May 31, 2004, Monday
After a hearty lunch, we went around window shopping. Now, that is
another experience.
Merchants in this area whether Arabs or Jews, have got to be the most
persistent, makulit and hard-sell of all. If you don’t like this,
there is that and many, many more to chose from. “C’mon all are of
the best of quality!” You almost feel guilty for not buying.
One lady store owner even gave me a free card because after she told
me she was Armenian, not an Arab – she added her name ended with
an “i-a-n” which, she said identifies many of her people. “Like
Khatchaturian?” I asked. “Ah,” she said “you know. Good!” Taking
advantage of my position of acceptance I added like “William
Saroyan?” “Aaah” she gasped, “you really know.” She then gave that
free card made by nuns – some Filipinas she added.
There is too much to buy in these tourist spots and I had lost interest
in collecting material souvenirs. I collect memories instead these
days. When the church opened we went through the different points of
interest including the site where Joseph, the carpenter was supposed
to have lived. Why was it underground?
Naturally, we had Kodakan sessions, mixing religious experience with
tourist concerns. However, the drive up Mt. Tabor was breathtaking.
The ancient church atop it is stark for a Catholic church which makes
it indeed impressive.
When I looked down the vast horizon and the valley below, you had to
feel spiritual. Religious thoughts returned.
Ricky pointed out Bedouin settlements when we drove down and explained
their controversial role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However,
what really got my interest was driving through Megido Valley. We
had seen it from atop Mt. Tabor but driving through it now and being
informed by Ricky that this was the alleged Biblical site of the Final
Battle or the Armageddon, my hair literally stood on end. When we
drove through it I dropped my defenses, allowed my imagination to
“ride along.” I pressed the Pause button in my doubtful mind and
consider what this all meant. Going through the alleged site of The
Final Battle or the Armageddon had an entirely different effect on me
from seeing the humble home of Joseph in Nazareth as a tourist. All
of sudden, I had very mixed emotions, one rather mundane, the other
rather spiritual and deeply profound.
Nazareth the simple home town of Joseph, the carpenter, Mary, his
wife and a young boy named Jesus is now a booming tourist attraction,
rather blatantly commercial under a patina of religiosity. It is
unrecognizable by Biblical standards after 2,000 years of progress
and commerce.
Megido Valley, on the other hand, is utterly still, unoccupied, and
empty, as though waiting to play its final role as proclaimed in the
Good Book.
One is opposite the other. The connection between the two contrasting
places is Jesus of Nazareth. As Christ he will have the central role
in Megido in that prophesied event.
I had to pause, consider and think. It was mind-boggling. I had to
pray… in my own manner.

ARKA News Agency
May 31 2004
RA NA Vice Speaker and the member PACE monitoring commission
discussed the inner political situation in Armenia
NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs receives the co-chairmen of
International Work Group for search of missing people, hostages and
prisoners of war in the region of Karabakh conflict
Co-reporters of monitoring commission of PACE to arrive in Armenia on
June 14-17
The HEAD of RA NA Parliamentary commission receives the chairman of
SEYM of Poland
Economic reform in Armenian are highly evaluated at the meeting of
the board of IMF in Washington
RA President Kocharian signs the law on making amendments and novels
to the law on state pensions
RA President Kocharian receives delegation of the heads of the
Armenian Evangelical Churches and organization
Chairmen of Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia (Ramkavar) and new
times party discuss today’s situation in Armenia
*********************************************************************
RA NA VICE SPEAKER AND THE MEMBER PACE MONITORING COMMISSION
DISCUSSED THE INNER POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, June 1. /ARKA/. RA NA Vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan and Jerzy
Jaskiernia,the member PACE monitoring commission, the Head of the
commission on foreign affairs of the Seym of Poland discussed the
inner political situation in Armenia. According to RA NA Press
Service Department, in the course of the meeting Torosyan stated that
the opposition rejected the initiative of th eruling coalition of
Armenia to reduce the tension in the country and settle the existing
problems through political dialogue, and instead it preferred rallies
to a dialogue. He added that the opposition was suggested joint work
on doing amendments to Election Code and the key articles of the
Constitution. Torosyan noted that the majority of the commitments
stated by PACE resolutions are complied with Armenia and a detailed
document wil be submitted on it before the visit of PACE monitoring
group to Armenia (June 14-17 ).
According to the press release, in the course of the meeting Torosyan
also touched upon the issue of imposing sanctions against persons who
violated law during presidential and parliamentary elections in
Armenia. Torosyan noted that a corresponding reference is received
from the General Public Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia that would be
submitted to the Parliament in the course of coming three-day
session. Speaking of pluralism in Armenian Mass Media, Torosyan
suggested inviting an export commission to the republic for
conducting monitoring in this area. A.H. –0–
*********************************************************************
NKR MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RECEIVES THE CO-CHAIRMEN OF
INTERNATIONAL WORK GROUP FOR SEARCH OF MISSING PEOPLE, HOSTAGES AND
PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE REGION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
STEPANAKERT, May, 31. /ARKA/. Ashot Gulyan, the NKR Minister of
foreign Affairs received Bernhard Clasen and Svetlana Gannushkina,
the co-Chairmen of International Work Group (IWG)for search of
missing people, hostages and prisoners of war in the region of
Karabakh conflict, as well as the coordinators of the group Karine
Minasyan (Armenia), Avaz Gasanov (Azerbaijan) and Albert Voskanian
(NKR). According to NKR Press Service Department, Gulyan expressed
hope that the experience of IWG will allow them to solve the
humanitarian problems relating to all parties in the conflict. At the
same time, the Minister noted that politicizing of the issue
regarding hostages and prisoner of war by Azerbaijan as well as
accusations addressed to Armenia and NKR hinder search work and
create the atmosphere of distrust. In regard with this, Gulyan
emphasized that the clear position of IWG on the issue could stop
such actions on the part of Azerbaijan.
In their turn, the representatives of IWG also agreed with
non-acceptability of politicizing of humanitarian issues. The
accepted that the state committee of Azerbaijan on hostages and
prisoners of war is rather occupied with propaganda than search. A.H.
–0–
*********************************************************************
THE HEAD OF RA NA PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION RECEIVES THE CHAIRMAN OF
SEYM OF POLAND
YEREVAN, May, 31. /ARKA/. The Head of Parliamentary Commission of RA
NA Armen Roustamyan received the Chairman of Seym of Poland Jerzy
Jaskiernia. According to RA NA Press Service Department, Jaskiernia
is also a member of PACE monitoring commission and the reporter on
Armenia. In the course of the meeting the parties emphasized the
importance of development of relations between two countries,
activation of interparliamentary relations, co-operation in
international organisations and European structures. Roustamyan
emphasized the importance of inclusion of Armenia and other countries
of South Caucasus into Enlarged Europe: New Neighbors EU program.
This would contribute to regional partnership, and create the
conditions for peaceful settlement of regional conflicts. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
CO-REPORTERS OF MONITORING COMMISSION OF PACE TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON
JUNE 14-17
YEREVAN, May, 31. /ARKA/. Co-reporters of monitoring commission of
PACE to arrive in Armenia on June 14-17 , as stated by the co-
Reporter of PACE monitoring commission, the Chairman of Parliamentary
commission on foreign relations of Seym of Poland Jerzy Jaskiernia,
who was on his visit in Yerevan. As he said, his present visit is not
connected with monitoring. Jaskiernia stated that the reporters will
meet the Leaders of the opposition, NGOs, and the representatives of
the Constitution Court. “The latter is especially important, since
most people in Strasburg do not understand what was and is the role
of Constitution Court. It’s important to introduce info about Armenia
comprehensively”, he said. Jaskiernia added that the reporters want
the dialogue between the opposition and the coalition be resumed.
“PACE will be informed about the events in Armenia and the steps done
by the Government of Armenia to comply with the commitments to PACE
“, he said. Jaskiernia confidently said that Armenia will comply with
the main commitments and there will be no necessity to impose any
sanctions ion the country.
According to April 28 PACE resolution, Armenia is obliged to regulate
the inner political situation till September. If the commitments to
PACE are not complied with Armenia , then in September the Assembly
in accordance with the 9th point of its order has the right to review
the authorities of the Armenian delegation in PACE. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
ECONOMIC REFORM IN ARMENIAN ARE HIGHLY EVALUATED AT THE MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF IMF IN WASHINGTON
YEREVAN, May, 31. /ARKA/. Economic reform in Armenian were highly
evaluated at the meeting of the Board of IMF in Washington. According
to RA President’s Press Service Department, James McHugh, the
permanent IMF representative in Armenia, during his meeting with RA
President Kocharian noted that at present new program of the Fund to
be discussed. According to the press release, the sides agreed that
more attention to be paid to Armenian regions and their problems by
the programs of IMF.
Also current issue connected with the improvement of tax and customs
administration were discussed in the course of the meeting. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN SIGNS THE LAW ON MAKING AMENDMENTS AND NOVELS
TO THE LAW ON STATE PENSIONS
YEREVAN, May, 31. /ARKA/. RA President Kocharian signed the law on
making amendments and novels to the law on state pensions, according
to RA President’s Press Service Department. Kocharian also signed the
law on approving state annual program on preserving, spread and
development of culture for 2004. A.H.–O
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN RECEIVES DELEGATION OF THE HEADS OF THE
ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATION
YEREVAN, May, 31. /ARKA/. RA President Kocharian received the
delegation of the Heads of the Armenian Evangelical Churches and
organizations. According to RA President’s Press Service Department,
the delegation consisting of the representatives from various
countries, was headed by the Chairman of world Armenian Evangelical
Council and Armenian Evangelical Union of Near East Reverend Mkrtich
Karagezian. Kocharian highly estimated the education and charity
mission of evangelical churches and organizations and added that
consistency can be observed in the work they do. Kocharian expresses
his confidence that the joint constructive work will be successfully
continued in future.
In their turn, the Heads of Evangelical Churches and organizations
noted that their goal is to render help to their motherland and “all
programs are focused on it”. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
CHAIRMEN OF DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL PARTY OF ARMENIA (RAMKAVAR) AND NEW
TIMES PARTY DISCUSS TODAY’S SITUATION IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, May 31. /ARKA/. Chairmen of Liberal Democratic Party of
Armenia (DLPA) (Ramkavar) and New Times party Harutyun Arakelyan and
Aram Karapetyan discussed today’s political situation in Armenia and
its possible development. As DLPA Headquarters told ARKA during the
meeting the Chairmen agreed to make such meetings on regular. T.M.
-0–
*********************************************************************

The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 2 2004
Turkey’s ancient Christians seek to resettle villages
Syriac archbishop: ‘It is our pleasure to have our people back from
different parts of the world’
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Turkey: The ancient Syriac Orthodox monastery outside this southeastern
city is praying for a brighter future as Christians, forced out
of their ancestral lands by economic hardship and an armed Kurdish
insurgency, start trickling back to their villages.
“It is our pleasure to have our people back from different parts of the
world,” said Archbishop Filuksinos Saliba Ozmen at the Deyrulzafaran
Monastery, which dates back to the 5th century and sits on a bluff
overlooking an extensive plain.
“By the grace of God they are coming back. Otherwise we would lose
everything, the entire community,” he added in his office adorned
with pictures of late archbishops and patriarchs.
The Syriac Orthodox community, one of the world’s oldest Christian
denominations, whose original congregations also settled into what is
today Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, numbered some 50,000 to 60,000 members
in southeastern Turkey in the 1960s.
Many left for Europe in the 1970s for economic reasons. Emigration to
countries such as Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden
ballooned over the following decade amid heavy fighting between
the army and Kurdish rebels seeking self-rule in the mainly Kurdish
southeast.
“We were caught in the middle of the clashes,” Ozmen said.
The community now numbers 20,000-25,000 with most now living in
Istanbul.
Recently some Syriac Orthodox families in Europe decided they would
try their luck and return to villages they had abandoned, as the
insurgency has almost died out after rebels declared a unilateral
cease-fire and took refuge in neighboring Iraq in 1999.
The rebels however issued a statement over the weekend threatening
new attacks.
“The situation now is at least safer than before. We have been
struggling, working for it to get better,” Ozmen said just before
that statement was issued.
Also bolstering the community’s hopes was an official government call
in 2001 for the Syrian Orthodox community to return and a guarantee
they would not be hindered from doing so.
Turkey’s drive to join the European Union is another influence on
the return of this Christian community, as the mainly Muslim country
strives to ensure religious freedoms and democratic rights for its
minorities in order to join the EU.
Ozmen explained that of 12 Syriac villages abandoned in the region,
only one, Marbobo, had been rebuilt and resettled after eight families
returned.
Reconstruction was under way in two other villages, Kafro and Arbo,
while plans were being drawn up for the rebuilding in some six other
villages in the surrounding rugged hills, said the archbishop.
“The authorities are helping us with getting water and electricity
to the villages. We are planning to receive some young families”,
said Ozmen. “If we get five percent of the Syriac community back,
it would not be bad,” he added.
But all is not rosy. The archbishop pointed to the difficulty of
keeping alive the culture of the community which uses Aramaic, the
language spoken at the time of Jesus, in its liturgy.
The Syriac Orthodox were not recognized as an official minority
in 1923 when the Turkish Republic was founded – unlike the Greek,
Jewish and Armenian communities – leaving them without the right to
open official schools.
The community resorted to sending their children to Turkish state
schools during the day and afterward to informal schooling in both
Deyrulzafaran as well as in the Mor Gabriel Monastery – the oldest
monastery in the world – in the nearby town of Midyat.
“That is why we would like to see Turkey in the EU to live better
and practice our culture better. We, as Christian minorities, have
a great task in establishing ties between Turkey and the European
Union,” said Ozmen.
By Hande Culpan, Agence France Presse

Opposition Reports Fresh Arrests
By Karine Kalantarian and Ruzanna Stepanian 02/06/2004 01:19
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
June 2 2004
The Armenian opposition reported on Tuesday renewed “administrative”
detentions and imprisonments of its activists ahead of the resumption
of its anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan.
Dustrik Mkhitarian of the Artarutyun alliance told RFE/RL that eight
activists in Yerevan and other parts of the country have been
arrested since Monday for allegedly disrupting public order or
“insulting” police officers.
She said five of them were sentenced to between five and ten days in
prison while the others were fined and set free. She added that
another oppositionist, the leader of an Artarutyun chapter in the
nearby town of Abovian, was detained and being questioned by the
local police as of Tuesday afternoon.
Arrests were also reported by the opposition National Unity Party
(AMK), Artarutyun’s top ally in the two-month campaign for President
Robert Kocharian’s resignation. AMK leader Artashes Geghamian said
two of his activists in the central town of Gavar got five-day and
ten-day jail terms under the Soviet-era Administrative Code after
publicly informing local people about his visit to the area due on
Wednesday.
The reported arrests come in advance of yet another unsanctioned
rally which Artarutyun and the AMK plan to hold on Friday following a
two-week pause. Leaders of the two opposition groups pledged on May
21 to stage “permanent” anti-Kocharian rallies from June 4. They also
said they will “rethink” their tactics to pull larger crowds in the
capital.
The upcoming rally was formally banned by the Yerevan municipality on
Tuesday in response to a written notification from several opposition
leaders. A written reply signed by an aide to Mayor Yervand Zakharian
pointed to the ongoing criminal investigation into the opposition
drive for regime change. It also cited a clause in the new Armenian
law on rallies which bans public gatherings in cases where they
“jeopardize citizens’ life or health.”
The law was enacted last month over serious objections voiced by
legal experts from the Council of Europe and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe. They believe that it fails to
meet European standards to which Armenia has committed itself.
The opposition said it will challenge Zakharian’s decision in the
court and will press ahead with the rally regardless of the outcome
of the lawsuit.
More than a hundred people have been subjected to administrative
detentions, mainly in closed trials and without access to lawyers,
over the past two months. Most of them were ordinary participants of
the opposition demonstrations. Hundreds of other opposition
supporters faced similar punishment during and in the wake of last
year’s presidential election.
The authorities’ controversial enforcement of the Administrative Code
has prompted strong protests from prominent international human
rights organizations. In its April 28 resolution on the political
crisis in Armenia, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) urged the authorities to “immediately end the
practice.” Human Rights Watch similarly said in a May 4 report that
Yerevan should “cease using arrest as a means of pressuring the
opposition.”
In a related development, the head of the Yerevan office of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reiterated on
Tuesday his calls for the release of more than a dozen opposition
leaders and activists who face criminal charges stemming from the
opposition push for power. “I think that the release of those
individuals would create necessary prerequisites for ending the
political deadlock in which the opposition is refusing to engage in a
constructive dialogue with the government,” Ambassador Vladimir
Pryakhin told RFE/RL.
Pryakhin was particularly concerned about the fate of the most
prominent of the detainees, former Defense Minister Vagharshak
Harutiunian. “Vagharshak Harutiunian could not have done something
for which he could be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years’
imprisonment,” he said.
Harutiunian and another senior member of Artarutyun, Suren
Sureniants, are being prosecuted for allegedly calling for a “violent
overthrow of constitutional order,” a charge they both deny.
Sureniants spent several days on hunger strike in his prison cell
last month to demand the release of all “political prisoners.” His
defense lawyer, Robert Grigorian, told RFE/RL that state prosecutors
have asked a court in Yerevan to prolong his pre-trial detention by
two more months.

Political analyst says Russia’s stand in Caucasus will weaken
AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 2 2004
Political analyst Vafa Guluzada was quoted as saying on Monday that
after Azerbaijan and Armenia sign a peace treaty, Russia will have
no influence on the two countries.
AssA-Irada — He underlined that the issue of influence is the key
reason for Moscow’s interest in the protracted Upper Garabagh conflict.
Guluzada said Russia will not bring investments and new technologies
into Azerbaijan and Armenia under pressure from the US and Western
European countries, and added that Armenia is likely to demand
withdrawal of Russian military contingent from its territory soon.
At the same time, the political analyst noted that official Moscow
will make attempts to bring pro-Russian forces to power in Georgia
and Azerbaijan.
“Russia hopes for weakening of the US stand worldwide and will
thus try to strengthen its own position in the Caucasus”, he said.
However, Guluzada said such attempts by Russia will be unsuccessful.
“The history never goes back,” he concluded.

WHY SHOULD KOCHARIAN GO TO ISTANBUL?
AZG/am
2 June 04
Turkey’s Official Position and the Position of the Armenian Opposition
Inadvertently Coincide
The policy adopted by the official Ankara towards Yerevan is
anti-Armenian and hostile and it wasn’t changed since 1991. Perhaps,
the strategy of the anti-Armenian policy has changed. If before
1994 Turkey was obviously making military threats to Armenia it
has blocked, after the Karabagh war, feeling the uselessness of the
abovementioned strategy transferred the anti-Armenian struggle to
the sphere of propaganda. Turkey still keeps refusing to establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia, conditioning this with several
preconditions. Hence, on conditions of the current Armenian-Turkish
relations (read: absence of relations) RA President doesn’t find
it expedient to participate in NATO’s regular summit envisaged in
Istanbul on June 28-29.
Firstly, the press secretary of RA President, then RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian explained the decision of the president not to leave
for Istanbul: notwithstanding the numerous statements made by the
Armenian side to improve the relations with Turkey no positive results
are fixed. Particularly, Oskanian repeated that Yerevan is ready to
establish diplomatic relations with Ankara without any pre-condition.
Abdullah Gul, Turkish Prime and Foreign Minister, commenting on the
decision of the Armenian president on May 20 in Moscow, reminded,
“this is a NATO summit”. “Armenia has an office in Istanbul within
the framework of the Black Sea economic cooperation. Perhaps, Armenia
will close it?” Gul said.
In fact, the Turkish Foreign Minister tries to condition the current
Armenian- Turkish relations by the refusal of Kocharian to go to
Istanbul. On the other hand, Giul keeps reminding that the opening of
the Armenian-Turkish border is possible only in case Armenian forces
liberate “the occupied Azerbaijani territory.”
The Gumhuriet, one of the Turkish central newspapers reminds in one
of the articles of May 30 issue (“The Relations with Yerevan are
Stuck”) that “the process of naturalizing expected in Ankara â^À^Ó
Yerevan relations can’t begin, as Armenia takes no positives steps
in Nagorno Karabakh’s and Turkey’s issues. Ankara defines that on
current conditions the establishment of diplomatic relations and
opening of the borders will not be included in the agenda.”
The Gumhuriet also emphasizes that in Istanbul Turkey, Armenia and
Azerbaijan envisaged to discuss the issue of Nagorno Karabagh and the
suggestion of Baku to call off the Armenian forces (from the territory
of Azerbaijan: editor). “Thus, Kocharian makes us think that he is not
going to discuss the topic,” the newspaper writes. Whatever comments
are made, one thing is obvious. In the international practice, when
the two states have no diplomatic relations, according to the given
situation, one can participate on a lower level on one or more stages
in the arrangement taking place in the country with no relations.
Thus, the refusal of Kocharian to go to Istanbul is no queer phenomenon
for the diplomatic practice.
More likely, the queer is the coincidence of the official Turkish
and Armenian opposition’s (that of its part) positions.
If the Turkish officials and the Press use the refusal of Kocharian
to go to Istanbul for Ankara’s political agenda, as if Armenia is
unwilling and doesn’ t establish relations with Ankara, the Armenian
opposition uses this fact to remind of its existence to the home and
foreign political forces. What would be the achievement of Kocharian
if he went to Istanbul? We merely have to remember that since 1991
the visits of the Armenian high ranked officials to Istanbul or
Ankara didn’t yield anything. On the contrary, Turkey demands more
preconditions for the establishment of diplomatic relations with
Armenia.
By Tatoul Hakobian.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/01/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian Military Plans to Set Up 'Dro' Think-Tank 2) ANC Central California Demonstration Delivers Message to Speaker Hastert 3) US Officials Discuss MCA 4) Georgia's Carrot-and-stick Approach with South Ossetia 5) Iraqis, US Cut Deal on President, Car Bomb at PUK Headquarters 1) Armenian Military Plans to Set Up 'Dro' Think-Tank YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Armenian Defense Ministry unveiled on Monday plans to set up a special think-tank that will advise it on defense and national security issues. Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian and the leadership of Armenia's Armed Forces attended an official ceremony marking the start of work on a building that will house the ministry's National Strategic Research Center. Officials said its construction will cost $600,000 and will be complete within a year. The center will be named after the late General Drastamat (Dro) Kanayan, one of the most prominent military commanders of the first Armenian Republic that existed from 1918-1920. Kanayan's US-based descendants have donated $350,000 for the project and were also present at the ceremony. The rest of the money will be raised by the Diaspora-financed All-Armenian Fund Hayastan. Sarkisian said that the center, the first of its kind in Armenia, is expected to provide the Armenian military and other security agencies with "quality advice" on security challenges facing the country. The think-tank will be headed by Colonel Hayk Kotanjian, who until recently served as military attaché at the Armenian embassy in Washington. It is not yet clear whether its personnel will be dominated by army officers or civilian 2) ANC Central California Demonstration Delivers Message to Speaker Hastert FRESNO (ANCA-Fresno/Fresno Bee)--Local Fresno community members mobilized on very short notice for a demonstration in support of a coordinated national effort to urge Speaker Hastert and Majority leader Frist to bring House Resolution 193 (H.Res.193) to a floor vote. Speaker Hastert was in town to support Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn's bid for Congress. Area Armenian Youth Federation and Homenetmen youth, along with community members were present at the gathering organized by the Armenian National Committee Central California, Fresno. Extensive coverage was provided by media outlets, with news crews there from local ABC and CBS affiliates, KMJ Radio; a feature article also appeared in the local newspaper, The Fresno Bee. After the fundraising event, Ashburn said he told Hastert he supports the resolution that recognizes the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. If elected to Congress, Ashburn said, "I would ask Hastert to bring it to a vote." Demonstrators handed out information flyers, while enlarged poster size replicas of the ANCA postcards from its postcard campaign served as protest signs, along with others reading, "Hastert Hear the Cry From History" and "Hastert Holds the Genocide Vote Hostage." The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the resolution more than a year ago, but Hastert has not brought it to the House floor for a vote. "It has international consequences to it, and it's something that we have to work with the State Department on and the White House" Hastert commented to local radio reporter Ron Statler about the issue. Statler said the Speaker "declined to say what changes are needed or what the international implications are." ANC spokesman Richard Sanikian informed listeners on air about the nationwide phone, WebFax, and 100,000-postcard campaign calling on Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Frist to take action on the measure. "After a year, he's not gotten back to us," noted Sanikian. Sanikian said local leaders who support the resolution include Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa; Fresno Mayor Alan Autry; and Ashburn's political rival, former state Sen. Jim Costa. Costa, a Fresno Democrat, and Ashburn are battling for the open 20th Congressional District seat. Incumbent Cal Dooley, D-Fresno, is not running for reelection. The Central Valley is home to more than 60,000 Armenians, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the area. H.Res.193 marks the 15th anniversary of the US implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. If Speaker Hastert does not bring the legislation to a vote in the next six months, it will die at the end of this congressional session. For more information log on to , or anca.org. 3) US Officials Discuss MCA YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)--Senior US government officials opened talks with Armenian leaders in Yerevan on Monday to discuss expectations of economic assistance under Washington's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Armenia is among 16 nations eligible for the multimillion-dollar plan to promote economic and political reforms in developing countries around the world. Aid allocations are to be decided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government agency handling the scheme. The corporation's chief executive Paul Applegarth, and three of his top advisers began their three-day visit to Armenia with a meeting with Prime Minister Andranik Markarian. Applegarth also met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian to review terms for assistance. Kocharian commented that the program can serve as a tool to assess work already carried out, but said there remains much to do. "This is a good opportunity for the country to improve conditions and create a good basis for further development," the president said. Parliament speaker Arthur Baghdasarian, who also met with the delegation, said the parliament will take part in formulating the program proposal which will target as priorities, development of sub-structures, promotion of small and medium business in the provinces, housing construction, and implementation of a poverty reduction and anti-corruption programs. Senior State Department official Carlos Pascual who co-chairs a US-Armenian intergovernmental "task force" cautioned earlier this month that the aid allocation is not a forgone conclusion, but will depend not only on the quality of the proposals but also on the improvement of the Armenian authorities' human and civil rights record . "The expectation, in order to be able to move forward with the program, is that there would be progress on these issues and not movement backwards," he told a news conference in Yerevan. A statement issued by the US embassy in Yerevan on Monday cited Applegarth as saying that it is also essential for the aid proposals to be the result of "wide discussions" and consensus among various strata of Armenian society. 4) Georgia's Carrot-and-stick Approach with South Ossetia (Eurasianet.org/Interfax)--Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is wielding a stick and extending a carrot to the separatist region of South Ossetia. Georgian leaders say their actions are driven by a determination to eradicate smuggling and corruption. Government critics, meanwhile, charge that Saakashvili seeks a repeat of the "Ajarian" scenario, in which Tbilisi brings a break-away region back under central control by fomenting popular unrest in the region. In late May, Tbilisi stepped up pressure on South Ossetia--an autonomous republic of Georgia that secured quasi-independence during a separatist struggle in the early 1990s--by establishing checkpoints at Georgian-Ossetian administrative border crossings. Those checkpoints are designed to cut off the flow of contraband between the region and Georgia proper. South Ossetia has long had a reputation as a smuggler's haven. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania asserted during a May 31 broadcast by Imedi TV that the checkpoints reduced smuggling "to nil," adding that the government's success in curbing the illicit trade "has made people who have been making a lot of money through these channels nervous." South Ossetia's armed forces "have been ordered to destroy any aircraft or regiments that cross the border," Interfax cited Eduard Kokoity, the region's president as yesterday. Georgia is trying to accumulate as many Georgian forces as possible on the border "and to use them if an incident occurs." Tension escalated May 31 when Tbilisi dispatched Interior Ministry forces in to reinforce the checkpoints. The Russian commander of a joint peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, Maj. Gen. Svyatoslav Nabzdorov, called the Georgian move "a dangerous provocation that could have unpredictable consequences," the Interfax-AVN news agency reported. Georgian officials countered that they deployed reinforcements after Russian peacekeepers threatened to use force to remove the checkpoints, the Civil Georgia web site reported. South Ossetia, a region of about 100,000 people, set up a pro-Russian autonomous government in the 1990s and Russia maintains troops in the region. Georgia, which last month built police posts near the border, late yesterday withdrew the new units sent to the area, Interfax cited Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich, a commander with Russian peacekeeping forces, as saying. Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili said last week, while his government won't accept the disintegration of Georgia, it is willing to consider models for a state that take into account the interests of regions such as South Ossetia. Georgia last month ousted Aslan Abashidze, the leader of the region of Ajaria, which also set up an autonomous government in the 1990s. 5) Iraqis, US Cut Deal on President, Car Bomb at PUK Headquarters BAGHDAD (Reuters)--Iraqi leaders cut a face-saving deal Tuesday with the United States and United Nations on a president and government to lead the country out of occupation. An 11th-hour compromise saw Washington's choice of president make way for tribal chief Ghazi Yawar. He was then sworn in with an interim cabinet of technocrats in a televised ceremony rich in symbolism at a palace complex built by Saddam Hussein. A car bomb that tore through the nearby offices of a Kurdish political party, killing and wounding several people, underlined the scale of the challenge the interim administration faces in organizing first free elections in the New Year. Several rockets also landed around the US compound as officials were meeting, wounding one Iraqi. And a suicide car bomber killed 11 Iraqis outside a US base north of Baghdad. CAR BOMB The death toll was unclear in the bombing of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's Baghdad headquarters. A US officer said three people were confirmed dead and 20 wounded, but police at the scene said the toll was considerably higher. A huge crater was blown into the ground at the entrance to the PUK building, close to the "Green Zone" compound where officials were announcing the deal on the new government. In a face-saving maneuver, the 22-member Governing Council initially dropped its objection to Pachachi. Then, within minutes, the 81-year-old former foreign minister renounced the post and Brahimi declared that Yawar would become head of state. Officials then announced that the Council, whose members US officials had accused of trying to cling to power by claiming positions in the new government, was being wound up. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

California Courier Online, June 3, 2004
1 – Commentary
Turks Attempt to Use Armenians
In Anti-Genocide Propaganda
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
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2 – San Diego Conference on Genocide and Denial
Features Scholars, Activists and Educators
3 – Glendale’s Deukmejian Wilderness
Park Re-opened at Ceremonies
4 – Dr. Karamanoukian Donates
$250,000 to Armenian Center
5 – Armenian Education in North America
To be Reviewed at June 4-5 Conference
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Turks Attempt to Use Armenians
In Anti-Genocide Propaganda
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
After publishing viciously anti-Armenian articles for many years, some
Turkish newspapers have changed their tactics. They have adopted a more
subtle approach in attempting to scuttle the just demands of the Armenian
people. Instead of denying the Genocide outright, the Turkish press now
publishes articles that urge Armenians to “let bygones be bygones, and to
look to the future, not the past!” In other words, the Turks are advocating
reconciliation without truth or justice.
To make matters worse, the Turkish media from time to time publishes
interviews with some Armenians who reportedly make conciliatory statements
which are presented as evidence that not all Armenians are “hung up” on the
recognition of the Genocide.
For example, in the May 25th issue of the Turkish Daily News, Burak Bekdil,
after a recent visit to Armenia, published a lengthy commentary titled,
“Why Turks and Armenians must eventually shake hands.” Using deceptively
accommodating language, Bekdil distorts the facts of the Armenian Genocide
and tries to undermine the Armenian demands.
He starts his article by calling the Genocide Memorial Monument in Yerevan
“the only symbol in the world that deeply divides two nations that lived
together in peace for centuries.” By feigning to be indignant, Bekdil asks:
“how many more centuries the Turks and Armenians will be living under the
huge symbolic shadow of one monument?”
In one of the most outrageous lies in his column and in a blatant attempt
to pit Armenians and Kurds against each other, Bekdil shamelessly writes:
“The Armenians claim that the Ottoman Kurds, under orders from the empire
in 1915-18, systematically massacred 1.5 million of their ethnic kin living
in eastern Anatolia.” While it is a fact that some Kurds collaborated with
the Turks and carried out deadly raids on Armenian caravans, no
knowledgeable person would claim that the Kurds committed the Armenian
Genocide, while the Turks acted as innocent bystanders. If that were the
case, the Turkish government would have eagerly recognized “the genocide
committed by the Kurds against the Armenians.”
After repeating the standard Turkish lies on the Armenian Genocide, and
accusing Armenians of “systematically killing hundreds of thousands of
Turks,” while only “thousands of Armenians died from cold weather,
starvation and disease,” Bekdil sheds crocodile tears over the fact that
“in 2004, there are two nations, once friends, accusing each other of a
genocide that is said to have taken place 90 years ago and are locked over
the dispute, perhaps forever.”
Bekdil seems quite ignorant about the most basic facts of not only the
Armenian Genocide, but of Turkish history. Otherwise, he would not have
asked the following very foolish question: “Has any Armenian ever been
curious enough to know how many Turks actually lived in eastern Anatolia in
1915-18 and, if by any chance there were a few, could those few physically
have been capable of massacring 700,000-1.5 million others?”
Bekdil espouses the baseless notion that the Diaspora is dictating to the
Armenian government its hard-line position on the Armenian Genocide.
Armenia “must maintain an extremely delicate balance between what reality
dictates and what its Diaspora sponsors impose,” Bekdil falsely asserts. He
then makes several nonsense statements, such as: “The Armenian mindset is
deeply fractured. Diaspora Armenians think the genocide issue is their
‘raison d’etre.’ As for a possible deal with the Turks, they believe they
should represent the entire Armenian population. Are they not, after all,
the ones who financially keep the Armenian state alive?” Bekdil
conveniently forgets that Pres. Kocharian, at his own initiative, has
included the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the
foreign policy agenda of the Republic of Armenia. The Turkish officials are
the ones who reject Armenia’s unconditional offer to establish diplomatic
relations, and they keep the border closed in order to force Armenia’s
population into abandoning their historic claims.
Bekdil then introduces Nishan Atinizian of Boston — one of the major
investors in the new Armenia Marriott Hotel — as someone who “thinks it
would be grossly stupid if Turks and Armenians lived in hostility forever.”
The Turkish commentator then claims that Atinizian thinks, “it is the
historians’ job to find out what really happened 90 years ago.” It is
highly doubtful that Atinizian would make such a statement. Armenians know
first-hand what happened to them. They need no historians to tell them what
happened in 1915! Such a statement would also run counter to the fact that
Atinizian generously contributes large sums of money to a major
Armenian-American activist organization that has, as one of its goals, the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Bekdil claims that Atinizian is “fed up” with American politicians who
benefit from “the genocide industry” by getting campaign contributions from
Armenians, “promising to pay [us] back in genocide memorials.” He is quoted
as saying, “I don’t care if the Americans or the French recognize the
genocide. This is an issue between Armenians and Turks. What more should I
ask from the Turks if they opened their archives so that Turkish Armenians
could trace their family roots?”
Nishan Atinizian told me this week that most of the statements attributed
to him by Bekdil are false. Atinizian angrily said he would write to Bekdil
demanding a retraction and an apology. He had a conversation with the
Turkish commentator at the sidewalk cafe in front of Marriott hotel in
Yerevan and discussed mostly the potential benefits of opening the
Turkish-Armenian border.
Bekdil then continues his column and introduces another Atinizian, David,
of Yerevan – no relation to Nishan. The Turkish commentator presents the
following outrageous views as being those of David’s which are supposedly
sensible like those of most “homeland Armenians”: “a) injecting hatred into
the minds of generations of Turks and Armenians reflects an archaic
thinking that should have no place in the 21st century; b) the genocide was
masterminded by the Ottomans and carried our by the Kurds; c) it happened
because the Russians had engineered an Armenian uprising against the
Ottoman Empire; d) some 350,000 Turks died as well, as a result of Armenian
atrocities in 1915-18; e) the Turkey of today cannot be held responsible
for the genocide; and f) it is totally pointless, against international law
and unrealistic if some Armenians dream of any part of eastern Anatolia as
part of Armenia.” Bekdil commends Nishan and David Atinizian for being
“realists.” Nishan Atinizian, who was present during David’s conversation
with Bekdil, told me this week that David did not make any of these
statements.
We hope that Nishan and David Atinizian and all other Armenians learn a
very valuable lesson – never agree to talk to a Turkish journalist, even
off the record! Otherwise, when the article comes out, and distorted
statements are published in your name, you have to do a lot of back
peddling to prove that you did not make the statements attributed to you.
The two Atinizians should take all necessary steps to set the record
straight so that the Armenian community worldwide would not believe that
they said the things the Turkish Daily News claims they did. The timing of
this Turkish commentary is most unfortunate, as the Atinizians and their
business partners are getting ready to celebrate the grand opening of the
Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan next week. The last thing they need is a
controversial article in the Turkish press claiming that one of their
partners has made such disparaging remarks about the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.
**************************************************************************
2 – San Diego Conference on Genocide and Denial
Features Scholars, Activists and Educators
SAN DIEGO, CA – Armenian-Americans from all over San Diego County gathered
on the campus of the University of California, San Diego on May 8 for an
academic conference entitled “The Western Response to Genocide and Genocide
Denial.” The event was organized by the Armenian National Committee of San
Diego and the Armenian Student Association of UC San Diego.
The two-part conference featured scholars and experts from various
organizations covering issues from implementing genocide education in
public school curricula to combating Genocide denial in the political and
academic arenas. ANC San Diego activist Dr. Raffi Nazikian moderated the
question and answer sessions at the end of each speaker’s presentation.
Following the last presentation, the guest speakers participated in a panel
discussion where they answered questions raised by the diverse audience of
Armenian and non-Armenian students, educators, community members and
activists.
The first session included Dr. Laurence Baron, Director of the Lipinsky
Institute for Judaic Studies, who discussed the crime of genocide providing
a sequential breakdown of historical landmark events, treaties and trials
marking the criminalization of genocide. UCLA lecturer Dr. Rubina
Peroomian delved into the vast array of literary works that have been
produced in the wake of the post-Genocide era. She cited their significance
to the cultural development of Armenians and their effect on the cultural
identity of future generations.
Dan Alba, Los Angeles Regional Director of Facing History and Ourselves,
led the second half of the conference with his talk on the importance of
implementing the already mandated teaching of genocides in the California
public school curriculum. Dr. Levon Marashlian, Professor of History at
Glendale Community College, continued with his insightful lecture on the
history of legislation and denial of the Armenian Genocide which was
accompanied by a montage of archival video footage. He also dissected the
issues of reparations and reconciliation with the Republic of Turkey and
between Armenians and Turks. Ardashes Kassakhian, Executive Director of
ANCA-WR, ended the conference with an in depth analysis of the political
fight in Congress to secure official U.S. acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide and to pressure Turkey to recognize its past crimes against
humanity.
Garo Artinian, ANC San Diego Chair, said the conference was the first of a
series of Genocide conferences that are to follow in the future.
“We were quite pleased with the turnout of the first conference and
lookforward to having it annually. Our goal is to educate the new
generation who would become the future leaders. And with great anticipation
that one day the world conscious would not permit of such violent acts
against humanity,” commented Artinian.
“I’m very proud of the Armenian students at UC San Diego for working with
us in order to bring together such an interesting panel of speakers to
address these important issues and hope that such events continue to
flourish in this great community in San Diego,” he added.
In addition to the Conference, the UC San Diego Armenian Student
Association has organized several events during the past two years
commemorating the Genocide and educating and raising public awareness
amongst the campus community about its denial by Turkey. UC San Diego was
the first campus in the Western United States to have the award winning
film “Ararat” screened on its campus free of charge to the public.
“We plan to have many more cultural and educational events through our
growing organization of dedicated young activists and future leaders,” said
ASA President Mike Gedjeyan. “We look forward to continuing to work with
the ANC on the next academic conference for 2005.”
The San Diego ANC already has plans for a similar conference next year
according to Program Chair Dr. Robert Deranian. Earlier this year, the
ANCA-WR Board honored Deranian with a San Diego Grassroots Activist of the
Year award.
The San Diego Genocide Conference Program Committee included Dr. Deranian,
Artinian (Organizing Committee Co-Chair), Professor James Ajemian, Dr.
Serop Karoglanian, Aykanush Galadzhyan, Gedjeyan (Organizing Committee
Co-Chair), Sanaheen Kodjayian, Dr. Mark Nazarian, Dr. Nazikian, Hasmig
Sillano and Professor Araxy Tatoulian.
**************************************************************************
3 – Glendale’s Deukmejian Wilderness
Park Re-opened at Ceremonies
GLENDALE – The ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the re-opening of the
Deukmejian Wilderness Park by the Glendale Parks, Recreation & Community
Services Division was held recently at the park.
The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an open house, a children’s
crafts and light refreshments. Former Governor George Deukmejian was the
special guest of honor.
“I am highly honored and genuinely pleased that the City of Glendale has
completed major improvements in the Deukmejian Wilderness Park, which will
provide recreational and educational benefits to a countless number of
people for decades to come,” Deukmejian said.
This site will serve as an educational facility for the Glendale park
system, featuring programs and information focusing on the area’s history,
ecosystems, geology, hydrology and other natural systems. Welcoming remarks
and introductions were made by President Charlie Carluccio, of the Glendale
Commission of Parks, Recreation and Services. He was followed by comments
from Glendale Mayor Robert Yousefian, former Mayor Larry Zarian, and
Director of the Glendale Parks, Recreation & Community Services George
Chapjian. Also addressing the audience, were Ranger Russ Hauck and Joe
Edmiston, executive director, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
The new park facilities will provide a staging area for recreation trails
within the 700-acre park and beyond to the Angeles National Forest trail
system. It will also serve as home to the Glendale Park Rangers.
**************************************************************************
4 – Dr. Karamanoukian Donates
$250,000 to Armenian Center
GLENDALE – Dr. Albert Karamanoukian of Glendale, Calif., donated $250,000
for the building of an Armenian Center in Glendale.
The announcement of the donation was made at a May 15 banquet sponsored by
the ARF Aharonian Gomideh of Glendale, attended by more 400 guests at the
Glendale Ararat Homenetmen Hall.
The proposed Center will be built on property adjoining Glendale’s St. Mary
Church, on Central Avenue.
The donation was in honor of Dr. Karamanoukian’s parents Krikor and Mariam
Karamanoukian.
Addressing the audience, the benefactor expressed gratitude toward his
nation and homeland for educating him and making his success possible, as
well his contribution to the Armenian Center.
Speakers and dignitaries at the banquet included Cong. Adam Schiff,
Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian, City Councilmember Raffi Manoukian, Glendale
United School Board President Gregory Krinorian, College Trustee members
Dr. Armine Hacopian and Ara Najarian, and others.
**************************************************************************
5 – Armenian Education in North America
To be Reviewed at June 4-5 Conference
GLENDALE – The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian School are
organizing a two-day conference to reassess Armenian education in Northern
America in the context of the changing “Armenian-American Identity.”
Open to the public, the conference will be held June 4-5 at Woodbury
University in Burbank, Calif.
“The 21st century has placed new challenges before us,” making “imperative
for us to reassess the mission of Armenian education and the
Armenian-American cultural identity issues in our schools,” the Regents
said in a statement release on May 20.
All Armenian daily schools and their leaders have been invited to
participate and bring their expertise to this dialogue, the Regents said,
with the participation of well-known professionals and experts on the issue
as presenters or panelists.
While the Armenian day schools in North America have a history that dates
back to more than 40 years, recent years have shown that some, if not all,
the schools are having difficulties in coping with the financial, academic,
and socialization issues that follows some of the explosive growth of the
Armenian community in Southern California. Some of the schools suffer from
aging facilities, others from cramped quarters, and yet others from the
lack of finances that prevent the hiring and retention of qualified
instructors required by a challenging academic environment.
Sessions of the conference will be open to the public.
For more information, contact the Board of Regents at (818) 500-0822, or
e-mail [email protected]
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**************************************************************************

EU seeks date for N-plant closure
By Kieran Cooke, in Yerevan, Armenia
BBC News
June 2 2004
The plant was closed and then reopened
The EU is freezing 100m euros of aid to Armenia because of the
country’s refusal to set a date to close an old Russian-built nuclear
power station.
The Metsamor plant, which is sited some 40km west of the Armenian
capital Yerevan, is built on top of one of the world’s most active
seismic zones.
The station was closed after one major quake in 1988, but reopened in
1995.
“This plant is a danger to the whole Caucasus region,” says Alexis
Loeber, head of the EU’s delegation in Armenia.
“Our position of principle is that nuclear power plants should not be
built in highly active seismic zones.”
Protective shell
Metsamor is a pressurised water reactor that was first commissioned
in the mid 1970s.
It is about 80km from what is believed to have been the epicentre of
the 1988 earthquake, which killed 25,000 people.
The European Union, as part of its general policy seeking the closure
of elderly nuclear plants constructed in territories of the former
Soviet Union, agreed to give the grant aid ($122m; £66m) to Armenia
for finding alternative energy sources and for helping with
decommissioning costs at the plant.
In return, the government in Yerevan would commit to a definite date
for the plant’s closure.
“We cannot force Armenia to close the plant,” says the EU’s Mr
Loeber. “Originally it was agreed the plant should cease operations
this year – now Brussels is asking the government to give a definite
date as to when it proposes to close it.
“We feel that should definitely be well in advance of the end of
Metsamor’s design lifecycle in 2016.”
The Metsamor plant has no secondary containment facilities, a safety
requirement of all modern reactors.
Power needs
Another concern is that due to border and railway closures with
surrounding territories, nuclear material to feed the plant is flown
into Armenia from Russia.
“It is the same as flying around a potential nuclear bomb,” says Mr
Loeber. “It’s an extremely hazardous exercise.”
Earthquakes happen here and there is danger. On the other hand, we
do not have any other options for work
Gohar Bezprozvannkh, former Metsamor worker
Armenian and EU officials are due to meet in Brussels this Friday to
discuss Metsamor’s future. The EU has warned that if no progress is
made on the issue, its grant aid offer might be withdrawn altogether.
At present, however, there is no indication that the Armenian
government has any intention of closing Metsamor.
Areg Galstyan, the country’s deputy minister of power, says $50m (40
million euros; £27m) has been spent on upgrading safety at Metsamor.
“It was a big mistake to shut the plant in 1988,” says Mr Galstyan.
“It created an energy crisis and the people and economy suffered.
“It would be impossible for the government to cause the same problem
again by shutting off the plant.”
The deputy minister also insists that all necessary safety measures
are taken with flying in fuel to feed the reactor, though he says
exact details of the operation are kept secret “to avoid alarming the
people”.
Gas option
Alvaro Antonyan, president of Armenia’s National Survey for Seismic
Protection, says Russian scientists had built the power station on a
special raft to resist earthquakes.
Dr Antonyan says the 1988 earthquake – a magnitude 6.7 event – had
not damaged the reactor.
The Metsamor plant supplies about 35% of Armenia’s total energy
output.
The debate centres on the energy needs of the country
Electricity industry specialists say that due to the expansion and
updating of existing thermal and hydro-energy plants, the country has
become an electricity exporter in recent years.
A major new power source will come on stream in 2006 when a pipeline
supplying gas from neighbouring Iran is due to be completed.
In a country where jobs are scarce and per capita annual incomes are
less than $600 (490 euros; £326), people have mixed feelings about
the Metsamor issue.
“I fear for my two children because I do not think the plant is
safe,” says Gohar Bezprozvannkh, who worked at the plant for two
years.
“Earthquakes happen here and there is danger. On the other hand, we
do not have any other options for work.”
Martiroian Harazat, now retired, had worked at the plant since it
opened. “If they shut down the reactor we will die of hunger. People
have to eat. There’s no alternative place to work.”