PRESIDENT DESCRIBES BELARUS AS MAIN DRIVING FORCE OF EURASIAN INTEGRATION
Belarusian television, Minsk
8 Aug 06
[Presenter] Belarus is the most consistent and active driving force of
Eurasian integration, [President] Alyaksandr Lukashenka said today at a conference
with newly appointed representative of Belarus to interstate bodies.
Priority tasks include the activation of our country’s role in integration processes
in the post-Soviet space.
[Correspondent] The most important directions of Belarus’s foreign policy
have been defined already at a recent conference with the diplomatic corps.
Integration processes in the post-Soviet space were described as a priority. The
discussion of the integration issue continued today on the practical and
specific level. The president met those who are expected to promote and defend
Belarus’s interests in interstate bodies. These are bodies of the
[Russian-Belarusian] union state, the EAEC [the Eurasian Economic Community of Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan] and the CSTO [the
Collective Security Treaty Organization of Belarus, Russia, Armenia,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan]. Belarus is the most consistent and active
driving force of Eurasian integration, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said and the results
of recent summits testify to this. But the integration effect should be even
bigger.
[Lukashenka] I would like you to remember all the time that you are
representative of Belarus to interstate bodies, above all. I would not like you to
become international officials, as they say, and forget that you represent the
country. And the most important thing is that you should deal with the most
specific issues, any issues that would facilitate the prosperity and revival of
our country’s economy and the improvement of people’s life.
[Correspondent] The newly appointed ambassador to Russia, Vasil Dalhalyow,
has been tasked with coordinating the activities by Belarus’s representative to
interstate bodies. The main priority has been and remains the creation of a
full-fledged union state, the president pointed out. It is necessary to press
for the timely and proper implementation of the decisions and agreements
needed here. The creation of a full-scale customs union is the main direction of
activities within the EAEC framework, the head of state stressed. Active
work aimed at increasing the efficiency of foreign political coordination should
be carried out within the CSTO framework. The main thing is to see our
country and its interests behind each line and letter, the president is convinced.
[At 1021 gmt today, the Belarusian news agency Belapan quoted Lukashenka as
saying that the EAEC member states’ economic, energy and human potential can
turn the EAEC into a major player in the international economic and political
arena and that it would be impossible without the establishment of a
full-scale customs union within the organization.]

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON UTILIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES HELD IN YEREVAN
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 8, 2006
YEREVAN, August 8. /ARKA/. “Problems of Utilization of Water Resources
and Ecology of Rivers Kura and Araks” scientific conference has been
held in Yerevan today.
The RA National Academy of Science reported that during the event
participants discussed timely problems connected with efficient and
purposeful utilization of water resources.
Reports of specialists from the USAID, RA Consulting Group company,
RA Ministry of Ecology, Eurasia Foundation, “Regional Ecology Centers –
Caucasus” organization were presented during the conference.
Eurasia Foundation is the organizer of the event. S.P.–0–

Middle East War Favorable to Turkey
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.08.2006 18:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish economic empire center of Istanbul will
only gain from Beirut stopping its existence as a financial center,
writes the Frankfurter Rundschau German newspaper. In the opinion
of the author of Oil dollars seek asylum in Bosporus article of Herd
Haler, though Lebanon has become a favorite place for Arab investors,
they now prefer investing capitals in markets, which are more stable.
These include first of all Turkey. “It is still hard to assess the
volume of those transfers. A proof of inflow of that capital into
Turkish economy can be the Turkish lira rate increasing 6% since
mid-July.
Meanwhile, secrecy atmosphere is sustained not to form an impression
that Arab investors leave Lebanon to the mercy of fate. Turkey
will only profit from the Middle East crisis. In 2005 Turk Telekom
bought 55% of Oger Saudi Arabian company at $6.6 billion. The firm
is controlled by the family of Lebanese PM Rafik al-Hariri, killed
in 2005,” the article says.
Heler underscored that Turkey attracts investors by growth rate of its
economy, developed financial markets and relative stability. “Arab
investors feel comfortable in Turkey, as the state is headed by
pro-Islamic government. Since the beginning of its tenure in 2002
economic exchange between Turkey and Arab countries increased from 7$
to $17 billion.
Turkish PM Erdogan, an Islamic fundamentalist, stands up for
investments in his country. Observers assess his expressed anti-Israeli
posture and critical rhetoric regarding the US during the latest
Middle East conflict as part of the common strategy. Erdogan will
try to make use of the visit of Saudi King to Turkey to demonstrate
solidarity with the Arab world.
King Abdullah lately pledged assistance of $1.5 billion to Lebanon. A
third part of those means should be spent to restore the country. Part
of those means can flow into the Turkish economy: Turkish construction
companies, who have already concluded building contracts in the Middle
East for $30 billion, hope to take part in rehabilitation of Lebanon,”
Frankfurter Rundschau considers.

MULTIPLE CHAMPION OF ARMENIA “PYUNIK” CONTINUES HEADING TOURNAMENT TABLE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Meetings of the 15 round of the
football highest group championship of Armenia took place on August 5
and 6. The following results were fixed: “Pyunik” – “Gandzasar” 5-1,
“Shirak” – “Mika” 0-0, “Ararat” – “Banants” 3-0 and “Ulis” – “Cilicia”
2-3. Multiple champion of Armenia “Pyunik” heads the tournament table
with 43 points. Meetings of the 16th rounds are appointed on August
12 and 13.

SYRIA WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.08.2006 17:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Syria will not interfere with war between Israel
and Lebanon, political scientist, specialist in Turkic philology Ruben
Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “No one will support Syria
in that issue, and first of all Russia, from which Syria depends,”
he noted.
In his turn political scientist Stepan Grigoryan also underscored that
neither Syria, nor Iran will dare to launch a war against Israel. “In
this case they will have to deal with the US and Russia in direct
sense,” he said.
Syria FM Walid Moallem stated in Beirut that Syria is ready to a
regional war and will respond to any aggression by Israel.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIVER ARAX CONTAMINATED BY BOTH ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
Panorama.am
14:45 08/08/06
“River Arax is contaminated in Armenia as much as in Azerbaijan,”
Rafael Hovhannisyan, head of Nature Protection Union, told a scientific
meeting today at the National Academy of Sciences.
Azerbaijan has officially blamed Armenia for contaminating the river
on purpose. Hovhannisyan assures that both countries have to take
the blame for the river contamination. He says it is not polluted on
purpose. Simply, the river runs in densely populated areas and the
sewage goes into the river.
Hovhannisyan suggests elaborating a standard for river contamination
and investing that both in Armenia and Azerbaijan. /Panorama.am/

Stands Devoted to Khojalu to Be Set at Holocaust Museums
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.08.2006 18:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stands devoted to the so-called “Azeri genocide”
in Khojalu will be established worldwide, Head of the Department of
Propaganda, Information and Analysis of the State Committee for Work
with Azeris Living Abroad Javanshir Veliyev said.
In his words, certain work is done to that end. “After working out the
final project of actions of Azeri and Jewish Diaspora, the process of
establishment of stands will begin. This meets the interests of not
only Azeri, but also Jewish Diaspora organizations,” Veliyev stated,
reports Trend.

JOINT RESERVOIR WITH TURKEY SUGGESTED TO BE BUILT
Panorama.am
15:08 08/08/06
Yuri Javadyan, candidate of technical sciences, suggests building a
joint reservoir with Turkey on the cross-section of rivers Arax and
Akhuryan. Armenia already has a common reservoir with Turkey on river
Akhuryan with a capacity of 525 million cubic meter water. Javadyan
made the suggestion at a scientific meeting on Arax and Kur rivers
at the National Academy of Sciences.
Javadyan said floods destroy 500 hectare of land costing USD 1 million
in expenditures per annum.
Therefore, he thinks that the reservoir will diminish the dangers of
floods. Moreover, he thinks that such a water pool may be used for
hydro energy purposes. /Panorama.am/

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS DELEGATION OF BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA FUND
Stepanakert, August 7. ArmInfo. President of NKR Arkady Ghoukassyan
received the youth of Diaspora, delegates of Birthright Armenia Fund
on 5 August. The delegates are on a fact-finding visit to NKR.
The NKR Presidential press-service reports the president as informing
the young representatives of Armenian communities of USA, Canada,
France and Great Britain of the way Nagorny Karabakh has passed.
President Ghoukassyan stressed the role of Diaspora in solution
of everyday problems in NKR. He said the country will continue the
social-economic development and will always be ready to counteract
any attempt on the independence of NKR and security of NKR people.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT IMPLEMETS THIS SPRING WORKS
OF 158 HECTARES OF TREE PLANTING IN GETIK RIVER BASIN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the tree
planting program of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) public nature
protectional organization, 343 750 trees were planted in April-May
of this year in the Getik river basin (the marz of Gegharkunik, nor
far from Sevan). Within the framework of this program of the ATP, 158
hectares of forest territories were planted and completely restored
with types of local trees (chestnut, ash-tree, maple, oak tree,
walnut-tree, wild apple-tree and wild pear-tree). 80 inhabitants of
the villages of Aghavnavank, Dzoravank, Dprabak and Aygut situated
in the Getik river basin were involved in works of tree planting
being implemented by the ATP. Young plants envisaged for the forest
cover were bought from hotbeds in personal plots belonging to 118
families living in the above-mentioned communities. Those communities
are mainly populated with migrants of Armenian origin displaced from
Azerbaijan. So, the program secured a necessary source of income for
the most needy families and employees involved in the affair of tree
planting. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the
ATP, within the framework of the “Community Tree Planting” program,
143 450 trees and bushes were planted in this spring in all the marzes
of Armenia and Artsakh. The ATP was founded in 1994. By its activity
addressed to security and restoration of the forest vital systems,
it has a goal to assist the economic and social development of the
country. The program implements a voluminous forest planting, community
tree planting, the society’s awareness concerning the problems of
protecting the environment, programs on nature protectional education
and development of rural communities. Only during the last 12 years,
the ATP planted and revived more than 1.2 mln trees in 600 settlements
of Armenia and Arstakh.