Armenian foreign minister does not rule out selling Iran-Armenia pipeline to Russia
Regnum, Russia
April 20 2006
“Nothing can be ruled out,” Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
has said answering a question about possibility of selling the
Iran-Armenia pipeline, which is now under construction, to Russia,
reports a REGNUM correspondent. Nevertheless, the Armenian foreign
minister failed to provide an exact answer. “It is hard to say,
whether it will be sold or not. Actually, there is no such pipeline,
as it is being constructed yet. There are talks held. It goes about
who will invest in it and who will construct it. Most probably,
the one who gives money will be the owner.”
Earlier, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan announced that
“the Iran-Armenia pipeline has not been constructed and is not a
subject of economic activity yet, therefore, is not a joint-stock
company and has issued no stock, so, it cannot be sold.” Meanwhile,
Member of the Armenian National Assembly, ex-Prime Minister Vazgen
Manukyan earlier expressed his confidence that a 45-kilometer section
of the pipeline is already sold, “despite the fact that the Armenian
authorities assure that the pipeline was not sold to Russia.”
It is worth mentioning, on April 6, Gazprom within several hours
corrected a report released by its press department on signing an
agreement with Armenia for 25 years. From the new version of the
press release published on Gazprom’s official site statements on the
Iran-Armenia pipeline were excluded. The previous variant included
information that the agreement envisages acquiring by ArmRosgazprom
of a 40-kilometer section under construction of the Iran-Armenia
pipeline and the fifth energy unit of Hrazdan Nuclear Power Plant,
as well as giving functions of building owner of the second section
of the pipeline 197 km long to ArmRosgazprom. The new variant of the
document reports only about acquiring the fifth energy unit of the
Hrazdan NPP and gas facilities.

45,000 in Armenian army
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 20 2006
Baku, April 19, AssA-Irada — Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian
has said his country’s troops are 45,000 people strong, explaining
this by the current situation in the South Caucasus region.
Touching upon the plight and structure of the three-million nation’s
military, Sarkisian said it is common knowledge that the Armenian
military consists of infantry regiment units and the air force. The
troops are not centralized in any way and have no local headquarters.
“There is only one chief HQ overseeing all of the armed forces. This
entails commanding separate corps, artillery units and air defense
forces,” said the minister, who also serves as secretary of the
Armenian National Security Council.
With regard to further impact of the rising tension in Georgia’s
breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on regional states,
Sarkisian said any given conflict flaring in the South Caucasus region
could play a role of a “detonator”.
He said the Caucasus is a very small area, which makes regional
countries dependent on each other. “For this reason, a resumption of
military action [in the region] could bring about negative consequences
for us,” the Armenian defense chief said.
As for the current situation in Georgia, the minister said a possible
disruption of stability there would not benefit his country. His
concern could be explained by the fact Georgia is the only country
facilitating Armenia’s access to the rest of the world.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline may be transferred to Russia
RosBusinessConsulting Database
April 20, 2006 Thursday 6:43 am, EST
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian admits the possibility of
transferring the Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline to Russia, he told
a press-conference today. No scenario of future developments can be
ruled out at the moment. At the same time it is too early to sum up the
results while negotiations are still in progress. “Any talks about the
pipeline’s future are unreasonable because it hasn’t been constructed
yet,” the Minister said. He added that it would be more reasonable
to speak of the project’s possible investors, ARKA News Agency reports.

Turkey airs Egoyan pic on genocide
by ALI JAAFAR
Daily Variety
April 20, 2006 Thursday
LONDON A private Turkish TV station has aired Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat,”
a drama about the Armenian genocide, for the first time.
Netcaster Kanalturk broadcast the pic without cuts, even though the
subject is largely taboo in the country.
The Turkish government refuses to officially acknowledge the massacre,
in which up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in Turkey from
1915-17.
Airing took place only after execs at Kanalturk polled auds and found
that 72% wanted to see the film.
The film was followed by a round-table discussion with notable Turkish
and Armenian historians.
A rep for Egoyan told Daily Variety the director was “pleased” the
film had finally been shown in Turkey after a troubled journey to
local auds.
The government initially gave the go-ahead for the film to be screened
theatrically in 2004, despite labeling it “ridiculous propaganda,”
but the distributor was forced to drop its release after receiving
threats from various Turkish nationalist groups.
The government’s decision not to block the broadcast of “Ararat”
would indicate a more open policy toward the issue of the genocide.
Earlier this year Orhan Pamuk, Turkey’s most celebrated writer, faced
imprisonment after referring to the genocide in an interview with
a Swiss newspaper, although the charges of “insulting Turkishness”
were eventually dropped after an international outcry.

WVU honors Holocaust victims
by Grant Smith, Staff
The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
April 20, 2006 Thursday
Apr. 20–WVU students and community members gathered at noon Wednesday
to begin reading about 15,000 names of Holocaust victims.
And they’ll still be there at noon today.
“I think the Holocaust is a life lesson for the education person,”
said WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr., “that this could happen
in a ‘civilized’ country. It could happen to so many with so little
justification.”
Nazi Germany’s Holocaust killed an estimated 12 million people,
six million of them Jews.
Hardesty helped begin the program, reading a poem by Pastor Martin
Niemöller, and the poem “Unto Every Person There is a Name,” by the
Israeli poet Zelda. The name-reading event shares the same name as
the latter poem.
He then read the first few names of Holocaust victims. The first two
victims were just children, aged 14 and 17.
Hillel House, WVU’s Jewish student organization, first held the event
nine years ago, said member Heidi Solomon. About 30 volunteers signed
up ahead of time, and she expected about 20 to 30 more to volunteer
on the spot by the end of the event.
Hillel House co-treasurer Lauren Bergstein said that reading the
names is an effort to keep people from clumping the millions of
victims into one group.
“I think that one of the big things about this program is it’s
important to give everybody a name,” said Bergstein, a sophomore
occupational therapy student. “That kind of gives them more
personality.”
Hardesty said the name-reading is a “poignant way” of remembering
the Holocaust. “They were individuals with hopes and dreams,” he said.
Hardesty has been opening the program since it began at WVU, he said,
and read books and histories in preparation. “I think I’ve become
much better for participating in the ceremony,” he said.
He recalls an emotional moment from a previous year, at which six
names of members from the same family were read. A father, mother
and their four children were all killed on the same day, in the same
camp. He said the ages of that family reminded him of his own.
“I’ve kind of gotten better at managing that over the years,” he
said. The event is also an attempt to “make sure nothing like this
ever happens again,” Bergstein said.
Solomon’s mother, Jan Hausman, was scheduled to read names three
times during the event.
She teaches the Holocaust to eighth graders in Pennsylvania.
She said one of Adolph Hitler’s earlier speeches referred to the 1.5
million Armenians’ killed in Turkey in the early 20th century. He
said since no one remembered the Armenians, they wouldn’t remember
the Jews killed by the Nazis in 20 years, either. “He was kind of
laughing at the memory of the Armenians,” Hausman said.
She uses the Holocaust as a lesson decrying bullying.
“If we allow that, what’s next?” she said. “I show them what could
possibly be next.”
–Boundary_(ID_XklzbDX1oTk5S582Cz10hw)–

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
April 20, 2006 Thursday 7:34 PM MSK
Armenian economy grows 7.9% in Q1
Armenian GDP grew 7.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2006
to 265.9 billion dram (449.46 dram/$1 on April 20), the National
Statistics Service told Interfax.
Industrial output fell 4.7% to 137.9 billion dram, however agricultural
output rose 3.5% to 40.2 billion dram and services sector output rose
21.4% to 95.4 billion dram.
Foreign trade turnover grew 7% to $606.4 million, including growth
of 5.6% to $184.4 million for exports and 13.6% to $422 million for
imports. The trade deficit was $237.6 million.
The 2006 budget targets GDP growth at 7.5%. The economy grew 13.9%
in 2005.

Yerevan does not rule out sale of Iran-Armenia pipeline – ministry
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
April 20, 2006 Thursday
Armenia has not ruled put the possibility of selling the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline, which is currently under construction, to Russia,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said at a Thursday press
conference.
“At the moment nothing should be ruled out,” he said.
“It is difficult to say whether the gas pipeline will be sold or not,
as in essence there is no pipeline yet, it is only being built,”
he said. Talks are currently underway about who will invest money
and who will build the pipeline. It is likely that whoever invests
money will become the owner,” he said.
Commenting on the planned sale of the fifth power-producing unit
at Razdan thermal power plant to Gazprom (PTC: GAZP), the minister
said that this does not run counter to Yerevan’s plans to diversify
sources of electricity. “Diversification of energy does not depend
on who owns energy production infrastructure. The ownership is not as
important as the diversification of fuel supplies themselves,” he said.
“The energy infrastructure transferred to Russia will remain in
Armenia. It will be handed over with clear conditions and there will
be points in all contracts that protect our energy security,” he said.
In turn, Austrian State Secretary Hans Winkler, who is on a visit to
Yerevan, commented on the sale of the power-producing unit by saying
that the EU cannot interfere in a sovereign Armenian decision.
“Diversification is important as an idea. We also note the development
of alternative energy sources and, as a result, opportunities for
investment are being created,” he said.
He also said that the EU is interested in closing Armenia Nuclear
Power Plant. “The technology used at Armenia Nuclear Power Plant
is obsolete and does not meet European safety standards. The EU is
working in this area and is interested in cooperating with Armenia
in specific programs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian said earlier that
the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline would remain the property of Armenia.
The Armenian government has decided to sell the Razdan-5 power unit
to Russian gas monopoly Gazprom for $248.8 million, he said. Of this
total the government will use $188 million to subsidize domestic gas
consumers until December 31, 2008. Gazprom and the Armenian government
signed a strategic agreement for 25 years, establishing the strategic
principles for cooperation in gas-energy projects in the republic,
the Russian company said in a statement. The agreement fixes the
price for Russian natural gas for Armenia at $110 per 1,000 cubic
meters until January 1, 2009.
The document also deals with the acquisition by ArmRosGazprom from the
Armenian government of a 40-km section of the Iran-Armenia pipeline,
currently under construction, and the fifth power-producing unit
at Razdan thermal power plant. Also, according to the agreement the
Armenian government is obliged to give ArmRosGazprom the function of
client for the 197-km second section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.
Preliminary purchase and sales agreements should be signed by April
14, 2006 and the final transfer of right of ownership for these assets
should be carried out by January 1, 2007.
After the deal the Gazprom share in ArmRosGazprom’s charter capital
will amount to a qualified majority. At the moment Gazprom and
the Armenian Energy Ministry own 45% each in the company and Itera
owns 10%.
The Razdan thermal power plant is the largest in Armenia, with a
capacity of 1,100 megawatts, of which up to 800 megawatts is used
during peak production in winter.
The plant was handed over to Russian ownership in 2003 as payment for
Armenian state debt. To attract investment to modernize the Armenian
energy system, in 2004 the republic’s government announced plans to
sell the incomplete fifth power-producing unit at the plant, with a
capacity of 300 megawatts.

Colloque international a Lyon sur les genocides et crimes contre l’humanite
Agence France Presse
20 avril 2006 jeudi 10:38 AM GMT
Un colloque international sur “les memoires partagees des genocides
et des crimes contre l’humanite” est organise, les 28 et 29 avril a
Lyon, a l’initiative du collectif Reconnaissance qui rassemble huit
associations defendant differentes causes sur ce thème.
Presentant jeudi a la presse ce colloque, Jules Mardirossian,
president de Reconnaissance, a insiste sur la specificite de ce
rendez-vous qui se tient “a l’initiative de la societe civile” et
reunit, outre des universitaires et des institutions, des victimes
qui temoigneront sur la situation dans leur pays ou de leur peuple.
Pour Ganda Camara, vice-president de Reconnaissance, qui a souhaite
que l’on reconnaisse “le travail de fourmi que fait, sur le terrain,
la societe civile”, “l’expertise peut venir” de ces temoignages. Il
a plaide pour “un colloque de citoyens”, pas seulement d’experts.
Pendant deux jours, les ateliers, ouverts au public, vont debattre
d’une “demarche preventive” et d’une “dynamique de paix”, conscients
que, malgre la presence de comites d’alerte, “lorsqu’on donne l’alerte,
c’est deja trop tard”. “Ce type de prevention existe, mais il n’est
pas suffisant”, relève M. Mardirossian.
“Notre objectif est de mettre sur pied un comite de suivi qui reprenne
les propositions concrètes du colloque, au-dela de la publication
des actes, souvent reserves a quelques specialistes”, a precise
M. Mardirossian.
Creee en 2002, Reconnaissance rassemble des associations defendant
aussi bien la cause du Tibet, que celles du Rwanda, des Cambodgiens,
des Armeniens ou encore des Tziganes, mais aussi de lutte contre la
torture ou l’antisemitisme.
–Boundary_(ID_HbnBB1wIevs4O0bvM nDx/A)–

Une idee pour agir. Du theâtre pour aider le Haut-Karabakh.
par RETO Tiphaine
La Croix , France
20 avril 2006
Etrange ceremonie a l’eglise reformee de Port-Royal, dans le 13e
arrondissement de Paris. L’autel a disparu et la grande croix de bois
domine une drôle de scène… Allonges sur le sol, dans le choeur,
dans la nef et dans les travees, ils sont 13, bras ecartes et jambes
tendus, a “poser” leur respiration sur une musique “oceane”. Moment
de relaxation avant les trois coups. Scribe prepare sa grande première
theâtrale: Douze hommes en colère, de Reginald Rose.
Scribe pour “Solidarite Chretienne Resolument Internationale (pour
le financement) de Bourses d’Etudes”. Scribe pour une vingtaine
de jeunes Parisiens soucieux de faire de l’art un vecteur de
developpement. Scribe pour une association oecumenique. “La première
fois que je suis allee en Armenie, explique Sophie Roullet, presidente
et cofondatrice de l’association, j’ai ete extremement marquee.” En
1992, avec deux compagnes de voyage, elle decide d’agir.
“On avait passe l’âge de vendre des gâteaux a la sortie du culte,
sourit-elle, alors on a opte pour le theâtre.”
Jason, Olga, Marie et les autres abandonnent jeans et tee-shirts pour
endosser les costumes et les attitudes de leurs personnages. Mais
personne n’oublie l’objectif du jeu: recolter des fonds pour financer
des bourses destinees aux etudiants du Haut-Karabakh. “Une province
armenienne enclavee de l’Azerbaïdjan, expliquent en choeur Olga
et Lelia. La republique s’est autoproclamee en 1991, mais n’a pas
ete reconnue par la communaute internationale. Du coup, elle ne
recoit aucune subvention, aucune aide exterieure.” Scribe comble
a sa manière les lacunes humanitaires. Partie avec 10 bourses la
première annee, l’association atteint aujourd’hui les 52 aides pour
32 etudiants. “Quand on commence a aider un jeune, reprend Sophie,
on le suit tout au long de ses cinq annees d’etudes.”
Gilles a pris part a l’aventure il y a deux ans. L’homme est comedien
professionnel et aide a la mise en scène des pièces. “Je suis d’abord
venu pour le theâtre et pour la dimension spirituelle de l’association,
avoue-t-il, mais l’ete dernier, je suis alle sur place remettre les
bourses aux etudiants.” Il y decouvre “et l’extreme gentillesse et
l’extreme pauvrete” des habitants.
“Je voulais faire de l’humanitaire, reprend Sophie, et le meilleur
moyen d’aider, c’est d’accomplir des choses simples pour mieux
connaître les autres.”
TIPHAINE RETO
–Boundary_(ID_RMAxQLbr9uprOZ662Ismjg)–

Le Temps, Suisse
20 avril 2006
La Turquie boycotte les Pilatus suisses;
TENSIONS. Le DFAE attend des explications.
Pour le fabricant d’avions Pilatus basé à Stans (NW), la décision a
eu l’effet d’une claque: le Ministère turc de la défense a annoncé,
fin mars, l’exclure d’un appel d’offres pour de nouveaux avions
d’entraînement en raison de sa nationalité. Ceci alors que le PC-21
correspondait parfaitement à l’appel d’offres turc auquel Pilatus
s’était préparé durant près de quatre ans. Le contrat aurait
représenté environ 500 millions de francs. A Berne, les départements
des Affaires étrangères (DFAE) et de l’Economie (DFE) ont déjà réagi.
Mesure de rétorsion?
Les autorités turques ont fait savoir par lettre à Oskar Schwenk,
patron de Pilatus, que sa société serait exclue de l’appel d’offres
sans donner davantage d’explications, a indiqué le Tages-Anzeiger
mercredi. Mais Pilatus souligne qu’elle a bien été visée en tant
qu’entreprise suisse. L’affaire prend donc une dimension politique et
laisse supposer que les autorités turques ont une nouvelle fois voulu
exprimer leur mauvaise humeur à propos de la position suisse
concernant le génocide arménien de 1915. Le Conseil fédéral ne
reconnaît pas officiellement le génocide mais le National a adopté en
2003 un postulat en ce sens.
Au DFAE, personne ne veut officiellement lier le boycott des Pilatus
à la question du génocide, mais l’affaire est suivie avec «grande
attention», souligne une porte-parole. L’ambassadeur de Suisse en
poste à Ankara a d’ailleurs demandé des explications aux autorités
turques et une démarche similaire a été entreprise en parallèle à
Berne. Joseph Deiss a de son côté «déploré» cette décision et assuré
qu’il tenterait de résoudre l’affaire lors de son prochain voyage en
Turquie, souligne la porte-parole du DFE, Simone Hug. «Mais aucune
date n’a encore été fixée», précise-t-elle.
Les relations diplomatiques entre Berne et Ankara sont fragiles. En
raison de la question arménienne mais aussi du dossier kurde. Joseph
Deiss devait se rendre en Turquie en septembre 2005 mais sa visite a
été annulée. Officiellement pour des «problèmes d’agenda», mais
probablement surtout à cause des deux enquêtes pénales ouvertes en
Suisse contre des intellectuels turcs pour négation du génocide.
Micheline Calmy-Rey a également fait les frais de la colère turque
avant de pouvoir se rendre en Turquie, en mars 2005. Elle avait été
déclarée «persona non grata» en septembre 2003 parce que le Grand
Conseil vaudois venait de reconnaître le génocide arménien.
–Boundary_(ID_2f1+nl9ciIEgsqFJjAEZjQ)- –