A1+
| 18:20:57 | 23-09-2005 | Social |
THE DISASTER ZONE ELIMINATED?
The Lins Fund office «Disaster zone rehabilitation» ceased its activity.
This is accounted for by the fact that money from the fund will not be spent
on reconstruction works in that territory.
Nevertheless, the fact does not come to prove that Robert Kocharyan has kept
one of his pre-election promises – eliminate the «disaster zone» phenomenon.
Let us remind you that the Lins Fund has build 3700 houses in the disaster
zone.

Armenpress
GOVERNMENT NOT TO OBJECT TO SALE OF ENA TO RUSSIAN COMPANY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian energy minister Armen
Movsisian said the government would not object to the formal sale of 100
percent of shares of the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA) to
Interenergo BV, a subsidiary of Russia’s Unified Energy Systems (UES) group,
but on condition that UES would assume all obligations of ENA’s current
owner-a British-registered Midland Resources Holding.
Speaking at a news conference today Movsisian said, however, UES has
agreed to this term and will become the official owner of ENA in 40-45 days.
He said the British-registered company explained its desire to give up the
ENA by no intentions to invest any more in energy sector. The minister also
downplayed fears that the ENA deal would place Armenia’s entire energy
sector under Russia’s control, which some experts say is likely to
jeopardize its energy security.
“No matter what company owns the ENA it will have to work in Armenia’s
legal environment and obey its laws,” Movsisian said. Movsisian also
confirmed that an Iranian company was selected by the government to build
the fifth unit of the Hrazdan power plant, which will cost around $150
million. He said the Iranian side has pledged to finish the construction in
two years, Armenia will repay by electricity supplies to Iran.

Pan Armenian News
UN SUPPORTS BAKU-TBILISI-AKHALKALAKI-KARS PROJECT
23.09.2005 05:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway will allow the
Caspian states to transport cargo and passengers form Baku to Europe through
Turkey, UN Assistant Secretary General Mr. Anwarul K. Chowdhury stated at
the 6-th meeting of the Ministers of the Group of Developing Countries,
which have no outlet to the sea. To note, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov also took part in the meeting. He informed of Azerbaijan’s
contribution to the regional cooperation including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas-main construction, the 525-th
newspaper reported.

GOMIDAS INSTITUTE
PO Box 208
Princeton, NJ 08542
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Armenian presence at Conference on War Crimes Trials.
Farhad Malekian and Gregory Topalian to speak at prestigious event.
To commemorate the living legacy of Justice Robert H. Jackson on the
60th anniversary of Nuremberg, Chautauqua Institution – together with
the Robert H. Jackson Center and the State University of New York
(SUNY) at Fredonia – will host a conference on September 26-29, 2005,
entitled, Sixty Years After the Nuremberg Trials: Crimes Against
Humanity and Peace. The Athenaeum Hotel will be the site of both the
pre-conference activities starting at noon on September 26, and the
full conference program.
Speakers include Robert Donihi, one of the last surviving prosecutors
of the Tokyo trials, and Whitney R. Harris, a former prosecutor at the
Nuremberg Trials.
Henry T. King, a former U.S. Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials and
Geoffrey Robertson Q.C., United Nations appeal judge for the War
Crimes Court in West Africa will also be making presentations.
Meanwhile two Armenian speakers are also participating at the
conference.
Farhad Malekian is the founder and the director of the Institute of
International Criminal Law in Uppsala, Sweden. Malekian has
contributed a scholarly acknowledged chapter governing International
Criminal Responsibility of Individuals and States to the well-known
book on International Criminal Law (M. Cherif Bassiouni, 1999). He
introduced for the first time the Principle of International
Tribunality of Jurisdiction in international criminal law at the
Cornell Law School, Cornell University in 2005, embodied in his
article on `Emasculating the Philosophy of International Criminal
Justice in the Iraqi Special Tribunal’ He lectures international
criminal law and public international law and is also the editor of
the Contemporary Journal of International Criminal Law, which will be
published by the Institute of International Criminal Law in 2005. His
work on Crucifying the Philosophy of International Criminal Justice is
also forthcoming. His lecture is part of a panel considering War
Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Resolution.
Gregory Topalian is a historian of the Armenian Genocide. His
particular focus is on the comparative memories of the Armenian
Genocide and the Holocaust. His current work focuses on the different
levels of denial, from the blatant approach of the Turkish State, to
the role academia and the media play both consciously and
unconsciously, in failing to adequately recognise the Armenian case as
genocide.
For the Jackson Symposium, he will be focusing on the manner in which
the Tribunals following World War I have been used by the Turkish
State to deny that what took place in the Anatolian homelands of the
Armenians was a State sponsored genocide. Gregory Topalian is a
Director with the Gomidas Institute (UK), and his primary role is to
introduce the Armenian Genocide to young people in the United
Kingdom. or
Farhad is speaking on Tuesday, Gregory on Wednesday.
Further details about the conference can be found at:

La Communaute De Sant’Egidio
http:// a.htm
_EN.htm
Karekine II
Catholicos of All Armenians
Dear Spiritual Brothers and Sisters,
We offer thanksgiving to God, Who granted us the opportunity through
the invitation of His Eminence Cardinal Barbarin, to stand in prayer
with you in this International Prayer for Peace gathering organized by
the initiative of the community of Saint Egidio, under the
incense-filled arches of this sanctuary, with the mighty and merciful
intercession of the Holy Mother of God. We have come from Armenia, the
biblical land of Ararat, and we bring with us blessings from the first
sanctuary built by the state in the first Christian country seventeen
centuries ago Holy Etchmiadzin. On behalf of the Armenian nation, we
greet you and offer our prayers to heaven, asking that peace become a
reality and bloom in all corners of the world, in the life of all men
and people.
The paths of peace have often gone astray in the history of mankind,
however peace has been and remains today the aspiration of all peoples
and all faiths. For us Christians, to be peacemakers means to witness
Christ. With the praising call of Peace on earth and goodwill towards
men, the Son of God our Savior and our Lord, came into the world and
called upon men to love and be reconciled with one another, as
testament to our love and reconciliation with God.
Have peace, one to another (Mark 9:50) is the message Christ gives to
us. Loving God means making peace, creating peace. The mystery of a
reconciled soul with God is peace among men, and its fruit is the love
of life and work done for the sake of mankind. If we have faith in
God, then we also have a responsibility to be peacemakers, by
teaching, doing righteous works, defending rights, and by choosing the
good. Within peace is the blessing of God, within peace is the hope
for the future the progress and happiness of life. On the path of
peace, all works are great. This is our conviction and our teaching.
>From the inception of the Meeting of Prayer of the Community of Saint
Egidio, many realities have changed; specifically, new relationships
between states are being shaped and developed, characterized by even
closer cooperation. Nevertheless, today the world is troubled by
inter-state, national and religious disputes. Present are many social,
health, environmental and other issues. Today also there are the evils
of poverty and lawlessness. Violence, bloodshed, terrorism and wars
darken the life of societies. The need is felt for universal concern
and universal efforts to improve our common home. Times have changed
and will continue to change, the knowledge and possibilities of
mankind will continue to grow, and the urgency will always be timely,
that the most important and eminent factors be the societal
comprehension sustained by the spiritual-moral source. The spiritual
as the vital unending strength and pure beginning of knowing God will
assist in the reparation of the life of mankind to its true nature,
call and purpose. We are different peoples, different individuals, but
we are all children of the one God, called to have peace, one to
another. We all live in the house of the Lord, and we are not the ones
that established life, however we are collaborators with the Creator,
so that it blossoms and is filled with happiness and glory.
Finding the paths of peace is not easy, but always possible if we
truly have the desire for peace, as a value and expression of true
humanitarianism. Peace, freedom, justice and love go hand-in-hand and
reinforce one another. Europe, which bears and testifies the Christian
faith and culture, shall continue to be the guardian of those values
of humanitarianism and human rights, for which it has struggled and
sacrificed. With difficulty, through the constant efforts of the
people of France as well, the standards of freedom and rights of men
and nations were brought to life and recorded in the international
legislative realm, so that they serve the common good of humanity and
its hopes for a peaceful, creative life and new day.
The Armenian people as well, throughout the crossroads of its
difficult history, never ceased hoping in the bright dawning of a
century of peace, rights and justice; and this year raises prayers for
peace on earth and the security of human life, commemorating the
solemn 90th Anniversary of the Genocide of the Armenians which was
implemented in Ottoman Turkey. Armenians living in many countries are
the participants and witnesses to dialogue between cultures, and
believe that through the will and efforts of men, the words of the
prophet will come true, when nations will no longer learn warfare and
will no more lift up sword against each other. (Isaiah 2:4)
>From this holy sanctuary of our sister Catholic Church, where our hope
in peace is strengthened, we extend our greetings of brotherly love to
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and the spiritual leaders of sister
Churches and religious communities. May our prayers be combined,
giving thanks and praise to the Most High and to ask with humility
from His All-provident Strength:
Creator and sustainer of all that exists, listen to our plea, through
which we appeal to You, first help those in want and danger, console
the grieving and grant peace to regions suffering in conflicts and
wars.
Beneficent, Merciful and Grace-Bestower, may Your heavenly peace
descend upon the world. May our human souls be illuminated with Your
Creators love, to find the paths of reconciliation in all places, to
do works of peace and to create peace. Strengthen us O God in our
mission and bless all efforts directed toward peace and the
brotherhood of peoples, for the sake of life, for the sake of hope,
today and always. Amen.
INTERVENTION DE SA SAINTETE KAREKINE II
PATRIARCHE SUPREME ET CATHOLICOS DE TOUS LES ARMENIENS
BASILIQUE NOTRE DAME DE FOURVIERE
DIMANCHE 11 SEPTEMBRE 2005
19EME RENCONTRE INTERNATIONALE POUR LA PAIX
ORGANISEE PAR LA COMMUNAUTE DE SANT’EGIDIO
Chers frères et s`urs en Christ,
Nous rendons grce à Dieu de l’occasion qui nous est donnée de prier avec
vous en ce jour à l’invitation de son éminence le cardinal Philippe Barbarin et
de la communauté de sant’ Egidio qui a organisé cette assemblée consacrée à la
Paix, en ce sanctuaire dans lequel nous vivons intensément l’intercession de la
très sainte Mère de Dieu. Nous venons d’Arménie pour vous apporter la
bénédiction de saint Etchmiadzin, depuis cette terre biblique du “pays
d’Ararat” où, il y a plus de 17 siècles, la première des cathédrales a été
btie au c`ur du premier état chrétien de l’histoire. Au nom du peuple de nos
fidèles, nous voulons vous saluer et élever avec vous nos prières pour demander
que la Paix se répande sur la terre tout entière, sur tous les hommes et tous
les peuples.
Tout au long de l’Histoire, la recherche de la Paix a souvent été
difficile mais elle est toujours demeurée un idéal pour tous les peuples et
toutes les religions. Pour le chrétien, aimer la paix, “être artisan de paix”,
signifie tout d’abord témoigner au nom du Christ. “Paix sur la terre parmi les
hommes de bonne volonté”. C’est par ces mots qu’a été annoncé notre Seigneur et
Sauveur, le fils de Dieu, venu nous inviter à l’amour et à la concorde au nom
d’une alliance renouvelée avec le Père.
Le Christ nous le demande: “Soyez en paix les uns avec les autres” (Marc
10, 49). Œuvrer pour la paix, contribuer à sa construction, c’est donc avant
tout aimer Dieu. Celui qui, du fait de cette alliance, est en paix avec Dieu,
l’est avec son prochain et avec tout homme. L’`uvre entreprise au nom de
l’Homme et de la Vie est le fruit de cette alliance. Si nous croyons en Dieu,
nous devons alors aimer la Paix, la proclamer, travailler avec rectitude et
zèle à son avènement, défendre le Droit, choisir le Bien. La Paix est une
bénédiction de Dieu comme tous les autres bienfaits de la Vie. Dans cette quête
de la Paix il n’est ni de grandes, ni de petites tches, toutes sont importantes
car toutes nos espérances d’avenir se trouvent dans la Paix. C’est notre
conviction et c’est ce que nous proclamons sans cesse et partout.
Beaucoup de choses ont changé depuis la naissance de la communauté de sant’
Egidio, d’autres changements se produiront encore dans les années à venir, les
plus significatifs de ces changements concernent les relations entre les états
qui sont désormais marquées par une collaboration plus étroite. Néanmoins, de
nombreux antagonismes opposants des états, des peuples, voire des religions,
continuent de meurtrir le monde. Des questions importantes comme les grands
problèmes sociaux, la recherche médicale, l’écologie, restent encore sans
solution. La pauvreté, les innombrables violations du Droit, les conflits et
les guerres et bien d’autres méfaits comme le terrorisme continuent de ronger
des sociétés entières. Un besoin impérieux et la volonté d’`uvrer ensemble pour
aménager notre “maison commune” ont émergé. Les temps changent, la science ne
cesse de se développer et avec elle les nouveaux moyens qu’elle génère. Plus
que jamais, le primat d’une conscience morale fondée sur la spiritualité et
l’éthique demeure d’actualité. Dans ce contexte, la spiritualité apparaît comme
la source unique d’une énergie vitale et inépuisable venue de Dieu qui permet à
l’homme de se renouveler dans le respect de sa nature, de sa vocation,
conformément aux desseins de Dieu. Nous vivons tous dans la maison du Seigneur.
Nous n’avons certes pas créé la vie mais nous sommes des “collaborateurs”, des
“assistants” du Créateur qui oeuvrent pour que cette vie se développe en
procurant joie et bonheur. Nous sommes autant de personnes et autant de peuples
mais tous enfants du même Dieu appelés à travailler les uns avec les autres, les
uns pour les autres, tous “artisans de paix”.
La quête de la Paix n’est pas chose facile mais elle est toujours
fructueuse dès lors qu’existe un authentique désir de l’atteindre. La Paix, la
Liberté et l’amour de la Justice sont intimement unis en un triptyque et se
confortent mutuellement. L’Europe en tant que fondateur et témoin de la Foi
chrétienne et de sa culture doit continuer de promouvoir les valeurs humanistes
et le Droit pour lesquelles elle a combattu et consenti de si lourds sacrifices.
De la même manière, c’est au prix d’efforts importants et opinitres que le
peuple français a réussi à inscrire dans les normes du Droit international les
“droits de l’Homme” et ceux des peuples, contribuant par là-même au bien de
toute l’humanité et à la réalisation de ses idéaux.
Malgré d’innombrables vicissitudes historiques, le peuple arménien n’a lui
aussi jamais cessé d’espérer en l’avènement de la Paix, du Droit et de la
Justice. En cette année 2005 durant laquelle nous commémorons le 90ème
anniversaire du génocide des Arméniens de l’Empire ottoman, nous voulons aussi
prier pour la Paix et pour la sécurité des personnes. De nombreux arméniens à
travers le monde sont aujourd’hui des acteurs agissants du dialogue
interculturel et de véritables témoins, convaincus comme le prophète Isaïe
“qu’aucune nation ne tirera plus l’épée contre une autre et que l’on
n’apprendra plus la guerre” (Isaïe 2, 4).
Alors que nous nous trouvons en ce sanctuaire de Fourvière, où nos espoirs
de Paix se sont aujourd’hui renforcés, nous voulons adresser notre salut
affectueux et fraternel à sa sainteté le Pape Benoît XVI ainsi qu’à l’ensemble
des chefs spirituels des Eglises-s`urs et des diverses communautés religieuses.
Que nos prières s’unissent afin de rendre grce et de glorifier le Très-Haut en
lui demandant humblement d’étendre sur nous sa bienveillante protection.
Seigneur,
Toi qui est le créateur de tout et le dispensateur de toute vie,
entends notre supplique:
protège en tout premier lieu ceux qui sont dans la peine et le danger,
console les affligés et accorde la Paix aux régions meurtries
par les conflits et les guerres.
Toi qui est bienveillant, miséricordieux et empli de Grce,
fais abonder ta paix céleste sur notre monde.
Que ton amour créateur illumine nos mes
afin qu’elles retrouvent en tous lieux les chemins de la concorde
et que nous oeuvrions ensemble pour la Paix.
Renforce-nous Seigneur dans notre engagement et bénis
les efforts que nous faisons au nom de la Paix et de la concorde,
au nom de la Vie et de l’Epérance, maintenant et toujours.
Amen.

A1+
| 16:19:06 | 24-09-2005 | Politics |
WHO SHOULD FORM NCTR?
April 2, 2002 the «independent» Commission on TV and Radio deprived
independent A1+ TV Company of air. Taking into account the fact that all 9
members of the commission were appointed by the President the event could
not be rated as unexpected. How should the body regulating the activities of
broadcasting media be formed? We addressed this question to 100 Yerevan
residents.
15% of the respondents consider that the members of the NCTR should be
appointed by the President. 44% voiced opinion that NCTR members should be
appointed by the National Assembly. 32% stated that the commission should be
appointed by the President and the National Assembly. 9% found it hard to
answer.
It should be also noted that all the survey participants were unanimous in
the opinion that the formation of this regulating body should be fixed in
the Constitution.
The correspondent item of the draft constitution says: «To secure freedom,
independence and variety of the broadcasting mass media an independent body
appointed by the President and the National Assembly for a term of 6 years
should be formed. The national assembly elects the members of the above
mentioned body with the majority of votes.»
However after the referendum on the constitutional amendments the NCTR
headed by Grigor Amalyan will not be dissolved, since Article 83.2 of the
draft says, «Members of the independent body preserve their posts until the
term provided by the law expires. Afterwards the President and the National
Assembly in turns appoint the commission members.»
To note, NCTR Chairman Grigor Amalya refrained from expressing his opinion
on the issue. He refused to give interview.
Karine Asatryan

A1+
| 15:32:54 | 24-09-2005 | Politics |
PIECE OF PAPER INSTEAD OF DOCUMENT
The parliamentary opposition states that no single independent commission
functions presently for the sake of the nation.
Name one commission the decision of which improved the living conditions of
the people», National Unity factor secretary Alexan Karapetyan said.
In his turn Justice faction secretary Victor Dallakyan characterized the
situation that was created within the so-called independent commissions with
a well known phrase «Òhe one, who pays, establishes the rules». In the
opinion of the oppositionists, the draft constitutional amendments do not
guarantee independence of the commissions. «How can a commission appointed
by the President be independent?» Victor Dallakyan says. Alexan Karapetyan
fully shares this opinion. «Unfortunately, any commission formed at the
incumbent authorities will be dependent regardless of the amendments
adopted», he notes.
Oppositionists have some remarks on the formation of the independent
commissions. Fisrt of all, they say, the law should rule. «We lack the habit
of obeying to the law. Today we face the problem of formation of traditions
and civic institutes», Justice faction representative says.
There is no doubt that the correct formation order is the most important
factor for the independence of the commission. Victor Dallakyan offers to
use the experience of other states. «While forming the NCTR 3 nominations
are proposed by the NA, 3 – by the President and 3 – by public
organizations. For example, in France 6 candidatures are appointed by the
National Assembly and 3 – by the President,» he says.
Alexan Karapetyan has a different proposal, though, in his words, it is not
finite. «The commission members can be elected like deputies. Or the
composition of the commission can be appointed by the NA.
The real independence of the commission depends on one more important
factor: what state body should they be subordinated to? «These commissions
should be subordinated to the parliament. Annually each commission should
submit its report to the NA. If the parliament does not approve the report,
the commission members should resign’, Justice faction members consider.
Representatives of National Unity insist the report be presented to the
people as well.
Lena Badeyan

After summit and speeches, U.N. must now turn words into action
By EDITH M. LEDERER
.c The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – After the world’s largest-ever gathering of
world leaders and a week of follow-up ministerial speeches, the 191
U.N. member states now have the tough job of turning words into action
to reduce poverty, fight terrorism and start reforming the United
Nations to meet 21st century challenges.
Speaker after speaker in the General Assembly, where all nations have
a voice, said their people would be watching to see whether the
leaders deliver on their promises in a 35-page document approved at
the end of their three-day summit last week.
In his speech before banging the gavel Friday evening to end the
week-long ministerial debate, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson
said the world body must move quickly on follow-up and implementation
so “the political energy” generated during the negotiations, summit,
and ministerial session isn’t lost.
“The world will be watching us closely,” Eliasson said. “The extent
to which we – all of us in this assembly – can muster a spirit of
urgency and common purpose in the coming days and weeks will
ultimately determine whether the World Summit goes down in history as
a missed opportunity for the United Nations, or – as I hope – as the
start of the most substantial reform program in the history of the
organization.”
He said he plans to make proposals on follow-up and implementation by
the end of next week and to start work quickly after consultations.
For the majority of the world’s nations, the final document’s 16-page
section on achieving U.N. Millennium Development Goals is crucial.
Some were pessimistic about meeting the goals which include cutting
extreme poverty by half, achieving universal primary education, and
stemming the AIDS pandemic, all by 2015.
“The 2005 World Summit has clearly demonstrated that, in five years,
we have not given poverty eradication the highest priority in our
international agenda,” Belize’s Foreign Minister Godfrey Smith told
the assembly on Friday. “In too many countries, it is clear that the
Millennium Development Goals will not be realized; in some, the
situation is worse than five years ago.”
Smith argued that “the most effective and consuming terrorism of our
age is the terrorism of abject poverty” and there will be no security
unless it is tackled. “Global security cannot be built on a minefield
of poverty and disease,” he warned.
The only way to assure the marginalized people of the world that its
leaders are serious about achieving the Millenium Development Goals is
“by showing them there is a global political will” to use the
35-page blueprint “as a platform for action.”
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said those suffering from
extreme poverty need increased international aid, debt relief and
improved trading prospects if the goals are to be met – and meeting
them “is critical to all, and not just to those directly affected.”
The final document was continuously watered down during intense
negotiations to win support from all 191 U.N. member states,
eliminating a call for all rich nations earmark 0.7 percent of their
GNP to development aid because of U.S. opposition.
Its major achievements were the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission
to help countries emerging from conflict, and agreement that there is
a collective responsibility to protect people from genocide, war
crimes and ethnic cleansing.
But the document failed to give Secretary-General Kofi Annan the
authority to move jobs and make management changes that the United
States, the European Union and others sought. It didn’t define
terrorism, and it dropped the entire section on disarmament and
nonproliferation.
While it resolved to create a Human Rights Council to replace the
discredited Human Rights Commission, it left the details to the deeply
divided General Assembly.
Annan, speaking in Washington on Friday, said leaders didn’t deliver
everything he hoped for but he said the gains in the final document
“are significant enough to say that the glass is at least half full,
perhaps more.”
The European Union was the strongest supporter of Annan’s original,
ambitious proposal to make the world body more relevant in the new
millennium.
France’s European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna said at a
briefing Friday that the final document could be seen as “a
half-empty bottle or half full, and we decided that we’ll say that
it’s half full.”
“It is a first result, and the key question is, can we keep the
momentum?,” she said. “How can we manage to keep filling in the
bottle so it becomes a full bottle – and not a half-full bottle?”
“Everyone must have the political will to do so, every big country in
the U.N., and every group. Europe has it. We want to go on and play an
active role. I think we can do it. We have to find partners,” Colonna
said.
09/23/05 20:27 EDT

A1+
| 22:36:12 | 23-09-2005 | Politics |
FULL STOP
The candidate for the post of the Kentron community head, member of the
People’s Party Rouzan Khachatryan decided to put the full stop to her
pre-election campaign in the area near the Matenadaran. Her meeting with the
electors was organized there. Deputies of the Justice bloc Shavarsh
Kocharyan, Tatoul Manaseryan and Vardan Lazarian were present at the
meeting.
Member of the Heritage party administration Anahit Bakhshyan also supported
Mrs. Khachatryan.
During the meeting the candidate did not try to convince everyone to elect
her. She just tries to «awaken» the feeling of necessity to fulfill your
civic duty, «You must by all means participate in the elections. Do not let
others to use your voice for their aims. If you are against everyone, say
so».
The main reason for Rouzan Khachatryan to put forward her candidacy in the
elections is that «The Yerevan Center has lost its face».
The politicians supporting Rouzan Khachatryan mentioned that in the
atmosphere of oppression and loss of faith the elections of the local
governing bodies can improve the situation. «We are convinced that the
Kentron community will mark the beginning of democracy», they claimed.

IWPR.NET
24 Sept 2005
Armenia: Can Lake Sevan Rise to the Challenge?
Trees and summerhouses disappear from view as lake waters rise. Photo by
Ruben Mangasaryan/patkerphoto.
Ecologists fear a rare environmental triumph is in danger of going wrong.
By Arevhat Grigorian in Sevan and Yerevan
Buildings and beaches around Lake Sevan are rapidly disappearing under water
as efforts by scientists and environmentalists to reverse the decline of
this huge freshwater reservoir pay off more quickly than expected.
Despite the fact the encroaching waters could soon be lapping at their
windows, many who live and work around the Armenian lake are delighted to
see it returning to former levels.
“I’d like to see the water rise as much as possible, and if necessary, we’ll
just move the building to another place,” said Norik Simonian, a bookkeeper
at a motel located on the lake.
Azat, who rents part of the beach, where he has set up cafes and other
visitor attractions, agreed, “What would happen if the water level did not
rise, and the lake turned into a swamp? There’d be no business then anyway.”
Lake Sevan, one of the highest altitude lakes in the world, began dwindling
in the 1930s under a ruthless plan to use its waters for irrigation and
hydroelectricity. A paradise of beach resorts and holiday villas sprang up
along the lake’s edge.
But as the water levels began to fall, changes in temperature and oxygen
supply depleted fish reserves. In particular, several varieties of trout
vanished and other species are on the verge of extinction. Birds also
abandoned the area as the nests they had once built close to the water’s
edge were left stranded far from the newly exposed shoreline. The lake
itself was used as a waste dump.
Faced with this ecological disaster, environmentalists have been campaigning
for years to get the government to take action to restore the water to its
former levels.
The government stopped using Sevan for energy in 1999 and two years later
parliament passed a law decreeing the water should be raised to 1,903 metres
above sea level, the height at which experts say it will be possible to
regulate the temperature and oxygen levels and restore the ecological
balance.
“Beginning in the 1930s we ‘borrowed’ 26 billion cubic metres of water from
Lake Sevan in order to satisfy our energy and food production needs,” said
Vladimir Movsisian, vice-president of the Expert Commission on Lake Sevan
and a member of the National Council of Water. “We should now return at
least eight billion to the lake so that we can take water from it in the
future if the needs arises.”
Water is now flowing in through tunnels from the Arpa and Vorotan rivers,
and 410 hectares of land have already disappeared.
By the time the lake hits its target level, ten times that amount will be
under water – 4,427 hectares, of which 3,130 are forest and the rest
resorts, private mansions, arable land and 30 kilometres of highways.
But this rare Armenian environmental triumph is in danger of going wrong.
Scientists had predicted it would take 30 years to refill the lake, but now
forecast that could happen in just 15, as water pours in faster than
expected, helped by unexpectedly high levels of precipitation.
Though they don’t know if the water will continue to rise at this rate, it
seems likely that money will have to be found sooner than expected to carry
out crucial preparatory work along the shoreline.
This could be a problem as the government has only a fraction of the
estimated 30 million US dollars needed to remove trees, shrubs and buildings
from areas that will eventually be flooded.
So far, just 150,000 dollars have been allocated to clear an area of 100
hectares already under water, with work scheduled to begin in November.
Early estimates suggest another 200,000 dollars will be needed next year.
Environmental campaigners are worried that if money isn’t found to sweep up
the rest of the rapidly disappearing land, the flooded forests will begin to
rot and poison the lake.
“We’ve seen this since Soviet times when water reservoirs were filled
without a prior clean-up,” said Karine Danielian, chairperson of the
non-government organisation For Sustainable Human Development.
“The water became toxic and the reservoirs became useless for drinking
water. It’s those who are responsible for clearing the land, but who don’t
want to take responsibility for it, who say the damage will be minimal.”
Movsisian is also concerned.
“The rotting of the forest mass is not a danger to the lake now. But if no
measures are taken in the future and 3,700 hectares of forest go under
water, then it will become a problem,” he told IWPR.
Boris Gabrielian, deputy director of the Institute of Hydro-Ecology and
Ichthyology at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, agrees that
additional organic matter could harm the lake and cause swamps to form.
However, he points out, “the raised water level would improve the quality of
the water, and the benefit from this will be greater than any damage caused
by the forests going under water”.
Artashes Ziroian, head of the governmental Agency for the Preservation of
Biological Resources, appeared relaxed about the situation in an interview
with IWPR, suggesting there is no need to begin clearing trees immediately.
“Next year the water level might not go up by so much, and the forests will
have been cut prematurely,” said Ziroian.
Armenia’s environment minister, Vardan Aivazian, is also wary of ecological
doommongers, suggesting the flooded shoreline poses no current threat.
Environmentalists, however, are suspicious of Aivazian who raised concerns
in June when he said that new “scientific substantiation of the
environmental impact of the increase of water in Lake Sevan should be given”.
Some speculated this meant the government wanted to stop the water rising as
it couldn’t afford to clear the shore.
“To demand new scientific research today for Lake Sevan is like treachery
for the simple reason that the problem has been painstakingly studied over a
period of many years by many specialists in all the relevant scientific
establishments, not only in Armenia but in the Soviet Union before that,”
said Hakob Sanasarian, chairman of the Union of Greens of Armenia. “Huge
amounts of government money were spent on this and they all reached the same
conclusion – that the water levels of Lake Sevan must be raised.”
The former chairman of the environmental committee of the National Assembly
of Armenia, now permanent member of the European Commission for the Fight
Against Desertification, Gagik Tadevosian, told IWPR, “The survival of
Armenia depends on Sevan. Where there is Sevan, there is Armenia.”
Back on the lakeshore, Flamingo Beach has lost half its territory in two
years. Parts of the aquatic park are now under water though manager Artur
Avetisian dismantled all metal structures as the water rose.
He is now cautious about re-erecting them elsewhere as he has no idea how
fast, or how far, the water is going to rise.
Vardan Aivazian told IWPR that the Armenian government will compensate all
those who own property which may be flooded, though he has received no
requests so far. He added that the silence could be because some of the
buildings were put up illegally.
“The increase in the water level of Sevan is more valuable than a few
peoples’ houses,” said Aivazian. To bring his message home, he quoted one of
Armenia’s richest businessmen, Gagik Tsarukian, who told Aivazian that he
would be ready to move his house to another location, “if only, God willing,
the water level of Lake Sevan increases”.
Arevhat Grigorian is a reporter for the Hetq online newspaper in Yerevan.