Pan Armenian ews

NATO-ARMENIA INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP ACTION PLAN TO BE ASSESSED BY PENTAGON

27.04.2005 07:25

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Early May Pentagon will give an official estimate to the
Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sargsian stated during a briefing today. In his words, Armenia is
ready to take part in the project.

CENN – April 28, 2005 Daily Digest

Table of Contents:

1.. Friends of the Earth Celebrate Earth Day
2.. “Lucky 7” for Tourism Fair’s Success
3.. Water, Water Everywhere
4.. Water Poisoning in Kutaisi?
5.. BTC to Open on Time
6.. World Bank Specialists Visit Sartichala Nursery
7.. Vacancies at UNDP/Sida “Reducing Trans-Boundary Degradation of the
Kura-Aras River Basin” Project Armenian Office
8.. CENN Vacancy Announcement – Country Coordinator/ EIA Watchdog –
Armenia

1. Friends of the Earth Celebrate Earth Day

Source: The Messenger, April 25, 2005

Global Warming Threatens Mankind! Alternative Sources of Energy must Be
Established! Thermal Power Must be Used in Heating Systems! Public
Gardens and Parks Be Built! We Don’t Need The Low -Quality Petrol! These
are the mottos that could be seen on large, bright posters opposite the
State Philharmonic Hall and near Vera Park on Earth Day, April 22, 2005.
The Greens Movement in Georgia organized a peaceful demonstration to
celebrate International Earth Day and to try to solve the problem of
pollution. The Greens oppose the new Tax Code, which has led to the
cancellation of fines on environmental pollution. Rusudan Simonidze,
Executive Director of Greens Movement in Georgia, stated, “This (the new
tax code) is an unprecedented, anti- ecological move in terms of global
environmental policy, as well as European policy.”

One participant demonstration told GT: “Our action is dedicated to
International Earth Day, so our goal is to remind people of their
rights, about things that simply must be done, and about the
eco-catastrophes that threaten our planet because of global warming.
Georgia has celebrated Earth Day for the past 15 years, and such
actions, as well as the planting of trees in different districts of
Tbilisi, have become the tradition of the Greens Movement. Our main
motto is: “All Polluters Must Pay for Pollution!” In Georgia, fine for
pollution have new been revoked and we struggle with this problem.”

Late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania founded the Greens’ Movement
in 1988. It is one of the first Georgian NGO. Ms. Simonidze main goal is
ecological and cultural protection of the environment and establishment
of alternative sources of energy. She states, “As for the process of our
work, we create model projects and inform the public about ecological
problems. Several thematic groups work for us to solve different
ecological problems, including a junior group that participates in such
actions. The week before Earth Day has become a week of planting
greenery in Tbilisi and the regions, during which time we work with the
public, and especially with the school children.”

More and more people joined the Greens during the demonstration. They
talk about ecological problems and support their ideas.

The main motto of the participants and of passers by who support their
ideas can be summed up in the words of young students of ecology: “I am
here because it is my duty to help planet through hard times. We just
have to do everything possible to protect the mankind and the Earth!”

2. “Lucky 7” for Tourism Fair’s Success

Source: The Messenger, April 25, 2005

On April 21, 2205 Expo Georgia hosted the 7th International Tourism Fair
Caucasus Tourism Fair 2005 with participation of Silk Road countries,
organized by Expo Georgia and sponsored by the Georgian State Department
of Tourism and Resorts.

The President of the Department, Saba Kiknadze, told the Georgian Times:
“Our business is concerned with the development of tourism in Georgia
and its politics. As a State organization, we don’t exhibit anything,
because such fairs are for the private sector. Such exhibitions are
extremely important for the Georgian market and for the general
promotion of Georgian tourism abroad. This is an indicator of the
community’s opinion of tourism. As you see, many people attended it, and
most of them were young people: students or young businessmen. This
means that they understand all the seriousness of the theme.”

Tour operators, airlines, hotels, spas, and protected territories of
Georgia, Austria, the United States, Turkey, Italy, Armenia and Ukraine
had displays.

Georgia’s Austrian Council, Ms. Eva Berger, who was also the official
representative of Austrian Airlines at the fair, said that the company
had cooperated with the exhibition for 6 years already. She said, “I
think it is very important for our country, and for other companies that
bring passengers. We participate in such exhibitions quite frequently
and everywhere.”

The Armenian Tourism Development Agency represented the entire Armenian
tour industry including hotels, airlines, restaurants, resorts, etc.
They never miss the Caucasian fairs, and are aware of the importance of
promoting Armenian tourism in Georgia as well as in Europe.

The city of Tbilisi presented a new project to create a new service
center for tourists. During the exhibition, representatives surveyed
guests and other companies to make a new website for foreigners.

A guest from the US shared her impressions with GT: “I think it’s very
exciting. I have been here in Georgia for about 6 months and it is a
nice opportunity to learn a little bit about other cultures besides my
own. I have just witnessed Georgian traditional dance – that was
beautiful. This is my first visit to the exposition here, and I am
really impressed.”

Guests could try their hand at climbing with professional equipment and
see special sport items represented by the Georgian Speleologists
(Spelunkers) Union. Foreign tourists were greatly interested in mountain
sports and the equipment for sale at the shop of the Speleologists
Union.

Books published by the HBS gained the attention of professional
birdwatchers. The Caucasus Birding offered fascinating bird watching
trips guided by qualified experts.

The Georgian forests and Protected Territories of Georgia offered very
interesting brochures on ecological and social problems threatening the
most beautiful places in Georgia.

Besides tourism and resort companies, business and economics wee
displayed. Tariel Zivzivadze from the Business Ethics Association of
Georgia told us: “We are here to prove that business ethics is not just
an abstract term. As tourism is one aspect of business, we are promoting
Georgian business products and establishing contacts. Exhibitions of
this sort area major resource and meeting point for contacts It us very
important for us to be here. We are taking part in all major exhibitions
this year because we are “young” just four months old. Such fairs will
help us to grow.”

Almost all Georgian regions – Mtskheta-Mtianeti,Adjara, West Georgia,
Borjomi and others – were represented at Expo Georgia, promoting their
hotels, resorts, sights, folk culture, etc.

An art display attracted the attention of many guests, where they could
buy beautiful pictures, hand made masks, puppets, statuettes made from
natural materials, and of course the jewelry made by special Georgian
technology using glass needs, wooden materials, gold, silver and enamel.
An interesting art display was offered by the Tbilisi State Institute of
Art and Culture.

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism represented the Turkish
tourism industry. An official representative of the delegation
said,”Georgian and Turkish tourism both have great potential and they
need promoting.”

The General Director of the Ukrainian National Tourism Association and
an official representative were the Ukrainian presence at the fair. The
only tourist complex represented Ukraine was “Prolisok”. The remaining
information was offered by the national tourism organization. Mr. Ivan
Jelezko, head of Prolisok”, pointed to the developing |Georgian-Ukraine
relations. He stated, “We have to start from the very beginning. About
20 years ago, our tourists spent most of their holidays in Georgia. Then
this situation changed. Now we need to revive our predictive relations
in the tourism industry, said well as in all spheres of business.”

Georgian hotels were mainly represented by the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel,
which displayed brochures with information on the most exciting events
that have taken place at the hotel. The motto of their presentation was:
“As our guest, you are our highest priority.” Marketing Coordinator Irma
Tabatadze said that the Marriott had participated in these fairs for
three years, and very successfully. All organizations and agencies got
the information about hotels and then cooperate with them.

While his little child was climbing like a professional speleologist,
one guest told GT: “Expositions of this kind are very important and
interesting, not only for businessmen but also for average people. It’s
been a real pleasure attending “GTF 2005″. And it’s wonderful that now
it is held for foreign specialists, tourists and businessmen. This shows
that the tourism industry in Georgia is swiftly and successfully
developing.”

3. Water, water everywhere

Source: The Messenger, April 25, 2005

After a disastrous year dominated by a bleak harvest, villagers in
Ivlita look forward to a brighter future following completion of two
water projects

The small, predominantly Catholic population of Ivlita, a village three
kilometers from Akhaltsikhe in Samtskhe-Javakheti, now has potable water
and a fully functioning irrigation system thanks to two recently
completed projects.

The lack of an efficient irrigation system was having a huge impact on
the village, which relies on agriculture to provide the bulk of its
income. According to US AID, which helped fund the two projects, this
was one of the main factors behind the “alarmingly high rate” of young,
working age people leaving Ivlita.

Furthermore, in a press release, USAID says that “a lack of household
delivery of water was adversely affecting the health of the community.”
The population was forced to bring potable water from neighboring
villages, and to carry water from the river for household uses.

“The problems with potable and irrigation water caused too many problems
in the village, but last year was the most terrible year for us, as
there was a terrible drought and we had no vegetable, corn or other
goods,” Ivlita resident Maia Kopadze-Tamazashvili told the Messenger.

Today, however, the village now has a reliable supply of potable water
as well as irrigation system repaired by residents of Ivlita with help
from the USAID funded Georgia Employment and Infrastructure Initiative
(GEII).

Repairing the irrigation and water delivery systems will bring economic
benefit of more than USD 20, 000 per year, USAID claims, which averages
out to more than USD 80 per person. For both projects the population
contributed more than 20 percent of the total value of the project,
including cash contributions from nearly 100 households.

The projects were completed by CHF International, an American non-profit
development organization, in October 2004.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on April 22, CHF country director
Patric Summerville stated that CHF plans to implement about 40-50
projects this year in 30 Samtskhe-Javakheti communities, and some 1,000
projects across the country during a five year period.

“We anticipate two projects conducted here will assist farmers to
increase their incomes by 50% and will greatly reduce the time needed by
people of the community to transport water and will allow them to better
work on agricultural activities,” said Summervile.

Ivlita community developed council leader Guram Gikoshvili stated that
the projects were needed because water supply problems in the village
doubled after the 25 year old transformer powering the irrigation system
broke down last year.

The village was left with no irrigation system and last year’s harvest
was less than half than normal, a catastrophe for a community dependent
on agriculture.

“After contacting the CHF regional office in Akhaltsikhe, we were able
to repair the potable and irrigation water systems in village. Compared
with the last year, when 90% of the land went dry, impacting the incomes
of nearly all residents, we now expect positive economic changes,”
stated Gikoshvili.

Speaking on future plans in the region as a whole, Deputy Governor of
Samtskhe-Javakheti Papuna Khachidze stated that he intended to
coordinate with the local government to discuss priorities, which he
said would be solve problems such as water supply, roads and other
social problems.

Speaking at the opening ceremony US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Pat
Moeller stressed the importance of the water projects, saying that she
was very happy to see how a community has been able to achieve so much
with the funding and technical equipment brought by USAID.

“The money that USAID uses for this project comes from American people
and as a citizen of the United States it makes me very happy to see what
you have done with the money that American tax payers have given their
government for USAID to administer in projects like this. I am a US tax
payer also and it makes me feel exited when I see that my tax dollars
are used in such an intelligent way,” Moeller told the Messenger.

4. Water Poisoning in Kutaisi?

Source: The Messenger, April 25, 2005

“People knew that there corpses had been found in the water supply
system. This is why the water supply was cut to Kutaisi two months ago.

The whole city was taking about the case but the authorities hid it, and
for almost a week the Kutaisi population was drinking the contaminated
water. An employee of Water Channel Administration warned us not to
drink the water. “Many people were poisoned by the water at this time,
including me. This is why people become alarmed and reservists were
dispatched to supply the city with water”, complains Kutaisi resident
Maia Imedadze. Mrs. Imedaze was infected by the contaminated water just
when the Water Channel Administration kept warning people not to dink
it. Although the authorities claimed the water tunes had just been
damaged, they called upon reservists to supply the local population with
water.

Water in some Tbilisi districts has a fishy smell. Water supply experts
claim this happens in spring during spawning. However, the problem has
never been so acute.

A taskforce of Georgian State Sanitary Inspection left for Zugdidi and
Kutaisi last week several cases of bowel infection were reported.

The specialists examined the water sewage system in order to identify
measures to be taken, David Meskhishvili. Chief of Georgian State
Sanitary Inspection stated.

Several cases of bowel infection have been recently revealed in Zugdidi.
Besides, the local cases of poisoning were reported in Kutaisi too on
the Youth Avenue where 27 persons were infected due to the failure of
sewage system.

Strange as it seems, water supply residential areas, even though Georgia
has the larges per capita water resources in the world, 2, 5 times
higher than the world average. The lack of water is caused by the
outdated water supply system and extensive water population. Current
water supply facilities are unable to meet the increasing demand for
water from the growing urban population. None of these facilities have
been repaired or upgraded since 1987. Most of them are out of order.
Water pump stations often cannot operate due to frequent blackouts.

Water losses are huge 25-30% according to informal sources. Sewage,
industrial; effluent, wastes of medical facilities are major sources of
water pollution in Georgia.

Leakage from household sewage systems is the main cause of water
pollution in the country – since 1993, this has accounted for 90% of t
he country’s total water pollution, massively poring organic substances
and phosphates into rivers. The Mtkvari, Vere, Alazani, Rioni, Algeti
and Suramula Rivers are the worst contaminated rivers in Georgia.
Sometimes drinking water is contaminated by sewage (bacteriological
pollution). For instance, in November 1997, 500-600 people in the
Georgian industrial city of Rustavi were poisoned after drinking water
contaminated by sewage. Thirty children were reported as hospitalized.
Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze set up a commission at the
time to investigate the incident, and decreed that all those affected
would receive free medical treatment. Many people suffered from an
outbreak of intestinal disease in Tbilisi in 1998 as a result of sewage
related pollution from the capital’s drinking water system. A hepatitis
epidemic in Akhaltsikhe that affected more than 300 residents was caused
by the same reason. Victims of the epidemic sued the municipal services
of the town for damages, and received compensations in the first ever
application of the Aarhus Convention in Georgia.

Kutaisi has long been suffering from a drinking water shortage.
Therefore, the population was surprised at the government’s sudden
efforts to deal with crisis. As Georgia has no water filtration
equipment, the authorities had to ask French experts for help. Foreign
water supply engineers came to Georgia to clean the mains.

in a talk with GT, Kutaisi Police Chief Jimsher Panchulidze denied that
three dead bodies were found in the water system.

Ketevan Chinchaladze, Chief of Kutaisi Sanitary Epidemic Service, also
denies the information. She assumed the post just three days ago, but
says that she is convinced the information is inaccurate. However, she
confirms that the French experts wee invited in February. She also says
that her predecessor, Tariel Svanidze, was discharged for poor
performance.

Mr. Svanidze denied the corps had been found in the water system. He
also denied that he had been dismissed for poor performance. Both Mr.
Svanidze and Mrs. Chinchaladze assert that no cases of poisoning by
water were reported in Kutaisi or Tbilisi. Although they admit that
people were massively hospitalizes in the Hospital for Infectious
Diseases, they contend that people were infected with atero virus.

GT contacted Lali Goginashvili, a reanimation expert the Sepsis Centre,
to learn more about the diseases that contaminated water can cause. She
told us, “Contaminated water may cause amoebic aphesis which can lead to
fever. The infection may produce pus in the body. I am a reanimation
doctor and have seen no such grave case this year. But in recent years,
many patients were hospitalized with amoebic abscess sets in the liver;
the patient must undergo a surgical operation.”

David Meskhishvili, Chief of Sanitary Service of Georgia, says: “We have
learned that several cases of water poisoning were reported in Zugdidi,
but we never received such information from Kutaisi.” He also confirmed
the visit of the French experts.

Water supply system experts are representatives of those services that
should keep water clean claim that the drinking water in Georgia is not
dangerous to health, but Kutaisi residents think otherwise.

5. BTC to open on time

Source: The Messenger, April 26, 2005

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will start as planned this’d
summer, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Kavtaradze said
Friday, April 22, 2005 denying reports of technical problems.

“The pipeline project is going according to schedule; nothing has
changed,” said Mr. Kavtaradze on the sidelines of a Black Sea
development summit attended by senior diplomats and energy officials.

Russian officials at the meeting expressed doubt the venture would start
without problems.

6. World Bank Specialists Visit Sartichala Nursery

Source: The Messenger, April 26, 2005

Tree nursery to play central role in reforestation program

As part of the World Bank financed Forest Development Project, officials
from the Bank and the Georgian government visited the Sartichala nursery
east of Tbilisi on April 21, 2005.

The nursery is slated to play a main role in the project’s component on
afforestation and reforestation. The WB will help finance rehabilitation
of the Sartichala nursery, including building a fully functional office,
seed processing building, equipment repair and storage buildings and
staff accommodation. In addition, seedling production areas will be
rehabilitated and a green house for containerized seedling production
will be developed.

According to the WB, the project will finance the purchase of modern
nursery equipment to caster for multiple species production including
deciduous, coniferous, shrub and fruit bearing trees. “This will include
multi functional tractors including a reduction or crawl speed tractor,
tractor attachments – harrow, plough, rotary cultivator, bed former,
seed sower, root pruner and cutter, sprayer and seedling translator,”
the Bank states.

Two multipurpose minibuses, to be used for transporting nursery workers
in nearby villages to Sartichala and providing transport to assist
activities under the afferostation and reforestation program will be
financed by the project. In addition, two 3-4 ton trucks will be
financed and used for transportation of seedlings to location in the
reforestation program.

On Thursday, April 21, 2005 WB Forestry Mission members A. Kushlin, D.
Bontempo joined the Bank’s Country Manager in Georgia Roy Southworth and
Mrs. Southworth at the nursery. Members of Parliament, the Deputy
Minister of Environmental Protection and Nature Resources S. Akhobadze,
and the Acting Chair of the Forestry Department Sh. Javakhadze also
attended.

7. VACANCIES AT UNDP/Sida “reducing Trans-Boundary Degradation
of the Kura-Aras River Basin” Project Armenian Office

The Kura-Aras river system is an internationally significant river
system which is seriously degraded and continues to be threatened. Water
scarcity is an issue at any points in the river system. Water quality
and quantity constraints may increasingly lead to disputes amongst water
users over the coming years. Integrated, multi-country, trans-boundary
responses are necessary to address the threats to the river system, and
their underlying causes. The main objective of project is to draft a
framework for Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) for Kura-Aras
river basin. The project so far produced a number of documents reporting
the results of institutional and technical studies, as well as
identified technical objectives for IRBP&M. This stage of the project
aims at identifying needs and priorities for IRBP&M.

1. WATER POLICY AND LEGAL EXPERT

In order to:

1. Identify and assess Legal, Policy and
Institutional (non-structural) measures for Integrated River Basin
Management (IRBM) at the national level,

2. Prioritize measures and develop a timeframe
for their implementation

3. Set priority legal, policy and institutional
and policy needs on a basin level

UNDP/Sida “Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River
Basin” Project (No. 00012718) Armenian Office will hire a short-term
expert on water policy and legislation to perform upon the tasks
mentioned below:

a.. Review the technical report, produced previously under the
project, for the identification of needs and problems;
b.. Undertake Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of the problems relevant to
the prioritized objectives (prioritization of objectives was done at an
earlier stage of the project);
c.. Identify unmet needs and the most appropriate measures to be
undertaken for addressing each of the identified root and/or
intermediate cause(s) of the problem which will help to achieve the
relevant objective. This task will be done in close collaboration and
consultation with relevant stakeholders;
d.. Propose and assess a range of alternative measures taking into
account technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness and the possible
impact of the proposed measures on sectors other than water management
(other criteria for assessment may also be proposed);
e.. Participate in defining criteria for the selection and sequencing
of measures such as cost, available human and financial resources,
likely socio-economic impacts, acceptability, etc.;
f.. Identify benefits, cost, responsible organization(s), duration,
funding sources;
g.. Analyze proposed measures for conformity with agreed selection
criteria;
h.. Develop an outline of proposed measures giving timeframe (short,
medium and long-term), responsible agencies and possible funding
sources;
i.. Cooperate closely with the Task Leader;

Qualifications

a.. Experience in undertaking root cause analysis and needs
assessment;
b.. Degree in law, environmental law/policy and management or any
other discipline relevant to water resource management field;
c.. Good communication skills;
d.. Ability to meet deadlines;
e.. Good Russian or English writing skills

2. TECHNICAL EXPERT

In order to

1.. Identify and formulate technical (structural) measures for
priority IRBP&M National Objectives
2.. Prioritize measures and develop a timeframe for their
implementation
3.. Set priority needs on a basin level (region-wide priorities)

UNDP/Sida “Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River
Basin” Project (No. 00012718) Armenian Office will hire a short-term
technical expert to perform upon the tasks mentioned below:

The National Technical Expert will work under overall guidance and
coordination of the Task Leader who will be responsible for the final
draft of the task report. Specifically, the technical expert will:

a.. Review the technical report, produced previously under the
project, for the identification of needs and problems;
b.. Undertake Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of the problems relevant to
the prioritized objectives (prioritization of objectives was done at an
earlier stage of the project);
c.. Identify unmet needs and the most appropriate measures to be
undertaken for addressing each of the identified root and/or
intermediate cause(s) of the problem which will help to achieve the
relevant objective. This task will be done in close collaboration and
consultation with relevant stakeholders;
d.. Propose and assess a range of alternative measures taking into
account technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness and the possible
impact of the proposed measures on sectors other than water management
(other criteria for assessment may also be proposed);
e.. Participate in defining criteria for the selection and sequencing
of measures such as cost, available human and financial resources,
likely socio-economic impacts, acceptability, etc.;
f.. Identify benefits, cost, responsible organization(s), duration,
funding sources;
g.. Analyze proposed measures for conformity with agreed selection
criteria;
h.. Develop an outline of proposed measures giving timeframe (short,
medium and long-term), responsible agencies and possible funding
sources;
i.. Cooperate closely with the Task Leader;

Qualifications

a.. Experience in undertaking needs assessment;
b.. Degree in environmental/water engineering, environment or any
other discipline relevant to water resource management field;
c.. Good communication skills;
d.. Ability to meet deadlines;
e.. Good Russian or English writing skills

Deliverables

a.. A Report, written either in Russian or in English, presenting the
root-cause analysis and an outline of proposed measures.

Duration

Up to 1.5 month with a possibility of a contract extension.

Duty Station

Yerevan, Armenia

Qualified candidates interested to undertake works under the Terms of
Reference should submit their Curriculum Vitae electronically no later
than Monday, May 02, 2005, 6 p.m. to:

Mr. Vilik Sargsyan, Team Leader

E-Mail: [email protected]

Mr. Vladimir Ter-Ghazaryan, Technical Assistant

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms. Mariam Shotadze, UNDP Georgia, Programme Analyst

E-mail: [email protected]

8. CENN Vacancy Announcement – Country Coordinator/ EIA Watchdog
– Armenia

Employer: CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network

Post(s) Title: Country Coordinator / EIA Watchdog – Armenia

Deadline for Applications: 15.05.05

Duty station: Yerevan, Armenia

Duration: till 31.12.05

Full staff: 8 hours a day

Job Description:

CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network, a non-governmental,
non-profit organization, is looking for a Country Coordinator / EIA
Watchdog in Armenia. The Country Coordinator / EIA Watchdog will work in
collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and the whole EIA Project
team in Georgia, Armenia, Armenia and will report to the Project Manager
and CENN Executive Director.

Specific responsibilities include: · Write first hand
articles, conduct interviews, collect and systematize various
environmental information existing in Armenia and abroad and prepare
daily digests for the electronic bulletin· Write first hand
articles, conduct interviews, collect and systematize and prepare
various environmental information existing in Armenia and abroad for the
quarterly regional magazine· Find new authors, photographers
and partners in Armenia for the magazine and prepare a file (database)
of partners according to issues · Popularize and distribute
the printed magazine broadly in Armenia via national, international and
NGO channels· Look for new clients (magazine subscribers) and
advertisements for the magazine· Translate articles for the
magazine from Armenian into Russian and English (or from Russian into
English and vice versa) as needed· Assist CENN Editor in Chief
and Magazine team when necessary· Assist CENN management in
fundraising on national, regional and international levels·
Prepare presentations on CENN for various meetings/conferences·
Set up of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Watchdog mechanism and
regular activities (before EIA permitting) in the country·
Analyses of EIA legislation in terms of public participation in
decision-making process· Participation in EIA needs
assessment· Preparation of monthly public reports on case
studies and EIA system in Armenia· Coordinate and communicate
activities with Georgia and Armenia PR teams· Arrangement of
roundtables and seminars and participation in discussions Necessary
Qualifications: 1. Education: University education in
geography, environmental sciences or related fields. 2.
Experience: Minimum 2 years working experience in the related fields
(GIS, RS). Good knowledge of environmental and public participation
issues and understanding of NGO culture. 3. Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English, Russian and Georgian.4.
Abilities and Skills: Demonstrable organizational, analytical,
communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills. Capable to
benefit from short term trainings, good communication skills with the
public and collaborators, skills for management and organization of
public meetings, skills to listen and analyze the information coming
from the public. Solid skills in interpretation, editing and reporting.
Knowledge of modern office equipment and procedures. Proven ability of
operating computers (GIS and RS software, word-processing, Excel,
Access, PowerPoint, e-mail, etc.). Ability to develop partnership with a
wide range of organizations and local governments. 5.
Personal characteristics – Independent, active, open-minded, patience,
diplomacy, ability to listen to others` opinions, and respect toward
colleagues, management skills, friendly, flexible, sense of
responsibility and ability to work independently. Interested and
qualified candidates please send resume (CV) and cover letter, proving
your abilities and describing your interest in this position till May
15, 2005 to Irina Kitiashvili, CENN Programs Manager, via the following
e-mail: vacancy at cenn.org Note: No phone calls please. Only
short-listed candidates will be contacted.
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS COMMEMORATED IN ROSTOV-ON-DON

28.04.2005 05:28

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 24 victims of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey were
commemorated in Rostov-on-Don. At noon flowers and wreaths were laid to the
Khachkar memorial, set next to St. Karapet church, reported the Yerkramas,
the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. St. Karapet church building was not
able to accommodate all those gathered. Unfortunately, it is not designed
for a mass flow of people and there were really many. Thus the main part of
the liturgy in the memory of the innocent victims was held next to the
Khachkar. Armenia’s Consul General to the Southern Federal District Ararat
Gomstian was present at the event. A memorial evening of victims of the
Armenian Genocide in Turkey was also held in Surb Khach Temple, where
prayers, poems and evidence of the descendants of the witnesses of the
Genocide in 1915-1922 were heard. The main events marking the 90-th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide had been held earlier. Thus, a round
table sitting titled `NO TO GENOCIDE, NO TO WAR, NO TO TERROR’ was held
April 18. Armenian Genocide – a Bloody Page in Human History seminar was
held in Surb Khach museum monastery April 23. The fact that April 16 a large
article titled Genocide Should not be Forgotten was published in Academy
scientific and education weekly of the South of Russia. In the article
Doctor of Juridical Sciences, Professors Yu. Prusakov and L. Akopov provide
convincing proofs that it is inadmissible to forget the Armenian Genocide in
Turkey as a crime against humanity according to the international law, as
well as the need of its denunciation by all UN member states, including
Turkey. The latter should not be admitted to the EU without the
acknowledgement and censure of the crimes in its history – just like the FRG
acted toward the Holocaust victims.

Pan Armenian News

TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN: PARTIAL OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
POSSIBLE

28.04.2005 05:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Turan Morali considered
the partial opening of the Armenian-Turkish border possible, reported the
Yerkir newspaper. He specified that «Armenia has to establish relations with
its neighbors to that end.» `Possible progress in the issue depends on
Armenia,’ he stated.

A1plus

| 20:10:28 | 27-04-2005 | Politics |

DIRECTIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ARE READY

The results of the recent monitoring on the Armenian-Azerbaijani borderline
realized by the OSCE Caucasus region representative are ready. Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan claimed that very soon the Defense Ministry
Administration of pulic links will announce the results of the montoring.

According to Mr. Sargsyan this monitoring does not differed from the others.
«As you know, a monitoring has been done on another contact line of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border». The Minister said that the decision of the
Armenian participation in the military training in Ukraine in 2005 within
the frame work of the program «Best Joint Effort» of the Cooperation for the
Sake of Peace is still in vigor, although the dates are not yet known. «We
will inform you about that too as it is no secret».

The Defense Minister informed that the 30-page Directions of Security are
ready. «The document will firstly be distributed to the Defense Ministry
workers, and the journalists will be able to get aquainted with the Security
Directions in the Defense Ministry internet site», said Serge Sargsyan.

A1plus

| 19:36:37 | 27-04-2005 | Politics |

ARMENIA WILL BE HELPED

«Although the issue of the RA Constitutional Amendments was not included
into the PACE agenda, the EU will continue to support Armenia», said EU
Secretary General Terry Davis in his press conference today. According to
the radio station «Freedom», he has referred to the report about Nagorno
Karabakh. Let us remind you that before being elected Secretary Davis was
the reporter on this issue.

Terry Davis did not accept that there are dangers of controlling war.
According to him, in case of violence by both Armenia and Azerbaijan the EU
Ministers Committee will immediately answer without waiting for the PACE
decision. Terry Davis has once more underlined that the Karabakh conflict
must be settled within the OSCE Minsk group framework.

Armenpress

ARMENIA TO HOST TWO MAJOR ECONOMIC GATHERINGS

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS: Yelena Nazinian, head of Baltic and CIS
department of Master Center, established to promote international economic
integration, told Armenpress the Center plans to organize Construction-2005
congress in Armenia’s resort town of Tsakhkadzor on June 17.
She said the three-day congress will discuss a wide range of questions
concerning production of building materials, application of new technologies
and other construction industry-related issues.
She also said some 15 Russian construction companies, which look at
Armenia as a perspective market, as well as companies from Germany, Finland
and Italy have confirmed their participation.
She also said officials of agriculture and economic development
ministries of 11 Russian provinces will arrive in Armenia to participate in
Cooperation-2005 conference in Yerevan slated for next September. The
conference will be held within the frameworks of the Year of Russia in
Armenia.

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIA ATTRACTIVE FOR TOURISM FOR SECURITY AND STABILITY

28.04.2005 05:08

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Armenian tourism develops mainly by means of the private
sector. However the Government in its turn does its best for the intensive
development of the sector and for our country to be visited not only in
summer, but also in winter. We make every effort to get integrated with the
international tourism,’ stated Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic
Development of Armenia Ara Petrosian when opening CTS 2005 international
tourism exhibition in Yerevan. In his words, the annual growth makes 20-25%
in the tourism sphere. Thus, 260 thousand tourists visited Armenia in 2004.
300 thousand are planned to be received this year. Ara Petrosian also
informed that 20 million drams (some $46 thousand) are annually allocated
for tourism needs from the state budget of Armenia. Meanwhile, a tourist
spends $800-100 a week. In his turn Lebanese Ambassador to Armenia Jebrail
Butros Jaara stated that Armenia is an attractive and peculiar country for
tourism, first of all through its security and stability. 33 companies from
Armenia, Belarus and Iran (2 air companies, 7 hotel complexes, 1 transport
organization, 13 travel agents, 1 insurance company, 5 NGOs, 3 editions, 1
information agency) take part in the CTS 2005 tourism exhibition organized
by the Yerevan representation of the American Society of Travel Agents
(ASTA) with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of
Armenia. It should be noted that last December the Armenian Government
approved the annual program for development of tourism in 2005. 60-65% of
visits of tourists falls to the share of the Armenian Diaspora, while local
tourists number about 10%. The share of tourism in the GDP of Armenia makes
5-6%, Regnum news agency reported.

Pan Armenian News

2 MILLION EUROS ASSIGNED TO ARMENIA TO STUDY YEREVAN-TBILISI RAILWAY

28.04.2005 03:10

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The TRACECA program provides for repairs of the
12-kilometer stretch of the Ayrum-Sadakhlo railway – 2 million euros will be
assigned to that end, Chief of the Foreign Relations Department of the
Ministry of Transport and Communication of Armenia Gagik Grigorian told
journalists. Within the framework of the same program 2 million euros are
already allocated to Armenia for technical and economic study of the
Yerevan-Tbilisi railway and changing its most dangerous parts. The TACIS, of
which TRACECA is part, will be replaced by New Neighbors Program. At that
the repairs of the railway will be continued within the New Neighbors
Program. Turkey is expected to communicate with Armenia via the Caucasus,
and the three South Caucasian states will be linked with the European
corridors via Black Sea ports. In G. Grigorian’s words, Armenia already
words with the European Commission to specify the corridors and the route of
the roads. It should be reminded that the TRACECA project (Transport
Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) was worked out by the EU within the TACIS
program and was to join European and the Central Asian region by means of a
transport communication corridor, thus reviving one of the routes of the
Great Silk Route, reported the Caucasian Knot.

Pan Armenian News

KARABAKH COMMITTEE FORMED AT PACE

28.04.2005 02:41

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Based on the PACE Rapporteur David Atkinson’s report over
Nagorno Karabakh and in compliance with the PACE Resolution adopted this
January, the Assembly Bureau formed a Temporary Committee for Nagorno
Karabakh April 25. According to item 5, the PACE urges OSCE Minsk Group
member states to activate efforts to provide for peaceful settlement of the
conflict thus urging the governments of those countries to annually inform
the Assembly on the work carried out. Simultaneously the Assembly asked the
Bureau to form a Temporary Committee composed of the heads of the
delegations of the PACE member states. British Deputy, former PACE President
Lord Russel-Johnston is elected to chair the Committee.