DEMARKING THE BORDERLINE

A1plus
19:34:41 | 18-04-2005 | Official |

On April 18, 2005, the meeting of the co-chairs of the State Committee
on the demarcation of the RA and Georgia borderline G. Gharibjanyan,
RA deputy Foreign Minister, and M. Mikaladze, special ambassador of
the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

The sides found the necessity of quickening the process of demarking
the RA-Georgia borderline extremely important and mentioned the
timetable of the works to be done in that connection.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

HOUSTON COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— Major Texas City Joins Growing Lone Star State
Movement toward Armenian Genocide Recognition

WASHINGTON, DC – Houston Mayor Bill White has shared a proclamation
commemorating the Armenian Genocide with leaders of the Lone Star
State’s growing Armenian American community, delivering a powerful
pro-human rights message in the home state of President George W.
Bush and in the backyard of House Majority Leader Tom Delay,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Armenian Americans in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio,
Galveston, El Paso and throughout the state are coordinating their
efforts through the Texas Joint Committee for the 90th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.

“We want to thank Mayor White for his leadership and to express our
appreciation to all those that made this proclamation possible,
including City Controller Anise Parker, community activist and
local attorney Phil Kanayan, and the Texas Joint Committee for the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. “This proclamation, which, of
course, holds great meaning for Armenians living in the Houston
area, has national significance as well, coming, as it does, in the
home state of a President who has, for four straight years, broken
his pledge to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, and in the
backyard of a Congressional leader who has consistently blocked
legislation commemorating this crime against humanity.”

Among the major steps taken this year by the Texas Armenian
community were the hosting of an Armenian Genocide exhibit at the
Holocaust Museum of Houston, the Mayor of Galveston’s Armenian
Genocide proclamation, and the signatures of three Texas
legislators – Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), and
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) – on the Congressional letter urging
President Bush to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. On May
26th, at 6:30pm, Bill Parsons, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Holocaust
Museum will be giving a talk on genocide and “Remembering for the
Sake of the Future” at the Holocaust Museum of Houston. The Joint
Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will
cosponsor the event.

In January of last year, ANCA staff from Washington, DC and Los
Angeles conducted a ten day fieldtrip throughout Texas, meeting
with local leaders, briefing members of Congress and other elected
officials, and offering support to the community’s advocacy
efforts.

“We are tremendously proud of the increasingly active, vocal, and
effective Armenian community of Texas, and are committed to making
our unique contribution to, once and for all, ending U.S.
complicity in Turkey’s shameful campaign of genocide denial,” added
ANC-Texas representative Vatche Hovsepian.

#####

PROCLAMATION

Armenian Martyrs Day

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during
the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general
extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble
civilization over 3,000 years old; of the Armenian population in
Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and
children in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and

WHEREAS, although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to
all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and
unity through their church, passing along to each generation not
only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language,
history and culture; and

WHEREAS, the survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove
them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as
Armenian Martyr’s Day; and

WHEREAS, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and
challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, City of Houston residents will be
called together to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915; and

WHEREAS, this commemoration will serve as an appropriate time for
the people of the City of Houston and others to remember the 1.5
Armenian men, women and children who lost their lives; and

Therefore, I, Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby
proclaim April 24, 2005, as Armenian Martyrs Day in Houston, Texas.

THE FIRST SPEECH OF THE OMBUDSMAN IN THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

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| 18:36:11 | 18-04-2005 | Official |

On April 12-15 in Geneva RA Ombudsman Larissa Alavardyan took part
in the 61st session of the Human Rights Committee and in the 16th
session of the Internation Coordinating Committe of Human rights
defense and support.

The RA Defendor of Human Rights was making speech in this session
for the first time. Larissa Alavardyan~Rs speech was devoted to
the legislative field within the framework of which the Defendor’s
structure has been formed, as well as to results of the work in the
Human Rights field for the first year.

The RA Ombudsman has also taken part in the discussion of the working
groups devoted to the national minorities, migration, and HIV/AIDS
problems.

The RA Ombudsman has met responsible representatives of the
international right-defending organization.

Foreign Ministry positively assesses peace talks in London

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 19 2005

Baku, April 18, AssA-Irada — Foreign Ministry official Huseyn
Huseynov has positively assessed the results of the recent meetings
held by Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers with the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs.

“It became clear during the discussions that the parties truly support
a peace settlement and are trying to state their position on the
conflict resolution”, he told a news briefing held jointly with the
Foreign Ministry spokesman Matin Mirza.

Huseynov, who attended the last round of talks on the Upper Garabagh
conflict, said the meetings held by the two ministers separately with
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in London on April 15 are a continuation
of ‘Prague talks’ and that discussions were held in the same format
as before.

Speaking of the fact that the two countries’ ministers did not meet
in private, Mirza said no agreement on such a meeting was reached
earlier. Separate meetings with the two ministers were held on the
proposal of the OSCE MG co-chairs, he said.

The spokesman said that holding separate meetings or those attended
by the co-chairs is not of great importance for Azerbaijan.

“The key issue here is for the talks to continue and for favorable
environment to form for future negotiations.”

The parties have already agreed to hold the next meeting of Azeri and
Armenian foreign ministers in Frankfurt on April 27, to be attended
by the MG co-chairs. Its key goal is to make preparations for the
meeting of the two countries’ Presidents due in May.*

Armenia invited to TRACECA meeting

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 19 2005

Baku, April 18, AssA-Irada – Armenians have been invited to the fourth
annual meeting of TRACECA to be held in Baku April 21-22.

Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said that the Azerbaijani
government provided its consent to the invitation, as otherwise the
European Commission funding the project may be discontent over this.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hopeful signs for Turkey, Armenia
By David L. Phillips

Boston Globe, MA
April 19 2005

AS ARMENIANS gather worldwide this weekend to commemorate the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, they are debating
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. The nationalist fringe believes
there should be no contact between Turks and Armenians until Turkey
stops denying the genocide, pays reparations, and returns territory.
Most Armenians support dialogue and cooperation. They endorse opening
the border in order to end Armenia’s isolation and impoverishment.

For 90 years, Turkish-Armenian relations have been defined by enmity
and distrust. Misunderstandings are compounded by dramatically
different versions of history. Armenians and most international
historians describe pogroms in the late 19th century that killed one
quarter million Armenians in eastern Anatolia. On April 24, 1915, some
800 Armenian community leaders were executed and the deportation of
Armenians resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million between 1915 and 1923.

The Turkish government emphasizes the war context in which events
occurred. It points out that the deportation was in response to
security concerns arising from the Armenian rebellion during which
hundreds of thousands of Turks died. Turkey rejects use of the term
genocide and resents efforts by Armenians to gain international
recognition. Progress is further complicated by diaspora politics
and the occupation of territories in Azerbaijan by Armenians.

In 2001, a heroic group of Turks and Armenians decided it was time to
talk. They established the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission,
which broke a taboo about Armenian issues in Turkey and spawned civil
society projects involving business leaders, women’s associations,
youth groups, cultural activities, parliamentarians, and local
government officials.

This is not a substitute for official diplomacy. The goal is to
explore the underlying conditions that gave rise to conflict and
develop strategies. As a result, the conflict comes to be seen as a
shared problem.

The commission’s primary goal was to encourage Turkey and Armenian to
open the Kars-Gyumri border gate as a first step toward establishing
diplomatic relations. But the genocide issue cast a long shadow
over discussions.

To address this problem, Turks and Armenians agreed to seek
a non-binding legal opinion facilitated by the well-respected
International Center for Transitional Justice on the “applicability
of the Genocide Convention to events in the early Twentieth Century.”

To the satisfaction of the Turks, the analysis concluded: “The
Genocide Convention contains no provisions mandating its retroactive
application. Therefore, no legal, financial, or territorial claim
arising out of the events could successfully be made against any
individual or state under the Convention.” This determination was
important to Turks who believe that, from the 1920 Sevres Treaty
to today, great powers misunderstand Turkey and seek to diminish or
dismember their country.

The legal analysis also examined the events in the context of
international law. To the satisfaction of Armenians, it concluded that
one or more persons were killed; such persons belonged to a particular
ethnic, racial, or religious group; the action took place as part
of a pattern of conduct against the group; and at least some of the
Ottoman rulers knew that the consequence of the deportation orders
would result in many deaths. Therefore, their actions possessed the
prerequisite genocidal intent.

Though the win-win analysis could be used by governments of Turkey
and Armenia to break the impasse, it is clear that Ankara is a long
way from recognizing the genocide. Armenians are just as resolute in
continuing their efforts to gain recognition.

At this juncture, Turkey and Armenia should broaden the discussion.
The Armenian government can create conditions conducive to Turkey
opening the border by reaffirming its commitment to the 1921 Kars
Treaty that demarcated the boundary between modern-day Turkey and
Armenia.

Turkish officials should recognize that Turkey has nothing to fear
and lots to gain from opening the border. Normal travel and trade
would have a huge economic impact on the provinces bordering Armenia
while reducing the transportation cost of Turkish goods to Central
Asia and beyond.

Though the Bush administration has neglected Turkish-Armenian
issues since Sept. 11 and the Iraq War, the United States can play
an indispensable role. It should encourage Armenia to reach out and
point out to Turkey that good neighborly relations would enhance its
prospects of joining the European Union.

David L. Phillips is a senior fellow and deputy director of the Center
for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is author
of “Unsilencing the Past: Track Two Diplomacy and Turkish-Armenian
Reconciliation.”

‘No concessions for Armenia’ – parliament speaker

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 19 2005

Baku, April 18, AssA-Irada — Despite the OSCE Minsk Group’s
insistence, Azerbaijan won’t make any concessions for Armenia,
Parliament Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said in a meeting with
representatives of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee on Monday.

Alasgarov said that granting the autonomy status to the Armenian
community in Upper Garabagh after Azerbaijan’s occupied regions are
liberated may be the only concession.

The speaker noted that although the conflict has remained unsettled
for many years, international organizations fail to make serious
efforts in this area.

“The peace talks are stalling due to the biased approach of
international organizations to the issue.”

Head of the foreign delegation Maria Ishler Belqueen expressed concerns
over unresolved status of the Upper Garabagh conflict and said that
she has become familiar with the living conditions of internally
displaced persons.

“Like the Minsk Group, we have an obligation to settle the conflict.
It is possible that we have not correctly determined our activity
for more than 10 years”, said Belqueen.

She said that the negotiations should continue at the meetings of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections due in November,
Belqueen said the Committee wants them to be democratic and compliant
with international standards.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lebanese Prime Minister Forms Cabinet
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Agence France Presse
April 19 2005

Prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati announced the creation of a new
unity government to take Lebanon towards May elections, breaking over
six weeks of political deadlock.

He said the administration would contain people representing all
of multi-confessional Lebanon’s religious groups and comprised 14
mainly technocratic members, down from 30 ministers in the previous
government.

“I want to announce the formation of the government this morning,
after a meeting with President Emile Lahoud,” Miqati told reporters.

“This government groups all Lebanese factions,” he said.

“A new government has been formed, it is made up of 14 ministers,”
added presidential spokesman Rafiq Shalala.

Here is the line-up of the new 14-member Lebanese cabinet formed
Tuesday by prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati, which still has to
be approved by parliament.

– Prime Minister: Nagib Miqati (Sunni Muslim, new)

– Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense: Elias Murr (Greek
Orthodox, new)

– Foreign Minister: Mahmud Hammud (Shiite, unchanged)

– Interior Minister: Hassan Sabaa (Sunni, new)

– Finance, economy and trade: Demianos Khattar (Maronite, new)

– Culture, Education Minister: Ghassan Salameh (Greek Catholic, new)

– Public Works, Transport and Refugees: Adel Hamiyeh (Druze, new)

– Health, Social Affairs Minister: Mohammad Khalifeh (Shiite,
unchanged)

– Telecommunication, sports and youth minister: Alain Taburian
(Armenian, state minister in previous government)

– Justice Minister: Khaled Qabbani (Sunni, new)

– Industry and Energy Minister: Bassam Yammin (Maronite, new)

– Information, Tourism Minister: Charles Rizk (Maronite, new)

– Environment, Administrative Development: Tareq Mitri (Greek
Orthodox, new)

– Labour, Agriculture Minister: Tarrad Hamadeh (Shiite, new) – AFP

Three new Lufthansa destinations to Eastern Europe

Luchtzak Aviation, Belgium
April 19 2005

Lufthansa will further strengthen its network to Eastern Europe
and will start operating three new destinations from Munich as of
June 2005.

Beginning June 1, 2005, six weekly flights will be offered from Munich
to Timisoara, Romania.

As of June 2, 2005, Lufthansa will launch three weekly flights from
Munich to Yerevan, Armenia and three weekly flights from Munich to
Tbilisi, Georgia.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Advanced Engineering Associates International
2 Proshyan Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: 374-1-221-969, 261-770
Fax: 374-1- 275-491
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

“Eight New Energy Efficiency Pilot Projects Started by AEAI Armenia in April 2005”

In the framework of the USAID funded Energy Efficiency, Demand Side
Management and Renewable Energy Program (EE, DSM, RE Program), in
March – April 2005 Advanced Engineering Associates International has
launched eight new pilot projects implemented by a number of Armenian
energy service companies such as Anergo Two, Contact A, Technokom,
Thermoservice and South Therm Ltd. All these initiatives are aimed
at demonstration of advanced energy efficient technologies and their
application in various sectors of Armenia. With major funding endowed
by USAID Armenia the range of projects’ cost sharing by beneficiaries
makes up from 20% to 50% of the approved budgets. The projects will
last six months on average and will involve different measures ensuring
smooth and safe functioning of heating systems.

The most part of the demonstrations’ sites is concentrated in the
capital; however a lot of repairing, weatherization and local gas-fired
system rehabilitation works will also be performed in the Town Hospital
of Sevan, Gegharkunik marz. For thirteen years the hospital building
was only heated by electricity having left the previously run internal
heating system in an extremely poor condition. Sizeable energy losses
occurred due to cold air infiltration through numerous gaps in the old
and improperly fixed windows and outside doors. The problem solution
offered by AEAI Armenia includes renovation of the entire internal
heating system as part of full construction of the local heating
system with installation of a gas-fired boiler house. The indoor
comfort level will be controlled by regulating valves. This option of
using gas instead of electricity for space and water heating purposes
considerably reduces future energy demands; it also decreases harmful
emissions at the thermal power plant making the activity beneficial
from the environmental viewpoint.

Similar project has been started at the Maternity Care Research Center
located in the center of Yerevan. With a 40-year old internal heating
system which is currently depreciated completely after having stayed
idle within the last 13 years, the Center’s sole heating option
was use of low-efficient and rather expensive electrical coils. In
order to provide the patients and personnel of the Center with more
comfortable, secure and affordable heating EE, DSM, RE Program has
approved construction of a boiler house equipped with two gas-fired
boilers, low pressure gas supply pipeline as well as renovation of
the internal heating system with installed cast iron radiators and
regulating valves for keeping desired temperature in the rooms. The
economic analysis of this pilot displays its high financial feasibility
as savings are three times more than investments and internal rate
of return (IRR) makes 43 %.

Another medical institution will benefit from AEAI initiatives
by renovating its heating systems. Arabkir Joint Medical Center
Institute of Child and Adolescent Health which for many years used
ineffective electrical coils for space and water heating will now
switch to gas-fired option running a newly constructed and highly
efficient local heating system. In addition, the project involves
isolation of heated zones from cold air as well as installation of
flat plate solar collectors for water heating purpose.

Solar water heating technology will also be applied at the Yerevan
based Germes-Art LLC semiprecious stone processing company. The site
has excellent solar irradiation and the use of solar energy here
promises significant energy and funds savings. The solar water heating
system at the site will be mounted with a back up of electricity,
including flat plate solar collectors of 44 m2, a 2-ton storage tank
and a system control component. Along with raising the process of
production reliability the installation of solar water heating system
will definitely reduce environmental emissions.

Local gas-fired heating systems will be fully constructed at Armenfilm
NCSO Film Studio and Physics Institute in Yerevan. Weatherization
of windows and outside doors will be additionally performed at the
both sites whereas the second one will also involve works on internal
heating system renovation.

The pilot projects launched at the Regional (Caucasus) Academy of
Information Technologies and residential building located on Sayat-Nova
33, Yerevan are practically follow-up activities aimed to enlarge
the outcome of previously implemented AEAI demonstrations and use
entire capacities of the already installed equipment. Thus, AEAI will
construct the internal heating network of the Academy’s Building #3
and expand the external heat supply pipelines connecting the building
to the local gas boiler house which is powerful enough to properly
provide warmth to all the buildings of the institution. Similarly,
5 residential building located in the nearby territory of the
private boiler house on Sayat-Nova 33, will benefit from heat supply
services. The boiler house presently uses about a half of its installed
capacity making the level of this business profitability lower due to
small number of consumers. Expansion of the existing external heating
system to the neighboring buildings will solve the sales issue for
the business and provide safe and comfortable heating to residents
in winter season.

These activities supplement the list of other 28 pilots accomplished
within the EE, DSM, RE Program over the years 2002-2005. In 2005,
AEAI, with funding from USAID, has initiated a series of various
demonstration projects targeting energy efficiency and renewable
energy issues.

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