CENN – April 1, 2005 Daily Digest

Table of Contents:

1.. “Pipeline Sabotage is Terrorist’s Weapon of Choice”
2.. Turkish Admiral: We are Ready to Protect Caspian
3.. SOCAR: No Strikes Only Bad Weather in Georgia
4.. BTC: First Tanker to Sail in September
5.. Ambassador: US Supports Kazakhstan in BTC
6.. Pipes for South Caucasus Pipeline to Reach Place of Consignment
7.. “Lukoil” Drills Second Exploratory Well in Caspian
8.. Turkey: BTC Best Alternative
9.. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Highlights Global Ecosystem
Degradation
10.. Inter-American Development Bank Sets New Environmental Compliance
Policy
11.. Genetically Modified Trees in Chile: A New Forest Conflict
12.. The Second Call for Proposals Under the CEPF regional Programme
13.. EIA Reports

1. “Pipeline sabotage is terrorist’s weapon of choice”

Source: Pipeline and Gas Journal, March 2005

The campaign against the world’s vulnerable pipeline is likely to continue
to spread new territories. The terrorist have already indicated interest in
the nearly completed 1,000-miles Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, slated
to transport 1 million barrels of oil a day form the Caspian Sea to Western
markets through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The pipeline is expected to be
operated by the end of 2005 but even before construction ends, terrorist
elements may already be planning attacks on it. According to Azerbaijan’s
National Security Minister, Namiq Abbasov, the country special services had
obtained information that regional insurgent and members of al Qaeda are
planning acts of sabotage against the pipeline.

2. Turkish Admiral: we are ready to protect Caspian

Source: Baku Today, March 29, 2005

Turkish is ready to provide assistance to Azerbaijan in ensuring the
security of Caspian oil fields, the visiting commander of the Turkish Navy,
Fleet Admiral Ozden Ornek told journalists on Monday March 28, 2005.

Ozden Ornek said that the issue of ensuring the security of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline will be in focus at his meetings with
Azerbaijani officials. “One end of the pipeline should be safeguarded by
Turkey, while the other one by Azerbaijan,” said the Turkish Admiral,
stressing that his country may also assist in ensuring the security of the
Azeri section of the pipeline.

3. SOCAR: no strikes only bad weather in Georgia

Source: Washington Times, March 29, 2005

According to a statement made by State Oil Company of the Republic of
Azerbaijan (SOCAR) President Natiq Aliyev on March 23, 2005 SOCAR continues
to deny reports that workers involved in the construction of the Georgian
section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline are on strike. Aliyev
emphasized: “The construction of the Georgian section is delayed due to poor
weather conditions. However, the Georgian side makes every effort to
complete construction operations by the end of April to receive the Azeri
oil starting on 1 May.”

4. BTC: first tanker to sail in September

Source: Oil and Gas Journal, March 30, 2005

Exports of crude oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline will began
in September, according to key state officials connected with the project.

Gokhan Cologlu, director general of the Turkish section, announced the
September date to an oil and gas conference in Ankara on March 29, 2005
confirming remarks made on March 23, 2005 by Natik Aliyev, president of
State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR).

“We are trying to stay on a schedule whereby the first tanker will sail from
the Turkish port of Ceyhan in September,” Aliyev said.

Explaining that there had been delays due to a harsh winter this year, he
said: “We are doing everything possible to stay on schedule and not to be
late. In Georgia all that remains is to cross the Kura River, but think that
by April we will finis everything.”

He said oil will star to flow in the Azerbaijani section in May and from
Georgia in July. “We will complete all mechanical work on the Turkish
section” on June 30, Aliyev said.

5. Ambassador: US supports Kazakhstan in BTC

Source: US Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, March 30, 2005

The United States backs Kazakhstan’s joining to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) main export oil pipeline, John Ordway, the US Ambassador to
Kazakhstan, told a news conference in Almaty, Trend reports.

According to John Ordway, Washington continues working on establishment of
conditions for Kazakh oil delivery via the BTC. “Though the talks still
continue, we do all possible to end talk successfully and to enable the
Kazakh oil in this direction,” John Ordway stressed.

The diplomat said that Kazakhstan should have alterative routes for oil
transportation.

“We do not regard the issue from the aspect of rivalry. Kazakhstan does not
possess enough capacity to transport its oil, which will be produced within
the next decades,” said Ordway.

6. PIPES FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS PIPELINE TO REACH PLACE OF CONSIGNMENT

Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag,
March 30, 2005

The last consignment of pipes for the South Caucasus pipeline has been
unloaded in the Georgian seaport Poti. The pipes are being carried to the
depots in Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of the pipeline’s construction
over 77 thousand pipes have been carried to the places of consignment.

7. “LUKOIL” DRILLS SECOND EXPLORATORY WELL IN CASPIAN

Source: State Telegraphic Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azertag,
March 30, 2005

The Lukoil’s semi-submersible rig “Leader” is now engaged in drilling of the
second 4500 meters deep exploratory well, located in the D-222 block in
Yalama structure, the company’s Baku office announced. The project costs US
$60 thousand.

8. Turkey: BTC best Alternative

Source: The Messenger, March 31, 2005

Turkey sounded the alarm Monday March 28, 2005 over the amount of oil
transiting the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, warning of an environmental
disaster waiting to happen. “The quantity of oil passing through the straits
has increased by 50% in the past three years, “Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi
Guler told a two-day conference here on energy cooperation in the Caspian
and Black Sea regions.

“If anything were to happen in the straits, it would pose a major problem
for the region, notably for Istanbul, and would affect oil supply for
months.” “An environmental accident in Istanbul would be a disaster,” he
said.

Hilmi Guler repeated Turkey’s view that a new Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline, which he said should be operational within months, would be the
best way to transport Caucasian oil towards the West while cutting
congestion in the two northwestern straits.

9. MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM
DEGRADATION

Source: IUCN, March 30, 2005

The landmark Millennium Ecosystem Assessment released today reveals that
approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem services that support life on
Earth – such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation,
and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests – are
being degraded or used unsustainably. Scientists warn that the harmful
consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next
50 years. At the same time, eight international conservation organisations
release a joint statement in support of the MEA findings, and pledge their
commitment to conservation action in support of human well-being.

10. INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SETS NEW ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
POLICY

Source: IUCN, March 31, 2005

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is currently developing a new
Environment and Safeguard Compliance Policy. The World Conservation Union
(IUCN) has participated in several of the regional consultations, including
hosting the European consultation in Brussels. The Union welcomes the IDB’s
focus on proactive mainstreaming of environmental concerns in country
programming processes and calls for strengthening the IDB’s internal
management capacity and incentives to ensure that the policy is vigorously
implemented. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is concerned, however, that
the draft IDB policy is too restrictive in its definitions and too narrow in
its approach to protecting conservation areas. Lastly, while the Union
welcomes the IDB’s proposals for dealing with instances of “significant
direct” environmental impacts of policy based lending, the IDB should also
establish mechanisms to deal with potential indirect, unanticipated, or
unintentional impacts. In these cases, the Union recommends the use of
participatory monitoring mechanisms linked to adaptive management processes.

11. Genetically Modified Trees in Chile: A New Forest Conflict

Source: Mapuexpress – Mapuche News , (Informativo
Mapuche),

El Hacha (The Axe) is a song written by Patricio Manns and performed by Inti
Illimani on their release Arriesgaré la piel; its final lines refer to
deforestation: “The forest comes before Man, but desert follows him.”
Without a doubt, deforestation has seriously affected the balance of forest
ecosystems worldwide, making understandable the fear that paralyzes those
who are aware of this issue; fear that is expressed in different ways, such
as in this song. A second phenomenon negatively affecting the survival of
forests is the creation of extensive single-crop forest plantations, and in
particular, current concerns about new plantations of genetically modified
trees.

To understand the negative effects of extensive single specie tree farming,
we must take into account that countries in the southern hemisphere in
general and southern Chile in particular suffer from a destructive process
that is advancing from the North. Over time, forests have been greatly
impacted by the incremental spread of agriculture and livestock, cutting for
firewood, and the felling and replacement of native forest with pine and
eucalyptus plantations, which have led to topsoil degradation and acacia and
blackberry invasions. As a result, animal habitat has been lost and the
countryside has been altered. Social problems have arisen as well, including
the forced migration of people who find themselves surrounded by huge
plantations of single-crop introduced tree species and the transformation of
the process of the restitution to Mapuche communities of traditional lands
into a matter for the courts.

The first plantations of Pinus Radiata (Monterey Pine) were established in
Chile in 1920. From that date on the forward march of this single-crop
cultivation has gone unhindered and in recent decades, the result has been
environmental change and degradation. Among the many changes are:
environmental homogeneity, evident in the vast and monotonous landscape
vistas of unchanging color and architecture; biodiversity reduction and
changes in the mechanisms that regulate its component parts; increasing
vulnerability from pest invasions and the indiscriminate application of
pesticides to control them; and the use of prime agricultural land for
cultivating tree plantations, resulting in the underutilization of this
important natural resource.

Genetic engineering techniques have been used to achieve optimum production
results in both agriculture and forest cultivation, including the genetic
manipulation of commercially important plants. These issues have gone
largely unreported to the public. People might know a little bit about
genetically modified foods, but the development of Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs) in the forestry industry is far less well known.

The first genetically modified (GM) trees were planted in Belgium in 1988.
In Chile, projects have been in development since the mid-1990s exploring
the use of biotechnology in trees for industrial and commercial ends, which
focus primarily on exotic species (pine and eucalyptus), with the goal of
improving productivity. These projects have public sector support from such
institutions as INFOR – Forestry Institute, (part of the Ministry of
Agriculture), Fundación Chile (Chile Foundation), and the Universities of
Concepción, Austral and Frontera, as well from the private sector -Bioforest
(controlled by Bosques Arauco). Several million dollars have been paid out
from the national treasury.

The following are some of the risks involved with planting these trees:

a) Long-term unforeseen changes in the altered or “guest” genome.

b) Genetic contamination when plantations or test stands of transgenic trees
are planted near their native forest relatives. The probability for genetic
contamination is high.

c) Changes in productivity and soil degradation (trees modified for rapid
growth are harvested in less time and use the soil more intensively, thus
there is greater demand for water and fewer opportunities for the nutrients
to recycle).

d) Possible effects on human health include resistance to antibiotics and
increased allergies.

In 2000, the New Zealand horticultural institute Hort Research won a
contract from the Chile Foundation (a governmental body) to provide
technical assistance in exchange for financing the development of a
transgenic Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine), one resistant to the moth that
attacks its buds. The goal is to “optimize the use of this natural resource
to increase its productive capacity.”

The Chilean government takes a positive view of these practices and
partnerships. In its presidential announcement, made in March 2004 at the
inauguration of the first Global Biotechnology Forum, the spread of these
new trends nationwide was referred to, opening the door for the creation of
a Biotechnology Center in Chile.

According to an article by Dr. María Isabel Manzur published in October 2000
, the planting of genetically modified trees in Chile is in its initial phas
es, but some projects working with transgenic pine and eucalyptus are
already underway:

1. Bioforest, subsidiary of Forestal Arauco, located in the VIII
Region. Its research program is centered on improving pine and eucalyptus
through cloning techniques. The company also works in biological pest
control.

2. Genfor, S.A., a partnership between the Chile Foundation,
Sylvagen of Canada and Interlink of the United States, created in 1999 with
the support of CORFO (Ministry of Manufacturing Development). It utilizes
technology for improving cloning (somatic embryogenesis) and the creation of
genetically modified Pinus radiata, soon to be planted in test fields.

3. INIA IX Región (Institute of Farming and Animal Husbandry
Research), together with the Universities of Chile and Católica, CINVESTAV
Irapuato Labs of Mexico, Department of the Ministry of Agriculture (SEREMI)
of Chile’s IX Region, Agrícola Mar Rojo, the Afodegama Foundation and Indes
Salus, are collaborating on a seed transgenesis development project to
enhance resistance to the apple tree scab.

4. Royal Dutch/Shell in Chile and Uruguay: Production of a GM
eucalyptus tree with a different type of lignin, making its removal easier
for the pulp and paper industry.

One incentive for establishing tree plantations in general and transgenic
trees in particular is the market for “carbon credits,” which are part of
the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Production Mechanisms (CPMs) that were recently
accepted at the United Nation’s 10th Framework Convention on Climate Change,
held last December in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Chile is not averse to the
idea of carbon credits, according to INFOR’s Jorge Urrutia, who stated that
CPMs could turn into a very good opportunity for the forestry sector.

It is important to recognize that Chile could become one of the countries
with the greatest number of genetically modified commercial tree plantations
without the legal and environmental safeguards to control them; (currently,
the release of transgenic crops are not subject to environmental impact
studies). One of 4 demands sought by the Foundation for Sustainable
Societies (Fundación Sociedades Sustentables) – that the planting of GM
trees should be subject to Law 19.300, which requires an environmental
impact study – stems from this issue. The other demands seek a moratorium on
GM plantations, the development of a national policy for genetically
modified trees, and an assessment of risks to human and environmental
health. I see no option but to join these demands.

We must act first, understanding that the reasons used to justified GM
plantations are lies; that genetically modified trees will not reduce
pressure on the remaining native forest, roll back climate change, solve the
problem of pollution from the pulp and paper industry, or reduce the use of
pesticides.

In conclusion, 2 facts about the paper industry underscore the issue of tree
plantations in general and genetically modified trees in particular:

1. International pulp and paper industry earnings are basically
guaranteed by the resources handed to them in the form of subsidies by
southern hemisphere nation governments. Furthermore, these countries run the
risk of dependence on a raw material subject to sharp price swings, with a
high probability of lower prices in the short term, an argument against the
tremendous increase, day by day, of these plantations.

2. The majority of all the paper produced worldwide is consumed by
developed countries, with 40% of the total destined for packaging, and that
doesn’t even take into account that most of the paper destined for writing
and printing is used for marketing and publicity.

These facts raise the following questions: Are we prepared to pay the costs
of these export models? Is it worth suffering the social and environmental
impacts caused by plantations to obtain these products? Are we truly
informed about the amount of national resources being used to finance the
research and establishment of genetically modified trees?

Stop Genetically Engineered Trees Campaign

A project of Global Justice Ecology Project

P.O. Box 412

Hinesburg, VT 05461 U.S.

+1.802.482.2689 ph/fax

<[email protected]>

mailto:[email protected]

The Stop Genetically Engineered Trees Campaign includes the Sierra Club,
Rainforest Action Network, Dogwood Alliance, Polaris Institute, Global
Justice Ecology Project, WildLaw, Southern Forests Network, Institute for
Social Ecology Biotechnology Project, ForestEthics, Klamath-Siskiyou
Wildlands Center, Forest Stewards Guild, Northwest Resistance Against
Genetic Engineering and GE Free Maine.

12. the second call for proposals under the CEPF regional programme

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, from June 2004 the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
(CEPF) launched its Regional Programme in the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot.
This Programme is intended for the following countries of the Hotspot –
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Turkey. The main aim of the
Programme is conservation of unique biodiversity in the Caucasus region. The
programme will be continued over four years (June, 2004 – June, 2008).

In the frame of a preliminary stage of the CEPF Programme the document –
“Ecosystem Profile for Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot“ has been elaborated.
This is the key document, which defines priority species, sites and
corridors in terms of biodiversity conservation in the Caucasus Hotspot.
This document determines strategic directions and investment priorities for
biodiversity conservation in the Caucasus Hotspot as well. Exactly these
mentioned priorities will be taken into consideration during review and
selection of submitted proposals. The document – “Ecosystem Profile for
Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot“ and a relevant application form are
available in English and Russian languages on CEPF`s web-site at

In order to ensure successful implementation of the CEPF Programme in the
Caucasus Hotspot, CEPF established a regional coordination mechanism. The
coordination team composes of regional and national coordinators. Regional
Coordinator of the Programme is Nugzar Zazanashvili (e-mail:
[email protected]) – Conservation Director of WWF Caucasus
Programme Office, National Coordinator for Georgia is Maka Bitsadze (e-mail:
[email protected], tel: 33 01 54 /55).

This notification is to announce the second call for proposals under the
CEPF regional programme. Deadline for submission of project proposals is 31
May, 2005.

Project proposals should be submitted to CEPF National Coordinator in your
country. Also, for further detailed information on the CEPF Caucasus Hotspot
programme you can apply to CEPF national coordinator.

WWF Caucasus Programme Office

11, Alexidze street,

Tbilisi, 0171, Georgia

Tel: (995 32) 33 01 54 / 55

Fax: (995 32) 33 01 90

e-mail: [email protected]

13. EIA Reports

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), March 11, 2005

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Karieri” Ltd. submitted EIA
report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an environmental
permit for the activity of second category – Inert Materials Processing
Enterprise in Khobi Region, Village Nojixevi.

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Ozurgeti Tskalkanali” Ltd.
submitted EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category – Water Pipeline on
the base of River Bzhuzhi.

EIA reports are available at the Department of Environmental Permits and
State Ecological Expertise (15 A Tamarashvili Str., Tel: 39 91 81).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until May 24, 2005.

Public hearing will be held on May 24, 2005 at 12:00, at the conference hall
of the Ministry of Environment (68 A, Kostava Str., Tbilisi, VI Floor).

*******************************************
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

TERRORISTS TOOK HOVHANNISYAN HOSTAGE NOT AS AN ARMENIAN BUT AS A CITIZEN OF
ROMANIA

37 year-old journalist from Bucharest Edward-Ovidiu Hovhannisyan is the
second Armenian stolen in Iraq.

Certain facts have been cleared up about the disappearance of our
compatriot, citizen of Romania Edward-Ovidiu Hovhannisyan and his two
colleagues. According to the information received on Wednesday, terrorists
demanded from the Romanian government a ransom of 4 million dollars.
However, the main aim of the terrorists is not to earn money but to attract
attention to the intention of Romanian authorities to increase Romanian
military presence in Iraq. The President of Romania Besesku visited Iraq not
long ago. After the trip he made a decision to activate the participation of
his country in the anti-terrorist coalition and to increase the number of
military contingent.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ No terrorist grouping has claimed the responsibility for
the action. Terrorists act incognito. The demand of the ransom was told to
the ambassador of Iraq in Romania by unknown people. Besides, someone called
a Syrian businessman living in Bucharest and asked him to pass to state
authorities that if the money was not paid during 24 hours the hostages
would be killed. However, official sources deny any information about the
ransom. The video material shown on Thursday on `Al Jazzira’ TV channel
proves that the criminals have no mercantile considerations. The video
cassette with the hostages was in some way passed to the TV channel by the
terrorists themselves. On the recording are the journalists and their Arab
translator, sitting on the floor with gun points on their heads. On the
recording there are also two people in masks. The terrorists do not make any
demands.

Like the whole Romanian community, Armenian community of Bucharest is
extremely worried about the destiny of hostages. However, the initiative to
join the Armenian community of Iraq to the searches for the hostages seems
absolutely unacceptable. The excessive activity of the leadership of
Armenian structures may in this case have negative consequences. It is known
that Edward-Ovidiu Hovhannisyan was taken hostage not as an Armenian but as
a citizen of Romania. Moreover, it is quite possible that the terrorists
still do not know about his ethnic origin, since some Romanian surnames
sound like Armenian surnames. Concentration on the ethnic origin of
Hovhannisyan may create problems taking into account the existence of
Armenian peacemakers in Iraq.

Edward-Ovidiu Hovhannisyan is 37 years old. He is a Bucharest born catholic,
working as a political correspondent of `Romania libere’ newspaper. His
sister Ann-Maria Hovhannisyan gave an interview to `Reiter’ agency where she
stated that the leadership of the newspaper does not contact with their
family. She says that his family was against his trip but he did not listen
to them. Hovhannisyan went to Baghdad to interview the premier of the
temporary administration Iyad Alaui. After an hour from the interview he and
his colleagues disappeared. Later someone called to the editorial of
Bucharest `Prima’ TV company, employees of which are also taken hostage. The
voice of one of the hostages was heaðd on the phone. `Don’t kill us. We are
from a poor country; we do not have money…’ Later mother of one of the
employees of `Prima’ received an SMS `We are taken hostage. It is not a
joke’.

During the past year over 150 foreigners were taken hostage in Iraq. Almost
50 of them were killed because the demands of the terrorists were not
fulfilled. Romanian authorities hope that the three journalists will not
suffer the same fare. President Besesku said that Romanian special services
in cooperation with American and British services have `worked out a line of
conduct that can bring to the solution of the incident’. What is meant under
that line and are there any real hopes? It is still unclear.

31.03.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Watertown TAB & Press, MA

Armenian Genocide commemoration events
Friday, April 1, 2005

The Greater Boston Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,
an umbrella organization of all area churches and major civic groups,
announces the following community-wide commemoration events for the 90th
anniversary of the Genocide. All events are free and open to the public,
unless otherwise noted. For more information, and periodic updates, log on
to

“Genocide and Mass Killing: Origins, Prevention, Healing and
Reconciliation”- Tuesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., at Goddard Chapel at Tufts
University in Medford. Presented by Ervin Staub.

“Victims of 1915 and We Today”- Sunday, April 17, 10 a.m., at Holy
Cross Armenian Catholic Church, 200 Lexington St., Belmont. A memorial
service and evocation.

“Remembrance and Commemoration through Armenian Culture and Music”-
Sunday, April 17, 5 p.m., at St. James Armenian Apostolic Church, 465 Mount
Auburn St., Watertown. Featuring Sayat Nova Dance Company and Zulal Armenian
Folk Trio.

“The Road to Redemption: Memories of the 1915 Armenian Genocide”-
Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m., at Boston University’s Morse Auditorium, 602
Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Presented by the Greater Boston Committee for the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Massachusetts State House Commemoration – Friday, April 22, 11 a.m.
Details to follow.

Ecumenical Service and Memorial Service – Saturday, April 23, 6:45
p.m., at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge.
A service for 250 Armenian intellectuals who perished on April 24, 1915.
Presented by the Honorable Clergy of Boston Armenian Churches.

Requiem and Memorial Concert for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide – Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m., at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church. Presented by Erevan Choral Society, under the direction of the Very
Rev. Oshagan Minassian.

Rally to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide in New York – Sunday, April
24. Busses depart from St. James and St. Stephens Armenian Churches in
Watertown to Times Square, for those wishing to take part in the rally to
commemorate the Genocide and denounce the denial of the Turkish government.
For more information, log on to

The Films of J. Michael Hagopian – Friday, April 29 and May 6, various
times, at Kendall Square Cinema, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge. Screenings of
“Germany and the Secret Genocide” and “Voices from the Lake.” Presented by
the Greater Boston Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,
with cooperation of Kendall Square Cinema. Tickets are $5.

CNN TRAVELLER MAGAZINE (UK)
April 2005 (pp. 48-52)
FLIGHT TO THE FINISH

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATTHEW KARANIAN AND ROBERT KURKJIAN

Matthew Karanian and Robert Kurkjian join local ornithologists to find out
how environmental change has affected Armenia’s rich bird population

It was difficult at times to avoid slipping or, perhaps worse, sinking in
the wet peat. We were walking along the bottom of a dead lake in
eastern-central Armenia, under a cloak of silence that had been draped
over us by Levan Janoyan, our expedition leader.

Janoyan still referred to our expedition location as Lake Gilli, even
though this important watershed had been drained by the Soviet government
back in the 1960s, supposedly to improve the region’s agriculture. As the
lake waters retreated, they had revealed an abundance of peat, as
expected, but the loss of the lake was a tragedy for the region’s ecology.

Now, as we slopped through the peat and muck of the former lake’s bottom,
and pushed aside the cattails that often impeded our movement, we kept
stopping and bringing our field glasses back up to our eyes so that we
wouldn’t miss a chance to view the region’s vanishing birdlife.

Janoyan and his crew did not look like what we thought birders should look
like. He and his four colleagues drove old Russian-manufactured jeeps,
instead of expensive SUV’s, and none of them wore the floppy hats and
fancy safari outfits that we thought all birders wore. They matched my
stereotype of hunters far more than that of ornithologists.

But for the past decade or so, they have been part of a small group of
scientists at the American University of Armenia who have been leading
field excursions throughout Armenia in their quest to map and to study the
country’s bird population. People who are not wildlife biologists are
sometimes invited along, and today we were among their guests.

A Eurasian Hoopoe flittered by and the non-birders were excited to finally
see something that they actually knew by name. The Hoopoe is slightly
larger than a Robin and orange-colored, with a crown on its head that
looks something like a helmet. It was a disappointment to learn that these
exotic-looking Hoopoes are considered to be so common in Armenia that they
barely warranted a notation in our field notebooks. What bird would these
birders most like to see. `Ah, a Black Stork,’ says Janoyan, naming a bird
that had once used the lake as a breeding ground but which hasn’t been
seen in the area for decades.

This research team, which is officially known as the Birds of Armenia
Project, was put together about a decade ago by the Armenian-American
philanthropist and conservationist Sarkis Acopian as part of his funding
for conservation efforts in Armenia. Janoyan has been involved in the
project since its inception, and the local project manager since 2002. So
far, with the financial backing of Mr. Acopian, they have produced a great
amount of research – including field guidebooks in both English and Armenian
versions and a technical handbook – on the country’s imperiled bird
population.

Ornithologists and other scientists have been drawn to Armenia partly
because it has a disproportionately large number of bird species within
its relatively modest geographic area. In a country that’s roughly the
size of Belgium there are 346 known species of birds. All of Europe, by
comparison, has just 450 recorded species.

These birds are so-called `indicators’ of environmental health. Just like
the proverbial canary in the coal mine, a region’s bird population serves
to indicate the state of health of the environment, says Dan Klem, Ph D,
an American professor of ornithology who studies the birds of Armenia and
who has co-authored books and articles about birds with the Armenian
group.

`Changes in food supply, climate, habitat loss, and threats from chemical
contamination and pollution, affect birds and people in similar ways,’
says Klem. Scientists use birds as tools to inform us about the state of
the environment, he says. In Armenia, Klem says, birds inform us that we
need to use more care to conserve natural habitats.

Our group had been drawn to the complex wetland ecosystem of the former
Lake Gilli this morning to chart the continued decline of the bird
population here. Birds began avoiding the region in 1960 when the draining
of the lake was begun. The avian population has declined for the past four
decades and today 23 traditionally-breeding species no longer breed in the
area, and four other species have completely vanished. If we could have
seen a Black Stork, Glossy Ibis, White-Winged Scoter, or a Little Crake,
we might have heard some shrieks of joy. Instead, the mood was sedate.

Later during the day, at a site several kilometers north of the dead lake,
we discovered a nesting Kestrel, which finally brought delight to the
birders. This raptor is similar in appearance to the Peregrine Falcon,
with a hooked beak and sharp talons. Unlike many birds of prey, Kestrels
are not particularly wary of people, and so it happened that we got a good
look at this one. We might have once been able to see as many as a hundred
Kestrels in this area on a good day. But today wasn’t a good day.

Keith Bildstein, Ph D, another American ornithologist who travels to
Armenia and collaborates with the Birds of Armenia Project, explained the
significance of the unseen Kestrels. As recently as a decade ago, he says,
hundreds of pairs of Kestrels were living amid the stately poplar trees
that lined the corridor between Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, and its
majestic Lake Sevan. Bildstein cites the Kestrel’s plight as an example of
more endemic environmental problems in Armenia.

During the past few years most of the trees that line the corridor to Lake
Sevan have been illegally cut for firewood, depriving the Kestrels of
nesting areas. `And at the rate that trees are now being cut, all of them
will be removed within three years,’ says Bildstein. If the trees
disappear, the Kestrel’s will go, too. They haven’t left yet. A recent
survey by members of the Birds of Armenia Project documented 87 pairs of
Kestrels in the wild.

Some of the people who join the Birds of Armenia group on their
expeditions are tourists who are interested in birds and conservation but
they are few. Travelers tend to visit Armenia for its historic sites, and
not to hike in the forests or watch for birds, however. The local people
in this impoverished country are more concerned about eking out a living
than with ecology, and so there isn’t much interest in these expeditions
from them. Raising awareness of conservation issues in Armenia has proven
to be a daunting task for the Birds of Armenia group.

Janoyan reminded me of the loss of the Kestrels. Lose the trees, lose the
lake, and you lose the habitat. Lose the habitat and you lose the birds. I
wondered if the same fate could befall the people who lived here. But he
was upbeat about the prospects for the future.

He told us about several large fish farms that were established about 100
kilometers west of the Gilli marshland, at right about the same time that
the Lake Gilli habitat was damaged. Today they are an alternative habitat
for many of the region’s birds, and birders and scientists make
expeditions to the new site to see many of the species that they would
have previously seen at the lake. The birds adapted to the changes in the
environment, and Armenia has remained a significant birding location. A
person could learn a lot from a bird.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Matthew Karanian and Robert Kurkjian are the authors of the Stone Garden
Guide to Armenia and Karabagh, the first stand-alone guide to this
often-forgotten part of the world.

As well as being a travel guide that details where to stay and cultural
highlights, their book focuses on the environmental issues currently
facing Armenia. Kurkjian is an environmental scientist with a Ph D from
the University of California. Karanian is an environmental attorney who
teaches environmental law at the American University of Armenia.

MORE INFORMATION

The Stone Garden Guide to Armenia and Karabagh is available from
price $24.95

FACTS AND FIGURES

Independence

Armenia was the smallest republic of the former Soviet Union and achieved
independence when the superpower crumbled in 1991. Except for a brief
period between 1918 and 1920, the country had not been independent for 600
years.

Geography

Armenia is landlocked and mountainous. Only 10 percent of the country lies
below 1,000 m. Four percent of the country is covered by Lake Sevan, one
of the world’s largest alpine lakes. Lake Gilli lies in the southeast of
the Sevan basin and the area around it was once a complex wetland system.
If restored, Lake Gilli would help boost the country’s biological
diversity.

End.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA

Capitol Notes, 4/1/05

Friday, April 01, 2005

HOUSE RESOLUTION OF THE WEEK. Get out your calendars: April 24 is now
“Pennsylvania’s Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.”
For those who don’t know, we’re talking about the 1.5 million Armenian men,
women and children who were “victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by
the Turkish Ottoman Empire,” according to House Resolution 172.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s Zhirinovskiy sees Azeri oil as barrier to Karabakh settlement

Ekho, Baku
30 Mar 05

Russian Deputy Speaker Vladimir Zhirinovskiy has said that Azerbaijani
oil is the major barrier to the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement. The
overall responsibility for the conflict rests with the former Soviet
leadership, he told Azerbaijani Ekho newspaper. Zhirinovskiy added
that Russia should be closely involved in the settlement. The
following is an excerpt from H. Hamidov’s report by Azerbaijani
newspaper Ekho on 30 March headlined ” There is the most stable
situation and strong authorities led by Ilham Aliyev in your country
among all other former Soviet Union countries” and subheaded “In an
exclusive interview with Ekho, the deputy speaker of the Russian State
Duma and LDPR leader supported a speedy solution to the Karabakh
conflict”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Over a month has elapsed since the deputy speaker of the Russian State
Duma and chairman of the Liberal Democrat Party of Russia (LDPR),
Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, came up with a sensational statement about
making Nagornyy Karabakh an equal member of the CIS. This kind of
statement naturally caused some resentment. Meanwhile, our public
failed to clarify reasons prompting Zhirinovskiy to make such a
statement. An Ekho correspondent has asked Zhirinovskiy to personally
comment on the statement which caused the uproar. However,
Zhirinovskiy avoided this question agreeing to answer others.

Karabakh

[Correspondent] I wonder what is your personal opinion (as a deputy
speaker of the Russian State Duma and a citizen of a neighbouring
state which has never entered a single union) on the Nagornyy Karabakh
settlement?

[Zhirinovskiy] I can say just one thing. It will play a positive role
for Azerbaijan irrespective of the decision to be adopted. This is
unambiguous. In my opinion, your main problem is oil. Had you had no
oil, you would not have had this problem. Direct and intensive talks
are needed at all levels.

[Correspondent] Might Russia play a substantial role in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement? If yes, then how?

[Zhirinovskiy] The problem is close and familiar to Russia. We were
all together when the problem arose. The responsibility for such
problems rests with the former Soviet leadership and the former local
leaders. We support today a speedy solution to the problem, a stable
Caucasus and region as a whole. I see a resolution through intensive
direct talks and with the participation of Russia.

[Correspondent] To speak openly, the majority of your statements about
the South Caucasus region are pro-Armenian. What is the reason for
this? It seems particularly strange in view of the fact that you are
an Orientalist and Turkologist and you are well-informed about the
roots of many regional conflicts and problems.

[Zhirinovskiy] I disagree with this opinion in the first place because
I have friends in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Armenia openly supports
Russia in the South Caucasus. Armenia is also our partner in the
region. But we would like, of course, to have other partners in the
person of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Especially as the Caspian Sea
connects us.

Azeri-Russian ties

[Correspondent] Are there ethnic Azerbaijanis in your party? Could you
please tell us their number and the form of their activities?

[Zhirinovskiy] Yes, there are. It is difficult to give the exact
number. But I know that they are represented in regional organizations
and the LDPR top administration.

[Correspondent] What is your opinion about Azerbaijanis living in
Russia?

[Zhirinovskiy] I treat normally everybody who comes to Russia, who
invests in Russia’s economy and creates jobs. I have always been and
will be against those who are doing illegal business, are involved in
illegal trade in arms and drugs.

[Passage omitted: Zhirinovskiy has no plans to visit Azerbaijan soon]

[Correspondent] You are perhaps familiar with the internal political
situation in the republic. It has been often said recently that the
outcome of parliamentary polls in Azerbaijan this autumn will lead to
the next revolution in the post-Soviet area. Do you agree with this
opinion?

[Zhirinovskiy] I am not confident that the next revolution will take
place in your country after the parliamentary elections. There is the
most stable situation and strong authorities led by Ilham Aliyev in
your country among all other [former] Soviet Union countries.

[Correspondent] It is no secret that Azerbaijani-Russian relations
have been developing successfully recently. How do you see prospects
for these relations and what would you personally wish to see in these
ties?

[Zhirinovskiy] I support closer and more active cooperation. I am for
an inflow of Russian businesses in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani
businesses in Russia. I support double citizenship, recognition of
university certificates, etc. There are many fields where we could
expand our cooperation.

[Correspondent] What are your wishes to our people on Novruz?

[Zhirinovskiy] As far as I know, Novruz is a spring holiday. I wish
the Azerbaijani people the spirit of the spring, and clear and blue
skies. Nature and love wake up in spring and therefore, I wish you
more love and joy.

OSCE says Akayev should resign; warns new leaders against infighting

AP Worldstream
Mar 31, 2005

STEVE GUTTERMAN

The head of a key European security organization called on ousted
Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev to resign and urged the Central Asian
nation’s new leadership on Thursday to avoid dangerous infighting
before a new election.

The current chief of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe said Akayev should cooperate with efforts to secure his
resignation and that the “cooperation should be effective and as short
as possible,” in order to ease persistent uncertainty in Kyrgyzstan.

In the third visit by a high-level OSCE official to Kyrgyzstan since
the upheaval that led Akayev to flee to Russia, current chairman
Dimitrij Rupel said the 55-nation organization backs the new
parliament’s effort to hold talks to win Akayev’s resignation.

“The OSCE supports negotiations; excluding President Akayev from this
volatile period would be dangerous,” he said. But he stressed that the
OSCE recognizes the new leadership as legitimate and legal.

Akayev fled to Russia after opposition protesters stormed his
headquarters a week ago and took power in the ex-Soviet republic. He
has said is prepared to resign if he receives guarantees of security
and immunity from prosecution.

He urged the new Kyrgyz leaders to work together and avoid infighting
that could lead to new unrest as competition begins before a June 26
presidential election.

“I have urged against _ and this is perhaps the most serious challenge
_ against taking the elections to the street,” Rupel said. “I would
say that competition in the group is worrying; something that should
concern us all,” he said.

Rupel cut short a visit to Armenia to come to Kyrgyzstan to meet with
acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva,
parliament speaker Omurbek Tekebayev and Felix Kulov, who resigned as
law enforcement coordinator Wednesday.

Kulov’s resignation was interpreted by some as sign he could be
planning a presidential bid against Bakiyev, who has announced plans
to run. Bakiyev said Wednesday that it would be dangerous for Akayev
to return in the near future; Kulov indicated he should come back to
resign.

Rupel said the legal status of Kulov, who was imprisoned under Akayev
and released a week ago during the power seizure, should be cleared up
in time for him to run in the election if he chooses. He said Kulov
gave him the impression in their meeting that he would run.

Rupel, who is Slovenia’s foreign minister, said that until recently
the new Kyrgyz leaders been united largely by their criticism of
Akayev’s regime.

Now, he said, their differences should be “recognized and channeled”
toward a good elections process and should not lead to “exclusion.”

He also expressed concern about disorder on the nation’s borders,
although he did not go into details, and about persistent power
struggles in provinces outside the capital, where he said he was told
that in some cases two or more people were claiming regional and local
leadership.

The OSCE has struggled to keep up with the fast-moving situation in
Kyrgyzstan. One top envoy arrived before Akayev’s ouster to seek a
settlement between the government and opposition and a second came
last week during a conflict between two parliaments over legitimacy.

“ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” DOCUMENTARY FILM TO BE BROADCAST OVER ARTE
EUROPEAN TV-CHANNEL APRIL 13

YEREVAN, MARCH 31. ARMINFO. A premiere of “Armenian Genocide” French
documentary film took place the day before at “Star” movie theatre in
Paris. Armenian Ambassador to France Edvard Nalbandyan participated
there.

As ARMINFO was informed in the press-service of Armenian Foreign
Ministry, the film will be broadcast over one of leading European
TV-channel ARTE April 13, some days before the 90th anniversary of
Armenian Genocide. Film author Lorans Zhurdan in
documentary-and-historical genre introduced undeniable facts of
inhuman massacre of Armenian people in Ottoman empire in
1915. Evidences of eye-witnesses about this bloody slaughter are
introduced widely, too.

ITAR-TASS, Russia

Armenia cancels Russian singer’s tour

01.04.2005, 06.27

YEREVAN, April 1 (Itar-Tass) – Yielding to pressure by students’
organizations, Armenia canceled the guest performance trip to the capital by
Russian signer Filipp Kirkorov who is widely resented for his faux pas
several years ago.

Yerevan mayor Arman Saakyan said Thursday the Town Hall had received
numerous requests from students to cancel the concerts scheduled for April
8-9. Yerevan officials reached the relevant accord with the concert
organizers and arranged for ticket refund.

The news about the upcoming performances by Kirkorov caused a public outcry.
The Yerevan-based newspaper Aiots Ashkhar urged journalists to boycott the
coverage of Kirkorov’s tour.

Some young people tore up Kirkorov posters, threatening a rally and “all
kinds of actions” to prevent his concerts.

Anti-Kirkorov Armenians recalled that several years ago, he was wearing
Turkish flag clothes during a performance. The singer, who has Armenian
ancestry /his father being Bulgarian-Armenian/ should not have done it,
because the neighboring Turkey has not yet acknowledged the genocide of
Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman empire.

In addition, the Armenian community has not forgotten Kirkorov’s insulting
remarks directed at journalist Irina Aroyan.

Kirkorov’s father Bedros /Petrol/ visited Armenia several times in the
1960s. His repertoire included many Armenian songs and he always enjoyed a
warm welcome.

Hindu, India

Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Sport – Football

England ekes out a win over Azerbaijan

PARIS, MARCH 31. Steven Gerrard and David Beckham scored as England scored a
2-0 victory over minnows Azerbaijan while other top sides France and Spain
struggled in European World Cup qualifiers.

England was expected to put a hatful of goals past the former Soviet
Republic but it was not to be while 10-man France could only draw 1-1 in
Israel and Spain’s trip to Serbia and Montenegro finished 0-0 on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan, 8-0 loser to Poland at the weekend, managed to hold England at
bay till half-time at St. James’ Park.

It took 51 minutes for midfielder Gerrard to break the deadlock before
Beckham beat the offside trap to seal victory 11 minutes later.

England remains on top of Group Six with 16 points, one ahead of Poland
which beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Warsaw.

Argentina posts win

Meanwhile, in South America, Argentina extended its lead, beating a 10-man
Colombia 1-0 while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay.

Hernan Crespo scored in the 65th minute to lead Argentina, which improved to
28 points with five rounds remaining.

Crespo converted on a pass from Luciano Galletti to score his fifth goal in
qualifying and Argentina moved a step closer to securing a berth for the
2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Colombia was reduced to 10 men in the 41st minute after midfielder Fabian
Vargas was ejected with his second yellow card in seven minutes. Brazil’s
draw at Montevideo dropped it four points behind the Argentines in second
place while Ecuador also fell back two more points, remaining third with 20
after a 2-2 draw at Peru.

The results: urope: Group 1: Andorra 0 lost to Czech Republic 4; Netherlands
2 bt Armenia 0; Macedonia 1 lost to Romania 2; Group 2: Georgia 2 lost to
Turkey 5; Greece 2 bt Albania 0; Ukraine 1 bt Denmark 0; Group 3: Estonia 1
drew with Russia 1; Latvia 4 bt Luxembourg 0; Slovakia 1 drew with Portugal
1; Group 4: Israel 1 drew with France 1; Switzerland 1 bt Cyprus 0; Group 5:
Moldova 0 drew with Norway 0; Slovenia 1 drew with Belarus 1; Group 6:
Austria 1 bt Wales 0; England 2 bt Azerbaijan 0; Poland 1 bt Northern
Ireland 0; Group 7: Bosnia 1 drew with Lithuania 1; San Marino 1 lost to
Belgium 2; Serbia-Montenegro 0 drew with Spain 0; Group 8: Croatia 3 bt
Malta 0; Hungary 1 drew with Bulgaria 1.

South America: Argentina 1 bt Colombia 0; Paraguay 2 bt Chile 1; Peru 2 drew
with Ecuador 2; Uruguay 1 drew with Brazil 1.

CONCACAF: Trinidad and Tobago 0 drew with Costa Rica 0; Panama 1 drew with
Mexico 1; United States 2 bt Guatemala 0. – Agencies