MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE

14 October 2004

Meeting of Minister Oskanian with delegates of the Trusteeship Council
of the Armenian Assembly America

On 14 October, 2004, the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian,
met with delegates of the Trusteeship Council of the Armenian Assembly
of America, who have arrived to Armenia for an annual conference.

In his welcoming speech, Minister Oskanian expressed his gratitude to
the Armenian Assembly of America for its significant contribution to
the development of a close relationship between Armenia and the US,
and for its protection of Armenian interests.

Following his speech, Minister Oskanian introduced to delegates those
achievements that have been made last years in foreign relations
and other arenas. Most notably, he presented recent developments of
the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict resolution as and addressed issues of
Armenian-Turkish relations.

The delegates of the Armenian Assembly of America noted the readiness
of their organization to continue its assistance to Armenia and
protect its interests at the state institutions of the US.

The two parties discussed those concrete fields where assistance
is needed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Vanishing Act of the Church in Turkey

A church worn down by Christian rivalry and Islamic Jihad hangs on in the
land of Nicea and Ephesus.

Collin Hansen

10/15/2004 9:00 a.m.
Christianity Today

Only those who are mindful of history can fully appreciate
the significance of Turkey’s expected admission to the European
Union. The bitterness spawned by centuries of warfare and political
rivalry has now given way to a new era of diplomatic and economic
engagement. Yet, Turkey’s troublesome record of human-rights abuses
remains a considerable stumbling block for a few wary EU nations. In
particular, the Ankara government is still prone to crack down
on ethnic and religious minorities when perceived as a threat to
nationalist identity. A sign of the government’s suspicion: non-Muslim
clergy are still forbidden from training there.

Many Greek and Armenian Christians in Turkey suffer the double ignominy
of religious and ethnic marginalization. Though the government
is officially secular and many Turks are only nominally Muslim,
conversion to Christianity is considered a betrayal of heritage and
homeland. Persecution stemming from this perspective has stunted
church growth and crippled the small Christian community.

But for these Christians, EU admission offers hope. A handful of
Greek Christians remain in Turkey, holdovers from a bygone era of
Hellenistic influence in Asia Minor. Their hope is that increased
trade activity with Europe will invite Greeks to return to Istanbul,
where they can broker business and diplomacy between Western Europe
and the Muslim world.

The hope is different for Turkey’s approximately 45,000 Armenians,
a traditionally Christian people. They believe Ankara’s engagement
with the West will stimulate further reforms in the democratic system,
possibly even allowing the government to admit the murder of nearly
1.5 million Armenians by Turkish authorities during World War I.

In both cases, EU access functions as a sort of reverse “Macedonian
call” for these beleaguered Christians. Acts 16 records a vision seen
by Paul while traveling through Phrygia and Galatiaâ^À^Ômodern-day
Turkey. The vision showed a man from Macedonia (ancient Greece),
begging for Paul to come and preach the gospel in that land..

Of course, far from being historically unreached like ancient
Macedonia, Turkey is home to many of Christianity’s pivotal
events. Present-day Turkey hosted the Christian church’s foundational
church councils, including Nicea, which laid the groundwork for
orthodox theology. The seven churches of Revelation were there. And
one of Paul’s most important epistles, Ephesians, was addressed to
believers in a city on Turkey’s Mediterranean Sea coast.

So how did Turkey’s Christians end up like the Macedonian in Paul’s
dream, begging for help from abroad?

Byzantine collapse While modern territorial spats between Greece
and Turkey occasionally garner headlines, the peoples in these two
regions have been in conflict for millennia. About 1,500 years ago,
the rivalry assumed a doctrinal dimension. In 431, the Council of
Ephesus condemned Nestorianism, followed by the Council of Chalcedon’s
dismissal of Monophysitism in 451. At these councils, the chief
defenders of these theological offshoots represented churches in the
East, ranging from Assyria and Persia (Nestorians) to North Africa
and Armenia (Monophysites). The situation only worsened when the
Greeks attempted to subjugate the Eastern churches by seizing their
monasteries and churches.

The theological denunciation of the Eastern churches coincided with
ongoing ethnic and geopolitical infighting. The Persians warred
with the Aramaeans, Egyptians, Armenians, and Greeks, greatly
destabilizing the Christian territories’ frontier with the newly
Muslim land on the Arabian peninsula. A struggle in the Byzantine
capital of Constantinople between Emperor Phocas (602-10) and his
general Heraclius instigated a military mutiny. Then in 632, Emperor
Heraclius ordered the conversion of the Jews, which resulted in mass
murder and tremendous resentment of his rule.

All in all, there was a great deal of resentment toward the Byzantines,
even among other Christians. Thus, when Islamic Bedouins began raiding
Christian territories, they allied with displaced Arabs and disaffected
local Christians. The Persians and Greeks dismissed these sorties
as common, unsophisticated nomadic activity. But they were wrong. The
first wave of jihad was underway.

The second wave of jihad overthrew the Byzantine Empire
altogether. The key for the Islamic conquerors was enlisting the
support of the recently converted Turks. The Turks were a warlike
group, quick to battle, skilled in the slave trade. Once converted,
the warrior doctrine of jihad motivated them to subdue Armenia and
the Greek territory in Anatolia, where the Turkish capital of Ankara
is today. Osman Ghazi (1299-1326), founder of the Ottoman Empire,
led these Turks in military campaigns against Christians, and his
successors carried on his war against the Byzantine Empire and Europe.

Boasting extraordinary leaders and a ruthless military, the Ottoman
Turks capitalized on Christian weaknesses and rivalries to subdue all
of Asia Minor, conquering Constantinople in 1453. They also captured
the Balkans during the mid-15th century, and even reached the gates of
Vienna in 1683. It was this crisis of encroaching Islam that provided
the backdrop for the Protestant and Catholic Reformations.

Armenian genocide Even while the Byzantine Empire collapsed, however,
the Armenians managed to withstand the Islamic onslaught. Though
part of the Ottoman Empire, they maintained their culture, language,
Orthodox religion, and a large measure of political autonomy. But
some fatal miscalculations and the weight of world events, not to
mention the Ottoman Empire, conspired to nearly annihilate them.

The Armenians desired true freedom from the Ottomans. They hoped to
gain this freedom by earning European sympathy for their plight,
combined with some help from the Russians, who sought to weaken
their Ottoman enemy. World War I upset their strategy. In the middle
of a bloody war, the Ottomans could not afford an insurrection. The
Europeans had no sympathy to offer, given their staggering losses in
the trenches. And the Russians were already fighting two frontsâ^À^Ô
one with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the other with
Marxists.

These factors also provided cover for the Turks to solve their
“Armenian problem” once and for all. The Turks simply shot many of
the Armenians. Others they rounded up and marched toward the Middle
East without food, water, or shelter. For the Muslim crowds along
the Armenian “parade route,” deportation was an opportunity for rape,
pillage, and slave internment. Some women survived by converting to
Islam and immediately marrying a Muslim. But the rest were slaughtered
when they reached their destination in modern-day Syria. Up to 1.5
million Armenians died. This 20th-century genocide motivated Hitler,
who when discussing mass murder of the Jews said, “Who remembers
the Armenians?”

Lessons of a disturbing past The state of the contemporary church
in Turkey, home to so many seminal moments in Christian history,
looks bleak for now. Perhaps integration into the European Union
will galvanize the small Greek Orthodox community in Istanbul and
allow the Turkish government to honestly examine the grizzly fate of
the Armenians.

Hopefully the spread of religious freedom there will ease
hostility toward missionaries and converts from Islam to
Christianity. Regardless, we should heed the warnings of
historyâ^À^Ôbeware the dangers of political infighting between
Christians with earthly interests at heart, and never underestimate
the seriousness of Islamic jihad.

Collin Hansen is assistant editor for Christian History &
Biography. More Christian history, including a list of events
that occurred this week in the church’s past, is available at
ChristianHistory.net. Subscriptions to the quarterly print magazine
are also available.

Armenian premier denies possible deal on Karabakh and power crisis rumours

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
14 Oct 04

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has denied in a newspaper
interview any plans to return three or four regions to Azerbaijan in
return for concessions on Karabakh. He also denied that parliament
was paralysed because the ruling coalition had not held any sessions
for several months; on this score he said “if there are problems,
they can be settled even in a telephone conversation”. The following
in an excerpt from of Naira Zograbyan’s report in Armenian newspaper
Aykakan Zhamanak on 14 October headlined “There is no crisis within
the coalition”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan answered journalists’
questions yesterday [13 October].

Karabakh

[Aykakan Zhamanak, correspondent] There have been rumours of certain
arrangements in connection with the Karabakh issue, and especially of
the return of three occupied regions bordering Iran. As the Armenian
prime minister, how aware are you of the recent developments around
the Karabakh issue?

[Andranik Markaryan] As you know the negotiations are being conducted
in the format of co-chairmen and two presidents, and the presidents
met in Astana recently. No serious proposals have yet been submitted
to the Armenian party for consideration. All these rumours about the
return of three or four regions are simply suppositions; there are no
such documents and none of the parties involved in the negotiations
officially made such a proposal.

As for the position of the Republican Party of Armenia, we have
repeatedly said that if we have to return something, we certainly need
to know why we gave it away. The price of the return will be the four
preconditions we have talked about many times: Karabakh must never
be within Azerbaijan; the security of Armenia and Karabakh must be
ensured; as a result of the negotiations Armenia must not yield even
an inch of its land; and Armenia and Karabakh should have a common
land border.

[Passage omitted: Republican Party opposes stage-by-stage settlement
in Karabakh]

No confrontation between president and defence minister

[Correspondent] Rumours are circulating about possible personnel
changes in the government. In particular they say that there is a
confrontation between the president and [Defence Minister] Serzh
Sarkisyan which will result in the defence minister’s dismissal. If
this happens, do you not think that the entire government will be
dismissed as a result?

[Markaryan] I do not want to make any conclusions on the basis of
an analysis made by a newspaper. I am sure there is no confrontation
between the president and Serzh Sarkisyan. As for personnel changes,
I always give the following answer: you will know when it happens.

No paralysis in parliament

[Correspondent] Mr Prime Minister, parliament is almost paralysed, the
[ruling] coalition has not held sittings for several months. Everything
testifies to a power crisis. Do you not think that the existing
situation is a result of illegal and rigged elections?

[Markaryan] If the National Assembly has exhausted its agenda in
one or two sittings, I would not say this is the result of bad work
by the parliament. Another problem is that the deputies should be
present at parliamentary sittings and this problem was discussed in
the Republican Party. But this disease is characteristic not only
of the current parliament but also of all the previous ones. So I do
not think that parliament is paralysed.

As for the fact that the coalition does not hold sittings, not
every meeting of the coalition member-parties should be called
a sitting. If there are problems, they can be settled even in a
telephone conversation. So it does not follow from your observations
that there is a power crisis. Of course, if the opposition took part in
the work of parliament, such an impression would not be created. But
even if they do not, it does not mean that there is a crisis within
the ruling powers.

[Passage omitted: Armenia rejects Russian proposal to deliver goods
via Ossetia for security reasons]

Over 32,000 candidates registered in Azeri municipal election campaign

Azadliq, Baku
15 Oct 04

A total of 32,270 people have been registered as candidates to
municipalities, Azar Sariyev, press secretary of the Central Electoral
Commission, has said.

He said that 40,794 people had taken signature forms in order to
nominate their candidacies in the municipal elections. A total of
37,398 of them collected signatures from voters and returned the
lists to territorial electoral commissions.

We should remind you that the registration of candidates will
last until 17 October. The municipal elections will be held on 17
December this year. The elections will be held in 118 of the 125
constituencies. Since seven of the constituencies are situated
on Armenian-occupied territory, it proved impossible to set up
municipalities there.

At present, there are 2,735 municipalities in Azerbaijan and 21,647
municipal members are to be elected (Turan news agency).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS ministers discuss Afghanistan, NATO

ITAR-TASS news agency
15 Oct 04

Moscow, 15 October: A high-level meeting of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization’s [CSTO] member states in Moscow has discussed
post-conflict settlement in Afghanistan, the Russian Foreign Ministry
announced today.

Deputy foreign, defence and finance ministers and deputy security
council secretaries from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia and Tajikistan participated in the meeting.

The discussion concerned “issues of the political and military
situation in the organization’s zone of responsibility and the main
directions for the establishment of dialogue between the CSTO and
NATO”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“The high-level group approved draft documents on the agenda of the
CSTO’s Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defence Ministers
and Committee of Security Council Heads, which are to meet soon,”
the ministry added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lithuania pledges to help Georgia on EU, NATO integration

Lithuanian Television LTV2, Vilnius
14 Oct 04

The Lithuanian and Georgian presidents, Valdas Adamkus, and Mikheil
Saakashvili, have signed a declaration in which Lithuania undertook
to help Georgia on its integration into the EU and NATO, Lithuanian
TV2 has reported. During the Georgian leader’s visit to Vilnius,
both parties also said that the resolution of internal conflicts in
Georgia was conditional on the withdrawal of Russian troops from that
country. The following is the text of a report broadcast on 14 October;
subheadings inserted editorially:

Goals to be achieved in less than decade

[Presenter] Lithuania has undertook to develop a special relationship
with Georgia and support its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. During
the first visit of the Georgian president [Mikheil Saakashvili]
to Lithuania, both states also stated that internal conflicts in
Georgia could only be resolved upon the pull-out of Russian troops
from the country.

[Correspondent] This is the president who has said he would be happy
to accept Lithuania’s assistance . As he started his first official visit to Lithuania, Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili said that his country could by now
have close friends who would represent its interests in European
institutions and make them hear the voice of Tbilisi.

President Valdas Adamkus has proposed that the countries should
cooperate under the formula three plus three, which means three Baltic
states [Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia] and three Caucasus states
[Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan].

However, as it is not giving up the idea of becoming a regional leader,
Lithuania seeks to help Georgia more than the other two Baltic states,
while, for its part, Georgia has much more aspirations to integrate
into the EU and NATO than the other two Caucasus countries.

The youngest European president says that this should happen within
much less than a decade, that is, before the end of his second term
in office. To many, Lithuanian membership [of the EU and NATO] also
seemed an unlikely idea initially.

Saakashvili said that the pace of Georgia’s integration would also
depend on how fast the Lithuanian people, with their hard work,
ingenuity and modern thinking, destroy the stereotypes regarding new
members that are still alive in Europe.

Transition specialists needed

[Adamkus] We have identified the areas of common work, in which we
will be able to share our experience to Georgia as it is pursuing
its goals, primarily to join the European Union.

[Correspondent] The top priority is experts – of the kind needed
by Georgia – who can advise on reforming post-Communist law and the
bureaucratic apparatus.

[Saakashvili, speaking in English with Lithuanian translation
superimposed] We do not need experts from developed European countries
because quite a few of our people have Western education. Eighty per
cent of my cabinet members are Western-trained and we have ministers
who held high posts in foreign governments, for instance the foreign
minister. Thus, it is important not to get [just] experts but to get
experts on transition who know how to proceed with transition from
the Soviet to a more advanced system.

No concessions at cost of independence

[Correspondent] The guest has also given assurances that, although
it is seeking good relations with Russia, it will stand its ground
on the conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

[Saakashvili in Russian with Lithuanian translation superimposed]
Georgia is maintaining a constant dialogue as it seeks to resolve
contested issues. But, certainly, not at the cost of its independence
and its pro-European orientation, and its territorial integrity. This
is a red line and Georgia will never step back from it.

[Correspondent] As Russia is closely following any cooperation with the
Caucasus countries, the two countries’ leaders signed a declaration
on the development of a special relationship. The document also
says that it is only possible to resolve internal conflicts in this
strategic country after the pullout of Russian troops from Georgia –
an obligation Russia undertook five years ago.

Russian minister says border checkpoint to remain closed for 30 days

Mediamax news agency
14 Oct 04

Yerevan, 14 October: “About 30-40 days will be required for
completing the special measures at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on
the Georgian-Russian border,” the Russian minister of transport
and communications and the co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian
intergovernment commission for economic cooperation, Igor Levitin,
said in Yerevan today.

Asked by our Mediamax correspondent, Igor Levitin said that “the
purpose of these measures is to create conditions that will make it
impossible for terrorism-related people and vehicles to infiltrate
the territory of the Russian Federation”.

Levitin named the Astrakhan-Anzali sea route (Russia-Iran) as an
alternative route for transporting cargo between Russia and Armenia,
“This will be cheaper and even faster than transporting cargo through
Verkhniy Lars,” the Russian minister said.

Levitin also recommended that issues of restoring the rail service
between Russia and Armenia through Georgia should not be politicized.

He said that following his negotiations with Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan, he was convinced that Yerevan is ready to restore
the rail service.

“If the Georgian president also demonstrates such readiness, the
issue will be close to its solution,” Levitin said.

CENN – OCTOBER 15, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contest:
1. Fallout Continues from Ninotsminda Blowout
2. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Company Announces New Protocols with the
Government of Georgia
3. BP and Eurasia Sign Agreement on New Pipeline Monitoring Program for
Georgian NGOs
4. Armenian Proposals For Extra U.S. Aid Shelved
5. Homeless People Gathered in Angry Protest Outside Yerevan City Hall
6. Interregional Volunteer Activities to Take Place in 7 Armenian
Regions and Yerevan on Oct 28-29
7. RA President: Armenian Diaspora Should Be More Active in Assisting
Development Projects in Armenia
8. The Conference of the Council of Trustees of the Pan-Armenian
International Youth Center Foundation Held in Yerevan
9. ITERA Oil and Gas Company Holds Negotiations on Selling 10% of the
Shares of Armrusgasprom CJSC for $ 30 mln
10. 6 Month Imprisonment for Beating a Journalist
11. Armenian anticorruption commission highlights 10 main areas of
activity
12. Armenia’s only elephant to get an Indian companion
13. Invitation to European INFORSE
14. Vacancy Announcement

1. FALLOUT CONTINUES FROM NINOTSMINDA BLOWOUT

Source: The Messenger, October 13, 2004

Ninotsminda, in the Kakheti region of Sagarejo, is still recovering from
the disaster it suffered a month ago, when for three days oil and gas
gushed out of a borehole following a well blowout.

Georgian media notes that the region is still to be compensated for its
losses – 30 hectares of woods must be cleaned and there is an ongoing
danger to inhabitants’ health. Papers also note that the CanArgo Energy
Corporation, which owns the well, states that it will do everything to
eradicate the results of the catastrophe.

The disaster occurred on September 10, 2004 when oil and gas under
extreme pressure began jetting out of N100 well near the mountains in
the outskirts of Ninotsminda, seriously damaging the surrounding
territory.

A strong wind spread the gas and oil, and two villages in Sagarejo –
Ninotsminda and Tskarostavi – were seriously affected. Locals reported
that the ‘oil-rain’ continued for two-and-a-half days before the company
finally managed to stop the oil on the third day.

In a press release on September 13, 2004 CanArgo stated, “the well is
flowing a considerable amount of oil and gas under what appears to be
significant pressure.” They added that “one of the world’s leading well
control specialists is scheduled to arrive today to assist in capping
the well.”

Later on September 13, 2004 the company issued a second release noting
that the well had been capped and “the situation is now under control.”

A month after the borehole catastrophe, experts investigating the reason
for the disaster concluded that it was not the fault of the oil workers,
but was due to uncontrollable and unforeseeable processes happening deep
in the earth – the N100 well itself extends some 16,000 feet below the
surface.

In its recent articles Khvalindeli Dghe reported that the company is
using old Soviet machines that are not as safe as modern Western
machines in its exploration and quoted the company’s technical director
Aleko Chichinadze as saying, “I saw drilling machines in Arabia which
cost USD 100 million but we were not able to buy them.”

The company, however, notes that they were preparing the well for an
under balanced coiled tubing drilling program that CanArgo’s CEO and
President David Robson, during at last week’s conference of the
America-Georgia Business Council, described as one of the most modern
systems in use.

The oil blow-out damaged approximately 30 hectares of woods, and the
damage is so bad that residents state in 3 hectares it is impossible to
save the trees. The company has begun cleaning the woods and the earth
and specialists from Britain have been brought in to help the clean-up
process. The work is complicated by the complex nature of the land,
which includes 60-degree slopes.

So far, 1,700 local residents have received check ups in medical
institutions and some of them have been kept in hospitals. According to
media reports, during the first three days some of the local population
had symptoms of poisoning and the drinking water was contaminated
forcing people to bring water from neighboring villages in tanks. The
company has promised the population that it will drill wells and supply
them with drinking water. It has also purchased the grape harvest from
farmers, paying the market price.

2. BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PIPELINE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW PROTOCOLS WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA

New BP Social l Investment Program

Source: The Messenger, October 12, 2004

Monday, October 11, 2004 – The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Company (BTC
Co.) today announced the signature of two protocols with the Government
of Georgia.

Mr. Michael Townshend, Chief Executive Officer Co., signed protocols –
relating to pipeline security, completion of additional work under BTC’s
Environmental Permit and the creation of new grant program for Georgia –
with the Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Zurab Zhvania on Sunday
October 11, 2004.

The signing was followed by a joint trip to Borjomi with Prime Minister
Zhvania, Minister of Environment Tamar Lebanidze, Secretary of the
National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili and BP President David
Woodward to visit pipeline construction and publicly announce the
agreements.

BP, operator of the BTC pipeline, used the occasion and the visit of Mr.
Andrey Inglis, BP’s Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Executive
of Exploration and Production to announce a substantial new social
investment program, for Georgia.

In the first protocol, BTC Co. and the Government of Georgia
acknowledged conclusion of work on the Continuing Activities under the
Environmental Permit fort eh BTC Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment. Under the protocol; the parties will enter into two further
agreements:

(1) The Security Protocol which will formulize obligations concerning
the provision of the pipeline security in a manner consistent with
international security and human rights undertakings, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Voluntary Principles on
Security and Human Rights.

(2) In connection with this Protocol, an Agreement on provision of
Security Equipment & Facilities for the Borjomi region. Through this
agreement, BTCCo. will provide the government with a range of necessary,
non-lethal items including vehicles and accommodation for government
security personnel, together with maintenance support the total value of
the items to be provided is US$1 million per year for the remaining life
of the pipeline.

In the second protocol, BTC Co. and the Government of Georgia
anticipated the signature of an Agreement on Establishment of a Grant
Program for Georgia. Under this agreement, BTCCo. will provide a series
of grants to the government, which are to be used for funding of social
and economic projects for the benefit of the people of Georgia. The
total funding for the program amounts to US$40 million through to 2010,
which a further US$1 million per year for the remaining life of the
pipeline. The first grant payment is US$9 million.

The intent of the grants is to support the government’s ongoing
socio-economic development priorities during a critical period before
its pipeline tariff revenues reach their maximum level. The grants are
in addition to BTC Co.’s existing social and community investment
projects.

Through its simultaneously announced new social investment program, BP
will invest $US10 million in Georgia in a range of projects. The
program’s themes will include: education, healthcare, cultural heritage,
energy sector revitalization and the promotion of business and civil
society links between Georgia and the European Union.

At the signing, Mr. Inglis said: “BP is committee to a successful,
long-term relationship with Georgia. We attached particular importance
to supporting the socio-economic development of the country and
protecting Georgia’s environment. As the operator of BTC and several
other important projects in Georgia, we intend to be Georgia’s guest and
partner for the next forty years.”

Mr. Townshend added: “Today’s agreements will deliver tangible benefits
to the people of Georgia. They also set in place a comprehensive
security plan for the Borjomi region that is consistent with our high
standards of human rights. We recognized that the Borjomi region is
unique, and BTC Co. is committed to operating to the highest
international standards – both there and along the rest of the
pipeline.”

3. BP AND EURASIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON NEW PIPELINE MONITORING PROGRAM FOR
GEORGIAN NGOS

Source: The Messenger, October 13, 2004

Tuesday, October 12, 2004 – BP and Eurasia Foundation are pleased to
announce that they have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to
being implementation of a new 18-month program for Georgian
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in progress of
construction and operations of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline
and South Caucasian gas pipeline (SCP).

The Pipeline Monitoring and Dialogue Initiative (PMDI) is intended to
create a new, independent forum promoting more effective NGO involvement
in pipeline monitoring and information dissemination. PMDI provides
avenues for NGOs to receive more complete information about the
projects, improve their skills in carrying out practical monitoring of
pipeline project implementation, and serve the informational needs of
communities located along the pipeline corridor. Eurasia Foundation will
manage the program, facilitate and coordinate NGO participation, and
serve as the primary liaison between BP and participating NGO
representatives.

The program has two main parts:

1. Training and monitoring for individuals, which creates monitoring
work groups representing a cross section of Georgian NGOs. Work groups
will undertake monitoring activities focusing on key areas of interest
such as environmental and social issues, cultural heritage and labor
rights. The reports produced by these groups will be published as part
of the PMDI process, and will promote constructive dialogue on the
selected thematic issues.

2. A small grants program targeted at teams of NGOs to promote skills
development and information sharing among Tbilisi based rural NGOs along
the pipeline route. As part of the PMDI grants program, larger and
smaller NGOs will work together to build organizational capacity with
the aim of better serving the informational needs of communities located
along the pipeline route.

The program will be supported by a coalition of external donors, to
ensure independence of PMDI monitoring activities from BTC/SCP. Details
of the full spectrum of donor cooperation are currently being finalized.

At the signing of the agreement, BP Georgia External Affairs Manager
Devid Glendinning said, “We have tried to implement the BTC and SCP
pipeline projects in a very transparent way and have consulted widely
with communities, government and NGOs. This project is a new and
important part of that process. We are delighted to be able to work with
Eurasia Foundation and we hope the project will improve NGOs’
understanding of the work are doing and give us some valuable input on
how we can improve going forward.”

Adrea Harris, Regional Vice President of Eurasia Foundation, added, “It
is critical that the NGO community be involved in monitoring efforts
along the pipeline route. But lack of resource time and skills have
often made this difficult to achieve to date on a sustained basis. PMDI
will build transferable and substantive skills in the civil sector, and
it will promote constructive dialogue between NGOs and the pipeline
operations. BTC/SCP are to be commended for their proactive stance on
providing opportunities for going community engagement through this
partnership. Our conviction is that the Georgian NGO community will
benefit greatly from this capacity building program now and for years to
come.”

Eurasia Foundation has already discussed the program with several
interested NGOs and will be sending out information on registration
shortly.

4. ARMENIAN PROPOSALS FOR EXTRA U.S. AID SHELVED

Source: RFE/RL, October 10, 2004

The Armenian government has postponed the submission of its proposals
for additional U.S. assistance under the Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA) program and will have to lower its aid expectations, Finance
Minister Vartan Khachatrian revealed on Tuesday.

Mr. Khachatrian said an Armenian delegation led by him unveiled no
written proposals when it met in Washington last week with top
executives from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S.
government agency handling the multimillion-dollar scheme designed to
promote economic and political reform around the world.

It was launched by President George W. Bush earlier this year. Armenia
was included on the list of 16 developing nations eligible for the
initial installment of $1 billion.

Officials said last month that the Armenian government will ask for as
much as $900 million in MCA funds to be provided in the next three
years. They said it would like to spend most of the money on
reconstructing the country’s battered irrigation and drinking water
infrastructure.

It remained unclear why Yerevan decided not to submit the proposals to
the U.S. government contrary to the expectations. One of the reasons
cited Vartan Khachatrian was that the amount of MCA funds earmarked for
the new U.S. fiscal year has been cut by half to $1.5 billion.

Vartan Khachatrian also said the two sides agreed that the Armenian
government will file its proposals `by the end of the year,’ after a
visit to Yerevan by a team of MCC officials. He indicated that the
amount of extra U.S. aid sought by the government will have to be
revised downwards.

The countries eligible for the scheme were chosen on the basis of 16
indicators of political and economic reforms. A senior U.S. State
Department official dealing with relations with Armenia warned in May
that Yerevan should improve its human rights record if it wants to
secure the vital assistance. According to Vartan Khachatrian, U.S.
officials were less critical of that record during the Washington talks.

5. HOMELESS PEOPLE GATHERED IN ANGRY PROTEST OUTSIDE YEREVAN CITY HALL

Source: A1 Plus, October 12, 2004

Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakaryan promised the people driven from their
homes because of construction of Northern Avenue in Armenia’s capital to
think over the problem and make compromising decisions by Monday.

Monday passed with no sign of imminent progress. On Tuesday, homeless
citizens once again gathered outside City Hall, demanding bigger
compensation. They said 50 families evicted from their homes had signed
a contract on a paltry compensation. The demonstrators say they signed
the contract under “red berets” pressure and were forced to leave their
homes.

The protesters are now waiting to be received by the municipality. No
response is got so far.

6. INTERREGIONAL VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO TAKE PLACE IN 7 ARMENIAN
REGIONS AND YEREVAN ON OCT 28-29

Source: /ARKA/, October 7, 2004

Interregional volunteer activities will take place in 7 Armenian regions
and Yerevan on Oct 28-29, IFES Yerevan Office. The goal of the activity
is encouragement of volunteer movement and activity of public
organizations as effective means for joining of communities in expanding
of local problems. By participating in the activity, Armenian citizens,
receive good opportunity to demonstrate civil activity and make
practical contribution in development of their communities.

The activity is conducted in Armenia for the 4th time.

7. RA PRESIDENT: ARMENIAN DIASPORA SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE IN ASSISTING
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ARMENIA

Source: /ARKA/, October 7, 2004

Armenian Diaspora should more actively assist the implementation of
development projects in Armenia.

According to the Press Service Department of RA President, this was
stated by the RA President Robert Kocharian today at his meeting with
the delegates of the 83rd conference of Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU). The President highly appreciated the activities of AGBU in
cultural and educational areas and expressed hope that this work will be
continued in future at the current pace. In his turn, Perch Sedrakyan,
the President of AGBU noted that the reforms in Armenia are noticeable.
“Although there still exist a lot of problems, it is apparent that the
country moves forward overcoming the barriers”, he said.

83rd AGBU conference is being held in Yerevan. 150 participants from 24
countries arrived in Yerevan to participate in the conference.

8. THE CONFERENCE OF THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES OF THE PAN-ARMENIAN
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CENTER FOUNDATION HELD IN YEREVAN

Source: /ARKA/, October 11, 2004

The conference of the council of trustees of the Pan-Armenian
International Youth Center Foundation was held in Yerevan. According to
the RA Government’s Press Service and Public Relations Department, in
the course of the conference, in which RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan took part, the Executive Director of the Fund A. Sinanyan
introduced the report on the second youth forum held in Armenia on July
24-29, 2004. The results of the conference were introduced, including
reports and protocols of the plenary session and the sessions of
thematic and working groups, as well as information concerning informal
discussions, the program of the forum and the way it was covered by the
Mass Media. Sinanyan noted that as compared to the first forum, the
second one had a wider geography of the participants, and the scope of
the issues discussed.

Sinanyan summed up the suggestions made during the forum, sating that
they will be taken into consideration when holding a similar forum next
year, and this will allow increasing the efficiency of it.

In his turn, Margaryan noted that it’s necessary to inform the
participants of the forum of its results, and noted the importance of
using the potential of the youth of the Armenian Diaspora to achieve the
goals of the forum. Margaryan suggested involving young representatives
of the Diaspora, who don’t speak Armenian, when developing the further
programs.

9. ITERA OIL AND GAS COMPANY HOLDS NEGOTIATIONS ON SELLING 10% OF THE
SHARES OF ARMRUSGASPROM CJSC FOR $ 30 MLN

Source: /ARKA/, October 11, 2004

ITERA oil and gas company holds negotiations on selling 10% of the
shares of ArmRusgasprom CJSC to one of the West European investment
corporations. According to Regions.Ru referring to ArmRusgasprom, the
cost of the deal can make about $30 mln. At that, the sources didn’t
mention the possible buyer of the shares. According to some analysts of
the gas market, the decision on selling the shares of ArmRusgasprom is
connected with the company’s not becoming the participant of the
consortium for the construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline in
Meghri-Kajaran part. The construction will begin in the end of 2004.

In the meantime, as a reply to the corresponding inquiry of ARKA, the
Press Service of ArmRusgasprom refused to comment this information
“proceeding from the ethical considerations”. According to Shoushan
Sardaryan, this issue refers only to ITERA’s administration and RA
Government, as the shareholders of ArmRusgasprom. On September 8, the
agreement on the construction of the Armenian part of Armenia-Iran gas
pipeline in Meghri-Kajaran was signed in Yerevan. The construction and
funding of the Armenian part of the gas pipeline will do the Iranian
company.

Armenia-Russian ArmRusgasprom CJSC is the only supplier of the natural
gas to Armenia. The company was founded in 1997 to sell the natural gas
to local consumers and to transport Russian gas through the territory of
Armenia to other countries. The co-founders of the company are Russian
Gasprom OJSC (45%), ITERA International Group of Companies (10%), and
the RA Ministry of Energy (45%). The authorized stock capital of
ArmRusgasprom CJSC makes $270 mln. ArmRusgasprom CJSC imported 1,2 bln
cubic meters of gas into Armenia in 2003 instead of the planned 1,6 bln.
The number of subscribers of ArmRusgasprom increased by 54 thsd. and
made 186 in 2003.

10. 6 MONTH IMPRISONMENT FOR BEATING A JOURNALIST

Source :A1 Plus, October 11, 2004

Today the First Instance Court of Kotayk District sentenced Gagik
Stepanyan, the defendant over the case of journalists Anna Israelyan and
Mkhitar Khachatryan to 6-month-long imprisonment.

Let’s remind that on August 24 this person seized a memory chip from
“Fotolur” Agency photographer Mkhitar Khachatryan cursing and doing
violence and outraged “Aravot” Daily correspondent Anna Israelyan.

At today’s trial the defendant cursed the journalists covering the
trial.

11. ARMENIAN ANTICORRUPTION COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS 10 MAIN AREAS OF
ACTIVITY

Yerevan, 11 October: The anticorruption monitoring commission under the
Armenian president at today’s sitting determined 10 directions of
activity.

Bagrat Yesayan, Armenian presidential aide on issues of combating
corruption and chairman of the commission, told the sitting that a
separate working group will function for each direction, where it is
expected to involve representatives of the country’s public
organizations. The directions for commission’s activities, as Yesayan
said, are:

1. Control over the activities of state organizations specializing in
the sphere of finance – the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank

2. Control over the financial activities of physical and legal entities

3. Control over the activities of the legal system

4. Control over the activities of the judicial system

5. Control over the public health system

6. Control over the public health system [as published]

7. Education sphere

8. Control over the sphere of environment

9. Transport and communications

10. Control over the sphere of economic competition

Yesayan also said that in connection with numerous cases of violation of
laws of the Armenian Republic in the media and mass media outlets, a
special working group of the commission, headed by the chairman of the
Association of journalists-investigators, Eduard Bagdasaryan, will
monitor the fulfilment of the abovesaid laws.

Bagdasaryan immediately proposed setting up a special website to publish
declarations about the properties owned by the country’s officials.

Apart from this, Bagdasaryan familiarized members of the commission with
a decision by the Yerevan mayor to allocate free of charge 6,000 square
metres of [office space] worth 240,000 dollars for a certain public
organization supporting the combating of terrorism, which is a gross
violation of the country’s legislation. Asked by Bagdasaryan on how this
should be combated, Bagrat Yesayan said that this decision should be
handed over to the relevant bodies, and if they failed to do anything,
these facts should be made public and that he should inform the
president of this “not as a journalist, but as a member of the
anticorruption monitoring commission”. The commission is not entitled to
carry out its own investigation, Yesayan said.

12. ARMENIA’S ONLY ELEPHANT TO GET AN INDIAN COMPANION

Source: Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa, October 13, 2004

The only male elephant in Armenia’s zoo will get an Indian female
companion this week, a news report said on Wednesday. Armenian officials
had asked the Indian government for a female pachyderm in 1999, for its
sole male elephant originally from Moscow.

Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee promised them an elephant during a
visit to Armenia last year. Acknowledging that their gift was late,
Indian officials were quoted as saying in the Hindu newspaper that the
elephant would help “cement” India-Armenia ties.

Eight-year-old Komala weighs 1 500kg and lives in a zoo in the southern
Indian city of Mysore. She will travel in a specially-made container to
Bangalore on Thursday from where the Armenian government will fly her,
mildly sedated in a cargo plane, the report said. Mysore zoo
veterinarian SM Khadri described Komala as “exceptionally well behaved,
obedient and in good health”.

She is an “F2” elephant, or one that is bred in captivity. India only
sends “F2” elephants abroad, Khadri said. Accompanying her through the
acclimatization process will be a “mahout” or handler and a team of
veterinarians. – Sapa.

13. INVITATION TO EUROPEAN INFORSE

We would like to invite you to:
European Energy Policy Seminar – An INFORSE-EUFORES-EREF Event

“A Seminar on New and Upcoming EU Policies for Sustainable Energy and
Climate Protection” NOVEMBER 9-10, 2004, BRUSSELS Institute of Cultural
Affairs rue Amedé Lynen 8, Bruxelles (near metro Madou)

Please see the PROGRAM below in txt format PROGRAM & REGISTRATION FORM
also available
in word doc and pdf at:

COSTS: 100 EUR including lunch and refreshments. Free for INFORSE-Europe
members.

INFORSE-Europe activities are supported by the DG-Environment Civil
Society Support in 2004.

For more information please contact:
INFORSE-Europe,
att. Gunnar Boye Olesen, E-mail: [email protected],
Ph: +45-86227000, Fax: +45 86227096.

14. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

TERMS OF REFERCES FOR EXPERT

Task: Socio-Economic Driving Forces of the Kura River Basin Degradation

The Kura-Aras river system is an internationally significant river
basin, which is seriously degraded and continues to be threatened. Water
scarcity is an issue at many 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 address institutional and technical
needs for integrated water resources planning and management at the
national level. The project aims at building national capacity for
Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management;

Duties and responsibilities

Major objective of the task is as follow:
ž To identify and analyze main socio-economic driving forces causing
degradation in the Kura River Basin. This would help to create an
inclusive picture of all anthropogenic factors contributing in pressure
generation, as well as to identify necessary measures for preventing and
overcoming degradation processes in the Kura-Aras River Basin.

In order to achieve above mentioned objective UNDP will hire the Expert
to analyse following driving forces of basin degradation:

Population growth. Under this task expert will look through: annual
population growth, and future trends (population dynamics), trends of
rural and urban migrations, per capita available fresh water resources
in dynamics, development indicators.

Economic development.
Agricultural activities: Under this task expert will look through:
available arable land, main crops cultivated in the basin, use of
fertilizers, pesticides, regions with soil salinization problems caused
by agricultural activities, data about soil salinity, fresh water
salinity, drainage water salinity (if available), irrigation water
quality, eutrofication caused by intensive use of fertilizers, land
desertification problems caused by agricultural activities, soil
erosion; problems of land fragmentation and negative outcomes for
efficiency;

Industry: Under this task expert will look through: major pollution
sources, water contamination, soil contaminations from industry, loss of
biodiversity due to pollution and other industrial activities;
Domestic/ municipal use of water: Under this task expert will look
through: drinking water consumption rates and increase in demand, urban
and rural sewage water discharge in water ecosystems (problems of sewage
water treatment), landfills in the basin (their location), threats from
the leakage of hazardous components to groundwater systems, waste
dumping in rivers and other water reservoirs, lake eutrofication caused
by untreated sewage water discharge, management problems of
wastewater and waste disposal from sanitation and health facilities

Power generation: Under this task expert will look through: large dams
in the basin with severe effects on natural ecosystem, present trends of
small dam construction and possible effects (positive/ negative),
country policies in energy sector, other constructions including
non-power generating constructions

Forestry: Under this task expert will look through: timber production
rates (annual cut), the scale of uncontrolled forest logging, outcomes
of uncontrolled forest logging – deforestation and trends for future,
deforestation due to energy crises (annual consumption of firewood);

Tourism and recreation: Under this task expert will look through:
impacts on ecosystems from existing recreation sites, increase of water
demand, ecosystems degradation due to the construction activities
(recreation facilities, road network, communication needs, power
generation and supply, etc.)

Low public awareness: Under this task expert will look through:
availability of information about the main threats in the basin,
availability of information about environmentally sound practices,
availability and level of activeness of local environmental NGOs in the
basin, access of wide public to the environmental, information through
TV/mass media, electronic publication, etc

Quantitative and qualitative methods will be employed to conduct this
study. The study will be based on existing materials, studies that have
been carried out and interviews and meetings with relevant authorities.

These methods include:
ž Collection, synthesis and analyses of existing data and information
from government body representatives, NGOs and international development
agencies having specific data required for analysis;

ž In-depth interviews

The project team members will provide technical assistance, help in
preparation of detailed questioner for interviews, and assist in data
collection.

Reporting requirements

ž The expert is responsible for drafting report according to the scope
of work;
ž Report should be submitted electronically in Russian;
ž If the work requirements are not met report can be revised upon its
satisfactory completion;

Qualifications and skills required

ž A degree in environmental economics or resource management;
ž Working experience with socio-economic aspects of environmental
degradation issues;

Terms and conditions:
The expert will undertake the works within three months after signing
the contract. The payment will be made in two installments: the first 50
percent of the total will be paid upon submitting first draft of the
report and the second 50 percent – after responding to the comments and
final acceptance of the report by project Team Leader. Total amount of
payment will be negotiated with the Project Team Leader.

Qualified candidates interested to undertake works under the Terms of
Reference should submit their Curriculum Vitae by ordinary mail, by fax
or electronically no later than Friday, October 25, 2004, 6 p.m. to:

Zurab Jincharadze, Team Leader
E:Mail: [email protected]
Tel/Fax: 995 32 292742

Ms. Nino Malashkhia, Technical Assistant
E-mail: [email protected]

And

Ms. Mariam Shotadze, UNDP Georgia, Programme Analyst
[email protected]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

October 15, 2004
___________________

GEORGIAN ARCHBISHOP VISITS EASTERN DIOCESE

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), met with Georgian Orthodox Church
Archbishop Nicholaos of the Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo region of Georgia,
at the Diocesan Center in New York City on Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Archbishop Nicholaos was in America planning an upcoming visit by
Georgian Orthodox His Holiness Patriarch Illia II. He talked with the
Primate about the possibility of the Patriarch visiting the St. Vartan
Cathedral, as he did during an earlier visit to the U.S.

The two archbishops also talked about reaching out to the Armenians who
live in the Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo region of Georgia. Archbishop
Barsamian presented Archbishop Nicholaos with a copy of the
Russian-language Divine Liturgy pew book, so his Armenian worshipers can
learn prayers in both Russian and Armenian, rather than Georgian.

Also at the meeting was Garnik Nanagoulian, executive director of the
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the Diocesan-affiliated international
aid organization. They spoke of possible ways FAR could join with other
organizations to work on improving the lives of the Armenians in Georgia
and their Georgian neighbors.

— 10/15/04

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presents a Russian-language
Divine Liturgy pew book to Georgian Orthodox Church Archbishop Nicholaos
of the Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo region of Georgia, during a meeting at
the Diocesan Center in New York City.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Garnik Nanagoulian, executive director of the Fund
for Armenian Relief (FAR), talks with Georgian Orthodox Church
Archbishop Nikoloz of the Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo region of Georgia,
during a meeting at the Diocesan Center on October 14, 2004.

# # #

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JEHOVAH WITNESSES ARE REGISTERED AND ARRESTED

A1 Plus | 20:40:12 | 15-10-2004 | Politics |

On October 8 Armenian Justice Ministry registered “Jehovah Witnesses”
religious organization. But the same day a young man, a Jehovah
witness having rejected military service was arrested.

A few Jehovah witnesses were arrested after the Law on “Alternative
Military Service” had been approved and come into force. The young
Jehovah witnesses were arrested on August 26, September 30, October
7 and 8 whereas the Law became valid on July 1.

The trials took place on October 12, 13, 14. 2 young men are still
waiting for the trial.

All the young people arrested were sentenced to 2-year-long
imprisonment while they had put in applications for alternative
military service. Helsinki Association Chair Michael Danielyan informed
us about this.

This proves the standpoint of PM, saying laws must be applied to do
away with the sects.

Justice Minister Press Secretary has told us recently that Justice
Ministry is not commissioned to be occupied with the problems of young
people avoiding military service and arrested. The young men themselves
must protect their own rights and to address a request to release them.

Michael Danielyan is against the point of view. “They weren’t
imprisoned of their own free will. They must be released. It was the
demand of PACE, which hasn’t yet been implemented”.