CENN — DECEMBER 16, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Elaboration of Program “Safety of Gas Supply to Armenia Within The
Framework of Conservation of The Armenian Atomic Power Plant” To Be
Completed on December 15
2. Armrosgasprom To Start Negotiations With Foreign Banks For 27 Mln USD
Credit For Modernization of Abovyan Underground Gas Holder
3. Saur French Company Starts Managing Armenia’s Water Systems
4. Prizes For Highlighting Environmental Problems
5. EU Aids Armenian Gas Network In Metsamor Closure Hope
6. Project to Restore Abovyan Underground Gas Depository is as Important
as Iran-Armenian Gas Pipeline Construction
7. Gazprom to take part in Iran-Armenia pipeline construction tender
8. Zangezour Copper Molybdenum Group To Sold For $132 Mln
9. Armenian Medicine: in the Infirmary
10. II International Seminar on Mountain Tourism
1. ELABORATION OF PROGRAM “SAFETY OF GAS SUPPLY TO ARMENIA WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF CONSERVATION OF THE ARMENIAN ATOMIC POWER PLANT” TO BE
COMPLETED ON DECEMBER 15
Source: Arminfo, December 10, 2004
The work on elaboration of a program “Safety of gas supply to Armenia
within the framework of conservation of the Armenian atomic power plant”
is to be completed on December 15, 2004. Head of the project office,
Fransua Kolinion (name as given) representing the French consulting
company “SOFRECO” made this statement at a presentation of the program’s
results, Friday.
In his words, the total cost of the project, which has been implemented
since July 2002, under the program of technical assistance INOGATE TACIS
financed by the EU, is 3 mln EUR. The basic goal of the program is
establishment of a modern system of production control and elaboration
of a business-plan on attraction of investments in modernization of
Abovyan underground gasholder. In 2003, the EU-announced international
open tender resulted in signing of 2 contracts with equipment suppliers,
the Russian company “Kalugaglavsnab” and German Siemens Company. The
contract with the first company costs 1.207 mln EUR, that with the
second one – 792,000 EUR. Due to active participation of the Russian
company, three powerful pump for brine liquidation were established in
the gas holder, Earth Physics research was carried out, a mobile Earth
Physics laboratory was established etc.
Under the project, a forecast of gas sale by 2020 is drafted; a
business-plan was elaborated on reconstruction of Abovyan underground
gasholder. Siemens established SCADA system at production control center
of CJSC ArmRosgasprom. This system consists of 8 satellite stations
along the gas main able to transfer information to the chief dispatcher,
which will upgrade the safety of the gasholder. However, it is not
enough for its full modernization, which requires $27 mln.
2. ARMROSGASPROM TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH FOREIGN BANKS FOR 27 MLN USD
CREDIT FOR MODERNIZATION OF ABOVYAN UNDERGROUND GAS HOLDER
Source: Arminfo, December 10, 2004
ArmRosgasprom intends to start negotiations with a number of foreign
banks in the nearest future for a 27 mln USD credit necessary for
modernization of Abovyan underground gas holder (UGH), Director General
of the company Karen Karapetyan tells journalists, Friday.
He says that the negotiations are in process with Armsavingsbank, Black
Sea Reconstruction and Development Bank, the International Financial
Corporation and a number of Iranian banks. Karapetyan says that
reconstruction of UGH is planned for two stages within four years. The
volumes of pumping of gas into the UGH are planned to be reached to 250
mln cubic meters as against the current 100 mln cubic meters. At
present, 1,3 bln cubic meters of gas is used in Armenia, these volumes
are to be increased to another 300 mln cubic meters in the nearest
future. In this case, the Director General says, 250 mln cubic meters of
stored gas will be enough for safe gas supply and solution to
force-majeure situations. With completion of Iran-Armenian gas
pipeline’s construction, the problem of energy safety in Armenia will be
fully solved, Karapetyan says.
It should be noted that in conformity with the project of UGH’s
reconstruction, at the first stage, the outdated compressors need
replacement with new ones, which requires $8 mln. At present some $1 mln
is spent annually to keep the compressors in order. Another $20 mln is
required for modernization of underground wells and other works. To
note, Abovyan UGH was constructed in 1968. It is unique with its gas
wells on a salt layer in 1000 m depth. There are nine 1,500 HP
compressors which work in three degrees. The first degree allows
increasing the pressure to 20 atm., the second to 50 atm. and the third
to 125 atm. The European Commission recognizes the UGH as one of the
strategic instruments ensuring safe gas supply to Armenia.
3. SAUR FRENCH COMPANY STARTS MANAGING ARMENIA’S WATER SYSTEMS
Source: Arminfo, December 10, 2004
The Saur Company (France) has already started managing the ArmWaterCanal
CJSC to fully undertake the company’s administration in 2005, says the
chairman of the State Water Economy Committee of Armenia Andranik
Andreassyan.
He is sure that Saur is capable of solving the sphere’s problems this
particularly concerning the 80% commercial and technical losses in
Yerevan’s drinking water system. In 2005 the committee is going to
introduce a leasing model in the sphere to minimize the role of state
structures in making economic decisions and to ensure maximum conditions
for the new operator to fulfill its commitments. 7 foreign companies
have applied for implementing the second credit program. The high
interest in the project speaks to its high attractiveness, says
Andreassyan.
Water tariffs will be revised in Armavir, Lori and Shirak where credit
programs will be launched. YerWaterCanal and ArmWaterCanal may also
apply for a tariff raise staring from Apr 1 2005. As for water quality
Andreassyan says: “We get water from high quality sources but give it to
consumers in a much worse condition for technical reasons.”
Concerning the effective use of crediting in the sphere Andreassyan says
that he does not agree with the findings of the relevant parliamentary
commission. “I accept them from the political point of view but not
technically. The Parliament’s motives are not always economic,” he says.
To remind, the management contract of A-Utility (Italy) expires in May
2005. The commission for the effective use of water economy crediting
says that the company has failed to fulfill its contractual commitments.
The company’s work is unsatisfactory – the results are not adequate to
the investments.
4. PRIZES FOR HIGHLIGHTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Source: A1 Plus, December 10, 2004
Authors of the best environmental articles were awarded prizes on
Friday, December 10, 2004 at the contest announced by OSCE Yerevan
office and Aarhus center. 40 TV and printed profiles were presented.
Concrete Civilization Edik Baghdasryan’s film and Professionalism Cut in
Forest Susanna Shahnazaryan’s article were found the best. A special
prize was given to Hrachya Papinyan for his film highlighting problems
related to water and forests pollution.
The majority of contenders are from Armenia’s regions.
5. EU AIDS ARMENIAN GAS NETWORK IN METSAMOR CLOSURE HOPE
Source: RFE/RL Armenia Report, December 10, 2004
Armenia’s natural gas operator officially completed on Friday the
reconstruction of some of its key facilities that has been financed by
the European Union in the hope of speeding up the closure of the
Metsamor nuclear plant.
Top executives from the Armrosgazprom Company, joined by government
officials and European diplomats, inaugurated three underground gas
storage facilities just north of Yerevan. They were refurbished with 2
million euros ($2.7 million) provided by the EU’s executive Commission
in 2002. The purpose of the program was to help to render Armenia’s gas
network more modern and reliable.
Natural gas is used for generating more than a third of Armenia’s
electricity. EU officials hope that increased use of the fuel would
create an additional incentive for Yerevan to decommission Metsamor
which satisfies over 40% of the resource poor’s country’s energy needs.
`In essence, the European Union is helping us to create the
prerequisites for the closure of the nuclear plant,’ Deputy Energy
Minister Areg Galstian told RFE/RL. One of those prerequisites is
`reliable supplies of energy resources,’ he said.
The EU believes that Metsamor’s Soviet-built reactor fails to meet
modern safety standards and should be shut down as soon as possible. The
bloc had hoped that this will happen in 2004. However, Armenian
officials insist that the plant is secure enough to operate for at least
ten more years.
Galstian reiterated the government’s position that Metsamor will not be
closed without an alternative source of power created in its place. `We
must have a new facility of the same capacity,’ he said, adding that it
could be a new thermal power station.
`In my view this [EU project] has in no way affected the closure of the
nuclear plant,’ said the Armrosgazprom director, Karen Karapetian. `We
had to carry out this modernization anyway.’
Karapetian said the Russian-Armenian joint venture needs an additional
$27 million for the network’s modernization and has already approached
potential investors.
6. PROJECT TO RESTORE ABOVYAN UNDERGROUND GAS DEPOSITORY IS AS IMPORTANT
AS IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
Source: Arminfo, December 11, 2004
The project to restore the Abovyan underground gas depository is as
important as the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia,
says the director general of the ArmRosgazprom Company Karen Karapetyan.
Armenia’s energy and strategic security is based on this depository. “I
hope that necessary money will be found for the project next year which
is a serious problem though considering the present volume of gas market
in Armenia,” says Karapetyan noting that some $30 mln is needed to
restore the depository. But the project can well be carried out in
stages – some $7 mln for the beginning. It is also necessary to solve
the problem of brine. “Unless the Nairit chemical plant is restarted we
will have to build a special reservoir for brine production,” says
Karapetyan.
The project is to increase the amount of stored gas from 100 mln c m to
200 mln c m. The Russian Gazprom may take part in it. “We hope that
Gazprom will invest money in Armenia including in the Iran-Armenian gas
pipeline project but Armenia should take certain obligations.” The same
is for the cooperation with the EU who has provided 3 mln EUR for
drafting the project feasibility report, says Karapetyan noting that
experts of the Podzemgazstroy (Underground Gas Construction) company
from Russia are also examining the project.
7. GAZPROM TO TAKE PART IN IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION TENDER
Source: ITAR-TASS News Agency, December 13, 2004
The Russian Gazprom company will take part in a tender for the
construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia, which the gas giant
expects to win, the executive director of the ArmRosgazprom joint
venture told Itar-Tass.
The executive director of the Russian-Armenian joint venture, Karen
Karapetyan, said the date of the tender would be announced shortly. The
Armenian government and Gazprom have 45 percent of ArmRosgazprom shares
each, while the remaining ten percent belong to the ITERA company.
Karapetyan dismissed allegations that the gas pipeline from Iran to
Armenia is intended for the transit of Iranian gas to Europe. The
pipeline of a bigger diameter is needed for the transit, and that would
involve bigger investments, he said. Besides, a free sales market in
third countries is necessary for the transit of gas, and there is no
such market, he stressed.
Iran extends a credit of 30 million dollars for the construction of the
40-kilometer-long Armenian section, the press service of the Armenian
government told Itar-Tass. An agreement on that was signed when Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami paid an official visit to Yerevan last
September.
The construction of the pipeline will be launched simultaneously on both
sides. A total of 100 kilometers of the pipeline will run across Iran.
The construction is expected to be finished in January 2007, after which
the gas systems of the two countries will be united.
Armenia expects to pay for the supplies of Iranian gas with electricity.
The Armenian leadership is confident that the gas pipeline from Iran
will strengthen the republic’s energy security.
8. ZANGEZOUR COPPER-MOLYBDENUM GROUP TO BE SOLD FOR $132 MLN
Source: Arminfo, December 14, 2004
A contract to sell for $132 mln 100% shares of Zangezour
Copper-Molybdenum Group was signed in Yerevan today.
Armenia’s Trade and Economic Development Minister Karen Tchshmarityan
says that 60% stake has been given to Cronimet Mining (Germany), 15%
Pure Iron Plant (Yerevan), 12.5% to Armenian Molybdenum Production and
12.5% to Zangezour Mining. The shareholders will set up a joint managing
company. The first $45 mln payment will be made by Jan 1 2005, the rest
till Dec 31 2005. The contract is financed by Deutsche Bank and
Creditten Stadt Bank.
$250-350 mln is to be invested in the group by 2012 under preliminary
agreement with the final amount to be specified by feasibility report in
2005.
The project is expected to pay off in 6-7 years, says Tchshmarityan. Jan
1 2005 Armenia is stopping to export molybdenum concentrate to process
it fully at home. In 2005-2008 the group will deepen its molybdenum
processing activities to receive a maximally finished product. In
2008-2012 it will launch a rolled copper. The investments will allow the
group to redouble its ore production, says Tchshmarityan.
Cronimet Mining President Hunter Pilarsky says that his company is an
international trade group covering 4 continents. It owns 51% of Pure
Iron Plant, an enterprise processing 50% of Zangezour molybdenum
concentrate. Pilarsky says that international molybdenum prices are high
today which is normal even considering high transportation costs from
Armenia. The company exports its production to Europe via Iran and
Georgia.
In 2003 Zangezour Copper Molybdenum Group registered a $20 mln balance
sheet profit. In Jan-June 2004 its output totalled 24.8 bln AMD – 2.1%
less than in Jan-June 2003. In 2003 the group mined and processed 8.1
mln tons of ore producing 6,300 tons of molybdenum concentrate and
11,000 tons of copper in copper concentrate. Zangezour has the biggest
molybdenum reserves in the whole former USSR.
9. ARMENIAN MEDICINE: IN THE INFIRMARY
By Shant Korkigian
You can contact him at [email protected]
You do not have to spend a very long time in an Armenian hospital to
realize that it is a vastly different world than its American, French or
German counterparts. In fact the whole of medicine in Armenia-from
treatment methods to the healthcare system itself-is very different from
the West.
As a young medical student from the US I did not know exactly what to
expect when I first walked into Yerevan’s Clinical Hospital No. 1. I had
taken an observational position in the department of Plastic,
Reconstructive and Microsurgery for three months and had the pleasure to
work with some of the best physicians in all of Armenia. The surgeons I
worked with are graduates of Yerevan State University’s Medical
University during the Soviet era, had further training in the West, are
fluent in English (among other languages).
The full story is available on the following address:
Medicine.doc
10. II INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON MOUNTAIN TOURISM
Mountain Huts – Challenges For Tourists and Nature?
Source: Mountain Forum, December 14, 2004
First Announcement and Call for Papers
Organized by: International Friends of Nature, Institute of Tourism and
Recreation of Cracow Academy of Physical Education
Polish Tourist Country Lovers’ Society (PTTK) – Cracow Academic Section
to be held in Szklarska Poreba (Poland)
14 – 17 April 2005
Mountain huts play a pivotal role in access to the World’s high places.
They allow climbers to commence their ascents early in the morning,
backpackers can create adventurous high-level treks, but they should not
be viewed simply as facilities; properly managed mountain huts evoke a
powerful atmosphere of fellowship, helpfulness and responsibility which
has an educational impact, especially on younger tourists. Some mountain
huts are very old, possessing rich historical and architectural values,
and should be protected as cultural monuments in their own right. On the
other hand mountain huts are a form of enterprise, which have to be
economically viable. Finally, mountain huts are invariably sited within
a very fragile natural environment, intruding upon the landscape and
impacting upon local biodiversity. Technical and economic developments
together with the growing and increasingly sophisticated demands of
people are changing the nature and extent of mountain tourism. Mountain
huts are not immune to these pressures. Larger, more accessible, and
increasingly comfortable huts inevitably results in increased impacts on
local resources.
This is why the organizers have decided to invite people involved in the
various aspects of this complex issue to jointly discuss the present and
the future of mountain huts. The objectives of the Seminar are to
exchange information, experience and ideas on topics which include:
o mountain huts as historical monuments and witnesses to the past;
o huts in the mountain landscape (disfigurement or additional value?);
o environmental impact of mountain huts and how to limit it;
o mountain huts as a place of interpretation and education;
o creating the right social atmosphere in mountain huts;
o nature – friendly mountain huts;
o mountain huts and protected areas – conflict or cooperation?
In addition the Seminar will provide participants with an opportunity to
visit the Giant (Karkonosze) Mountains National Park – an area of
exceptional bio-cultural diversity and with more than two hundred years
history of mountain tourism. Visits to other national parks in the
Sudety Mountains will be possible during the post-seminar excursions.
Participants/Audience:
The organisers invite participation from all people with an involvement
or interest in mountain tourism – natural as well as cultural –
including managers of mountain huts, mountain guides, tour leaders,
interpreters, rangers, park managers responsible for environmental
education, scientists, writers and journalists interested in mountain
issues from all over the world.
Call for papers:
Participants are kindly invited to submit papers, posters or any other
kind of presentation related to the theme of the Seminar. Papers,
accepted by the Editorial Committee, will be published in the
post-conference issue of Folia Turistica – the scientific journal edited
by the Institute of Tourism and Recreation in Cracow.
All colleagues wishing to participate or to be informed about further
details are requested to send an e-mail or fax to:
Michael Prochazka – [email protected]
Fax: ++43 1 8129789
Or Piotr Dabrowski – [email protected]
Fax: ++48 12 4231697
Indicating: name, surname, e-mail address and represented
Institution/society/protected area/company/media organization. The
organizers will forward full details and a registration form.
We look forward to seeing you in Szklarska Poreba!
Michael Prochazka – Secretary General IFN
Piotr Dabrowski – Chairman of the Cracow Academic Section of PTTK
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

NEW RESOURCE CENTER ECMI TO SERVE POPULATION OF JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAKI, December 20 (Noyan Tapan). The presentation of the new
resource center of the Akhalkalaki office of the European Center
on National Minorities Issues (ECMI) was held in Akhalkalaki on
December 14.
According to Mikael Gertoft, manager of the program of the Akhalkalaki
Office of the center, the resource center will serve the population
of Javakhk. The center will render free computer and internet
services here. The resource center will provide the population with
a library. According to the “A-Info” Agency, they will also have an
opportunity to use the halls of the resource center for the holding
of seminars and conferences.

2005 NKR STATE BUDGET REALISTIC AND GROUNDED
STEPANAKERT, December 20 (Noyan Tapan). The preliminary discussions
of NKR state budget in NKR NA standing commissions finished. Major
Danielian, Chairman of the NKR NA standing commission on management
of financial-budget and economic issues, said in his interview to
Noyan Tapan that the draft budget is perfect in terms of structure and
unprecedented in terms of volume (22b drams, about m). He especially
emphasized the fact that the new budget envisages allocation of
unprecedented sums for solution of territorial development issues. In
particular, 350m drams will be allocated for finishing the program of
gasification. M. Danielian said that capital investments in the amount
of 500-600m drams were made in Stepanakert in the previous years while
a state order of capital construction in the amount of 1b, 57m drams
is envisaged in 2005. According to the MP, it’s the first time that a
complete package of capital investments is represented. The package is
divided according to the regions, spheres, constructions and entities
of republican importance. The budget envisages to allocate 800m drams
for the program of assistance to small and medium business.
According to M. Danielian, the dynamics of budget execution, as well as
the economic growth of the country during the previous 2 years permit
to register that the 2005 NKR state budget is realistic and grounded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARDAN OSKANIAN’S ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS CONCERNING TURKEY’S ACCESSION TO EU
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21. ARMINFO. With the beginning of the negotiations
concerning Turkey’s accession to European Union the issue on
recognition of the Genocide of Armenians in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey will
be in the center of attention of Europe. Minister of foreign affairs
of Armenia Vardan Oskanian stated in the interview to Armenia TV.
According to him, the fact that the problems of Armenian-Turkish
relations proved to be in the center of Europe’s attention and that
these issues will be included in the agenda of the negotiations,
is positive at the beginning of the negotiating progress of EU
with Turkey.
During the last two weeks the issue of the Genocide of Armenians were
discussed and marked as often as it was not mentioned during the
last 5 years. All the aforementioned testifies about the doubtless
successes both of Armenian diplomacy and the efforts made by Armenian
foreign communities, the foreign minister stressed.
At the same time the foreign minister of Armenia especially mentioned
the fact, which was positively estimated by the international
community, that Armenia did not and will not put the issue on the
Genocide as a term of normalization of relations with Turkey. Drawing
parallel with the Holocaust, the obvious difference is that Germany
admitting it, officially apologized and paid compensation to suffered
Jewish. And the problem of the recognition of the Genocide of Armenians
is in political aspect, as Turkey not only admits the Genocide,
but also denies the fact, resort to economic blockade and political
blackmail. In this connection, we should not expect that in 2005,
the year of 90th anniversary of the Genocide this problem will be
included in the agenda of UN General Assembly. Though Armenia intends
further to present its position in the highest instances of UN in New
York and Geneva, that’s why the year 2005 will launch a new phase in
the problem of the international community’s recognizing the Genocide
of Armenian, the foreign minster of Armenia said.

CENN – DECEMBER 21, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. International NGO Letter Protesting Against the Proposed Weakening of
the World Bank’s Social and Environmental Safeguard Policies
2. Additional Funds for Protection of Oil Pipeline Baku-Tbilisi -Ceyhan
3. Armenia Sells Zangezur Combine for $132 mln
4. By the End of 2004 Sanir Company to Announce Tender for Subcontractor
Work on Armenian Section of Iran-Armenia Gas Pipeline
5. UNDP Anti-corruption Project Backs Development of Law on Lobbing
6. War and Cold Have Depleted Armenia’s Only Natural Resource: Trees
7. Armenian Official Calls for Iran’s Fuel
1. INTERNATIONAL NGO LETTER PROTESTING AGAINST THE PROPOSED WEAKENING OF
THE WORLD BANK’S SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD POLICIES
Dear friends,
Thank you for endorsing the international NGO letter protesting against
the proposed weakening of the World Bank’s social and environmental
safeguard policies. So far, this letter has been signed by 131 NGOs from
44 countries. Almost two thirds of the signatures are from groups in the
South.
We will only send the letter to the World Bank in the first days of
January. There is therefore still time for further endorsements. We will
resend you the letter with all endorsements once it has been sent.
The World Bank proposal includes many cases of weakened policies. Upon
suggestion from NGO colleagues, we have decided to mention two more
examples in the letter, as follows:
*On involuntary displacement: “OP 4.12 stipulates that preference be
given to land-based resettlement for all persons whose livelihoods are
land-based. The policy also requires that the needs of vulnerable groups
must be given particular attention. The new country systems proposal
qualifies the right to land-based resettlement for people who do not
hold land titles, and does not require that particular attention be
given to the needs of vulnerable groups.”
*On indigenous peoples: “OD 4.20 requires the preparation of an
Indigenous Peoples Development Plan in projects that affect indigenous
peoples. OD 4.20 requires, as part of such Plans, the establishment of a
baseline regarding the situation of indigenous peoples, an assessment of
the legal status of indigenous peoples, and the creation of mechanisms
for indigenous participation in project design, implementation and
monitoring. OD 4.20 requires the Bank to advise borrowing governments in
recognizing traditional land tenure systems of indigenous peoples prior
to project implementation, and stipulates that the Bank not appraise
projects where adverse impacts are unavoidable and adequate mitigation
plans have not been developed. None of these provisions are included in
the country systems proposal.”
We assume that these additions are fine with you. If not, please let us
know.
Thank you again for your support.
Peter Bosshard
International Rivers Network
2. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR PROTECTION OF OIL PIPELINE BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN
Source: Sarke, December 20, 2004
The draft of the budget-2005 envisages disbursing of 30.9 million lari
to the special state protection service, what exceeds the financing
volume of the current year by 56%. The Finance Ministry explains the
volume has been increased due to the funds, directed to protection of
the oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, which launches in 2005.
3. ARMENIA SELLS ZANGEZUR COMBINE FOR $132 MLN
Source: Interfax, Russia, December 17 2004
Armenia has sold the Zangezur Copper- Molybdenum Combine to four
companies for $132 million.
The sales contract was signed December 14 in Yerevan, Trade and Economic
Development Minister Karen Chshmaritian said at a news conference.
He said 60% of ZMMK shares went to Germany’s Cronimet Mining, 15% to
Yerevan’s Pure Iron, 12.5% to Armenian Molybdenum Production (AMP) and
12.5% to Zangezur Mining.
The new ZMMK shareholders will create a unified management company, the
minister said.
The first $45 million will be paid by January 1, and the remainder by
the end of 2005. The deal will be financed by a consortium of Germany
banks that includes Deutsche Bank, Chshmaritian said.
According to a preliminary agreement, $250 million to $350 million will
be invested in ZMMK by 2012. The final figure will become clear after a
feasibility study is prepared in 2005 for the company’s modernization.
The investment is expected to boost ore production by 50% to 100%. The
project is expected to pay for itself in 6-7 years.
Armenia will stop exporting molybdenum concentrate as of January 1, as
it will all be processed inside the country, the minister said. Given
the current high world prices for molybdenum, even high shipping costs
are not expected to cause problems. The company exports to Europe
through Iran and Georgia.
Zangezur decreased production by 2.1% year-on-year to $24.8 billion dram
in the first half of 2004.
ZMMK mined 8.1 million tonnes of ore in 2003, and produced 6,300 tonnes
of molybdenum and 11,000 tonnes of copper in copper concentrate. The
Kadzharan copper and molybdenum mine, which ZMMK works, has the largest
reserves of any in the former Soviet Union.
4. BY THE END OF 2004 SANIR COMPANY TO ANNOUNCE TENDER FOR SUBCONTRACTOR
WORK ON ARMENIAN SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE
Source: Arminfo, December 17, 2004
By the end of this year the Sanir company from Iran will give start to a
tender to enroll subcontractors or laying the Armenian section of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, says the director general of ArmRosGazprom
company Karen Karapetyan.
He says that his company will certainly take part in the tender and has
quite good chances to win it. “Even if we lose the winners will be
forced to cooperate with us considering that we have domestic gas market
monopoly,” says Karapetyan. He notes that after the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline is built and the Abovyan underground gas depositary is restored
Armenia will have almost no energy security problems.
Sanir is the general contractor of the project. Iran will lend Armenia
$30 mln for laying the Armenian section of the pipeline – from Megri to
Kajaran. The loan will be given for 7.5 years at 5% a year. The project
will be finished in two years to be launched Jan 1 2007.
5. UNDP ANTI-CORRUPTION PROJECT BACKS DEVELOPMENT OF LAW ON LOBBYING
Source: ArmenPress, December 17, 2004
Today, at the Congress Hotel in Yerevan, the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP), in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia, held a discussion
of the draft Concept of the Law on Lobbying of the Republic of Armenia.
Representatives of the Government, Parliament, local and international
organizations, trade unions and business associations, as well as
experts participated in the discussion, UNDP Country Office in Armenia
told Armenpress.
The aim of the discussion was to review the approaches and suggestions
on the draft concept of interested NGOs including those representing
interests of the private sector. At the event, the international
experience of regulating lobbying, ways, restrictions, financing and
reporting of lobbying, rights and responsibilities of lobbyists,
licensing and accreditation issues will be discussed. A special
importance will be attached to the suggestions on NGO lobbying.
Developing the regulatory framework for lobbying is the request of the
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and the Anti-Corruption Strategy
adopted by the Government of Armenia. At the same time, it is a key step
towards providing equal and transparent opportunities for civic
participation in decision-making and is called to foster participatory
processes in Armenia.
Vahan Asatryan, Coordinator, UNDP/Government Project on “Support to
Information Society and Democratic Governance”, noted in his speech:
“Within the United Nations System, UNDP plays an important role of
providing assistance for equal political, economic and social
opportunities. In this context UINDP supports the Government of Armenia
in developing legislation and implementing policies promoting efficient
participation of citizens in decision-making processes. Our mission in
Armenia is to help reducing political inequalities in the country
through promoting effective and broad civil society participation in
decision-making. We help the Government to establish responsive
participatory policy frameworks and to foster consolidation of
information society. We support establishing a civil society
anti-corruption network in the country and strengthen the capacity of
civil society to participate in anti-corruption initiatives
effectively.”
The UNDP support to the Government of Armenia and the Parliament in
developing a viable law on lobbying will continue in 2005.
6. WAR AND COLD HAVE DEPLETED ARMENIA’S ONLY NATURAL RESOURCE: TREES
Source: Agence France Presse, December 17, 2004
Since Armenia became locked in war over Nagorno-Karabakh, it has been
under an energy blockade from the oil-rich post Soviet republic as well
as from Turkey. As a result, when the war was in full swing much of the
tiny land-locked nation’s forests were cut to be used as fuel.
Now Armenia has a new gas pipeline linking it to Russia, but today the
problem for many Armenians is the fuel’s price, so the cutting
continues.
“During the Soviet Union we had as much gas as we wanted,” Vladimir
Gregorian, a 75-year-old pensioner, said as he pulled a cart stuffed
with brush and branches down a slope leading out of the woods around the
Genocide Memorial.
He said his 20-dollar monthly pension was not enough for him to buy a
new gas line for his house or even pay for the gas itself, so he heats
water for baths with wood collected in the area.
But environmentalists warn that if wood cutting in Armenia continues in
an unsustainable way, much of the country’s harsh mountainous terrain
could turn to desert, a process they say would be irreversible if left
to itself.
“The winters of 1991 and 1992 were very severe, Armenians had no
alternative but to cut trees and burn park benches,” said Susan Yacubian
Klein, the director of the Armenian Tree Project, a US donor-sponsored
organization dedicated to reforestation and sustainability.
But today loggers continue to cut forests illegally, Yacubian Klein
said, delivering their contraband goods to cities in covered trucks, “If
forest cutting continues at the same rate in 20 years Armenia will face
desertification.”
Today deforestation is already causing erosion and landslides and is
throwing dust that used to be held down by roots into the air of
Armenia’s cities, and according to the Armenian Tree Project the
situation could get worse.
In some areas, roads have collapsed as a result of the powerful erosion
forces that deforestation has unchained in rivers.
But there are ways to revitalize the forests. The ATP has launched a
number of projects including one around the Genocide Memorial where
workers use a technique called coppicing to rejuvenate tree stumps.
By cutting away excess shoots that grow out of a stump people can help
one healthy branch utilize the tree’s root system to grow into a tree.
However the work “is just a drop in the bucket,” Yacubian Klein
admitted.
In 1900 forests covered 25% of Armenia, after 70 years of Soviet rule
that figure dropped to 12%, but the decline of wooded areas in the last
decade has been the most dramatic, bringing forest cover to just 8%.
Armenia’s energy crisis has had at least one benefit.
Its isolation and lack of hydrocarbon reserves has lead to some
innovative ideas about alternative energy sources, in contrast to its
two Caucasus neighbors, Georgia and Azerbaijan, whose policies have been
dominated by a geopolitical tug-of-war for pipelines, electricity cables
and global alliances.
A few years ago a small firm called SolarEn started up a project to
explore solar energy in Armenia and has since branched out to wind power
and hydrogen powered fuel cells.
Spurring companies like this on is legislation requiring the state
electricity monopoly to buy electricity generated by alternative means
at a higher price to encourage private investment in the sector.
SolarEn is not in the black yet but its sales of affordable solar
powered water heating systems and alternative energy consultancy
services have given it an annual turnover of nearly 100,000 dollars.
Its sister firm Zod Wind is involved in a 25 million dollar project to
build a set of wind turbines in the east of Armenia next year and an
Iranian firm has already begun construction of two wind turbines in the
south as a 3.5 million dollar gift to the country.
“We don’t have oil, we don’t have gas, all we have is the sun and the
wind,” said SolarEn Executive Director Viktor Afyan, “we need to use
it.”
7. ARMENIAN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR IRAN’S FUEL
Source: MehrNews.com, Iran, December 19, 2004
Khachaturian, the governor-general of Armenian Siunik Province on
December 19, 2004 called for Iran to provide fuel and fertilizers
required by the farmers of his province. According to ISNA, Khachaturian
visiting governor-general of the Iranian East Azarbaijan Province,
Mohammad Ali Sobhanollahi said that Iran-Armenia ties and East
Azarbaijan-Siunik relations should be in the way to represent a model
for other provinces.
“We attempt to carry out the previously made contracts between the two
provinces coupled with fulfilling duties in implementation of contracts
signed by presidents of Iran and Armenia”, he stated.
The Armenian governor-general also said that dam construction and the
third electricity transmission line are among projects that are
presently being implemented between the two countries.
In his part, Sobhanollahi said, “Our cooperation in agricultural,
medical, and sanitary fields has been started, as presently Siunik
exports cement and meat to East Azarbaijan. In return, we can help
Siunik modernize its agricultural sector.”
In conclusion, the Iranian governor-general called for the
re-establishment of Tabriz-Yerevan airline as well as removing the
impediments in expansion of ties between the two provinces.
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
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CENN – DECEMBER 17, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. IFC Environmental, Social and Disclosure Policies and Performance
Standards
2. Letter writing campaign
3. Community Center Opens in Gyumri
4. Prosecutors Concerned Over Growing Number of Gas Leak Accidents
5. Armenian Plant Set to Produce Small Hydro Power Plant Equipment
1. IFC ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS
Dear all,
As many of you are already aware, the International Finance Corporation
(IFC – the private lending arm of the World Bank) is in the process of
revising its social, environmental, and disclosure policies. While some
of the details of this process may seem arcane to some, it is important
to note that these policies are currently the de facto social and
environmental international standards, impacting nearly three quarters
of all international project finance – both public and private. The
results of this process will affect all of us, and the people and places
we care about, for a long time.
In my capacity as consultant to the Bank Information Center (BIC), I
wanted to take a moment to update you on how that process is proceeding,
and what is being done both within and outside the process by our
colleagues in civil society. I also want to urge you to get involved, in
one way or another, in this important effort.
The IFC is nearly finished with their initial round of global
consultations, and under the original plan they outlined, this would
have been the end of any chance for public input. However, due to
internal and external pressure, IFC has slightly revised their process
and the timeline. We now expect to see a revised draft of the new IFC
Environmental, Social and Disclosure Policies and Performance Standards,
as well as the “Interpretation Notes” that clarify them, sometime in
mid-January. At that point, we expect to have between 4-8 weeks to
provide comment on the draft before it is finalized and sent to a
subcommittee of the World Bank Group’s Board of Directors. This next
phase will be our critical window of opportunity.
Many civil society groups have offered comments on both the substance
and the process of the safeguard policy review. Some are attached,
(pleas see: ) others you can
access at a civil society sponsored website supporting this effort
() or at the IFC’s website which includes an official
record of comments at: I am also
happy to send you any information that you need, should you find it
difficult to locate or access.
The IFC’s consultation process has been seriously flawed from the
beginning, leading many organizations to decide to boycott the
consultation process. Overall, IFC’s process has been rushed, full
information is not available, and it has been extraordinarily
non-transparent. Many groups in civil society have been critical of the
process. In response, IFC claims that the concerns and criticisms are
largely limited to Northern-based organizations. We know this is not the
case, but it will be important in January and February to ensure that
Southern voices in particular are heard in relation to this vital issue.
BIC is ready and able to help organizations that may need or want
assistance to weigh in on this issue in any way. If you want to join
the international boycott of the process, we can help to ensure that
your support of the boycott and concerns are known. If you want to
comment on the substance or the process of the review, we can also help
by providing you with additional background information, and by putting
you in touch with other organizations that are working on similar
issues.
Whatever you do, please don’t stay silent on this issue. Whether it’s
simply to note that you consider the process illegitimate and rigged, or
to weigh in on more specific matters, please let your voice be heard.
Best regards,
Steve Kretzmann
Strategic Consultant
Bank Information Center
*******************************
Stephen Kretzmann
Strategic Consultant
Bank Information Center
&
Senior Campaign Advisor
Rainforest Action Network
[email protected]
1-202-497-1033
*******************************
2. LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN
Dear aviation and climate activists,
Some weeks ago Friends of the Earth Netherlands and AEF/GreenSkies
organised a conference on airports, air travel and climate change. The
results will be published at
Our first action is a letter writing campaign, aimed at the European
Commission. We ask you to spend half an hour on writing a letter to the
commissioners yourselves. Please forward this initiative.
We wish you happy Christmas holidays
—–
Write a letter to the European Commission
Are you concerned about airport expansion, bothered by aircraft noise,
worried about the ever growing climate impact of aviation? NOW YOU can
do something about it! Write before 2005!
FORWARD this e-mail (and attachment ‘Write to the EC’) to the people and
organisations you know
Read all details in the example.doc
to the EC.pdf
Make it your personal letter!
Evert Hassink
Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Tim Johnson
AEF/Greenskies
3. COMMUNITY CENTER OPENS IN GYUMRI
Source: Armenian NGO News in Brief, December 12, 2004
On November 2, 2004 a new Community Center opened its doors in Gyumri.
The building was renovated by the Norwegian Refugee Council and houses
Community Social-Healthcare and Pedo-Psychological Assistance Centers as
well as a Kindergarten. Services of the Community Social-Healthcare
Center will be provided by Mission Armenia Charitable NGO and are
designed to meet the needs of vulnerable, single, older and disabled
people and refugees residing in temporary dwellings. This integrated
center includes a soup kitchen, social services center, health post,
bath and laundry, hairdressing room, training resource center,
conference room and other more.
The soup kitchen will be operational on weekdays and provide hot
nutritious meals to about 200 beneficiaries. The social services center
will provide health, psychological, legal trainings and individual
consultations. The in-home services for almost 600 single older
residents of Gyumri are one of the most significant activities to be
carried out through the center: provision of individual care, personal
hygiene, medical assistance, psychological, gerontological and legal
assistance, home renovation, heating of homes, and more. It will also
serve as a good place for arranging cultural events, meetings and
round-table discussions. The health post will provide primary health
care and necessary medications to beneficiaries free of charge. The bath
and laundry will meet primary hygienic needs of older beneficiaries. The
hairdressing room will provide relevant services to the vulnerable.
Through the training resource center, computer, hairdressing and
tailoring skills will be transferred to the vulnerable refugee and local
population of the town, providing them an opportunity to acquire new job
skills. Mission Armenia Charitable NGO implements these activities
through funding support received from USAID.
Contact: Hripsime Kirakosyan
Mission Armenia Charitable NGO
42 G. Nzdeh St.
Tel.: (374-1) 44-47-92; 44-47-93
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
4. PROSECUTORS CONCERNED OVER GROWING NUMBER OF GAS LEAK ACCIDENTS
Source: Armenpress, December 15, 2004
Armenia’s chief prosecutor’s office has called in a statement today on
the population to avoid using makeshift stoves to warm their homes that
work on natural gas and urged it to observe all safety rules. The
warning came after a series of accidents from across the country
reporting death or poisoning from gas. The latest such accident occurred
in Etchmiadzin where a couple and three their little children were
poisoned by a gas leak out.
The incidents prompted the prosecutor’s office to make a probe and
reveal that virtually all accidents are due to people’s failure to
observe the most elementary safety rules and the carelessness of
authorized bodies that are supposed to supervise local gas networks’
safety.
The chief prosecutor’s office also urged the population to report
immediately about careless work of authorized bodies. It also required
that gas authorities carry out sweeping reforms within the system and
take measures to prevent such accidents in future.
5. ARMENIAN PLANT SET TO PRODUCE SMALL HYDRO POWER PLANT EQUIPMENT
Source: Armenpress, December 15, 2004
A Yerevan-based factory manufacturing electric machines said it plans to
start production of components of small hydro power stations with a
capacity ranging between 4 to 100 kilowatt/hour. The factory’s chief
engineer Felix Khachatrian told Armenpress turbines with 4-kilowatt/hour
capacities had been successfully tested, adding also that turbines with
30 kilowatt/hour capacity and higher had been designed.
According to Khachatrian, Armenian-made turbines may become more
attractive for foreigners as they are two times cheaper than others.
He said a go-between Dutch company is taking interest in Armenian
turbines, and has pledged to look for investors who are ready to assist
the Armenian plant.
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
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CENN – DECEMBER 20, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Evaluation of CENN activities During the period of 2004-2005
2. “The Public Eye Awards – “26/27 January 2005, Davos/Switzerland
3. Training Sessions in International Human Rights
4. BP and British Council Announce Successful Scholarship Candidates
5. AUA Promotes Anti-Smoking Movement
6. Human Rights and Environment
1. EVALUATION OF CENN ACTIVITIES DURING THE PERIOD OF 2004-2005
CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network is conducting evaluation of
its activities for the period of 2004-2005 and would like to ask you to
participate in the study by answering this checklist as accurately as
possible. The information will help us assess the CENN activities and
improve our work in the future. We ask you to answer the checklist and
return it via e-mail till December 27, 2004.
We appreciate your cooperation! Thank you!
The English and Russian verisons of the cheklists is availble on the
following adress:
2. “THE PUBLIC EYE AWARDS – “26/27 JANUARY 2005, DAVOS/SWITZERLAND
Dear friends,
Every year in January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathers its
business leaders and the world’s political and media elite in Davos.
Current global political issues are discussed and trends in the future
development of global business are set. For the sixth time, the
international NGO coalition “The Public Eye on Davos” will be present in
Davos with an alternative event at the same time and place as the WEF.
The highlight of next year’s “Public Eye” will be an Awards Ceremony.
Candidates for the awards are WEF corporate members and other companies
that have excelled in socially and environmentally irresponsible
behavior. The “Public Eye Awards” are given in the categories human
rights, environment, labor law and taxes.
In the meantime, we received numerous nominations (the deadline was 31
October 2004). They can be viewed from January 11, 2005 (date of the
press conference) onwards at:
<;. The award winners will be presented at the Awards Ceremony to be held on 26 January 2005 in Davos. The Swiss actor and cabaret artist Patrick Frey will present the event. For the full program of the "Public Eye" event please go to: <;archive=none>
With kind regards,
Matthias Herfeldt
Coordinator “The Public Eye on Davos”
Berne Declaration
3. TRAINING SESSIONS IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
Dear Sir / Madam,
Please allow me to introduce myself: My name is Kamala Laghate and I
work for the Netherlands Helsinki Committee as project organizer.
In May we will hold the fifth of a series of five Practical Training
sessions in International Human Rights Litigation. This training will
take place in the Netherlands from 9th to 20th of May 2005. The emphasis
is on non-discrimination and minority rights.
It is meant for lawyers and judges from the Caucasus region who deal
with human rights issues (especially non-discrimination and minority
rights) professionally, who litigate in court and could be placed in the
position to bring a case to Strasbourg.
Please find additional info on the programme in the attachments as well
as the application form.
The deadline for submitting the application is January 15th, 2005.
I kindly request you to distribute the information on the training to
other relevant organisations (such as bar / judiciary associations,
human rights organisations, courts) and individuals whom you think would
be interested in participating. The training will be taught in English,
so the applicant should be fluent in this language.
As we are based in the Netherlands and have not established many
contacts in your country yet I would really appreciate it if you would
help me in finding participants for
this course.
Thank you very much in advance!
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Kamala Laghate
Netherlands Helsinki Committee
P.O. Box 93132
2509 AC The Hague, the Netherlands
T: +31 70 392 6700
F: +31 70 392 6550
4. BP AND BRITISH COUNCIL ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES
Source: The Messenger, December 17, 2004
On December 16, 2004 BP Georgia and the British Council announced the
selection of their candidates for a new international scholarship
program, targeting leaders in a wide range of study fields from
businesses to media.
The BP-funded program, launched in October, will send 10 students to
study Masters level courses in the UK for a period of 12 months. The
British Council will manage this program that received more than 250
applications alongside the UK government’s Chevening scholarships
program.
The announcement follows BP’s recent commitment to a new social
investment program for Georgia, through which – in consultation with the
Georgian government – it will invest US $10 million in arrange of
projects covering areas such as education and healthcare.
Head of BP Georgia, Wref Digings says: “This scholarship program is part
of our commitment to successful, long term relationship with Georgia. It
is the first step in our education program that is set to expand to
include other long distance learning opportunities for Georgians. It
also fits well with BP’s global emphasis on the role of education in the
development of enterprise and civil society.”
Jo Bakowski, Director of the British Council in Georgia, adds: “WE have
been managing scholarship programs for the more than 10 years and they
are one of our most important activities, clearly demonstrated by the
achievements of our alumni. The candidates selected fort the BP program
are of similarly high standard and have shown how their studies could
contribute to positive change in Georgia.”
The fields covered by the scholarship are: banking, finance and
economics (including insurance); business studies; management
(agriculture, education, energy, health and transport); human rights;
law; media; social and political studies; built environment (includes
architecture, urban planning and design); and international relations
and diplomatic studies.
For further information on program, please visit the British Council
website at:
5. AUA PROMOTES ANTI-SMOKING MOVEMENT
PRESS RELEASE
December 16, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
Yerevan – On Friday, December 10, 2004, the Association of
Caricaturists, the Armenian Public Health Alliance, the Coalition for
Tobacco Free Armenia and the American University of Armenia hosted a
public exhibition “Artists Against Smoking,” as part of its approach to
combat smoking in Armenia.
The exhibition took place in the newly opened AUA Center Restaurant,
which has a healthy working, non-smoking environment policy.
With support from the Open Society institute, the Armenian Public Health
Alliance, formed by the Armenian Public Health Association, the Armenian
Public Health Union and the American University of Armenia, started an
ambitious multi-pronged project to combat smoking in Armenia, including
establishing the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA), which now
includes 18 NGOs representing over eight hundred people committed to
preventing the health consequences of tobacco smoke.
Earlier in the year, on October 12, the American University of Armenia
(AUA) hosted the first ever-national meeting of NGOs involved in
fighting smoking in Armenia. At the conference, AUA President Haroutune
Armenian emphasized that the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA)
demonstrates that Armenians can and will unite to protect the public’s
health.
According to global tobacco expert, Dr. Richard Peto, the average
Armenian male smoker loses 17 years of productive life due to smoking.
Despite this shocking finding, smoking is not perceived as a problem by
Armenian society, where 67% of adult males are estimated to smoke and 3%
of females.
Moreover, many wrongly believe that cigarette manufacturing is a benefit
to the country’s economy, looking only at the jobs and tax revenue
created by the industry, without accounting for health and other costs
paid by the government and by society at large. This false image of
tobacco industry is maintained by sophisticated advertisements and other
misleading practices seen throughout the world.
Empowering people and building public support for tough tobacco control
policy measures was and remains the focus of the initiative.
Established in June 2004, the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia became
a member of the international Framework Convention Alliance, which
unites about 200 organizations around the world in support of the WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In June, CTFA Coordinator
Narine Movsisyan, MD, MPH participated as an invited observer at the
open-ended intergovernmental meeting on tobacco control in Geneva. In
her words, it was “a great experience to learn from international
tobacco control activists. Lobbying was a bad word in the soviet times.
I would never have imagined that lobbying could be pro-human,
pro-health. Like the smokers we are trying to educate, we have to open
our minds and re-think many concepts.”
In a country in transition like Armenia, economic arguments can be very
powerful. Thus, demonstrating the long-term effects of tobacco control
as opposed to short-term economic benefits of tobacco growing and
manufacturing is of critical importance. Armenian Public Health Alliance
experts developed a comprehensive informational package for Armenian
policy and decision makers. The infopack called “Contemporary Issues on
Tobacco Control in Armenia” examined health, social and economic aspects
of the situation in Armenia and suggested appropriate solutions in light
of international experience. The Armenian Public Health Alliance’s
infopack was a critical reference at the November 17 Parliamentary
hearings on tobacco control.
The CTFA successfully lobbied Parliament to adopt the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control and is now lobbying for similarly strict
supporting legislation, in coordination with the Ministry of Health
National Tobacco Control Program led by Dr. Alexander Bazarchyan and
Chair of Parliamentary Committee on Science, Education, Culture, and
Youth, Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan.
As Armenian Public Health Alliance member Hovhannes Margaryants,
President of the Armenian Public Health Union, noted, “We intend to
stimulate a dialogue within our society and build a new non-smoking
culture. We are looking for allies and partners among journalists,
medical, cultural, business and political elite as well as parents and
other “ordinary” citizens. Everyone concerned with building a healthier
and safer homeland for all Armenians is welcomed.”
The “Artists Against Smoking” exhibition was organized within the
framework of the tobacco control project with support from the Open
Society Institute Assistance Foundation. The Association of
Caricaturists presented approximately 40 antismoking drawings. AUA
members along with guests and representatives from Ministry of Culture,
Youth Affaires and Sport, Academy of Art, international organizations
and local agencies expressed their appreciation and noted that both the
exhibition and non-smoking Restaurant are a novelty for Armenia.
CTFA Coordinator Narine Movsisyan stated, “It’s a challenge to change
people’s unhealthy behavior. Today’s exhibition is an attempt to talk to
people on a language of humor and satire. We believe that laugh can be
curative.” The opening was followed by light reception and broad local
media coverage. The Exhibition will be open for public at large through
December 17th in the AUA Club Restaurant.
6. HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT
Source: Yerevan Press Club Weekly Newsletter, December 10-16, 2004
On December 10, 2004 on the International Day of Human Rights in Yerevan
the ceremony of awarding monetary prizes to the winners of competition
“Human Rights and Environment” was held. The competition was
administrated by the OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with the Public
(Airbus) Center of Environmental Information.
In the nomination “Print media” the first prize was awarded to Susanna
Shakhnazarian (“Ban ev Gorts”, Syunik region), the second – to Karineh
Danielian (“Azg”, Yerevan), the third – to Arthur Sakunts and Narineh
Bulghadarian (“Civil Initiative”, Vanadzor). Encouraging prizes in this
nomination were conferred on Anush Sargsian (“Loru Marz”, Lori region)
and Sarah Petrosian (“Investigative Journalists” public organization).
In the nomination “TV Journalism” the first prize was granted to Edik
Baghdasarian (“Versus” studio, Yerevan), the second – to Satenik
Kaghzvantsian (free-lance journalist, Shirak region), the third – to
Valery Gasparian (Armenian branch of “Mir” Interstate TV and Radio
Company). Encouraging prizes were also conferred on Nelly Danielian
(“Yerkir-Media”, Yerevan) and Stella Martirosian (“Shoghakat”, Yerevan).
Special prize was awarded to the film of Hrachia Papinian (“Ankyun+3”,
Lori region).
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
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SERIOUS CHANGES EXPECTED IN SPHERE OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE
STEPANAKERT, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). According to NKR Minister of
Education, Culture and Sport Armen Sargsian, serious changes which may
be considered as strategic are expected in the sphere of education and
culture by the 2005 budget. In particular, the salary of teachers will
increase and make 50,000 drams, the salary of employees of the sphere
of culture and sport will increase by 18-24%. The work directed at the
establishment of pre-school groups will continue. Another 15 groups
will be replenished to already opened 24 groups this year. Boarding
departments will be opened at some schools. It is expected that the
methodical manuals of 2.5 mln drams will be published for the first
time (the pedagogues of the republic were deprived of them during
ten years). The reforms will also be carried out in the sphere of
culture: the sum foreseen for the restoration, protection and study
of monuments will reach 100 mln drams as against 5-7 mln drams in the
previous years. According to the 2005 budget, the sums foreseen for the
holding of cultural and youth arrangements also increased. According
to the Minister, the participation of gifted children in different
cultural arrangements abroad will also become possible. According to
Armen Sargsian, this policies will be continuous.

Turquie : débat sans passion au Parlement
Le Figaro
mardi 21 décembre 2004
Députés et sénateurs ont débattu aujourd’hui de l’ouverture des
négociations d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne décidée
vendredi à Bruxelles, dans une atmosphère relativement atone dans les
deux chambres, faute de vote sur cette question et donc d’enjeu.
(Avec AFP.)
Les députés ont été avertis au dernier moment de cette séance
spéciale, comme le 14 octobre dernier lors du premier débat sans vote
sur les relations avec Ankara. (Photo Mustafa Ozer/AFP.)
Tour à tour, Jean-Pierre Raffarin a expliqué aux députés puis aux
sénateurs que «négociation n’était pas adhésion», dans le souci de
rassurer les parlementaires UMP opposés à une entrée d’Ankara dans
l’UE, conformément à la position du Conseil national de leur parti de
mai dernier.
«Il n’y a pas, je le dis clairement, automaticité de la négociation à
l’adhésion. Le processus va être long et durer au minimum dix ans
(…). Pour une raison simple: ni l’Europe ni la Turquie ne sont
prêtes aujourd’hui à une adhésion», a insisté le Premier ministre. Il
a en outre rappelé qu’en tout état de cause, les Français auraient
«le dernier mot» sur une éventuelle entrée d’Ankara dans l’Union, par
la voie d’un référendum promis par le président Jacques Chirac.
Exercice délicat pour M. Raffarin, contraint à un discours à la fois
audible par les parlementaires de l’UMP et compatible avec la
position du chef de l’Etat en faveur d’une adhésion de la Turquie.
Se faisant, il s’est attiré les critiques des socialistes mais aussi
celles des centristes dont le président François Bayrou s’est montré
particulièrement virulent vis-à-vis de Jacques Chirac et du
gouvernement.
«Décalage abyssal» entre le chef de l’Etat et le président de l’UMP
Nicolas Sarkozy, «grand concert de la discorde»: le président du
groupe socialiste à l’Assemblée Jean-Marc Ayrault a étrillé la
droite, avant de qualifier l’accord de Bruxelles «d’acte majeur».
Il a regretté néanmoins que le Conseil européen n’ait pas «clairement
signifié» au gouvernement turc que «la reconnaissance mutuelle entre
ses Etats-membres n’est pas négociable» face au refus de la Turquie
de reconnaître Chypre. Il a également déploré «l’interférence» des
Etats-Unis dans la négociation.
Très en verve, François Bayrou, qui réclame, en vain, depuis des mois
un vote des parlementaires sur une éventuelle adhésion de la Turquie
à l’UE, a dénoncé une «démocratie française concentrée, verrouillée,
et sans contre pouvoir».
«Les représentants du peuple sont écartés des sujets essentiels» et
«les 577 députés et 340 sénateurs» sont en fait «interdits
d’expression et d’engagement sur les sujets lourds, interdits
d’histoire», a-t-il lancé.
Il a rappelé qu’en cas de vote, les parlementaires auraient été
majoritairement contre une entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union. Manière
de signifier l’isolement du gouvernement face à sa majorité.
Pour les communistes, le président du groupe Alain Bocquet a accusé
la droite de «vouloir parasiter la question essentielle» du
référendum sur la Constitution européenne avec celle de la Turquie.
Alors qu’à l’Assemblée, le débat a duré une heure, le temps de la
séance des questions au gouvernement, au Sénat, les orateurs se sont
succédé à la tribune durant trois heures. Il est vrai que les
sénateurs n’avaient pas eu droit à une longue discussion sur le
sujet, comme cela avait été le cas pour le députés le 14 octobre.
Le débat n’y a pas été plus animé qu’à l’Assemblée. Seule l’annonce
par Jean-Pierre Raffarin de la libération des deux otages français en
Irak a déclenché des applaudissements sur tous les bancs.
–Boundary_(ID_SSZk9yE6RRXoOSNOyDvf+w)–

Barnier: poser toutes les questions à la Turquie dont le “génocide arménien”
Agence France Presse
20 décembre 2004 lundi 8:13 AM GMT
PARIS 20 déc 2004
La France posera “toutes les questions” à la Turquie avant une
éventuelle adhésion de ce pays à l’Union européenne, “y compris celle
du génocide arménien”, a déclaré lundi sur la radio RTL le ministre
des Affaires étrangères Michel Barnier.
“Il ne s’agit aujourd’hui que d’engager des négociations d’adhésion
qui vont être très longues, très difficiles, durant lesquelles nous
poserons toutes les questions, y compris celle du génocide arménien,
en souhaitant obtenir, avant l’adhésion, une réponse de la Turquie”,
a déclaré M. Barnier.
M. Barnier avait déjà utilisé le terme de “génocide arménien” mardi
dernier devant l’Assemblée nationale. Mais auparavant, il avait pris
soin dans ses différentes interventions d’utiliser le terme de
“tragédie”, qui est souvent employé par les autorités turques pour
qualifier cette question.
Le Parlement français a adopté une loi le 18 janvier 2001, promulguée
le 29 janvier, qui dispose dans son article unique : “La France
reconnaît publiquement le génocide arménien de 1915”, sans toutefois
en désigner les responsables.
“Le président de la République exprime une vision, exprime où se
trouve pour lui l’intérêt de notre pays, de notre continent”, a
ajouté M. Barnier en commentant la position de Jacques Chirac en
faveur d’une entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE.
Jeudi et vendredi lors du Conseil européen de Bruxelles, M. Chirac a
fermement appuyé – au nom de sa vision à long terme de la
construction européenne – l’ouverture de négociations d’adhésion de
la Turquie, qui a été fixée au 3 octobre 2005 par les 25 chefs d’Etat
et de gouvernement.
Il a cependant assuré que la route menant à ce “mariage” serait
“longue et difficile”.
–Boundary_(ID_gCo7zKxTsEBU/DVR1ymWUA)–