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:
December 8, 2004
___________________
ARCHBISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL 2004 SHOWCASED DURING GATHERING OF
BOSTON-AREA PARISHIONERS
On Wednesday, December 1, 2004, more than 70 Armenians from local
parishes throughout the Boston area attended a reception, during which
they were introduced to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2004 and the
future plans of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
The reception, hosted by The Guleserian Family at the Sheraton Commander
Hotel in Cambridge, MA, was one of many regional receptions being
organized to give parishioners a chance to meet with Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate; members of the Diocesan Council; and representatives
from the Diocesan staff.
The evenings are a chance for parishioners to get a better understanding
of what the Diocese does to further the Armenian Christian faith, and
why donating to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2004 makes a difference.
“People appreciated the Primate’s presence there, and the ability to ask
questions,” said John Amboian, vice chair of the Diocesan Council, who
attended the reception. “And they came away saying it was very
informative. They really learned how those funds will be utilized.
Some people think, when they give to something like the Archbishop’s
Annual Appeal that it will be used to pay rent or utilities. But the
point is that’s not right. We’re using those funds to expand our
programs and ministries that serve our parishes.”
The discussions on Diocesan programs and ministries focused on efforts
targeting six areas: building a better understanding of our faith,
engaging young people, supporting emerging Armenian communities,
providing continuing education and leadership training for clergy and
lay leaders, finding new ways to communicate with every Armenian, and
building a foundation of stewardship in all our parishes.
“The most encouraging part of the evening was there were a lot of new
faces that hadn’t been there in the past and that’s encouraging,” said
Jim Kalustian, a member of the Diocesan Council and Parish Council
Chairman at the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA. “I believe that
means we’re reaching out to a broader cross section of the community and
people are seeing the value in some of the programs and efforts at the
Diocesan level. The message we’re trying to get across is the Diocese
is not an institution. It is the parishes and people at the local
level; because that’s who the programs are developed for.”
One person who spoke at the reception was Christopher Tashjian, a member
of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) Central
Council. He told the attendees how he personally has benefited from
programs and ministries operated by the Eastern Diocese thanks to the
continuous support of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.
“He spoke about how he has personally benefited from going on
pilgrimages to Armenia, taking part in our youth training programs,
being at St. Vartan Camp, going to the ACYOA Sports Weekend,” Kalustian
said. “It was very sincere and personal, a heart-felt expression of
appreciation to all the people there who supported the Diocese’s
programs. He struck a chord with everyone. What better way to
exemplify why people need to support the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal than
for someone get up and say how the Diocese has improved their personal
life.”
The reception is just one of several planned throughout the Diocese this
winter. The Primate and Diocesan leaders already met with parishioners
in Chicago. They will gather in New Jersey on December 10; at the
Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY, on December 16; and at the
St. John Church in Southfield, MI, on January 20. Other events are
being planned. For information on any of these, please e-mail the
Diocese at [email protected].
“We want to meet with the faithful and answer their questions and hear
their suggestions,” said Archbishop Barsamian. “We want to show them
how the Diocese, thanks to their support, is working to make the
Armenian Church a vital part of each Armenian’s life.”
The receptions are not just for donors, but are open to every Armenian.
“The original idea behind the receptions was to thank our donors, and I
think it is still a good way to do that,” Kalustian said. “But it’s also
a way for people who have not given or may be thinking about increasing
their support to learn more first-hand, rather than just reading in a
pamphlet, why they should support these programs and what good these
programs are doing with their support.”
For more information on the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2004 receptions,
and information on how to support Diocesan ministries and programs,
visit our website at
— 12/08/04
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 Eastern
Diocese, speaks with Boston area Armenians who turned out for a special
reception held on December 1, 2004, as part of the Archbishop’s Annual
Appeal 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Ed Guleserian, who hosted the Boston-area
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2004 reception at the Sheraton Commander
Hotel, speaks to the attendees on the importance of supporting Diocesan
programs and ministries.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Christopher Tashjian, a member of the ACYOA Central
Council, speaks to attendees on the importance of supporting programs
and ministries aimed at youth.
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARTSAKH WAS AND REMAINS A SANCTITY FOR DIASPORANS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
08 Dec 04
“The November 25 telethon in Los Angeles lasting 12 hours produced
unprecedented results, more than 11 million dollars was donated for
the construction of the ‘North-South’ highway,” said the director of
the all-Armenian foundation ‘Hayastan’ during the press conference
on December 3. The building of the road will be resumed in spring of
2005 and will last for two years. According to the director of the
foundation Naira Melkumian, the geography of participation in the
telethon and the willingness to contribute to the construction of the
road of strategic importance for the motherland is invaluable. “The
results we have today is the eloquent proof of the unity of the
Armenian nation. The active participation of different layers of
the society showed that the results of the telethon would be high,”
mentioned the director of the telethon. NKR president Arkady Ghukassian
had a decisive role in the organization of the telethon during which he
addressed live the Armenians. Naira Melkumian stressed the importance
of the direct participation of president Ghukassian in the telethon.
“This fact encouraged our benefactors even more.” The good results
of the telethon were also determined by the well-organized team work
in which, according to her, the local bodies of the United States
and Europe, especially the local body of the East Coast of the USA
had their contribution. Owing to the director of the latter Gevorg
Toroyan, 5 million 700 thousand dollars were donated by the Armenians
of the East Coast. The same can be said about the West Coast where
the results again exceeded those of the previous year. The West Coast
donated 2 million 222 thousand dollars of which 1 million 320 thousand
will be spent for the construction of the road and the rest for other
programs. Naira Melkumian also mentioned that this year the sum of
donations in Armenia and Artsakh totals 1 million 100 thousand drams
which exceeds the rates of the previous years. According to her,
“This testifies to the fact that RA and NKR are developing and the
foundation still enjoys the confidence of Armenians.” During the
press conference the director of the foundation enumerated the names
of the people who had donated large sums: Louise Simon-Manougian,
Eduardo Ernekian, Hrair Hovnanian, Caroline Mugar, Sarghis Hakobian,
Ara Abrahamian, and others who have lived abroad for a long time
but have not get estranged from their motherland and continue to
assist to the development of their country. “The unity we witnessed
on the day of the telethon was encouraging, indeed,” emphasized Naira
Melkumian. “And, I am sure, through maintaining this powerful feeling
of unity we will be able to overcome all the challenges we are facing
today with dignity. And, of course, the results of the telethon,
more than 11 million, are a signal for everybody that the Armenian
nation is committed to the ideas which helped us win that difficult
war. For the victory in the war was, indeed, the result of the unity
of the Armenian nation.” Sharing his impressions with the journalists,
she said, “During all our meetings we discovered that Artsakh was and
remains a sanctity for the Armenian nation. And everything will be
done for Artsakh to remain free, independent, and for our national
goals to fulfil.”
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
08-12-2004

NEW OPPOSITION BLOC TO BE FORMED IN ARMENIA
08.12.2004 14:29
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within few days an announcement on the formation
of a new pro-west oriented opposition bloc will be made in Armenia,
Haykakan Zhamanak Armenian newspaper writes. It also reports that
with coming to power the union will strive for Armenia’s joining
the NATO and EU. Relations with Russia, in the opinion of the bloc
leaders, will be based on the “equality” principle. According to
the preliminary data, the declaration on the formation of the new
political alliance will be signed by Zharang party leader and first
Foreign Minister of independent Armenia Raffi Hovhanissian, Republic
party leader and former Prime Minister Aram Z. Sargsian (the brother
of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian killed in 1999) and leader of the
Liberal Progressive party Hovhannes Hovhanissian. It is not ruled out
that People’s Party and Justice bloc leader Stepan Demirchian will also
join the new union (it is still unclear, however). There are also some
questions connected with Aram Z. Sargsian and the members of his party,
who are considered to be Russia-oriented. Representatives of other
parties, the number of which is about 20, are possible to join the
bloc later. The prospects of ANM’s (Armenian National Movement, the
former ruling party) joining the bloc also remain vague. The newspaper
writes that with coming to power the new bloc representatives promise
“to solve the Karabakh problem with minimal losses”. The meaning of
such an indistinct wording is unknown.

TBILISI AND BAKU QUARREL OVER CARGOS
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Dec 8 2004
Georgian businessmen hit by a row over whether freight cars from
Azerbaijan are destined for Armenia
By Lela Iremashvili in Tbilisi and Rufat Abbasov in Baku
The Azerbaijani authorities have detained more than 900 freight
railcars travelling to Georgia in the past month, following suspicions
that they were actually en route to Baku’s long-standing enemy,
Armenia.
The row has not only cost Georgian businesses millions of US
dollars but has also damaged the traditionally good relations
between Baku and Tbilisi, which were recently cemented further by
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Most of the freight containers, containing diesel oil, flour, liquefied
gas, grain and other items, had travelled by sea from Central Asia to
Baku, where they continued by rail. Many were heading for Georgia’s
Black Sea ports of Batumi and Poti and onwards to European markets.
While some of the freight cars were allowed to cross the frontier
last week, a significant number are still stuck at the Beyuk-Kasik
border crossing. Last month, only cargoes originating in Azerbaijan
were allowed to cross, without any explanation from Baku why the
others should be stopped.
However, Azerbaijani ambassador Ramiz Hasanov was invited to the
Georgian foreign ministry to discuss the issue, he told the media that
Baku suspected that freight was passing through Georgia to Armenia,
in contravention of an agreement his government signed with Tbilisi
in June forbidding the transit of goods to a third country “contrary
to their national interests”.
“Azerbaijan has its own national interests in connection with this
issue,” Hasanov said, referring to its bitter dispute with Armenia over
Nagorny Karabakh. “How would [Georgia] react if Azerbaijan delivered
fuel or other cargo to [the disputed territories] Abkhazia and South
Ossetia? That would damage the national interests of Georgia.”
Azerbaijani prime minister Artur Rasizade told IWPR that he had
evidence that several freight carriages transporting oil products
were indeed intended for Armenia.
Georgian prime minister Zurab Zhvania has tried to play down the
incident, telling journalists that he saw no reason to “dramatise”
the situation. “We are working with the Azerbaijani side and I am
sure that we won’t have any problems,” he said.
In an attempt to resolve the situation, Georgian Railways’ commercial
director Ramiz Giorgadze travelled to Baku, while officials from the
Azerbaijani customs committee visited Tbilisi and checked the freight
cars’ documentation. Those that were given the all clear by customs
officials were immediately allowed to cross into Georgia.
Georgian officials said that none of the detained freight cars were
travelling to Armenia, although David Onoprishvili, chairman of
Georgian Railways, conceded that this had happened before.
The Georgian customs department told IWPR that the issue had only
become relevant after the inter-governmental agreement signed by the
two nations came into force on November 22.
Customs officials have said that Georgia would no longer re-export
cargos to Armenia, in line with Azerbaijani requests.
However, Georgia’s deputy minister of economic development Geno
Muradian argued that there was no legal basis for stopping most of
the cars, even if they did proceed to Armenia.
“Wheat and oil are not military cargos, and cannot threaten the
security of a country. If they end up in Armenia, it won’t be a
tragedy,” he said.
“For a long time transit, cargos from Azerbaijan have not officially
been going to Armenia,” Muradian went on. “But business has its own
laws, and a businessman who receives goods in Georgia will find ways
to send them on to Armenia if he wants to.”
Officials in both countries are now debating what harm the row has
done to relations.
Georgian economic expert Giorgi Khukhasvili said, “Azerbaijan is our
strategic partner, our countries are fully integrated with regard to
transit shipments, and without Azerbaijan, Georgia’s transit functions
are worth nothing.”
However, Baku political analyst Rasmi Agayev argued in an article in
the Obozrevatel newspaper that the two nations’ strategic partnership
“is no more than a declaration”, and criticised Tbilisi for its “double
standards” in not supporting Azerbaijan over the Karabakh dispute.
Georgian businesses are being tight-lipped about what the dispute
has cost them, although losses are believed to run into millions
of dollars.
Vano Mtvraralashvili, head of the Union of Producers, Importers and
Consumers of Oil Products, said many Georgian importers whose products
had been delayed on the border for a month had asked him for help.
For example, said Mtvraralashvili, one firm was trying to import 1,200
tonnes of diesel oil from Turkmenistan, where prices were cheaper.
Despite having all the documentation to prove that the oil was intended
for Georgia’s domestic market, it was not being allowed through.
“If the Azerbaijanis had doubts about Georgian companies, then why
didn’t they stop the cargoes on the Turkmen-Azerbaijani border?”
complained Mtvraralashvili. “Now they’ve paid Baku fees for a transit
that they can’t complete.”
In any case, he said, Armenia would not be bereft of petroleum products
because it also used other transit routes.
Both governments now say they are confident that full freight traffic
will be restored in the next few days. But the deeper implications
of this row may have a much more lasting effect.
Lela Iremashvili is a correspondent with Black Sea Press news agency
in Tbilisi. Rufat Abbasov is a correspondent with Reuters in Baku.

ARMENIA’S ANTI-SMOKING LAW: PUFF OR PROGRESS?
By Karine Ter-Saakian in Yerevan
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Dec 8 2004
In this country, even the doctors and politicians who warn of the
evils of nicotine are smokers themselves.
Armenia is the smoking capital of Europe.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, estimates that 63.7 per cent of
Armenian men are smokers, which makes them the heaviest puffers in
Europe. While there are no reliable statistics for the smaller number
of women smokers, their number is growing every year.
In Yerevan, billboards every ten metres display cigarette
advertisements for both Armenian and well-known international brands.
“It’s a national disgrace,” Grant Vardanian told IWPR. That’s a
surprising comment, coming from a business tycoon with a monopoly on
Armenia’s tobacco industry. “That’s what I say, even me, and those are
my advertising billboards hanging there! Until now, our legislators
have failed to pass a law prohibiting cigarette advertisements in
public places.”
Nonetheless, it was Vardanian and a group of other businessmen directly
involved in the production and distribution of cigarettes who earlier
this year led opposition to an anti-smoking bill in parliament.
Another legislative attempt to fight Armenia’s smoking habit is
currently being considered by the National Assembly, and could become
law by the end of the year.
The problem is chronic. In the cafes and restaurants of Armenia you can
hardly make out people’s faces in the dense tobacco smoke. “How can you
drink a cup of coffee without a cigarette?” is the sort of remark that
regulars in Yerevan’s countless cafes make to a curious journalist.
True, smoking has recently been banned in some large offices, but
this has little effect on the general public.
“All my friends smoke, so am I any worse than they are?” asked Narine,
a regular visitor to the Poplavok café in central Yerevan. “I know it’s
bad for you, but so what? What difference does it make if you live five
years more or less. I could give up if I wanted to. There is a saying,
you know: someone who doesn’t smoke or drink is damaging his health.”
According to the WHO, 2,000 people between the ages of 35 and 70
die every year in Armenia from smoking-related diseases such as lung
cancer and heart attacks.
“They are not dying from smoking,” said cardiologist Tigran Haianian,
“but from stress. Smoking only aggravates and attacks the weak parts
of the body. But they should give up, of course.”
Somewhat undercutting his fine words, Haianian admits he has been
smoking since his student years and is not about to give up.
Alexander Bazarjian, co-ordinator of the public health ministry’s
anti-tobacco programme, argues that if Armenia were to sign up to the
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control it could save millions
of lives, “The convention obliges everyone to fight against smoking,
and if we do not subscribe to it, then we are pronouncing an ultimatum
on our health.”
But this message does not seem to be getting through. After all,
health minister Norair Davidian is a smoker himself.
After doctors, it is of course journalists who smoke more than anyone
else. “Well, how can you write without a cigarette? Your head just
doesn’t work,” is a remark that typifies the attitude of three quarters
of Armenian journalists, regardless of gender.
On the days a newspaper goes to press, the smoke in editorial offices
is suffocating. “You may as well smoke yourself, at least fewer people
will hassle you about it,” said journalist Yelena Galoyan.
Legislation limiting the sale and consumption of tobacco products,
proposed by the permanent parliamentary commission for science,
education, culture and sport was adopted in a first hearing by
parliament in mid-November.
The campaign is already having some effect. Rumour has it that the
entire Armenian government gave up smoking simultaneously, but how long
they can keep it up is another matter. President Robert Kocharian does
not smoke, but the same cannot be said of his subordinates. True,
in the new Yerevan mayor’s office there is not a single ashtray and
no area for smokers.
Artur Bagdasarian, speaker of the National Assembly, laid down
something of a challenge when he declared triumphantly that he had
given up, prompting journalists to begin stalking him and other
deputies to see whether they could catch them out.
But there is another side to the coin. Cigarette production accounts
for 3.3 per cent of Armenia’s industrial output, and in 2001-03,
profits from both imported cigarettes and the sale of locally
manufactured product amounted to 42 million US dollars.
Last May, anti-smoking legislation failed in parliament because many
deputies had vested interests in the cigarette business.
The watered-down version reviewed by parliament last month now protects
the interests of cigarette manufacturers. As it stands now, smoking
will still be permitted in cafes and restaurants, and taxes and excise
duties on Armenian-made brands will remain low. Prices of cigarettes –
currently between 50 cents and a dollar for a packet – are set to rise.
If it is passed, the new law will impose restrictions on advertising,
the sale of cigarettes to minors, and smoking in public places.
Ordinary Armenians wonder how much difference it will make.
“Cigarette advertising is very attractive, with its courageous young
men and elegant models inviting you to take up smoking,” market trader
Grigor Khachatrian told IWPR. “Our young people are attracted by
beauty, they hardly think about the dangers. But banning it won’t work.
Smokers will smoke. The advertisements don’t work on me, though –
I’ve never smoked in my life.”
Economics expert Eduard Agajanov argues that “a ban on advertising
local products leads to buyers preferring attractive foreign goods”.
“If this law becomes government policy, then of course I will obey it,”
said parliamentary deputy Shavarsh Kocharian.
“And if we ban advertising, well so what? People will smoke all
the same.”
Kocharian should know – he’s not planning to give up.
Karine Ter-Saakian is a freelance journalist based in Yerevan.
–Boundary_(ID_Pzv9Uh7xYuhPmCodYdu0qQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Erdogan lauds tolerance as ‘Garden of Religions’ opens in Turkey
Agence France Presse
Dec 8 2004
BELEK, Turkey, Dec 8 (AFP) – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
pledged Wednesday that his government would remove any remaining
obstacles to religious freedoms in Turkey as he opened a complex of
Muslim, Christian and Jewish worship sites.
The “Garden of Religions” in the Mediterranean resort of Belek,
which contains a mosque, a church and a synagogue, was inaugurated
to underscore inter-cultural tolerance at a time when Turkey is
under fire from the EU for failing to fully respect the rights of
its non-Muslim minorities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan said that religious tolerance was
a heritage of the Ottoman Empire and quoted edicts by Mehmet the
Conqueror, the sultan who took Istanbul in 1453, ordering respect
for non-Muslims.
“Owing to this great historical experience, Turkey is today the
guarantor of peace and brotherhood in its region,” he said.
“Of course, we still have deficiencies and we are expending efforts
to overcome them in the shortest possible time,” he added.
Visiting Dutch European Affairs Minister Atzo Nikolai, whose country
currently holds the EU presidency, members of the diplomatic community
in Ankara as well as religious leaders of Turkey’s Greek, Armenian
and Jewish minorities attended the ceremony.
“People will be able to freely practice their religions in this
center. This is a very important message,” Nikolai said, quoted by
Anatolia news agency.
Belek is a major touristic center on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast,
which attracts millions of foreign holiday-makers each year.
“The EU will continue to encourage reforms in Turkey,” Nikolai said.
“There could be frictions sometimes, but the reforms Turkey has
undertaken are encouraging.”
The Dutch minister was in Turkey for consultaions with Turkish
leaders in the run-up to an EU summit on December 16-17, at which
Ankara is expected to be invited to begin membership talks, though
under tough conditions.
Leaders of Turkey’s non-Muslim minorities hailed the inauguration
of the “Garden of Religions,” but not without some barbed remarks on
legal snags restricting their activities.
“Catholics are able to practice their religion in Turkey but do not
have (property) rights over churches. I hope they will have that right
one day,” Father Alphonse Sammut, a representative of the Catholic
community said, according to Anatolia.
Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II, for his part, said that
non-Muslim places of worship should be opened in all major Turkish
cities.
“This should be done either by rennovating historical sites or by
building new ones as the one here,” he said.

Pope condemns attacks on churches in Iraq
Reuters
Dec 8 2004
VATICAN CITY, Dec 8 (Reuters) Pope John Paul today condemned the
bombing of two churches in Iraq, the latest in a series of attacks
against the Christian community.
“I ask the Lord for the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin, so that
dear Iraqi people can finally come to know a time of reconciliation
and peace,” the 84-year-old Pope told thousands of pilgrims packed
into St Peter’s Square.
Gunmen attacked two churches in the tense northern Iraqi city of
Mosul yesterday, in the latest violence directed against one of Iraq’s
several religious and ethnic groups.
Members of the churches, one Armenian, the other Chaldean, said gunmen
burst in, forced people to leave and set off explosions inside the
buildings. No one was hurt in the attacks.
Iraq’s 650,000 Christians — mostly Chaldeans, Assyrians and Catholics
— comprise about 3 percent of the population. Many have left Iraq
and the Vatican fears more will go if the attacks go on.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY FOR PEACE THAT SATISFIES AZERBAIJAN
[December 08, 2004, 21:18:55]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 8 2004
Chairman of Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz
Alaskarov on 8 December has received the newly appointed ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Turkey to Azerbaijan Turan Morali.
Congratulating the Ambassador on his mission and wishing success in
his activity, Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament said the friendly and
fraternal relations between two the countries have ancient history,
nevertheless, after return of the national leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev to power a new phase opened in development of the
Azerbaijan-Turkey relations. At present, President Ilham Aliyev
successfully pursues this course. Large-scale projects realized in
the region bring closer our brotherly countries and peoples.
Then, Murtuz Alaskarov updated the Ambassador on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, stressed fair position
of Azerbaijan related to the issue. Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament
expressed gratitude for position of Turkey in the mentioned problem.
Ambassador Turan Morali thanked for sincere reception and said he
would make every effort to promote development of bilateral relations
between two countries. As to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Turkey
will support the peace that will satisfy Azerbaijan and his country
would render any possible assistance in settlement of the conflict.
There are forces in Turkey who are interested in establishment of
economic and political links with Armenia, the diplomat said. “But
this is not official position of Turkey. Turkey will neither open
the borders, nor establish diplomatic links with Armenia until the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict found its fair solution and the refugees
and IDPs return to their homelands”, Mr. Turan Morali emphasized.
In the meeting, also were exchanged views on a number of other
questions representing mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia offers Gazprom role in Iran pipeline project
Interfax
Dec 8 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia’s government and Gazprom are discussing
a role for the Russian gas giant in the construction of the Kadjaran –
Ararat section of the gas pipeline between Armenia and Iran.
An Armenian government source told Interfax that Gazprom might
be invited to build and renovate 200 km of pipeline at a cost of
approximately $90 million.
Gazprom might receive the incomplete No. 5 generating unit at the
Razdan power plant, in which Gazprom has shown an interest, to
reimburse its costs.
Razdan is Armenia’s biggest heat and power plant, producing 20% of
the country’s electricity. It has capacity of 1,100 megawatts and
operating capacity of 800 megawatts.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 1994 provided
a loan worth $61.5 million to build the fifth block at the Razdan
plant. Work on the unit was halted in 1996 after $60 million had been
spent on it. Another $60 million or so will be needed to complete
the unit. Armenia is spending $500,000 in budgeted funds each year
to keep the unit in mothballs.
Russia and Armenia signed a protocol at the start of this year to
transfer the existing four units of the Razdan plant to Russia in
payment for Armenia’s state debt. ZAO Inter RAO UES assumed management
of the plant. The fifth unit will be a separate legal entity.
Work on the Armenian stretch of the pipeline began at the end of
November. Construction of Iran’s 100-km stretch began in July. The
Iranian Export and Development Bank set aside $30 million to finance
the Armenian stretch.
Iran signed a deal to supply Armenia with 36 billion cubic meters
(bcm) of gas per year over 20 years with the possibility of extending
this by five years and gas supplies to 47 bcm in May this year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OFFICIALS, IRANIAN GOVERNOR DISCUSS COOPERATION
ArmenPress
Dec 8 2004
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Armenian territorial minister Hovik
Abrahamian and the governor of Iranian province of Ardabil, Meyyed
Javad Negarandei, discussed today in Yerevan the available potential
for stepping up cooperation between administrative regions of the
two countries. Abrahamian was quoted by the government’s press office
as saying that cooperation between Ardabil and Armenian province of
Syunik, bordering Iran is of strategic importance.
The two men singled out cooperation in plant cultivation, exchange of
seeds and siblings, introduction of the Iranian technology of potato
processing, import of water pipelines.
The Iranian governor suggested that a joint office be established
within the frameworks of the two countries’ commerce chambers to
promote and coordinate bilateral collaboration. He said tens of
businessmen who are visiting Armenia together with him are negotiating
with Armenian counterparts on starting joint businesses.
At the end of the meeting Abrahamian pledged the government’s support
to the governor’s office of Ardabil for implementation of any joint
project..
The Iranian governor was also received today by the chief of
presidential staff, Artashes Tumanian, who is also the Armenian
cochairman of a bilateral commission for economic development.