Armenian Relief Society, Inc.

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. Phone: 617-926-589
Central Office Fax: 617-926-4855
80 Bigelow Avenue E-mail: [email protected]
Watertown, MA 02472 Contact Person: Hamesd Beugekian

P r e s s R e l e a s e

The International Board of Directors of the Armenian Relief Society,
Inc. (ARS) is pleased to announce that the results of “The HIV
Education and Assessment Project in Armenia” have been accepted for
poster presentation at the 15th International AIDS Conference in
Bangkok, Thailand from July 11-16, 2004.

The HIV Education and Assessment Project was conducted by the ARS, in
collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, Worcester at the
ARS Mother-Child Clinic in Akhourian, Armenia. This needs assessment,
completed in September 2002, was sponsored by the ARS, and focused on
identifying major health issues, HIV knowledge, HIV education
strategies that would work, and barriers to HIV prevention education.

A subsequent collaborative effort with the University of
Massachusetts, “The HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Project,” funded
by a grant from the World AIDS Foundation, emerged directly from the
results of this needs assessment.

Authors include Dr. Carol Bova, Assistant Professor of Nursing and
Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School; Dr. Sevak
Avagyan, Director of the ARS Mother-Child Clinic; Carol Jaffarian,
Nurse Manager/Nurse Practitioner of the HIV Clinic at U Mass Memorial
Healthcare, and member ofthe ARS; Dr. Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, Executive
Director of the ARS Mother-Child Clinic; and Dr. Ann Williams,
Professor of Nursing at the Yale University School of Nursing.

Built in the region of Armenia devastated by the 1988 earthquake, the
ARS Mother-Child Clinic, the first licensed and registered
privately-owned medical facility in Armenia, became operational in May
1997. Providing the 22,000 strong population of Akhourian and six
adjacent villages with free medical care and treatment, more than
40,000 women and children have received care at the Clinic since its
inception; and more than 450 children have been born to mothers
followed in this clinic. In September 2003, the ARS celebrated the
ground-breaking of a Birthing Center at the Clinic.

Founded in 1910 as an independent, non-sectarian, non-governmental
organization (NGO), serving the humanitarian, social, and educational
needsof Armenians, the ARS has affiliate entities in 24 countries and
a membership of approximately 18,000. An NGO on the roster in
consultative status with theEconomic and Social Council of the United
Nations, the ARS is a 501© (3) charitable, tax-exempt organization.

U.S.: Border Crossing Lax for Students

Customs officials lack access to vital information system

The State News (Michigan State University)
MSU’s Independent Voice
Friday, April 16, 2004

By Emily Bingham ([email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>)

Customs officers are not checking the federal Internet database of
information about international students as often as they should,
government officials said Wednesday.

According to a report released by The Chronicle of Higher Education,
officials have confirmed that the initial customs officers who check
foreign students at border crossings, seaports and airports do not have
direct access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or
SEVIS.

In the report, SEVIS director Jill Drury said a secondary line of
customs officers have access to the database, but they only review new
students and those whose information raises suspicion.

In 2001, the USA Patriot Act set aside more than $36 million for SEVIS
and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to collect and manage
information about international students. The computerized, Web-based
system replaced a manual, paper-driven method of maintaining this
information, which includes addresses, biographical data, areas of study
and social security numbers. The system was implemented in January 2003
after it was determined that one of the hijackers from the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks entered the country on a student visa.

Some university and college officials nationwide are alarmed at the lack
of SEVIS utilization, because many schools spent time and money
providing information for the system.

“We had heard that some ports of entry didn’t have access to it,” said
Rosemary Max, assistant director for MSU’s Office of International
Students and Scholars. “But we hadn’t heard anything that was as
comprehensive as this.”

Max said that while she wasn’t too worried about time spent supplying
information, she was somewhat concerned about the safety implications of
not using the database.

“It’s a little bit anti-logical, because they put the system in to make
us more secure, supposedly,” she said. “If they’re not able to get the
real-time information they need when that person enters, then I don’t
see what the point is.”

Drury said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hadn’t reached its
goal of allowing SEVIS access for the first line of customs officers,
and added that she did not know how long it would be until the system
was completely implemented.

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security could not be reached
Thursday.

At MSU, some international students said their experiences with SEVIS
have led them to question the system’s usefulness.

Grigor Sargsyan, an economics graduate student, came to campus from
Armenia one year before SEVIS was put into place. Once the system was
implemented, Sargsyan said he had to give the government as much
information as possible, which caused him to worry about his return to
MSU after visiting home for the summer.

“I was really afraid I would have problems,” he said. “What was really
to my surprise was that I didn’t have any problems at all.

“It seemed like they didn’t even use that information.”

Sargsyan said he was surprised when the customs officer at the border
only asked him one question, causing him to wonder whether the “hassle”
of filling out SEVIS documents was really helping homeland security.

“I’m from the economics department, and I look at this from the point of
view of cost and benefit,” he said. “The government spent a huge amount
of money for this and I’m not even sure they’re going to use it for its
purpose.

“The benefit will be less than the cost, definitely.”

ENERGY SAFETY DISCUSSED

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: A presidential nuclear power
safetycouncil held its regular meeting today in Yerevan. The council
is an advisory body affiliated with the Armenian president. It is
composed of eminent experts in the field. Established by a 1996 decree
of Armenian president its aim is to ensure safe operation of Armenian
nuclear power plant.

During the meeting, the president underlined the key importance
ofsafe energy for all economic projects, Armenian president press
services reported. He therefore attached importance to new, systemic
approaches in energy reform.

Kocharian noted that a series of programs have already been carried
out with the assistance of IAEA to raise the plant’s safety. “We are
sure that a real energy safety can be attained through many-sided
cooperation in the field and we are thankful for your effective
assistance,” the president said, addressing the chairman of nuclear
power safety council, the head of GermanNuclear Safety Institute Adolf
Berkhoffer, who in turn expressed his satisfaction with the current
level of the plant’s work . He noted that the Armenian nuclear power
plant worked smoothly last year without any incidents reported, an
indication of stable technical safety system.

NAIRIT PLANT HAS NEW OWNER

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: All shares of one of the biggest
inEurope synthetic rubber manufacturing Nairit plant in Yerevan went
to an international Volgaburmash holding with mainly Russian
capital. The relevant agreement was signed today at the Armenian
Central bank by Volgaburmash’s representative in the Central bank,
Mikhail Zavertyaev and the acting head of Armenian Haykap bank, which
took hold of the plant’s shares in 2003 April after an Indian Ransat,
the former owner of the plant, failed to meet its commitments. The
deal is expected to be finalized in 3-4 days.

Armenian trade and economic development Karen Chshmaritian said the
holding has “a promising” past record of successful operation. He
added that the holding that was granted the trust management of the
plant last year has already invested $3.5 million to pay back wages
and accumulated utility debts.

The minister said under the takeover contract the holding is to
make big investments to replace the outdated equipment. Zavertyaev
said part of investments will be directed to increasing the output and
reach gradually the projected capacities.

ARMENIA TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL ANTI-SMOKE CONVENTION

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: About 1 million 200,000 people die
of smoking in Europe annually. Doctors project this number to reach 2
million by 2020. Mortality rate from cigarettes makes up 14 percent
of total deaths. According to official statistics, 67 percent of men
and 3.1 percent of women smoke in Armenia. Specialists say cigarettes
cause 30 percent of cancer and 20 percent of heart diseases.

Members of World Health Organization which comprise 192 countries
have developed International Anti-Smoke Exchange Convention. Some 102
countries have already signed it. The convention aims to fight smoking
disease. Armenia also intends to join the convention. Armenian Health
ministry discussed the details during a round table yesterday. The
convention will be signed on June 29, 2004 at UN office.

It envisages certain legal and administrative responsibilities,
such as prohibition of promotion of cigarettes, sale of cigarettes to
teenagers. Currently both the foreign ministry and the health
ministry have positive attitudes to the convention but it is being
discussed with other agencies as well. The convention also proposes
control mechanisms. Every 2 year the implementation of convention
requirements are conferred.

OSCE MINSK GROUP ON NAGORNY KARABAKH RESUMES WORK

BAKU/YEREVAN, April 16 (RIA Novosti) – Elmar Mamedyarov, Azerbaijan’s
foreign minister, and Vardan Oskanyan, Armenia’s foreign minister,
well meet within the framework of the Minsk Group of the OSCE
(Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) on Nagorny
Karabakh in Prague on Friday, April 16.

This is the first time the Armenian foreign minister will meet his
recently appointed Azerbaijani counterpart.

Moreover, Mr. Mamedyarov and Mr. Oskanyan’s meeting in Prague within
the framework of OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorny Karabakh will be held
after more than a year long interval.

The work of the Minsk Group on settlement of the Azerbaijani-Armenian
conflict over Nagorny Karabakh (an enclave with the predominantly
Armenian population in Azerbaijan) was officially suspended in
connection with the presidential and parliamentarian elections in
Armenia last year (February-March) and the presidential elections in
Azerbaijan last October.

The upcoming meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Prague on
March 29, however it was postponed because of an official request from
Baku.

The meeting was organized through the mediation of the Russian,
American, and French co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorny
Karabakh. Yury Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of OSCE Minsk
Group, told to the Baku-based ATV TV channel that the Prague meeting
would essentially be “consultations of the heads of the foreign
ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan with the co-chairmen of the Minsk
Group.”

The press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that
the meeting will be held for information purposes in connection with
the appointment of Azerbaijan’s new foreign minister and the upcoming
replacement of the American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group.

This opinion is shared by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, whose
information and press department said that the meeting of the two
countries’ foreign ministers would be held within the framework of the
consultations organized by the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Gourp on
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Arts Preview: Chamber ensembles travel easily in classical world

Friday, April 16, 2004

By Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In these days of supersized consumption, it’s the small fries who
might be in the best shape.

I Musici de Montreal: Conductor Yuli Turovsky. Appearing as part of
the Quebec Festival. 8 tonight; Byham Theater, Downtown; $20-$25;
412-456-6666. Program: Bartok’s “Romanian Folk Dances,” Bloch’s
“Three Jewish Pieces,” Komitas’ “Armenian Folk Songs and Dances,”
Gougeon’s “Coups d’archet” and Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade in C
major.

Nuance: Conductor Andres Cardenes. Pittsburgh Symphony chamber
orchestra series. 8 p.m. tomorrow; JCC Katz Auditorium, Squirrel
Hill. $15-$29; 412-392-4900. Program: Bach’s Concerto for Three
Violins, Piazzolla’s “Grand Tango,” Mozart’s Wind Serenade in C minor
and Huebner’s “New York Stories.”

Australian Chamber Orchestra: Leader Richard Tognetti with soprano
Dawn Upshaw. Presented by the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society. 8
p.m. April 26; Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland; $15-$30;
412-624-4129. Program: Corelli’s Concerto Grosso (Op. 6, No. 4),
Lentz’s “Te deum Laudamus,” Bach cantata arias, Schubert’s “Death and
the Maiden” lied and quartet (arranged for orchestra).

Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival: Conductor Lucas Richman. “Klezmer
Concertos.” 8 p.m. April 27; JCC Katz Auditorium; $12-$15.
412-394-3353. Program: Finkel’s “The Fiddle,” Krasa’s “Brundibar,”
Glick’s “The Klezmer’s Wedding,” Hoffman’s “Self-Portrait with
Gebirtig” and Richman’s “Kol Nidre.”I Musici’s conductor Yuli Turovsky

No, this is not another story about diets, but about the orchestra
world.

Full-size orchestras are expensive to record, to maintain and
certainly to tour. In today’s classical musical world, their smaller
counterparts — chamber orchestras — have distinct financial
advantages .

Pittsburgh, a city which once entertained large visiting orchestras,
hosts a number of smaller ones over the next two weeks. I Musici de
Montreal and the Australian Chamber Orchestra visit, complementing
performances by local ensembles, Nuance (Pittsburgh Symphony’s chamber
orchestra) and the chamberorchestra of the Pittsburgh Jewish Music
Festival.

“Touring costs us an enormous amount for our budget, but in comparison
to a large orchestra of course it is a pittance,” says Richard
Tognetti, artistic director and leader of the Australian Chamber
Orchestra. “For example, whenthe Sydney Symphony toured Europe with
Strauss’ ‘Alpine Symphony’ they took 13 or so horns … four players
less than our 17 core players. So indeed a chamber orchestra is a far
more flexible beast.”

The appearance of the 16-member I Musici is part of Pittsburgh
Cultural Trust’s Quebec Festival and is supported by the Quebec
Government House andAlcoa Foundation. Still, the concert will happen
only because the ensemble is already touring nationally.

For I Musici conductor Yuli Turovsky, the benefits of touring outweigh
the costs. “I think it is necessary to tour. First, I think we should
use our flexibility as an ensemble, to compare with big symphonies who
could afforda tour every other year or so. The bigger ensemble has a
bigger budget, but the smaller one is more mobile — it is our
strength.”

Tours can also be a part of the mission statement for a smaller
orchestra, as is the case for the Australian Chamber Orchestra. “We
are the national orchestra, and we are obliged therefore to travel as
much as our schedule permits,” says Tognetti. “I would like to get
more to the outback and places that are not near our urban centers,
but then we can’t do everything.”

The flip side of a tour is the destination city. In the past,
Pittsburgh has hosted such big-ticket orchestras as the Israel
Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus and even the Cleveland and
Philadelphia orchestras. A chamber orchestra costs less than these to
present, however it often comes on a series that has less money to
spend. The Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, bringing the Australian
Chamber Orchestra, typically presents quintets, quartets or trios. It
can only offer a larger group so often.

“Chamber Orchestra appearances are rare on the series,” says Natalie
Forbes, executive director of PCMS. “The last chamber orchestra on the
series was in 1994, when the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra performed
with Benita Valente. List prices for better chamber orchestras are
close to $60,000, whereas more standard ensembles may have a list
price in the range of $15,000.”

One major reason why the Nuance series in the JCC Katz Auditorium was
created by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1999 was to offer
different repertoire in an intimate setting. Another was to have a
presence in the Squirrel Hill region with a minimum of expense. A
chamber orchestra of the members of the PSO fit the double bill. Some
of the same players perform in the Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival.

Large and small ensembles do share some attributes when touring. With
only one stop in a given city, all touring ensembles must program
carefully to show their best side. Both the Montreal-centered I Musici
and the Sydney-based Australian Chamber Orchestra chose to represent
the quality of culture in their homes, but in different ways.

“I am no missionary, but should people continue to be surprised that
Australia has cars and TV, the telephone and culture, then I am more
than happy to persuade them that Australia is as rich and vibrant in
our need to express artistic ideas as any people anywhere,” says
Tognetti. Rather than show indigenous culture of Australia, therefore,
he booked American soprano Dawn Upshaw to sing Bach arias. The group
will perform a new arrangement of Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden”
Quartet (with Upshaw first singing the original lied) and more.

At the other pole is Turovsky’s decision to display the cosmopolitan
nature of Quebec when his strings visit Pittsburgh. “Quebec is a very
international society,” he says. “I wanted to represent the real
picture of Quebec cultural life, which exists of many cultures.”
Romanian, Armenian, Jewish folk worksare programmed with a
French-Canadian composer’s work and Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade in C
major.

Perhaps the best reason to hear a chamber orchestra is the greater
electricity that can result from the communication of fewer players,
no matter if they come from Australia or Shadyside to perform.

“It is difficult to travel, but it is exciting for the musicians — it
makes life more exciting,” says Turovsky.

CENN – APRIL 16, 2004 REGIONAL DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Announcements
1.1. Youth Volunteer Day in Georgia: Capital Renovation of Heroes Square
Underground Complex
1.2. Call for Papers — REC Caucasus
1.3. Integrated Regional Development Center (IRDC) Announces Tender for
Hydro geological Works

2. Georgia
2.1 BTC Co. Gets $1.6 bln Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Project Loan Tranche
2.2 For Examination BTC Worker’s in Georgia
2.3 Georgia’s Forest Await Aid

3. Azerbaijan
3.1. SOCAR Announces Tender for Second May Oil Consignment
3.2. Shah Deniz Expenditure $341 mln in Q1

4. Armenia
4.1. Armenian President Received World Bank Armenian Office Head Rodger
Robinson
4.2. Armenia Trade Deficit Grows 13.5% in Q1
4.3. Armenia to sell copper mine by End 2004

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.1. YOUTH VOLUNTEER DAY IN GEORGIA: CAPITAL RENOVATION OF HEROES SQUARE
UNDERGROUND COMPLEX

A group of NGO’s representing local youth organizations, including the
American Councils for International Education, Tbilisi YMCA, project
Harmony, New Generation for Georgia (NGG), and the Georgian Scouts
Movement will gather over 15,000 young people to work on remodeling the
underground complex at Heroes Square over a 14-day period from April
4-18.

On Sunday, April 18, the initiators of this work will organize an
official presentation and opening of the underground.

The aim of this presentation is to promote the idea of volunteerism and
to present the clean, decorated, and newly remodeled subway complex.
After the presentation, different entertainment activities will be
carried out, such as Children’s Picture and Photo Exhibition, theatre
performances, various games, speeches, informational announcements,
Street musicians, etc.

JOIN TO CELEBRATE THIS MOST IMPORTANT DAY WITH US!

For additional information please contact:

Keti Botchorishvili 877-461619
Berdia Natsvlishvili 893-333282
Tengo Gogotishvili 899-421209

Check the Advocacy.Ge for a press release and invitation in English and
Georgian:

1.2. CALL FOR PAPERS — REC CAUCASUS

REC Caucasus IV Annual International Conference
“Environmental security of South Caucasus Region”
Beginning of September, 2004
Tbilisi, Georgia

About Conference

IV International Conference of REC Caucasus tackles problems and
perspectives of Environmental Security of South Caucasus. Overall
objective of the Conference is to promote exchange of information and
experience within and beyond the region in the field of Environmental
Security among governments, parliaments, nongovernmental organizations,
scientists and international organizations in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia.

Conference aims to:

§ Be a forum of all stakeholders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
working on Environmental Security
§ Promote exchange of information and experience within and beyond the
region in the field of Environmental Security among governments,
parliaments, nongovernmental organizations, scientists and international
organizations of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
§ Promote exchange of information and experience within and beyond the
region
§ Support awareness rising of target groups
§ Try to find common definition of Environmental Security for the South
Caucasus Region
§ Facilitate development of concept of Environmental Security for the
South Caucasus Region

Working languages: Russian and English.

Submission of papers

Papers are solicited in the following areas:

§ Legal background of environmental Security in South Caucasus
§ Natural disasters and environmental security
§ Environmental and economical consequences of natural disasters
§ Respond systems on natural and industrial disasters in the South
Caucasus
§ Environmental security of transboundary projects in the Region
§ Nuclear safety of the Region
§ Environmental security of water resources of the South Caucasus
§ Biosefaty of the Region:
§ Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture
§ GMOs in food products
§ National legislation and Cartakhena Protocol
§ Environmental safety and health
§ Education and public participation in Environmental security process
§ Information and awareness raising on environmental security

Reports may cover any of these themes, merging or separation of topics
is not restricted.

Reports should be developed specifically for the Conference, and should
not be presented earlier on any other conference or printed in any
publication.

Reports should be provided in electronic form to the address bellow in
English or Russian, Word template, in Times New Roman, font
size-12 and include following:

1. Title of the report
2. .Name of the author
3. Contents
4. Summary (450-500 words in Russian and English)
5. Report (4-5 pages, A4, margins: Top and Bottom 2.5 cm, left and right
2.2cm)
6. List of publications used

Papers should be sent to [email protected]

Deadline for submission is May 19, 2004

The best reports will be published in conference proceedings.

Authors of selected reports shall be invited to participate in the
Conference. Organizers will cover accommodation and transportation
(train or the bus) costs. REC Caucasus shall cover expenses of one
author per report.

For more information please visit or contact

Mrs. Keti Esakia
Administrative Department

REC Caucasus

74, Chavchavadze Ave., office 901
0162 Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel/Fax: +99532 253649 / 253648
E-Mail: [email protected]

* * * * * * * *

CALL FOR PAPERS FOR STUDENTS
III Annual Conference Youth Conference shall be organized

“Environmental Security – Youth Vision”
Beginning of September, 2004
Tbilisi, Georgia

REC Caucasus announces call for paper summaries for the first -fourth
year students of highest education institutions of the Caucasus, for its
III International Conference, dedicated to the environmental security.
Summaries are solicited in the following areas:

§ Legal background of environmental security in the South Caucasus
§ Natural disasters and environmental security
§ Environmental and economical consequences of natural disasters
§ Nuclear safety of the Region
§ Environmental security of water resources of the South Caucasus
§ Biosefaty of the Region
§ Environmental safety and health
§ Education and public participation in Environmental security process
§ Information and awareness raising on environmental security

Summaries may cover any of these themes, merging or separation of topics
is not restricted.

Summaries should be provided in electronic form to the address bellow in
English or Russian, Word template, in Times New Roman, font size-12 and
include following:

1. Title of the report
2. Name of the author
3. Contents
4. Summary (450-500 words in Russian and English)
5. Papers should be sent to [email protected]

Deadline for submission is May 19, 2004

The best two students from each country shall be invited to participate
in the Conference. Organizers will cover accommodation and
transportation (train or the bus) costs.

For more information please visit or contact

Mrs. Keti Esakia
Administrative Department

REC Caucasus

74, Chavchavadze Ave., office 901
0162 Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel/Fax: +99532 253649 / 253648
E-Mail: [email protected]

1.3. INTEGRATED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (IRDC) ANNOUNCES TENDER FOR
HYDRO GEOLOGICAL WORKS

Duty Station: Tbilisi

Integrated Regional Development Center (IRDC) announces tender for hydro
geological works.

Description of works:

Drilling and cleaning of the drinking water wells; installation of the
water pipes in Tirdznisi sakrebulo of Gori district.

** Number of wells: 2 (two)
** Approximate depth: 70 m.
** Pipe diameter: 216 mm.

Deadline for submission of proposals is April 26, 2004. For detailed
information and submission of proposals interested parties may apply at
the following address:

15a Tamarashvili str., 3rd floor, Tbilisi
Tel: 25 09 01
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact person: David Labadze.

2. GEORGIA
2.1. BTC CO. GETS $1.6 BLN BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PROJECT LOAN TRANCHE

Source: Interfax, April 15, 2004

Operator for the building and use of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
BTC Co. has received from international financial organizations the
first tranche of a construction credit in the amount of $1.6 billion.

On April 14, 2004 President of the company BP-Azerbaijan David Woodward
said at the press conference in Baku that the funds were received in
late March, and that $1 billion of it was returned to the BTC
shareholders for financing the construction work until the credit monies
were received.

The remaining $600 million will be used on work done until September
2004, he said. The second tranche is expected that month in the amount
of $400-$600 million, the next in the first quarter of 2004 in an
amount that will round out the overall credit size of $2.6 billion.

The initial loan funds were supposed to have been received in mid- 2003,
the project participants using their own money to finance the building
work until that time. However, talks with financial institutions were
drawn out and the BTC shareholder-companies continued to put money into
the project, spending an additional $1 billion in the period from
mid-2003 to March of 2004.

Woodward noted that a little under $2 billion has already been spent,
60% of the work has been done and 766 kilometers of pipeline have been
laid over three countries-44% of its overall length.

First-quarter spending this year came to $424 million against the
planned $1.371 billion for the year. Woodward said that additional
people and equipment would be found to make up for lost time in Georgia
and Turkey. Additional work is being down in the two countries, and the
issue of whether the spending will go against subcontractors or BTC Co.,
he said, but in any case the project cost will not go up, as additional
unforeseen spending funds have been built in.

The first tanker is scheduled to be filled with Azerbaijani oil in late
June 2005. This based on the first oil from the Azeri deposit being
extracted in the beginning of that year, so changes are possible.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project will cost $3.6 billion. The future
pipeline will stretch 1,767 kilometers (443 km through Azerbaijan, 248
km through Georgia and 1,076 km through Turkey) and will have throughput
capacity of 50 million tonnes of oil per annum.

Of the project price tag, $1 billion will come from the shareholders’
own pockets, $2.6 billion from credits. The European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance
Corporation (IFC) are lending $250, fifteen commercial banks $936
million, Japan Bank for International Cooperation $480 million, and four
company-participants-BP, Statoil, ConocoPhillips and Total-another $923
million.

The commercial banks are extending loans under guarantees from the EBRD,
IFC and seven import-export and insurance agencies at an average rate of
Libor+3.5% for 10-12 years. Pay-back begins at the end of 2006 and will
run until 2015. Participants in the BTC project are: British Petroleum
(30.1%), SOCAR (25%), Unocal (8.9%), Statoil (8.71%), TPAO (6.53%), ENI
(5%), Itochu (3.4%), ConocoPhillips (2.5%), Inpex (2.5%), TotalFinaElf
(5%), and Amerada Hess (2.36%).

2.2. FOR EXAMINATION BTC WORK’S IN GEORGIA

Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
April 15, 2004

Natiq Aliyev, the president SOCAR (The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan)
and David Woodward the president of BP Azerbaijan have paid joint visit
to Georgia.

The two oil chiefs have examined the construction work in the Georgian
sector of Baku- Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

Mr. Aliyev and Mr. Woodward have met with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Zhvania and the president of Georgian International Oil Corporation
Giorgi Chanturia in Tbilisi.

Mr. Woodward has told reporters he was satisfied with the BTC’s
construction pace. Woodward said, he was confident that the BTC pipeline
would be ready for exploitation in the first part of 2005.

2.3. GEORGIA’S FOREST AWAIT AID

Source: The Messenger, April 16, 2004

The Forest Development Project of the World Bank will begin drafting
national policy on the forestry sector this April. With the financial
help of the Food and Agriculture Organization and active public
participation, the analysts working on the project hope that as a result
the country will have an actual plan for utilizing forest resources and
fighting deforestation.

Mike Garforth, who works in Georgia on improving Georgian legislation on
forests, believes the government can find solutions to the problem of
illegal logging and deforestation, only “if there is political will.”

Given this political will, Mr. Garforth has a list of necessary steps
that must be taken. “People in the sector should get adequate salaries,
and also there should be investments to modernize business plans and
develop successful management and accounting policies,” he advises. The
elimination of corruption and development of the energy sector are other
conditions affecting forestry, he adds.

According to Giorgi Gachechiladze, the leader of Georgian Green Party,
Georgia’s best timber is all going for export leaving Georgian’s with a
lower quality to work with. “70 percent of trees in Georgia are old and
plus the variety of forest types is falling rapidly as a result of
illegal logging,” he, says. Mr. Gachechiladze explains the most affected
forests are near populated areas (cities, villages). According to
official statistics, forests occupy 45 percent of the territory of
Georgia. Of the 400 different flora species in Georgian forests, 61 are
native to Georgia and another 43 are found only in the Caucasus region.

Still, there is no verified data regarding the volume of forest products
cut and how much timber and other forest products are exported from
Georgia. For example, according to the Forestry Department, officially
400,000 cubic meters of timber are cut with permission each year, while
the Custom Department claims up to 2 million cubic meters was exported
in 2002. According to the World Bank data, “total timber harvest in
Georgia is composed of legal and illegal harvest and equals nearly, 1.2
million cubic meters.” Mr. Gachechiladze claims all official data should
be at least multiplied by 2 to arrived at the real numbers.

The Forestry Department usually points out that often illegal harvesting
is carried out by local populations who rely on the forest products for
fuel or other needs. But, according to the Georgian Environmental NGO
Network — CENN, there are no statistics showing how much timber is
being cut by locals for their private needs. Mr. Gachechiladze and his
party estimate that a Georgian family annually uses 6-10 cubic meters of
forest products. Environmentalist from Green Alternative and CEE
Bankwatch, Network Manana Kochladze, says that the poverty and energy
crisis forced people to turn to forest resources as a fuel. Although,
“the main reason of the deforestation is the illegal commercial
logging,” she adds. “It should also be underlined that while timber
export is free, the import is taxed by 34. 76 percent which creates
economic incentives for export,” reads a report compiled by Green
Alternative and CENN.

Mr. Gachechiladze thinks that legalization of the illegal logging cat be
a solution. “Let them pay at least some money for this into the budget,”
he says. Ms. Kochladze agrees, “This will increase our revenues.”

Environmental NGOs ask for reduction of import tax on timber products
and imposing a tax on timber export. In this case, they argue, the
Georgian budget will benefit from the exploitation of natural resources.

“We are not exporting timber just to Australia,” jokes Mr.
Gachechiladze, saying the list of export countries includes four
continents and identified China and India and Iran as well as European
countries as some of the largest importers of Georgian forestry
products. Meanwhile, during the Soviet period Georgia did not even use
its own domestic resources for industries that produced finished wood
products, rather it imported timber from Russia.

Ms. Kochladze agrees with Mike Garforth that the government should
properly finance the sector. The Green Party claims the central budget
transferred only 6 tetri on each hectare of the state owned forests last
year. The analysts working for the Forest Development Project laugh that
forests did not receive even half of this tiny sum. “How can one
forester protect dozens of hectares of forests from people who want it
for fuel or for export? They are so poor that they do not even have
shoes to wear,” says Mr. Gachechiladze.

On December 3,2002 an agreement was reached between Government of
Georgia and IDA (World Bank group), on implementation of the Forestry
Development project. The project should be implemented from 2003 to
2008.

Five districts (Oni, Ambrolauri, Lentekhi, Tsageri and Mestia) have been
selected as target areas for the project.

The World Bank project will work not only on developing the national
policy but also on improvements in legislation governing sector. In
1997, the Georgian Parliament passed a law putting a moratorium on
timber export for seven years, but the former president Eduard
Shevardnadze vetoed the law. The next law did not envisage either a
moratorium on timber exports or any taxation for exported forest
products. In 2001 the Parliament introduced a one-year ban on timber
export, which it opted not to prolong a year later

The government also created two commissions to address the forestry
sector in 2002 however the public was not presented with the findings
and recommendations of these commissions. MS. Kochladze says the public
should be closely involved in discussing the problems in the sector and
decision-making. According to Mr. Garforth it will take 5-10 years for
Georgia to learn to maintain its forests well.

3. AZERBAIJAN
3.1. SOCAR ANNOUNCES TENDER FOR SECOND MAY OIL CONSIGNMENT

Source: Interfax, April 15, 2004

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) has announced
a tender for the second May consignment of Azerbaijani Urals oil
exported via the Baku-Novorossiisk pipeline..

This consignment will amount to 140,000 tones and should be shipped on
May 26-27, the source said.

The companies Total and Glencore bought the January consignments, Sonol
and Vitol Broking bought the February consignments , Vitol and Lukoil
bought the March consignments, Litasco bought the April consignment and
Arcadia – the first May consignment. SOCAR plans to export 2.5 million
tonnes of oil in 2004, the same as in 2003.

3.2. SHAH DENIZ EXPENDITURE $341 MLN IN Q1

Source: Interfax, April 15, 2004

Spending on the development of the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan in
the first quarter 2004 amounted to $341 million, David Woodward,
president of the project’s operator BP Azerbaijan, said at a press
conference in Baku on April 14, 2004.

He said that the company is continuing pre-drilling a third well and
will complete it in the third quarter this year. He also said that
construction of the upper module of the TPG-500 platform is continuing
in Singapore and has been 60% completed. Woodward said that in total the
company would spend $1.081 billion on the project in 2004.

In turn, BP Azerbaijan Vice President Rob Kelly said that 30% of the
work in Phase-1 has been completed. He said that the company plans to
start gas production on October 1,2006. He said that the third pre-
drilled well is a reserve and it will be used if there is a problem with
the other two.

Kelly said that construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline would
begin in the third quarter 2004. Pipe supplies are already underway, he
said.

The contract for the Shah Deniz field was signed in June 1996.
Shareholders in the project include also SOCAR – 10%, British Petroleum
– 25.5%, Norway’s Statoil – 25.5%, NICO – 10%, Total -10% and TPAO – 9%.

Recoverable reserves at Shah Deniz amount to 625 billion cubic meters of
gas and 101 million tones of gas condensate.

Phase-1 of the development of the field involves production of 178 bcm
of gas and 34 million tones of condensate. During the period of maximum
production in Phase-1 the field will produce 8.4 bcm of gas per annum
and 2 million tones of condensate. Gas will be produced from the TPG-500
platform at 15 wells, with water depth of 105 meters.

In total, at further stages of development it is planned to produce
about 16 bcm of gas per annum.

Phase-1 also includes the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
pipeline. The future pipeline will stretch 1,767 kilometers (443 km
through Azerbaijan, 248 km through Georgia and 1,076 km through Turkey).
The cost of Phase-1 is $3.2 billion, of which $2.3 billion will be spent
on the development of the Shah Deniz field and $900 million – on the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline.

4. ARMENIA
4.1. ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVED WORLD BANK ARMENIAN OFFICE HEAD RODGER
ROBINSON

Source: Armenpress, April 15, 2004

On April 15, 2004 Armenian President Robert Kocharian received the
Resident Representative of World Bank Rodger Robinson. The two men
discussed World Bank projects in Armenia and prospects for their
development.

They also spoke about including new fields in these projects,
particularly social and industrial infrastructures. Both sides expressed
their satisfaction with the current level of cooperation and noted that
WB has played a major role in the reform processes in Armenia.

4.2. ARMENIA TRADE DEFICIT GROWS 13.5% IN Q1

Source: Interfax, April 14, 2004

Armenia’s trade deficit grew 13.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of
2004 to $140.7 million.

Foreign trade amounted to $445.9 million, up 14.5%, First Deputy Trade
and Economic Development Minister Ashot Shakhnazarian said at a press
conference Tuesday. Exports increased 9.6% to $152.6 million and imports
rose 9.1% to $293.3 million.

4.3. ARMENIA TO SELL COPPER MINE BY END 2004

Source: Interfax, April 15, 2004

Armenia plans to sell the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine by the end
of this year, stated Ashot Shakhnazarian, a first deputy trade and
economic development minister.

A tender called in March has drawn interest from leading international
companies such as Rio Tinto, BHP and Glencore Interm, and Russia’s RusAl
and Norilsk Nickel.

Ashot Shakhnazarian said the deadline for submitting bids would be in
September. Although Armenia is offering up to 75% of the Zangezur
plant’s shares at the tender, the government will agree to sell all of
the stock to an investor that makes the right offer, he said.

The Zangezur combine is profitable, Shakhnazarian said. Last year, its
net profits topped $7 million.

The government expects to raise at least $130 million from the sale of
the shares and licenses to the Kadjaran field, which contains the FSUTs
biggest molybdenum reserves. Shakhnazarian said he did not consider the
price to betoo high in view of current metal prices.

The government will require the Zangezur plantTs new owner to triple or
even quintuple output to 30 million-40 million tones of ore per year and
to implement new, more environmentally friendly mining technology.

Zangezur obtained 6,300 tones of molybdenum concentrate and 11,000 tones
of copper in copper concentrate from 8.1 million tones of ore in 2003.

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

A1 Plus | 22:51:24 | 16-04-2004 | Politics |

PEOPLE ARE RESOLUTE

Despite the heavy rain, the meeting of joint Opposition took place. Many
people gathered at Matenadaran. “Mr Kocharyan, you are doomed”, “National
Unity” Party Chair Artashes Geghamyan said.

The statement by poetess Silva Kaputikyan condemning April 13 events was
read out at the meeting. “Kocharyan has nothing to do in the political life
of Armenia any longer”, she concluded.

Opposition representatives stated dialogue is out of the question as far as
violence continues and people are kept in detention. They reconfirmed their
resoluteness for power change. It was also announced that a nationwide
meeting would take place on April 21.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION RECURRENT RALLY GATHERED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
YEREVAN

16.04.2004 20:01

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Despite rainy weather several thousands of people joined a
rally organized by the united opposition at the depository of ancient
manuscripts of Matenadaran. To note, this time it is held not on the Liberty
Square as planned before, because of a measure dedicated to the Day of
Police, which has been arranged in the Theatre and Ballet Hall. Opposition
leaders, namely deputy representing Justice bloc Shavarsh Kocharian,
National Unity party leader Artashes Geghamian and some others stated that
in spite of “the authorities’ violence and persecution did not subdue the
will of the opposition and it still intends to urge the resignation of
President Robert Kocharian”. That is why many of them noted of symbolic
nature of the rally. However the opposition leaders refrained from making
any concrete statements regarding their further plans.