CENN – MAY 6, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Review BTC Construction to be Held in June
2. Shah Deniz Schedule on Target
3. BP to Produce Over 6 million Tons of Crude in 2004
4. Controversial Disaster Film Casts Spotlight on Global Warming
5. Rating of Free Press
6. Tehran: Iran to Export Natural Gas to Azerbaijan, Armenia
7. World Bank Approves $35 mln in Loans for Armenia
8. Panel Discussion: Cauc/ Policy of the Major Powers and Future of ROA
9. Register Now Online for Bangkok Congress
1. REVIEW BTC CONSTRUCTION TO BE HELD IN JUNE
Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
May 4, 2004
A commission headed by Abid Sharifov, Vice-Premier of Azerbaijani
government, will depart for Turkey to carry out a regular review of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline construction on its Turkish section in
early June, stated Mr. Sharifov on press conference with the
journalists. The vice-premier has observed that as per agreement with
the Turkish party such reviews on the BTC Turkish section with its
direct participation are carried out once each month on the level of
general contractor for construction – the Turkish company BOTAS.
Commenting on delays in the BTC Turkish section construction A. Sharifov
has stressed that in any even small project, for instance, when a house
is constructed, delays occur, tens of problems appear – when ditches are
dug, communications are laid etc. The BTC is a very large-scale project
and naturally the pipeline construction costing around $3 billion cannot
do without any problems at all. There are problems, but they are
resolved as soon as possible, both on the territory of Georgia and on
the territory of Turkey, – A. Sharifov believes.
The length of BTC pipeline is 1,762 km, of which – 443 km are in
Azerbaijan, in Georgia – 248 km, in Turkey – 1070 km. The pipeline
capacity is 50 million tons of oil per annum. The construction works
will be completed in the beginning of 2005.
A Greek Consolidated Contractors International Company is a contractor
for the construction of the Azeri part of BTC pipeline, a contractor for
Georgian part is Spie Capag/Petrofag, which is also a contractor for
works on the construction of pumping stations on the territory of both
countries. The Turkish company BOTAS is the contractor for the Turkish
part of BTC pipeline.
2. SHAH DENIZ SCHEDULE ON TARGET
CBN, May 6, 2004
The Shah Deniz gas and condensate development project has made
significant progress since Stage 1 sanctioning in February last year.
“The project is progressing according to schedule to meet the target of
delivering first gas to the market before winter 2006.
3. BP TO PRODUCE OVER 6 MILLION TONS OF CRUDE IN 2004
Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
May 4, 2004
BP-Azerbaijan plans to extract 125 thousand barrels of oil daily to
increase the production to 6,2 million tons by late 2004, stated
president of BP-Azerbaijan David Woodward.
According to him, 32,5 million tons of oil has been produced from Chirag
field since November 1997.
4. CONTROVERSIAL DISASTER FILM CASTS SPOTLIGHT ON GLOBAL WARMING
Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
May 6, 2004
The sci-fi thriller The Day After Tomorrow is sparking controversy for
its portrayal of climate disaster. NASA officials ordered their
scientists not to answer questions about the film (bosses backed off
after a New York Times story), while a Bush/Cheney campaign spokesman
quibbles with the New York Post over political fallout from the movie.
Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox promoters try to squelch the words “global
warming” altogether.
The $125 million motion picture opens with an Antarctic ice sheet
collapsing beneath a team of polar scientists. Tidal waves batter
Manhattan, before the city is frozen in ice. Tornadoes blast Los
Angeles, while blizzards sweep India. The paleoclimatologist hero played
by Dennis Quaid warns a dismissive vice president bearing uncanny
likeness to our current one “if we don’t act now, it will be too late.”
The over-the-top storyline far exceeds real-life climate scientists’
most extreme projections. But like any good fable, the movie taps a more
basic truth: Global warming is happening today. While research on the
problem is continuing, responsible experts say we need to act now to
start fixing the problem.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) can help reporters, reviewers,
and editors writing about The Day After Tomorrow sort fact from fiction
on global warming, and discuss the sharp political reaction to the film.
We have climate experts on staff, and can also help you reach local
scientists in your area.
5. RATING OF FREE PRESS
Source: Caucasus-Press, May 4, 2004
Georgia has freest press among the CIS countries. That’s the opinion of
American Human Rights Organization `Freedom House’, which has published
its `Rating of Freedom of World Press – 2004′. The countries got marks
according to 100-point system in which 0 means the highest level of
freedom and 100 means the lowest level of freedom.
Georgian press has been recognized as partially free, it held 112th
place with 54 points. Press in the rest of the CIS has been deemed as
non-free – Moldova (the media in this country as well as in other
post-Soviet countries listed below have been deemed as non-free, 63
points 127th place), Armenia (64 points 134th place), Ukraine (68
points, 150th place), Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan (71 points, 156th
place), Tajikistan (73 points 160th place), Kazakhstan (74 points, 161st
place), Belarus and Uzbekistan (84 points, 182nd place), Turkmenistan
(95 points 190th place).
Danish, Icelandic and Swedish mass media are freest of all (8 points
each), the least free press exists in North Korea (98 points). For
example USA got 13 points and held 15th place, Germany got 16 points
(25th place), Japan got 18 points (33rd place), Great Britain, France
and Poland got 19 points (37th place), Israel got 28 points (64th place)
and China got 80 points (173rd place).
Data from 198 countries of the world have been processed for this
rating. 73 countries are evaluated as having free press, 49 countries
are deemed to have partially free press and 71 countries are thought to
have non-free mass media.
6. TEHRAN: IRAN TO EXPORT NATURAL GAS TO AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA
Source: IRNA, Iran, May 5, 2004
Iran is to export 200 to 350 million cubic meters of natural gas to
Azerbaijan per annum from the coming winter according to a contract that
is to be signed by the two sides after necessary negotiations and
agreements.
Deputy Minister of Petroleum for Caspian Oil and Gas Affairs Hamdollah
Mohammadnejad told IRNA here on Wednesday that Iran has been in talks
for more than one decade with the republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia on
export of its natural gas.
Mr. Mohammadnejad said that Iran is also to export 1.2 to 2.5 billion
cubic meters of natural gas to Armenia a year for a period of 20 years
through a 20-inch pipeline.
The gas, he added, would be transferred to Magri border region through a
120 kms pipeline.
The official said that feasibility studies on the pipeline project have
been completed and it would be implemented once Iranian and Armenian
sides sign related contract.
He said Iran gives the priority to transfer of gas to neighboring and
the Central Asian republics on the long run in a bid to upgrade mutual
economic cooperation.
7. WORLD BANK APPROVES $35 MLN IN LOANS FOR ARMENIA
Source: Interfax, May 5 2004
The World Bank board of directors on Tuesday approved three new credit
programs for Armenia totaling about $35 million, Roger Robinson,
director of the World Bank office in Yerevan, said at a press conference
Wednesday.
The World Bank will allocate $10.15 million for public sector
modernization, $23 million for water supply and sewage system
restoration in 300 municipalities, and $1.74 million on agriculture
reform and compensation for industry losses caused by bad weather, he
said.
The programs are planned to last four to five years. Loans will be
disbursed according to the standard easy terms offered by the
International Development Association (IDA) with repayment in 40 years
at 0.5% per year with a 10-year grace period, Robinson said.
8. PANEL DISCUSSION: CAUC/ POLICY OF THE MAJOR POWERS AND FUTURE OF ROA
Sunday, May 23, 2004
4:00 PM
Free admission
The Armenian Cultural Committee of Boston presents
A Panel Discussion:
“The Caucasian Policy of the Major Powers and Future of Armenia”
Panelists:
Dr. Murat Acemoglu
David B. Boyajian
Moderator: Dr. Armen Bagdoian
Location:
Church of the Good Shepherd
Corner of Mount Auburn Street and Russell Avenue
(1/2 mile from Watertown Square & one block from Common Street)
Watertown, Massachusetts
9. REGISTER NOW ONLINE FOR BANGKOK CONGRESS
IUCN, May 5, 2004
Online registration for the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress is now
available! IUCN members and other invitees may register directly on the
registration page. This is the first time that IUCN is offering this
service through a carefully developed system that accommodates all the
many and varied delegates of the Bangkok Congress — members, commission
members, partners and other participants. The registration system
includes a series of explanations to assist with the overall process,
including a contact email and telephone number for specific enquiries
and assistance. The French and Spanish versions of the registration site
will be available at the:
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Detroit Free Press
Obituaries
Andree Burney: Taught French, English to many
May 6, 2004
BY JEANNE MAY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Andree Gregory Burney, who taught French and English to hundreds of students
in the Detroit area, died of cancer Sunday at Harper Hospital in Detroit.
She was 63 and lived in Plymouth.
After earning two bachelor’s degrees — in education and political science
— at Wayne State University, she started teaching there.
“She was in the College of Education, teaching other teachers how to teach
French,” her husband, Philip, said Wednesday. “She used the audio-lingual
method. They’d come into class, and she’d take their books away and speak
nothing but French to them.
“Both her children spoke both French and English always, and both passed
French in college without taking a course.”
After several years at Wayne State, Mrs. Burney took about a decade off to
rear her children, then went to the Lycee International School in Detroit,
where she taught English to students from overseas. She also taught English
to Armenian children at the Alex Manoogian School, and in the early ’70s,
she taught French at Oak Park High School.
>From there, she moved to Fordson High School in Dearborn, teaching French
there at the same time she taught it at Henry Ford Community College in
Dearborn. She retired in 2002.
She came by French naturally. She was born in Marseilles, France, in 1939 —
a year before Germany conquered France in World War II. Her family had fled
to France from their native Armenia.
When she was 2 years old, her father managed to get out of the country and
come to the United States, intending to send for his family.
But they were trapped.
“She could actually remember at nighttime going to the air-raid bomb
shelters, hearing the sirens,” her husband said.
In 1947, her family reunited in Dearborn, and she graduated from Fordson.
While she taught, she earned a master’s degree in linguistics at Wayne State
and a master’s in French literature at the Sorbonne in Paris. She also took
students for summers in Europe about 20 times.
When she was young, she learned to play the piano, and she sang with the
Schoolcraft Community Choir and the St. John’s Armenian Church Komitas
Choir. She also sang at the weddings of each of her children.
Besides her husband of 41 years, survivors include a son, Phillippe; a
daughter, Yvette Faiter; her mother; two brothers, and three grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. John’s Armenian Church, 22001
Northwestern Highway, Southfield. Arrangements are by the Simon Javizian
Funeral Home in Detroit.
The family suggests any memorial donations be made to the church, 22001
Northwestern Highway, Southfield 48075.
Contact JEANNE MAY at 586-469-4682or [email protected].

The Russia Journal
EBRD to invest USD 100 million in Armenian energy sector
WORLD/CIS » :: May 06, 2004 Posted: 16:16 Moscow time (12:16 GMT)
YEREVAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set
to invest USD 100 million in the Armenian energy sector, according to the
head of the Armenian Central Bank, Tigran Sarkisian. As reported by a
Rosbalt correspondent, Sarkisian told a press conference that the funds
would be used to construct small and media hydroelectric power stations in
Armenia.
Sarkisian noted that cooperation with the bank would continue to develop. In
particular, he said, the bank intends opening a branch in Armenia. /Rosbalt/

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/06/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Council of Europe Not the Politburo, Says Kocharian 2) Parliament and Opposition Leaders Meet 3) Hardliner Abashidze Flees Ajaria 4) Azerbaijan Not Ready for Risks or Responsibilities 5) ANC Praises Republicans for Advancing Genocide Reaffirmation 1) Council of Europe Not the Politburo, Says Kocharian YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)--President Robert Kocharian said on Thursday said that while he finds the recommendations of last week's Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) resolution "normal," he disagrees with its assessment of the Armenian authorities' response to the street protests launched by the opposition one month ago. The April 28 resolution warns Armenian authorities that PACE will consider stripping the Armenian delegation's voting rights in the Assembly, unless it remedies, by September, abuses addressed in the resolution. "We are reviewing [the document]. I see no particularly big problems in its content," he told journalists. "But there are quite serious inaccuracies in the description and chronology of events." He said that a response to the descriptive segment of the resolution will come in a few days, while an official response will be submitted to the June session of PACE. He also said that a PACE monitoring delegation will arrive in Armenia soon to examine the situation first-hand. "The Council of Europe is an organization of which we are also a member. We have a right to vote and express our opinion there. We are there to defend our common interests, not to clear domestic matters," stressed Kocharian, adding that the Council of Europe should not be perceived as the Soviet Union's governing Communist Party Politburo. "You must not regard the Council of Europe as the former Politburo where they made and imposed decisions." Though important, the decisions of PACE are not binding for the Council of Europe leadership. Kocharian also downplayed fears that international focus on Armenia's political instability would affect foreign investment into the country. "Armenia's economy will suffer greater damage if investors begin to question the ability of authorities to establish order in the country." He admitted, however, that recent tensions will bear some negative impact. "Those people attempting to escalate tensions do not realize that negative repercussions will eventually be felt by all Armenian citizens." 2) Parliament and Opposition Leaders Meet YEREVAN--Opposition leaders and 13 senior representatives of all parliament factions met behind closed doors late Thursday to try to defuse political tensions sparked by the month-long opposition campaign against President Robert Kocharian. Initiated by parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, the talks began late in the afternoon and lasted for about five hours. A brief statement issued by the participants afterward said they agreed on the "necessity to create a new situation in the country" and that a 32-point agenda for further "consultations" was formulated. According to one of the negotiators for the Justice party Victor Dallakian, the agenda will be disclosed by Friday. 3) Hardliner Abashidze Flees Ajaria BATUMI (AFP)--Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili triumphantly arrived in the Black Sea region of Ajaria after the province's renegade leader resigned and flew into exile in dramatic scenes overnight. Georgian officials announced new elections to choose a replacement for ousted leader Aslan Abashidze and appointed an interim administration to run Ajaria--site of the region's biggest oil terminal--until a new leader is chosen. "I congratulate you all," a jubilant Saakashvili said as he arrived in Ajaria to chair a meeting of his ministers. "We have shown the world that we are a great people. Only we could have staged two bloodless revolutions in six months," he said. Abashidze's departure in the early hours of Thursday morning was the final act of last year's revolution, in which Saakashvili led weeks of protests which forced then President Eduard Shevardnadze to go into retirement. But the Ajarian chief, a member of Shevardnadze's old guard, stayed on, and until Thursday, had defied the authority of the capital, Tbilisi, and shown growing separatist tendencies. Russian news agencies reported that Abashidze had landed in Moscow, accompanied by Russia's Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, who had earlier flown to Ajaria to help mediate the conflict. His departure avoided what many feared would be a bloody separatist war, causing turmoil in Georgia just as Western oil companies are building a multi-billion-dollar pipeline through the country to export oil from the Caspian Sea to world markets. With Abashidze's 12-year rule over Ajaria suddenly over and his feared paramilitaries handing in their weapons, Saakashvili's administration set about filling in the power vacuum. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said on Ajarian television that new elections would be called and announced the creation of a commission, made up of Saakashvili aides and local figures, to run the region in the interim. But he said that Ajaria's autonomous status within Georgia, enshrined in law since the start of the last century, would be respected. "The new elections will be held with due account taken of Ajaria's special status, which will now be finally clarified by a special constitutional law," Zhvania said. On the streets of Ajaria's palm tree-lined capital Batumi Thursday, the last vestiges of Abashidze's rule were being swept away. Special forces troops from Tbilisi were in position outside government buildings, instead of the masked men in camouflage fatigues who had propped up Abashidze's regime. Drop-off points were set up around the city where civilians could hand in the weapons they were given by Abashidze's security forces to defend against an invasion from Tbilisi. Meanwhile some 2,000 Saakashvili supporters were holding a celebratory rally outside the local administration building chanting "Misha!, Misha!"--Saakashvili's affectionate nickname. It was a token of their new freedom. Previous opposition rallies in Batumi had been brutally dispersed by police loyal to Abashidze, with dozens of people arrested. Abashidze is a former Communist official who had ruled his corner of Georgia with a rod of iron and appointed his own relatives to key positions. His fate was sealed this week when thousands of his opponents took to the streets to demand his resignation, defying the police. At the same time Saakashvili, the 36-year-old who came to power in last year's "rose revolution" in the Georgian capital, introduced direct presidential rule and Georgian special forces were dropped in to Ajaria by helicopter. Abashidze appeared to have made use of an offer from the Georgian president of safe passage out of the country for him and his family if he agreed to go quietly. 4) Azerbaijan Not Ready for Risks or Responsibilities YEREVAN (Armenpress/Yerkir)--Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian reiterated that the Mountainous Karabagh conflict cannot be resolved unless Stepanakert becomes a full party to negotiations. "Sooner or later, Azeri leaders will have to agree to negotiate with Karabagh, and I am confident that the international community shares this very viewpoint," said Ghukasian, citing an OSCE Budapest summit resolution identifying Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Mountainous Karabagh as the parties to the conflict. Citing Azeri "distrust, enmity, and war rhetoric," Ghukasian said that the "package solution" must be sought, rather than the "step-by-step approach." While the first proposes settling key problems, including status, security guarantees, and troop withdrawal, with a single, comprehensive agreement, the latter calls for Armenia to surrender specific buffer zones to Azerbaijan, in exchange of deployment of international peacekeepers in Mountainous Karabagh. "We have the resources to resolve the conflict in one to two years, but we should also realize that resolution and peace contain certain risks; Azerbaijan's leaders do realize this, and are not ready today to take the risks and shoulder responsibilities." In a reversal of previous opinion on the effectiveness of the Minsk Group, which spearheads the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe's (OSCE) efforts to find a political solution to this conflict, Azeri president Ilham Aliyev said earlier this week that the Group's activity is apparent, and that "the co-chairmen are determined to deal with the problem." 5) ANC Praises Republicans for Advancing Genocide Reaffirmation LOS ANGELES--The largest Armenian-American grassroots public affairs organization in the Western US praised a number of Republican legislators in the US Congress for their outstanding support on issues of concern to tens of thousands of Armenian-American voters throughout California, Nevada, and other western states. In a statement, the Armenian National Committee of America--Western Region also commended Republican Governors of Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska for officially acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. A record number of Governors issued proclamations this April acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and April 24 as a Day of Remembrance. The list includes Republican Governors Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho, Judy Martz of Montana, and Mike Johanns of Nebraska. The ANCA-WR also applauded California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's move designating April 24 a Day of Remembrance for the Genocide, as well as Republican State Senator Chuck Poochigian's powerful proclamation at the April 24 Commemoration in Montebello, California. "We appreciate the work of our Republican friends, particularly the Governors and members of Congress who support the ANC's initiatives to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide and urge Congress to pass resolutions acknowledging this crime against humanity," said ANCA-WR Government Relations Director Armen Carapetian. Last week, the Nevada ANC honored Senator John Ensign (R-NV) as the "ANC Man of the Year" for his staunch support of Armenian-American issues. Senator Ensign introduced Senate Resolution 164, reaffirming US's commitment to preventing genocides and punishing perpetrators of genocide. The legislation also clearly identifies the mass murder of Armenians from 1915 to 1923 as a case of genocide. The bill is currently backed by 39 Senators, nine of whom are Republican. Several months ago, ANC-Orange County honored Congressman Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) with its Freedom Award for his consistent support of issues that concern Armenian-American constituents. Just last week, Royce, who serves on the influential International Relations Committee, reaffirmed his pledge to fight for official acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide while addressing the ANCA Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance. At its largest annual event, the ANCA-WR presented Congressman George Radanovich (R-Fresno) its "Man of the Year" honor several months ago for his dedication and commitment. Radanovich is the principal author and sponsor of H.R. 193, which acknowledges the Armenian Genocide. The legislation passed unanimously in the House Judiciary Committee on May 21, 2003 and awaits a vote on the House Floor. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

06 May 2004
U.S. Welcomes Dialogue on Political Reforms in Armenia
Davidson calls on authorities to investigate assaults on political activists
The United States welcomes the recent dialogue on political reforms between
the Armenian government and opposition parties, and sees the new law on
demonstrations and rallies passed by the National Assembly as a “step in the
right direction” towards greater political freedom, U.S. diplomat Douglas
Davidson told the OSCE Permanent Council May 6.
Davidson also called on Armenian authorities to “fully investigate” recent
assaults on political activists.
Following are Davidson’s remarks:
(begin text)
United States Mission to the OSCE
Vienna
STATEMENT ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA
As delivered by Deputy Representative Douglas Davidson to the Permanent
Council
May 6, 2004
Mr. Chairman, the United States is pleased that Armenian parliamentarians
from the governing coalition and opposition parties met on April 26 and 27.
We encourage both sides to continue meeting and to work within the
constitutional process to promote political reform in Armenia.
The United States has long been concerned about the practice of
administrative detention and the Soviet-era Code of Administrative Offenses
still in force in Armenia.
We note that the new law on Public Demonstrations, Gatherings and Rallies,
passed by the National Assembly on April 28, is a step in the right
direction. However, we encourage the government to work with the Council of
Europe and other experts to further refine the law to bring it fully in line
with international standards.
We also look to the Armenian authorities to fully investigate recent
assaults on political activists and we look forward to the swift and
thorough resolution of these cases.
Thank you very much.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

06 May 2004
U.S. Names Countries Eligible for New Assistance Funds
Government corporation also plans to help other countries qualify
The recently created Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the U.S.
government has named 16 countries eligible to apply for development aid from
an innovative new program.
In a May 6 news release, the MCC said that its board of directors selected
the countries — Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana,
Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua,
Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu — based on their governance, social
investment and economic freedom.
The MCC said it also approved a program to help some other countries meet
eligibility requirements.
The Millennium Challenge Account program announced by President Bush in 2002
is designed to help poor countries spur the economic growth and attract the
investment necessary to further development. Congress has appropriated $1
billion for the MCC for this fiscal year.
Following is the text of the release:
(begin text)
Millennium Challenge Corporation
May 6, 2004
The Millennium Challenge Corporation Names
MCA Eligible Countries
Washington, DC — Today, the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) selected the 16 countries eligible to apply for Millennium
Challenge Account (MCA) assistance in FY04 [fiscal year 2004]. MCC, a newly
created government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest
countries in the world, is based on the principle that aid is most effective
when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that
promote economic growth.
“This is a historic day for the Millennium Challenge Corporation,” said
Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell, Chair of the MCC Board. “The
President’s vision has come to pass, and today’s decision by the Board of
Directors is a major step in implementing the vision of the MCC.”
The selected countries include: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde,
Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique,
Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu. In making its determinations, the
Board considered both the past and current policy performance of the
candidate countries in the areas of governing justly, investing in their own
people and promoting economic freedom. The Board also considered trends that
indicated policy improvement or slippage.
“Our mission — encouraging and rewarding good policies that produce
sustainable economic growth — holds profound implications for freedom and
security across the globe,” MCC CEO [chief executive officer] Paul
Applegarth said today. “Today’s decision demonstrates the clear commitment
of the U.S. to reducing poverty and human suffering.”
The Board also approved a “Threshold Country” program, which will be
directed toward a limited number of candidate countries that have not met
the requirements for MCA eligibility but demonstrate a significant
commitment to meeting the requirements for eligibility. The Threshold
Country program will provide an added incentive to countries that are
committed to reform, and will be used to assist such countries in making
further progress towards becoming eligible for MCA assistance in future
years. MCC expects to work closely with USAID [U.S. Agency for International
Development] in this effort.
The United States is committed to the MCC as an innovative approach to
delivering foreign aid. Congress has appropriated $1 billion for the MCC for
this fiscal year, and President Bush has requested $2.5 billion for FY05.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
May 5, 2004
SITUATION “NEITHER PEACE, NOR WAR”
On April 27-29 a seminar was held in Stepanakert on “Coverage of
problems of ethnic minorities in the mass media”. The seminar was
organized by the representatives of the London institute of variety of
mass media together with the press clubs of Yerevan and
Stepanakert. In the seminar participated the director of the institute
Militsa Pestic, the editor of the news bulletin of the press club of
Yerevan Elina Poghosbekian, reporter of the newspaper “Republic of
Armenia” Galust Nanian, reporter of the newspaper “Iravunq” Argine
Harutyunian, as well as 15 journalists representing the mass media of
Karabakh, and the chairman of Stepanakert Press Club Gegham
Baghdassarian. The seminar lasted for three days during which problems
of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, as well as the disabled
and socially insecure classes of the society were
raised. Representatives of the above mentioned groups were also
invited to speak about their problems and express their own attitude
towards the mass media. In particular, the chairman of the Union of
Blind People S. Vardanian complained of lack of newspapers and books
for blinds and also of the fact that the only available mass medium
for blind people radio provides more information on international
events than the situation in Armenia and Karabakh. The chairman of the
Union of Russians and Russian Speaking Citizens of Karabakh Lyudmila
Petrossian expressed their wish to have the Russian version of the
news on Artsakh public television. During the seminar there was a
suggestion to teach the journalists to sell to the editor the article
or idea of interest for him. In the West this is a common practice. To
the seminar were invited the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Azat
Artsakh” Marcel Petrossian and the director of the public TV and radio
company Garik Grigorian. The journalists managed to sell 6 of the
presented 8 articles to them. The journalists who participated in the
seminar expressed the opinion that such undertakings are necessary
because along with raising the level of professional qualification
these allow to view differently certain questions which may be
considered unimportant in everyday work.
EVIKA BABAYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
May 5, 2004
GERMAN PRESS PUTS UNDER DOUBT
The supporters of Turkey’s membership to the European Union bring
honest but unconvincing arguments, says the German newspaper Leipziger
Volkszeitung. Turkey’s integration to the EU will indeed favour the
political stabilization of the country, but is this good, asks the
newspaper? In case of membership Turkey will become the first country
of the EU by the number of population. This means that at the EU
Ministerial Council Turkey will have considerable weight, and will be
represented in the Europarliament by the largest group of members of
parliament. The countries, which are for Turkey’s membership, will
hardly agree to such distribution of forces; this is the opinion of
the newspaper. Moreover, membership of new countries to the EU will
also mean expansion of the territory of the EU. In case of Turkey’s
membership the EU will have common border with Syria, Iraq, Iran,
Azerbaijan and Georgia, i.e. crisis regions, writes the German
newspaper. IN THE UPCOMING TEN YEARS EU MEMBERSHIP “DOES NOT THREATEN”
TURKEY, THINKS JACQUES CHIRAC. It will take at least ten years from
Turkey to become member of the EU. This was stated by the president of
France Jacques Chirac during the press conference devoted to the
questions of wider EU. He mentioned that the talks for the membership
of Turkey will last long, 10 years and more. According to the French
president, the necessary conditions for membership to the EU have not
been provided in Turkey yet, informed the agency “Interfax”.
PANARMENIAN

Russian air base in Armenia ready to open fire at NATO planes – TV report
Channel One TV, Moscow
4 May 04
Presenter Back in Soviet times airborne troops stationed in
Transcaucasia served as a reliable defence of the country’s southern
borders. In the mid-1990s Russia’s airspace in the area was left
without any defence. Armenia alone met Russia halfway and allowed for
the Russian Airborne Troops to remain on its territory.
Correspondent Aleksey Artemyev Fighters at the Russian air base
Erebuni have six minutes and not a second more to take off for a duty
flight and intercept a target that has illegally entered Armenia’s
airspace. The end of the runway and the border with the neighbouring
country are separated by a distance of 15 km. The neighbouring country
is Turkey, a NATO member state, with a great number of air bases
stationed on its territory, including those belonging to the USA.
Two years ago Russian pilots cut short an attempt by a high-speed spy
plane to enter Armenia’s airspace from Turkey. One should always be on
alert here. All interceptors on combat duty here are equipped with
four air-to-air missiles. The two bigger ones are located closer to
the fuselage and are capable of hitting a target within a distance of
up to 80 km. The two smaller ones are intended for close combat, they
are capable of hitting any target within 30 km. The equipment is
completely ready for combat.
NATO intelligence is monitoring the Russian air base in Armenia round
the clock. Two sites for direct tracking are situated on a slope of Mt
Ararat. The Turkish Air Force are trying to have every Russian pilot
under control.
Valeriy Ded, captioned as fighter pilot We do not normally meet them
in the air. At times we spot them on our radar screens, both on board
and on the ground. They know every pilot of ours, our voices, if not
our names.
Correspondent The Erebuni air base is part of the Russian air defence
complex situated in Armenia, the only one remaining in Transcaucasia,
protecting Russia’s southern borders. The main air defence forces are
located high up in the mountains, not far from Gyumri, formerly
Leninakan. There are four launch pads for air defence missile systems
Kub and S-300 there.
We were the only TV crew that was given a chance to film a Russian air
defence command post on alert duty.
Unidentified officer This facility allows us to see the sites where
the air defence batteries are stationed as well as the sectors they
are facing. We can give them the whereabouts of a target to hit.
Correspondent This radar station is able to operate within a radius of
300 km. The nearest NATO airfields in Turkey are situated at a
distance of about 200 km. In other words, the Russian command post is
able to spot any plane takeoff from any of the airfields.
Aleksey Gorskiy, captioned as commander of the combat command and
control division In May 2001 we began our test alert duty. We did not
have a right to open fire at trespassers. The Turks used to fly along
the border all the time. After the alert duty started in earnest in
October ?2001 , in other words when we were allowed to open fire, they
hardly ever appear here now.
Correspondent All the Russian air defence divisions stationed in
Armenia are working in close coordination with each other. In everyday
life pilots and anti-aircraft gunners are rivals. The air base is
proud of its unique barracks, containing fish water tanks,
mantelpieces and even a small zoo of their own. Meanwhile, the air
defence system command division claims that they have the best cook
and cuisine.
Passage to end omitted: interview with cook.

Senior politician hails Russia’s role in avoiding bloodshed in Ajaria
Radio Mayak, Moscow
6 May 04
Presenter Russian Federation Council speaker Sergey Mironov emphasized
in an interview with our radio station that Moscow had always
supported Georgia’s territorial integrity.
Mironov The political changes in Ajaria are an internal affair for
Georgia. Russia has always spoken out consistently, as a matter of
principle, in support of Georgia’s territorial integrity. I have to
say, with satisfaction, that it is in a large part thanks to Russia’s
efforts that bloodshed was avoided in Ajaria and that former Ajarian
leader Aslan Abashidze’s resignation took place peacefully. Talking
about Abashidze’s future, I think that it is now a personal matter for
him.
Most importantly, a powerful positive impulse has appeared in our
relations with Georgia. I hope that Georgia and our diplomats make
effective use of this impulse. Nevertheless, it is important to state
that the way in which Abashidze’s resignation happened in Ajaria is
not acceptable either in Abkhazia or in South Ossetia. All in all, I
have to say that the standoff between Georgia and Ajaria ended well
because there were no casualties. Now, against the background of these
events, with the Georgian foreign minister Salome Zourabichvili
visiting Russia, there is an opportunity to move forward in many
aspects of our agreements. I would like to repeat that the Federation
Council regards what has happened as a positive event.
Presenter Meanwhile, political experts do not rule out the possibility
of changes to Ajaria’s status as an autonomous region within
Georgia. Konstantin Zatulin, the director of the Institute of CIS
Countries, had this to say on the matter.
Zatulin Now, a major blow has been dealt to the self-government that
Ajaria enjoyed during the entire period of Abashidze’s rule. In the
immediate future all questions relating to the region’s development
will be resolved in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
I think that the only rational step for Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili to take is to preserve Ajaria’s autonomy and so to avoid
any reproaches from the guarantor countries of the Moscow and Kars
treaties of 1921 – these were Soviet Russia and Turkey. In signing
these treaties, they guaranteed the existence of an autonomous
Ajaria. It was only for these reasons and under these conditions that
Turkey agreed to pull its troops out of Batumi, to be replaced by
Soviet troops.
Formally, Ajaria will remain autonomous, but it will have no real
autonomy from Tbilisi. I don’t know what this will lead to in the long
term, but one thing is clear: even now it could bring about an
explosion of enthusiasm and attempts to suppress all national
differences in other Georgian regions. This will not just be in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, over which Tbilisi has lost all control,
but, for example, in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, which is located next
to Ajaria and has a predominately Armenian population.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress