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CENN - MARCH 17, 2004 REGIONAL DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Announcements
1.1. Information-Theoretic Methods in Data Analysis
1.2. Invitation to Participate in the Web Discussion
1.3. The Russian Translation of the "NGO Strategy Conference: Making Our
Environment Work for Children's Health"
2. Georgia
2.1. Georgians Demand Action to Save Their Homes from Oil Pipeline
3. Azerbaijan
3.1. Kazakhstan will Transport Gas Through Azerbaijan
3.2. Azerbaijan Expects Baku-Erzerum Gas Pipeline to Open in 2006
3.3. Baku Hopes for Rapid Adoption of Caspian Convention
3.4. Azerbaijan Participates in Berlin International Tourist Exhibition
4. Armenia
4.1. Armenia Looks for Alternative Energy Sources
4.2. EU Offers Armenia 100 Million Euros To Shut Down Nuclear Plant
4.3. Living in Yerevan Becomes Hazardous, NGO Says
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.1. INFORMATION-THEORETIC METHODS IN DATA ANALYSIS
A 2-day Short course, May 26-27, 2004
Offered by Dr. David R. Anderson
This short course introduces a variety of general methods for data
analysis based on Kullback-Leibler Information. The sessions focus on
science hypotheses, models, and model selection methods such as AIC and
AICc.
After introducing important background material, methods are provided to
make formal statistical inference from more than a single model
(multimodel inference). The material is not deeply mathematical; the
emphasis is on science concepts and philosophy and a variety of examples
are provided.
The short course is based on the recent book, Burnham, K. P., and D. R.
Anderson. 2002 Model selection and multimodel inference. 2nd Ed.,
Springer-Verlag, New York, NY 488pp. The short course will be held in
Fort Collins, Colorado.
Additional details and registration form are provided at:
http://aicanderson3.home.comcast.net
1.2. INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEB DISCUSSION
Dear Colleagues,
On March 18, 2004 from 18:00 to 20:00 Society `For Sustainable
Development' with the technical support of the IREX Azerbaijan Branch
will hold electronic forum on `Education for Sustainable Development'
dedicated to the UN decade devoted to the Education for Sustainable
Development.
Forum will be held on the following address: http:www.iatp.az/forum
We invite you to participate in this web discussion
1.3. THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATION OF THE "NGO STRATEGY CONFERENCE: MAKING OUR
ENVIRONMENT WORK FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH"
Dear Colleagues,
The Russian translation of the documents of "NGO strategy conference:
making our environment work for children's health" (Brussels, December
2003, organized by European Public Health Alliance and European
ECO-Forum) is availble at http://www.epha.org/a/903
Click in the very bottom of this page at: "NGO Brussels Statement in
Russian" and "Final NGO Strategy Conference Report in Russian".
Women in Europe for a Common Future
WECF
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.wecf.org
German office:
Tel: +49-89-20232390 Fax: +49-89-20232391
Blumenstrasse 28, D - 80331 Munich
Germany
Dutch office:
Tel: +31-30-2310300 Fax: -2340878
Regulierenring 9, NL - 3981 LA Bunnik
The Netherlands
2. GEORGIA
2.1. GEORGIANS DEMAND ACTION TO SAVE THEIR HOMES FROM OIL PIPELINE
Official complaint to IFC reveals BTC negligence
Tbilisi, Georgia, March 16, 2004 -- Residents of Rustavi, Georgia's
third city, have today submitted an official complaint to the
International Finance Corporation (IFC) concerning the potentially
disastrous construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline
only 250 meters from a settlement of high-rise buildings.
[1] The residents are taking this step following a prolonged period of
uncertainty for them and their homes, a lack of information and response
from officials in Georgia and violent intimidation from the regional
police force.
In November 2003, the IFC, the World Bank's private lending arm, agreed
to provide a USD 250 million loan to the controversial BP-led BTC
project. The residents' complaint alleges that World Bank Group policies
and procedures have not been complied with on four counts. [2]
In January this year, people in Rustavi learned for the first time
exactly how close the pipeline would come to their homes when heavy
construction equipment and pipeline workers arrived without warning.
There was no mention of such proximity (180-250 meters) in the available
project documentation and maps. The BTC Company (BTC Co) indicates in
its project literature that there should be a 500-meter `security zone'
around the pipeline. It turns out that the pipeline will run along the
nearby Mtkvari river bank, a high level erosion zone, with potentially
destructive impacts on the most affected homes and the 700 families
living there.
Since learning of their plight, the Rustavi residents have sent letters
to and attempted to engage in dialogue with all the relevant parties -
the mayor of Rustavi, local representatives from BTC Co. and the IFC -
and have also taken their case to the Georgian parliament. Their appeals
have been either ignored or dismissed on the grounds that the pipeline
will comply with the highest western standards.
Merab Vacheishvili, one of the residents named in the complaint, said,
`We are told to shut up, stop wasting the company's time and trust the
high standards of the project promoters. Yet local people have been kept
completely in the dark about this pipeline. How can we start trusting
now?'
Frustrated by officialdom, last month 400 residents took part in a
demonstration that interrupted the pipeline construction for one hour.
The demonstration, consisting mainly of women and children, was
violently broken up by the police. A police representative declared that
the orders had come directly from the government.
Eleonora Digmelashvili, another resident, commented, "We have applied to
the IFC Ombudsman as a last resort. There needs to be an independent
expert analysis of BTC impacts on our homes as well as strong guarantees
for our and our children's security. If there are no such guarantees
then the pipeline route must be changed or we should be resettled."
Contacts:
Merabi Vacheishvili
Tel: + 995 24 17 34 58
E-mail: [email protected]
Eleonora Digmelashvili
Tel: + 995 93 91 77 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Notes for editors:
1) The official complaint to the IFC's Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman is
available here:
http://www.bankwatch.org/issues/oilclima/baku-ceyhan/downloads/2004/complaint_cao_georgia_03-04.pdf
2) The four World Bank Group policies and procedures cited in the
official complaint are:
o Procedures for public disclosure
o IFC Operational Policy 4.01 on environmental assessment
o World Bank Operational Policy 4.30 on involuntary resettlement
o Procedures for preparation of Resettlement Action Plan
Background information on the BTC project is available from the
Bankwatch website:
http://www.bankwatch.org/issues/oilclima/baku-ceyhan/mbaku.html
Greig Aitken
Media coordinator
CEE Bankwatch Network
Bratislavska 31
602 00 Brno
Czech Republic
Tel: +420-545 214 431, ext 19
3. AZERBAIJAN
3.1. KAZAKHSTAN WILL TRANSPORT GAS THROUGH AZERBAIJAN
Kazakhstan will export certain part of its gas through Azerbaijan, said
president Ilham Aliyev at a meeting yesterday, according to Turan News
Agency.
A gas transporting agreement between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was
reached during Aliyev's Kazakhstan visit on March 1-2. The gas
transporting will be done via Baku-Tbilisi-Arzurum gas pipeline.
Kazakhstan produces 80 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
Kazakhstan may transport its oil with Azeri oil pipeline as well. An
agreement for an oil transfer is expected to be signed during a senior
Kazakh officials' visit to Azerbaijan soon. According to initial talks
by the governments of the two countries Kazakh oil will be brought to
Azerbaijan with tankers. An off-shore pipeline might be built in case
the volume of oil delivery exceeds 20 million tons, according to
officials of Azerbaijan.
Baku Today, March 12, 2004
3.2. AZERBAIJAN EXPECTS BAKU-ERZERUM GAS PIPELINE TO OPEN IN 2006
Construction of the Baku-Erzerum gas pipeline will be completed by the
end of 2006, Azerbaijan President Ilkham Aliyev declared Friday at a
leadership meeting of Azerbaijan's ruling party, Eni Azerbaijan,
Rosbalt. learned at the party press office.
The president said the line would make possible movement of Ajeri gas to
Turkey and then to Europe. Aliyev also said the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
export oil pipeline would be in operation by the end of 2004. He said
additional countries were now seeking to be linked to the pipeline, the
press office said.
According to expert figures, Azerbaijan will be producing approximately
50 billion cubic meters of natural gas from its sector of the Caspian
Sea by early 2007. The republic itself will need about 20% of this
amount.
Rosbalt, March 15, 2004
3.3. BAKU HOPES FOR RAPID ADOPTION OF CASPIAN CONVENTION
Baku is seeking the soonest adoption of a convention on the legal status
of the Caspian Sea, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev.
"We think that all of the convention's provisions must be based on
international law and the states' interests. We believe this will help
us come to an agreement," Quliyev said at the opening of a Tuesday
session of the special working group responsible for determining the
Caspian's status.
The Azerbaijan foreign minister said that his country, Russia, and
Kazakhstan have signed bilateral agreements, which provide a foundation
for reaching an agreement on the convention. "We hope that Iran and
Turkmenistan will join our position," he said.
"Azerbaijan is opposed to militarizing the Caspian Sea and supports the
idea of turning it into a sea of friendship," Quliyev said. He added
that improving regional security will contribute to resolving the status
issue.
Rosbalt, March 16, 2004
3.4. AZERBAIJAN PARTICIPATES IN BERLIN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST EXHIBITION
The `International Tourist Exhibition 2004 arranged by the World Tourist
Organization with the assistance of the German Ministry of Economy and
Labor and the International Exhibition Center' gathered over 10 thousand
travel agencies from 178 countries in Berlin.
Each country has its separate exhibition section in the Berlin
international Exhibition Center covering 170 hectares area. The
Azerbaijan's exposition assembled under the supervision of the Ministry
of Youth, Sports and Hotel `Grand Europa' at the 50 square meters hall
¹5 and greets the visitors with the words Welcome to Azerbaijan' on
entrance. The exposition includes models and pictures of Azerbaijan's
ancient cultural monuments, as well as modern Hotel complexes combined
Western and Eastern architecture, photos of picturesque surroundings of
the country, samples of national clothes, carpets etc. The visitors show
interest in maps reflecting tourist opportunities, Great Silk Road,
related booklets and brochures and other promotional materials.
Head of the Azerbaijan delegation, Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism
Abulfaz Garayev addressing the opening ceremony updated local a foreign
journalists on outlooks of tourism development in the country.
Heads of delegations participating in the exhibition highly praised the
exposition of Azerbaijan and stated they intended to sign cooperation
agreements with Azerbaijan on tourists exchange.
AzerTag, March 15, 2004
3.5. KEEPING BTC TRANSPARENT
The Open Society Institute of Azerbaijan intends to launch a new grant
program for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to monitor the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
CBN, March 17, 2004
4. ARMENIA
4.1. ARMENIA LOOKS FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
According to t he information of Vardan Khachatryan, the Minister of
Finance and Economy of Armenia, the construction of a gas pipeline
between Iran and Armenia may begin in 2004 and will take from one to two
years. Gas pipeline will become an alternative source of energy
resources for Armenia in line with the program of shutting down the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant [NPP]. Some 1bn dollars are to be found in
order to replace the NPP's capacity, he said. At present, only the
European Union has stated its readiness to allocate to this ends 100m
euros that will be transferred to a specially designated fund. On top of
that the EU will facilitate its search for international investors,
Khachatryan said. He did not rule out Russia's participation in the
construction of the pipeline. The acting Russian deputy prime minister,
Boris Aleshin, stated Russia 's interest in that during his recent visit
to Yerevan. Khachatryan said that work is under way to build in Armenia
wind power and hydropower stations as substitutes for the NPP. It is
also planned to upgrade the Yerevan thermal power station with the
140m-dollar credit from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation. The
minister said that there is a strategic program to develop the Armenian
energy sector by 2020 and the program envisages a series of measures
aimed at shutting down the NPP.
Arminfo, March 15, 2004
4.2. EU OFFERS ARMENIA 100 MILLION EUROS TO SHUT DOWN NUCLEAR PLANT
The European Union renewed pleas to Armenia Monday to close a nuclear
power station in an earthquake-prone zone, saying it would provide 100
million euros (122 million dollars) in compensatory aid. The
Soviet-built Metzamor plant, 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of the
Armenian capital Yerevan, supplies 40 percent of the energy in the
former Soviet republic. It was commissioned in 1980 but closed
temporarily because of an earthquake in 1988. "Safety is very important
to us," said Torben Holtze, head of the European Commission delegation
here. "The EU will give Armenia 100 million euros to create alternative
energy production when Armenia sets a date for the closure of the power
plant," he told journalists.
But Armenian Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian said his country would
need a billion dollars to compensate for losses if the nuclear plant
closes.
The question of closure was "a very painful question for us," he said.
"We will not close the plant until we have alternative energy sources."
He said construction of a gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia set to
begin this year would speed moves towards alternative energy.
The nuclear plant was closed down temporarily in 1988 because of an
earthquake at Spitak, but resumed operating in 1995 in order to help
stave off a national energy crisis.
The EU signed an accord with Armenia on closing the plant this year but
Armenia has failed to meet this deadline.
Officials here say the plant is capable of operating until 2018.
Gaguik Markossian, the plant's director, said in December that
international credits and aid had allowed Armenia to make many safety
improvements at the plant, which includes two 440-megawatt reactors,
only one of which is in operation.
With electricity supplies reduced to three or four hours a day and
industry in crisis, one of the reactors was restarted in 1995. Since
then about 35 million dollars (28 million euros) have been spent on
various safety improvements.
The Institute for Applied Ecology in Austria says the Armenian plant,
along with similar units in Bulgaria, is among the most dangerous in
Europe.
AFP, March 15, 2004
4.3. LIVING IN YEREVAN BECOMES HAZARDOUS, NGO SAYS
On March 16, 2004 a coalition of 28 nature protection non-governmental
organizations, united in Yerevan Ecological Alliance, warned that living
in Armenia's capital is becoming gradually hazardous, following mass
logging of trees in public parks and building the vacated areas with
cafes and other entertaining facilities.
Sona Ayvazian, one of the seven members of the Alliance's board stated:
"We have neither forests, nor parks, the only green area in the capital
is the Botanic garden in which many species are drying up." She called
on mass medias and public at large to raise their protesting voice
against the ongoing destruction of green areas. According to another
speaker, in early nineties trees were cut by people to warm their houses
due to the lack of other fuel, today forests are destroyed to make
money.
Armenpress, March 16, 2004
--
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Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.cenn.org
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Table of Contents:
1. Announcements
1.1. Information-Theoretic Methods in Data Analysis
1.2. Invitation to Participate in the Web Discussion
1.3. The Russian Translation of the "NGO Strategy Conference: Making Our
Environment Work for Children's Health"
2. Georgia
2.1. Georgians Demand Action to Save Their Homes from Oil Pipeline
3. Azerbaijan
3.1. Kazakhstan will Transport Gas Through Azerbaijan
3.2. Azerbaijan Expects Baku-Erzerum Gas Pipeline to Open in 2006
3.3. Baku Hopes for Rapid Adoption of Caspian Convention
3.4. Azerbaijan Participates in Berlin International Tourist Exhibition
4. Armenia
4.1. Armenia Looks for Alternative Energy Sources
4.2. EU Offers Armenia 100 Million Euros To Shut Down Nuclear Plant
4.3. Living in Yerevan Becomes Hazardous, NGO Says
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.1. INFORMATION-THEORETIC METHODS IN DATA ANALYSIS
A 2-day Short course, May 26-27, 2004
Offered by Dr. David R. Anderson
This short course introduces a variety of general methods for data
analysis based on Kullback-Leibler Information. The sessions focus on
science hypotheses, models, and model selection methods such as AIC and
AICc.
After introducing important background material, methods are provided to
make formal statistical inference from more than a single model
(multimodel inference). The material is not deeply mathematical; the
emphasis is on science concepts and philosophy and a variety of examples
are provided.
The short course is based on the recent book, Burnham, K. P., and D. R.
Anderson. 2002 Model selection and multimodel inference. 2nd Ed.,
Springer-Verlag, New York, NY 488pp. The short course will be held in
Fort Collins, Colorado.
Additional details and registration form are provided at:
http://aicanderson3.home.comcast.net
1.2. INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEB DISCUSSION
Dear Colleagues,
On March 18, 2004 from 18:00 to 20:00 Society `For Sustainable
Development' with the technical support of the IREX Azerbaijan Branch
will hold electronic forum on `Education for Sustainable Development'
dedicated to the UN decade devoted to the Education for Sustainable
Development.
Forum will be held on the following address: http:www.iatp.az/forum
We invite you to participate in this web discussion
1.3. THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATION OF THE "NGO STRATEGY CONFERENCE: MAKING OUR
ENVIRONMENT WORK FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH"
Dear Colleagues,
The Russian translation of the documents of "NGO strategy conference:
making our environment work for children's health" (Brussels, December
2003, organized by European Public Health Alliance and European
ECO-Forum) is availble at http://www.epha.org/a/903
Click in the very bottom of this page at: "NGO Brussels Statement in
Russian" and "Final NGO Strategy Conference Report in Russian".
Women in Europe for a Common Future
WECF
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.wecf.org
German office:
Tel: +49-89-20232390 Fax: +49-89-20232391
Blumenstrasse 28, D - 80331 Munich
Germany
Dutch office:
Tel: +31-30-2310300 Fax: -2340878
Regulierenring 9, NL - 3981 LA Bunnik
The Netherlands
2. GEORGIA
2.1. GEORGIANS DEMAND ACTION TO SAVE THEIR HOMES FROM OIL PIPELINE
Official complaint to IFC reveals BTC negligence
Tbilisi, Georgia, March 16, 2004 -- Residents of Rustavi, Georgia's
third city, have today submitted an official complaint to the
International Finance Corporation (IFC) concerning the potentially
disastrous construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline
only 250 meters from a settlement of high-rise buildings.
[1] The residents are taking this step following a prolonged period of
uncertainty for them and their homes, a lack of information and response
from officials in Georgia and violent intimidation from the regional
police force.
In November 2003, the IFC, the World Bank's private lending arm, agreed
to provide a USD 250 million loan to the controversial BP-led BTC
project. The residents' complaint alleges that World Bank Group policies
and procedures have not been complied with on four counts. [2]
In January this year, people in Rustavi learned for the first time
exactly how close the pipeline would come to their homes when heavy
construction equipment and pipeline workers arrived without warning.
There was no mention of such proximity (180-250 meters) in the available
project documentation and maps. The BTC Company (BTC Co) indicates in
its project literature that there should be a 500-meter `security zone'
around the pipeline. It turns out that the pipeline will run along the
nearby Mtkvari river bank, a high level erosion zone, with potentially
destructive impacts on the most affected homes and the 700 families
living there.
Since learning of their plight, the Rustavi residents have sent letters
to and attempted to engage in dialogue with all the relevant parties -
the mayor of Rustavi, local representatives from BTC Co. and the IFC -
and have also taken their case to the Georgian parliament. Their appeals
have been either ignored or dismissed on the grounds that the pipeline
will comply with the highest western standards.
Merab Vacheishvili, one of the residents named in the complaint, said,
`We are told to shut up, stop wasting the company's time and trust the
high standards of the project promoters. Yet local people have been kept
completely in the dark about this pipeline. How can we start trusting
now?'
Frustrated by officialdom, last month 400 residents took part in a
demonstration that interrupted the pipeline construction for one hour.
The demonstration, consisting mainly of women and children, was
violently broken up by the police. A police representative declared that
the orders had come directly from the government.
Eleonora Digmelashvili, another resident, commented, "We have applied to
the IFC Ombudsman as a last resort. There needs to be an independent
expert analysis of BTC impacts on our homes as well as strong guarantees
for our and our children's security. If there are no such guarantees
then the pipeline route must be changed or we should be resettled."
Contacts:
Merabi Vacheishvili
Tel: + 995 24 17 34 58
E-mail: [email protected]
Eleonora Digmelashvili
Tel: + 995 93 91 77 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Notes for editors:
1) The official complaint to the IFC's Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman is
available here:
http://www.bankwatch.org/issues/oilclima/baku-ceyhan/downloads/2004/complaint_cao_georgia_03-04.pdf
2) The four World Bank Group policies and procedures cited in the
official complaint are:
o Procedures for public disclosure
o IFC Operational Policy 4.01 on environmental assessment
o World Bank Operational Policy 4.30 on involuntary resettlement
o Procedures for preparation of Resettlement Action Plan
Background information on the BTC project is available from the
Bankwatch website:
http://www.bankwatch.org/issues/oilclima/baku-ceyhan/mbaku.html
Greig Aitken
Media coordinator
CEE Bankwatch Network
Bratislavska 31
602 00 Brno
Czech Republic
Tel: +420-545 214 431, ext 19
3. AZERBAIJAN
3.1. KAZAKHSTAN WILL TRANSPORT GAS THROUGH AZERBAIJAN
Kazakhstan will export certain part of its gas through Azerbaijan, said
president Ilham Aliyev at a meeting yesterday, according to Turan News
Agency.
A gas transporting agreement between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was
reached during Aliyev's Kazakhstan visit on March 1-2. The gas
transporting will be done via Baku-Tbilisi-Arzurum gas pipeline.
Kazakhstan produces 80 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
Kazakhstan may transport its oil with Azeri oil pipeline as well. An
agreement for an oil transfer is expected to be signed during a senior
Kazakh officials' visit to Azerbaijan soon. According to initial talks
by the governments of the two countries Kazakh oil will be brought to
Azerbaijan with tankers. An off-shore pipeline might be built in case
the volume of oil delivery exceeds 20 million tons, according to
officials of Azerbaijan.
Baku Today, March 12, 2004
3.2. AZERBAIJAN EXPECTS BAKU-ERZERUM GAS PIPELINE TO OPEN IN 2006
Construction of the Baku-Erzerum gas pipeline will be completed by the
end of 2006, Azerbaijan President Ilkham Aliyev declared Friday at a
leadership meeting of Azerbaijan's ruling party, Eni Azerbaijan,
Rosbalt. learned at the party press office.
The president said the line would make possible movement of Ajeri gas to
Turkey and then to Europe. Aliyev also said the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
export oil pipeline would be in operation by the end of 2004. He said
additional countries were now seeking to be linked to the pipeline, the
press office said.
According to expert figures, Azerbaijan will be producing approximately
50 billion cubic meters of natural gas from its sector of the Caspian
Sea by early 2007. The republic itself will need about 20% of this
amount.
Rosbalt, March 15, 2004
3.3. BAKU HOPES FOR RAPID ADOPTION OF CASPIAN CONVENTION
Baku is seeking the soonest adoption of a convention on the legal status
of the Caspian Sea, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev.
"We think that all of the convention's provisions must be based on
international law and the states' interests. We believe this will help
us come to an agreement," Quliyev said at the opening of a Tuesday
session of the special working group responsible for determining the
Caspian's status.
The Azerbaijan foreign minister said that his country, Russia, and
Kazakhstan have signed bilateral agreements, which provide a foundation
for reaching an agreement on the convention. "We hope that Iran and
Turkmenistan will join our position," he said.
"Azerbaijan is opposed to militarizing the Caspian Sea and supports the
idea of turning it into a sea of friendship," Quliyev said. He added
that improving regional security will contribute to resolving the status
issue.
Rosbalt, March 16, 2004
3.4. AZERBAIJAN PARTICIPATES IN BERLIN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST EXHIBITION
The `International Tourist Exhibition 2004 arranged by the World Tourist
Organization with the assistance of the German Ministry of Economy and
Labor and the International Exhibition Center' gathered over 10 thousand
travel agencies from 178 countries in Berlin.
Each country has its separate exhibition section in the Berlin
international Exhibition Center covering 170 hectares area. The
Azerbaijan's exposition assembled under the supervision of the Ministry
of Youth, Sports and Hotel `Grand Europa' at the 50 square meters hall
¹5 and greets the visitors with the words Welcome to Azerbaijan' on
entrance. The exposition includes models and pictures of Azerbaijan's
ancient cultural monuments, as well as modern Hotel complexes combined
Western and Eastern architecture, photos of picturesque surroundings of
the country, samples of national clothes, carpets etc. The visitors show
interest in maps reflecting tourist opportunities, Great Silk Road,
related booklets and brochures and other promotional materials.
Head of the Azerbaijan delegation, Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism
Abulfaz Garayev addressing the opening ceremony updated local a foreign
journalists on outlooks of tourism development in the country.
Heads of delegations participating in the exhibition highly praised the
exposition of Azerbaijan and stated they intended to sign cooperation
agreements with Azerbaijan on tourists exchange.
AzerTag, March 15, 2004
3.5. KEEPING BTC TRANSPARENT
The Open Society Institute of Azerbaijan intends to launch a new grant
program for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to monitor the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
CBN, March 17, 2004
4. ARMENIA
4.1. ARMENIA LOOKS FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
According to t he information of Vardan Khachatryan, the Minister of
Finance and Economy of Armenia, the construction of a gas pipeline
between Iran and Armenia may begin in 2004 and will take from one to two
years. Gas pipeline will become an alternative source of energy
resources for Armenia in line with the program of shutting down the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant [NPP]. Some 1bn dollars are to be found in
order to replace the NPP's capacity, he said. At present, only the
European Union has stated its readiness to allocate to this ends 100m
euros that will be transferred to a specially designated fund. On top of
that the EU will facilitate its search for international investors,
Khachatryan said. He did not rule out Russia's participation in the
construction of the pipeline. The acting Russian deputy prime minister,
Boris Aleshin, stated Russia 's interest in that during his recent visit
to Yerevan. Khachatryan said that work is under way to build in Armenia
wind power and hydropower stations as substitutes for the NPP. It is
also planned to upgrade the Yerevan thermal power station with the
140m-dollar credit from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation. The
minister said that there is a strategic program to develop the Armenian
energy sector by 2020 and the program envisages a series of measures
aimed at shutting down the NPP.
Arminfo, March 15, 2004
4.2. EU OFFERS ARMENIA 100 MILLION EUROS TO SHUT DOWN NUCLEAR PLANT
The European Union renewed pleas to Armenia Monday to close a nuclear
power station in an earthquake-prone zone, saying it would provide 100
million euros (122 million dollars) in compensatory aid. The
Soviet-built Metzamor plant, 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of the
Armenian capital Yerevan, supplies 40 percent of the energy in the
former Soviet republic. It was commissioned in 1980 but closed
temporarily because of an earthquake in 1988. "Safety is very important
to us," said Torben Holtze, head of the European Commission delegation
here. "The EU will give Armenia 100 million euros to create alternative
energy production when Armenia sets a date for the closure of the power
plant," he told journalists.
But Armenian Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian said his country would
need a billion dollars to compensate for losses if the nuclear plant
closes.
The question of closure was "a very painful question for us," he said.
"We will not close the plant until we have alternative energy sources."
He said construction of a gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia set to
begin this year would speed moves towards alternative energy.
The nuclear plant was closed down temporarily in 1988 because of an
earthquake at Spitak, but resumed operating in 1995 in order to help
stave off a national energy crisis.
The EU signed an accord with Armenia on closing the plant this year but
Armenia has failed to meet this deadline.
Officials here say the plant is capable of operating until 2018.
Gaguik Markossian, the plant's director, said in December that
international credits and aid had allowed Armenia to make many safety
improvements at the plant, which includes two 440-megawatt reactors,
only one of which is in operation.
With electricity supplies reduced to three or four hours a day and
industry in crisis, one of the reactors was restarted in 1995. Since
then about 35 million dollars (28 million euros) have been spent on
various safety improvements.
The Institute for Applied Ecology in Austria says the Armenian plant,
along with similar units in Bulgaria, is among the most dangerous in
Europe.
AFP, March 15, 2004
4.3. LIVING IN YEREVAN BECOMES HAZARDOUS, NGO SAYS
On March 16, 2004 a coalition of 28 nature protection non-governmental
organizations, united in Yerevan Ecological Alliance, warned that living
in Armenia's capital is becoming gradually hazardous, following mass
logging of trees in public parks and building the vacated areas with
cafes and other entertaining facilities.
Sona Ayvazian, one of the seven members of the Alliance's board stated:
"We have neither forests, nor parks, the only green area in the capital
is the Botanic garden in which many species are drying up." She called
on mass medias and public at large to raise their protesting voice
against the ongoing destruction of green areas. According to another
speaker, in early nineties trees were cut by people to warm their houses
due to the lack of other fuel, today forests are destroyed to make
money.
Armenpress, March 16, 2004
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