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CENN – NOVEMBER 24, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Call for Papers Dedicated to the Environment and Health of the
Caucasus
2. Plans for A Fifth and Sixth/Seventh Reactor in Finland
3. Uncorrected Transcript of Oral Evidence To be published as HC 1275-I
4. Government Admits Failing BP Pipeline was Experimental Engineering
5. Water Level of Threatened Armenian Lake Continues to Rise
6. UNICEF Says Health Condition of Children at Special Schools is
Alarming
7. AEN Reconstruction Tender Results to be Announced Next March
8. Armenian Genetic Registry to be Created in 2007
9. Energy Minister comments on energy reforms
10. UMCOR Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Activities in Armenia
11. Senate Passes Bill Granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations
12. Armenia Gets Fresh World Bank Loan
13. Armenia and UNDP Sign Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of
National Housing Concept to the Sum of $30 Thousand
14. Nairit's Restarting Unreal
15. Newspaper Editor's Car Blown Up
16. RAO UES of Russia off to discuss winter energy supply to Georgia
17. Iran's Ambassador Says Iran-Armenia Projects to Raise Regional
Stability and Extend Peace
1. CALL FOR PAPERS DEDICATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH OF THE
CAUCASUS
Dear colleagues!
As you probably know, CENN (Caucasus Environmental NGO Network) together
with Armenian and Azeri partners, is publishing quarterly regional
environmental magazine - "Caucasus Environment", which has scientific,
educational, popular character.
(http://www.cenn.org/magazine_archive.html).
The "Caucasus Environment" is bilingual (English and Russian)
publication. The aim of CENN is to create an independent high quality
publication on environmental issues - a magazine that could educate,
inspire and empower Caucasus citizens to make a difference for the
environment. The regional magazine covers not only purely ecological
matters, but also issues concerning the environment as a whole. These
include the natural environment, social environment (the interconnection
between the environment and poverty, gender issues, demography, health,
historical cultural heritage, ethnography, archaeology, geopolitical
issues, etc.), industry & environment, agriculture, tourism, land use,
cadastre and all types of characteristics and peculiarities of the
Caucasus region, defining environment in a broad sense. The Magazine is
distributed worldwide.
The coming issue of the "Caucasus Environment" Magazine is dedicated to
the ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH of the Caucasus. (Caucasus - meaning not only
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also southern regions of Russia,
Iran and Turkey).
Due to large number of articles we receive for each issue, we have
worked out the Rules of submission:
1. Preliminary letter of interest, describing theme of article and its
brief abstract should be submitted latest on 3 January 2005. Please,
submit your letters as early as possible, so that we have time to work
on the article! Articles and letters can be sent to the following
addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]
Letters and articles can be sent in English and/or Russian language.
2. The article itself should be submitted latest on 20 January 2005. We
may not accept articles that are sent without preliminary notification
letter (3 January), or the articles that are sent after the final
deadline (20 January 2005).
3. Please note that generally we do not accept articles that were
already published (though there could be exceptions), we do not accept
statistical materials, or the articles that contain only well known
data.
4. The size of article should be 2 pages (4 000 symbols), each language.
5. Priority is given to the articles that are prepared by regional
efforts (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Caspian
States etc.).
Priority is also given to the articles that contain photos, are prepared
in both languages (Russian and English).
6. Contact with authors: as the topics are finalized, we provide all
authors with edited and proved versions of their articles, and wait for
their approval for 3 working days. After this time, we have the right
either to use or reject the article on our own decision. On request of
an author, we can place his/her contact address, e-mail or phone in the
article. For NGOs, we can place advertisement of their production
("green" products, juices, fruit, solar power etc.) with special price.
Contact us on e-mail or phone for details.
7. Please, let us know, if there is something you specially like/dislike
about our magazine, as we always look for better communication ways and
opportunities.
We encourage all of you to send us your articles, as it is a best chance
to let the World know about your country, your activities, your NGO and
yourself! It is a good way to find reliable partners, friends, donors,
ideas, programs and - last not least - the most actual and updated
information about our common house - the Caucasus. We will be happy to
have articles not only from Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Iran, Turkey, Russia, but also articles provided by the specialists and
scientists interested in this region.
Looking forward to receive your feedback!
2. PLANS FOR A FIFTH AND SIXTH/SEVENTH REACTOR IN FINLAND
We in Finland urge you to join the "1 million signature campaign"
against nuclear power and Euratom. We need signatures from all over
Europe.
Please sign the petition at the homepage: www.atomstopp.com
and urge all your friends to sign.
The figure, 1 million signatures, is based on an article in the draft
for an EU Constitution.
"Article 46: The principle of participatory democracy
4. No less than one million citizens coming from a significant number of
Member States may invite the Commission to submit any appropriate
proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the
Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Constitution.
A European law shall determine the provisions for the specific
procedures and conditions required for such a citizens' initiative."
We strongly believe that if the anti-nuclear movement would be the first
group to make use of article 46 we could get publicity and put pressure
on the politicians.
It will be very, very hard to stop the project for the fifth reactor in
Finland, a 1.600 MW EPR prototype. But we must at least do our utmost to
stop the plans for the sixth and also seventh reactors already mentioned
by the Finnish minister for traffic and communications in a speech at
the Technical University. Ms. Leena Luhtanen stated that she fully
supports the construction of a fifth reactor and looks forward to the
application for a sixth reactor.
If Finland opens up for more nuclear power, other countries will follow
– especially in Eastern Europe.
Please support the campaign!
Ulla Kloetzer, Women against Nuclear Power - Finland
3. UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL EVIDENCE To be published as HC 1275-i
House of COMMONS
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE
TAKEN BEFORE
TRADE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE
ECGD Support for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline
Tuesday 16 November 2004
ECGD
MR JOHN WEISS, MR ROGER GOTTS and MR DAVID ALLWOOD
Please see the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmtrdind/uc1275-i/uc127502.htm
4. GOVERNMENT ADMITS FAILING BP PIPELINE WAS EXPERIMENTAL ENGINEERING
PRESS RELEASE FROM:
Baku-Ceyhan Campaign
Corner House
Friends of the Earth
PLATFORM
For Immediate Release November 24 2004
Government Admits Failing BP Pipeline was Experimental Engineering
New Article Revealing Cover-up over Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Safety
Published Today
In a remarkable new article published today by the Baku-Ceyhan Campaign,
investigative journalist Michael Gillard lays bare the extent of the
cover-up by government agencies and the British oil giant BP of major
safety problems with BP's embattled Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil
pipeline
The article is available at www.baku.org.uk/publications/corrosion.pdf.
In the piece, Gillard, the journalist behind the original revelations of
safety concerns with BTC in the Sunday Times earlier this year, reveals
that:
The government now admits that the coating system for the BTC pipeline
has no track record, directly contradicting claims made to Parliament,
local governments and NGOs. BP was aware more than a year before it
chose the coating that the system would not work, leading to corrosion
of the pipeline, widespread leakage and possible explosions. BP fired
its senior consultant, Derek Mortimore, when he raised the problem.
Competitors allege corruption and fraud in the procurement process. The
chosen coating was put through testing procedures a second time after
the contract was awarded; it failed all major tests. More on Gillard's
findings over alleged procurement fraud is available at
www.baku.org.uk/fullstory.htm. This evidence is available under
parliamentary privilege. BP has withheld damaging information from the
parliamentary committee investigating the UK government's support for
the BTC project. BP is also trying to cover up the extent of safety
problems by limiting testing and burying the pipeline without ensuring
its integrity.
There is a schism within BP, whose Operations department is unwilling to
take responsibility for such a flawed project. Unless Operations
certifies the pipeline as fit for purpose by year's end, BP cannot
offload the vast liabilities for the BTC project onto commercial banks.
For more information, contact:
Michael Gillard 07949 964354
Nicholas Hildyard 01258 817518
Anders Lustgarten 0797 3164363
5. WATER LEVEL OF THREATENED ARMENIAN LAKE CONTINUES TO RISE
Source: RFE/RL Newsline, November 18, 2004
The water level of Armenia's Lake Sevan has risen by more than one meter
over the past year and is likely to rise a further six meters over the
next three decades, Environment Minister Vartan Ayvazian told RFE/RL's
Armenian Service on 17 November. Excessive use of water from Sevan for
irrigation purposes and hydroelectricity in the 1960s and 1970s reduced
the water level by some 19 meters and severely damaged the lake's
ecosystem. A tunnel was built in the 1970s to channel water from a
mountain river into the lake to reverse the damage, but that was offset
by the continued use of lake water for power generation, which was
finally prohibited by a law enacted in 2002. A second tunnel to increase
the inflow of water into Sevan was completed last year. The water level
rose by 45 centimeters in 2002 and a similar amount in 2003, and now
threatens to submerge some of the privately owned villas built illegally
on its shores.
6. UNICEF SAYS HEALTH CONDITION OF CHILDREN AT SPECIAL SCHOOLS IS
ALARMING
Source: Armenpresss, November 18, 2004
Children with special needs placed at special/boarding schools in
Yerevan face myriad health and development problems, according to the
Assessment of Health Condition of Children with Special Education Needs
conducted upon the request from the Ministry of Education and Science of
the Republic of Armenia by the Children's Health Care Association with
UNICEF's support.
The study which provides an in-depth analysis of health and development
problems of children was carried out at Nubarashen No. 1 and 11 schools
for children with mental retardation, school No. 9 for children with
hearing impairments and Nubarashen No. 18 special school for children
with behavioral problems. The objective of the study was to assess
health condition of children, identify whether children are placed in a
proper special school and meet new admission criteria recently adopted
by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Out of 514 children registered in the surveyed schools, only 391 (76%)
were available for screening. Over 60% of children were from Yerevan,
while the rest were from neighboring regions. The screening revealed
that along with children with special educational needs, schools also
accepted their siblings without such needs solely on the basis that they
belonged to the same socially vulnerable families. On the average for
16% (62 children) of the surveyed children the schools that they were
placed in were not appropriate. However, the reintegration of those
children into mainstream education is already impossible.
According to the study findings, poverty (50% of children) and family
problems (62 % in Nubarashen No. 18 special school) are major causes for
placement of children in a special school.
Many of the children suffer from chronic diseases, including cases which
require immediate medical intervention. In particular, up to 17% of the
surveyed children have hearing problems caused by chronic tonsillitis
and otitis. In many cases, however, school administrations were not able
to provide relevant medical assistance to the children due to the lack
of qualified medical personnel and absence of legal power to authorize
specialized medical intervention.
In addition, the study indicates that out of 391 children 28 (7%) were
subjected to physical violence within their families, whereas 9 children
(2%) were subjected to violence at the schools.
The assessment once again brings up the importance of regular medical
checkups of all children in special schools as well as the need to
revise curriculum in those institutions. Moreover, the development of
the state policy on early identification of childhood disability and
early intervention will lead to timely integration of children with
disabilities into the society, thus preventing many children from being
placed in special schools.
7. AEN RECONSTRUCTION TENDER RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MARCH
Source: Armenpresss, November 18, 2004
A senior official of EnergoInvest company told Armenpress that an
international tender announced for choosing a sub-contractor company for
carrying out a $38 million worth reconstruction project of Armenian
Electricity Networks (AEN) will be wrapped up in 2005 March.
The $38 million worth credit was provided by the Japanese Agency for
International Cooperation for upgrading thirty-three 110-kilowatt
capacity sub-stations in Armenia and supplying 150,000 bi-phase
electricity meters for insecure families.
Japanese Sitomo Corporation, "Mizzu and Co, German Siemens AG and
"Arevaenergy Technic GMBA and Italian "Ittocho Corporation, which have
qualified for the tender will have to present their proposals before
February 1, 2005.
The loan is provided for a 30-year repayment period and 1.8 percent
interest rate.
8. ARMENIAN GENETIC REGISTRY TO BE CREATED IN 2007
Source: Armenpresss, November 18, 2004
Tamara Sarkisian, the director of a National Academy of Sciences
affiliated medical genetics registry center, told Armenpress that the
national genetic registry will be set up in Armenia in 2007 that will
allow to have the overall genetic picture of Armenians. She said the
center was officially opened in 1999, though researches had been made
since 1997.
She said genetic studies allow more precise diagnoses of illnesses,
their origin and to carry out preventive measures. The center, the sole
one in the region, was created with the assistance of the government and
international donor organizations. Tamara Sarkisian said the center
cooperates with counterpart organizations in Europe, USA and Russia.
9. ENERGY MINISTER COMMENTS ON ENERGY REFORMS
Source: RosBusinessConsulting Database, November 18, 2004
The issue of handing control over assets of RAO UES to the Federal
Network Company will be solved after the plan for liberalizing the
market for electrical energy is clear, Russian Energy Minister Viktor
Khristenko told journalists. According to him, the future of foreign
assets of RAO UES is not clear as yet. Currently RAO UES subsidiary
Inter RAO UES controls operations of the holding related to imports or
exports. The company may be restructured into a subsidiary of the
Federal Network Company.
RAO UES owns Armenian and Georgian assets and plans to acquire energy
companies in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
10. UMCOR CELEBRATES 10-TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA
Source: ArmenPress, November 19, 2004
The United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) celebrated today its
decade-long activity in Armenia with a tree planting in the "Motherhood
Park" at Malatia-Sebastia Community Site in cooperation with the Armenia
Tree Project (ATP).
UMCOR has donated a total of 1,000 trees to this park; a portion of
which has already been planted and the remained part was planted today
by the heads and members of UMCOR, ATP and other guests at the event.
Among the planted three were thujas, ashes and junipers, that will serve
as a beautiful gift from UMCOR to the local community, ensuring future
generations with a flourishing dense green park, in place of the site's
current deserted land.
Invited to participate in the ceremonial tree planting were
representatives from UMCOR's partners and friends, government
ministries, and over 55 local and international organizations who have
shown support for the Armenian transition over the years.
Following the welcome speeches planting commenced supervised by
agriculture specialists from ATP, who explained and demonstrated the
methodology of tree planting in order to secure the survival of each and
every seedling.
The hope of this event was to foster community awareness of the urgent
environmental need to restore disappearing green areas.
Furthermore, the event established a basis for further UMCOR-ATP
collaborations with respect to community outreach and poverty reduction
programs throughout the city.
UMCOR and ATP already have had an opportunity to collaborate with each
other. It was in June 2000, when 3 volunteers through UMCOR's "Global
Justice Volunteer" program joined ATP staff doing volunteer work in
ATP's programs. These volunteers were hosted by ATP employees' families
and they spent their time helping and supporting ATP in its daily
activities.
11. SENATE PASSES BILL GRANTING ARMENIA PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS
Source: UNINFO.GOV, November 19, 2004
Senate Passes Bill Granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations
Bill also includes provisions on Laos, dumping law repeal, tariff
Suspensions Washington -- The Senate has passed a bill that would make
normal trade relations (NTR) -- otherwise known as most-favored nation
status -- permanent for Armenia. The bill would also extend NTR to Laos
and repeal a 1916 law that was ruled by the World Trade Organization
(WTO) as a violation of U.S. obligations.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.
The 299-page bill, passed by the House of Representatives October 8,
comprises hundreds of tariff suspensions on imports of goods not
produced domestically and traded in small volumes.
A provision of the bill would grant permanent NTR for Armenia, which has
had temporary NTR, approved year-to-year by the president. "I hope that
we will be able to consider similar treatment for Azerbaijan in the very
near future," said Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican chairman of the
Finance Committee.
12. ARMENIA GETS FRESH WORLD BANK LOAN
Source: RFE/RL Armenia Report, November 19, 2004
Citing a continuing `strong macroeconomic performance,' the World Bank
announced on Friday the release of a fresh $20 million loan to Armenia
that will be used for financing its government's budget deficit.
An agreement on the disbursement of the `poverty reduction support
credit' (PRSC) was signed by Finance Minister Vartan Khachatrian and the
head of the World Bank's Yerevan office, Roger Robinson. It followed a
meeting of the bank's governing board in Washington late on Wednesday.
The board's decision also paved the way for the release of a $5 million
budgetary grant to Armenian from the government of Holland.
`This money is in direct support to our budget [for this year] and will
be used for various expenditures,' Khachatrian said.
`The project will assist the government to implement the ambitious
Poverty Reduction Strategy over the coming years,' Saumya Mitra, a
senior World Bank official, said in a separate statement. `It will also
support the government's drive to improve the quality in the delivery of
essential public services.'
The PRSC is aimed, among other things, at `sharpening competition and
entrenching property rights' in Armenia, the statement said. The credit
is part of the World Bank's new `country assistance strategy' approved
last summer. Yerevan is expected to get up to $220 million in loans
under the four-year program. It has already borrowed more than $800
million from the bank since independence.
World Bank loans and donor grants have been the main source of
deficit-funding for the Armenian government and the next year will be no
exception. The government's 2005 budget deficit is projected at 47
billion drams ($94 million).
Robinson endorsed the main parameters of the draft budget, singling out
a planned major increase in government expenditures on education, health
care and social services. The government wants to spend more on
education than defense.
`In the modern history of Armenia this is the first time that has
happened since 1990,' Robinson told reporters. `I think this is very
symbolic.'
13. ARMENIA AND UNDP SIGN MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION ON DEVELOPMENT OF
NATIONAL HOUSING CONCEPT TO THE SUM OF $30 THOUSAND
Source: ARKA, November 19, 2004
The RA Ministry of Urban Development and UNDP signed today the
memorandum of understanding on cooperation in developing the national
housing concept. According to Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and
UNDP Resident Representative, the program to the overall sum of $30 thou
will be implemented through co-financing, where the share of UNDP will
make 70%, the rest 30% will be provided by the RA Ministry of Urban
Development. She said that the program is designed for 4 months and
provides for the development of the concept that will underlie the
strategic program of housing improvement for the most vulnerable strata
of the society.
"According to the conducted studies, after the earthquake in 1988 in
Armenia many families remained homeless. Our estimates show that today
there are 13 thou families living in temporary dwellings, which do not
correspond to technical standards", said Grande.
In his turn, Aram Harutunyan, the RA Minister of Urban Development noted
that, the concept of the housing strategy will allow creating basis for
the implementation of accommodation of the poor. "In particular, the
concept includes two elements - analysis of the existing housing complex
of Armenia and the development of standards for the housing to be
granted to the poor", said Harutunyan. He noted that, according to the
latest data of the Ministry, there are about 10 thou families in Armenia
which remained homeless as a result of natural or man-caused disasters,
however this sphere still requires a profound study.
14. NAIRIT'S RESTARTING UNREAL
Source: ARMINFO, November 20, 2004
The present statements that the chemical giant of Armenia Nairit will be
restarted soon are unreal, as the plant's has no owner, says the
director general of Electrical Power Networks of Armenia CJSC Yevgeny
Gladunchik.
If the plant is restarted in 2005 Armenia will begin to consume more
electricity but still less than in 2004. "If Nairit starts operating we
are ready to discuss restructuring its debts. We are ready to negotiate
with the real operator. But there is no such operator yet," says
Gladunchik calling not serious the proposal that his company can become
Nairit's shareholder in exchange for debt annulment. "Nobody says how
many shares we may be given."
The main thing for a buyer is to know what he is buying, says
Gladunchik. He says that Nairit is now buying as much electricity as he
needs for ensuring its technological security. But even if the plant
resumes its work it will face the problem of sales as he has lost his
key sales markets. The plant's three suspensions have lost it its real
clients to other more reliable producers of rubber even if they sell it
at higher price. "I don't think that Dupond or Bayer will be happy that
Nairit is restarted and will begin to battle for the markets they
already have," says Gladunchik.
15. NEWSPAPER EDITOR'S CAR BLOWN UP
Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, November 22, 2004
A car belonging to the editor of Armenia's best-selling daily newspaper
critical of the government was destroyed late Monday in an explosion
that he said was as an assassination attempt engineered by a wealthy
businessman.
The Russian-made Niva parked just outside the editorial offices of Nikol
Pashinian's "Haykakan Zhamanak" (Armenian Time) daily in central Yerevan
burst into flames at 8:40 p.m. after the blast heard by the newspaper
staff. A team of firefighters was called in to put out the fire that
gutted the car's front section, including the driver's seat. Police
officers also rushed to the scene and launched an immediate
investigation.
Speaking at an improvised news conference in his office, Pashinian said
he believes he stayed alive by accident. "In the last three months I
have normally finished work at between 8:30 and 9 o'clock in the
evening," he said. "Today I worked longer than usual."
"Haykakan Zhamanak," which is sympathetic to Armenia's former
leadership, is known for its hard-hitting coverage of President Robert
Kocharian and his government. The paper's most recent harsh attack on
the ruling regime appeared on the front page of its Friday edition which
poured scorn on the chief of the Armenian police, Hayk Harutiunian, for
defending last spring's government crackdown on the Armenian opposition.
The paper was particularly scathing about the authorities' failure to
investigate the police beating of its two reporters that covered the
violent dispersal of the April 13 opposition rally in Yerevan.
Pashinian, however, was quick to make it clear that he does not believe
that the apparent bomb attack was the work of the law-enforcement or
other government agencies. He instead pointed the finger at Gagik
Tsarukian, a parliament deputy and millionaire businessman close to
Kocharian.
"I propose to the law-enforcement bodies to investigate the theory about
the blast being organized by Multi Group chairman Gagik Tsarukian," the
young editor declared.
Pashinian suggested that he first incurred Tsarukian's ire in August
after publishing a derogatory cartoon that featured the tycoon,
Kocharian and the chairman of Armenia's National Olympic Committee,
Ishkhan Zakarian. The images were attached to an article that deplored
Armenia's poor performance at the Olympic games in Athens.
Tsarukian was the deputy chairman of the Olympic Committee at the time
and replaced Zakarian as its head earlier on Monday.
Pashinian claimed that the businessman repeatedly sought to meet with
him after the August article. He said Tsarukian was also infuriated by a
recent "Haykakan Zhamanak" story that accused him of illegally cutting
trees to build a villa in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor.
There was no immediate reaction to the allegations from Tsarukian.
Police officers investigating the explosion declined a comment.
The incident is certain to prompt a strong condemnation from Armenia's
leading journalist associations. They have repeatedly expressed concern
about violence against local journalists which has increased
dramatically this year.
16. RAO UES OF RUSSIA OFF TO DISCUSS WINTER ENERGY SUPPLY TO GEORGIA
Source: Itar-Tass, Russia, November 22, 2004
Member of the RAO UES of Russia board Andrei Rappoport arrived on a
one-day working visit in the Georgian capital on November 22, 2004. He
heads the federal network company that is a daughter company of the
energy holding.
"The goal of Rappoport's visit is to discuss energy supplies to Tbilisi
in the winter period," a source in the Tbilisi energy distribution
company Telasi told Itar-Tass. RAO UES of Russia owns 75 percent of the
Telasi stock since the summer of 2003. Rappoport will hold a meeting
with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.
Telasi provides energy supply to Tbilisi. This company imports energy
from Armenia to Russia in conditions of the energy crisis in the
autumn-winter period. Telasi imports 100 megawatt of energy from these
countries the other day.
The Georgian government and RAO UES of Russia signed a memorandum on
energy supplies to Georgia in autumn and winter this year in Tbilisi on
October 1.
17. IRAN'S AMBASSADOR SAYS IRAN-ARMENIA PROJECTS TO RAISE REGIONAL
STABILITY AND EXTEND PEACE
Source: ArmenPress, November 22, 2004
Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, described bilateral
relations between the two nations as "very good." In an exclusive
interview with Armenpress Mr. Haqiqian said the 2001 visit by Armenian
president Robert Kocharian to Iran and Iran's president, Mohammad
Khatami's visit to Armenia in 2004 have played a crucial role in
boosting diverse Armenian-Iranian ties.
The ambassador said the construction of the 40-km long Armenian section
of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will start very soon. The official ceremony
will be attended by high-ranking officials of the both sides. The
ambassador said the tender for construction of the 100 km-long section
on the Iranian side was wrapped up to be followed soon by starting its
construction.
The ambassador said also the second high-voltage line, intended for
electricity swap between Armenia and Iran will be accomplished soon and
start operation in December. The new line will allow both countries to
increase the volume of swapped electricity to 800 megawatt. Mr. Haqiqian
stressed the importance of energy cooperation between the two countries
and said that the government officials of both sides are working now to
prepare the agreement for construction of the third line.
Iran is also building a wind power station in Armenia's north-east. The
Iranian Sanir firm plans to accomplish its construction by the end of
this year. The wind power station will have four turbines and will
produce about 2.6 megawatt electricity.
The ambassador also spoke about enabling roaming system between the two
countries' mobile phone systems, which he said will play a great role in
improvement of communication between Iran and Armenia.
Mr. Haqiqian said also that construction of a hydro power plant on the
border river of Arax is high on the agenda of bilateral talks, as well
as construction of Kajaran tunnel. The latter is expected to give the
shortest overland route from Armenia to Iran and vice versa.
At the end of his interview the ambassador expressed hope that these
projects promoting Armenia's economic growth and benefiting the entire
region will extend peace and stability in the region.
--
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.cenn.org
--Boundary_(ID_bZUtb3xPbbnrWj1UXfGaIQ)--
Table of Contents:
1. Call for Papers Dedicated to the Environment and Health of the
Caucasus
2. Plans for A Fifth and Sixth/Seventh Reactor in Finland
3. Uncorrected Transcript of Oral Evidence To be published as HC 1275-I
4. Government Admits Failing BP Pipeline was Experimental Engineering
5. Water Level of Threatened Armenian Lake Continues to Rise
6. UNICEF Says Health Condition of Children at Special Schools is
Alarming
7. AEN Reconstruction Tender Results to be Announced Next March
8. Armenian Genetic Registry to be Created in 2007
9. Energy Minister comments on energy reforms
10. UMCOR Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Activities in Armenia
11. Senate Passes Bill Granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations
12. Armenia Gets Fresh World Bank Loan
13. Armenia and UNDP Sign Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of
National Housing Concept to the Sum of $30 Thousand
14. Nairit's Restarting Unreal
15. Newspaper Editor's Car Blown Up
16. RAO UES of Russia off to discuss winter energy supply to Georgia
17. Iran's Ambassador Says Iran-Armenia Projects to Raise Regional
Stability and Extend Peace
1. CALL FOR PAPERS DEDICATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH OF THE
CAUCASUS
Dear colleagues!
As you probably know, CENN (Caucasus Environmental NGO Network) together
with Armenian and Azeri partners, is publishing quarterly regional
environmental magazine - "Caucasus Environment", which has scientific,
educational, popular character.
(http://www.cenn.org/magazine_archive.html).
The "Caucasus Environment" is bilingual (English and Russian)
publication. The aim of CENN is to create an independent high quality
publication on environmental issues - a magazine that could educate,
inspire and empower Caucasus citizens to make a difference for the
environment. The regional magazine covers not only purely ecological
matters, but also issues concerning the environment as a whole. These
include the natural environment, social environment (the interconnection
between the environment and poverty, gender issues, demography, health,
historical cultural heritage, ethnography, archaeology, geopolitical
issues, etc.), industry & environment, agriculture, tourism, land use,
cadastre and all types of characteristics and peculiarities of the
Caucasus region, defining environment in a broad sense. The Magazine is
distributed worldwide.
The coming issue of the "Caucasus Environment" Magazine is dedicated to
the ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH of the Caucasus. (Caucasus - meaning not only
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also southern regions of Russia,
Iran and Turkey).
Due to large number of articles we receive for each issue, we have
worked out the Rules of submission:
1. Preliminary letter of interest, describing theme of article and its
brief abstract should be submitted latest on 3 January 2005. Please,
submit your letters as early as possible, so that we have time to work
on the article! Articles and letters can be sent to the following
addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]
Letters and articles can be sent in English and/or Russian language.
2. The article itself should be submitted latest on 20 January 2005. We
may not accept articles that are sent without preliminary notification
letter (3 January), or the articles that are sent after the final
deadline (20 January 2005).
3. Please note that generally we do not accept articles that were
already published (though there could be exceptions), we do not accept
statistical materials, or the articles that contain only well known
data.
4. The size of article should be 2 pages (4 000 symbols), each language.
5. Priority is given to the articles that are prepared by regional
efforts (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Caspian
States etc.).
Priority is also given to the articles that contain photos, are prepared
in both languages (Russian and English).
6. Contact with authors: as the topics are finalized, we provide all
authors with edited and proved versions of their articles, and wait for
their approval for 3 working days. After this time, we have the right
either to use or reject the article on our own decision. On request of
an author, we can place his/her contact address, e-mail or phone in the
article. For NGOs, we can place advertisement of their production
("green" products, juices, fruit, solar power etc.) with special price.
Contact us on e-mail or phone for details.
7. Please, let us know, if there is something you specially like/dislike
about our magazine, as we always look for better communication ways and
opportunities.
We encourage all of you to send us your articles, as it is a best chance
to let the World know about your country, your activities, your NGO and
yourself! It is a good way to find reliable partners, friends, donors,
ideas, programs and - last not least - the most actual and updated
information about our common house - the Caucasus. We will be happy to
have articles not only from Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Iran, Turkey, Russia, but also articles provided by the specialists and
scientists interested in this region.
Looking forward to receive your feedback!
2. PLANS FOR A FIFTH AND SIXTH/SEVENTH REACTOR IN FINLAND
We in Finland urge you to join the "1 million signature campaign"
against nuclear power and Euratom. We need signatures from all over
Europe.
Please sign the petition at the homepage: www.atomstopp.com
and urge all your friends to sign.
The figure, 1 million signatures, is based on an article in the draft
for an EU Constitution.
"Article 46: The principle of participatory democracy
4. No less than one million citizens coming from a significant number of
Member States may invite the Commission to submit any appropriate
proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the
Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Constitution.
A European law shall determine the provisions for the specific
procedures and conditions required for such a citizens' initiative."
We strongly believe that if the anti-nuclear movement would be the first
group to make use of article 46 we could get publicity and put pressure
on the politicians.
It will be very, very hard to stop the project for the fifth reactor in
Finland, a 1.600 MW EPR prototype. But we must at least do our utmost to
stop the plans for the sixth and also seventh reactors already mentioned
by the Finnish minister for traffic and communications in a speech at
the Technical University. Ms. Leena Luhtanen stated that she fully
supports the construction of a fifth reactor and looks forward to the
application for a sixth reactor.
If Finland opens up for more nuclear power, other countries will follow
– especially in Eastern Europe.
Please support the campaign!
Ulla Kloetzer, Women against Nuclear Power - Finland
3. UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL EVIDENCE To be published as HC 1275-i
House of COMMONS
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE
TAKEN BEFORE
TRADE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE
ECGD Support for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline
Tuesday 16 November 2004
ECGD
MR JOHN WEISS, MR ROGER GOTTS and MR DAVID ALLWOOD
Please see the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmtrdind/uc1275-i/uc127502.htm
4. GOVERNMENT ADMITS FAILING BP PIPELINE WAS EXPERIMENTAL ENGINEERING
PRESS RELEASE FROM:
Baku-Ceyhan Campaign
Corner House
Friends of the Earth
PLATFORM
For Immediate Release November 24 2004
Government Admits Failing BP Pipeline was Experimental Engineering
New Article Revealing Cover-up over Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Safety
Published Today
In a remarkable new article published today by the Baku-Ceyhan Campaign,
investigative journalist Michael Gillard lays bare the extent of the
cover-up by government agencies and the British oil giant BP of major
safety problems with BP's embattled Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil
pipeline
The article is available at www.baku.org.uk/publications/corrosion.pdf.
In the piece, Gillard, the journalist behind the original revelations of
safety concerns with BTC in the Sunday Times earlier this year, reveals
that:
The government now admits that the coating system for the BTC pipeline
has no track record, directly contradicting claims made to Parliament,
local governments and NGOs. BP was aware more than a year before it
chose the coating that the system would not work, leading to corrosion
of the pipeline, widespread leakage and possible explosions. BP fired
its senior consultant, Derek Mortimore, when he raised the problem.
Competitors allege corruption and fraud in the procurement process. The
chosen coating was put through testing procedures a second time after
the contract was awarded; it failed all major tests. More on Gillard's
findings over alleged procurement fraud is available at
www.baku.org.uk/fullstory.htm. This evidence is available under
parliamentary privilege. BP has withheld damaging information from the
parliamentary committee investigating the UK government's support for
the BTC project. BP is also trying to cover up the extent of safety
problems by limiting testing and burying the pipeline without ensuring
its integrity.
There is a schism within BP, whose Operations department is unwilling to
take responsibility for such a flawed project. Unless Operations
certifies the pipeline as fit for purpose by year's end, BP cannot
offload the vast liabilities for the BTC project onto commercial banks.
For more information, contact:
Michael Gillard 07949 964354
Nicholas Hildyard 01258 817518
Anders Lustgarten 0797 3164363
5. WATER LEVEL OF THREATENED ARMENIAN LAKE CONTINUES TO RISE
Source: RFE/RL Newsline, November 18, 2004
The water level of Armenia's Lake Sevan has risen by more than one meter
over the past year and is likely to rise a further six meters over the
next three decades, Environment Minister Vartan Ayvazian told RFE/RL's
Armenian Service on 17 November. Excessive use of water from Sevan for
irrigation purposes and hydroelectricity in the 1960s and 1970s reduced
the water level by some 19 meters and severely damaged the lake's
ecosystem. A tunnel was built in the 1970s to channel water from a
mountain river into the lake to reverse the damage, but that was offset
by the continued use of lake water for power generation, which was
finally prohibited by a law enacted in 2002. A second tunnel to increase
the inflow of water into Sevan was completed last year. The water level
rose by 45 centimeters in 2002 and a similar amount in 2003, and now
threatens to submerge some of the privately owned villas built illegally
on its shores.
6. UNICEF SAYS HEALTH CONDITION OF CHILDREN AT SPECIAL SCHOOLS IS
ALARMING
Source: Armenpresss, November 18, 2004
Children with special needs placed at special/boarding schools in
Yerevan face myriad health and development problems, according to the
Assessment of Health Condition of Children with Special Education Needs
conducted upon the request from the Ministry of Education and Science of
the Republic of Armenia by the Children's Health Care Association with
UNICEF's support.
The study which provides an in-depth analysis of health and development
problems of children was carried out at Nubarashen No. 1 and 11 schools
for children with mental retardation, school No. 9 for children with
hearing impairments and Nubarashen No. 18 special school for children
with behavioral problems. The objective of the study was to assess
health condition of children, identify whether children are placed in a
proper special school and meet new admission criteria recently adopted
by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Out of 514 children registered in the surveyed schools, only 391 (76%)
were available for screening. Over 60% of children were from Yerevan,
while the rest were from neighboring regions. The screening revealed
that along with children with special educational needs, schools also
accepted their siblings without such needs solely on the basis that they
belonged to the same socially vulnerable families. On the average for
16% (62 children) of the surveyed children the schools that they were
placed in were not appropriate. However, the reintegration of those
children into mainstream education is already impossible.
According to the study findings, poverty (50% of children) and family
problems (62 % in Nubarashen No. 18 special school) are major causes for
placement of children in a special school.
Many of the children suffer from chronic diseases, including cases which
require immediate medical intervention. In particular, up to 17% of the
surveyed children have hearing problems caused by chronic tonsillitis
and otitis. In many cases, however, school administrations were not able
to provide relevant medical assistance to the children due to the lack
of qualified medical personnel and absence of legal power to authorize
specialized medical intervention.
In addition, the study indicates that out of 391 children 28 (7%) were
subjected to physical violence within their families, whereas 9 children
(2%) were subjected to violence at the schools.
The assessment once again brings up the importance of regular medical
checkups of all children in special schools as well as the need to
revise curriculum in those institutions. Moreover, the development of
the state policy on early identification of childhood disability and
early intervention will lead to timely integration of children with
disabilities into the society, thus preventing many children from being
placed in special schools.
7. AEN RECONSTRUCTION TENDER RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MARCH
Source: Armenpresss, November 18, 2004
A senior official of EnergoInvest company told Armenpress that an
international tender announced for choosing a sub-contractor company for
carrying out a $38 million worth reconstruction project of Armenian
Electricity Networks (AEN) will be wrapped up in 2005 March.
The $38 million worth credit was provided by the Japanese Agency for
International Cooperation for upgrading thirty-three 110-kilowatt
capacity sub-stations in Armenia and supplying 150,000 bi-phase
electricity meters for insecure families.
Japanese Sitomo Corporation, "Mizzu and Co, German Siemens AG and
"Arevaenergy Technic GMBA and Italian "Ittocho Corporation, which have
qualified for the tender will have to present their proposals before
February 1, 2005.
The loan is provided for a 30-year repayment period and 1.8 percent
interest rate.
8. ARMENIAN GENETIC REGISTRY TO BE CREATED IN 2007
Source: Armenpresss, November 18, 2004
Tamara Sarkisian, the director of a National Academy of Sciences
affiliated medical genetics registry center, told Armenpress that the
national genetic registry will be set up in Armenia in 2007 that will
allow to have the overall genetic picture of Armenians. She said the
center was officially opened in 1999, though researches had been made
since 1997.
She said genetic studies allow more precise diagnoses of illnesses,
their origin and to carry out preventive measures. The center, the sole
one in the region, was created with the assistance of the government and
international donor organizations. Tamara Sarkisian said the center
cooperates with counterpart organizations in Europe, USA and Russia.
9. ENERGY MINISTER COMMENTS ON ENERGY REFORMS
Source: RosBusinessConsulting Database, November 18, 2004
The issue of handing control over assets of RAO UES to the Federal
Network Company will be solved after the plan for liberalizing the
market for electrical energy is clear, Russian Energy Minister Viktor
Khristenko told journalists. According to him, the future of foreign
assets of RAO UES is not clear as yet. Currently RAO UES subsidiary
Inter RAO UES controls operations of the holding related to imports or
exports. The company may be restructured into a subsidiary of the
Federal Network Company.
RAO UES owns Armenian and Georgian assets and plans to acquire energy
companies in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
10. UMCOR CELEBRATES 10-TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA
Source: ArmenPress, November 19, 2004
The United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) celebrated today its
decade-long activity in Armenia with a tree planting in the "Motherhood
Park" at Malatia-Sebastia Community Site in cooperation with the Armenia
Tree Project (ATP).
UMCOR has donated a total of 1,000 trees to this park; a portion of
which has already been planted and the remained part was planted today
by the heads and members of UMCOR, ATP and other guests at the event.
Among the planted three were thujas, ashes and junipers, that will serve
as a beautiful gift from UMCOR to the local community, ensuring future
generations with a flourishing dense green park, in place of the site's
current deserted land.
Invited to participate in the ceremonial tree planting were
representatives from UMCOR's partners and friends, government
ministries, and over 55 local and international organizations who have
shown support for the Armenian transition over the years.
Following the welcome speeches planting commenced supervised by
agriculture specialists from ATP, who explained and demonstrated the
methodology of tree planting in order to secure the survival of each and
every seedling.
The hope of this event was to foster community awareness of the urgent
environmental need to restore disappearing green areas.
Furthermore, the event established a basis for further UMCOR-ATP
collaborations with respect to community outreach and poverty reduction
programs throughout the city.
UMCOR and ATP already have had an opportunity to collaborate with each
other. It was in June 2000, when 3 volunteers through UMCOR's "Global
Justice Volunteer" program joined ATP staff doing volunteer work in
ATP's programs. These volunteers were hosted by ATP employees' families
and they spent their time helping and supporting ATP in its daily
activities.
11. SENATE PASSES BILL GRANTING ARMENIA PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS
Source: UNINFO.GOV, November 19, 2004
Senate Passes Bill Granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations
Bill also includes provisions on Laos, dumping law repeal, tariff
Suspensions Washington -- The Senate has passed a bill that would make
normal trade relations (NTR) -- otherwise known as most-favored nation
status -- permanent for Armenia. The bill would also extend NTR to Laos
and repeal a 1916 law that was ruled by the World Trade Organization
(WTO) as a violation of U.S. obligations.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.
The 299-page bill, passed by the House of Representatives October 8,
comprises hundreds of tariff suspensions on imports of goods not
produced domestically and traded in small volumes.
A provision of the bill would grant permanent NTR for Armenia, which has
had temporary NTR, approved year-to-year by the president. "I hope that
we will be able to consider similar treatment for Azerbaijan in the very
near future," said Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican chairman of the
Finance Committee.
12. ARMENIA GETS FRESH WORLD BANK LOAN
Source: RFE/RL Armenia Report, November 19, 2004
Citing a continuing `strong macroeconomic performance,' the World Bank
announced on Friday the release of a fresh $20 million loan to Armenia
that will be used for financing its government's budget deficit.
An agreement on the disbursement of the `poverty reduction support
credit' (PRSC) was signed by Finance Minister Vartan Khachatrian and the
head of the World Bank's Yerevan office, Roger Robinson. It followed a
meeting of the bank's governing board in Washington late on Wednesday.
The board's decision also paved the way for the release of a $5 million
budgetary grant to Armenian from the government of Holland.
`This money is in direct support to our budget [for this year] and will
be used for various expenditures,' Khachatrian said.
`The project will assist the government to implement the ambitious
Poverty Reduction Strategy over the coming years,' Saumya Mitra, a
senior World Bank official, said in a separate statement. `It will also
support the government's drive to improve the quality in the delivery of
essential public services.'
The PRSC is aimed, among other things, at `sharpening competition and
entrenching property rights' in Armenia, the statement said. The credit
is part of the World Bank's new `country assistance strategy' approved
last summer. Yerevan is expected to get up to $220 million in loans
under the four-year program. It has already borrowed more than $800
million from the bank since independence.
World Bank loans and donor grants have been the main source of
deficit-funding for the Armenian government and the next year will be no
exception. The government's 2005 budget deficit is projected at 47
billion drams ($94 million).
Robinson endorsed the main parameters of the draft budget, singling out
a planned major increase in government expenditures on education, health
care and social services. The government wants to spend more on
education than defense.
`In the modern history of Armenia this is the first time that has
happened since 1990,' Robinson told reporters. `I think this is very
symbolic.'
13. ARMENIA AND UNDP SIGN MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION ON DEVELOPMENT OF
NATIONAL HOUSING CONCEPT TO THE SUM OF $30 THOUSAND
Source: ARKA, November 19, 2004
The RA Ministry of Urban Development and UNDP signed today the
memorandum of understanding on cooperation in developing the national
housing concept. According to Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and
UNDP Resident Representative, the program to the overall sum of $30 thou
will be implemented through co-financing, where the share of UNDP will
make 70%, the rest 30% will be provided by the RA Ministry of Urban
Development. She said that the program is designed for 4 months and
provides for the development of the concept that will underlie the
strategic program of housing improvement for the most vulnerable strata
of the society.
"According to the conducted studies, after the earthquake in 1988 in
Armenia many families remained homeless. Our estimates show that today
there are 13 thou families living in temporary dwellings, which do not
correspond to technical standards", said Grande.
In his turn, Aram Harutunyan, the RA Minister of Urban Development noted
that, the concept of the housing strategy will allow creating basis for
the implementation of accommodation of the poor. "In particular, the
concept includes two elements - analysis of the existing housing complex
of Armenia and the development of standards for the housing to be
granted to the poor", said Harutunyan. He noted that, according to the
latest data of the Ministry, there are about 10 thou families in Armenia
which remained homeless as a result of natural or man-caused disasters,
however this sphere still requires a profound study.
14. NAIRIT'S RESTARTING UNREAL
Source: ARMINFO, November 20, 2004
The present statements that the chemical giant of Armenia Nairit will be
restarted soon are unreal, as the plant's has no owner, says the
director general of Electrical Power Networks of Armenia CJSC Yevgeny
Gladunchik.
If the plant is restarted in 2005 Armenia will begin to consume more
electricity but still less than in 2004. "If Nairit starts operating we
are ready to discuss restructuring its debts. We are ready to negotiate
with the real operator. But there is no such operator yet," says
Gladunchik calling not serious the proposal that his company can become
Nairit's shareholder in exchange for debt annulment. "Nobody says how
many shares we may be given."
The main thing for a buyer is to know what he is buying, says
Gladunchik. He says that Nairit is now buying as much electricity as he
needs for ensuring its technological security. But even if the plant
resumes its work it will face the problem of sales as he has lost his
key sales markets. The plant's three suspensions have lost it its real
clients to other more reliable producers of rubber even if they sell it
at higher price. "I don't think that Dupond or Bayer will be happy that
Nairit is restarted and will begin to battle for the markets they
already have," says Gladunchik.
15. NEWSPAPER EDITOR'S CAR BLOWN UP
Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, November 22, 2004
A car belonging to the editor of Armenia's best-selling daily newspaper
critical of the government was destroyed late Monday in an explosion
that he said was as an assassination attempt engineered by a wealthy
businessman.
The Russian-made Niva parked just outside the editorial offices of Nikol
Pashinian's "Haykakan Zhamanak" (Armenian Time) daily in central Yerevan
burst into flames at 8:40 p.m. after the blast heard by the newspaper
staff. A team of firefighters was called in to put out the fire that
gutted the car's front section, including the driver's seat. Police
officers also rushed to the scene and launched an immediate
investigation.
Speaking at an improvised news conference in his office, Pashinian said
he believes he stayed alive by accident. "In the last three months I
have normally finished work at between 8:30 and 9 o'clock in the
evening," he said. "Today I worked longer than usual."
"Haykakan Zhamanak," which is sympathetic to Armenia's former
leadership, is known for its hard-hitting coverage of President Robert
Kocharian and his government. The paper's most recent harsh attack on
the ruling regime appeared on the front page of its Friday edition which
poured scorn on the chief of the Armenian police, Hayk Harutiunian, for
defending last spring's government crackdown on the Armenian opposition.
The paper was particularly scathing about the authorities' failure to
investigate the police beating of its two reporters that covered the
violent dispersal of the April 13 opposition rally in Yerevan.
Pashinian, however, was quick to make it clear that he does not believe
that the apparent bomb attack was the work of the law-enforcement or
other government agencies. He instead pointed the finger at Gagik
Tsarukian, a parliament deputy and millionaire businessman close to
Kocharian.
"I propose to the law-enforcement bodies to investigate the theory about
the blast being organized by Multi Group chairman Gagik Tsarukian," the
young editor declared.
Pashinian suggested that he first incurred Tsarukian's ire in August
after publishing a derogatory cartoon that featured the tycoon,
Kocharian and the chairman of Armenia's National Olympic Committee,
Ishkhan Zakarian. The images were attached to an article that deplored
Armenia's poor performance at the Olympic games in Athens.
Tsarukian was the deputy chairman of the Olympic Committee at the time
and replaced Zakarian as its head earlier on Monday.
Pashinian claimed that the businessman repeatedly sought to meet with
him after the August article. He said Tsarukian was also infuriated by a
recent "Haykakan Zhamanak" story that accused him of illegally cutting
trees to build a villa in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor.
There was no immediate reaction to the allegations from Tsarukian.
Police officers investigating the explosion declined a comment.
The incident is certain to prompt a strong condemnation from Armenia's
leading journalist associations. They have repeatedly expressed concern
about violence against local journalists which has increased
dramatically this year.
16. RAO UES OF RUSSIA OFF TO DISCUSS WINTER ENERGY SUPPLY TO GEORGIA
Source: Itar-Tass, Russia, November 22, 2004
Member of the RAO UES of Russia board Andrei Rappoport arrived on a
one-day working visit in the Georgian capital on November 22, 2004. He
heads the federal network company that is a daughter company of the
energy holding.
"The goal of Rappoport's visit is to discuss energy supplies to Tbilisi
in the winter period," a source in the Tbilisi energy distribution
company Telasi told Itar-Tass. RAO UES of Russia owns 75 percent of the
Telasi stock since the summer of 2003. Rappoport will hold a meeting
with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.
Telasi provides energy supply to Tbilisi. This company imports energy
from Armenia to Russia in conditions of the energy crisis in the
autumn-winter period. Telasi imports 100 megawatt of energy from these
countries the other day.
The Georgian government and RAO UES of Russia signed a memorandum on
energy supplies to Georgia in autumn and winter this year in Tbilisi on
October 1.
17. IRAN'S AMBASSADOR SAYS IRAN-ARMENIA PROJECTS TO RAISE REGIONAL
STABILITY AND EXTEND PEACE
Source: ArmenPress, November 22, 2004
Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, described bilateral
relations between the two nations as "very good." In an exclusive
interview with Armenpress Mr. Haqiqian said the 2001 visit by Armenian
president Robert Kocharian to Iran and Iran's president, Mohammad
Khatami's visit to Armenia in 2004 have played a crucial role in
boosting diverse Armenian-Iranian ties.
The ambassador said the construction of the 40-km long Armenian section
of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will start very soon. The official ceremony
will be attended by high-ranking officials of the both sides. The
ambassador said the tender for construction of the 100 km-long section
on the Iranian side was wrapped up to be followed soon by starting its
construction.
The ambassador said also the second high-voltage line, intended for
electricity swap between Armenia and Iran will be accomplished soon and
start operation in December. The new line will allow both countries to
increase the volume of swapped electricity to 800 megawatt. Mr. Haqiqian
stressed the importance of energy cooperation between the two countries
and said that the government officials of both sides are working now to
prepare the agreement for construction of the third line.
Iran is also building a wind power station in Armenia's north-east. The
Iranian Sanir firm plans to accomplish its construction by the end of
this year. The wind power station will have four turbines and will
produce about 2.6 megawatt electricity.
The ambassador also spoke about enabling roaming system between the two
countries' mobile phone systems, which he said will play a great role in
improvement of communication between Iran and Armenia.
Mr. Haqiqian said also that construction of a hydro power plant on the
border river of Arax is high on the agenda of bilateral talks, as well
as construction of Kajaran tunnel. The latter is expected to give the
shortest overland route from Armenia to Iran and vice versa.
At the end of his interview the ambassador expressed hope that these
projects promoting Armenia's economic growth and benefiting the entire
region will extend peace and stability in the region.
--
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CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.cenn.org
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