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CENN - August 11, Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1.. "Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia " Makes Decision to Boycott
Yerevan Hotel "Europe"
2.. Pipeline will Pass Through the Bottom of Caspian Sea
3.. Discussion of "Millennium Challenges " Program Pass successfully
4.. National Citizens' Initiative Examines Likelihood of Revolution in
Armenia
1. "UNION OF TOURIST OPERATORS OF ARMENIA" MAKES DECISION TO
BOYCOTT YEREVAN HOTEL "EUROPE"
Source: ARMINFO, August 1, 2005
The "Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia" at a general assembly of
tourist organizations included in it made a decision to boycott Yerevan
Hotel "Europe."
The union informs ARMINFO that Hotel "Europe" uses the unstable
situation with the AMD/USD exchange rate and speculates on it, waging a
wrong price policy proceeding from the exchange rate of 500 AMD per 1
USD, which does not correspond to the rate established by the Armenian
Central Bank. Factually, it means artificial rise in prices during the
tourist season by some 10-15%, which is groundless and inadmissible. In
the course of the meetings of the Union representatives and the hotel's
leadership, several attempts were made to explain that the approach is
groundless and inadmissible in the tourist business. However, the
leadership of the Hotel "Europe" (Director N.Tataryan) expressed
unwillingness to listen to the opinion of experts. Hence, the Union made
a decision to unilaterally stop the relations with the above hotel up to
resumption of new negotiations and proposals by the Hotel's owners.
It should be noted that the "Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia" was
registered in December 2002 and unites 12 tourist companies, which have
distinguished themselves as serious organizations in the native tourist
market: "Intur," "Armenia Travel + M," "Armen tour Travel," "Sputnik,"
"Tatyans Travel,""Avarayr," "Menua Tour," "Levon Travel," and others.
2. Pipeline will Pass Through the Bottom of Caspian Sea
Source: "Rezonans", August 4, 2005
On September 2005 the contract between the governments of Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan will be signed on transportation of Kazakh petroleum through
Bako-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main exportation pipeline. After that the
construction of pipeline that will pass through the bottom of Caspian
Sea and will connect Kazakhstan with Azerbaijan will be included in
agenda.
"British Petroleum" declares that four foreigner companies working in
Kazakhstan on "Kashagan" petroleum deposit at the same time are the
auctioneers of Bako-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (their quota is 15%);
therefore they can transport petroleum by the main exportation pipeline.
As for the other companies working in Kazakhstan, declares bp, for the
transportation of petroleum extracted by them through
Bako-Tbilisi-Ceyhan transportation tariff should be agreed with
auctioneers.
3. DISCUSSIONS OF "MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES" PROGRAM PASS
SUCCESSFULLY
Source: ARMENPRESS, August 4, 2004
This year the qualification round of the "Millennium Challenges" program
will end and afterwards the negotiations over preparation of the
agreement will launch, Tigran Khachatrian, deputy finance minister, told
at a press conference.
He said within the frameworks of the program a group of experts from US
arrived in Armenia to assess the separate points of the program from
qualification viewpoint. At present the effectiveness of the points is
being discussed i.e. whether they will secure economic growth and
promote the poverty reduction.
T. Khachatrian said the discussion of the program is going on
successfully and added that they have reached positive response over two
major points which are connected with the construction of community
roads and ensuring water supply. The two issues have been assessed as
important factors for securing economic growth and promoting poverty
reduction in Armenia. The deputy minister also noted that the first real
investments in the program will be made in 2007.
4. National Citizens' Initiative Examines Likelihood of
Revolution in Armenia
Source: ACNIS Info, August 10, 2005
The National Citizens' Initiative (NCI) today convened a roundtable on
"The Probability of Revolution in Armenia: Preconditions and
Consequences." The meeting brought together public figures, policy
makers, media representatives, analysts and experts.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks and wished the participants fruitful work. "The final hopes that
Armenia's rulers would find strength and decency in themselves to change
the destructive course which is taking the country toward the Middle
Ages, and that they would initiate the first steps to the public demand
for fundamental transformation seem to be thwarted. Consequently, headed
by the progressive political powers, the society itself must engage in
fundamental value metamorphosis, and in the outcome, Armenia would find
its rightful place in the family of free, dignified and prosperous
societies," Khurshudian said.
During her policy intervention, National Press Club chairperson Narine
Mkrtchian put an emphasis on the implementation of socio-political
changes, and the historical necessity for the establishment of a new
political system. She talked in detail about the existing preconditions
in the country, which, in her view, would cause a revolution. And these
are: the absence of authoritative legitimacy; the political elite's
inaptitude to form a progressive social order; corruption; clan-based
rule; dilapidation of ethics at all levels; and other abuses, to which
economic, inner-authoritative and parliamentary crises have also
accumulated, resulting in one general systemic exigency. "Whereas, in
countries like Armenia, the resolving of systemic crises is possible
only by means of revolution," Mkrtchian mentioned.
ACNIS analyst Hovhannes Vardanian made a breakdown of the domestic and
external preconditions for a rebellion. According to his observations,
the revolts that have taken place in the post-Soviet region are
primarily a consequence of the public's extreme social polarization,
poverty, widespread corruption, an atmosphere of arbitrariness and
rights for the privileged, and other adverse phenomena. In the words of
Vardanian, revolutionary developments in Armenia are being nourished by
the factor that the incumbent administration is not capable, in any way,
of carrying out true systemic reforms. "The current situation, which can
be characterized by the inactiveness and ineffectiveness of state
authorities, unbridled arbitrariness by high degree bureaucracy,
advanced level of bribery and corruption, and the explicit violation of
law and order, is leading the country toward anarchy and chaos, and the
rule of the jungle, when the big and strong eats up the small and weak,
and this makes the chance of a revolution in Armenia simply inevitable,"
Vardanian said. Among external stimuli, he set aside the "snowball
effect." In his opinion, from this vantage point, the parliamentary
elections to be held in Azerbaijan this fall might turn into a serious
test for Armenia.
Susanna Barseghian, another ACNIS analyst, deemed the printed media's
role important in the formation of public opinion, and by means of a
content analysis, she made a distinction of the ideas the media could
form when portraying the likelihood or unlikelihood of a revolution in
Armenia. "When reflecting on the probability of a revolt in Armenia, on
one hand, the oppositional and pro-governmental press keeps talking
about choosing the 'right time' for a democratic revolution, and on the
other hand, it refreshes the inevitability of a 'state coup,'"
Barseghian maintained, pointing out the important findings of her
analysis. According to it, in May alone, 13 Armenian periodicals have
printed 153 articles, or one report per one and a half issue, on the
likelihood of a revolution, and that constitutes 2.8% of the total
publications printed in the researched newspapers.
The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and
policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists
in attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by former minister of state
and board member of the Heritage Party Hrach Hakobian; Edward Antinian
of the Liberal Progressive Party; Noyan Tapan news agency political
analyst Davit Petrosian; Moushegh Lalayan of the Republican Party; ACNIS
analyst Alvard Barkhudarian; Ruzan Khachatrian of the People's Party;
"Areg" Youth Association chairman Gerasim Barseghian; Alexander Butaev
of the National Democratic Union; and many others.
The National Citizens' Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and
fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and
overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public
institutions. The National Citizens' Initiative is guided by a
Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and
representatives of various public, scientific, and educational
establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration,
Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges,
and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative's work and
outreach.
For further information, please call
Tel: (37410) 27-16-00 or27-00-03
Fax (37410) 52-48-46;
e-mail [email protected]
or visit www.nci.am
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.cenn.org
Table of Contents:
1.. "Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia " Makes Decision to Boycott
Yerevan Hotel "Europe"
2.. Pipeline will Pass Through the Bottom of Caspian Sea
3.. Discussion of "Millennium Challenges " Program Pass successfully
4.. National Citizens' Initiative Examines Likelihood of Revolution in
Armenia
1. "UNION OF TOURIST OPERATORS OF ARMENIA" MAKES DECISION TO
BOYCOTT YEREVAN HOTEL "EUROPE"
Source: ARMINFO, August 1, 2005
The "Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia" at a general assembly of
tourist organizations included in it made a decision to boycott Yerevan
Hotel "Europe."
The union informs ARMINFO that Hotel "Europe" uses the unstable
situation with the AMD/USD exchange rate and speculates on it, waging a
wrong price policy proceeding from the exchange rate of 500 AMD per 1
USD, which does not correspond to the rate established by the Armenian
Central Bank. Factually, it means artificial rise in prices during the
tourist season by some 10-15%, which is groundless and inadmissible. In
the course of the meetings of the Union representatives and the hotel's
leadership, several attempts were made to explain that the approach is
groundless and inadmissible in the tourist business. However, the
leadership of the Hotel "Europe" (Director N.Tataryan) expressed
unwillingness to listen to the opinion of experts. Hence, the Union made
a decision to unilaterally stop the relations with the above hotel up to
resumption of new negotiations and proposals by the Hotel's owners.
It should be noted that the "Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia" was
registered in December 2002 and unites 12 tourist companies, which have
distinguished themselves as serious organizations in the native tourist
market: "Intur," "Armenia Travel + M," "Armen tour Travel," "Sputnik,"
"Tatyans Travel,""Avarayr," "Menua Tour," "Levon Travel," and others.
2. Pipeline will Pass Through the Bottom of Caspian Sea
Source: "Rezonans", August 4, 2005
On September 2005 the contract between the governments of Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan will be signed on transportation of Kazakh petroleum through
Bako-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main exportation pipeline. After that the
construction of pipeline that will pass through the bottom of Caspian
Sea and will connect Kazakhstan with Azerbaijan will be included in
agenda.
"British Petroleum" declares that four foreigner companies working in
Kazakhstan on "Kashagan" petroleum deposit at the same time are the
auctioneers of Bako-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (their quota is 15%);
therefore they can transport petroleum by the main exportation pipeline.
As for the other companies working in Kazakhstan, declares bp, for the
transportation of petroleum extracted by them through
Bako-Tbilisi-Ceyhan transportation tariff should be agreed with
auctioneers.
3. DISCUSSIONS OF "MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES" PROGRAM PASS
SUCCESSFULLY
Source: ARMENPRESS, August 4, 2004
This year the qualification round of the "Millennium Challenges" program
will end and afterwards the negotiations over preparation of the
agreement will launch, Tigran Khachatrian, deputy finance minister, told
at a press conference.
He said within the frameworks of the program a group of experts from US
arrived in Armenia to assess the separate points of the program from
qualification viewpoint. At present the effectiveness of the points is
being discussed i.e. whether they will secure economic growth and
promote the poverty reduction.
T. Khachatrian said the discussion of the program is going on
successfully and added that they have reached positive response over two
major points which are connected with the construction of community
roads and ensuring water supply. The two issues have been assessed as
important factors for securing economic growth and promoting poverty
reduction in Armenia. The deputy minister also noted that the first real
investments in the program will be made in 2007.
4. National Citizens' Initiative Examines Likelihood of
Revolution in Armenia
Source: ACNIS Info, August 10, 2005
The National Citizens' Initiative (NCI) today convened a roundtable on
"The Probability of Revolution in Armenia: Preconditions and
Consequences." The meeting brought together public figures, policy
makers, media representatives, analysts and experts.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks and wished the participants fruitful work. "The final hopes that
Armenia's rulers would find strength and decency in themselves to change
the destructive course which is taking the country toward the Middle
Ages, and that they would initiate the first steps to the public demand
for fundamental transformation seem to be thwarted. Consequently, headed
by the progressive political powers, the society itself must engage in
fundamental value metamorphosis, and in the outcome, Armenia would find
its rightful place in the family of free, dignified and prosperous
societies," Khurshudian said.
During her policy intervention, National Press Club chairperson Narine
Mkrtchian put an emphasis on the implementation of socio-political
changes, and the historical necessity for the establishment of a new
political system. She talked in detail about the existing preconditions
in the country, which, in her view, would cause a revolution. And these
are: the absence of authoritative legitimacy; the political elite's
inaptitude to form a progressive social order; corruption; clan-based
rule; dilapidation of ethics at all levels; and other abuses, to which
economic, inner-authoritative and parliamentary crises have also
accumulated, resulting in one general systemic exigency. "Whereas, in
countries like Armenia, the resolving of systemic crises is possible
only by means of revolution," Mkrtchian mentioned.
ACNIS analyst Hovhannes Vardanian made a breakdown of the domestic and
external preconditions for a rebellion. According to his observations,
the revolts that have taken place in the post-Soviet region are
primarily a consequence of the public's extreme social polarization,
poverty, widespread corruption, an atmosphere of arbitrariness and
rights for the privileged, and other adverse phenomena. In the words of
Vardanian, revolutionary developments in Armenia are being nourished by
the factor that the incumbent administration is not capable, in any way,
of carrying out true systemic reforms. "The current situation, which can
be characterized by the inactiveness and ineffectiveness of state
authorities, unbridled arbitrariness by high degree bureaucracy,
advanced level of bribery and corruption, and the explicit violation of
law and order, is leading the country toward anarchy and chaos, and the
rule of the jungle, when the big and strong eats up the small and weak,
and this makes the chance of a revolution in Armenia simply inevitable,"
Vardanian said. Among external stimuli, he set aside the "snowball
effect." In his opinion, from this vantage point, the parliamentary
elections to be held in Azerbaijan this fall might turn into a serious
test for Armenia.
Susanna Barseghian, another ACNIS analyst, deemed the printed media's
role important in the formation of public opinion, and by means of a
content analysis, she made a distinction of the ideas the media could
form when portraying the likelihood or unlikelihood of a revolution in
Armenia. "When reflecting on the probability of a revolt in Armenia, on
one hand, the oppositional and pro-governmental press keeps talking
about choosing the 'right time' for a democratic revolution, and on the
other hand, it refreshes the inevitability of a 'state coup,'"
Barseghian maintained, pointing out the important findings of her
analysis. According to it, in May alone, 13 Armenian periodicals have
printed 153 articles, or one report per one and a half issue, on the
likelihood of a revolution, and that constitutes 2.8% of the total
publications printed in the researched newspapers.
The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and
policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists
in attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by former minister of state
and board member of the Heritage Party Hrach Hakobian; Edward Antinian
of the Liberal Progressive Party; Noyan Tapan news agency political
analyst Davit Petrosian; Moushegh Lalayan of the Republican Party; ACNIS
analyst Alvard Barkhudarian; Ruzan Khachatrian of the People's Party;
"Areg" Youth Association chairman Gerasim Barseghian; Alexander Butaev
of the National Democratic Union; and many others.
The National Citizens' Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and
fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and
overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public
institutions. The National Citizens' Initiative is guided by a
Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and
representatives of various public, scientific, and educational
establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration,
Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges,
and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative's work and
outreach.
For further information, please call
Tel: (37410) 27-16-00 or27-00-03
Fax (37410) 52-48-46;
e-mail [email protected]
or visit www.nci.am
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.cenn.org