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CENN Daily Digest - March 17, 2005

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  • CENN Daily Digest - March 17, 2005

    CENN - March 17, 2005 Daily Digest

    Table of Contents:

    1. Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Will Ease Traffic In Turkish
    Straits

    2. Chief of Forestry Department Flees Georgia, Citing Intimidation

    3. US Pushes for Kazakh Exports Via BTC

    4. CEPF project Newsletter

    5. Let's change the European Investment Bank actively and artfully!

    6. Small grants available from the Global Transparency Initiative

    7. Tenth International Journalism Summer School on "Working of
    Journalists in the Situations of Crisis"

    8. conference related to Public Health

    9. NGO Strategy Meeting on The EU Environment and Health Action Plan:
    Final Report







    1. Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Will Ease Traffic In Turkish
    Straits



    Source: TurkishPress, March 16, 2005



    Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will lower the traffic in Turkish straits,
    said a Turkish source.



    ''Aside from its economic benefits to Turkey, the oil pipeline will
    help ease traffic in the Turkish straits of Bosphorus and
    Canakkale. We estimate that at least 333 giant tankers will be
    eliminated per year thanks to the (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline.''



    According to information obtained by the A.A, the number of oil
    tankers passing through the Turkish straits has dramatically increased
    in the past decade. ''While the amount of oil carried by ships was
    approximately 60 million tons in 1996, this amount jumped to 143,5
    million tons in 2004.''



    Turkish energy officials expect a rapid increase in the amount of oil
    carried from Russia through the straits. ''When oil is transferred
    from the Caspian region to Russia and then to Turkey, the tanker
    traffic will likely show an increase. Each day at least 15 large oil
    tanker pass through the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul.''



    The Turkish straits have become an economic haven for thousands of
    ships from Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.



    One Turkish official told the A.A that on the average one ship
    carrying a foreign flag passes through the Turkish straits every 7
    minutes. ''Every 50 minutes, a large oil carrier passes through the
    Turkish straits.''



    Asked about the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, a
    Turkish Ministry of Energy official indicated that there are some
    economic benefits for the people of the region. ''However, the BTC oil
    pipeline will help bring the risk of accidents in Turkish straits to a
    minimum level possible. We are more interested in the safety of
    Turkish cities than the economic benefits the BTC may bring to us.''



    The BTC oil pipeline is approximately 1774 kilometers long. The
    portion of the oil pipeline in Turkey is about 1074 kilometers.





    2. Chief of Forestry Department Flees Georgia, Citing Intimidation



    Source: Civil Georgia, March 17, 2005



    Chairman of the Forestry Department of Georgia Bidzina Giorgobiani
    fled Georgia citing pressure from the authorities, particularly from
    the officials of the Security Service, which is currently under the
    subordination of the Interior Ministry.



    Before his departure Mr. Giorgobiani recorded a short video tape and
    distributed it to the Georgian television stations. In the tape, which
    was broadcasted by the leading Georgian televisions on March 16,
    Bidzina Giorgobiani claims that officials from the Security Service
    fabricated a criminal case against him after he unveiled a scheme of
    appropriation of funds by the Security Service officials from the
    illegal trade of logs.



    "Controversy [with the Security Service] started after I have cut all
    the channels of illegal distribution of shares [from trade of logs],"
    Mr. Giorgobiani said.



    Reports say that Mr. Giorgobiani was convened in the General
    Prosecutor's Office a month ago for interrogation. The law enforcers
    suspected him for alleged "negligence" while selling logs. He was
    released after handing over to the General Prosecutor's Office a
    written pledge not to leave the city.



    Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili declined to comment on this case
    and only said that the General Prosecutor's Office is in charge of
    investigation.



    In a video tape Mr. Giorgobiani said that he is going to Germany,
    "where I lived for 9 years."



    Mr. Giorgobiani fled Georgia first time in early 90s after ouster of
    late Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia in 1992. Georgian daily
    Rezonansi reported on March 17, that Mr. Giorgobiani returned to
    Georgia after the request of late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
    Zhvania who offered him a position of Chief of Forestry Department
    last year





    3. US Pushes for Kazakh Exports Via BTC



    Source: The Messenger, March 17, 2005



    The United States would support a Chinese plan to build a major new
    pipeline to export natural gas from Kazakhstan, said the State
    Department's point man on Caspian energy issues.



    But Ambassador Steven Mann told a forum of regional business
    representatives last week that the United States has deep reservations
    about the sale of neighboring Georgia's main gas pipelines to Russia's
    state-controlled monopoly Gazprom, saying the deal could jeopardize
    Georgia's energy independence.



    US officials have been pushing for Kazakhstan to ship more of its
    energy reserves through the highly touted new pipeline that bypasses
    Russia by going through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The
    Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is expected to begin operations May 25.





    4. CEPF project Newsletter



    Dear Readers,



    February Newsletter of Strengthening Conservation Alliances through
    CEPF Coordination in Caucasus project is available on the following
    site:
    http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/where/caucasus/projects/cepf/english/publications/index.cfm
    (There are available English and Russian versions of the Newsletter)



    Lana Ghvinjilia

    Communications Officer

    WWF Caucasus PO

    CEPF project

    11 Alexidze St.

    Tbilisi 0193 Georgia

    Tel.: + 995 32 330155/54

    Fax: + 995 32 330190

    E-mail: lghvinjilia@wwfcaucasus.

    www.panda.org/caucasus/cepf





    5. Let's change the European Investment Bank actively and artfully!



    Every year the European Investment Bank (EIB) lends more than any
    other international financial institution. It lends primarily to
    European Union states but overall it has a current portfolio of
    investments in more than 120 countries, with roughly 17% of these
    investments going to new EU Member States and places such as South
    Africa, Asia, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Latin America.



    In view of the importance of the EIB's financial role we are
    challenging the 'house Bank' of the EU to become a positive European
    source for the public funding of public benefits worldwide. We would
    like to see an EIB which is fully accountable to the public and
    transparent in all of its operations. We envision the EIB lending only
    for environmentally and socially sustainable projects, based on clear
    policies, standards and rules, both inside and outside the EU, which
    can proudly state that it supports only projects that enjoy the
    consent of all affected communities.



    As a part of civil society's call to concerned citizens and European
    policy-makers to join efforts to make the EIB an institution that
    supports people and the environment, we invite artists from Central
    and Eastern European countries to participate in a social poster
    design contest entitled "Public Funds for Public Benefits".



    Awards - Awards - Awards - Awards



    There will be one first prize award of 1000 Euros and two runners-up
    awards of 200 Euros. An international jury will decide the
    prize-winners. The jury is composed of Professor Piotr Kunce,
    professional artist and the Head of Poster Art Studio at Jan Matejko
    Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, representing the media, Jane MacKenzie
    of the UK's renowned satirical magazine Private Eye, and Tomasz
    Terlecki, the Executive Director of CEE Bankwatch Network.



    You can also vote for the best project



    We would also like to give internet users the opportunity to vote for
    the best project. Thus there will be a gallery featuring all submitted
    projects on our website to allow the public to vote for their
    favourite entry. The most popular design as voted publicly and
    transparently by our web audience will also receive a prize worth 200
    Euros.



    Victory will establish you as a real bankwatcher



    Not only is there the promise of financial reward by participating in
    the contest, but you could also be the creator of the posters
    promoting our campaign. Our intention is also to prepare a
    street-exhibition featuring some of the submitted projects, which
    would be shown in Brussels and Luxembourg around the time of the EIB's
    Annual Meeting in June later this year. So the projects will very much
    stay alive after the contest and help to make the campaign visible.



    The statute of the contest



    The aim and the topic of the contest:



    To gather original poster designs in A1 format (594mmx841mm) promoting
    the EIB reform campaign of CEE Bankwatch Network. The contest serves
    to widen the public's knowledge about a public financial institution,
    the EIB, and its imperfect way of functioning and also to encourage
    civil society to participate in the process of monitoring the EIB's
    activities.



    Organizer:

    CEE Bankwatch Network

    Jicinska 8

    130 00 Prague 3

    Czech Republic



    Duration of the contest: March 1, 2005 - May 30, 2005



    The deadline for sending competitive works: April 25, 2005 (on this
    day we stop accepting works sent by mail or submitted by person)



    The address for sending competitive works:

    CEE Bankwatch Network

    Czackiego 3A

    r. 29, 70-216 Szczecin

    Poland



    With the sub-heading Contest

    The founder of the prize:

    CEE Bankwatch Network



    The territory of the contest:



    Belorussia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia,
    Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania,
    Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Ukraine.



    Requirements of the application and participation:

    a.. A competitive project entry can be sent by individuals;
    b.. Every participant can make a maximum of three variations on the theme;
    c.. Printouts in A3 format should be glued to stiff board. On the board's reverse in the upper right-hand corner, there should be an original password;
    d.. Projects have to be sent in two printed specimens with an electronic CD version ( 1:1 size, 300 dpi resolution, TIFF);
    e.. Submitted projects have to be under the ownership of the senders, must not have been publicized previously and must not infringe upon another author's rights;
    f.. Submitted projects will not be returned and fall under the ownership of the organizers;
    g.. Senders pay shipping costs;
    h.. It is necessary for the projects to be accompanied by a completed application from the website in an enclosed envelope;
    i.. It is necessary to put an original password on the envelope, the CD and the reverse of every project speciment;
    j.. It is not permitted for the organizers and all persons engaged in preparing the contest to take part in the contest;
    k.. Incomplete applications will not be taken into account;
    l.. Participation in the contest indicates acceptance of the statute and agreement on free project exposure after the contest;
    m.. The first-prize winner will also be obliged to make possible minor changes suggested by the jury.


    Jury:



    a.. Jane MacKenzie, London, Private Eye;
    b.. Professor Piotr Kunce, Cracow the Head of Poster Art Studio at Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow;
    c.. Tomasz Terlecki, Executive Director, CEE Bankwatch Network;


    The jury will convene in order to choose the best project in April
    2005 in Cracow. Following this meeting, an announcement will be
    made. The decision of the jury is final. The first prize is
    anticipated to be EUR 1000. There are also two second prizes equaling
    EUR 200 and a so called audience prize, which is also for EUR 200.



    We would also like to give our web audience the opportunity to vote
    for the best project. That is why we are going to establish a gallery
    of all sent projects on the webpage to allow visitors to choose their
    favourite. The best project, chosen publicly and transparently, will
    be awarded with the audience price of EUR 200.





    6. Small grants available from the Global Transparency Initiative



    Dear friends,



    The Global Transparency Initiative (GTI), a network of civil society
    organizations promoting transparency at the international financial
    institutions (IFIs), announces a Request for Proposals for small
    grants in the following categories:



    a.. Case studies/Audits regarding access to information and the
    IFIs: Small grants of US$500 to US$3,000 will be made to research
    and write case studies about the negative consequences of a lack of
    transparency by IFIs or the positive effects of transparency by such
    institutions, in specific instances. b.. Advocacy: up to US$5,000,
    will be available for key advocacy activities which promote broader
    issues of disclosure by the IFIs or are linked to other activities
    of the GTI. The GTI seeks to improve the transparency of IFI's by
    influencing the disclosure policies and standards of these
    institutions. This grant is available to individuals and civil
    society organizations involved in precedent setting transparency
    issues within the context of specific campaigns. c.. Translations:
    up to US$1,000, will be made to translate case studies, transparency
    audits and other relevant documents produced by civil society that
    discuss issues dealing with transparency within a country context or
    within the operations of the International Financial Institutions
    (IFIs).


    Organizations and individuals are eligible to apply. Only complete
    proposals will be considered. Proposals for case studies/audits and
    advocacy will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, while proposals for
    translations will be reviewed on a more expedited basis, wherever
    possible within two weeks after they have been received.



    Please find more information at:
    www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/global_transparency_initiative/1880.php





    7. TENTH INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM SUMMER SCHOOL ON "WORKING OF
    JOURNALISTS IN THE SITUATIONS OF CRISIS"



    Mass Media Center School of Journalism, St.Petersburg State University

    St.Petersburg, Russia



    28 June - 6 July 2005

    St.Petersburg, Russia



    The Mass Media Center of the School (Faculty) of Journalism at
    St. Petersburg State University (SPbGU) is inviting journalists,
    scholars, educators, students, and communication specialists from
    around the world to take part in the Tenth Annual International
    Journalism Summer School, beginning June 28, 2005. This is the
    excellent opportunity to widen the view on media studies studying
    Russian media and journalism in the political, social, economic,
    legal, ethnic, environmental and cultural perspective.



    Leading university professors and professional journalists will lead
    this course, which will include lectures and practical workshops
    devoted to several issues, questions and problems related to the
    development of the Mass Media. The main subject of the Tenth Summer
    course will be "Working of Journalists in the Situations of
    Crisises". Participants will have the opportunity to discuss this
    topic with professional journalists during the site visits to media
    outlets as well as during a roundtable scheduled for July 6. Courses
    are given by the best faculty and staff of the School of Journalism at
    St.Petersburg State University and experienced professionals from a
    wide variety of St.Petersburg Media.



    The course also includes a cultural program, with sightseeing city bus
    tour, excursion to the State Hermitage Museum, and performance at the
    famous Marinsky (Kirov's) Theater.



    Working languages: English and Russian. The programme will be
    conducted in Russian, with English interpretation.



    Registration until: June 1, 2005.



    Participants are responsible for the trip to St.Petersburg and for
    getting of the Russian visas. Visa support is not included to the
    tuition fee.



    For more information, including application materials, contact the
    Mass Media Center of the School of Journalism at

    St.Petersburg State University: 1-aya Liniya V.O. Building 26, Office
    602. 199004. St. Petersburg, Russia.

    Telephone / Fax: (7-812) 323-00-67, 321-01-72.

    E-Mail: [email protected]

    Web sites: http://www.jf.pu.ru and

    http://www.spbu.ru



    Contact person: Dmitry A. Ruschin, Ph.D., Associate Professor,
    Director of the International Journalism Summer School and Winter
    School on Public Relations at St.Petersburg State University. E-Mail:
    [email protected] (main address) and [email protected] (additional
    address).



    MASS MEDIA CENTER

    School of Journalism, St.Petersburg State University

    1-aya Liniya V.O., # 26, office 606. St.Petersburg. 199004. Russia

    Tel/Fax: (7-812) 323-00-67, 321-01-72.

    E-mail: [email protected]





    8. conference related to Public Health



    Dear colleagues,



    I am sharing with you this information about the conference related to
    Public Health that will be organized in Armenia on September 17-20,
    2005.



    This is the Regional Public Health Conference and we expect to have
    lots of local and international public health specialists as
    participants. Your participation as well as sharing with this info
    with your colleagues and friends would be appreciated. For more info
    you are welcome to contact me.



    Please visit the website, where you can find all info about the
    conference

    http://auachsr.com/aspher



    Best Regards,



    Naira Gharakhanyan, MD, MPH

    Health Program Coordinator

    COAF Armenia

    13 Yervand Kochar, Yerevan

    Tel: (+374 1) 57 52 54

    Tel/fax: (+3741) 57 53 55

    Website: www.coafkids.org





    9. NGO strategy meeting on the EU Environment and Health Action Plan:
    final report



    Dear Readers,



    We would like to draw your attention to the final report of the NGO
    strategy meeting on the EU Environment and Health Action Plan which
    took place in Egmond aan Zee (The Netherlands) on 1 December 2004 and
    was co-organized by the European Public Health Alliance Environment
    Network (EEN) and the Dutch Platform for Environment and Health. The
    report is now available both in English and in Russian, please find
    both versions enclosed.



    The meeting aimed to identify key actions proposed by WHO's Children's
    Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) and to
    recommend that they be taken forward within the EU Action Plan
    framework. It also looked at how the EU's Action Plan can be
    implemented by examining areas such as biomonitoring, indicators, risk
    communication and indoor air quality. The results were presented to
    the EU member states and institutions at the Dutch Presidency
    conference on December 2-3.



    For further information please see our website at:
    http://www.env-health.org/a/1522



    EPHA Environment Network

    39-41 rue d'Arlon

    B-1000 Brussels



    Tel: +32 2 233 3875

    Fax: +32 2 233 3880

    E-mail: [email protected]

    Please visit our new website: www.env-health.org


    *******************************************
    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

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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