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  • ASBAREZ Online [03-23-2005]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    03/23/2005
    TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
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    1) Demands of Javakhk Armenians Justified, Says Saakashvili Representative
    2) US, Armenia Formalize Development Assistance Action Plan
    3) Kavkaz-Poti Ferryboat Line Opens
    4) Novorossiysk Armenians Seek Russian, Armenian Presidents' Intervention in
    Cossack Rampage
    5) Armenian Jews Call for Genocide Recognition

    1) Demands of Javakhk Armenians Justified, Says Saakashvili Representative

    TBILISI (Combined Sources)--The governor of Samtskhe-Javakhk Goga Khachidze,
    representing Georgian President Saakashvilli, met with representatives of the
    predominantly Armenian populated region on March 22, along with the organizers
    of a protest that took place in the local town of Akhalkalak on March 13.
    Citing economic and security concerns, approximately 1,500 residents had
    rallied against a recent Georgian parliament resolution calling for the
    withdrawal of a Russian military base in Akhalkalak.
    During their meeting with Khachidze, local leaders, including representatives
    of non-governmental organizations, as well as Akhalkalak's representative in
    Georgian parliament Hamlet Movsisian, and local governor Arthur Yeremian,
    presented a row of immediate demands. These included the teaching of Armenian
    history in local schools, democratization of local elections, the use of the
    Armenian language in local juridical processes, restoration of a
    passport/identification bureau in the region, and reconstruction of roads near
    the Armenian border where a customs checkpoint is located (goods arriving from
    Armenia are presently diverted from that checkpoint to approximately 60 miles
    away for inspection).
    Khachidze promised a positive resolution by March 28, to the restoration of a
    passport/identification bureau. He also pledged to take the issue of teaching
    Armenian history in local schools to Georgia's Ministry of Education for a
    quick resolution.
    Though he was unable to provide official responses to the remaining issues,
    Khachidze later told a press conference that all of the demands are
    legitimate,
    and he would do his utmost to resolve the issues.


    2) US, Armenia Formalize Development Assistance Action Plan

    YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Representatives of the US-Armenia Task Force on Economic
    Cooperation (USATF) signed an Action Plan on March 23, following their most
    recent meeting. Armenia's Minister of Finance and Economy Vartan Khachatrian
    and US Ambassador John Evans formalized the document that highlights
    cooperation in development assistance between the US and Armenia.
    "This Action Plan is our development roadmap," said Ambassador Evans at
    signing ceremony. "It helps us set clear goals and ensures that we are
    cooperating as governments toward a bright future for the Armenian people."
    The 30-point action plan includes means to improve fiscal administration,
    strengthen the banking sector, fight corruption, engage the business
    community,
    meet Armenia's needs in the public service sector, and strengthen ongoing
    cooperation in the agricultural and humanitarian sectors. The document also
    acknowledges Armenia's eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
    and the need to register progress in MCA eligibility areas.
    The signing was preceded by a series of working-level meetings on each of
    these items between officials of the US Embassy and USAID and various
    Government of Armenia ministries. USAID-Armenia Director Robin Phillips also
    participated in the event.
    The US-Armenia Task Force on Economic Cooperation was established in January
    2000 as a way to institutionalize government-to-government dialogue on
    development issues, promote further economic cooperation, and maximize the
    effectiveness of assistance programs implemented by the United States
    Government. Meetings are held twice a year (once in the United States and once
    in Armenia). The next USATF meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in May
    2005 in Yerevan.
    The United States Government has provided over 1.5 billion dollars of
    assistance to the Republic of Armenia over the past decade.


    3) Kavkaz-Poti Ferryboat Line Opens

    TBILISI (Armenpress)--The ferryboat line connecting the Russian port of Kavkaz
    on the Black Sea with the Georgian port of Poti opened on Wednesday. The first
    flour-loaded carriages will reach the Georgian port in two days.
    Kavkazpress news agency reported that Georgia is committed to uninterrupted
    operation of the ferryboat line, especially in winter months when overland
    roads connecting it with Russia are closed because of heavy snowfalls.
    The ferryboat line was expected to begin working last January 20, but its
    opening was postponed twice at Russia's request.
    The ferryboat will transport up to 30 carriages weekly--part of which will go
    to Armenia. It will cut transportation cost of Armenia-bound goods by 30
    percent.
    The Georgian City of Poti, Armenia's nearest seaport, can be reached by road
    from Yerevan. It serves as a primary gateway for Armenia--both for imports and
    exports.
    Armenia has 840 kilometers of railway; however, of the three international
    rail connections via Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, only the Georgian
    connection to the Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi are presently in
    operation, due to trade embargoes imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
    Armenian government officials and businessmen hope that the opening of a rail
    ferry service between Poti and Kavkaz, which was scheduled to operate in late
    January, would partly restore Armenia's rail connection with the outside
    world.


    4) Novorossiysk Armenians Seek Russian, Armenian Presidents' Intervention in
    Cossack Rampage

    NOVOROSSIYSK (Armenpress)--According to a report from the southern Russian
    city
    of Novorossiysk in the province of Krasnodar, the local Armenian community has
    asked for the Russian and Armenian presidents' intervention in putting an end
    to a new wave of anti-Armenian pogroms.
    Yerkramas weekly, a newspaper run by the Armenian community of southern
    Russia, reported that the local Armenian community said city law-enforcement
    bodies have failed to uphold their promise to guarantee local Armenians'
    safety.
    The newspaper said these guarantees were given on March 22, after Cossacks
    from nearby regions went on a rampage in a town quarter populated by
    Armenians-- destroying cars, cafes, and shops owned by Armenians. On the same
    day, the mayor appealed to the Armenians, Greeks, and Cossacks to observe the
    law and refrain from disorder; however, on the same evening, around 200
    Cossacks went on the attack against Armenians and Greeks.
    According to a witness, the clash was caused by a squabble at a local cafe
    when Cossacks, led by their Community leader Vladimir Petrushin, attacked a
    group of Armenians and Greeks who were having a birthday party. In the
    subsequent fight, Petrushin was injured and was rushed to a hospital where
    doctors operated on him. Local law-enforcement bodies launched a criminal
    investigation.
    Novorossiysk Mayor Vladimir Sinyagovskiy held a discussion with
    representatives of national communities of the city, stating that those guilty
    would be exposed and punished. An agreement was reached not to aggravate the
    situation. The local Armenian cultural society "Luys" said that the Armenian
    party strictly observed the agreement, calling on its compatriots for calmness
    and allowing law-enforcement structures to gain control over the situation.
    Inter-ethnic tension in this region has become commonplace. The historic
    Armenian presence in the Krasnodar region dates back centuries, mainly due to
    the incentives offered by Tsarist officials to Armenians willing to move to
    the
    region. Throughout the 19th century, the Armenians contributed to an expansion
    of the region's commerce and agriculture.
    Additional numbers of Armenian refugees settled in the region in 1988 in the
    wake of anti-Armenian pogroms by Azeris in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku.
    A related influx of Armenians from Karabagh, Javakhk, and Abkhazia also
    strengthened the Armenian presence in the Krasnodar region. After fleeing the
    anti-Armenian attacks by Azeris, the Russian-speaking Armenians from Baku, in
    particular, often preferred to resettle in Krasnodar, Stavropol, and Moscow,
    rather than in Armenia, mainly because of their lack of Armenian language
    skills and the need for Russian schools that were closing in Armenia.


    5) Armenian Jews Call for Genocide Recognition

    YEREVAN (Yerkir) --The Jewish community of Armenia called on Jewish
    organizations around the globe to recognize the Armenian Genocide. "Ottoman
    Turkey killed 1.5 million of its Armenian citizens, and for decades, mankind
    has not condemned this," reads the appeal adopted by the congress of the
    Armenian Jews.
    "The Holocaust may have been avoided if the world had united against this
    brutality--as it does now to fight terror," the appeal states, adding that no
    political or economic interest should become an obstacle for recognition of
    this tragedy.
    Addressing the role of the Turkish people in recognizing the horror of its
    past, they state, "It would only elevate them in the eyes of the civilized
    world as was the case with Germany, which admitted to the killings of 6
    million
    Jews under Nazis."


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    (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

    ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
    academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
    mass media outlets.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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