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03/23/2005
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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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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress