CENN Daily Digest – July 19, 2004

CENN – July 19, 2004 Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1. BTC Pipeline and “Public Acceptance”
2. World Bank warned over policy reform
3. FoEI letter on Management Response
4. ACNIS Releases Public Opinion Results on Economic Growth
5. Presidential Supervisory Service Saves Green Area in Yerevan
6. GreenHORIZON Magazine Internships at The Regional Environmental Center
for Central and Eastern Europe
7. Slovenia – Workshop “Tourism”, 23-24.09.2004
8. EIA Report of ” Project of the cement Grinding Mini Enterprise in
Tbilisi.” by the “Georgian Tazm” Ltd
9. EIA Report of “Manganese Processing Mini Enterprise in Chiatura” by
the “Laguna” Ltd
10 .EIA Report of the “Project on the Processing of the Saskhor Carbonate
Deposit, West Section in Mtskheta Region ” by the “Kaspicement”” Ltd
11. Vacancy Announcements

1. BTC Pipeline and “Public Acceptance”

By The Cornerhouse

In an interview with Dutch daily Volkskrant (06/24), World Bank director
Rashad Kaldany argued that BP’s Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which the
IFC has backed, is an example of a project which enjoys “broad public
acceptance.” Kaldany noted that the World Bank had “invited in six cities
the local communities to come to talk to us. We got a very clear signal
there was broad support among the population for the project.”

BP also claims that the project is a model of consultation: “We believe we
have contacted every landowner-more than 35,000-and all the 500 or so
communities within two kilometers of the route several times during the
preparation of the ESIAs.”[1]

Whilst it is true that BP produced numerous glossy reports, fact-finding
missions by NGOs and a detailed review of the Environmental Impact
Assessment found that:
ž The consultation process flouted World Bank guidelines on no less
than 83 counts – at least 42 violations or partial violations of the
consultation requirements under the IFC’s operational policies OP 4.01
(Environmental Assessment) and OP 4.04 (Natural Habitats and a further 41
breaches of 4 other World Bank guidelines relate to consultation on
resettlement, on cultural property and on ethnic minorities)
Although BP claimed that everyone along the pipeline had been “contacted”,
the project’s own EIA clearly showed that less than 2% of affected people
have been consulted face-to-face
Many villagers interviewed by NGOs claim they were never consulted. One
village listed as “consulted by phone” was found to be abandoned, with
neither people nor telephones. Thirty-eight villagers from one area in the
Northeast of Turkey have now applied to the European Court of Human Rights.
Most charge that they were not informed at all about the risks of the
pipeline.
The questionnaire used for the consultation process did not provide
information adequate to secure an informed response. The brief paragraph
prefacing each questionnaire stated little more than that an oil pipeline is
planned near or in the settlement being surveyed.
Many of the questions asked in the consultation questionnaires were so
vaguely phrased as to discourage a detailed or nuance response. (“In general
would you support the presence of a pipeline in your area?”).
Repression and a lack of freedom of expression in the host countries
(particularly Turkey and Azerbaijan) meant that affected people were in no
position to challenge the project. Significantly, one Turkish human rights
defender, Ferhat Kaya, has been repeatedly arrested because of his work in
obtaining rights for people affected by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC)
pipeline.
The consultation process was heavily focused on people not directly affected
by the project, such as government departments;
Affected people and stakeholder groups did not have access to basic project
information;
Affected people were misinformed about the potential benefits and negative
impacts of the project;
Affected people were misinformed about their rights;
The project failed to properly consult with listed key stakeholders
including NGOs, political parties and women.

For further information, see

2. World Bank warned over policy reform

Source: Financial Times, July 15 2004

The World Bank should steer clear of lending to countries where it has
little knowledge of local conditions or where there is a poor policy
environment, a report published on Thursday by the bank’s internal auditor
said.

The World Bank has been effective in supporting reform in countries
attempting poverty reduction measures and sustainable development, promoting
above-average economic growth, the report said.

But, based on an evaluation of bank activities over the past five years, the
report concluded: “Bank support for policy reform was less successful in
countries where there was no favorable trend to reinforce.”

“Tough cases” include countries where the bank has not been engaged and
those with poor policy and governance standards. The report noted that such
support was sometimes the result of pressure from the shareholders of the
Group of Seven industrialized countries.

The 2003 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness has implications for
issues ranging from future World Bank activity in Iraq to the institution’s
support of energy investments in developing countries.

It was prepared by the Operations Evaluation Department (OED), an
independent unit within the bank that reports to its executive board.

“What we are recommending is that you really want to see evidence that
governments are serious about reform before you commit and before you write
big cheques,” said Gregory Ingram, OED director. “This has not found a lot
of support from [World Bank] management”.

In most cases the bank should limit its role to analysis and technical
advice when there is no track record or a poor record of reform, the report
said. When loans support is provided in such circumstances it should be for
individual investment that can be ring fenced and monitored, rather than
general adjustment loans to support the government.

The report highlighted the bank’s aid and loans to support adjustment in the
transition countries of the former Soviet Union, ambitious programmes that
the report said followed pressure from the G7 countries. It found that in 60
per cent of the cases the outcomes were “unsatisfactory”, compared with 30
per cent for all bank projects.

“There are particular problems when the bank has not been lending and has
not been involved in a country for a long time,” Mr Ingram said. “Iraq has
been disengaged for a long time and it is not at all clear what the
institutional framework is.”

In countries with poor policy environments, the report said, there was
little evidence that the bank’s support could promote reform. It was
difficult to know whether a government’s commitment to reform was real and,
the report said, bank support combined with conditions and policy triggers
has had limited success in promoting reform.

3. FoEI letter on Management Response

Dear all,

A FoEI letter commenting on Management Response was sent to all Executive
Directors and to Management on July 17, 2004. It can be downloaded from
under the ‘statement and letters’ section.

4. ACNIS Releases Public Opinion Results on Economic Growth

Press Release

For Immediate Release
July 16, 2004

Yerevan-The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
issued today the results of a public survey on “The Trends of Economic
Growth in Armenia,” which it conducted between June 20 and July 12 in
Yerevan and all of Armenia’s regions. The announcement and accompanying
analysis were made during a roundtable discussion at ACNIS headquarters,
which considered the attitude of Armenian citizens toward Armenia’s
controversial “economic miracle.”

ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian greeted the invited
guests and public participants with opening remarks. “These deliberations,
as well as the survey preceding them, aim to evaluate public perceptions of
economic growth in Armenia, to draw a true picture of its impact on the
budget of Armenian families, and to determine the factors obstructing and
those promoting economic development in the Republic,” Kalenchian said.

ACNIS legal and political affairs analyst Stepan Safarian presented “The
Aims, Methodology, and Results of the Survey,” focusing in detail on the
findings of the public opinion polls. Accordingly, 55.7% of the surveyed
citizens assert that the reported economic growth in Armenia has not had any
impact on their family budget, 36.5% say it has had a small positive impact,
and only 7.5% are completely satisfied with it. It is noteworthy that 33.5%
state that their family budget has increased owing to their and their
relatives’ employment in Armenia, 16.4% to their employment abroad or money
sent by their relatives living abroad, and only 4.2% to improvement of the
general economic situation and living standards in Armenia, and 45% assert
that their family budget has not increased at all.

In response to a question on whether the Armenian authorities pursue an
economic policy supporting the development of enterprise and investments,
22.8% of respondents give positive answers, 48.4% are of the opposite
opinion, while 28.6% find it difficult to answer. 19.5% of citizens point to
the clan system as the main obstacle to economic growth in Armenia, 32.9%
mark corruption and patronage, 16.5% the moral-psychological atmosphere
within society, 6.4% tax and customs bureaucracy, 4.2% the unresolved status
of the Karabagh issue, 4.3% Armenia’s closed borders with Azerbaijan and
Turkey, and 1.7% interference by external forces. 26.4% think that the
prerequisite for surmounting the obstacles to economic growth in Armenia is
the formation of a new administration, 12.8% improvement of the atmosphere
for investments, 16.5% encouragement and development of small and
medium-sized enterprises, 22.6% operation of large industrial enterprises,
and 12.3% the ensuring of Armenia’s active participation in regional
economic programs.

54% of respondent citizens believe that Russia most promotes the economic
development of Armenia, 12% think it is the United States, 2% France, 1.5%
Iran, while 13.3% hold that none of them do and 13.8% find it difficult to
answer. Most of the respondents, 35.3%, are convinced that Armenia should
have the closest economic relations with all countries, 32.6% with CIS
member-states, 13.9% with European Union member-states, 7% with the
countries of the region (Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran), and 2.7%
countries of the American continent, particularly the United States and
Canada. The role of the Diaspora in the economic development of Armenia is
highly valued by 25.8% of citizens, 44% view it as important, 23.1% think it
plays a small role, and 6.6% find it plays no role at all.

According to 20.3% of citizens surveyed, in the event of maintaining the
present pace of economic development Armenia will become a prosperous
country in the next 10 years, 30% expect this in the next 25 years and 16.5%
in the next 100 years, whereas 25.1% assert that Armenia will never become a
prosperous country under the circumstances.

ACNIS economic and diaspora affairs analyst Hovsep Khurshudian offered a
comment on the poll results, referring to their most compelling indices. “We
may deduce from many of the answers that the public is not satisfied with
the pronouncements of the authorities about unprecedented economic growth in
Armenia as, even if true, it does not bear a positive impact on all
society,” underlined Khurshudian.

The formal presentations were followed by contributions by Yerevan State
University professors Haik Sargsian and Gagik Galstian; Supreme Council
Deputy Club chairman Samvel Tonoyan; director Gagik Makarian of the
“Haiconsult” firm; editor Haroutiun Khachatrian of Noyan Tapan Highlights;
Yulia Kuleshova of “Delovoy Express” weekly; Vaghtang Siradeghian of
Transparency International Armenia; Yerevan State Linguistic University
professor Hrach Tatevian; Stepan Mantarlian of “Armaveni” consulting
company; and several others.

37.9% of all respondents hail from Yerevan, and 62.1% are from outside the
capital city. 38.7% of them are male, and 60.8% female (the item on gender
was missed in 5 questionnaires (0.5%) filled in during telephone survey);
7.3% are 20 years of age or below, 25.2% 21-30, 20.5% 31-40, 21.5% 41-50,
12.1% 51-60, 8.4% 61-70, and 6.1% 71 or above. 41.8% of the citizens
surveyed have received higher education, whereas 9.7% have incomplete
higher, 19.1% specialized secondary, 24.9% secondary, and 4.1% incomplete
secondary training. 41.3% are actively employed, 10.4% pensioners and
welfare recipients, 7.1% students, and 40.6% unemployed. According to their
income 62.9% consider themselves middle class, 27.8% poor, and 5.5%
extremely poor, 0.6% rich, 2.7% well off. Urban residents constitute 67.5%
of the citizens surveyed, while rural residents make up 32.5%.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2004, the Center focuses
primarily on public outreach, civic education, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.

For further information on the Center or the full graphics of the poll
results,
Call (3741) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18;
Fax (3741) 52-48-46;
E-mail root@acnis.am or info@acnis.am;
Or visit or

5. PRESIDENTIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE SAVES GREEN AREA IN YEREVAN

Source: Arminfo, July 15, 2004

A green zone in front of building 28, Isahakyan Street in Yerevan was saved
after intervention of the Presidential Supervisory Service.

Journalists’ signals to various instances did not produce any results
before. It was not until the journalists applied to Presidential Spokesman
Ashot Kocharian that the President was informed of the fact. The
construction in the land-plot has been suspended, and planting of trees and
bushes has even begun. Talking to ARMINFO, Edmon Zakharyan, Press Secretary
of the Yerevan Mayor, “credited” the salvation of the green zone in the
center of Yerevan to his boss Yervand Zakharyan. He stressed that this is a
testimony to the Mayor’s determination to battle illegal construction and
destruction of green zones.

We would remind you that a 5-meter-deep pit was to be dug in the plot of
land with an area of 500sq. meters for the construction of an entertainment
club. According to yet unconfirmed information, the construction was
sponsored by RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Coordination of
Infrastructures Hovik Abramyan. This is the first example of a favorable
outcome of a conflict over green areas between the public and high-ranking
officials.

6. GreenHORIZON Magazine Internships at The Regional Environmental
Center for Central and Eastern Europe

Time Line

Application Deadline: On-going
Internship period: Minimum 1 month, maximum 2 years, with possibility for
extension
Workload: Full time or part time.

Location:

The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe,
Szentendre, Hungary

Description:

An internship with the greenHORIZON magazine provides an opportunity for
gaining practical knowledge; hands-on experience; and research skills in
environmental journalism, magazine management and advertising. The
internship is suitable for professionals who wish to improve their
qualifications or do research in the fields of journalism, mass media,
environment and health communication, business and advertising, or other
related fields. Universities and media and research organizations are
invited to benefit from this internship.

The greenHORIZON magazine internship offers two main specialization streams:
practical and research.

Practical stream:

Interns following this stream will focus on the editorial and production
aspects of the magazine, and on reporting on environmental topics.

On the editorial side, interns will work on such tasks as:

Learning environmental reporting techniques;
Collecting information and working with different sources;
Assisting with and writing news or feature stories, including conducting
interviews;
Copy-editing and proof-reading; and
Assisting with editing and working with contributors.

Interns with an interest in production and advertising would assist the
magazine team by:

Studying and assessing the market;
Conducting readership surveys;
Marketing the magazine to advertisers;
Planning and attracting ads; and/or
Producing and collecting graphic materials.

Research stream

A research internship would normally be held in partnership with a
university or other educational or research organization. Internship tasks
would include:

Regional or national research on environmental journalism and media in
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE);
Collecting and reviewing environmental journalism / environmental media
publications;
Exploring the professional needs of environmental journalists in Central and
Eastern Europe;
Studying the social, economic, historical, and other factors that influence
mass media reporting on environmental issues;
Working with focus groups or conducting direct interviews with environmental
media professionals.

An individual work plan and/or research programme will be designed for each
accepted intern. A combination of research and practical tasks is also
possible.

Benefits

The intern will receive in-depth knowledge of and practical experience with
environmental journalism; magazine management, production, marketing and
advertising; or will be able to conduct research in the field of environment
and mass media.

The intern will receive guidance and supervision, and will have access to
the resources of the REC, including the REC’s environmental library – a
unique English language collection in Central and Eastern Europe.

The intern will be involved in the magazine’s production process, and the
media oriented work and services of the REC.

The intern will be a part of the REC’s international and highly dynamic team
and will have access to REC facilities and events.

Qualifications Required

Applicants should be:

Able to write and work proficiently in English;
Interested in, and knowledgeable of, one or more of the following fields:
the environment, journalism and mass communications, media management,
marketing, advertising, publishing, environmental and health communication,
or media law;
Willing to join a dynamic international team; and
Able to keep deadlines and handle tasks responsibly.

Students are welcome.

Internship conditions:

This is a non-paid internship. Interns will be expected to attract funding
to cover their travel to Hungary; personal costs incurred during their stay;
and an administrative fee of EUR 400 per month.

The REC will assist interns with their accommodation and travel
arrangements, including the acquisition of a visa for Hungary. The REC is
often able to offer interns inexpensive accommodations right on its
premises.

The REC will provide interns with workstations suitable for the performance
of their tasks. The REC will also provide them with the necessary guidance
and supervision to ensure a mutually beneficial learning and working
process.

In exceptional cases the REC may be able to reduce or waive the
administrative fee, cover partially or fully travel and accommodation costs,
and offer a living allowance to prospective interns. These opportunities are
subject to the availability of funds and require a well justified request
from the applicant or sending institution.

The application procedure to be followed is outlined on the general REC
Internship Programme Webpage
(). If you are interested in
this position, please refer to it in your letter of interest!

For more information about the greenHORIZON magazine internships, contact:

Todd Schenk
Internship Project Manager
todd@rec.org; or

Pavel Antonov
Editor, Green Horizon
editor@greenhorizon.rec.org

Green Horizon
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
9 – 11 Ady Endre ut. Szentendre 2000. Hungary
Telephone +36 26 504041, +36 26 504000
Telefax +36 26 311294

7. Slovenia – Workshop “Tourism”, 23-24.09.2004

Source: European Mountain Forum // Europe e-mail list, July 19, 2004

Dear Sir / Madam,

The Alpine Network of Protected Areas is organizing, the 23rd and 24th
September 2004 in Slovenia, a Worskhop “Tourism” in collaboration with the
Triglav National Park within the framework of the Alpine week (“The Alps of
the next generation”, 22-25 September 2004). You can find enclose the
programme and a registration form (in French, Italian, German and Slovenian)
for this workshop. The registration form has to be sent back to the Alpine
Network of Protected Areas before August 15, 2004.

For the hotels advised in the programme, please make the reservation under
the name of the Alpine network of Protected Areas. For those who are already
registered to the hotel, please do not forget to register also your
participation for the Workshop to the Alpine Network of Protected Areas.

Sabine Auriel
Assistant

And

Arnold Karbacher
In charge of cooperation with the Alps and the Carpathians

Alpine Network of Protected areas
Réseau Alpin des Espaces Protégés
Rete delle Aree Protette Alpine
Netzwerk Alpiner Schutzgebiete
Mreza Zavarovanih Obmocij v Alpah

Micropolis – Isatis
05000 Gap (F)
tel 0033. (0)4.92.40.20.00
fax 0033.(0)4.92.40.20.01

8. EIA REPORT of ” Project of the cement Grinding Mini Enterprise in
Tbilisi.” BY THE “Georgian Tazm” Ltd

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), July 16, 2004

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Georgian Tazm” Ltd. submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category -Project of the
cement Grinding Mini Enterprise in Tbilisi.

EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of Environment
(68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili Str., Tel: 25 02 19).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until August 31, 2004.

Public hearing will be held on August 31, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.

9. EIA REPORT of “Manganese Processing Mini Enterprise in Chiatura”
BY THE “Laguna” Ltd

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), July 16, 2004

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Laguna” Ltd. submitted EIA
report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an environmental
permit for the activity of first category -Project of the oil and Flour
Producing Enterprise from the fish, in Poti.

EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of Environment
(68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili Str., Tel: 25 02 19).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until August 31, 2004.

Public hearing will be held on August 31, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.

10. EIA REPORT of the “Project on the Processing of the Saskhor
Carbonate Deposit, West Section in Mtskheta Region ” BY THE “Kaspicement””
Ltd

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), July 16, 2004

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Kaspicement” Ltd. submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category -Project on the
Processing of the Saskhor Carbonate Deposit, West Section in Mtskheta
Region..

EIA report is available at the press-center of the Ministry of Environment
(68, Kostava Str., VI floor) and at the Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili Str., Tel: 25 02 19).
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their comments
and considerations until August 31, 2004.

Public hearing will be held on August 31, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.

11. Vacancy Announcements
Terms of Reference for Task 5.1.5.
Water Infrastructure in the Kura River Basin

The Kura-Aras river system is an internationally significant river basin,
which is seriously degraded and continues to be threatened. Water scarcity
is an issue at many points in the river system. Water quality and quantity
constraints may increasingly lead to disputes amongst water users over the
coming years. Integrated, multi-country, trans-boundary responses are
necessary to address the threats to the river system, and their underlying
causes.

The main objective of project is to address institutional and technical
needs for integrated water resources planning and management at the national
level. The project aims at building national capacity for Integrated Water
Resources Planning and Management;

Duties and responsibilities:

In order to achieve above mentioned objectives UNDP will hire the Expert to
perform following:

ž Collect information and analyze present condition of following
components of water infrastructure sector in the Kura basin:
 Drinking water supply systems;
 Dams and Reservoirs;
 Irrigation network;
 Drainage network;
 Canals in Kura-Aras river basin
 Sanitation system (Waste water treatment plants)
 Hydropower plants
 Etc.
Review projects that has been under way in water infrastructure sector and
planned investment projects in this sector;
Identify existing database, collect data and evaluate availability of
information, format of existing information (reports, books, information
booklets, handwritten materials, tables, graphs.

Reporting requirements

ž The expert is responsible for drafting report according to the scope
of work;
ž A report of maximum 25-30 pages;
ž Data must be presented in tables in format offered bellow in
appendix
ž Report should be submitted electronically, in Russian or English;
ž If the work requirements are not met report can be revised upon
satisfactory completion;

Terms and conditions:
The expert will undertake the works within 3 month after signing the
contract. The payment will be made in two installments: the first 50 percent
of the total will be paid upon submitting first draft of the report and the
second 50 percent – after responding to the comments and final acceptance of
the report by project Team Leader. Total amount of payment will be
negotiated with the Project Team Leader.

Qualified candidates interested to undertake works under the Terms of
Reference should submit their Curriculum Vitae by ordinary mail, by fax or
electronically no later than Monday, July 26, 2004, 5 p.m. to:

Zurab Jincharadze, Team Leader
E:Mail: zjincharadze@kura-aras.ge
Tel: 995 32 292742
Fax: 995 32 292742

Nino Malashkhia, Technical Assistant
E-mail: nmalashkhia@kura-aras.ge

And

Mariam Shotadze, UNDP Georgia, Programme Analyst
mariam.shotadze@undp.org

Terms of Reference for Tasks 5.1.6-5.1.7.
Water Uses and Demand-Supply balance in the Kura River Basin

The Kura-Aras river system is an internationally significant river basin,
which is seriously degraded and continues to be threatened. Water scarcity
is an issue at many points in the river system. Water quality and quantity
constraints may increasingly lead to disputes amongst water users over the
coming years. Integrated, multi-country, trans-boundary responses are
necessary to address the threats to the river system, and their underlying
causes.

The main objective of project is to address institutional and technical
needs for integrated water resources planning and management at the national
level. The project aims at building national capacity for Integrated Water
Resources Planning and Management;

Duties and responsibilities

In order to achieve above mentioned objectives UNDP will hire the Expert to
perform following:
ž Assess and analyze following water use by sectors:
o Agricultural water use: water use for irrigation purposes,
irrigated land area, estimation of water loss in irrigation network,
irrigation network rehabilitation projects, present and future trends of
water use in agriculture;
o Domestic water use: the basic sources of water supply, quality of
water, present and future trends of water use for domestic purposes;
o Industrial water use: the basic sources of water supply, volumes of
water use, water use in industry in dynamics and future trends;
o Water use for fisheries: the characteristic of water objects for
fishery, scale of water use and future trends;
o Water use for hydropower generation: available hydroelectric power
stations, their capacities, regime data and water use;
o Water use for recreation: waters having recreational function;

ž Analyze present and future trends of water allocation among
different water users and Demand-Supply balance. Based on these analysis
draw picture for possible future conflicts or other problems that might
emerge between different water users by sectors, within the sectors and on
regional level;

Identify existing data base, collect data and evaluate availability of
information, format of existing information (reports, books, information
booklets, handwritten materials, tables, graphs).

Reporting requirements

ž The expert is responsible for drafting report according to the scope
of work;
ž A report of maximum 30 pages;
ž Report should be submitted electronically, in Russian or English;
ž If the work requirements are not met report can be revised upon its
satisfactory completion;

Terms and conditions:
The expert will undertake the works within three month after signing the
contract. The payment will be made in two installments: the first 50 percent
of the total will be paid upon submitting first draft of the report and the
second 50 percent – after responding to the comments and final acceptance of
the report by project Team Leader. Total amount of payment will be
negotiated with the Project Team Leader.

Qualified candidates interested to undertake works under the Terms of
Reference should submit their Curriculum Vitae by ordinary mail, by fax or
electronically no later than Monday, July 26, 2004, 5 p.m. to:

Zurab Jincharadze, Team Leader
E:Mail: zjincharadze@kura-aras.ge
Tel: 995 32 292742
Fax: 995 32 292742

Ms. Nino Malashkhia, Technical Assistant
E-mail: nmalashkhia@kura-aras.ge

And

Ms. Mariam Shotadze, UNDP Georgia, Programme Analyst
mariam.shotadze@undp.org

[1] ‘Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project FAQs’, on BP’s dedicated BTC
website, available at
The significance
which BP attaches to its claims on consultation is indicated by the fact
that consultation is the second issue dealt with in a long list. The IFC,
for its part, appears so persuaded of the accuracy of BP’s claim that it
repeats it even more definitively on the FAQs section of its own website.
“Landowner users and all the 500 or so communities within two kilometers of
the route have now been contacted several times during the preparation of
the ESIAs and RAPs.” International Finance Corporation, ‘BTC Project:
Frequently Asked Questions, Consultation’, available at

CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: info@cenn.org
URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://ww.rec.org/REC/Programs/Internship.html
http://bulletin.rec.org
http://www.caspiandevelopmentandexport.com/ASP/FAQ.asp#6.
http://ifcln1.ifc.org/ifcext/btc.nsf/Content/Consultation
http://www.cenn.org
www.baku.org.uk
www.eireview.info
www.acnis.am
www.acnis.am/pr/economy/Socio5_eng.pdf

Armenian president sets up culture council

Armenian president sets up culture council

Arminfo
19 Jul 04

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has signed a decree setting up a
presidential culture council in order to conduct a single, effective
state policy on culture.

The council is a consultative body, the head of state’s press service
told Arminfo today.

[Passage omitted: list of council members]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU: Two Armenian fugitives to be granted asylum in Europe – lawyer

Two Armenian fugitives said to be granted asylum in Europe – Azeri lawyer

ANS TV, Baku
19 Jul 04

[Presenter in studio] Fugitives Artur Apresyan and Roman Teryan who
have fled from [President] Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia and come to
Azerbaijan are about to be handed over to a third country, but the
refugees themselves do not know about that yet.

[Correspondent over archive footage of the two fugitives] Artur
Apresyan and Roman Teryan who fled Armenia for Azerbaijan on 7 April
and who have since been held at the National Security Ministry’s
remand facility, will leave Azerbaijan within one month. This
information has been shared with us by the director of the Committee
for Democracy and Human Rights, Cingiz Qanizada.

According to him, this was discussed about 10 days ago during a
meeting between several human rights activists and National Security
Minister Namiq Abbasov. Without elaborating which country this might
be, Qanizada said it would be a West European state. Artur Apresyan
and Roman Teryan are still unaware of this.

The Armenian fugitives are saying that only the Red Cross has been
taking interest in their fate of late.

[Passage omitted: known details]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ Online [07-19-2004]

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/19/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1-Schiff Critical of Speaker Hastert’s Opposition to Armenian Genocide
Amendment
2-Armenian Editor Murdered in Moscow
3-ARS Convention Adjourns, Elects Western Region Executive
4-New Clashes on Ossetia Border
5-NEWS BRIEFS

1-Schiff Critical of Speaker Hastert’s Opposition to Armenian Genocide
Amendment

House leadership vow to take Schiff Amendment out of final bill, block
Armenian
genocide resolution

WASHINGTON, DC–California Congressman Adam Schiff responded on Friday, to a
joint statement by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay,
and Majority Whip Roy Blunt, opposing the Schiff amendment on the Armenian
Genocide.
In their statement, the House Majority Leadership conveyed their
determination
to drop the Schiff amendment from the final version of the FY 2005 Foreign
Operations Appropriations bill (HR 4818), and intend to block the
consideration
of HR 193–a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide–for the
remainder of the 108th Congress.
“These are completely unacceptable positions of the House Majority
Leadership,” Congressman Schiff said. “To stand in the way of acknowledging
the
Armenian Genocide is to deny the memory of 1.5 million victims.”
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to adopt an amendment
sponsored by Congressman Schiff to the House version of the Foreign Operations
spending bill. The amendment prohibits the government of Turkey from using US
foreign aid to lobby against HR 193, a resolution that officially recognizes
the Armenian Genocide and marks the 15th anniversary of President Ronald
Reagan
signing the 1987 Genocide Convention Implementation Act (Also known as the
Proxmire Actthis put the United States on record as being strongly opposed to
the heinous crime of genocide).
HR 193 passed the House Judiciary Committee on May 22, 2003, shortly after
its
introduction on April 10, 2003. Since then, the resolution has languished on
the House calendar for over a year.
Congressman Schiff, who has consistently fought for official US
recognition of
the Armenian genocide, said he firmly believes in the appropriate and accurate
commemoration of the event.
“Our relationship with Turkey is important,” Congressman Schiff wrote, “but
that relationship must not compel us to acquiesce in a shameful unwillingness
by Turkey to confront the actions of its Ottoman forbears…
“I am deeply troubled by your assertion that you will not schedule HR 193 for
consideration by the House of Representatives. Your refusal to allow the
genocide resolution to be brought up for a vote directly contradicts your
promise, made in a meeting with Armenian-American community leaders in my
congressional district in 2000, that you would bring the Armenian Genocide
Resolution to a floor vote in the United States House of Representatives.
“Mr. Speaker, we are still waiting and the world is watching. You may not
attach great importance to memorializing the 1.5 million victims of the
Armenian Genocide. Yesterday evening, the House said otherwise.”
Congressman Schiff is a Member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, a
co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of
both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents
California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of
Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale,
Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.

2-Armenian Editor Murdered in Moscow

MOSCOW (The Independent)–The Armenian editor of the Russian-language monthly
Armyansky Pereulok (Armenian Lane), magazine focusing on Armenian issues was
beaten and stabbed to death Saturday, and his body dumped on the outskirts of
Moscow, police said.
The killing of Pailag Peloyan, comes barely a week after Paul Klebnikov, the
US editor of the Russian version of Forbes magazine, was gunned down in cold
blood. Nobody has been arrested for his murder.
Peloyan’s body was found dumped by the side of the city’s outer ring road or
MKAD far from the city center on Saturday morning.
He had multiple stab wounds in the chest and had been savagely beaten; his
skull was cracked and his face covered in blood and bruises.
Information about his last movements is sketchy, though he is known to have
died between two and three o’clock on Saturday morning and his body lay
undiscovered for at least four hours.
Investigators say they have scanned the crime scene in order to gain clues
about the act and prosecutors have opened a criminal case into the killing.
They are not ruling out the possibility that Peloyan was murdered because of
his professional activity.
In contrast to the late Klebnikov, however, Peloyan’s work appears relatively
uncontroversial. While the dead American journalist made waves by publicizing
the names of Russia’s wealthiest people and delving into their often
insalubrious financial affairs, Peloyan’s magazine was an arts publication.
Peloyan’s magazine carried features about literature, the arts and history and
included prose and poetry from Armenian writers. Nobody was answering the
phones at the magazine’s Moscow office yesterday.
Klebnikov was killed in a drive-by shooting by at least two gunmen and
died in
a hail of bullets just yards from his office. His murder had all the hallmarks
of a contract killing.
An online news site, the Russia Journal, spoke yesterday of “an undeclared
war
against media representatives” and claimed that Russian and foreign
journalists
had become an endangered species in Moscow.
It said: “These two senseless killings have once again put the issue of
journalists’ safety in Russia back on the agenda and raised well-founded
concerns among representatives of the fourth estate.
“This is not because killing journalists is a rarity in Moscow or in
Russia at
large but two murders of journalists in less than 10 days in a city that is
not
at war is something unusual, even by Russian standards.” The Russian media
itself made far less of Peloyan’s murder, possibly because as an Armenian
hailing from a part of the former Soviet Union once ruled by the Russians, he
would not be considered a bona fide foreigner like Klebnikov.
It is estimated that two million Armenians live in Russia and the two
countries have a close relationship going back hundreds of years. Officials at
the Armenian Embassy in Moscow said that they were profoundly shocked by
Peloyan’s murder. “Naturally we learned of this information with great
regret,”
Armen Gevondyan, the embassy press secretary, told Interfax news agency.
“We are taking all the measures we can together with Russia’s law enforcement
authorities to ascertain the circumstances of Peloyan’s death.” Peloyan is the
16th journalist to be murdered in Russia since 2000. The US-based Committee to
Protect Journalists says the country is one of the deadliest places to be a
reporter. It addressed an open letter to Putin after Klebnikov’s killing,
complaining about “the climate of lawlessness and impunity.”
“Cases [of journalists being killed] have not been properly investigated or
prosecuted, a testament to the ongoing lawlessness in Russia and your failure
to reform the country’s weak and politicized criminal justice system,” it
said.

3-ARS Convention Adjourns, Elects Western Region Executive

GLENDALE (ARS)–After three days of reviewing fiscal year activities, and
targeting new projects and goals for the coming year, the 84th convention of
the Armenian Relief Society, Western Region ended on July 18. As its last
order
of business, the convention elected four new members to its executive body:
Angela Savoian, Nanig Kupelian, Rita Hintlian and Maral Nashalian, to replace
Nova Hindoyan, Asdghik Tejirian, Gitarig Kocharian and Nora Sherikian whose
terms have ended.
At the conclusion of the convention, the new ARS Regional Executive body,
along with convention co-chairs Maro Chalian-Reed and Nairi Derderian, ARC
Central Executive representative Hasmig Derderian, and Regional Executive
members still serving terms, held its first meeting to elect members to
executive posts.
The body elected Angela Savoian (chair), Sona Madarian (vice chair), Rita
Hintlian (secretary), Knar Avedisian (treasurer), and Alice Yeghiayan,
Serpouhi
Meserlian, Vickie Marashlian, Maral Nshanian, Nanig Kupelian (advisors).
The ARS operates in 24 countries throughout Africa, Australia, Europe, the
Middle East, North America, and South America to provide aid and support to
the
educational, social, health and welfare needs of Armenian people through
schools and health and social service centers. Its volunteer force of 18,000
active members throughout the world function according to local governmental
regulations applicable to charitable organizations.

4-New Clashes on Ossetia Border

(BBC)–Clashes have been reported between Georgian troops and separatist
forces
in Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region.
Georgian television reported intense shooting near the front line on Sunday.
The territory has seen growing tension recently, with fears of a return to the
civil war of the early 1990s.
But earlier this month Russia, Georgia and South Ossetia agreed not to use
force to try to end their simmering territorial conflict.
Tensions were raised earlier this month when Georgian troops detained a
convoy
of Russian peacekeeping vehicles they claimed were smuggling arms to the
region, while separatists held a group of Georgian soldiers hostage for 24
hours.
South Ossetia split from the rest of Georgia during a civil war at the end of
the Soviet era and now wants to join Russia.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has pledged to reunite his fractured
country, by bringing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region,
back
under central authority.

5-NEWS BRIEFS

Saakashvili Visits South Ossetia Conflict Zone

TBILISI (ARMENPRESS)Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili made an
unannounced
visit to the South Ossetian village of Eredvi early on July 19. `I came
here to
observe the situation in the conflict zone. We are capable of dealing with the
forces of breakaway South Ossetia, but now it is important to maintain peace,’
Saakashvili told reporters.
A special center that seeks to coordinate the Georgian government’s
activities
in the breakaway region was recently established in Eredvi. `The President
arrived here to encourage our soldiers,’ Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili,
who also chairs the special center in Eredvi, told reporters.
Speaking about the Georgian troops, President Saakashvili said, `despite
shots
fired from the South Ossetian side, our soldiers keep patience and did not
respond by opening fire.’

Court of Appeals Upholds Spy Verdicts

YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)On Monday, an Armenian court of appeals upheld a lower
court’s verdict, which found four Armenian citizens of Russian descent guilty
of espionage. The court determined that the four, who were arrested in August
2002, had served as spies for Azerbaijan since 1993. Nina Shilina, who
prosecutors targeted as the group’s leader, was sentenced to a 15 years prison
term. Shilina’s husband, Edgar Filkov, received a 13 year sentence. Filkov’s
brother, Aleskandar Gasparian, and cousin, Ivetta Filkova, each received 10
year terms. In addition, the courts also found Shilina guilty for the
attempted
bombing of a Yerevan hotel in 1993an incident that security forces managed to
avert. Another man, a former Armenian army officer, Arthur Oganezov, was
sentenced to 18 months.

900 Karabagh High School Graduates Seek University Education

STEPANAKERT (ARMENPRESS)Approximately 900 high school graduates from
throughout Mountainous Karabagh will take Stepanakert University’s entrance
examination on July 20. The country houses only one university.
The university, which has also received applications from students in
Armenia,
Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Ukraine, provides full scholarships to two
hundred of its incoming students. Students at Stepanakert University can
choose
from the thirty areas of concentration the school offers.

Two Expeditions to Seek Noah’s Ark

MOSCOW (ARMENPRESS)A Russian group began an expedition of Mount Ararat last
Saturday. The organizers hope to prove that an object nestled amid the snow
and
ice is Noah’s Ark. The group will present the Turkish authorities an icon of
George the Triumphant, who is thought to be the protector of Caucasian
Mountains. The expedition marks Andrey Polyakov’s second attempt at locating
the ark.
A joint US-Turkish team of 10 explorers also plan to tackle the mountain this
summer in an attempt to uncover a mammoth structure of some 45 feet high, 75
feet wide and about 450 feet long that was partly exposed during last summer’s
European heat wave.
Explorers have long searched for an ark on the high slopes of Mount Ararat,
where the biblical account of the Great Flood places it. In 1957, Turkish air
force pilots spotted a boat-shaped formation in the Agri province. The
government did not pursue the sighting, however. The entire area, including
Mount Ararat, was placed off limits to explorers, after the USSR accused them
of serving as US spies.

Armenia Takes Part in Rescuer/Medceur International Exercises

VILNIUS (ARMENPRESS)Armenian rescuers joined some 400 military and civil
agencies from 13 countries for the Rescuer/Medceur 2004 that began in the
Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda on Monday. The exercises are organized under
NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program and financed by the US armed forces
in Europe. The program, which focuses on proper responses to human calamities,
natural disasters and acts of terrorism, will come to an end on July 30.

Crimea Authorities Promise to Restore Spendiarov’s Museum

YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)The Armenian Foreign Ministry said that the ambassador to
Ukraine, Armen Khachatrian, recently paid a visit to the Crimean Autonomous
Republic to discuss the possible development of economic, agricultural, health
and education cooperation with Armenia. The sides also arranged for the
restoration of both Armenian composer Alexander Spendiarov’s house museum and
Yevpatoria’s Armenian church.

German Ambassador Bids Farewell to Karekin II

ETCHMIADZIN (ARMENPRESS)The outgoing German ambassador to Armenia, Hans Wulf
Bartels, visited Etchmiadzin on Monday to bid farewell to Catholicos Karekin
II. In his remarks, Karekin II discussed the positive relations between
Germany
and Armenia and commended the ambassador for his contributions to their
development.

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant to Shut Down for Repairs

METSAMOR (RFE-RL)The Metsamor Nuclear power plant will be shut down
temporarily on August 1. The plant, which produces 35 percent of Armenia’s
energy, will be restarted on October 4. Metsamor is temporarily shut down once
a year for prophylactic work. This time the reactor will be checked, a
procedure that is conducted every four years.
Gagik Markosian, the director of the plant, said that the state of the metal
casing of the reactor will be checked. `The reactor will be unloaded and we
will check the casing of the reactor’ The operation will be performed by the
Czech company, `Skoda.’ `The International Atomic Energy Agency helped us
evaluate the technical needs. And we invited bids [from international
companies] according to those needs,’ Markosian said.

Armenian Tennis Players Shine at Davis Cup

CHISINAU (ARMENPRESS)Last week, eight nations participated in the Davis
CupBNP
Paribas Europe/Africa Zone Group IVthat was held in Chisinau, Moldova. The
tennis players representing Armenia defeated their competitors from Botswana,
Malta, Mauritius, moving on to place the country first in its subgroup.

Three Armenians Eligible to Compete for World Chess Cup

YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)At least three Armenian chess playersVladimir Hakobian,
Levon Aronian and Karen Asrianwill be eligible to compete for the World Chess
Cup. The Cup, expected to begin in 2005, is a newly designed contest organized
by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Depending on their rankings at next
year’s European chess championship, additional Armenian chess players may be
included in the World Chess Cup.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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‘No place to go’

London Free Press, Canada
July 19 2004

‘No place to go’

An immigration official says political changes in Iraq reduce the
risk to the Christian couple.

TEVIAH MORO, Free Press Reporter
2004-07-19 03:31:17

An Iraqi couple that has called London home for a decade must return
to their turbulent war-torn country, Immigration Canada says. After
10 years of red tape, immigration officials have told Krikor Stephan,
68, and his wife, Sagheek Alexanian, 65, they must return to Iraq.

But as Armenian Christians, the married couple faces certain
persecution in Iraq, said son-in-law Tom Sada.

“The Christians, now they are more in danger than when it was Saddam
in power,” Sada said.

Sada, 38, an Assyrian Christian, fled Iraq in 1980 during the
Iran-Iraq war at the age of 14, and entered Canada as a refugee in
1985.

His wife Sylva Sada, 33, joined him in Canada in 1990, while her
parents fled Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1994, hoping Immigration
Canada would grant them refugee status, Sada said.

Since then, Stephan and Alexanian have made three applications to
Immigration Canada and been rejected all three times, he said.

After about $6,000 in legal fees and application costs, the last
rejection came three weeks ago. Sada is waiting for another letter to
find out when Stephan and Alexanian will have to pack up and go.

“We will receive a letter from immigration to prepare,” he said.

Sada, whose in-laws have helped raised his four children aged six to
12, said they have nowhere to go in Iraq.

Alexanian’s brother, who lives in a town about 50 kilometres south of
Baghdad, faces persecution as a Christian, he said.

Three weeks ago, Alexanian tried to call him, but there was no
answer. A contact in Baghdad told her Christians had been driven out
of town by insurgents, Sada said.

“They sent flyers to their houses, saying all Christians must leave
this town and if you don’t leave, you’ll be beheaded,” he said.

Stephan’s niece, Ashhik Varojan, was one of four Christian women
killed by masked gunmen in January, Sada said.

“The reason why they are killing them is that they’re blaming the
Americans for invading Iraq and in their mind, Americans are
Christians because they are Western,” Sada said.

Ironically, the couple’s son was able to stay in Canada five years
ago as a refugee.

But, according to research conducted by a pre-removal risk assessment
officer with Immigration Canada dated Feb. 4, 2004, there was
insufficient evidence Stephan and Alexanian would face personal risk
in Iraq.

“My research of trustworthy sources shows that since the applicant
and his wife left Iraq in 1994, the political situation has changed,”
the officer wrote.

Representing the couple is Toronto-based immigration lawyer Cecil
Rotenberg, who says Immigration Canada has been blind to their
plight.

Rotenberg said he will try to convince the government Stephan and
Alexanian should stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds —
but that’s a claim that has already been rejected.

Now senior citizens with little money, they have few options in their
homeland.

“There’s no place for them to go. How the hell is that not
humanitarian and compassionate?”

Rotenberg, who has never heard of Iraqis being deported under similar
circumstances, said he is confident Immigration Canada, now led by MP
Judy Sgro (L — York West), will reconsider the couple’s case.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANKARA: Erdogan Goes to Paris with EU Agenda

Zaman, Turkey
July 19 2004

Erdogan Goes to Paris with EU Agenda

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to France today
on an official visit. On the first day of his three day visit,
Erdogan will meet with French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Afterward, he will greet Turks living in France.

On the second day, after French President Jacques Chirac receives
him, Erdogan will convene with French Parliamentary Foreign Affairs
Commission President, Edouard Balladur, and other commission members.
Additionally, he will see political party leaders including Alaine
Juppe, the People’s Union Movement President, an opponent of Turkey’s
membership to the European Union (EU).

Armenian associations in France are preparing to protest Erdogan’s
visit. The French Armenian Committee called Armenians to join rallies
in Paris and Marseilles. On posters prepared by the Committee,
statements such as, “Erdogan comes to Paris for France to say ‘yes,’
we will be there to say ‘no’ to Turkey for Turkey’s acceptance of
Armenian genocide,” attract the attention. Another noteworthy
anti-Turk statement consists of photographs depicting hanged people
next to a Turkish flag.

07.19.2004
Ali Ýhsan Aydýn

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Erdogan heading to France

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
July 19 2004

Erdogan heading to France

The Prime Minister’s visit is likely to be the target of
demonstrations by members of France’s Armenian community.

July 19 – Turkey’s Prime Minister is heading to France Monday as part
of Ankara’s campaign to boost its chances of being granted a date to
begin accession talks with the European Union.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in France for three
days, during which he will meet with his French opposite number
Jean-Pierre Raffarin soon after his arrival Monday. On Tuesday, he
will meet with French President Jaques Chirac and deliver an address
entitled Turkey -France: New Perspective for Affective Partnership at
a conference.
Erdogan’s visit comes at a time when Paris is only lukewarm on
Ankara’s EU membership bid, having thrown out strong hints that
Turkey is not yet ready to open accession negotiations as yet.
The visit of the Turkish Prime Minister is likely to be met
with a number of protests, with Armenian groups announcing that they
would stage demonstrations against Erdogan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANKARA: Turkish P.M. Hopes For Continued French Backing For E.U. Bid

Turkish Press
July 19 2004

Turkish P.M. Hopes For Continued French Backing For E.U. Bid
AFP: 7/19/2004

PARIS, July 19 (AFP) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said Monday that his country wanted France to continue to back its
bid to become a member of the European Union, an ambition that will
enter a critical phase at the end of this year.

“In this area of course we want all the backing that France has
brought to us, and in particular through President (Jacques) Chirac,
to continue in the future,” he told reporters after meeting his
French counterpart Jean-Pierre Raffarin at the start of a three-day
visit to France.

A crucial period is approaching for Turkey’s application bid, with
the European Commission due to give its opinion in October on a
possible opening of negotiations, followed by a decision in December
by European leaders on whether enough progress has been made towards
the EU’s reform demands.

“On European questions, the Turkish Prime Minister outlined to me all
the reform efforts undertaken by his country to meet the … criteria
laid down by the EU,” Raffarin said.

“We shall study with the greatest attention the report of the
Commission this autumn and we want the European Council to take a
decision in December on this important issue,” he added.

“We have a large number of common points of view on international
matters.”

Other subjects discussed included cultural links between the two
countries. About 400,000 Turks live in France who, in Erdogan’s view,
“should be a bridge between the two nations.” About the same number
of French tourists visited Turkey last year and the total is expected
to rise to 600,000 this year.

Industrial cooperation was also discussed.

The prime minister, whose Justice and Development Party (AKP) has
Islamist origins, is due to lunch with Chirac Tuesday after a meeting
with business leaders. He will also see the heads of the three main
political parties before leaving Wednesday.

Erdogan is expected to use the French visit to build up support in
the European country which has seen probably the most heated public
debate over the suitability for the EU of a predominantly Muslim,
albeit secular nation.

While Chirac has indicated in recent speeches that he now regards
Ankara’s progress to EU membership as “irreversible” and spoken of
its “historic and very ancient European vocation”, many in his own
government are deeply opposed to its accession.

In addition opinion polls indicate that a majority of the population
is against Turkey’s admission to the 25-nation body.

“The opposition comes in various forms: fear of Islam and immigrants
at one end, fear of seeing Europe dissolve into a vast free-trade
zone for others,” said Eddy Fougier of French Institute for
International Relations (IFRI).

France also has a large Armenian community of some 450,000 people,
whose pressure in 2001 secured the official recognition by the French
parliament of the Armenian genocide. This remains a highly
contentious issue between Ankara and Paris.

The opposition Socialist party said Monday it supports Turkish entry
“as long as the accession criteria are respected,” but both Chirac’s
ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and its junior partner the
Union for French Democracy (UDF) are sceptical.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iranian-Armenian Experts Discuss Commonalities in Architecture

Tehran Times
July 19 2004

Iranian-Armenian Experts Discuss Commonalities in Architecture

Tehran Times Art Desk
TEHRAN (MNA) — Iran and Armenia discussed their commonalities in
town planning and architecture at the Iranian Academy of Arts with
the participation of Armenian and Iranian experts on Sunday.

At this roundtable discussion Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti, Mohsen
Habibi, Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi, and Mehdad Qaumi from Iran and
Armenian experts Belgarian, Giujian, Kermenjian, Hayakian along with
several other Iranian and Armenian experts expressed their views. *
Japan to Premiere Iranian Film “He”

TEHRAN July 18 (MNA) — “He”, the only Iranian film to participate in
the Asia-Pacific competition will be screened in Japan’s cinemas when
the festival finishes.

The producers of the film are currently busy subtitling the film into
Japanese for screening in Japanese cinemas.

The films “Duel” and “The Marsh” are being screened in the
non-competition section of the festival. `Spring Poets” Special Issue
Published in Turkmenistan

TEHRAN July 18 (MNA) — A special issue of the “Spring Poets” was
published in Ashkhabad by the cultural consulate of the Islamic
Republic.

Published in the Russian language, the special issue has been printed
in four colors with interesting subjects and eye-catching pictures
from Iranian and Turkmenistan cultural figures.

Some of the subjects of the special issue are Attar Neyshaburi,
Abulqasem Ferdowsi, Makhtumquli, Sa’di, Omar Khayyam, Makhtumquli in
search of love, and Imam Khomeini (R) poems.

This special issue in 33 pages was published by the Center for the
Promotion of Persian Literature affiliated to the Organization of
Culture and Islamic Relations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian servicemen will participate in a NATO exercise in Lithuania

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 19, 2004, Monday

ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NATO EXERCISE IN LITHUANIA

The Resceur-Medceur 2004 international military exercise organized
within the framework of the partnership for peace program will be
conducted in Lithuania from July 17 to August 4. Servicemen from
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Germany, Georgia, Latvia, Moldavia,
Poland, Romania, the US, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Croatia and Estonia
will be involved in the maneuvers.

Source: PanARMENIAN.Net, July 16, 2004, 13:39

Translated by Alexander Dubovoi

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress