Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 1) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

July 29, 2004

ACNIS Takes on the Challenges of Armenian Culture and Values

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
convened today a roundtable discussion on “The Challenges of Culture and
Value System in Armenia.” As part of the forum, the Center released the
results of its specialized opinion survey, entitled “Value and Ideology
Benchmarks: Imperatives and Alternatives,” which involved more than 50
experts from Yerevan and across Armenia.
ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian greeted the invited
guests and public participants with opening remarks. “These deliberations on
culture, together with the expert survey preceding them, aim to present one
focus group’s professional perceptions of ideology guideposts which are
characteristic of a transitional period, as well as the true role and place
of our system of values and patterns of cultural development,” he said.
ACNIS legal and political affairs analyst Stepan Safarian focused in detail
on the findings of the expert opinion polls. Accordingly, the majority of
the surveyed experts assert that Armenian society today does not have
clearly-defined value-based guidelines. 4% of experts find it difficult to
answer this question, and only 6% give a positive answer. According to 20%
of respondents, the system of values operating in everyday life is the
continuation by inertia of the system formed during the Soviet years, 10%
think it comes to us from the depth of centuries, and 50% are convinced that
it has been formed during the years of independence. The experts are of the
opinion that Armenian society often favors personal values and their
manifestations, with egocentrism (90%) prevailing over altruism. Regarding
group interests, 96% are of the opinion that society favors clan interests
over collectivism. On the level of national values, 44% and 48%,
respectively, choose nationalism and patriotism, and 80% and 72% cite the
human values of cosmopolitanism and humanitarianism, respectively.
48% of respondent specialists think that the benchmarks of societal values
should be defined by liberal democracy, 18% social democracy, and 18%
national democracy. 6% of participants point to the supremacy of group
interests as the primary obstacle to deepening of the democratic system of
values adopted by the Armenian public, while 20% blame the society’s
unsatisfactory level of political consciousness, 4% its low educational
level, 2% the lack of propagation of relevant values, and 2% the
counter-propagation of those values. 54%, 6%, and 2% find inappropriate the
attitude of the authorities, opposition, and political forces supporting the
authorities, respectively, toward those values. Taking into account today’s
imperatives, 26% underscore the importance of a sovereign state, 14% human
rights and freedoms, 14% spirituality, 14% constitutional order, 10%
democracy, 10% patriotism, 6% separation of powers, and 4% equal rights.
According to the experts, the average Armenian’s conduct of late has changed
markedly toward types of negative demeanor. Only 6% assess lawfulness to be
a positive feature of the average Armenian’s conduct, 94% as negative.
Lawlessness in the average Armenian’s behavior is marked as negative by 100%
of experts, fairness as positive by 38% and negative by 62%, unfairness as
positive by 26% and negative by 74%, honesty and dishonesty are considered
positive by 30% and 84% and negative by 70% and 16%, kindness and evil as
positive by 46% and 70% and negative by 54% and 30%, initiative and
passiveness as positive by 46% and 62% and negative by 54% and 38%, devotion
and treachery as positive by 36% and 66% and negative by 64% and 34%,
civility and rudeness as positive by 20% and 76% and negative by 80% and
24%. Diligence is marked as positive by 76% and negative by 24%.
It is noteworthy that the experts surveyed are convinced that young people
are inclined toward democracy, the middle generation toward
authoritarianism, and the senior generation toward totalitarianism. In the
event of maintaining the current value benchmarks and system, Armenia will
proceed to authoritarianism according to 66% of respondents, to
totalitarianism accordingly to 12%, to democracy according to 16%. 38% opine
that Armenia will establish a system of values characteristic of a
democratic society in 25 years, 6% in 50 years, and 4% in 100 years, whereas
8% do not believe that Armenia will ever have such a system of values. 40%
have a more optimistic attitude toward this issue. They think it will take
five to ten years. The specialists maintain that from the perspective of
civilizational values Armenian society is closest to Eastern civilization
(10%), Russian civilization (10%), and European civilization (12%), while
44% hold that Armenian civilization is a synthesis of all.
What is the role of the spiritual world in our life today? 74% of experts
conclude that this role is a small one, 24% think it plays no role, and only
2% say it leads a great role. 14% of respondents point to the
super-materialized character of contemporary life as the main reason for the
relatively small role of the spiritual world, 20% to the low quality of
spiritual sustenance, 6% to the lack of propagation of spiritual values, 6%
to the passiveness of the intelligentsia, and 20% and 6% to the absence of
exemplary behavior by the authorities and the political elite, respectively.
66% of the respondents are male, and 34% female; 26% are 21-30 years of age,
40% 31-40, 24% 41-50, 10% 51 or above. All the experts surveyed have
received higher education, 14% are full professors (PhD), 82% hold a Master’
s degree, and 4% have earned a Bachelor’s degree.

The second item on the day’s agenda was a presentation by Yerevan State
University professor Vardan Khachatrian, who addressed “The Old and the New:
Tradition and Progress.” “The unique aspect of Armenian identity is the
cultural stratum that has come to us from ancient times and promoted the
Armenian people’s survival,” he said, emphasizing the role of the church,
which has recently diminished. “The guiding precept of the spiritual elite
today is not the struggle for spiritual progress but the ability to adapt to
the present regime,” Khachatrian concluded, noting that the latter is unable
to foster society’s spiritual development since it pursues a policy of
devastating symbols of national pride instead of paying tribute to them.
The formal presentations were followed by contributions by Anahit Bayandur
of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly; former minister of state Hrach Hakobian;
law professor Hrair Tovmasian; Mushegh Yekmalian of the OSCE Yerevan Office;
Derenik Demirchian High School principal Anahit Bakhshian; Alexander Butaev
of the National Democratic Union; MP Shavarsh Kocharian of the National
Democratic Party; Yerevan State University professor Aram Harutiunian;
Vahagn Khachatrian of the “Armat” center; Ruzanna Khachaturian of the People
‘s Party of Armenia; Artsrun Pepanian, political analyst for AR television;
Gayane Markosian of the Harmonious World NGO; National Press Club
chairperson Narine Mkrtchian; and several others.
ACNIS economic and diaspora affairs analyst Hovsep Khurshudian made summary
remarks. “We may deduce from many of the answers that the reestablishment of
values and traditions highly depends on the political system, and
particularly morality of the ruling elite. Therefore only fundamental,
system changes will lead to positive results,” he concluded.
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
[email protected] or [email protected]; or visit or

From: Baghdasarian

La Vie Financière
23 juillet 2004

La planète s’enflamme pour l’or noir;
Les majors non américaines (1859-1913)

Par Paul-Jacques Lehmann, professeur à l’université de Rouen.

Révolution technologique aux conséquences incalculables, l’invention
de l’ampoule à incandescence par Edison (1878) va porter un coup
fatal à la consommation de pétrole destiné à l’éclairage. Ce débouché
se tarira complètement avec la généralisation du gaz et de
l’électricité. Mais les progrès de la science fournissent à l’or noir
une seconde chance : il devient source d’énergie – carburant pour les
moteurs, combustible pour le chauffage domestique, utilisation
industrielle, matière première pour l’industrie chimique. Les
avancées de la technique vont en effet permettre l’utilisation de
deux huiles issues du raffinage : l’une légère, l’essence ; l’autre
lourde, le mazout, résidus que l’on était contraint, jusque-là, de
brûler pour s’en débarrasser.

Pendant la plus grande partie du XIXe siècle, c’est la vapeur
provenant du charbon qui propulse les véhicules. Depuis longtemps, on
cherche une nouvelle énergie moins chère et plus facile à utiliser.
En 1890, Peugeot vend deux voitures équipées du premier moteur à
essence, dit à explosion, breveté en 1883 par Daimler. Pendant plus
d’une décennie, l’achat d’automobiles reste l’apanage de quelques
privilégiés. La situation évolue à partir de 1905 quand Henry Ford,
un ancien de la Standard Oil, après avoir construit une voiture à
essence dans un petit atelier de Detroit, crée une entreprise pour
fabriquer des automobiles en série : son modèle T (pour tourisme)
sera vendu à 15 millions d’exemplaires. La consommation d’essence ne
cesse alors d’augmenter : en 1910, ses ventes dépassent pour la
première fois celles du kérosène, pour atteindre 5,8 millions de
tonnes en 1913, dont 190 000 tonnes en France, soit près de 30 % de
la consommation totale de pétrole.

On est également persuadé que le pétrole peut remplacer le charbon
comme combustible pour la navigation. La facilité d’utilisation des
huiles lourdes et leur faible coût finissent d’ailleurs par
convaincre les derniers récalcitrants de l’avantage du mazout. Les
camions, les locomotives, les automobiles se mettront aussi au fuel,
qui sera ensuite adapté au chauffage d’usines et d’habitations. La
pétrochimie fait également son apparition. Utilisée la première fois
pour fabriquer des pneus, son expansion sera continue dans de
multiples domaines (engrais, matières plastiques…).

Une production en constante augmentation

La production de pétrole passe de 10 millions de tonnes en 1890 à 51
millions en 1913 et intéresse de nombreux pays car la découverte de
gisements n’est plus limitée aux seuls Etats-Unis. En Amérique du
Sud, on exploite des puits au Mexique à partir de 1902, en Argentine
à partir de 1907, au Pérou et au Venezuela à partir de 1914. La
productivité s’améliore à tous les niveaux : dans la production, où
les systèmes de forage par rotation se substituent progressivement
aux systèmes par percussion ; dans le raffinage ; dans la
distribution, quand les pompes à main installées aux portes des
épiceries puis au bord des routes remplacent les bidons en fer-blanc.

On fonde déjà de grands espoirs sur les forages marins qui commencent
dans le golfe du Mexique et dans la mer Caspienne. La Russie devient
un grand pays producteur et Bakou la Titusville russe : sa population
passe de 5 000 habitants en 1850 à 100 000 en 1890. Les gisements de
la région de Groznyï, à 500 kilomètres, complètent la production. Des
raffineries y existent depuis 1823, mais des problèmes de transport
vers les centres de consommation en entravent l’expansion. En 1888,
le pays fournit 23 millions de barils de pétrole, soit 80 % de la
production américaine. Ses raffineries travaillent alors à pleine
capacité grce aux exportations dans toute l’Europe, où le
quasi-monopole mondial exercé par la Standard Oil est fortement
entamé.

Nobel et Rothschild précurseurs en Russie

Arrivé dans la région pour acheter du bois pour l’entreprise
d’armement créée par son père, Ludwig Nobel se prend de passion pour
le pétrole, s’installe en Russie et décide ses frères à y investir.
En 1887, la société Nobel est propriétaire de 40 % des terrains de la
région de Bakou, assure la moitié de la production pétrolière du pays
et gère deux cents raffineries. Elle s’est aussi spécialisée dans le
transport par bateau en vrac et par pipelines, percés dans la
montagne grce à l’emploi de la dynamite, inventée par Alfred Nobel.
Ainsi, l’oléoduc de 880 kilomètres entre Bakou et le port turc de
Batoum, annexé par la Russie en 1877, est achevé en 1893. L’Histoire
veut qu’à la mort de Ludwig, en 1888, de nombreux journaux annoncent
le décès d’Alfred et le critiquent en tant qu’inventeur de
l’explosif. Prenant ombrage de ces nécrologies, il lègue sa fortune à
une fondation pour l’instauration du fameux prix. Après la révolution
russe, les Nobel vendent la moitié de leur empire pétrolier à la
Standard Oil et sont expropriés pour le reste.

Les Rothschild jouent aussi un grand rôle dans l’histoire moderne du
pétrole russe. Appelés pour financer l’achèvement d’une ligne de
chemin de fer permettant de transporter le pétrole de Bakou à Batoum,
ils créent en 1886 la Compagnie pétrolière de la Caspienne et de la
mer Noire (Bnito) et deviennent le deuxième producteur russe. Ils
signent des accords avec les Nobel pour s’assurer la première place
mondiale des exportations vers l’Extrême-Orient.

De Shell à Royal Dutch

Quand les Rothschild veulent s’implanter en Asie, ils signent un
accord avec un négociant, Marcus Samuel, qui obtient pour neuf ans
l’exclusivité de la vente du pétrole de la Bnito en Extrême-Orient.
Il achète des entrepôts à Singapour pour stocker le liquide. Lui
aussi est persuadé que c’est le coût du transport qui fera la
différence. Il a donc créé un nouveau type de navires-citernes lui
permettant, grce à un système de nettoyage à la vapeur, de
transporter indifféremment du pétrole en vrac de Bornéo en Russie, ou
de Russie en Extrême-Orient, et des denrées d’Asie (thé, riz, coton)
en Europe. L’un de ses bateaux, le Murex, est le premier à emprunter,
en 1892, le canal de Suez. En 1902, 90 % du pétrole transitant par le
canal lui appartiennent. En 1897, il change le nom de sa société, qui
devient la Shell (en anglais, « coquille ») Transport & Trading,
société de nationalité britannique.

En 1895, Samuel obtient une concession de 80 kilomètres carrés à
l’est de Bornéo, dans une région difficilement accessible. La
production débute en avril 1898. Une autre société, la Compagnie
royale pour l’exploitation des puits de pétrole des Indes
néerlandaises, se trouve depuis 1890 dans la région, à Sumatra, où
des puits sont exploités depuis 1871, et distribue le pétrole sous la
marque Crown Oil. Totalement intégrée elle aussi, la Royal Dutch doit
son succès à sa proximité des lieux de consommation de pétrole en
Extrême-Orient, ce qui lui épargne le coût du transport depuis les
Etats-Unis et la Russie. En décembre 1900, au décès de son fondateur,
Auguste Kessler, un nouveau dirigeant est nommé en Extrême-Orient,
Henry Deterding. D’une famille pauvre, c’est par son métier de
banquier qu’il a connu la société pétrolière, quand il a été amené à
la sortir de graves difficultés financières. Dorénavant à la tête de
l’entreprise, il n’a de cesse de combattre la Standard. Il achète les
principaux producteurs des Indes néerlandaises et cherche à s’allier
avec la Shell, annihilant les nombreuses tentatives de la société de
John Rockefeller de s’approprier les deux entreprises.

Un accord commercial est signé en 1901, suivi en 1907 de la
constitution du groupe Royal Dutch-Shell, holding qui détient les
deux compagnies d’exploitation, dans une proportion de 60 % pour la
première et de 40 % pour la seconde, toujours valable de nos jours.
Henry Deterding en devient le directeur général, puis le président
quand Samuel lui cède sa place. Les Rothschild rejoignent les deux
associés pour former l’Asiatic Petroleum Company, avant de leur
vendre, en 1912, leurs intérêts en Russie. Payés en actions, ils
deviennent les actionnaires principaux de la Royal Dutch. Le groupe
s’impose progressivement en Europe, avant de tenter, avec succès, sa
chance au Mexique, au Venezuela et même aux Etats-Unis.

L’Anglo-Persian de William Knox d’Arcy

Les recherches de pétrole débutent en Perse en 1872, mais restent
longtemps infructueuses. En 1901, le shah accorde, pour une durée de
soixante ans, une concession de pétrole sur les trois quarts du pays
à un avocat canadien d’origine française, William d’Arcy, qui a fait
fortune en découvrant une mine d’or en Australie. La prospection ne
donne aucun résultat pendant deux ans et son coût se révèle vingt
fois plus élevé que prévu. William d’Arcy, à court de trésorerie,
soutenu par le gouvernement britannique, s’associe à la Burmah Oil
Company, créée en 1886 par un groupe écossais afin d’assurer
l’exploitation du pétrole birman, pour former l’Anglo-Persian Oil
Company, qui deviendra en 1935 l’Anglo-Iranian Oil Company puis, en
1954, la British Petroleum. William d’Arcy est nommé directeur de la
société. La recherche se poursuit dans un environnement difficile :
le shah est renversé ; le pays est partagé entre la Russie et
l’Angleterre. Lassés, les dirigeants de la société envoient, de
Londres, début mai 1908, un télégramme au responsable de
l’exploitation lui enjoignant de tout arrêter. Se produit alors un
coup du destin : le destinataire du télégramme ne le divulgue pas et
ne tient pas compte de l’injonction. Deux semaines plus tard, le 26
mai 1908, le pétrole jaillit au-dessus du derrick du puits
Masjid-I-Suleiman. D’autres gisements sont découverts dans le pays.
Un pipeline de plus de 200 kilomètres est construit à travers le
désert jusqu’à Abadan, où une raffinerie est édifiée.

Bien que la distribution de son brut soit assurée par la Royal Dutch,
la situation financière de l’Anglo-Persian reste préoccupante.
L’Amirauté britannique va la sauver. Depuis le début du siècle,
beaucoup de ses responsables sont convaincus qu’une guerre contre
l’Allemagne est inéluctable et que la victoire se décidera sur les
mers. La modernisation de la flotte, indispensable, passe par la
conversion au mazout de la propulsion des navires. Il faut donc à
l’Angleterre une source sûre d’approvisionnement en pétrole.
L’arrivée de Churchill comme premier lord de l’Amirauté en 1911
précipite les choses alors que les relations entre l’Anglo-Persian et
la Royal Dutch se détériorent. Ne voulant pas que le pétrole dont le
pays a tant besoin tombe entre les mains d’intérêts néerlandais à un
moment où les Pays-Bas soutiennent l’Allemagne, le gouvernement
britannique apporte les fonds indispensables à l’Anglo-Persian. Il en
prend le contrôle à 51 % en 1913 et la Royal Navy devient le
principal client de l’Anglo-Persian.

La Turkish Petroleum de Calouste Gulbenkian

L’Empire ottoman, en pleine crise, commence à intéresser les
compagnies pétrolières. Alors que les sociétés américaines sont quasi
absentes de cette région, pourtant promise à un avenir radieux, les
compagnies britanniques et allemandes sont toutes-puissantes en Asie
mineure. C’est dans ce contexte que commence à s’imposer Calouste
Gulbenkian, Arménien né en 1863 dans une riche famille de négociants.
Après ses études, cet ingénieur des mines rentre en Russie, où il se
passionne pour le pétrole. A la suite du massacre des Arméniens, il
s’enfuit en Egypte en 1896, puis s’établit à Londres, où il vend du
pétrole russe et procure de nombreux contrats à la Royal Dutch-Shell.
Naturalisé anglais en 1902, conseiller financier du gouvernement turc
à Londres, il devient directeur d’une banque, dont il détient 30 % du
capital et qui est actionnaire à 50 % de la Turkish Petroleum Company
– créée grce à ses bons offices en 1911 – aux côtés de la Royal
Dutch-Shell et de la Deutsche Bank, chacune à hauteur de 25 %. En
1914, un accord anglo-allemand donne à l’Anglo-Persian 50 % de la
Turkish Petroleum Company. L’Anglo-Persian et la Shell abandonnent
chacune 2,5 % des bénéfices à Gulbenkian, qui devient « Monsieur 5 %
» ! Les signataires s’engagent à ne pas s’intéresser à la production
pétrolière dans l’Empire ottoman (sauf en Egypte et au Koweït), en
dehors de leur participation dans la Turkish Petroleum Company. Cet
arrangement est le point de départ de la lutte future pour le pétrole
au Moyen-Orient.

-> -> ->Dates clés

1886

– Création de la Compagnie pétrolière de la Caspienne et de la mer
Noire par les Rothschild.

1897

– Naissance de la Shell Transport & Trading britannique dont les
premiers navires-citernes vont jusqu’en Extrême-Orient.

1903

– Création de l’Anglo-Persian Oil Company, ancêtre de la British
Petroleum.

1905

– Henry Ford crée sa première usine de construction d’automobiles.

1907

– Création de la Royal Dutch-Shell.

1908

– Le pétrole jaillit en Iran, alors que l’Anglo-Persian avait décidé
d’arrêter les forages.

Des indépendants aux Etats-Unis

-Aux Etats-Unis apparaissent des indépendants, nom donné aux sociétés
sans lien avec la Standard Oil et qui seront à l’origine de la
découverte de la plupart des futurs gisements. Deux entrent
rapidement dans la cour des « grands ». Le premier est la Guffey
Petroleum Company, du colonel Guffey, un pros- pecteur à l’origine de
l’exploitation du premier puits au Texas, le 10 janvier 1901, près de
Spindletop. Andrew W. Mellon, sidérurgiste et banquier, prend une
participation de 40 % dans la société, qui est transformée en Gulf
Oil Company. En 1906, Guffey signe un accord avec Samuel qui vient de
s’installer dans la région. Royal Dutch-Shell lui garantit de lui
transporter, pendant vingt ans, une quantité minimale de pétrole,
destinée à l’Amirauté britannique. C’est le début de l’installation
de Royal Dutch-Shell dans tous les Etats producteurs des Etats-Unis.
Mellon, mécontent de cet accord, se sépare alors de Guffey, tout en
conservant la Gulf. Devenu secrétaire d’Etat au Trésor après la
guerre, il imposera sa société comme concessionnaire de gisements au
Venezuela, aux côtés de la Shell. Le deuxième indépendant est la
Texas Fuel Company, de Joseph Cullinan, un ancien de la Standard,
raffineur et distributeur sous le nom de Texaco et qui dispose de ses
propres pipelines.

A la déclaration de la Première Guerre mondiale, les majors sont déjà
constituées. On ne cessera plus de les retrouver au travers de
tractations, de conflits, d’accords qui vont décider de la conduite
économique et politique du monde.
From: Baghdasarian

ARKA News Agency – Interview
July 23 2004

RA QUITE RICH IN NEW RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY

Robert KHARAZYAN’s, Member of RA Public Services Regulatory
Commission, Exclusive interview to ARKA News Agency.

ARKA – Which branches of alternative energy do you consider
perspective in RA? And which of them are successful already?

R. Kharazyan – There is a traditional belief that RA is rich with new
renewable energy sources. Particularly, in the field of renewable
energy, according to Institute of Armhydroenergoproject, RA has quite
high potential. Thus, it is possible to construct small hydropower
plants (SHPP) in 400 locations with capacity approximately 1-3 MWt
each.
We mean technically available potential energy with capacity circa
1.5 b KWt/h. But what portion is economically available in the
conditions of today’s tariff system is a somewhat delicate question.
In any case, according to approximate estimations, in the light of
today’s tariffs this is 4.5 cents for each KWt/h provided from SHPP
approximately 25-30% of technically available potential may be
economically profitable. If we remember that today all our hydro
plants generate together 1.4 – 1.6 KWt/h we can speak of adequacy of
this value.

ARKA – What works are being done in the direction of development of
wind power in the Republic?

R. Kharazyan – Às for the wind energy field, there were intense
research monitoring works conducted, that revealed quite perspective
sites. These are particularly, Pushkin, Karakhach, Selim passes,
Sodk, where we see essential progress in regard of preliminary design
works. Monitoring of some sites was conducted and Wind energy Atlas
of RA was created with the support of USAID and with the financial
assistance of the Dutch Government. According to the Atlas, the
economically available potential of the wind energy is estimated at
400 MWt. However, in my personal opinion, this estimation is somewhat
optimistic and in the light of today’s tariffs 7 cents for 1 KWt/h
160-170 MWt is the most realistic figure. I would like also touch
upon some features of the wind energy for the last years. The matter
is that almost 80% of world markets of manufacturing of wind energy
facilities (WEF) fall to European companies and therefore the prices
are defined in EUR. Currently the leading companies are Danish Vestas
and NEG-Mikon, Spanish GAMESA, German ENERCON, NORDEX. Particularly,
Vestas and NEG-Mikon together cover 35 – 40% of the world market. At
that, the US General Electric is actively entering the market that
according to 2003 occupied the 2nd place in regard of sales volume,
while in 2002 it was ranking only the fifth.
Meanwhile, due to fluctuations of EUR-USD exchange rates on the world
financial markets, the cost of WEF essentially increased in USD.
Although the price for WEF with capacity of 1 kWt/h remained in the
range of EUR 1000, nevertheless due to the above fluctuations you
have to pay for these facilities USD 1200 against the previous USD
800. As a result, the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission is
forced to review the decision taken in 2001 on the wind energy and in
2004 it raised the price from 5 cents to 7 cents for 1 kWt/h. excl.
VAT.
We have quite essential progress related to Sodk project, where the
company SolarEn International and the Armenian affiliate currently
are in intense negotiations with the financial organizations in order
to find investors for Sodk wind energy generating plant with capacity
20 MWt in terms of new tariffs. Today the main task of the Commission
is working out the conditions of connecting industrial WEF to the
transferring or distributing network and preparing typical sample of
sale and purchase agreement of energy generated by the WEF. The
process of reforming the electric power market of RA somewhat delayed
the working out of these documents. It should be mentioned that as a
rule, the electric networks without special happiness, agree around
connecting of small generating objects and this sector needs in state
regulations. The Danish Government, e.g. is forced undertake
re-nationalization of transferring networks in order to eliminate the
obstacles on the ways of small generators. I do hope that during the
nearest two-three months we would be able working out these documents
that will be approved with the distribution networks.

ARKA – Is there any dynamics of the development of wind energy in our
country?

R. Kharazyan – Actually there is no a special dynamics in RA. We do
not have any wind stations that would generate electric power
simultaneously working in parallel with the energy system. We do hope
that during the nearest 1-2 years RA also would occupy its own place
on the world map of wind energy. The map shows such countries as
Romania (WEF capacity 1 MWt), Cyprus (2MWt), Estonia (3 MWt). In any
case, our Commission is making everything possible depending from it
in order to bring RA on this map.

ARKA – Could you please inform us on solar energy technologies
applied today in RA?

R. Kharazyan – There are numerous technologies in helio-energy. The
most expensive of them is the technology of photo converters or so
called photo electric (photo voltaic) facilities. There are few such
local facilities in RA with capacity up to several KWt, particularly
the one installed on the roof of the American University of America,
St. Sargis Church, on the seismic observations systems.
It should be noted that currently this field is being actively
developed providing the average annual growth approximately equal to
35-40%. At the same time, we see that not only the leaders of the
filed as the USA, Japan, but also such countries as China, where the
huge infrastructure is created and own photoelectric modules are
being regularly produced, are active in the field. Although being
expensive, photoelectric technology is irreplaceable in some context,
especially in some mountainous regions, remote from the main power
supply network. It should not be forgotten that today around third of
the world’s population, i.e. 2b people are devoid of possibility to
use electric transferring networks. This can seem surprising, but
even the US has regions where photovoltaic power system economically
is more profitable than the traditional energy generation. Other
components of helio-energy, so called solar-thermal facilities
unfortunately have not found wide application worldwide. It is early
today to speak about this technology, although such research works
are being implemented in RA. Particularly, the famous Armenian
researcher Paris Geruni proposed quite unique technology related to
solar electric stations. In any case, in respect of resources, RA is
a quite rich country. Thus, if the average European indicator of
solar energy received for 1 sq.m. of flat surface make approximately
1000 kWt/h, this indicator in RA reaches 1700-1800 kWt/h/m2 . The
rational usage of such huge flow of the solar energy is more
perspective in regard of thermal supply. Today the field of solar
water heating is developing in RA. However in this respect we are
remarkably behind of the developed countries and as appears we should
concentrate on solar energy sector. I would like to mention that
there are several companies in RA that design and supply such
equipment.

ARKA – In your opinion, what perspectives does RA have related to
geothermal energy?

R. Kharazyan – RA, that being located on the volcanic structure is
considered to be quite reach in geothermal energy. However until now
the direct drillings revealed geothermal sources with temperature up
to 1000 C. Such temperature level is not enough for economically
justified generation of electric power (usually such is 1500 C). I.e
our potential can be realistically used in thermal supply field,
particularly for heating water and heating, but not for generating
power as the thermodynamic cycle requires higher temperatures showing
high performance factor.
ARKA – To what extent using of biomass for the purpose of generating
energy can be profitable in RA?

R. Kharazyan – Biomass is quite diverse phenomenon – this can be as
solid urban wastes, as well as wastes produced from animal raising,
agriculture and industrial output. I think it would be more
appropriate for RA if it uses solid urban wastes and agricultural
wastes. Today the Commission worked out only tariffs for generating
energy from solid urban wastes. The works are being performed for
defining tariffs for generating energy from the agricultural wastes.
Today there is no such produce in RA, but I consider utilization of
Nubarashen waste dump as perspective, from which we can be expect
generation of energy power with capacity circa 4-5 MWt. In this
context we base ourselves on research of Japanese company Shimidzu.
The company’s representatives made a detailed study on Nubarashen
dump and presented feasibility study on the technology of generating
energy from the rubbish wastes. Also this is of ecological value, as
it would eliminate discharge of methane – quite aggressive greenhouse
gas.
Currently, Yerevan municipality and RA Ecology Ministry are in charge
of these issues. In my opinion the tariff defined by the Commission
at 7 cents is quite attractive for investors for the first seven
years.

ARKA – Has the Commission approved the feasibility study?

R. Kharazyan – Approvals of such feasibility studies is outside of
scope of liabilities of the Commission. We just make research of
concrete projects on the basis of international experience and set up
stimulating tariffs.
ARKA – Are local or foreign investors are interested in the project?

R. Kharazyan – As for the investors companies from Norway, Holland,
Japan displayed interest in technologies of solid urban wastes.
Absence of tariffs was the obstacle, however we filled that gap and
there is a hope that the sector will be more active. I would like to
mention that the Commission is creating economically attractive base,
while the further negotiations should be led with the owner or the
state structures.

ARKA – Which are the obstacles on the way of development of renewable
energy in RA? What do the Commission’s relevant specialists plan for
boosting the sector economically?

R. Kharazyan – The main obstacle for development of renewable energy
in RA and also worldwide are quite the same and are economic. First
of all this is non-competitiveness of alternative energy compared to
the classical energy sector. Therefore the nations that wish
developing these technologies make state support of the renewable
energy thru subsidies or setting tariffs. The state in RA also
supports the renewable energy thru privileged tariff. To remind, the
average tariff for generators is circa AMD 11.5 (incl. VAT), while
for wind energy and biomass energy this is 7 cents, i.e. almost AMD
40, so the benefits are obvious. As for small hydroenergy, there are
no limitations (for generating profits) for those ones constructed on
natural water currents. At the same time, the Government according to
law on energy guarantees non-problematic purchase of power produced
by the small hydropower plants up to 2016 at tariff 4.5 cents for
each kWt/h.
I would like to stress that approximately until mid-90s the
development of renewable energy always depended on the conjecture of
the oil market, nevertheless during the last decade the situation did
not change. I.e. the renewable energy entered such a development
stage that practically does not depend on the situation on the oil
market and this is quite a positive thing.

ARKA – Have the specialists of the Commission take participation in
discussion and working out the draft law on energy saving and
renewable energy? Please comment the effect of this law on the
development of that sector in RA.

R. Kharazyan – Of course, the specialists of the Commission have
participated in preparing the draft law on energy saving and
renewable energy. But unfortunately, the majority of proposals was
not included into the draft, I mean privileges for renewable energy
particularly reduction of tax liabilities for companies supplying or
assembling required equipment. However, there is quite positive
aspect – creation of energy saving and renewable energy Foundation.
Currently, the RA Energy Ministry undertakes relevant steps in this
regard. The Foundation project is already worked out and is being
approved with the state structures. If the Foundation is created it
would play an important role in the development of that sector in RA.

ARKA – According to your forecasts, can the sector of renewable
energy develop to that extent that it would be able to replace the
traditional sources of energy in the context of European
organizations’ demand on closing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant?

R. Kharazyan – The development of the alternative energy sector does
not mean eviction of the existing classical energy, therefore the
renewable energy is not absolutely alternative today. I suppose that,
in any case, the renewable energy will be only a support, but not an
alternative to the classic energy.
Today it is difficult to forecast that in 20-30 years the solar or
wind electrical plants can evict the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant or
powerful thermal plants. Anyway, we see the nations where the
alternative sources of energy already play an important role.
Particularly in Philippines, the share of the sector makes 25%.
Germany stimulates the renewable energy by its intense programs and
as a result the share of wind energy reached today 2.4% in the
overall volume of energy production. The EU has very ambitious
programs aiming that the renewable energy sources will produce by
2012 around 12% of the whole electric energy, while this indicator
would be 20% by 2020.

ARKA – What are the foreign international organizations that RA
cooperates with related to alternative energy?

R. Kharazyan – RA Public Services Regulatory Commission cooperates
with the Association of authorities regulating the activity of energy
systems of the nations of the Eastern and Central Europe and FSU
states in its scopes of liabilities. The structure was established in
Dec. 2002 in Bucharest and relevant state authorities of 22 countries
of Eastern, Central Europe, Baltic States, Central Asia and South
Caucasus currently are its members. The Association is in charge of
regulating of not only energy, but also other branches of public
services – gas, thermal supply, water economy as the RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission does. RA quite actively cooperates
with the Association. Particularly, our specialists are involved to
licensing and tariff commissions of that body. The Association often
organizes meeting among its country members. There are many
organizations in the world that advocate the development of these
technologies and publish periodicals. Particularly we subscriber to
Renewable Energy World journal that contains the information and the
opinion on the world events and development in the given sector is
formed.

ARKA – Is there any publications on RA in similar periodicals?

R. Kharazyan – The matter is that RA, unfortunately is not
represented in Renewable Energy World journal. However, the
specialists and personally me are in charge of this issue and are
undertaking steps toward presenting RA in this journal. T.M. –0–
From: Baghdasarian

Moscow Times
July 23 2004

Wanted

By Kevin O’Flynn

Suren doesn’t look like the type to get lifts off dalnoboishchiki, or
long-distance truck drivers.

Anyone who has seen the gangster film “Boomer” would understand that
preconceptions of that trade are somewhat skewed toward the negative
in Russia.

Suren, however, is a neat, polite young man who looks as if he phones
his parents every time he comes home late.

But ever since he first heard of the eurobomzh, a hip way of
referring to European hitchhikers, Suren has been dreaming of heading
off to the wilds, or at least to France and Italy. On the road, thumb
out and not much in his pocket.

“I don’t like staying in one place,” he says.

Suren has only been in Moscow for 11 years. His family, Armenian by
nationality, left Georgia for Moscow when his father got a job with a
construction firm.

He began his travels only a couple of years ago, hitching a lift from
St. Petersburg to Moscow. After 24 hours of bumping up and down, he
was back in Moscow via a friendly dalnoboishchik.

Itching to hit the road again, he asked his friends to come along,
only to find out that they were more interested in package tours. So
he turned to Bolshoi Gorod to find a fellow traveler.

Not that Suren will depart before it’s time. First, he’d like to get
to know his traveling companion to make sure he doesn’t get dumped
after a fight in the middle of a field in Bordeaux. And anyway, his
passport just expired.

Soon after his ad appeared, Suren started receiving oblique text
messages on his cellphone.

“Do you know what the sea smells like?” Or perhaps it was the less
poetic “d u no wot c smells lk?”

Suren replied to the mysterious texter, and a stilted conversation
began lurching back and forth.

Even as he spoke to me, Suren was getting messages.

“In the morning, the dew smells of snow.”

And then, “Do you know who the ancestors of zebras are?”

I may have inadvertently ruined Suren’s chances with the zebra
ponderer by joking that it sounded like he was trying to woo Suren,
and suggesting that he answer, “I am not Darwin.”

“He’s obviously not Russian,” Suren said a minute later when the next
message arrived.

“I inderstand. Sarry for the bother,” the cellphone read.

Looking rather confused, Suren added, “I don’t think I’ll get in
touch with him again.”

Odd comments, poetry, weird foreigners giving advice, zebras and
mispelled words. Perfect training for his future eurobomzh days.
From: Baghdasarian

Le Monde, France
21 juillet 2004

La visite de M. Erdogan scelle le rapprochement franco-turc
LEMONDE.FR

Le premier ministre turc a tenté de rassurer l’opinion française en
insistant sur le fait que la prochaine étape, le Conseil européen du
17 décembre, ne devait se prononcer que sur “le début d’un processus
de négociation” et non sur l’adhésion.
Les deux parties sont satisfaites. Le premier ministre turc, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, a obtenu à Paris la confirmation du soutien du
gouvernement français à la candidature de la Turquie à l’Union
Européenne lors d’une visite qui s’est conclue mercredi 21 juillet
par la signature d’un contrat d’achat de 36 Airbus.

M. Erdogan s’est vu dérouler le tapis rouge par les plus hautes
autorités de l’Etat français pendant son séjour alors que la question
de l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’UE est loin de faire l’unanimité dans
les partis politiques et l’opinion publique française.

“L’APPROCHE CONSTRUCTIVE” DE LA FRANCE

Le dirigeant turc a été reçu par le président Jacques Chirac qui “a
rappelé que l’intégration de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne était
souhaitable dès qu’elle serait possible”, par le premier ministre
Jean-Pierre Raffarin et par les présidents de l’Assemblée Nationale,
Jean-Louis Debré et du Sénat, Christian Poncelet.

Jacques Chirac a estimé que “la Turquie avait fait des progrès
considérables et qu’elle doit poursuivre et intensifier la mise en
oeuvre des réformes démocratiques et économiques”. M. Erdogan a
remercié le chef de l’Etat pour “l’approche constructive” et
“l’attitude tout à fait positive de la France”. Les pays européens
doivent se prononcer lors d’un sommet le 17 décembre à Bruxelles sur
l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’UE.

Le premier ministre turc s’est également adressé à l’opinion
française en rencontrant les dirigeants des principaux partis, le PS,
l’UDF et l’UMP, qui s’est prononcé contre l’adhésion de la Turquie
malgré la position de M. Chirac.

Il a aussi appelé les milieux d’affaires qu’il a rencontrés au Medef
à épauler la candidature turque et à profiter des opportunités
d’investissement dans son pays de 70 millions d’habitants.

ANKARA ACHÈTE 36 AIRBUS

Les négociations d’achat de 36 Airbus pour la compagnie nationale
turque Turkish Airlines ont été finalisées lors de ce voyage et la
lettre d’intention d’achat a été officiellement signée mercredi dans
la soirée à l’Elysée.

M. Erdogan, accompagné de sa délégation, et Jacques Chirac ont
assisté à la signature de l’accord par les présidents d’Airbus
Industrie Noël Forgeard et de Turkish Airlines, Candan Karlitekin. Le
vice-ministre de l’économie allemand, Ditmar Staffel, était également
présent. Ce contrat de plus de 3 milliards de dollars porte sur
l’achat de cinq A330-200, douze A321 et dix-neuf A320.

M. Erdogan a tenté de rassurer l’opinion en insistant sur le fait que
la prochaine étape, le Conseil européen du 17 décembre, ne devait se
prononcer que sur “le début d’un processus de négociation” et non
l’adhésion. Il a affirmé que son pays avait “réalisé, en gros,
l’essentiel des critères” fixés par l’Union Européenne et que la
période de négociation “nous permettra de combler toutes nos
lacunes”.

LA QUESTION ARMÉNIENNE

Le dirigeant islamiste modéré a par ailleurs insisté sur la vocation
européenne de la Turquie, définissant l’Europe comme “lieu de
rencontre, de conciliation entre les différentes cultures et
civilisations”. Les partis politiques ne semblent pas avoir été
totalement convaincus, notamment sur la question arménienne, sujet
épineux en France du fait de la présence de la deuxième plus
importante communauté arménienne du monde (450 000 personnes).

Le premier secrétaire du Parti socialiste, François Hollande, a
indiqué à l’issue de sa rencontre avec M. Erdogan qu’il avait
“insisté” auprès de lui sur la reconnaissance du génocide arménien de
1915. Sur l’interprétation des conditions d’entrée à l’UE, “il y a
encore discussion”, a-t-il dit.

Dans une interview accordée à France 2, mardi, M. Erdogan avait
affirmé que la reconnaissance d’un génocide arménien ne figurait pas
dans les critères d’adhésion et il a renvoyé cette question “aux
historiens”. Au mois de février 2001, le Parlement avait reconnu le
génocide perpétré par l’Empire ottoman en 1915.
From: Baghdasarian

ABC Net, Australia
July 20 2004

Court considers Pileggi appeal

Dumped weightlifter Caroline Pileggi will know by Thursday whether
her appeal to the Federal Court has been upheld.

Although nominations to the Athens Organising Committee close
tomorrow, there is a chance Pileggi can still compete if her appeals
are upheld.

She was dropped from the Olympic team after fleeing drug testers in
Fiji last month.

Her lawyer Sam Titaka told the court the absolute deadline was August
6 but that Pileggi was also due to leave for a training camp in
Armenia next Monday.

The Federal Court has agreed to sit beyond normal hours tomorrow to
reach a decision.
From: Baghdasarian

Baku Today

Azerbaijani Soldier Released from Armenian Captivity

Baku Today 19/07/2004 18:15

A soldier of the Azerbaijani army, Aydin Huseynov, 19, was released
from the Armenian captivity on Monday, ANS reported.

Huseynov, who had been kept in Nagorno-Karabakh’s central town of
Khankendi (Stepanakert) since June 30, was handed to the Azerbaijani
side in a bridge near the occupied Qarvand village area of the Aghdam
District.

The soldier’s handover was carried out by a mediation of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Huseynov reportedly had been taken hostage while getting lost in the
south of Aghdam District because of a bad weather.
From: Baghdasarian

ArmenPress
July 19 2004

900 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES IN KARABAGH WANT TO GET EDUCATION AT LOCAL
UNIVERSITY

STEPANAKERT, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS; Some 900 high school graduates
in Nagorno Karabagh will have their first university entrance
examination on July 20, like in Armenia, in an effort to be eligible
to study at the local university, the only higher education
establishment. The university provides free tuition to 200 students
and other 500 will have to pay for it.
The most highly rated departments are applied mathematics,
history, linguistics, foreign languages. Not only local
school-leavers, but also some from Armenia, Russia, Turkmenistan,
Belarus and Ukraine have applied.
Also some 100 local high school graduates want to get education at
Yerevan-based universities. Thirty-five of them will be selected from
a pool of applicants to get it free. Students at Stepanakert
University major in 30 specialties. The university management has
risen this year tuition fee explaining that it needs extra money for
the repair of the building, upgrading the technical base and
installment of new modern laboratories.
From: Baghdasarian

Zaman, Turkey
July 17 2004

Armenian Lobby Tries for ‘Genocide Condition’ in US Aid

The Armenian lobby in US managed to add an amendment to the House of
Representatives US$19.4 billion 2005 foreign aid package. The lobby’s
amendment would ban foreign aid from being used against so-called
Armenian genocide lobby activities.

Speaker of the House Dennis Hasters stressed yesterday that the
Republicans in the House were against the amendment that was appended
to the foreign aid bill at the last minute. Hasters added that US
President George W. Bush also objects to this initiative and that
several members of the House will insist on discarding the article
from the final text.

One of the leaders of the Armenian lobby, Democrat Party California
Representative Adam Schiff, prepared the amendment that envisages not
allowing American foreign aid to be used against the activities of
the so-called Armenian genocide lobby. The American Armenian National
Congress describes this development as a “strong success against
Turkey’s campaign for denial of the genocide.”

Approval of the bill is difficult

Hasters pointed out that using American aid for lobbying is banned
anyway in accordance with US laws and therefore, he emphasized, the
Armenian motion is “meaningless”.

“We have great relations with Turkey and we should not let these be
destroyed because of a poorly written and meaningless motion,”
Hasters said.

In order for a bill to be adopted in the US Congress both the House
and Senate need to approve identical versions of the bill; however,
in this particular case it will be near impossible to achieve as many
similar motions have been shot down in the past. Even if the foreign
aid package were approved with the ‘genocide’ amendment, the US
President could always exercise his veto power.
From: Baghdasarian

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
July 13 2004

Czobánki puts Honvéd in control

Budapest Honvéd FC will take a precious lead back to Hungary after a
late header from Ádám Czobánki gave them a 1-0 victory at FC MIKA
tonight.

Favourites to progress
With the referee preparing to blow the final whistle at the
Republican stadium in Yerevan, Czobánki connected with a Lázló Bojtor
cross in the second minute of added time to ensure an away win.
Honvéd will now feel they have every chance of progressing from the
first qualifying round when they stage the second leg in Budapest in
a fortnight.

Chances spurned
MIKA had started brightly, with Artyom Adamyan wasting the most
dangerous chance for the Armenian home side midway through the first
half. David Grigoryan also looked threatening on a couple of
occasions but it was the visitors who created the most clear-cut
opening, as striker Attila Dobos hit the crossbar.

Three changes
The visitors found their feet in the second half, and they were
rewarded for making three late substitutions in the closing stages.
Honvéd were pushing for a goal and they got the breakthrough when
Bojtor burst clear on the wing and provided fellow replacement
Czobánki with the chance to score.

Cup disappointment
The victory will have done much to cheer Honvéd, who reached the
Hungarian Cup final before losing 3-1 to champions Ferencvárosi TC in
May. The winners of this UEFA Cup tie will enter the second
qualifying round, which is due to be played over two legs next month.
From: Baghdasarian