THE SOCIETY IS INDIFFERENT
A1plus
| 17:08:55 | 30-05-2005 | Social |
The RA society is rather indifferent towards the activity of the
chamber of lawyers. 40% of the participants of the survey do not care
if “A united chamber of lawyers or separate lawyer unions should
function”. This was the question of the usual poll of the “A1+”
internet site in which 180 citizens took part.
36.1% of them is for separate unions. And only 23.9% of the
participants think that a united chamber should exist.
WHO SHOULD THE OMBUDSMAN DEPEND ON?
A1plus
| 17:12:04 | 30-05-2005 | Social |
“Who should appoint the Ombudsman?” This is the precondition of the
Ombudsman’s independence. The theme which has caused heated arguments
in the political circles is now the theme of the poll organized by the
“A1+” internet site.
The responsibility of the ombudsman is to defend the rights of every
person. So we call everyone to express their opinion about the order
of appointing the ombudsman.
Institute for War & Peace Reporting
May 26 2005
AZERBAIJAN EN ROUTE TO OIL RICHES
After a decade of political manoeuvring, Azerbaijan launches major
oil pipeline to the West.
By Gulnaz Gulieva and Rufat Abasov in Baku
With the first oil flowing into the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline,
Azerbaijan made a giant step towards its ambition of becoming a
leading oil nation.
But as phenomenal wealth becomes a real prospect, there are concerns
about how the country will cope with the responsibilities the major
international pipeline will bring.
The taps were turned on at a grand ceremony on May 25 at the
Sangachal terminal on the Caspian Sea attended by the presidents of
the four major countries involved, as well as US energy secretary
Samuel Bodman.
The first tankers will be filled at the Turkish Mediterranean port of
Ceyhan, at the other end of the 1770 kilometre pipeline, only at the
end of the year. BTC, as it is known, after the three main points
that it passes through in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, will
eventually pump one million barrels of oil a day and provide around
one per cent of world output.
`The launch of the pipeline in 2005 will help the development of the
economy and the strengthening of security in the whole region, where
there are unresolved local conflicts,’ Azerbaijan president Ilham
Aliev said at the ceremony. `With the exploitation of this pipeline
the economy of Azerbaijan will make a serious leap forward.’
The Baku government’s big day was marred, however, by continuing
controversy over the detention of several dozen protesters from
pro-democracy youth organisations who staged a rally on May 21. The
interior ministry said that 45 people had been arrested, while
opposition activists put the figure at between 200 and 300.
The flow of oil into the BTC marks the end of an extraordinary decade
of highs and lows when its viability was frequently questioned.
Russian specialists in particular were highly sceptical,
characterising the pipeline as a politically motivated project
launched by the United States. In the late 1990s, when oil prices
were low, many oil experts also questioned its economic feasibility.
However, the steady rise of oil prices since 2001, as well as
increased instability in the Middle East, made BTC attractive once
again. In the words of Sabit Bagirov, head of the Centre for Economic
and Political Studies in Baku, no one doubts the economic case for
the pipeline, `The fact that a project worth four billion dollars is
two thirds financed by foreign institutions is proof of its
viability.’
The first contract to develop the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oilfields in
the Caspian Sea was signed in 1994 and nicknamed `the Contract of the
Century’. Other projects have proved commercially non-viable, but the
aforementioned sites have delivered even more than was expected of
them, said Pasha Kesmanski, oil and gas expert from Trend news
agency.
An official from Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, who asked to
remain anonymous, said that many foreign oil investors had abandoned
projects and pulled out of Azerbaijan when oil prices were low. `But
now the oil price is much higher and so we are now thinking of
developing those projects ourselves without foreign partners, using
the revenue we get from our current energy projects,’ he said.
The presence of Kazak president Nursultan Nazarbayev at the opening
ceremony signalled another potential dimension for the pipeline, as
an outlet for oil from Kazakstan.
`Judging by the estimates of the companies involved in the project,
BTC is viable even with the resources of the three Azerbaijani fields
Azeri, Chirag and Guneshli and with the addition of Kazakstan its
economic attractiveness will grow significantly,’ said Bagirov.
Nazarbayev himself told the ceremony, `We are the main oil producers
in the region and over the coming decade we can become major players
in the expert of energy resources.’
Kazakstan itself uses no more than 30 million tonnes of oil a year
but plans to extract 100 millions by 2010 and 150 million by 2015.
Azerbaijan will produce 20-25 million tonnes of oil in 2005, rising
to 50-60 million tonnes in 2007 of which 44 million is due to be
exported, mainly via BTC.
`With the start of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline a Mediterranean market
will appear for our oil alongside the existing Black Sea market,’
said President Aliev. `We will also provide all the necessary
infrastructure for the transit of oil from Kazakstan. The doors are
open for everyone to join this project, including the Russian
Federation.’
Aliev also said that the Baku-Novorossiisk pipeline ending on the
Russian coast of the Black Sea was now no longer commercially
attractive in comparison to BTC.
Russian energy envoy Igor Yusupov was due to represent Moscow at the
ceremony but did not attend, saying he was ill.
With the oil price now consistently over 40 dollars a barrel, new
projections are being made as to what revenues Azerbaijan will earn
from BTC and what this will mean for a country with mass poverty.
According to Inglab Akhmedov, director of the Public Finance
Monitoring Centre in Baku, estimated that over the next 25 years
Azerbaijan could be set to earn as much as 160 billion dollars from
all its oil and gas projects.
`That is a colossal amount of money when you set it against an annual
budget of two billion dollars,’ Akhmedov said. `And that creates
risks for the economy as a whole. In its short history independent
Azerbaijan has not only not acquired experience in managing large
amounts of money, but it’s also not created an infrastructure for the
effective and transparent management of oil revenues when society has
weak control over them.’
An Oil Fund has been set up to ensure wise spending of oil revenues,
but there’s concern about how effective it will be. `While the Oil
Fund is the most transparent organization in the country, there is
still a lack of clarity in the way it is used,’ said Bagirov.
And others express an additional worry that Azerbaijan will suffer
from what is known as `Dutch Disease’ when a country is over-reliant
on natural resources and the rest of the economy suffers.
Gulnaz Gulieva is a freelance journalist in Baku. Rufat Abasov is a
reporter with Reuters in Baku.
We have a good Election Code; but do we have political will?
Yerkir/arm
May 20, 2005
By Karine Mangasarian
Yesterday the National Assembly passed the draft law on amendment of
the Election Code. To what extent do these amendments take into
consideration the requirements of the Venice Commission of the Council
of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly? We asked secretary of ARF’s
parliamentary faction Hrayr Karapetian to comment on this question.
`In the case of the Constitution we should use any relevant
international experience while at the same time taking into
consideration the local, national circumstances. In the case of the
Election Code we should not start from scratch but should use the
existing international experience. Our faction and the other parties
of the coalition have tried to include all the recommendations made by
the Venice Commission into this draft,’ Karapetian commented.
As an advantage of the amendment, Karapetian pointed out that a
clear-cut mechanism of responsibilities has been defined. `In the
past, we used to have many problems connected with the manipulations
of the voting lists. The present draft clearly defines who will be
responsible for the voting lists. The issues of responsibility and
punitive measures have been treated very seriously in the draft,’
Karapetyan said.
He emphasized the importance of training the members of the election
committee since many violations occurred in the previous elections
because the committee members did not know the laws well enough. The
present amendments significantly weaken the president’s position since
the latter willhave only one representative in the committee instead
of the previous three.
Answering the question whether ARF was satisfied with the
proportionality of 41-90 for formation of the parliament Karapetian
noted, `It is veryimportant for us that a step was made towards
creating a 100 percent political body.
We reached a consensus as a result of long negotiations and we see it
as progress towards formation of the parliament based on proportional
voting since most of the violations occur in the case of majority
voting. However, this does not mean that violations will be eliminated
in case of proportional voting. Therefore, every party must be
concerned with its reputation and must refrain from manipulations in
the election processes’.
Elections to the local self-government bodies will be held in near
future. It is possible that the new Election Code will be enacted by
that time. Commenting on this, Karapetian noted that adoption of the
law in the third reading is a matter of time but it will be better if
the coming local government elections are held with the amended
Election Code.
Even though the present Election Code is a result of political
compromise it cannot serve its purpose unless political will is
exerted during the elections and the people’s trust towards elections
is restored, Karapetian concluded.
Pan Armenian News
DEPUTY COMMANDER OF US EUROPEAN COMMAND ARRIVING IN ARMENIA
27.05.2005 06:48
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ European Command Deputy Commander General Charles F. Wald
and US Republican Senator Chuck Hagel will visit Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine next week. Member of the Foreign Relations
Committee of the US Senate Chuck Hagel stated `these countries continue
playing a key role in establishment of peace and stability against the
background of the threats we confront in Afghanistan, Iraq and Middle East,’
reported Mediamax.
AZG Armenian Daily #095, 26/05/2005
Concern
ZORY BALAYAN ARRESTED IN BRINDISI AND RELEASED 5 HOURS LATER
Armenia Sends Note of Protest to Italy
Yesterday, when “Cilicia” ship entered Brindisi harbor in South Italy, the
police arrested Zory Balayan, writer and publicist, and Karen Balayan,
captain of the ship. After being kept at the local police department for
five hours, they were released.
Years ago, by the demand of Azeri authorities Zory Balayan’s name was
included in the lists of Interpol. Baku authorities managed to talk over the
organization by blackmailing it and accuse Balayan of a number of charges.
In 2001 RA Foreign Ministry managed to exclude his name from the lists of
the Interpol.
The case in Brindisi harbor was a mistake. Anyway, thanks to the efforts of
the Armenian embassy to Italy and RA Foreign Ministry, the Balayans were
released. In connection with the arrest of the Balayans, the official
Yerevan sent a note of protest to Rome. It is supposed that the arrest of
Balayan was provoked by the Azeri and Turkish forces.
Daily Azg managed to get in touch with the Armenian sailors who left the
Brindisi harbor and headed for Syracuse. The captain said that the head of
Brindisi Police apologized, stating that in this case Azerbaijan and Turkey
should be blamed. General Secretary of Interpol called them and ordered to
release the arrested, as Zory Balayan was excluded from the “red card” long
ago. Secretary General said that such cases of arresting people damage the
reputation of Interpol.
A!plus
| 19:59:41 | 25-05-2005 | Politics |
PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS DEEPENING
Today in the Parliament the Government was asked only 10 questions. The
coalition deputies asked the coalition government questions following the
principle «Let’s work together». Independent deputies Manouk Gasparyan and
Hmayak Hovhannisyan tries to disbalance the cooperation atmosphere asking
questions.
Manouk Gasparyan’s question was about those people who do not get their
old-age pension because of not have social cards. There are people who do
not have it because of religious beliefs. It was for these principles that
the RA Government adopted the Law on Alternative Military service proceeding
from the COE demands.
As for the social cards, the Government is intolerant towards its citizens
using their right of freedom of religion. RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan answered, «More than 1 million people have received these cards.
Everyone are equal before the law. I do not know what principles they were
proceeding from refusing to get a social card, but it is their fault». That
is, the Government, because of the policy of which the old people are
starving is not interested in how they will live for the last 10 years of
their lives.
Hmayak Hovhannisyan raised the question of the building in the center of
Yerevan. The deputy asked the clear out if the Government has a clear-cut
policy of urban development that the Yerevan municipality must be led by.
Giving some information about the violation of the urban development norms,
RA Urban Development Minister Aram Haroutyunyan never claimed that the
Government had a clear-cut program.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION DIGITEC 2005 TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN IN
AUTUMN
YEREVAN, MAY 25. ARMINFO. International exhibition Digitec 2005 will
take place in Yerevan from Sept 30 to Oct 2. Director of the Union of
IT Enterprises Karen Vardanyan informs ARMINFO. He says that a
preliminary agreement on participation in the exhibition was concluded
with 8 companies.
The Union set a task to change traditions of the exhibition this
year. Instead of appliances, which are so similar, the companies will
present solution that can be applied in business and everyday life and
in state government. Vardanyan says that the stress will be put on use
of information technologies just in the Armenian reality and an
attempt will be made to answer the question regarding the influence of
IT on increase in the efficiency of business. Vardanyan sates that the
exhibition organizers need support at present. In Georgia and
Azerbaijan large IT exhibitions are held with support of the
government. The government should take measures to make such
exhibitions regular and not yielding to those in neighboring states as
to their scales. Vardanyan says that Georgia’s contribution to he IT
sphere by 2006 will make up some $400 mln, that of Azerbaijan – $700
mln, and the wrong native economic policy declaring equality of all
the branches of economy allows the neighboring states to development
more intensively.
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 25 2005
AZERBAIJAN: OIL PIPELINE, AMERICANS, WAHHABITES
14:34
MOSCOW (Alexei Makarkin, deputy director general of the Center for
Political Technologies, for RIA Novosti) Recently, the expansion of
ties between Washington and Baku has become obvious.
The opening on May 25 of the oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan,
by-passing Russia, is one of the best examples of the recent trend.
According to many experts, this project bears clearly geopolitical
rather than economic significance. It fits perfectly in the framework
of other projects related to the US military presence in that
strategically important region.
>From time to time, information leaks into the media about the US
plans to deploy its military contingents in Azerbaijan. The sources
hint at the possibility of “temporarily deploying mobile forces,”
which might stay in the region for a rather prolonged period. These
forces are supposed to provide security for the pipeline and exert
pressure on Iran and Russia.
Officials in Baku denied these rumors, although it does not mean
Azerbaijan would not contemplate the possibility of talks on the
issue. The Azeri Defense Ministry took a different position on
another issue, though. It did not confirm or deny information about
the possible creation of a military bloc consisting of Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey, a sort of NATO “subsidiary.” Some sources assume
Ukraine might become a member of the new alliance later.
The new prospect certainly looks good for NATO. The reason is the
three post-Soviet states do not meet the criteria for joining NATO –
insufficient level of democracy, existing territorial problems (both
in Georgia and Azerbaijan), the presence of military forces of the
states that do not make part of NATO (Russian bases in Georgia, the
Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol). A “mini-alliance,” though,
would not have such strict requirements, and its members might be
always encouraged by the promises to become NATO members in the mid-
or long-term perspective. At the same time, such a solution will
increase Turkey’s role in NATO as a compensation for the delay in its
integration with the European Union. In the future US military bases
might be deployed in Georgia, as well. It is worth mentioning that
the pipeline passing through the territory of the three states will
become a foundation of the future military bloc.
Such a development will certainly hurt Russia’s interests. That is
why Russia attempts to delay the withdrawal of its military bases
from Georgia for as long as possible and receive guarantees that the
US bases will not replace them in the future. Political risks for
Armenia and Iran will increase as well. Armenia still remembers the
Turkish genocide during World War I, and Iran remains a potential
target of the US invasion.
However, the US expansion in the region might face an unexpected
obstacle. It is well known that there is a fierce clash between the
ruling regime and the secular opposition defending democratic
freedoms in Azerbaijan. Recently, the police in Baku harshly
dispersed an opposition meeting. Dozens of people were beaten
unmercifully.
The Americans cooperate both with the official regime and the
opposition in Azerbaijan, trying to avoid laying eggs in one basket.
However, there is a “third force” in the country that gradually gains
popularity. It unites representatives of radical Islam, popularly
called wahhabites on post-Soviet territory.
The leader of Azeri Communists Ramiz Akhmedov directly accused the
country’s traditional Islamic leaders of supporting the growth of
wahhabites’ popularity. The problem is that these leaders start
losing their authority among the believers and that, according to
Akhmedov, forces people to search for “pure” Islam. Normally, their
search leads them to the radical camp.
It is a known fact that radical Islamists despise the US and the West
in general not less than they despise authoritarian Muslim regimes.
Therefore, the growing popularity of wahhabites in Azerbaijan might
create serious problems both for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and
the plans of future military cooperation between Baku and the West.
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS VISITS THE 400 YEARS-OLD ST. AMENAPERGITCH
MONASTERY IN ISFAHAN
His Holiness Aram I arrived at the airport of Isfahan on May 22 and was
greeted by V. Rev. Papken Charian, the primate of the Diocese of Isfahan,
the deputy governor of Isfahan, Mr. Hrair Shahnazarian, the chairman of the
diocese committee, Mr. Tatoul Ohanian and representatives of the Diocese.
His Holiness was accompanied by V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian, Rev. Fr. Housig
Mardirossian and Iranian-Armenian MP Robert Beklarian.
The deputy governor welcomed His Holiness and expressed his joy on the
occasion of Aram I’s official visit. His Holiness said his meetings with
Iranian officials in Tehran had been fruitful and conveyed his impressions
about the level of care and attention that the Armenian Community of Iran
enjoys.
His Holiness visited the St. Amenapergitch Monastery, which was built four
centuries ago. A special reception, including recitations by the children’s
and adults’ bands of the “Gomidas Choir was organized in honor of His
Holiness.
His Holiness laid a wrath at the Armenian Genocide monument outside the
church, asking God to rest the souls of more than one and a half million
innocent martyrs in peace.
The primate of the Diocese welcomed His Holiness Aram I in the Diocese of
Isfahan. Speaking about the 10-year tenure of His Holiness as Catholicos of
Cilicia, the primate mentioned a number of achievements, which have been
turning points on both national and international levels, in the life of the
church and the public.
His Holiness considered the dedication and devotion of clergymen as the
pillar of the Church’s service. The Catholicos also spoke about the
90-year-long struggle of Armenians for justice. He considered that the will
of the Armenians of New Julfa to survive reflects the Armenian nation’s
determination of securing its rights.
The New Julfa Armenians celebrated the 400th anniversary of the
establishment of the community and the St. Amenapergitch Monastery two years
ago.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.