Author: Kafian Jirair

Envoy vows to implement “serious” projects in Georgia’s Armenian-populated
area

A-Info news agency
15 Nov 04

Akhalkalaki, 5 November: The Georgian president’s representative in
Samtskhe-Javakhetia [Georgia’s Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti
Region], Nikoloz Nikolozishvili, has said that from now on he will
meet journalists every weekend and brief them on weekly events in the
region.

A number of important events will be organized in the region, he said.

The presidential representative pledged to brief the media and the
local community on a regular basis on relations between the company BP
and local residents. He also promised to focus on the developments in
the customs and transport spheres.

Nikolozishvili intends to implement serious projects and relies on the
media for the coverage of his activities.

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 16 2004

Armenian Case Against Turkish Diplomat Dismissed

A Paris Court dismissed a case brought by the Comité de Défense de
la Cause Arménienne (CDCA) against the Paris Consul General of
Turkey, Aydin Sezgin, for his rejection of the so-called Armenian
genocide on the Consulate’s official internet website. The court
ruled that Sezgin cannot be impugned because of his diplomatic
privilege. The court also decided that court expenses would be met by
the CDCA.

Last July, the CDCA filed a complaint which stated, “The Turkish
Consulate General of Paris broadcasts to the French public, on its
official website, a denial of the so-called Armenian genocide.”
During the first court proceedings in October, the Paris Attorney
General requested a “foreign plea”, citing Sezgin’s diplomatic
privileges, which stem from Vienna Convention on diplomatic
privileges.

The Attorney general announced that according to the rules of
international law, the Turkish diplomat had a right to declare his
official viewpoint, despite its apparent contradiction of French
domestic law. For the first time, a Turkish diplomat was summoned to
court because of the so-called genocide claims.

Balkanalysis.com, AZ
Nov 10 2004

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Infighting Dominate Political Agenda (Part
2)

Posted on Sunday, February 29 @ 09:00:00 EST by balkanalysis

CDeliso writes “Political infighting between Armenian coalition
parties have intensified during the past month, as have threats from
the opposition, just as talks for a final solution over
Nagorno-Karabakh broke down on Friday in Geneva (see part 1 of our
Armenia special report).

As usual, corruption charges have proven the easiest ‘in’ for the
politically disenfranchised. Pro-establishment vehicles such as
RFE/RL have spilled plenty of ink on championing the issue.

Two weeks ago, opposition parties demanded the resignation of
President Robert Kocharian, making the ridiculously derivative
prediction of a ‘revolution of white carnations.’ This florid prose
alludes directly to Georgia’s recent ‘revolution of roses,’ a
Soros-backed adventure which saw the mysterious importing of
thousands of roses for publicity’s sake, during a season when they
could not possibly be grown locally. So much for the spontaneous
uprising of the people. The Armenian opposition had better wait ’til
spring- or hope that FTD can deliver.

The flower power pronouncement came from Aram Karapetian, leader of
the ‘New Times’ oppositionist party on 12 February. Karapetian’s
party, together with the National Unity Party are boycotting
parliament. The speaker was, however, a little on the vague side,
prophesying that “…the president will announce his resignation on
television. The change of power could take place within the next few
days or in a year from now.”

Not only that, reports Eurasianet.org, but Kocharian’s own coalition
partners are accusing his party of “massive vote fraud” in last
summer’s parliamentary elections. According to the article, the
broadside was fired by Hrant Markarian, a leader of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF, or Dashnaktsutiun) at a party
conference:

“…In his speech, repeatedly interrupted by rapturous applause from
delegates, Markarian also expressed dissatisfaction with the
Kocharian administration’s record, pointing to rampant corruption and
the ‘deepening social polarization’ of Armenia’s population. He went
on to accuse Kocharian of having ‘tolerated the triumph of corruption
and injustice,’ adding that the president lacked the will to rein in
business tycoons and ‘other apolitical elements.'”

The chief targets of this criticism- Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian’s Republican Party (HHK) and Parliament Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian’s Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party- made no
official responses right away, but augured retaliation. Said HHK
parliamentary leader Galust Sahakian in a newspaper interview:

“…If it turns out that the accusations contained in Hrant Markarian’s
speech are the official opinion of Dashnaktsutiun, then that opinion
could lead to quite serious consequences.”

The report suggests that, corruption and fraud aside, more
fundamental differences lay behind Dashnaktsutiun’s frustration.
Unlike this historically nationalist party, the president “…does not
subscribe to the ARF leader’s calls for neighboring Georgia to grant
autonomous status to its Armenian-populated Javakheti region.” And,
unlike the ARF, Kocharian is in favor of normalizing relations with
traditional foe Turkey. While the nationalists demand Turkey must
first officially recognize the 1915 killings of 1.5 million Armenians
by the Ottomans as genocide, Kocharian and his party do not. They are
aware that winning such a symbolic concession from Turkey is
extremely unlikely, to say the least, and hope that a formal
rapprochement will re-open borders shut by Turkey in 1993. The Turks
blockaded the border after the 1992-1994 war broke out between Muslim
ally Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

However, in the opinion of Eurasinet.org’s Emil Danielyan, the
initially cautious reaction from Kocharian to Markarian’s accusation
“…indicates that he is reluctant to turn against one of the country’s
oldest parties and one of his chief pillars of political support
during his presidency.” Dashnaktsutiun enjoys a venerable legacy of
being the upholder of Armenian nationalism since the 19th century,
and has taken a strong stance against Turkey and especially
Azerbaijan since then.

According to the analysis, despite its belly-achings the ARF will
probably not give up its share of power. However, it may prove an
obstacle to negotiations with Turkey, which has renewed its
dedication to dialogue. Speaking in Russia on Friday, Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul lamented that “…Turkey-Armenia relations are
far away from the desired level.” According to TurkishPress.com, Gul
blamed the Armenian diaspora especially for stymieing progress, by
fueling the ARF’s position on genocide-recognition:

“…those who are living a comfortable life outside Armenia do not
contribute to improvement of relations between Turkey and Armenia
with their attitude. Historians should deal with events of the past.
The Ottoman Empire had never perpetrated any massacre or assimilation
intentionally.”

Gul no doubt raises an apt point, but his inclusion of the word
‘intentionally’ is sure to only provoke Armenians who feel that
Turkey is conscious of the crime, but refuses to admit it.

In any case, diaspora influence or not, the historical issue is less
an impediment than Turkey’s insistence that rapprochement involve the
return of up to 1 million displaced Azerbaijanis to Karabakh- an
unappealing sell for any Armenian politician.

;file=article&sid=275

–Boundary_(ID_wXVGqiSyLjG+NWBpUiK/sg)–

RosBusinessConsulting Database
November 2, 2004 Tuesday

Armenia posts its foreign trade

The trade volume between Armenia and Russia dropped 15.5 percent in the
first nine months of 2004 compared to the corresponding period last
year and reached $186.6m, the Armenian National Statistics Service
reported. Armenian exports to Russia decreased 10.3 percent while
imports lost 17.6 percent in the reported period. The negative trade
balance was $71.5m.

Armenia’s trade with CIS members was $299.7m in January to September
2004, which was 20.2 percent of the total volume of foreign trade.
Exports to CIS members were $86.9m compared to $212.7m in imports.

The total foreign trade volume increased 3.1 percent in the first nine
months of 2004 against the same period in 2003 and amounted to about
$1.486bn. The share of the European Union in the structure of Armenia’s
foreign trade was 36.9 percent ($548.8m).

Major importers from Armenia are Belgium, Israel, Russia, the USA and
Germany.

Erdogan: Opening Of Borders Depends On Armenia’s Attitude

Anadolu Agency
29 Oct. 2004

BAKU – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday,
“Turkey has been defending from the very beginning that a solution
should be found to the Upper Karabakh dispute under territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan from the very beginning. Meanwhile, opening
of borders between Turkey and Armenia depends on Armenia’s attitude.”

In an interview with Azerbaijani Three Points newspaper, Prime Minister
Erdogan said, “there are some obstacles in front of normalization of
Turkey-Armenia relations and opening of borders. Ignorance of official
borders by Armenia, Armenia’s efforts for recognition of so-called
Armenian genocide, and long-standing historical problems between
Turkey and Armenia have been affecting our relations negatively.”

“Armenia’s maintaining its occupying policy against all resolutions of
the UN for Upper Karabakh also has a negative impact on our bilateral
relations. In order to normalize those relations, Armenia should
set good neighborly relations with Turkey and the other regional
countries,” he said.

-TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS-

“There have been historic cultural and social relations between Turkey
and Azerbaijan. Our bilateral relations have reached to a perfect level
in only 14 years after Azerbaijan acquired its independence,” he said.

Prime Minister Erdogan noted that the bilateral relations would
further improve after the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline
project was put into force, adding, “other energy projects will bring
our relations to the level of strategic partnership.”

Referring to Turkish-Azeri economic relations, Erdogan said that
“although political relations between the two countries are excellent,
economic ties are not at a satisfactory level.”

“The annual trade volume between Turkey and Azerbaijan is only about
430 million U.S. dollars. This is not an amount that makes us happy.
There need to be progress made in the areas of customs and taxation
as well as banking between the two countries.”

-TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS-

Referring to Turkey’s EU membership process, Prime Minister Erdogan
said, “we expect the EU to make a decision at its summit on December
17th to open entry talks with Turkey. In that case, accession
negotiations will start in 2005. The negotiation process will be
difficult and take a long time. The process will entail us to work
hard. The process also requires adequate financial source.”

“We are planning to fulfil entry talks in 2010 and reach our target of
EU full membership. Turkey’s membership will have positive impacts in
economy, politics and culture in Europe. Turkey will make a valuable
contribution to the EU in energy. Also, the EU’s influence in the
Islam world will increase with membership of Turkey,” Prime Minister
Erdogan added.

SAfrica says media to be given access to Equatorial Guinea “mercenaries” trial

SAPA news agency web site
28 Oct 04

Johannesburg, 28 October: The trial of the eight South Africans accused
of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea will recommence on 16 November,
senior South African government officials have learnt.

Officials led by Presidential Security Adviser Billy Masetla met
Equatorial Guinea’s Attorney-General Jose Olo Obono and the ambassador
to South Africa Juan Nchuchuma in Pretoria on Wednesday 27 October .

Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said on Thursday that Obono
had approved a request by the South African delegation for media
access to the trial.

“He also approved a request for further consular access to those
currently in detention in Malabo.”

Mamoepa said foreign affairs consular officers would visit the
detainees once the arrangements were finalized.

Eight South Africans, six Armenians and five Guineans, including
a former deputy minister, went on trial in Malabo on 23 August for
allegedly trying to topple President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in power
since 1979.

The case was adjourned on 31 August at the request of Obono, to get
“further information” following the arrest of Mark Thatcher in South
Africa on 25 August.

The son of the former British prime minister is suspected by Equatorial
Guinea and South Africa of bankrolling the alleged plot.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

21 October 2004

Meeting of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tatoul
Margaryan, with Director of the Department of Continental Europe of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr. Jean-Francois Terral

On 21 October, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tatoul
Margaryan, received the Director of the Department of Continental
Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Francois
Terral

The discussion touched on Armenian-French bilateral relations,
perspectives of regional cooperation, and conflicts settlement in the
South Caucasus. Mr. Margaryan informed Mr. Terral on the present
situation on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Expressing his gratitude to France for its balanced position on the
issue of Nagorno-Karabagh, the deputy minister expressed his
appreciation for France’s contribution to the peace and stability in
the region.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 20, 2004, Wednesday

SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE CAUCASUS: NATO ADVOCATES A SOLUTION TO THE
ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT ON THE BASIS OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

NATO General Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will visit Azerbaijan in
the course of his tour of the region in early November, his Envoy for
the Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons said in his exclusive
interview.

Does NATO plan participation in conflict settlement in Abkhazia,
Ossetia, and Karabakh?

“The Alliance is not involved directly in the search for solutions to
these extended conflicts,” Simmons replied. At the same time, NATO
supports efforts of international organizations and mediators seeking
ways and means to settle the conflicts that impede stable development
of the region.

What is the condition of the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan
and NATO?

Azerbaijan “has traditionally been” one of the most active
participants of NATO programs. The Alliance appreciates Azerbaijan’s
“positive and dynamic” contribution to these programs and its
participation in NATO operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan, Simmons
said.

The government of Azerbaijan and NATO are working on the Individual
Partnership Program. It will promote the bilateral political dialogue
and dramatic reforms in the Azerbaijani defense sphere. All of that
will enable the Alliance to offer Azerbaijan even more my way of
assistance.

A part of Azerbaijani society blames NATO for support of the
aggressive policy of Armenia that occupied Azerbaijani territories…

According to Simmons, NATO advocates a solution to the problems
between its partners on the basis of “the principles of independence,
sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all countries.”

“NATO hopes that a peaceful solution to the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan will be found soon. We welcome negotiations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia on the highest level,” Simmons said. “The
negotiations are taking place within the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group. They are of paramount importance for the whole region.”

Source: TURAN news agency (Baku), October 15, 2004

Translated by A. Ignatkin

CENN – OCTOBER 19, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. EIA Report on the Improving of the Bakuriani Landfill, Borjomi
Regioin
2. Georgia is to Participate in World Tourism Exhibition in London in
November
3. Memorandum for Rehabilitation of Lake Gili Signed
4. Armavir Provinces to Raise $23 million from Land Sale
5. Armenia Selected One of Nine Pilot Countries for UNIDO-WTO Enhanced
Cooperation
6. Global Healing Sets its Sights on Gyumri
7. Online Course – Environmental Statistics
8. Call for Sessions: 6th Open Meeting of the HDGEC Research Community

1. EIA REPORT ON THE IMPROVING OF THE BAKURIANI LANDFILL, BORJOMI REGION

On October 19, 2004 at the conference hall of the Ministry of
Environment of Georgia was held public hearing of the EIA report on the
first category activity Improving of the Bakuriani landfill, Borjomi
Region submitted by the governance of Borjomi Region.

Representatives of NGOs, mass media attended the meeting.

The process of submitting suggestions concerning the EIA report on
Improving of the Bakuriani landfill, Borjomi Region is still on.
Interested stakeholders can analyze the document and present their
comments and considerations to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia.
The representatives of the Ministry, Department of Environmental Permits
and State Ecological Expertise encouraged audience to submit their
proposals.

EIA reports are 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).
Prepared by CENN
Nino Tevzadze

2. GEORGIA IS TO PARTICIPATE IN WORLD TOURISM EXHIBITION IN LONDON IN
NOVEMBER

Source: Sarke, October 19, 2004

For the first time Georgia will introduce a stand at the World Tourism
Exhibition to be held in London on November 8-11, Saba Kiknadze,
chairman of the Tourism Department, has told Sarke. Five Georgian
companies will also participate in the exhibition.

3. MEMORANDUM FOR REHABILITATION OF LAKE GILI SIGNED

Source: ArmenPress, October 14, 2004

on October 15, 2004 the Minister of Nature Protection of Armenian, the
governor of Gegharkunik province and the UNDP Resident Representative in
Armenia signed a memorandum for rehabilitation of Lake Gili. The
rehabilitation project, worth $1 million, is to be implemented by UNDP
and Global Ecological Fund (GEF).

The main objective of the project is protection of rare and endemic
biodiversity already present in Lake Gili as part of the Lake Sevan
basin, and the provision of a first-best habitat for threatened wetland
biodiversity in Armenia (currently found in second-best habitats).

Nature protection minister Vartan Aivazian said some 560 hectares of
land belonging to residents of a nearby village of Norakert will be
covered by water. He said the residents would get new land plots from
state-owned reserve fund.

UDDP Resident Representative Lise Grande said the UNDO and GEF will help
the Norakert community to avoid the negative consequences of the project
by assisting it to solve its social issues and improve water supplies.

4. ARMAVIR PROVINCES TO RAISE $23 MILLION FROM LAND SALE

Source: ArmenPress, October 14, 2004

State subsidies to the province of Armavir rose from 29 million
Armenians drams in 1998 to 142 million drams in 2004, which, according
to the province’s governor, Albert Heroyan, is an apt illustration of
real economic growth. Another indication of the robust economic growth,
according to the governor, is a significant increase in teachers’ wages
that have risen to 30,000 drams (approximately $60).

Mr. Heroyan said the sale of some 14,000 hectares of formerly state
reserve lands in the province will bring some $23 million to the
provincial budget. He said more than 1,000 hectares of that land was
already auctioned and the raised proceeds, according to the law, will go
for improvement of local infrastructure facilities, health and education
sectors.

The governor also said many families that had chosen to leave the
provinces are now coming back. “We are planning to build three blocks of
apartments for them,” he said.

5. ARMENIA SELECTED ONE OF NINE PILOT COUNTRIES FOR UNIDO-WTO ENHANCED
COOPERATION

Source: ArmenPress, October 14, 2004

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Development
Program (UNDP), World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development of Armenia held a joint seminar today to begin
implementation of the Doha Development Agenda. Seminar participants
included senior officials from the Government, donor community,
international organizations, business associations, as well as experts.

A press release from UNDP said the main aims of the Doha Development
Agenda, which was agreed in December 2001 by WTO members, are to ensure
that trade and industrial development enhance economic development and
to assist the integration of the developing countries and transition
economies into the global economy and the multilateral trading system.
In order to facilitate implementation of the Doha Agenda, UNIDO and WTO
will implement pilot activities in an initial group of nine countries,
including Armenia. The initial group also includes Bolivia, Cambodia,
Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya and Mauritania. The aim of these pilot
activities is to identify priority sectors and products with high and
strategic export potential; address trade capacity weaknesses including
supply-side constraints, lack of conformity to market requirements and
standards; and support the implementation of multilateral trade
agreements.

Mr. Alexander Avanessov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, noted:
“The fact that Armenia has become a member of the WTO indicates the
great progress made by the country since independence. The pilot
activities that are being launched by UNIDO and WTO at this seminar, in
combination with initiatives from UNDP and other donors, will assist
countries like Armenia to integrate further into the global economy and
multilateral trading systems.”

Armenia officially became the 145th member of the WTO on February 5,
2003. The country’s main trading partners include the European Union
(EU), Russia, USA, Iran and Georgia. A recent survey within the business
community on external trade and which was presented at the seminar
indicates that certification and standardization have had a serious
impact on external trade. Local companies involved in the survey
identified a number of obstacles to trade, including: corruption in
customs and taxes; complicated and fragmented tax and customs
legislation; and lack of cooperation between the customs and tax
administration bodies. Sixty-three percent of the respondents said that
they had lost export orders due to technical barriers to trade.

6. GLOBAL HEALING SETS ITS SIGHTS ON GYUMRI

Source:

GYUMRI–Cindy Basso Eaton is a long way from the manicured lawns of her
childhood town of Stockton as she surveys the “houses” that stretch
along the streets of Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. She
shakes her head in disbelief, shocked that nearly two decades after one
of the world’s most devastating earthquakes rocked this region to the
ground, nearly 15,000 residents still call makeshift metal “sea
container” like shelters home.

As the president of Global Healing, this scene only serves to give her
more incentive to pursue the California-based, non-profit organization’s
latest endeavor.

This year, Global Healing will embark on its 6th healthcare project
(Global Healing has four completed medical projects in Tbilisi, Georgia
and a current medical project in Roatan, Honduras). With the blessings
of the Ministry of Health of Armenia, Global Healing will construct and
oversee until self-sufficiency, Armenia’s first-ever blood banking
facility operating at international standards.

“Global Healing is a lifeline to those communities whose petitions for
help have fallen through the cracks of poverty, civil unrest or
environmental upheaval,” Basso Eaton explained. “We zero in on a need,
and supply the fix.

You won’t find us sitting in a boardroomwe have none? Our offices are
our computers, phones, cars, kitchens,” she explained.” We are a small
group of hardworking volunteers dedicated to bringing modern healthcare
to developing countries. We never say never.” The Armenia project is an
example of that attitude.

Although “blood stations” exist in Armenia, Basso Eaton explained these
centers lack national or international guidelines for operation and
safety. A large portion of the blood transfused in the regions of
Armenia is untested or not tested properly and risks contamination with
infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C and syphilis. In
addition, there is no system in place for transporting blood products
throughout the region. This was a scenario Global Healing could not
ignore. “When completed, the Gyumri facility will have the technology
and functioning equipment to test all donor blood for infectious disease
as well as accurately type, process, store and cross match blood prior
to transfusion,” she explained. “We feel the people in the Shirak region
deserve no less than this,” she continued. The Gyumri blood bank will be
modeled after Global Healing’s Tbilisi, Georgia blood bank facility and
will include extensive training of Armenian staff by foreign medical and
administrative teams.

Basso Eaton’s pleas for help have been successful. “With just $7,000 in
donations we have done amazing things to realize the launch of this
important project,” she said.

In June, The United Armenian Fund in Los Angeles helped send a container
of equipment and supplies to the proposed site in Gyumri. The equipment
and supplies were donated by Baxter, Northern California. In addition,
Helmer Laboratories donated two vital temperature controlled blood bank
refrigeration units as well as a platelet incubator and agitator. Global
Healing received confirmation that Doctors Without Borders will supply
the blood bank with infectious disease kits and the Armenia Aids Program
will supply equipment for testing HIV as well as HIV test kits through
the Global Fund project. In addition, Becton Dickinson has donated over
one years worth of blood bank supplies. Major monetary donors to date
have been Alice Runge, Frank and Irene Garavano, Andy and Nora Armenian,
Stan Shore and two anonymous donors.

“Now we are looking for the angel, that special person or corporation
who can step in and give us the financial power to complete this promise
in Armenia,” Basso Eaton explained.

To fully begin and complete the blood bank, Global Healing needs to
raise $150,000. $30,000 will be used in the renovation of the existing
site. $60,000 will be used to procure the necessary equipment and
supplies not donated.

$60,000 will be used to cover the expense of sending foreign medical and
educator teams to Armenia to train locals. It will also be used to
implement a media campaign in Armenia to educate the public on the
merits of a “voluntary” blood donation system as opposed to the existing
“paid” programs. 100-percent of contributions will be used for the
Armenia Project. Global Healing is a US non-profit 501 (c) (3) and soon
to be a UK registered charity. Please send contributions to Global
Healing, PO Box 2166 Orinda, CA 94563.

Please visit the website at

7. ONLINE COURSE – ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS

Dr. Bryan Manly, author of `Statistics for Environmental Science and
Management,’ will be giving an online version of his `Environmental
Statistics’ short course Nov. 5 – Dec. 3 at statistics.com. The course
will cover standard and specialized statistical procedures, all from an
environmental perspective. Topics include regression, ANOVA, control
charts, bioequivalence, time series, risk assessment and more. There
will be four weekly sessions, focusing on (1) Sampling, (2)
Environmental Data Analysis, (3) Monitoring and Impact Assessment, and
(4) Spatial & Censored Data, and Risk Assessment.

Considerable material is covered; this course is ideal for someone who
has some background in statistics and needs more in-depth knowledge of
some of the techniques presented. Participants and the instructor
interact via a private discussion board; there are no set hours when you
must be online.

Exercises are provided. Details and registration at:

Peter Bruce
statistics.com
[email protected]

8. CALL FOR SESSIONS: 6TH OPEN MEETING OF THE HDGEC RESEARCH COMMUNITY

6th Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
Research Community

Global Environmental Change, Globalization and International Security:
New Challenges for the 21st Century

University of Bonn, Germany, 9-13 October 2005

Timeline and deadlines for applications:

Session submissions: September 15th – November 15th, 2004

Paper abstract submissions: February 1st, 2005 – March 15th, 2005

Poster submissions: February 1st, 2005 – March 15th, 2005

Pre-Open Meeting capacity-building training seminars: November 15th,
2005 – February 15th, 2005

More details, including information, application forms, timelines and
deadlines, are now available at the Open Meeting website,
This site is also accessible by going
to the IHDP website at and clicking on the 2005 Open
Meeting link.

Please understand that because of the large amount of interested
participants, we are only able to process applications, including
session and paper abstract submissions, through the Open Meeting
website.

Thank you, on behalf of the International Scientific Planning Committee.

Lis Mullin
Open Meeting Coordinator

I H D P
International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change
Walter-Flex-Strasse 3
D-53113 Bonn
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 228 739053
Fax.:+49 (0) 228 739054
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

Agence France Presse
Oct 19 2004

Europe’s Greens meet to debate Turkey’s EU access
AFP: 10/19/2004
ISTANBUL, Oct 19 (AFP) – Europe’s Greens, once Turkey’s most vocal
critics and now the staunchest supporters of its EU membership, began
a three-day parliamentary group meeting here Tuesday with strong
criticism against any plans to hold national referendums on whether
Ankara should join the bloc.

“We are against holding referendums in one country about another
country,” Greens group president Daniel Cohn-Bendit said. “There are
seven million Turks living in Europe, so the real question in the
referendum will be, ‘Do you like Turks — do you like Muslims?'”

He singled out President Jacques Chirac, criticising his proposal to
amend the French constitution to allow referendums on future EU
members as “foolish” and “ridiculous.”

“How can a democratic president, even Chirac, say what will happen in
10 years’ time?” Cohn-Bendit asked at a press conference here opening
the meeting.

“Are they going to have referendums on the memberships of Romania,
Bulgaria, Bosnia? The French will go crazy!” he said. “This is
ridiculous. Don’t waste our time with what will happen in 10 years.”

Cohn-Bendit was flanked at the press conference by co-chair Monica
Frassoni of Italy, Dutchman Joost Logendijk and Germany’s Cem
Oezdemir, both of the EU-Turkey joint parliamentary committee.

Cohn-Bendit urged Turkey to accept the fact that it is different from
other candidate countries and that a special negotiating process is
needed to allow it into the EU.

A generally favorable European Commission report on October 6 advises
EU leaders to agree at a December 17 summit in Brussels to launch
membership talks with Turkey.

“When you say, ‘We want equal treatment,’ you do not mean it,”
Cohn-Bendit said. “Turkey is not Malta, it is not Romania, it is not
Bulgaria. It is a big country, it is a proud country, and its entry
into the EU will be an important event.”

He said the Greens had arrived in Turkey as “critical friends” in
hopes that many issues that remain to be ironed out — the situation
of the Kurds and other minorities, women’s rights, the Armenian
massacres — could be “openly discussed among friends.”

“We must have uncomfortable discussions on, for example, Cyprus and
the role of the army,” Frassoni said, adding: “The process of
building a European democracy is not finished.”

The Greens support Turkey’s EU membership, the Italian MEP said, but
so does Italy’s conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi — “his
reasons are not the same as ours,” she added.

“What is the Greens’ message to Turkey?” asked Oezdemir, who is of
Turkish origin. “The message is that we are here and not somewhere
else.

“If Turkey is today at another point than where it was several yuears
ago, it is also because of civil society, not only because of
politicians,” he said.

Another message from the Greens to Turkey’s politicians, Logendijk
said, is: “Don’t panic.”

He said the Commission report contained elements Turkey and the
Greens both disagree with, such as the open-ended nature of the talks
and mention of permanent derogations concerning this country, such as
barring its citizens from free circulation in Europe.

“But,” he said, “don’t lose your focus, don’t lose sight of the main
point: (membership) negotiations should begin next year.”

The meeting of the joint Greens/European Free Alliance group next
goes into a series of panel conferences covering aspects of Turkey-EU
ties.

Panelists include foreign ministers Joschka Fischer of Germany and
Abdullah Gul of Turkey, Kurdish activist Leyla Zana and Turkish
novelist Orhan Pamuk.