Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Azeri, Turkish presidents urge “stage-by-stage” Karabakh solution – TV

ANS TV, Baku
13 Apr 04

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has called for a stage-by-stage
resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Speaking after his
meetings in Ankara on 13 April broadcast by ANS, Aliyev said that he
shared the view of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Sezer that the
conflict should be resolved “on the basis of international norms and
within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity…and in a
stage-by-stage manner”. The following is the text of the report by
Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 13 April; subheadings have been inserted
editorially:

[Presenter over video of the meetings] Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev is today paying his first official visit to Turkey.

He met Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul at the airport. Right
from there Aliyev went to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk who was
the founder of the Republic of Turkey. Following his meetings with
Turkish officials, Aliyev held talks with Gul in the premises prepared
for him.

Next, Aliyev met in Ankara’s Cankaya district Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer, who thanked him for visiting Ankara at Sezer’s
invitation. Sezer said that Aliyev’s first official visit to Turkey
will bring the two countries even closer together and said that
Azerbaijan and Turkey will forever have friendly and brotherly
relations. He said Turkey closely monitors developments in the
Caucasus and attaches great importance to peace in the region.

Speaking about the Nagornyy Karabakh negotiations, Aliyev talked about
the importance of international justice. He said that Azerbaijan felt
Turkish support at the most difficult stages of its history and he
hoped for Turkish support in settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
as well.

In his speech, Aliyev recalled Heydar Aliyev’s recommendations and
foreign policy. Our strength is in our unity, such was the essence of
Heydar Aliyev’s policy, end of quote.

We will now have a link with Turkey. ANS TV’s special correspondent
Qanira Pasayeva is on the air. Which topics were discussed during the
meetings, Qanira?

Stage-by-stage Karabakh solution

[Correspondent Qanira Pasayeva] The meeting between Aliyev and Sezer
took longer than expected, longer than the 35 minutes envisaged by
protocol. An expanded meeting with the involvement of Azerbaijani and
Turkish officials was held later.

In general, the meeting outlined prospects and directions for future
cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, ways of settling it, and the situation in the South Caucasus
featured prominently at the talks between the two presidents and in a
joint declaration which they signed. In their briefings, the
presidents attached special importance to the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem.

The declaration signed by the presidents also put special emphasis on
the Nagornyy Karabakh issue. Sezer said that the presence of
unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus, including the one in
Nagornyy Karabakh, is one of the factors which undermine stability in
the region. He openly said that Turkey has always been in favour of
settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict in line with international
law, Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Sezer said
Turkey will never budge from this position.

[Sezer] Once again we would like to tell our Azerbaijani brothers that
we will do our best to resolve the conflict in accordance with
international law, in a stage-by-stage and peaceful manner. I am happy
to see that Aliyev shares my views on establishing peace, stability,
and cooperation in the South Caucasus.

[Correspondent] Aliyev’s remarks also showed that the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict was the main topic at the talks. Aliyev said that
Azerbaijan tries to resolve the conflict in accordance with the norms
of international law and will never abandon these principles. He said
that the stage-by-stage approach to resolving the conflict should be
the main one at the talks.

[Aliyev] Turkey has always been together with Azerbaijan on ways of
resolving the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh,
and today’s talks show this once again. This conflict must be resolved
on the basis of international norms and within the framework of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. It can be resolved, as Sezer said,
in a stage-by-stage manner.

Pipelines to be built on time

[Correspondent] Economic ties was the second topic to be
discussed. Documents were signed on this. It was especially noted that
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and the Baku-Erzurum gas pipelines will be
build on time. The declaration also stipulates that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline must start to function by May 2005, and
the Baku-Erzurum gas pipeline will start to operate in 2006. The
declaration also expressed the hope that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan
would reach an agreement and Astana would join the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
project.

Economic cooperation

[Presenter] What other meetings were held and which documents were
signed?

[Correspondent] Various documents were signed. I already talked about
the declaration. In addition, a document on long-term economic
cooperation was signed. It says, for instance, that the trade turnover
between Azerbaijan and Turkey reached 400m dollars between
2000-04. Describing this as a positive development it also hoped that
the turnover will go up to 1bn dollars in coming years. The document
is to give a fresh impetus to that.

An agreement was signed with the Azerbaijani Airlines. According to
information which we have just received, the company wants to fly from
Naxcivan [Azerbaijan’s exclave] to some Turkish cities. This has to do
with Naxcivan’s development. The two countries also signed accords on
cooperation in industry, property rights, culture and customs.

PRESS RELEASE
City of Glendale, CA
613 E. Broadway, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Contact: Ritch Wells
Tel: 818-548-4844
Fax: 818-547-6740
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

WEEK OF REMEMBRANCE 2004
Media Contact: Zizette Ayad, Sr. Administrative Analyst
(818) 548-4844

A panel discussion focusing on “Man’s Inhumanity to Man,” a Commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide and a book drive will highlight the City of Glendale’s
“Week of Remembrance 2004” during the month of April. The events are free
and the public is encouraged to attend.

The Genocide Collection Book Drive will run during the month of April.
Donated items may include books and audio materials which will be evaluated
for inclusion in the Glendale Central Library’s “Genocide Collection.” All
donations can be dropped off throughout the month at any Glendale Public
Library Branch or at the Glendale Civic Auditorium on Saturday, April 24.

The panel discussion on “Man’s Inhumanity to Man” will be aired the week of
April 19 on the City’s Government Access Channel, GTV6, on Charter Cable.
The educational student discussion will be moderated by Sonali Kohatkar of
KPFK Radio. Panelists will include Dan Alba, Program Director of the Los
Angeles office of “Facing History and Ourselves” and Professor John Roth
from Claremont McKenna College.

The Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will be held on Saturday, April
24, between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N.
Verdugo Road. Attendees are encouraged to view an art exhibit and donate
blood to the American Red Cross. A formal program will commence at 7 p.m.
including musical presentations and performances. At 8 p.m., there will be
a candlelight vigil outside of the Civic Auditorium at the future site of a
monument commemorating the genocide.

For additional information, please contact Zizette Ayad (818) 548-4844.

CENN – APRIL 6, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. NGO Targets Pipeline Disclosure
2. BTC Sangachal Terminal Construction Works Fits The Schedule
3. Rigid Tariff Policy of Russia
4. Caspian Sea States to Discuss the Sea’s Status
5. Creation of Alternative Energy Sources is Dictate of Time
6. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
7. Transport corridor North-South actively operating, developing
8. Switzerland provides Armenia with 6.5m Swiss aid
9. KFW Bank to give 4.7m euros to reconstruct of Alaverdi substation
10. Germany to loan Armenia 4.7 mln euros for power station
11. International Press Release by: Bankwatch (Czech Republic), Campagna
Per La Riforma Della Banca Mondiale (Italy), Amis De LA Terre (France),
Both Ends (Netherlands)

1. NGO TARGETS PIPELINE DISCLOSURE

Source: Georgia’s English Language Daily, `The Messenger’, April 6, 2004

The Krtsanisi-Mtasminda District Court satisfied the appeal of the
Georgian NGO Green Alternative (GA) on April 2, 2004 and called for
parliament to guarantee the official publication of the
intergovernmental agreement on the BTC construction.

The agreement signed between Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey and its
appendixes were ratified by the Parliament on Amy 31, 2000, but the
Georgian government has not officially publicized these documents.

According to GA, `the public should be aware and interested of what is
written in these documents,’ because this agreement describes the legal
aspects behind the BTC project. As the representative from the NGO
stated: `maybe the document was not publicized because the government
should pay money for printing it and it is large.’

Meanwhile, BP claims it `did everything’ to make the public aware of the
text of the agreement and points to its online document collection. As
Rusudan Medmariashvili from BP explains, the company has a text of the
agreement on its website `presented in two languages’, Georgian and
English. She adds it is impossible to publicize the complete text of
agreement itself `is a large volume’.

Mrs. Medmariashvili says the agreement between governments is available
in the collection of the government to make such documents public’. The
text of the agreement as well as other documents on the BTC pipeline can
be found on: in Turkish, Azeri,
Georgian and English.

The environmental NGO actively working on monitoring the BTC pipeline,
GA has frequently appeared in court to challenge the pipeline project.
In late March the group appeared in the court on another case regarding
the BTC that it finally lost. GA brought a case against the Ministry of
Environment of Georgia and the BTC Co., in Tbilisi Regional Court. The
NGO asked the court to annul the document issued by the Ministry on
November 30, 202 that permitted the construction of the BTC pipeline on
Georgian territory.

GA claimed the permission was issued in violation of Georgian
legislation and citizens’ constitutional rights. It also claimed that
the process lacked transparency and that the public should have been
informed about the government’s decision.

As a result, the NGO claims the Aarhus Convention was violated a UN
sanctioned document that provides for proper access to information in
decision-making processes regarding environmental issues.

Defendants at the BTC Co. said it took all necessary measures to ensure
the proper access to information and public participation and therefore
met all obligations of the Georgian government.

In response to the court verdict, the environmental group argues `the
judges were biased’ and that is why they gave wrong interpretation to
the articles of the Georgian Constitution and the Aarhus Convention.

According to GA it plans to apply to the Supreme Court as well as to the
Aarhus Convention committee in Denmark to appeal the Tbilisi Regional
Court decision on that case.

2. BTC SANGACHAL TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION WORKS FITS THE SCHEDULE

Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
April 5, 2004

The construction works, carried out on Sangachal terminal, within the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, fits the schedule.

How report experts, 60% of works on BTC head pumping station PS-A1
construction works have been completed by the present time. The station
will consist of four main and one additional pump. The pumps have been
delivered to the terminal and installed, currently; they are being
connected to the pumping station.

An alliance Spie Capag/Petrofag is the contractor on the BTC pumping
stations construction on the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia, which
at the same time carried out construction of the Georgian pipeline
section.

The length of BTC pipeline is 1,762 km, diameter is 42 inches, has eight
pumping stations (4 on the territory of Turkey, 2 on the territories of
each Azerbaijan and Georgia) and 98 stations with stopcocks.

Sangachal terminal extension works have been completed by 90% within the
project of full-scale ACG (Azeri-Chyrag-Guneshli) field’s development.
According to experts, the frameworks of the first and second oil storage
reservoirs each with an 800 thousand barrel (110 thousand tons) capacity
have been already assembled. Currently the reservoirs are painted. Apart
from that the construction of associated water storage reservoir with a
50 thousand barrel capacity has started. In particular, the reservoir
foundation is being prepared.

A French company CMP Enterpose realizes the construction of storage
reservoirs on Sangachal terminal. The contract includes the construction
of two oil storage reservoirs each with a 110 thousand ton (800 thousand
barrels) capacity and the smaller associated water storage reservoir
with a 50 thousand barrel capacity. The oil storage reservoirs must be
ready by June 2004. As per the estimation, the cost of works will make
$16 million.

In the future the construction of another 800 thousand barrel capacity
reservoir is planned, which will allow bringing the oil storage
capacities to 2.5 million barrels.

The Sangachal terminal extension is run by Azfen/Tekfen. Its total cost
will equal approximately $345 million. The new terminal total area will
make 540 hectares.

On the peak of ACG oil extraction in 2008 the terminal capacity will
reach 1 million barrels of oil and 700 million cubic feet of natural gas
per day.

3. RIGID TARIFF POLICY OF RUSSIA

Source: Russian Information Agency, NOVOSTI, April 5, 2004

Russian deputy foreign minister Viktor Kalyuzhny believes that the
reason for the connection of Kazakhstan to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is
the rigid tariff policy of Russia, he said at a press conference in RIA
Novosti on April 5, 2004.

“We should be more flexible in the issues of the tariff policy. This
will make Russia attractive for the transit of energy products through
its territory,” Kalyuzhny pointed out.

According to him, the Russian northern route Baku-Novorossiisk can
ensure the transportation of all the oil produced in the Caspian region.
In particular, Kalyuzhny is of the opinion that the Russian Transneft
Company may be in charge of transporting the energy products.

“It has a great backlash of possibilities for this,” he said

4. CASPIAN SEA STATES TO DISCUSS THE SEA’S STATUS

Source: Iran Press Service, April 5, 2004

Kamal Kharrazi, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Iran called Monday for a
“friendly and just” solution to the crippling problem of dividing the
Caspian Sea waters.

Arriving to the Russian Capital for taking part at a meeting of foreign
affairs ministers of the world’s biggest land-locked lake littoral
states to discuss the Sea’s legal status as from Tuesday, he said Iran
was working hard to find a “just solution acceptable to all neighboring
states”, but did not spelled out details of the solution Iran is
seeking.

Sources close to the meeting told Iran Press Service that the ministers
are expected to discuss ways of removing obstacles to the sharing of the
waters and its huge energy resources, including finding a “viable”
convention on legal regime” of the Caspian Sea.

While Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have already defined their deep
water borders and exploits its natural resources, including oil and
natural gas, Iran calls for a condominium, or common sovereignty, over
the Sea and has made it known that it will reject any unilateral action
for energy exploration before the issue of the legal regime is settled.

Iran insists that the waters must be divided on equal shares of twenty
per cent for each coastal nation while it would not get more than 13 if
the waters are allocated according to each country’s coast that give
Kazakhstan 33 per cent, Russia 19, Azerbaijan 18 and Turkmenistan 17 per
cent.

Two years ago, Iran threatened Azerbaijan with military action with
sending gunboats and warplanes after oil exploring ships working for
Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company started working in waters that Iran
claims sovereignty.

For its part, Turkmenistan, due to disputes with Azerbaijan, has also
refused to define its water borders with other neighbors.

“This meeting is considered as a good opportunity for exchanging views
on issues of the Caspian Sea at the foreign ministerial level”, he told
journalists on his arrival, adding one has to held each other in trying
to find a solution that would satisfy all parties”.

The Caspian Sea is believed to hold the world’s third-largest oil and
natural gas reserves and a general consensus of territorial issue is
seen as vital for the development and export of the region’s natural
resources.

But observers noted that for the first time, Tehran was not trumpeting
on its known position of sharing the waters, softening its attitude that
has kept many international oil companies from entering the lucrative
market.

“The Islamic Republic always supports the resolution of issues relating
to the Caspian Sea and in Moscow too would outline its stances and call
for the exploitation of Caspian resources by all its littoral states and
cooperation among them in various fields”, the official news agency IRNA
quoted Mr. Hamid Reza Asefi, the senior spokesman for the Iranian
Foreign Affairs Ministry as having said.

The meeting would also examine the possibility of holding the next heads
of state meeting of the Caspian littoral countries in Tehran, he added.

“The five states have tried to keep a lid on their differences since the
legal regime of the land-locked waters was catapulted to the core of the
dispute following the collapse of the Soviet Union”, IRNA noted in a
dispatch from Tehran.

Kharrazi also voiced Tehran opposition to the presence of foreigners in
the region, a reference to the presence of American forces in
neighbouring Azerbaijan.

Russia that is also against the presence of foreigner in the region has
warned the United States to `not interfere in talks on delineating the
oil-rich Caspian Sea.

“The countries of the Caspian region should settle the problems by
themselves, in a family way, so to speak, without attracting mediators,”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Kalyuzhny, a presidential envoy
on the Caspian basin, said in an interview published in Nezavisimaya
Gazeta, adding that “the external factor will only cause problems”.

5. CREATION OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IS DICTATE OF TIME

Source: State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerTag,
April 5, 2004

Natural climatic conditions in Azerbaijan open wide possibilities for
use solar and wind energy as alternative sources. According to Chair of
the Milli Majlis Standing Commission on Natural Resources, Energy and
Ecology Asya Manafova, the `State Program of Social and Economic
Development of Regions of the Azerbaijan Republic’ underlines the
necessity of use of the alternative energy sources to supply to the
country’s population with electric power in full measure in 2004-2008.
`No state duty will be collected for import of necessary technical
equipment for creation of alternative energy sources,’ she said.

6. STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
(POPs) to enter into force on 17 May 2004
PRESS RELEASE

Geneva/Nairobi, 18 February 2004 – The 2001 Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) will become legally binding on 17
May 2004, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced today.

The 90-day countdown to the treaty’s entry into force was triggered on
17 February 2004 when France became the 50th state to ratify the
agreement. `Of all the pollutants released into the environment every
year by human activity, POPs are the most dangerous. For decades these
highly toxic chemicals have killed and injured people and wildlife by
inducing cancer and damaging the nervous, reproductive and immune
systems. They have also caused uncounted birth defects,’ said UNEP
Executive Klaus Toepfer.

`By committing governments to eliminating production and environmental
releases of these chemicals, the Stockholm Convention will greatly
benefit human health and the environment. It will also strengthen the
overall scope and effectiveness of international environmental law,’ he
said. Governments will pursue a rapid start to action under the treaty
when they meet for the first session of the Conference of the Parties to
the Convention (COP 1) in Punta del Este, Uruguay in early 2005. One of
this meeting’s priorities will be to assist countries to combat malaria
by replacing DDT with the increasingly safe and effective alternatives.
The COP will also establish a Committee for evaluating other chemicals
and pesticides that could be added to the initial target list of 12 POPs
(these are aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex,
toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenols or PCBs, hexachlorobenzene, dioxins
and furans).

Still another key goal for the COP will be to finalize guidelines for
promoting `best environmental practices’ and `best available techniques’
that can reduce or eliminate releases of dioxins and furans (perhaps the
most toxic of all the POPs) from a wide range of industrial and other
sources.

Every human in the world carries traces of these chemicals in their
bodies. POPs are highly stable compounds that can last for years or
decades before breaking down. They circulate globally through a process
known as the “grasshopper effect”. POPs released in one part of the
world can, through a repeated process of evaporation and deposit, be
transported through the atmosphere to regions far away from the original
source. In addition, POPs concentrate in living organisms through
another process called bioaccumulation. Though not soluble in water,
POPs are readily absorbed in fatty tissue, where concentrations can
become magnified by up to 70,000 times the background levels. Fish,
predatory birds, mammals, and humans are high up the food chain and so
absorb the greatest concentrations. And when they travel, the POPs
travel with them. As a result of these two processes, the Inuit and the
animals they consume in the Arctic — thousands of kilometers from any
major POPs source – suffer particularly high levels of POPs in their
bodies. But POPs are equally dangerous to people working with pesticides
or living near POPs sources, particularly in developing countries, where
a lack of equipment and expertise leads to accidental exposures.

Most of the 12 chemicals will be banned immediately. However, the use of
DDT for disease vector control under World Health Organization
guidelines is considered an acceptable purpose because it is still
essential in many countries to control malaria transmission by
mosquitoes. This will permit governments to protect their citizens from
malaria – a major killer in many tropical regions – until they are able
to replace DDT with chemical and non-chemical alternatives that are
cost-effective and environmentally friendly. So, contrary to some
claims, no one will die of malaria because of the Stockholm Convention.
In fact, the Convention should help direct research and development
towards more effective means of malaria control.

In addition to banning uses, the treaty focuses on cleaning up the
growing accumulation of unwanted and obsolete stockpiles of pesticides
and toxic chemicals. Dump sites and toxic drums from the 1950s, `60s,
and `70s are now decaying and leaching chemicals into the soil and
poisoning water resources, wildlife, and people. In the case of PCBs,
although they are no longer produced, hundreds of thousands of tons are
still in use in electrical transformers and other equipment. Governments
have until 2025 to phase out these uses, which gives them time to
arrange for PCB-free replacements. Not later than 2028, governments must
dispose of these PCBs in an environmentally sound manner.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to POPs. The problem is often that
high costs, a lack of public awareness, and the absence of appropriate
infrastructure and technology have often prevented their adoption.
Solutions must be tailored to the specific properties and uses of each
chemical, as well as to each country’s climatic and socio-economic
conditions.

To ensure that such solutions are exploited, donors have pledged to
contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding over the next
several years. The Global Environment Facility is the principal entity
of the interim financial mechanism of the treaty. It has already
mobilized resources to support POPs projects in more than 100 countries.
Backed by an alliance of developed and developing countries – and with
both industry and environmental groups on board – the Stockholm
Convention holds the promise of a POPsfree world for future generations.

For additional information, please contact:

Eric Falt, Spokesperson/Director of UNEP’s Division of Communications
and Public Information, on
Tel: +254 20 623292,
Mobile: +254 (0) 733 682656,
E-mail: [email protected];

Nick Nuttall, UNEP Head of Media, on
Tel: +254 20 623084,
Mobile: +254 733 632755,
E-mail: [email protected]; or

Michael Williams in Geneva at
Tel: +41-22-917 8242, +41-79-409
Mobile: 1528 (cell) or [email protected].
See also

7. TRANSPORT CORRIDOR NORTH-SOUTH ACTIVELY OPERATING, DEVELOPING

Source: ITAR-TASS News Agency, April 5, 2004

The transport corridor North-South “is actively developing and already
the operational project,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor
Kolyuzhny said on Monday. Russia and Iran initiated the creation of the
corridor.

“The project is operational, evokes great interest, but additional
efforts to create the fleet of ferry boats and unify the tariff policy
of states concerned will be needed,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile the deputy minister noted that many countries wish to join the
project. “Russia has already considered and put forth a proposal to
include Azerbaijan and Armenia in the project,” the diplomat pointed
out.

8. SWITZERLAND PROVIDES ARMENIA WITH 6.5M SWISS AID

Source: ArmenPress, April 5, 2004

The governments of Armenia and the Swiss Confederation signed on April
3, 2004 an agreement on technical, financial and humanitarian
cooperation as part of the regional cooperation in the framework of
which Armenia will receive 3.5 million Swiss Frank as a technical aid
and 3 million Franks as a humanitarian assistance. Armenian Finance and
Economy minister Vartan Khachatrian and Head of Policy Department at the
Swiss Foreign Ministry Blez Goden signed the agreement.

The focus of the cooperation program, which will be implemented in
Georgia and Azerbaijan as well, will be on promoting quality of
governance, effective exploitation of natural resources and the disaster
consequences. The program also aims at promoting the economy and
integrating Armenia into the world economy.

Switzerland has assisted Armenia since 1988 earthquake, mainly in the
form of humanitarian assistance. Starting 1991, major focus was on
long-term development programs. During 1993-2001, the government of
Switzerland provided Armenia with 23-25 million dollars of humanitarian
assistance within the framework of regional programs.

9. KFW BANK TO GIVE 4.7M EUROS TO RECONSTRUCT OF ALAVERDI SUBSTATION

Source: ArmenPress, April 5, 2004

Armenian finance and economy minister Vartan Khachatrian and Germany’s
ambassador Hans Wulf-Bartels signed an agreement by which the German KFW
bank will allocate a 4.7 million euro credit for reconstruction of a
major power sub-station in the northern Armenian town of Alaverdi to
ensurea better transmission of Armenia-generated electricity to
neighboring Georgia.

A KFW representative in Armenia, Karapet Gevorkian, recalled that KFW
had already released loans for major reconstruction of two other major
sub-stations in Vanadzor and Kamo. The reconstruction of Alaverdi
sub-station will increase its reliability and capacities to allow an
uninterrupted transmission of electricity to Georgia and through it to
also other countries.

The project is part of a major program aimed to reform the power grid.
Unlike other previous two loans this one is given not to the government,
but to High Voltage Electricity Lines Company with the government
assuming to guarantee its return. The loan is given with two-year grace
period, for five years at 2 percent of annual interest rate.

The amount of German loans to Armenia since 1995 has amounted to 110
million euros.

10. GERMANY TO LOAN ARMENIA 4.7 MLN EUROS FOR POWER STATION

Source: Information Agency, Interfax, April 5, 2004

The German government is to allocate a 4.7 million euro loan to Armenia
for an upgrade of the Alaverdi-2 power station, from which electricity
is delivered to Georgia.

German Ambassador to Armenia Hans Wulf Bartels and Armenian Finance
Minister Vardan Khachatrian signed the loan agreement on April 5, 2004.

The loan will be disbursed through KfW of Germany for 12 years at 5%
annually with a two-year grace period, Khachatrian said at a briefing.

The upgrade will increase the reliability of the power station and equip
it with modern European equipment as well as increasing its capacity, he
said.

11. INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE BY: BANKWATCH (CZECH REPUBLIC), CAMPAGNA
PER LA RIFORMA DELLA BANCA MONDIALE (ITALY) , AMIS DE LA TERRE (FRANCE),
BOTH ENDS (NETHERLANDS)

A EUROPEAN APPEAL TO THE WORLD BANK:
Make poverty alleviation a priority! Support renewable energies and
phase out oil projects!

Yesterday the European Parliament approved a resolution in support for
the adoption and implementation of the two-year-long highly professional
multi-stakeholder analyses by the Extractive Industries Review of the
Bank’s involvement in financing extractive industries report
recommendations. The day before the European Commission, called by the
Green Group to answer before the European Parliament, expressed its
strong support for the full implementation of EIR recommendations.

The independent study was commissioned by WB President Wolfensohn in
2000 to examine the World Bank Group’s (WBG) support for oil, mining,
and gas projects within the context of the World Bank’s affirmed mission
of poverty reduction and promotion of sustainable development. The
recommendations of the review team, led by Emil Salim, former
Environment Minister of Indonesia, are up for decision after the Spring
Meetings of the Bretton Woods Institutions in May.

An overwhelming majority of Euro Parliamentarians from all political
groups demanded yesterday in the resolution, that the World Bank Group
has to change his energy lending priorities and reform its social and
environmental standards, along the report recommendations, in order to
make financial support for oil gas and mining conditional on ‘good
governance’, respect for human rights by companies and governments,
pro-poor achievements and sustainable development.

`The European Parliament resolution calls on the Irish Presidency to
consult with relevant ministers of Member States on the Extractive
Industries Review in order to reach a common position in support of the
report’ says Jaroslava Colajacomo of the Italian based NGO Campagna per
la riforma della Banca Mondiale `this is an important message from the
Parliament to the EU Councill. We hope that this time European
countries, which hold almost 30% of the vote on the Boards of the World
Bank and the IMF, would use their leaverage in the World Bank
decision-making process if a concerted EU approach were achieved.
Moreover we strongly hope for a transparent and participatory
consultation process to be set up by the Bank for the full
implementation of the EIR recomendations’.

` We welcome the fact that the resolution calls on the Member States to
raise the findings of the report in other national or international
financial forums, such as the EIB, EBRD, national credit agencies’ says
Sebastien Godinot of FOE France ` and we hope that the official position
expressed by the Commission will be reflected in the future
implementation of EU environmental and social guidelines for economic
and development cooperation and notably in its cooperation with the
European and international financial institutions’.

`The Irish Presidency recalled the Member States’ obligations in the
framework of the Kyoto Protocol and of the Johannesburg Summit
Commitments and that the EIR findings are consistent with those
recognized needs,” says Petr Hlobil of Bankwatch, `We therefore appeal
to the Council and the member states to follow up on their commitments
when acting in the World Bank Board of Directors to phase out World Bank
financing for oil projects until 2008 and to increase financing for
renewable by 20 percent year on year.’

`The support from the European Union for the EIR will be good news for
civil society all over the world, especially in the south, where
millions of affected people are strongly opposing the devastating
effects of extractive industries’ says Pieter Jansen of Both ENDS,
Netherlands.

Today more then 100 Members of Parliament worldwide from left to right,
sent a petition to Mr. Wolfensohn asking him to adopt all the EIR
recommendations. The petition was initiated in February by Members of
the European Parliament on the occasion of the visit of Mr. Emil Salim
EIR Eminent Person to Europe.

The Commission in all international fora will defend European MP, Ms.
Monica Frassoni President of the Green/EFA Group, committed to call on
Mr. Prodi to make sure that this line.

For more information:
Jaroslava Colajacomo – Campagna per la riforma della banca Mondiale
Italy –
+39 (0)6 7826855 / (mobile) +39 338 3279035
Sebastien Godinot – Friends of the Earth France – + 33 6 68 98 83 41
(Mobile) / + 33 1 48 51 18 92

Pieter Jansen – Both ENDS Netherlands – (mobile) + 31 6 20712191

Petr Hlobil – CEE Bankwatch Network Czech Rep. – (mobile) + 420 603
154349

Manana Kochladze

Regional Coordinator for Caucasus
CEE Bankwatch Network

Visiting address: Rustaveli avenue. 1. Entrance I. Floor 4
Mailing address: Chavchavadze 62, Tbilisi, Georgia, 380062
Tel: 99532 93 24 03; 99 04 72
Fax: 99532 22 38 74
E-mail: [email protected]

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

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

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 3, 2004 Saturday

Karabakh problem should be solved by peaceful means – DM

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said it is necessary to
solve the Karabakh problem by peaceful and political means.

Sarkisyan told Russian journalists on Saturday, “I believe that the
main thing is to prevent the resumption of armed actions” in the area
of the Karabakh conflict.

“There were no winners,” the minister stressed.

“We believe that the Karabakh problem should be solved by peaceful,
political means and it is necessary to hold talks and reach a
compromise,” Sarkisyan pointed out.

The defence minister said Armenia considers military cooperation with
Russia “part of the country’s national security and believes that the
presence of the Russian military base in the Armenian territory is
right and essential for Armenia.”

He explained that Russia’s military presence promoted stability in
the region.

Armenia is interested in military cooperation with Russia because its
armed forces are equipped with the Soviet or Russian weapons,
Sarkisyan said.

The minister noted that Armenia purchased spare parts for military
hardware in Russia and added that many problems in this area had been
solved as a result of favourable conditions created for Armenia
within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

Sarkisyan said 700 Armenian citizens studied in Russian military
schools and academies.

On Armenia’s air defence, Sarkisyan said the CIS Joint Air Defence
System is capable of fulfilling any task. The minister said he would
like that system to be armed with state-of-the-art combat means.

He stressed, “Armenian air defence troops are mission capable and
they have proved it in the course of joint exercises at the Russian
air defence test range Ashuluk.”

“The armed forces are the main guarantor of the country’s security.
They have all the necessary means to protect the borders of their
homeland,” the minister said. Mechanised units led by career officers
with vast combat experience form the bulk of the Armenian armed
forces, the minister said.

“The important component of Armenia’s national security is the
Russian military base,” Sarkisyan pointed out.

Interfax
April 1 2004

Armenia, Iran to sign gas pipeline deal in late April

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia and Iran will sign a final contract in
Yerevan in late April on the construction of a gas pipeline linking
the two countries, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian told
journalists.

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh will arrive in Armenia to
sign the document.

Movsisian said that the new intergovernmental contract will “bring
bilateral documents signed in 1992-1995 into line with modern
requirements.”

The minister said that the two nations’ talks had also produced an
agreement on the volume of gas supplies and the main parameters of
the gas pipeline.
“The gas pipeline is intended to meet Armenia’s domestic needs,” he
said.

The pipeline’s construction will begin next year and be finished 20
months later. The cost of construction in Armenia is estimated at
about $100 million. The pipeline’s construction in Iran will cost a
little more.

Movsisian described the price for Iranian gas set in the contract as
“more than reasonable.”

The project will involve building new sections into the two
countries’ existing pipelines and reconstructing a number of segments
of Armenia’s gas transportation network.

The minister said that the planned pipeline will allow Armenia to
receive gas both from Iran and Turkmenistan, adding that “at this
stage, we do not see any differences on this issue. Only after the
gas pipeline is built, the economy itself will show whose gas is more
preferable.” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin said at the
start of February that the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran
to Armenia is in Russia’s interest. He said that Gazprom may become
the operator of part of the pipeline through Armenia in the future.
He said that Russia is consulting with Armenia on a feasibility study
for the pipeline.

The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline has been on the drawing board since
1992. In addition to the two main participants in the project, other
interested parties include Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, European
Union countries, and China. The European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development has said that it is ready to finance the project.

Armenia and Iran signed an intergovernmental agreement in 1995
establishing the route of the pipeline, which stretches 114 km,
including 41 km in Armenia and 100 km in Iran. The agreement also
sets the price for gas to be transported through the pipeline at $84
per 1,000 cubic meters. The cost of the project is estimated at $120
million.

The possibility of building a pipeline to the Armenian-Georgian
border is also being considered. In this case, the cost of the
project will increase to $306 million and the pipeline will be 550 km
long and have a capacity of 4.5 billion cubic meters per annum.

Georgian leader surprised at election results – Azeri TV

ANS TV, Baku
31 Mar 04

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has expressed his surprise at
the returns in the parliamentary election. He told Azeri commercial TV
channel ANS that he had expected that his coalition would do well, but
not that the opposition would do so badly. Saakashvili said that the
Azeri population in Georgia had been active in the elections, but
urged them to play a greater role in public life. He said that Azeri
and Armenian MPs had not been chosen for their ethnic origin, but for
their political experience and reputation. The Georgian leader highly
praised relations with his Azeri counterpart. The following is an
excerpt from the interview by ANS on 31 March; subheadings inserted
editorially:

Presenter The Georgian parliamentary election returns were unexpected
not only for the opposition, but also for President Mikheil
Saakashvili. He shared his impression about this in an exclusive
interview with ANS immediately after the elections.

Correspondent Qanira Pasayeva, in Russian with Azeri voice-over Mr
President, we congratulate you. How did the elections go? How do you
assess the current situation? Did you expect such results?

Election results paradoxical

Saakashvili in his office, in Russian with Azeri voice-over The point
is that the elections ended with paradoxical results. I hoped we would
win. But I did not expect that no party would be able to enter
parliament and that they would not manage to overcome the 7-per-cent
barrier. Incidentally, I would have very much liked someone to have
overcome this barrier. But this is not the point. The point is that
the people expressed their wish and were very active. I did not expect
this activity. The people took to the streets. We won a great victory
in the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria. Because the local government
failed to seriously meddle in the election results. That is they won
six times fewer votes than in past elections. I think we showed that
the Georgian people support the fight against corruption, the process
of democratization, the improvement of the social situation, the
creation of warm neighbourly relations with our neighbours and
integration into Europe. In general, our people support the Georgian
government and the president.

Correspondent European bodies stated that a 4-per-cent barrier was
enough for the parliamentary elections. Why was the 7-per-cent barrier
not reduced?

Saakashvili We did not have time to change it. I did not confirm
this. This was valid when former President Eduard Shevardnadze was in
power. To be frank, I thought that the 7-per-cent barrier could unite
the opposition. Unfortunately, this did not happen. But we will
probably be able to reduce this barrier to 5 or 6 per cent. The
parties should be strengthened. They should have smooth
programmes. They should advance serious proposals in favour of the
people. Of course, then the people will appreciate this.

Correspondent Won’t it be difficult for you to work without
parliament’s criticism?

Saakashvili First, I think there will be criticism. Because
approximately 50 of the 75 deputies elected under the first-past-the
post system are opposition members. Overall, parliament consists of
230 members. As you see, the opposition is already obvious. Second,
our party is a coalition of different parties and groups. The people
there have different views. We often argue. This will not be a Soviet
parliament. It will be an ordinary parliament which will also have
people with a radical position. Some will be less radical. I think the
president will have certain problems with the parliament. I am ready
for this. Democracy exists for the presence of some problems. At the
same time, there should be constructive cooperation.

Correspondent Whom would you like to see as Speaker?

Saakashvili I would like to see Nino Burjanadze in the post of
Speaker. Of course, the political group will decide this. In general,
my position is that the process of democratization should start from
inside in all issues. Let the people decide themselves. I think
Burjanadze will hardly have a problem in this issue.

Azeris were quite active in elections

Correspondent Were you satisfied with the activity in the
parliamentary elections of Azeris living in Georgia?

Saakashvili I think Azeris were quite active in the elections. This
time there were fewer irregularities than in the previous
elections. The irregularities were at the same level as those in other
Georgian districts. Unfortunately, I could not conduct an active
election campaign on the whole of Georgian territory, also among
Azeris. As for the next elections, I would like to visit all places
and speak to everybody. I want the Azeri and Georgian compatriots to
be more active. Therefore, we should of course provide them with
explanations. Everybody, including those Azeris, should consider
solving their problems by voting. I have always told them that they do
not need to support the opposition or the government. Let them
struggle for the resolution of their problems. Let them raise their
problems and demand that the government tackle those problems. For
instance, we abolished land tax. Azeri programmes are broadcast on our
TV channels now and we will extend the reach of their broadcast. We
will teach Azeris Georgian on a high level so that they can integrate
into society and succeed. At the same time, we have practically
resolved the problem regarding the Azeri theatre. We have done this to
protect Azeri culture in Georgia and to provide the theatre with a
building. There are various issues, which differentiate Azeris from
other citizens of Georgia. Their issues should be resolved as well as
heard . Of course, there are general social problems. These problems
should be resolved equally among Azeris, Georgians, Russians and other
nations. I think Azeris should state their conditions when they go to
the elections. Incidentally, many of them have done this. This would
benefit our statehood.

No ethnic quota for Azeri and Armenian MPs

Correspondent Could you please explain the reasons why the number of
Azeri MPs dropped and the number of Armenian MPs increased in this
parliament?

Saakashvili I have not defined their number by their ethnic origin. I
think one active MP might be equal to a few MPs. We do not intend to
create artificial obstacles to anyone for their activity, reputation
and political experience. There were Azeris in the former parliament
who did not utter a word in favour of their compatriots. We need
people who will not sit and do nothing, but who will really
fight. This is not a Soviet parliament that needs a quota. Leaders
should appear who could lead others, enabling them to get the
opportunity to play a more active role in public life. I do not know
what the proportion is. But I can say that I do not collect people by
these indices.

Elections show Ajarian leadership has lost popular support

Correspondent Mr President, what steps will you take to fully control
the port of Batumi and the Sarpi customs post in Ajaria?

Saakashvili I think the parliamentary elections were alarm bells for
the local government. Because they cannot rely on the support of the
local population now, unlike before. I think that the agreements we
have reached will come into effect. We will have our representatives
there. They will supervise everything. The only issue left open is the
disarmament of the armed groups called the local voluntary
brigades. We are not going to joke on this issue. We want to resolve
everything peacefully. But if we need to bring someone to book, then I
am ready to do this. We have all the possibilities to do so.

Correspondent Do you rule out an armed conflict?

Saakashvili Of course, I will rule out using any force. But there was
a group in the Georgian region of Svanetia which kept the whole region
under threat. We sent soldiers there to neutralize the situation and
we neutralized them. We will undoubtedly neutralize such elements if
they exist there as well. The state should use limited force, if need
be. But this is the last option for a solution. The best thing is
reaching an agreement and using softer methods. But we are ready to
take any steps for the sake of the integrity of our society, not
causing problems to local civilians, in line with the constitution and
civil dialogue to prevent any threat against our statehood.

Georgia glad to have Azerbaijan as neighbour

Correspondent What do you think of Azerbaijan’s role in this issue?

Saakashvili I generally think that Azerbaijan has always supported us
closely. We have no problems with Azerbaijan and this cannot be the
case. The Azerbaijani president is my personal friend, ally. He is
someone whom I can phone and rely on in my very hard times. In
general, the presence of such partners on the personal and state level
has always played a decisive role for states. I think that the world
would have developed more, if at least half of the countries had had
such a leader. I think you are happy from this viewpoint. You have a
leader whom you can rely on. He will not leave you in trouble. He
seldom gives promises. But he keeps his promise if he gives one. I
feel comfortable that we have such neighbour. Not only I, but also
normal citizens of all Georgia feel quiet.

Correspondent How do you see Georgia’s future – as a unitary or
federal state?

Saakashvili In all, I support decentralization. What is
decentralization? This means all bureaucratic issues are tackled on
the spot so that they are not prolonged in future.

Passage omitted: more about the future plans about decentralization,
resolution of the Abkhaz conflict.

Georgia always together with Azerbaijan

Correspondent Do you intend to cooperate with Azerbaijan in the fight
against separatism? Is it possible to expect any pact to be signed on
the joint fight against separatism?

Saakashvili I do not know what specific documents should be
signed. But I know one thing, that we are together with the
Azerbaijani people in their difficult times. Azerbaijanis have always
been our friends in our hard times. For this reason, we will closely
cooperate in numerous spheres. We regard all Azerbaijan’s problems as
close to us. The Azerbaijani president and the people have been well
informed of this. We will also cooperate with international
organizations so that we could resolve issues as peacefully as
possible and constructively within the framework of those
organizations. Georgia is interested in tidiness, peace, cooperation
and the presence of a general political and economic space in the
region. I think our views in this sphere fully coincide with those of
the Azerbaijani leadership.

Correspondent Thanks a lot.

PRESS RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2004

UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association
Graduate Students Association
c/o Armenian Graduate Students Association
Kerckhoff Hall Room 316
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Contact: Lilit Keshishyan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

UCLA AGSA and ASA bring contemporary Armenian art to campus

The UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association in conjunction with the
UCLA Armenian Students Association welcomed the campus community to a week
of contemporary Armenian arts hosted at UCLA’s Kerckhoff Hall Art Gallery.
The week-long series of events included an exhibition of visual arts from
March 8th through March 12th.

The exhibition, entitled “VIIISIONS: An Exhibition of Contemporary Armenian
Arts” featured works by prominent Armenian artists; Vachag, Seeroon
Yeretsian, Martiros Adalyan, Sev, Vahe Berberian, Kaloust Guedel, Alina
Mnatsakanian, and Samvel Saghatelyan as well as poet Lory Bedikian and
vocalist Soseh Keshishyan. Artists Sev, Vahe Berberian, Kaloust Guedel and
Samvel Saghatelyan participated in the Monday afternoon opening of the
exhibit at which they introduced their work and answered questions from
students and faculty members.

“It was rewarding to see the positive responses of both Armenian and
non-Armenian students and faculty at the exhibition,” commented UCLA AGSA
project director for the exhibition, Lilit Keshishyan. “I think the
exhibit, poetry reading and performance provided a rich and fulfilling
experience because it formed a creative and intellectual atmosphere, and
welcomed interaction between the artists and audience.”

On the evening of March 10th, UCLA Alumna Lory Bedikian delivered a poetry
reading at the gallery. Bedikian has read in numerous southern California
venues including California State University – Northridge, the Los Angeles
Poetry Festival, KPFK’s Inspiration House, and The World Stage as well as
for the YWCA of Pasadena. Presenting poems relating to issues of Armenian
identity in the diaspora and childhood experiences, Bedikian later
commented, “Reading at the gallery in the presence of such artwork reminded
me, once again, that the Armenian/Armenian-American artist’s voice is alive
and in significant progressive stages here in Los Angeles.” She also noted
that, “What is even more significant is that UCLA student groups have
recognized the relevance of organizing such events. One can only hope for
larger forums and diverse audiences in the future so that we can share our
rich art forms. As an alumna of UCLA, I was especially honored and excited
to read my poetry at this venue.”

Following the reading, Bedikian discussed her inspiration for writing and
encouraged all interested writers to continue writing and expressing
themselves through literary art. The evening ended with an a cappella
performance of three Armenian songs by Soseh Keshishyan. Keshishyan, who
has been singing at various venues for more than 10 years, is third-year
Ethnomusicology student at UCLA.

Sophomore, Sos Bagramyan, noted that “Samvel Saghatelyan’s pieces were
particularly interesting to me because of their intricate synthesis of
eroticism, dark colors and written text. It was really refreshing to see so
much talent and variety in the Armenian artistic community put on display
at UCLA. Events like this that bring not only the artistic achievements of
minorities like Armenians, but all arts in general into the academic forum
should be more frequent and encouraged by the university.”

All artists were invited back to campus for the closing of the exhibition
which was held on March 12th. There the artists mingled with the students
and members of the community at large in attendance. “Youth and young
energy is always inspirational for the artist and hopefully, in turn, the
artist will be able to inspire the students,” reflected Vahe Berberian.
“The artist-audience relationship is always a symbiotic relationship and it
is always nice to rekindle interests on both sides.”

———- Attachment # 1 of 1: “VIIISIONS” Photographs (3) ———-

– 1 – Photo viewable/download-able at:

– 1 – Caption: Myrna Douzjian (UCLA AGSA, organizing committee) introduces
the artists to the audience at the gallery opening on March 8th.

– 2 – Photo viewable/download-able at:

– 2 – Caption: UCLA Alumna Lory Bedikian reads selections from her poetry
to the students gathered at the Kerckhoff Hall Art Gallery on March 10th.

– 3 – Photo viewable/download-able at:

– 3 – Caption: UCLA students enjoy an evening poetry reading and a
cappella performance.

There is no former spirit

Karabakh war to suit both Armenia and Azerbaijan, politician says

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
26 Mar 04

“Talks on the Karabakh settlement have reached a deadlock. Moreover,
they have created a pre-war situation in Armenian-Azerbaijani
relations, which is unfortunately advantageous to the authorities of
both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the leader of the Democratic Motherland
Party, Petros Makeyan, said during a discussion organized at Hotel
Congress yesterday.

He believes that war is advantageous to the Armenian authorities since
given the current domestic political situation, it is the only means
to prolong and preserve their power in case of a positive
result. According to Petros Makeyan, war is advantageous to Azerbaijan
not because its army is much stronger, but because of the moral and
psychological atmosphere that exists in Armenia today.

“Azerbaijan is sure that today our people will not fight as they did
in 1990-94 when people voluntarily went to Karabakh to protect their
families. Today nobody will go and protect [President] Robert
Kocharyan’s, [Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan’s and their criminal
administration’s property,” the leader of the Democratic Motherland
Party said.

Zaman, Turkey
March 22 2004

No Islamic World Exists Today

by Nuriye Akman

After five years of living in the U.S. and suffering from poor
health, Fethullah Gulen broke his silence by granting an interview to
Nuriye Akman. Gulen commented on developments in Turkey and around
the world, and answered all the allegations about him. Along with
those subjects, he also explained the meaning of years of
homesickness. Gulen conveyed the traces of his yearning for his
homeland, and remarked, “These last five years have perhaps become
the most painful years of my life.”

As a member of Sabah newspaper, I interviewed Fethullah Gulen 10
years ago in Izmir. This was a turning point. This marked the first
time he was sharing his views with an ‘outsider’ journalist; he was
clarifying about who he was and what he wants to do. 10 years later,
this time in America, I had the chance to interview him as a member
of Zaman. I say ‘I had the chance’ because as all my colleagues, I
was wondering about how he lives in the U.S.; how this lengthy
separation reflected on his feelings and thoughts and when he will
return to Turkey. I had the desire to be the first journalist
reflecting his disclosures. I feel that I am lucky since I had the
chance to witness this expatriation process.

I would like to start with the subject that his followers and
opponents are most curious about: Where and how is he living?

In a small town, he lives in a house owned by his niece located in a
small wood of pine, chestnut, juniper and oak trees. This is place
similar to what Yahya Kemal describes in his poems; a place that
tranquilizes the soul under cool cypresses, away from crazy crowds.
It is where time runs not out but in slowly, cheered every now and
then by visits of Turks who live in America. Flocks of birds in a
hurry leave the sounds of their wings on the rooftop during the day.
The moon and stars in all their grandeur shine in a sky free of light
pollution. There are plenty of squirrels and deer.

But, if you think that Fethullah Gulen takes long walks in the wood
and watches with pleasure how a bubbling brook flows into a small
pond, you are wrong. He leaves his room only for praying and meal
times. Let alone the wood, he had not even taken five steps into the
garden in five years.

All right, but why? From diabetes to heart disease, from high blood
pressure to cholesterol problems, many physical discomforts of course
have a share in it, but, I consider the real answer to be hidden in
his soul. You will find a few hints of this during our interview.

I witnessed how much the health problems, which an ordinary person
would barely stand, wore him out. His condition was fluctuating. Even
though his eyes could not mask his pain, he deemed it impolite to
complain about his pain and he tried to answer my endless questions
in detail. When his doctor felt he [Gulen] could not continue because
of increasing blood pressure, fever, headache and the inability to
utter even a single word, he was demanded a break and sent him to
take a rest. I was angry at myself for pushing him to talk with me
before he had fully recovered from his heart surgery he had a short
while ago; however my professional excitement was dominating and I
was saying, “All right, that will be all for the day, but let’s
continue tomorrow,” and he was replying, “if I do not die.”

Despite the fact he implied that I was pushing the limits, my ego was
unwilling to hear this.

For this reason, I should say that one should not be taken in by the
vigorous posture and rugged clothing in his photos.

I was not before him on an interview appointment anyways. I would
like to thank him for not letting me down even though he felt that it
was not the time to express his thoughts. I happened to attend a pep
talk he was giving his guests on a day when he was feeling good. I
listened to him in a pep talk for the first time. It was a
multilayered talk blended with Sufism, history, geography, politics
and literature. It was addressed both to the hearts and minds, in
which audience could broaden their circle of awareness to the extent
of their intellectual accumulations. I think he was able to talk so
fluently because he was able to curb his bewilderment on the inside
that was caused by his being wronged.

When I requested to see his room, I was not rejected. A twin size bed
was covered with a bedspread stitched with simple colorful fabric
pieces. A treadmill was in the corner. All the things in the room
were nothing but the presents with symbolic values. Soil saved in
jars or some in plastic bags from different regions of Turkey was for
pacifying the yearning for his homeland.

It’s been five years since you came to America, has it not?

On March 22 (today), it will be five years.

How was Fethullah Gulen Hodjaefendi five years ago and how he is
today?

Such a long time has passed and naturally it has had an influence on
me. As of my character, I cannot say that I changed a great deal.
However, I have seen different things, heard different things.
Sometimes, I had been lowered into gayyas, [a well in hell]. I kept
quiet.

These five years perhaps were the most painful years of my life. I
had been subjected to a similar unjust scrutiny as well for nearly
six years. In the end, the verdict was annulment of the charge. It
could be said that, since May 27 some repeatedly pushed the button,
whether or not I know the reasons, and some took action. I am 66
years old; almost since I was 20 my life has been like this. This was
the most painful of all. Because, in a way I am oversensitive. I am
so sensitive to the extent of hysteria. I feel I am being disloyal if
I do not return to a place where I had a cup of coffee. In the same
way I feel I am being disloyal to a road previously taken if I do not
take it again. There is soil in my room from 50 different areas of
Turkey. They are being preserved, as if it is the soil of Kabah. I
look at them and find consolation in them. But, on the other hand, I
endure like pressing a piece of red hot coal into my chest and
squeeze my teeth not to provoke some.

What did this period bring to you and take from you? How did it
affect your health and psychology?

There are two sides to every story. I came here for treatment mostly.
There is Mr. Sadi in the Mayo Clinic, he is a Crimean. He went back
and forth to Turkey. They came with a delegation of the executive
board. They wanted to run a check up on me. The other side of the
issue is that there was pressure. Gossip was going on and on. On one
side, there were pleasant things, like taking tolerance to higher
places in Turkey, of the people respecting their positions and even
more so, of it becoming a culture. On the other hand, some were
disturbed a great deal for some reason. My heart was in fairly poor
condition. My diabetes was increasing. Even my cholesterol could not
be controlled. I came to the Mayo Clinic. My intention was to stay
there a few days and then return. A few days turned out to be a few
months. Based on these incidents, they said returning would be
harmful for my health. I tried to be under treatment on one side. I
had osteoporosis. I often went to hospitals for my heart condition. I
went to the hospitals 20 times. I did not go any place except
hospitals. I got sicker here, partly from sadness, partly from
distress. These were the places where the newspaper failed to reach
and I failed to listen to radio. I felt as if I was a little more
comfortable here. I was released from the happenings around me.
However, the yearning for Turkey was burning me inside.

No Islamic World but Individual Islam

Islamic section sat aside for years saying, ‘Islam does not accord
with terror”. However, the incidents of September 11 occurred. In the
aftermath, bombings took place in many countries, including Turkey.
It was discovered that the perpetrators came from among us. Before
everything else, it is it not necessary for us to rebel?

You are so right. Today, Islam is misunderstood at best. Muslims
should say, “In real Islam, terror does not exist.” Because, in
Islam, killing a human is equal to qufr [not believing Allah]. You
cannot kill a human being. You cannot touch the innocent, even in
war. No one can give fatwa (a legal pronouncement in Islam, issued by
a religious law specialist, on a specific issue) on this subject. No
one can be a suicide bomber. No one can rush into crowds with bombs
tied to his body. Regardless of the religion of these crowds, it is
not religiously permissible. Even in the event of war – in which
balances are not kept much- , this is not permitted. It is told, “Do
not touch children, people who worship at churches.” It is not only
once that it is said, but over and over again. What Our Master [The
Prophet Muhammed] said, Ebu Bekir said, and what Ebu Bekir said, Omer
said, and what he said, in later times, Salahaddin Eyubi, Alparslan,
Kilicarslan also said. Fatih [Mehmet The Conqueror] said the same.
Thus Constantinople, where a disorderly hullabaloo was experienced,
had become Istanbul. That means neither Greek did anything to
Armenian, nor Armenian did anything to Greek. Muslims too did not do
anything to them. After the conquest of Istanbul, there was a huge
Fatih poster in the Patriarchate. It had been made at that time.
Fatih summoned the Patriarch then and gave him the key. They
[Patriarchate] remember him in respect. Now, as in everything else,
there is lack of understanding Islam, which has always respected
different ideas.

I should say this regretfully that in the Islamic World, some hodjas
and immature Muslims have no other weapons to use. Islam is a just
religion, it should be lived justly. It is definitely not right
either to use a futile pretext on the way to Islam. As the target is
required to be just, all the means to reach that target should be
just as well. Within this perspective, one cannot go to heaven by
killing another. A Muslim cannot say, “I will kill a man and then go
to heaven.” Acceptance of the will of Allah cannot be earned by
killing men. Of the most important goals of a Muslim, one is to earn
acceptance of God’s will and the other is to make the Almighty name
of Allah known to universe.

Is this how their logic works; war used to fought on the fronts. But
now, everywhere is a battle ground. Thus, do they accept this as a
war as well? Do they think that a gate for them will be opened to go
to heaven from this angle?

Rules of Islam are obvious. Individuals cannot declare war. Neither a
group nor an organization cannot declare a war. War is declared by
the state. You cannot declare a war without a president or an army
saying that it is war. Otherwise, it becomes a relative war. One
forms a war front by gathering, forgive my language, a few plunderers
around him. One other takes the others. Think about Turkey. There are
strong minded people. A front could be formed even because of their
differences. Some could say, “I declare war against such and such.” A
person tolerant to Christianity could be told, “He helps
Christianity, and weakens Islam. A war against him should be declared
and he must be killed,” then a war is declared. This is not so easy.
If the state does not declare a war, one cannot wage war. Whoever
does it, even if the scientists I like much, it is not true war,
because it is against the spirit of Islam. The rules of peace and war
in Islam are determined.

If it is against the spirit of Islam, then why is the Islamic World
like so?

In my opinion, there is no such world as the Islamic world. There are
places where Muslims live. They are many in some places and few in
others. That is Islamic culture. There are Muslims who restructured
Islam in accordance with their thoughts. I do not refer to
radicalism, extremist Muslims. Requirement is that one should justly
believe, and apply justification to these beliefs; Islam should be
owned. It cannot be said that in Islamic geography no such societies
with this concept and philosophy exist. If we say otherwise, then we
slander Islam. If we say Islam does not exist, then we slander
humans. I do not lightly consider the contribution of Muslims to the
balance of the world. I do not see that logic with administrators.
The Islamic World is pretty ignorant, despite an enlightenment in
measures that is coming into existence nowadays. We can observe this
in Hajj. You can see this in their conferences and panels. You can
see this in their parliaments through television. There is a serious
inequality in the subject matter. They cannot solve the problems of
the world. Perhaps, it could be achieved in the future.

You mean then, that the term “Islamic World” should not be used?

No such world exists. There is individual Islam. There are some
Muslims in different places around the world. Piece by piece, broken.
I personally do not see the prosperous existence of Muslims. If
Muslims, who will be in contact with the others and constitute a
union, solve common problems, interpret the universe, read it really
well, consider the universe carefully with the Koran, read the future
very well, generate projects for the future, determine its place for
the future, do not exist, I do not call it Islamic World. Since there
is no such Islamic World, every one does something according to
him/her self. It could even be said that there are Muslims with their
own truth on behalf of Islam. It cannot be said that an Islamic
concept reached consensus by itself; rather great Islamic scholars
reach a consensus on a subject, bound by a strong Koran
interpretation, and it is tested many times. It could be said that an
Islamic culture is dominant.

Perhaps, it has been always like that. And it will continue to be as
such until the end of the world.

It has been so after the 5th A.H. It started with the Abbasid Era or
with the appearance of the Seljuks. It started more so after the
Conquest of Istanbul. This is a period that is the will of Allah for
us. In the following periods, doors to new interpretations were
closed. Horizons of thought were narrowed. Wideness in the soul of
Islam was narrowed. More unscrupulous people are started to be seen
in Islamic world. People who are touchy. People who cannot accept
others. People who cannot open themselves to everyone. This
narrowness was experienced in dervish lodges. It is so sad that it
was even experienced in madrasas [schools of theology]. And of
course, all of these require revision and renovation by great people
in their fields.

You think maybe their abolishment was for better.

Abolishment was the punishment of Allah for them.

Fethullah Gulen struggles with serious health conditions. While he
was answering Nuriye Akman’s questions, he got sick from time to
time, and all his pain was reflected in his face. There were pauses
where he felt that he could not continue with the interview. He
mentioned that he satiates the yearning for his homeland by viewing
the soil brought from 50 different regions in Turkey; he does not
consider it is time to go back to Turkey just yet. When he is asked
about the reason, he says: “My treatment continues. I do not want to
stir anything up with my return.”

Envoy surprised at Azeri reaction to Kazakh condolences to Armenia

Ekspress, Baku
20 Mar 04

Text of Alakbar Raufoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on
20 March headlined “Astana’s letter of condolences” and subheaded
“Ambassador Andar Shukputov: ‘This is an ordinary protocol rule'”

The Kazakh ambassador to Azerbaijan, Andar Shukputov, cannot
understand why people in Baku ambiguously take the Astana government’s
condolences to Yerevan on the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen
Markaryan in Budapest.

“This move by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry is simply a protocol rule
and has no political significance,” Shukputov told Ekspress
yesterday. He believes that any conflict should be settled in a
civilized way. Astana, which has normal diplomatic relations both with
Baku and Yerevan, expects that the sides will “take steps that meet
international principles and norms” to settle the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

“Kazakhstan’s position has not changed,” Shukputov said. It is absurd
to link Astana’s letter of condolences to a change in Kazakhstan’s
position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, he added. “We recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. According to President Nursultan
Nazarbayev, Astana supports the settlement of the problem only within
the framework of the principle of territorial integrity,” Shukputov
stressed.