Author: Nahapetian Lilit

Azerbaijan concerned about non-stop unauthorized visits to Karabakh

ANS TV, Baku
22 Nov 04

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has instructed the Azerbaijani embassy
in the USA to look into an unauthorized visit by Filip Noubel, senior
analyst of a US-based International Crisis Group [specializing in
Georgia], to Azerbaijan’s occupied territory of Nagornyy Karabakh,
the independent TV station ANS has reported.

“Although official Washington’s position on Nagornyy Karabakh is
known, unauthorized visits to the [occupied] Azerbaijani lands by
certain individuals show disrespect to Azerbaijan,” ANS said.

ANS quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying that Azerbaijan is concerned
about visits to its occupied lands by officials and individuals like
Filip Noubel.

Catholic World News, MA
Nov 18 2004

Pope greets Azeri delegation

Vatican, Nov. 18 (CWNews.com) – Pope John Paul II (bio – news) met on
November 18 with a delegation of religious leaders from Azerbaidjan,
and urged them to work for peace in Nagorni-Karabakh– a border
region contested by Azerbaidjan and Armenia.

The Pope told his visitors that Christians, Jews, and Muslims should
unite to end “the murderous violence” all over the world. He
mentioned specifically his hope “that peace returns to Azerbaijan,
and that the conflict in Nagorni-Karabakh is soon resolved.”

John Paul II reminded the religious leaders– representing the
Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities– of his own trip to
Azerbaidjan in 2002. He praised the Muslim majority of the former
Soviet republic– who constitute 98 percent of the population– for
their open attitude toward other faiths. And he sent his
“affectionate greetings” to the country’s tiny Catholic community,
comprised of only about 300 people.

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Nov 17 2004

Armenians In Ottoman Era Documents

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF STATE ARCHIVES COMPLETES FIRST STAGE OF PROJECT

ISTANBUL – The Turkish Directorate General of State Archives
completed the first stage of its project compiling Ottoman era
documents about relations of Armenians with France, Britain and
Russia.

Directorate General of State Archives Department of Ottoman Archives
Director Dr. Onder Bayir told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that
experts compiled Ottoman era documents about relations of Armenians
with France, Britain and Russia.

”In the first stage of the project, the first two volumes of the
work titled ‘Armenian-French Relations in Ottoman Documents’ were
published in 2002, and the third volume was published in 2004. The
work objectively explains France’s policy and targets about Armenians
on the basis of Ottoman era documents,” he said.

Dr. Bayir said that the work titled ”Armenian-British Relations”
will be published soon in four volumes.

”The third stage is the work titled ‘Armenian-Russian Relations’. We
have another project aiming to publish nearly 12 thousand documents
through internet. We will start the project by putting 600 documents
to our web-page: ”. In the coming months,
all these documents will be translated into English,” he added.

Azeri pressure group warns rights activists against “serving” Armenians

Azadliq, Baku
12 Nov 04

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on
12 November headlined “The KLO blames human rights activists for
serving Armenians”

The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) has started fighting
numerous human rights organizations. KLO chairman Akif Nagi has
accused some human rights organizations, including the head of the
[Azerbaijani] National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly,
Arzu Abdullayeva, of serving the Armenians and has issued a final
warning to them.

“Abdullayeva, who is carrying out Armenians’ political task in
Azerbaijan, should leave the country. From now on, she is responsible
for any unpleasant incident that happens to her. There are people
who assist her in this issue. Arzu Abdullayeva, Zardust Alizada,
Eldar Zeynalov and Avaz Hasanov are dealing a blow to the country’s
interests in order to get grants.”

Nagi said that they had sent letters to these human rights activists,
demanding that they stop their activities.

“The KLO will take more radical steps if they do not satisfy our
demand. We will make their life and work unbearable.”

Arzu Abdullayeva said that she will not fulfil the KLO’s demands. As
far as her departure from the country is concerned, she said that
she had done nothing wrong to be expelled from the country by Nagi.

[In Tbilisi, Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian human rights activists
reached an agreement to set up a consortium of NGOs aimed at restoring
peace in the South Caucasus; Abdullayeva is a member of the group
of South Caucasus human rights activists who plan to organize peace
classes for Karabakh war victims.]

Christians concerned over ‘disappearance’ of communities here
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS

Jerusalem Post
Nov 11 2004

The Christian world is increasingly afraid of the virtual disappearance
of their communities in the Holy Land, Motti Levy, Christian and Arab
affairs adviser to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, said Wednesday.

“The ever-dwindling numbers of Christians living in the Holy Land in
general and in Jerusalem [in particular] is cause for concern in the
Christian world that the Christian communities here will disappear,”
the mayor’s newly appointed adviser for religious communities in
Israel told The Jerusalem Post.

About 10,000 Christians live in Jerusalem, a city with nearly 700,000
residents, he said.

Though small in number, the Christian community does not view itself
as a minority, because of the strong backing it receives from the
Christian world as well as the guarantees of freedom of religion and
worship afforded by the government, Levy said.

Many, however, who live in Muslim areas of east Jerusalem, feel
unwanted, Levy said. He noted that the situation was even more
severe for Christians living in Palestinian Authority-ruled areas
of the West Bank, such as the once-predominantly Christian city of
Bethlehem, which has seen a mass exodus of Christians.

Levy stressed that mutual respect and tolerance were crucial – and
often sorely missing – among all faiths in the capital, noting the
recent case of a Jewish yeshiva student spitting at a procession of
Armenian clergymen in the Old City. While the number of Christian
residents in Israel continues to drop, he attributed the growth of
the evangelical Christian community around the world to the religious
challenge posed by Islamic fundamentalism.

Levy, 56, is a seasoned diplomat who, as a history major at the Hebrew
University a quarter of a century ago, studied the rise of monastic
orders in the emerging medieval cities in Europe. He said that Islamic
fundamentalism poses a religious challenge that should be addressed,
as is evangelical Christianity.

Ties between Israeli officials and evangelical Christian leaders
around the world are burgeoning. The Christian groups’ firm and
hardcore belief in the Bible, specifically the return of the Jews to
the Holy Land – a move they feel heralds the coming of the Messiah
– makes them some of Israel’s most outspoken and solid supporters.

In contrast to Jerusalem’s haredi mayor, who has shied away from
direct contact with evangelical Christian leaders, Levy said that,
generally speaking, it was “a mistake” for Israel to reject overtures
of friendship, especially during a time of international isolation.

But in line with his new boss’s outlook, Levy said those evangelicals
who conduct missionary activity in Israel should be subject to the
full force of the law, which bars such activity.

Levy, who does not speak Arabic, said it was essential for the city
to provide all its residents with basic services, but conceded that
it was unrealistic to expect an equal balance of services between the
city’s Jewish and Arab residents, since the latter are not represented
in City Hall because they boycott municipal elections.

Their political future still in doubt, Jerusalem’s 230,000 Arab
residents have long complained of an inequality in services compared
to Jewish neighborhoods.

–Boundary_(ID_p9Vt+HacETBnlTF9xNnhUg)–

WILL VARTAN OSKANIAN CRITICIZE CSTO?

Azg/arm
12 Nov 04

On November 11, Vartan Oskanian will leave for Moscow to participate
in the regular sitting of foreign ministers within the framework
of Collective Security Treaty Organization. The organization was
established in 1992 and included the six former Soviet republics:
Armenia, Russia, Byelorussia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzia.

CSTO is a military-political structure and, according to the regulation
of the organization an attack against one of the organizationâ~@~Ys
members means an attack against the rest of them. Thus, if for
example, Azerbaijan attacks Armenia, Kazakhstan and the rest four
countries treat it as an attack against them. CSTO, as high ranked
Armenian officials stated for several times, is one of components of
Armeniaâ~@~Ys security.

The recent events testify that CSTO member-countries can not only
refuse supporting one of the member countries, but also support a
third country that is no member of the organization. On October 27,
at Bakuâ~@~Ys initiative, the issue “Situation in Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys
Occupied Territories” was included on the agenda of UN General
Assembly. During the voting only 43 countries, including Kazakhstan
and Kyrgyzia, two CSTO member countries, supported Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys
initiative.

One should suppose that Vartan Oskanian is going to dwell on this
unnatural phenomenon during his speech at foreign ministersâ~@~Y
regular sitting in Moscow. It â~@~Ys a principal issue for Armenia. If
two countries being in one security system with Armenia not only fail
to support us, but also take steps against the vital interests of
Armenia, who can guarantee that in case of Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys aggression
against Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzia will render military support
to very Azerbaijan.

By Tatoul Hakobian

–Boundary_(ID_oHt+9B2IYITw4LTlMojcYg)–

Karabakh telecom company to provide high quality services in Armenia – minister

Ayots Ashkar, Yerevan
9 Nov 04

Naturally, society is closely watching the last government decisions
in the sphere of communications. Especially as, the government
took a decision to endorse the results of a tender, and K-Telekom
join-stock company will be given a licence for mobile communications,
including GSM services. Many people ask about when will it start
operating? Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Andranik
Manukyan answered this and other questions yesterday [8 November].

[Correspondent] Mr Manukyan, how was the tender on giving licence
for the mobile communications services held?

[Manukyan] A tender commission was set up under the government
decision on 3 November. The government may create commissions in
extreme cases. The commission was authorized to organize a tender,
the results of which had to be endorsed by the government. According
to the regulations established by the commission, a candidate company
was selected to comply with the rules established by the commission
and meet offered requirements.

It is known that K-Telekom, a subsidiary of Karabakh Telekom
[telecommunications company operating in Nagornyy Karabakh], was
selected. Before the government meeting, on 4 November the tender
commission made a unanimous decision to recognize this company
winner. The results of the tender were submitted to the government
and the latter endorsed them. I see nothing bad here. Everything was
done within the framework of law.

[Passage omitted: K-Telecom will provide high quality services]

[Correspondent] Why are you sure that “K-Telekom” can manage this
sphere?

[Manukyan] First, we should take into account that in a short
period of time, i.e. about four months after getting a licence,
Karabakh Telekom established the high quality mobile communications
system in Karabakh. Moreover, experts note that the quality of the
communications services provided by Karabakh Telekom is several
times higher that the services provided by ArmenTel [Armenian
telecommunications company]. I am sure that in Armenia, K-Telekom
will set up its mobile network in a short period of time as well
and provide the high quality communications services. In addition,
the prices will be cheaper than that of ArmenTel’s.

[Passage omitted: details of K-Telecom’s operational project]

St. Jude: Faithful Servant and Friend of Jesus

Herald Columnist
From the issue of 11/11/04

By Fr. William P. Saunders

Why is St. Jude the Apostle the one to whom we pray in time of hopeless
causes?
– A reader in Annandale, VA

Before delving into the question at hand, let us first investigate what
we know about St. Jude. Unfortunately, sacred Scripture does not provide
many details about the life of St. Jude. Most importantly, he is listed
as one of the Twelve Apostles called by our Lord, Jesus: “At daybreak,
He called His disciples and selected twelve of them to be His apostles:
Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter, and Andrew, his brother, James
and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James son of
Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas
Iscariot, who turned traitor” (Lk 6:13-16; confer also Acts 1:13). In
both the Gospel of St. Matthew (10:2-4) and Mark (3:16-19), the name
“Judas” (i.e. Jude) does not appear in the list of the Apostles, but
rather the name “Thaddaeus”; some speculate that Thaddaeus was used to
distinguish Jude from the betrayer Judas Iscariot. (Please note, too,
that “Judas” is the Greek form for the English “Jude.”) Nevertheless,
both names, Jude and Thaddaeus, refer to the same person, and oftentimes
one will hear St. Jude Thaddaeus. Our liturgical tradition also reflects
this point: The Latin text of Eucharistic Prayer I in the Mass uses the
name Thaddaeus, while the English text uses the word Jude in the listing
of the Apostles.

Traditionally, St. Jude was the author of “The Epistle of Jude,” found
in the New Testament. Some scholars in recent times have disputed
whether the Apostle St. Jude was in fact the author Jude of this letter.
Rather than plunge into all of those arguments, let’s recount briefly
the traditional evidence supporting St. Jude as the author. The
Muratorian Fragment (c. AD 155) provides one of the earliest listings of
those writings that could be read at Mass because they were of apostolic
authorship and free of heresy or error. These works would later be
included in the canon of the New Testament. The Muratorian fragment
lists The Epistle of Jude as one of those accepted writings, thereby
attesting to the authorship of the Apostle St. Jude.

However to accept this point stirs up another question: Why then does
the author of the epistle identify himself as the “brother of James”
(Jud 1), referring to the Apostle St. James the Lesser? In the listing
of the Twelve Apostles cited above, Jude is identified as “the son of
James,” and St. James the Lesser is identified as “the son of Alphaeus.”
The problem lies in the translation from the Greek text of the Gospel
into English. Returning to the original Greek text of the Gospel of St.
Luke, one does not find the word son either in reference to “James son
of Alphaeus” or “Judas son of James”; rather, the literal translation
would be “James of Alphaeus,” and “Judas of James.” (The same is true of
the Latin Vulgate text.) So what are the actual relationships?

The “James” referred to in the Letter of Jude is St. James the Lesser
(not the brother of St. John), who was a cousin of Jesus (Mt 13:55,
noting brother used as an all-encompassing term for any male blood
relation). Since in the listing of the Apostles in the Gospels of St.
Matthew and Mark, the name Thaddaeus follows immediately that of “James,
of Alphaeus,” the traditional conclusion is that Thaddaeus and James are
related. Thaddaeus, remember, is the other name for St. Jude. Therefore,
the author of the epistle is the same Jude who is the brother of James
the Lesser. For good reason then, the Douay Rheims Bible correctly
translated the listing in Luke 6:13-16 as follows: “James, the son of
Alphaeus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, and Jude, the brother of
James.” Another reason St. Jude identified himself as “the brother of
James” at the beginning of his epistle may be because the Apostle St.
James the Lesser was the well-known Bishop of Jerusalem; therefore, the
relationship attests to the apostolic authorship of the epistle and
dispels any confusion with Judas Iscariot.

Now that the reader probably knows more than he ever wanted to about why
St. Jude is the Apostle, the brother of St. James the Lesser, the cousin
of Jesus, and the author of the New Testament Epistle of Jude, we can
continue with answering the question.

St. Jude does have one recorded spoken verse in the Gospel of St. John.
At the Last Supper, he asked Jesus, “Lord, why is it that you will
reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” (Jn 14:22). Our Lord then
spoke of how anyone who loves Him will be true to His word, in turn His
Heavenly Father will love him, and together they will send the Holy Spirit.

The Epistle of Jude is similar to the Second Epistle of Peter. Some
scholars date the letter to about AD 70. St. Jude encourages the
community to “fight hard for the faith,” and warns against false
teachers. He challenges the early faithful: “Grow strong in your holy
faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit. Persevere in God’s love, and
welcome the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which leads to life eternal.
Correct those are confused; the others you must rescue, snatching them
from the fire” (20-22).

Tradition says that after the resurrection, St. Jude Thaddaeus retrieved
our Lord’s burial cloth, which many believe to be the Shroud of Turin.
He eventually brought it to Edessa in present day Turkey. From there, he
traveled into the area of Armenia. The Armenian Rite traces its origins
to St. Jude Thaddaeus.

St. Jude then preached the gospel in Mesopotamia where he was joined by
St. Simon. From there, they did missionary work in Persia, where they
suffered martyrdom. St. Jude was beaten to death with a club; St. Simon
was sawed into pieces. Their feast day is Oct. 28.

So why is St. Jude Thaddaeus the patron saint of desperate causes? The
traditional reason is rather simple: When one hears the name Judas
(Latin and Greek) or even Jude (English), one immediately thinks of
Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord. Therefore, a person had to be
desperate to invoke his name. Being so seldom invoked and reverenced,
St. Jude is ready and waiting to hear the prayers of those who call upon
him. Ironically, he is probably the Apostle who is invoked the most in
prayer, and the most memorialized in churches with statues or other
artwork.

A prayer distributed by the National Shrine of St. Jude in Chicago reads
as follows:

“Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the
Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless
cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and
alone. Make us I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you,
to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come
to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation
and help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulation, and sufferings,
particularly (state request) and that I may praise God with you and all
the elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of
this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron,
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.”

Fr. Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls and a
professor of catechetics and theology at Notre Dame Graduate School in
Alexandria.

‘Where has all the money gone?
By Jean Christou

Cyprus Mail
Nov 10 2004

Legal battle brews to save the Melkonian from closure

THE GREAT, great nephew of the two founders of the Melkonian
Educational Institute (MEI) is in Cyprus to join the fight to save
the 78-year old school founded by members of his family.

MEI is under threat of closure from June 2005, after the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU), which administers Armenian schools all
over the world, decided the loss-making school should close finally.

The move has prompted outrage amongst the Armenian community in
Cyprus and abroad, which suspects financial motives on the part of
the AGBU as the MEI is sitting on an estimated £40 million worth of
commercial property.

Swiss-based businessman Jack Melkonian has decided to join in the
legal battle to save the school and questions the motives of the AGBU.

“I am very concerned about what his happening because this was
a donation made by our family. It was a long time ago — three
generations back — but nevertheless as a family we are concerned
because there have been a lot of rumours. I have come here to see
with my own eyes to see what is happening,” he told the Cyprus Mail
in an interview yesterday.

“I have talked to the children and the parents and support a
fundraising for eventual legal costs that may occur. We may have to
engage lawyers for the simple reason it is a very complicated matter
and obviously this is going to cost money because we have to talk to
legal experts.”

Melkonian, who was last here three years ago to mark the school’s
75th anniversary said he was rather shocked during this visit to see
how the monument to his great-great uncles has been neglected.

It was his great-great uncle Garabed, who died in Cyprus in 1934 who
made the donation that allows the school to exist.

Melkonian said his family has a copy of a deed which clearly states
that a trust should be set up, the proceeds of which were to keep
the school going

“There is no mention in that deed that the school should not exist.
In fact my great-great uncle was rather concerned that the school
stay open. The amount donated at that time corresponded to the budget
of Luxembourg. It was a very large amount of money so if it had been
set up as a trust, the interest should have covered the expenses of
the school,” he said.

“It also says clearly that if for any reason the AGBU cannot take care
of the school or that the AGBU closes down, that this fund should
be transferred to another institution that could take care of the
school which in my opinion clearly says that the continuity of this
school was very much an issue. These are the two issues that are of
particular concern to us.”

Melkonian said he has approached the AGBU on several occasions and
written to each member of the board individually. He said he was told
that they possess another document, which cancels out the wishes of
Garabed Melkonian. It’s a document, he said, nobody else seems to
have seen. He has asked for a copy of the document before travelling
to New York at the invitation of the AGBU, but so far it has not been
forthcoming, he said. “The AGBU boils down to an financial institution
run by what I call civil servants because they are there to serve the
Armenian community and not to play the money on the stock exchange
and whatever,” he said.

“I have nothing against the AGBU as an organisation, it is wonderful.
We have great esteem for it but we are more concerned about the people
who are running the AGBU at the moment who have taken this decision.”

Melkonian said his family was puzzled over the trust fund that was
designed to support the school. “Even if the money has been exhausted,
the school and the land are still here and there are a number of
members of the Armenian community that are willing to support the
school to set up a new fund. There is also an income from the business
centre on the land. The revenue of that centre is almost half the
running costs of the school.

“That money seems to flow to the States and we don’t really know what
they are doing with it. They are claiming the maintenance of the school
costs them £1.2 million of which already half should be covered from
this. There is still $4.5 million from what was donated originally so
we think there is no need to close this school for financial reasons,”
he added.

Melkonian said he is also disturbed by the way the parents and children
have been intimidated by people that the AGBU has engaged in Cyprus
to ensure the school’s closure.

“We had a meeting there on Sunday, which is not a school day, and
they prohibited the children from attending,” he said. “All this is
extremely disturbing.”

He said he has asked the AGBU to find an alternative to closing the
school such as restructuring to make it viable to attract Armenian
students from Moscow, where around one million Armenians live without
access to an Armenian education. He said some interest had already been
expressed by Armenians in Russia in sending their children to Cyprus.

“Some homework is necessary on the part of the AGBU but I understand
that in New York that they are not equipped for that. They are not
even equipped to make sure that this place is being kept tidily. I was
very shocked. I saw the house where my great uncle lived completely
neglected with garbage in the garden,” Melkonian said.

“I finally came to the conclusion that in New York what matters is the
balance sheet and we don’t know what that says. They will never show
it to anybody. There is no transparency within that organisation. I
also feel there is a lot of nepotism and people are being appointed
to the board who are there because they are related to one or the
others so I am questioning not only what is happening here but in
general the way this is being done in New York and I think a lot of
Armenians feel the same way.”

Melkonian said the AGBU seemed to have forgotten that although it is
supposed to be a financial organisation, it is also supposed to have
a human side and questioned how such a far-reaching decision as the
closure of the MEI could have been taken by a mere handful of people.

“There are other Armenian schools but none like this one,” he said.

“The Melkonian is a monument to 20th century Armenian history. It
took 78 years to build it up and it’s being destroyed within one year,
which is a great mistake. With a little work the school can be saved.”

–Boundary_(ID_OZ7nZxTUE308I9+D4DfELA)–

CENN – NOVEMBER 8, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Development of Local Capacities and Public Awareness for Better
Energy Governance
2. EBRD, SOCAR Agree Shah Deniz Credit Terms
3. Rural-tourism to Promote Georgia’s Provinces
4. Armenian Company Leads Talks on Chemical Giant’s Future
5. USAID Allocates $600,000 For Implementation of Heating Program at 15
Schools in Armenia
6. Contest in Armenia to Honor Special Reports on Georgia
7. Noubarashen School #11 To Receive Orchard from HSBC Bank Armenia and
Armenia Tree Project
8. Personal Business Poisoning the Society
9. Those Having Dollars Can Cut Trees
10. A Bio-Energy Superpower

1. DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL CAPACITIES AND PUBLIC AWARENESS FOR BETTER
ENERGY GOVERNANCE

>>From November 2003 the Project ”Development of Local Capacities and
Public Awareness for Better Energy Governance”, is being implemented by
NGO Coalition led by Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN), along
with partner NGOs – Green Alternative and Eco-Vision. The project is
implemented with the financial assistance of the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID).

The project aims to increase the transparency and efficiency of
performance and consumption in the energy sector, through community
mobilization, confidence building, increasing public awareness and
citizens’ responsibilities over the resources’ use, creation of ESCAs
(Energy Services Consumers’ Association), increasing public
participation in the decision-making processes at all levels and
launching a nation-wide constructive dialog between all stakeholders on
energy sector governance.

Painting actions in schools

In October 12-15, 2004 in the framework of this project were conducted
Painting Actions in six schools of the six pilot districts in which the
project team is working. About 200 pupils participated in this action
the age of the participants of the paining action was from 10 to 16. The
subject of the action was: “Winter in our Houses”. The exhibition of the
paintings will take place in November 19, 2004 in “Children’s Gallery”
in Tbilisi.

The ESCA leaders with the support of the project team conducted the
action. The action had the following objectives: i) to give confidence
to ECSA leaders and involving them in education campaign; ii) to
advertise the project idea via the pens, t-shirts, booklets distributed
after the action, also via the exhibition; iii) to get the idea how the
children are looking on energy crises.

As the result, more than 300 pictures were painted. The view of children
on winter and energy was quite interesting and different among the
pupils of different ages. The paintings will be soon available on the
following address:

Training of ESCA’s leaders

In September 23-24, 2004 in the framework of this project was held the
training for the ESCA’s leaders. The training had two key objectives:

ž Providing the information on Georgian power sector that included: i)
Technical and institutional structure of the sector; ii) Rights and
obligations of the institutions involved in the power sector; iii)
Service conditions and legal framework for Telasi and customers;
ž Elaboration of the operational plans for ESCA. Setting the targets and
defining the ways for the problems solution.

The representatives of ESCA’s, the whole project team and the legal
expert as well as the representatives of the Liberty Institute
participated in the training. During the training were distributed the
Electricity Services Consumers’ Guide for Tbilisi that was developed in
the framework of this project and the handouts of the presentations on
Georgian power sector and electricity service conditions in Tbilisi.

The first day of the training was entirely devoted to the first
objective of the training also during the first day was held the
presentation of the Electricity Services Consumers’ Guide for Tbilisi.

The second day of the training was dedicated to the discussion of the
problems existing in these six districts and the possible ways for their
solution. In addition, the discussion was followed by the elaboration of
ESCA’ work plans. The second day was facilitated by the professional
trainers from the Center for Training and Consultation (CTC).

The final stage of the workshop was identifying the problems, which are
common for all districts. These problems were discussed during the
roundtable conducted in October 29, 2004 with the participation of all
the stakeholders in the power sector. (In the next issues of our
publications we will inform our audience about this roundtable.)

The following important and common problems had been identified:
ž Old debts
ž Flat rates
ž Theft
ž The bad communication between Telasi and consumers
ž Seasonal tariffs
ž Installation of new electric meters

At the end of training was conducted the evaluation of the training.

We will provide you the information on the project on the regularly
bases.

Prepared By CENN
Nino Tevzadze

2. EBRD, SOCAR AGREE SHAH DENIZ CREDIT TERMS

Source :Interfax, November 5, 2004

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) and the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have initialed all
documents for a credit of $170 million to finance the SOCAR share in the
Shah-Deniz project, SOCAR President Natik Aliyev said.

“We agreed all the documents for the credit. The credit agreement will
be signed in December, in London,” Aliyev said after talks with bank
representatives.

Aliyev said earlier that if necessary the EBRD might provide a credit
for more than $170 million.

Of this total, $110 will be used to finance the SOCAR share in the
development of the Shah Deniz field, and $60 million – on building the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline.

Shah-Deniz holds an estimated 625 billion cubic meters of gas and 101
million tonnes of condensate. Stage-1 development includes the
production of 178 billion cubic meters of gas and 34 million tonnes of
condensate. During peak production under Stage-1 the field will produce
8.4 billion cubic meters of gas and 2 million tonnes of condensate a
year. Gas will be produced from 15 wells at the TPG-500 platform at sea
depths of 105 meters. Production will increase to 16 billion cubic
meters a year in the later stages of the project.

Participants in the Shah Deniz project include SOCAR – 10%, BP – 25.5%,
Statoil – 25.5%, TotalFinaElf – 10%, LukAgip – 10% OIEC (Iran) – 10% and
TPAO (Turkey) – 9%.

3. RURAL-TOURISM TO PROMOTE GEORGIA’S PROVINCES

Source: Messenger, November 5, 2004

Georgian economists believe that the country has excellent prospects in
the sphere of eco-tourism, particularly wine tourism and could generate
income for both the government and farmers.

According to official statistics there are approximately 400, 000
farmers in Georgia, but despite the country’s potential in agriculture,
farmers face numerous problems, such as difficulties in cultivating
their lands that result from the lack of technology, fertilizers and
infrastructure necessary to transport those products. As a result,
newspaper Khvalindeli Dge reports, cash incomes in villages are very low
and many farmers are in effect subsistence farmers, consuming most of
their products themselves.

As a result, it has become necessary for small farmers to grow a little
of everything, rather than to concrete on particular crops as farmers
growing crops for sale do. In the wine industry, for example, in many
villages that previously grew just grapes, farmers today are forced to
plant wheat and other agricultural products because they can no longer
rely on selling grapes to bring in the money needed to buy what they
need. This has inevitably damaged both the county’s economy and
eco-system.

In this particular situation, the development of eco-tourism would
provide a boost for villages, enabling farmers to increase their money
incomes.

The idea of eco-tourism that rests on the premise that many people dream
of rest and relaxation in peaceful villages with dining tables groaning
with natural food products was first developed in France in the 1970s.
Italy and Spain were quick to follow, with special legislation
elaborated to develop tourism, and today Georgia also hopes to offer
“peasants hospitality” and to welcome foreign tourists to Georgian
villages.

24 Saati reports that specific theme holidays have been suggested,
including experiencing the wine vintage in Kakheti, making of wool
products in Tusheti and singing Georgian fold songs ling the
Kriamanchuli in Guria, although the most popular may well be related to
the wine industry, which has a long history. Wine tourism aims to
attract foreigners to the places where the grapes are grown and the
wines made. There are many of these in Georgia but for wine tourism to
take off, the government needs to actively support its development, as
do businessmen who are interested in wine.

4. ARMENIAN COMPANY LEADS TALKS ON CHEMICAL GIANT’S FUTURE

Source: Mediamax news agency, November 5, 2004

The Armenian company Flash will from now on conduct talks with Russian
investors on the sale of chemical giant Nairit, Armenian Central Bank
Chairman Tigran Sarkisyan told a briefing in Yerevan today.

Tigran Sarkisyan recalled that Nairit’s shares belong 100 per cent to
Haykapbank [Armenian communications bank] and the Flash Company is
carrying out the programme to revive the bank, Mediamax reports. The
programme to revive the bank is supervised by the IMF, which is
demanding that the process be finished by the end of this year.

Mediamax news agency recalls that on 16 April this year an agreement was
signed at the Armenian Central Bank on the sale of 100 per cent of
Haykapbank’s shares to Russia’s Volgaburmash holding company. Addressing
a briefing after the signing of the agreement, Volgaburmash
representative Mikhail Zavertyayev said that the restoration of Nairit’s
position on the Russian synthetic rubber market was the priority for the
holding company. For reasons of commercial confidentiality Zavertyayev
refused to disclose the cost of the deal to acquire Nairit’s shares. He
said that Volgaburmash had worked out a draft project on the
reconstruction of the enterprise, aimed at resuming the production of bu
tadiene at Nairit. Mikhail Zavertyayev said that since 2003 Volgaburmash
had invested 3.5m dollars in Nairit.

Tigran Sarkisyan said today that the Russian holding company had
demanded that the revival programme for Haykapbank be prolonged for four
months, but, taking into account the commitments before the IMF, the
Armenian side had not given its consent to this and had “decided to
implement the revival programme with another investor, the Armenian
Flash company”.

The Central Bank chairman said that Flash had invested more than 1m
dollars in the bank and had finished the revival process. Tigran
Sarkisyan said that Flash was now conducting talks directly with the
Russian side on Nairit’s fate.

He said that for four months the Russian side would be studying Nairit’s
technical possibilities and would make a corresponding decision. Tigran
Sarkisyan said that the 100 per cent of shares in Nairit were reflected
in Haykapbank’s balance sheet at the nominal price of 14.2m dollars. The
bank has to realize these assets in the next six months, according to
current Armenian legislation.

5. USAID ALLOCATES $600,000 FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF HEATING PROGRAM AT 15
SCHOOLS IN ARMENIA

Source: Arminfo, November 5, 2004

USAID has allocated $600,000 for implementation of a program on heating
at 15 schools in Armenia, Head of USAID Office in Armenia Robin Phillips
said during his meeting with Armenian Town Building Minister Aram
Haroutiunyan, Friday.

The press-service of the Town Building Ministry told ARMINFO that the
sides discussed the program’s implemented at 15 republican schools,
which are currently constructed and repaired on the state budgetary
funds for 2004. In conformity with the agreement reached in the course
of the meeting, within the c oming days specialists of the ministry and
USAID intend to discuss the list of schools to be included in the
heating program, to approve the schedule of the works. A relevant
document will be signed in the middle of November, 2004. Phill ips
expressed readiness to organize heating at another 15 schools in Armenia
in case of successful implementation of the given program.

6. CONTEST IN ARMENIA TO HONOR SPECIAL REPORTS ON GEORGIA

Source: International Journalist’s Network, November 5, 2004

Television stations and companies in Armenia can enter a competition
aimed at producing a series of special reports about Georgia.

Internews-Armenia is organizing the competition, sponsored by the U.S.
Agency for International Development. The application deadline is
November 20, 2004.

The contest aims to offer the public better information on the social
and political processes in Georgia. Internews encourages a creative
approach to the reports, which could focus on the economy, culture,
environment, politics, social problems or international relations, among
other topics.

Candidates should submit a completed application form; two
Russian-language copies of a detailed script proposal; the production
schedule, to be completed by January 15; the curriculum vitae of the
director/producer and main participants; detailed production expenses; a
videotape of the applicant’s past work; and a letter from the TV company
agreeing to air the reports.

Internews will select the proposal based on the best likelihood of
carrying out the project and the professionalism of the bid, among other
criteria.

Detailed requirements and forms are available at:

For more information, contact Internews-Armenia
E-mail: [email protected],
Telephone +374 1 583 620

7. NOUBARASHEN SCHOOL #11 TO RECEIVE ORCHARD FROM HSBC BANK ARMENIA AND
ARMENIA TREE PROJECT

65 Main Sreet, Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: 617-926-TREE (8733)

email: [email protected]

2004-11-06
ARMENIA TREE PROJECT

YEREVAN–.This Sunday, November 7, 2004, the children of the Noubarashen
School #11 for the mentally disabled had the opportunity to beautify
their school grounds with the help of their friends from HSBC bank and
the Armenia Tree Project. This is planting initiated by HSBC Bank as a
part of their community outreach. A total of one hundred trees,
including 30 apricot, 5 quince, 30 apple, 20 peach, and 15 cherry trees
will be planted at the event, scheduled to begin at 11.00 a.m. The
Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Science and Education oversees the
Noubarashen School #11, a school that provides accommodations and
nutrition for 125 students, 110 of whom are permanent residents.

Over the past five years, HSBC and the Armenia Tree Project have
successfully collaborated on similar tree planting projects. Together,
they provided the Noragyugh Rehabilitation Center with a total of four
hundred trees in 2000, 2001 and 2002 years. To date, these seedlings
are thriving, with an above average survival rate of 72%. Since its
first Armenian branch opened in March of 1996, the HSBC group has shown
support for both education and the environment.

Sunday’s event at the Noubarashen School #11 served as a forum for the
integration of these two ideals.

HSBC Bank Armenia:

The HSBC Group opened for business in March 1996 as Midland Bank cjsc
and was renamed to HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc in 1999, as a part of global
re-branding exercise. Nowadays HSBC has two full service branches
operating in Yerevan. Now HSBC is Armenia’s leading bank by market share
and profitability. The Group also maintains branches in other CIS
countries including Russia and Kazakhstan. The bank offers a full range
of products and services to both commercial and personal customers
resident in Armenia and overseas. Since its establishment, HSBC has
focused its community support on areas of education and theenvironment.
The Bank has been involved in sponsoring the Noubarashen orphanage,
Vardashen special educational centre, Armenian Society for the
preservation of Historical Monuments, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra,
Isabel centre of the Talented Children’s Concert, a Health walk in
coordination with the Armenian Mammography centre, the children’s
international play ground, as well as a tree planting project in the
Children’s Rehabilitation Centre. HSBC staff are true community citizens
and give fully, and freely, of their time and energy in supporting the
many worthwhile causes in Armenia that need our support in both
financial and humane ways.

For information please contact:

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc
9 V. Sarkissian Street, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel. 58 70 88

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc
3 Komitas Avenue, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel. 22 25 96, 22 87 57

E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Armenia Tree Project (ATP):

Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 during Armenia’s darkest and
coldest years with the vision of securing Armenia’s future by protecting
Armenia’s environment. Funded by contributions from diasporan
Armenians, ATP has by now planted and rejuvenated 538,000 trees at more
than 450 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris.

[email protected]
Web:

8. PERSONAL BUSINESS POISONING THE SOCIETY

Source: A1 Plus, November 8, 2004

Yerevan Municipality Monitoring Group for Conservancy studied activity
of 35 managing subjects in Yerevan and fixed: there are no sewer outlet
networks in 26 of them. As a result the industrial waste of the
establishments – chemical, food and sewerage, are thrown into Getar and
Hrazdan River. 7 out of 26 are located in Hrazdan Canyon.

Romik Kosemyan, head of Municipality Department on Conservancy, has
informed today that the owners of the subjects have been fined.
According to Kosemyan, Municipality has worked out a project, under
which all the managing subjects running in Yerevan will be brought to
the legislative field beginning from 2005.

9. THOSE HAVING DOLLARS CAN CUT TREES

Source: A1 Plus, November 8, 2004

Irrigation line 135 kilometers at length was drawn for preservation of
the green zones and protection of them from fires. Romik Kosemyan, head
of Municipality Department on Conservancy, assures the action will
enable to take care of the green zone of about 600 hectares.

In case of illegal cutting of the trees registered in “The Red Book”
Municipality will apply a new price for damage compensation – $1000 for
each tree cut. For the time being the old punishment is still valid – a
fine of up to 100,000 drams in case of causing damages

10. A BIO-ENERGY SUPERPOWER

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 4 (Tierram Erica) – Rising oil prices and the
upcoming implementation of the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases,
following the recent ratification by Russia, are accelerating the
process of turning Brazil into a world leader in ”bio-energy”.

Exports of alcohol made from sugarcane are expected to increase from 800
million litres last year to two billion litres this year — this
expansion trend continues independent of rising world oil prices.

There are many countries, like Japan, that are moving to blend ethanol
with gasoline, or increase the alcohol additives in fuel, as a means
towards curbing air pollution.

It augurs for renewable energy sources having a strong global impulse
with the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, which sets goals for
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, responsible for climate change.

The Russian Senate announced its ratification of the global treaty Oct.
27. Once it is enacted by the Russian president, the Kyoto Protocol will
enter into force, as it has finally achieved the required threshold of
countries: a total that produces at least 55 percent of the world’s
greenhouse gases.

In Brazil, renewable fuel is recuperating the popularity it had in the
1980s, and not just because of the lower price. There is a growing
demand for ”bi-fuel” automobiles that can use gasoline, fuel alcohol
or any mix of the two. These cars were put on the market last year.

In 1985 and 1986, alcohol-fuelled vehicles had achieved the incredible
proportion of 76 percent of all of Brazil’s car production. But supply
and price problems eroded the Proalcohol programme for fuel substitution
that had been launched during petroleum crisis of 1973.

Output of alcohol-driven cars hit bottom in 1997 — just 0.06 percent of
total car production, according to Brazil’s National Association of
Automotive Manufacturers.

Since then there has been a gradual recovery, which was particularly
notable last year, with 84,173 alcohol-fuelled cars, including the
bi-fuel vehicles, represented 4.6 of automotive production. This year
that portion is expected to be five times as big, as 253,817 such cars
were produced from January through September.

The possibility of using one fuel or another, along with the reasonable
price, contributes to public confidence in alcohol as a fuel in general.
It reduces the risk of shortages or sudden price hikes at service
stations.

In addition, all gasoline in Brazil contains 20 to 25 percent anhydrous
alcohol, which reduces petroleum dependence and pollution. And work is
beginning on manufacturing crop spraying aircraft that run on ethanol.

The subsidised development of Proalcohol cost some 40 billion dollars,
but the country has ”already recovered those expenses” and is now
seeing its fruits, including the continued development of related
technology, Osvaldo Stella Martins, an expert with the National Centre
for Biomass Research, told Tierram Erica.

The sugarcane needed to make Brazil the world leader in sugar and
alcohol production also generates enormous quantities of waste pulp, a
source of energy that feeds the electricity market as well as running
the sugar mills and distilleries.

Now the new biodiesel programme is motivating researchers and business
leaders. The government announced that it will authorise its addition to
regular diesel fuel in November, in a proportion of two percent and
increasing to five percent over the next few years.

Beyond reducing the need to import fuel and curbing environmentally
harmful emissions, the programme is intended to be socially inclusive,
generating hundreds of thousands of jobs and promoting family farming in
impoverished areas, says Science and Technology Minister Eduardo Campos.

It is also a government priority to promote production of fuel using the
castorbean (Ricinus communis) in the Brazilian northeast, the country’s
poorest region. But biodiesel made from castorbeans must be more heavily
subsidised, as it costs three times more than petroleum, said Stella, a
mechanical engineer who holds a doctorate in ecology and natural
resources.

Castor oil, the raw material for hundreds of chemical, medicinal and
cosmetic products, has great unsatisfied global demand, and it would be
more logical to promote its production as an industrial input, instead
of using it for biodiesel and burdening society with the cost of
subsidies in order to ”resolve a problem for Petrobras,” the giant
state-run oil company, he said.

The problem is that Petrobras must produce diesel without sulphur, for
environmental protection reasons, and it would be better to substitute
that lubricant with biodiesel, transferring costs to society, explained
the expert.

Studies are under way for producing biodiesel using other plant sources,
and even from the vegetable oil waste in cities, such as from food
processing and restaurant cooking.

The alternative that most excites Stella and forestry engineer Laercio
Couto, president of the National Network for Biomass Energy, is to make
use of agricultural and forestry waste.

Lumber production uses 45 percent of the tree, leaving ”incredible”
biomass sources, Couto told Tierram Erica

The lumber waste is packed into cylinders to reduce volume and humidity,
and to facilitate transport, and is exports to Europe are beginning. But
last year just 40,000 tons were sold, while the demand reaches two
million tons, the engineer added.

Brazil, with its land, sun, and water resources, is a major producer of
biomass, and the process of photosynthesis makes the South American
country an energy superpower, according to Jos Bautista Vidal, the
”father” of Proalcohol.

However, the great distances and insufficient infrastructure that make
transportation expensive continue to create obstacles in the energy
business beyond local production and use, Couto said.

–Boundary_(ID_KBFoJL8LWUW6yV0P3TkelA)–