Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Armenian opposition blocs unite to fight “illegitimate” authorities

Arminfo
26 Mar 04

YEREVAN

Two Armenian opposition forces – the Justice bloc and the National
Unity Party have agreed to consolidate their efforts in the struggle
against the country’s authorities.

These two political forces yesterday [24 March] signed a cooperation
agreement, which, in particular, noted that the Justice bloc and the
National Unity Party are taking on responsibility to head the national
movement in the struggle with the “illegitimate” authorities of
Armenia and to establish a constitutional government.

To that end, the sides agreed to jointly organize “a nationwide
demonstration of disobedience” not later than 13 April. “We confirm
our determination to struggle till the change of power in Armenia,”
the agreement said. The date of the demonstration will be declared on
5 April. The Justice bloc and the National Unity Party will make a
joint statement today.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 23, 2004 Tuesday

Group of illegal immigrants to be deported from Russian Far East

By Marina Shatilova

VLADIVOSTOK

Over 30 illegal immigrants, most of them citizens of the People’s
Republic of China will be deported from the Russian Far-Eastern
Maritime territory shortly as part of a special operation codenamed
Illegal Immigrant, press officials at the territorial administration
said.

The operation began a mere three days ago, and yet it has helped
expose hundreds of people who broke Russia’s immigration laws.

The press officials said inspections had embraced 120 enterprises
that hired foreign workers, as well as more than 1,200 foreigners
having jobs here.

In about 400, encroachments on the foreign citizens sojourn
regulations were exposed.

Another goal of the operation is to identift the foreigners who
illegally get jobs in the Maritime territory.

Sources at the interior department here say over 16,000 foreigners
were brought to responsibility for different offences last year
alone. Most of them were holders of Chinese, Azerbaijani and Armenian
passports.

Of that number, 120 people were detained for criminal offences and
700 more, for getting illegal jobs.

Azeri foreign minister, Canadian official discuss Karabakh, ties

Sarq, Baku
16 Mar 04

Text of Zulfuqar report by Azerbaijani newspaper Sarq on 16 March
headlined “Vilayat Quliyev received David Preston” and subheaded “They
discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh problem”

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev yesterday received David
Preston, director general of the Central, East and South Europe
Department of Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade, the Azerbaijani ministry’s press service has reported.

The meeting discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan and ways to resolve it, bilateral relations between the
two countries and other subjects of mutual interest. Quliyev said that
this visit will strengthen friendly relations between Azerbaijan and
Canada and will contribute to the development of fruitful cooperation
within international organizations. The visit will also expand
economic relations and will benefit the prospects for further
Azerbaijani-Canadian cooperation. Quliyev said that he supports the
purpose of the visit.

He also briefed Preston on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, on efforts
to resolve it and the harsh living conditions of refugees. It is
important that the international community steps up its efforts to
resolve the conflict as soon as possible and in line with
international legal norms and principles, he said.

In turn, Preston said that the purpose of the visit was to expand
relations between Canada and Azerbaijan in various spheres. Canada
attaches great importance to the comprehensive development of
relations with Azerbaijan and desires closer cooperation in
international organizations.

Speaking about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Preston expressed
the hope that this problem will soon be resolved in a peaceful way
with the efforts of the international community.

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Sarkis Assadourian M.P.
120 Confederation
House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Daniel Kennedy
Tel: 613 995 4843

Ottawa March 18, 2004

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
To Review Foreign Credentials Issue
Says Chair Assadourian

Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): Chairman of the
Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of the House of
Commons, announced today, that the committee will undertake a study of
the issue of recognition of foreign professional credentials in
Canada.

The committee is tentatively scheduled to travel across Canada in the
coming weeks. Hearings will be held in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto,
Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver to hear witnesses present evidence
relating to the issues of recognition of professional credentials and
to explore possibilities that will allow new Canadians with
professional experience to more fully participate in growing Canada’s
economy.

Under the current system, some immigrants to Canada with professional
credentials have been unable to participate fully in the Canadian
economy because their foreign credentials have not been recognized by
the professional licensing agencies. Canadians of Chinese, East
European Indian and Pakistani origin in particular have been
affected. The committee will look for new ways to allow these talented
professionals to share their skills with their fellow Canadians.

Commenting on the upcoming business of the committee M.P. Assadourian
said, “I am extremely pleased that the Standing Committee on
Citizenship and Immigration will be studying this important issue. It
is time for us to stress the need for a re-thinking on the recognition
of foreign professional credentials to allow for skilled Immigrants to
Canada to contribute fully to Canada’s growth. I have always
considered it a tremendous waste of skill and talent when immigrants
with professional credentials were sidelined and prohibited from
realizing their full potential in Canada. We must utilize fully the
talents of foreign graduates. ”

-30-
For further information contact: Daniel Kennedy 613-995-4843

Armenian National Committee of Merrimack Valley
142 Liberty Street
Lowell, MA 01851
Tel: 978-772-9417
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
March 18, 2004
Contact: Joe Dagdigian
[email protected]

ANC OF MERRIMACK VALLEY STEPS UP OUTREACH
TO NEW HAMPSHIRE ARMENIAN AMERICANS

— Mailing to Armenian American Households Encourages Activists to Contact
Senators and Urge them to Cosponsor the Genocide Resolution

NASHUA, NH– The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Merrimack Valley
recently concluded a mailing to New Hampshire Armenian American households
encouraging them to contact Republican Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu
asking them to cosponsor S.Res.164, the Senate Genocide Resolution.

“While 37 US Senators have joined as cosponsors of Senate Resolution 164,
unfortunately, our two Senators–Judd Gregg and John Sununu–have yet to do
so,” stated ANC activist and New Hampshire resident Aram Jeknavorian. “We
are confident that with the increased involvement of the Armenian American
community in New Hampshire, the Senators will do what is right and support
this important human rights initiative.”

Senate Resolution 164 marks the 15th anniversary of the United States
implementation of the United Nations Genocide Convention, and calls on the
US to learn from the lessons of past genocides–including the Holocaust and
the Armenian, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides–to prevent future atrocities.
The Resolution specifically notes that despite the international community’s
consensus against genocide, “denial of past instances of genocide continues
and many thousands of innocent people continue to be victims of genocide.”

Its companion bill, H.Res.193, has 111 cosponsors and was unanimously
adopted by the House Judiciary Committee in May. The decision to bring
H.Res.193 to a vote on the House floor now rests with the senior House
leadership.

Support for these measures have been widespread, with a diverse coalition of
over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for
its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons
of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La
Raza.

Currently all the US Senators from the New England region have signed on as
co-sponsors of S.Res.164, except the two senators from New Hampshire as well
as Lincoln Chafee, the Republican junior Senator from Rhode Island.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

#####

THE AAE CALL UPON THE AGBU

Azat Artsakh–Republic of Nagorno Karabagh (NKR)
18-03-2004

Brussels, March 15th, 2004 – It is with deep regret that the Assembly
of Armenians of Europe learnt about the decision of the AGBU
Administrative Board to close gradually the Melkonian School of
Cyprus. The Boarding School of the Melkonian Educational Institution
will be the first to be shut down. It is undeniable truth that the
Armenian School is the stronghold that preserves the Armenian Diaspora
from being assimilated and keeps alive the Armenian spirit. Indeed,
since its foundation the Melkonian Educational Institution has not
been just a school, but the principle basis for the preservation of
our national identity outside of Armenia. Many political and cultural
figures have been educated here. Taking into consideration that many
young Armenians attend the Melkonian School, the closing of the latter
will have grave consequences not only on the Armenian Community in
Cyprus, but also in the countries of Middle East, Europe and countries
of ex-Soviet Union Republic. The Melkonian School offers the best
opportunity to the young Armenians to get acquainted with the Armenian
history, culture and traditions and inspires them with the Armenian
values. The fact that the Melkonian Educational Institution is the
only Armenian secondary school in Europe (besides the school, recently
established in France) emphasizes its importance. Such decision puts
under question the very principles and objectives of the AGBU
Administrative Board which for many decades has been administrating
the Melkonian School and their commitment to the preservation of
Armenian values. Therefore, the Assembly of Armenians of Europe calls
upon the Administrative Board of the AGBU to reconsider their decision
for the sake of the whole Armenian Diaspora. By applying such a
decision, the AGBU will definitely fail to fulfill its historical
mission, which is the preservation of the Armenian Identity and
Armenian values.

AAE.
18-03-2004

The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Schiffbrücke 12, D · 24939 Flensburg, Germany, [email protected]
Tel: +49 (0) 4 61 – 1 41 49 – 0
Fax: +49 (0) 4 61 – 1 41 49 – 19
Web:

ECMI Newsletter No. 33
Spring 2004

——————————————
We introduce. Defusing interethnic tensions and promoting
regional integration – the Javakheti Region of the Republic of
Georgia
——————————————

In November 2003, ECMI was granted funding for its project on “Defusing
interethnic tension and promoting regional integration – the Javakheti
Region of the Republic of Georgia”. By establishing a network consisting of
civil society actors that includes representatives for most ethno-religious
groups as well as government officials in two predominantly Armenian
districts in Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti Province, the project seeks to
improve inter-ethnic relations, to broaden the consultative process of
decision-making, and to increase effective public participation and public
awareness on local governance. The project will promote regional integration
of the region by involving province and state level policy-makers in the
network, thereby creating firmer links between regional actors and central
levels of authority. In conjunction with the network, the project will
enhance the capacity of less advanced regional communities through capacity
building training and community mobilisation efforts in order to encourage
broad participation in the consultative process.

The project grants, amounting to 35,000 EUR by the Danish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and 35,000 EUR by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
has been provided to cover the initial 3 month project phase. Due to the
revolutionary events in Georgia in November 2003, the initiation of the
project was postponed to February 2004.

We hope you enjoyed this thirty-third issue of the ECMI Newsletter,
and we hope you will remember to tell interested colleagues about it.

If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement of this
newsletter, please contact William McKinney at:
[email protected]

News24, South Africa
March 11 2004

Obiang ‘will eat my testicles’

Malabo – A plot to abduct the president of the small, oil-rich west
African nation of Equatorial Guinea was unveiled on national
television on Wednesday by the alleged leader of a group of
mercenaries, apparently a 48-year-old South African.

“It wasn’t a question of taking the life of the head of state, but of
spiriting him away, taking him to Spain and forcing him into exile
and then of immediately installing the government in exile of Severo
Moto Nsa,” said the man, introduced as Nick du Toit.

Malabo called on Wednesday for the extradition of Moto, who tried to
mount a coup against Obiang in 1997 from Angola and recently set up a
government in exile in Spain.

“The leader of this mercenary operation whose aim was to topple the
current government had been recruited by the “escapee” from
Equatorial Guinean justice Severo Moto Nsa for a sum of $10m,” the
state radio said.

But Moto denied any involvement in the alleged plot. Severo Moto “has
at no time left Spain,” said a statement issued by his government in
exile.

Moto also went on the offensive, telling Spanish radio station Onda
Cero that Obiang was an “authentic cannibal” who “systematically eats
his political rivals.

“A while back he paid millions to those they call marabou (sorcerers)
to tell him if his power base was safe. They told him that to keep
his grip on power he had to kill people close to him.

Wants to eat my testicles

“Obiang wants me to go back to Guinea and eat my testicles. That’s
clear,” he told Onda Cero.

An earlier radio report had described du Toit as a “trafficker in
arms and diamonds”. It added that the rest of the 15 were from
Angola, Armenia, Sao Tome and Principe and South Africa, as well as
one German citizen.

But a South African diplomat based in neighbouring Libreville said he
had no knowledge of Du Toit’s background.

Du Toit said on television: “The group was supposed to start by
identifying strategic targets such as the presidency, the military
barracks, police posts and the residences of government members.”

“Then it was supposed to have vehicles at Malabo airport to transport
other mercenaries who were due to arrive from South Africa.

“But at the last minute, I got a call to say that the other group of
mercenaries had been arrested in South Africa as they were preparing
to leave the country.”

An Equatorial Guinean envoy was dispatched to Nigeria on Wednesday
for talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s junior foreign
minister Saidu Balarabe Samaila said on Wednesday.

Samaila also confirmed that Nigeria’s embassy in Malabo had been
surrounded by Equatorial Guinean soldiers with the consent of
Nigerian officials, and that around 150 Nigerian citizens had taken
shelter there.

Last year when the leader of another oil-rich Gulf of Guinea island
nation – President Fradique de Menezes of Sao Tome – was overthrown
in a coup, Nigeria took a leading role in returning him to power.

Edited by Trisha Shannon

A1 Plus | 18:43:28 | 12-03-2004 | Social |

MISERY IS ENVIRONMENT’S BITTER ENEMY

Armenian Environment Minister Vardan Aivazyan is convinced the main cause of
many environmental problems is that the republic population lives in
poverty.

The other day, walking along the park he found almost all trees cut there.
As it became clear later, the trees were cut by nearby houses tenants for
heating their homes, the minister said.

—

CENN – MARCH 12, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. GIOC – Georgian International Oil Corporation — Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
Main Export Pipeline Construction
2. Talks Begin on Heavy Metal Air Pollution Deal
3. International Fundraising Workshop, Ukraine May 10-23, 2004
4. International-caliber graduate Program in Economics

1. GIOC – GEORGIAN INTERNATIONAL OIL CORPORATION
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Main Export Pipeline Construction

The Georgian International Oil Corporation has the honor to inform the
audience that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Main Export Pipeline Construction
has moved into a significant phase. GIOC will continuously update you on
the progress of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Main Export Pipeline
Construction process to ensure open and transparent implementation of
the project.

AS OF OCTOBER 2003

Pipeline stringing has taken place along 50 km of the corridor
Welding of pipes has been carried out along 45 km of the corridor
Pipe laying has been carried out along 20 km of the corridor
2650 Georgian nationals have been directly employed by the project

DURING THE CONSTRUCTION

Georgian companies have performed 8 273 000 Gel worth construction works

Land and crop compensation worth 14 960 000 Gel has been paid to 2350
households
4 031 000 Gel worth construction and inert materials have been purchased
from Georgian companies
553 000 Gel worth food product have been purchased from local population

293 700 Gel has been paid to local population as a rental fee for
apartments
6 756 850 has been paid to Batumi and Poti ports for receiving and
handling project cargo
6 104 800 has been paid to the railway of Georgia for transportation of
project cargo
754 00 has been paid to the central and local budgets of Georgia
To date over 10 000 Georgian nationals rendered different services and
participated in the project

THE PROJECT’S ECONOMIC EFFECT ON THE THOUSANDS OF GEORGIA’S HOUSEHOLDS
IS TREMENDOUS

GOIC informs you that any project-related information will be
permanently available to you
Should you have comments, proposals of questions, out hot line: +995 32
92 02 54 will be at your service every day from 10:00 to 18:00.

Furthermore, GIOC offices are open in the districts crossed by the
pipeline, at the following addresses:

1. 74, David Agmashenebeli str.., Power Networkings building, Gardabani
2. 34, Tamar Mepis str., Local Administration building, Tetritskaro
3. 22, Aristotle str., Local Administration building, Tsalka
4. 1, Rustaveli str., Local Administration building, Borjomi
5. 11, Tamarasheni str., District Administration building, Akhalstikhe

The office of Georgian International Oil Corporation
4, Sanapiro str., Tbilisi
Tel: +995 32 92 02 46/47

2. TALKS BEGIN ON HEAVY METAL AIR POLLUTION DEAL

The EU is moving towards agreeing semi-binding targets to cut heavy
metal pollution in ambient air, Environment Daily has learned. MEPs and
the council of ministers are to confer soon on the chances of reaching
first-reading agreement on the fourth air quality daughter directive
before the European parliament dissolves in May for elections.

EU sources say a majority of member states now favour setting targets
for reducing arsenic, cadmium and nickel pollution from industrial
installations, to be met on the crucial condition that the abatement
effort does not create excessive costs.

The plan is still a step up from the European Commission’s original
proposal, which junked the idea of limits entirely and instead set out
monitoring thresholds linked to the use of best available techniques
under the IPPC directive. The Commission did however retain a target for
a fourth pollutant, PAHs (ED 07/07/03).

MEPs were due to debate the directive in Strasbourg late on Tuesday but
a vote has been postponed to allow the possibility of a deal with the
council first. Rapporteur Hans Kronberger, of the Austrian Freedom
Party, will sound out the willingness for compromise among colleagues of
different political hues on Wednesday.

Mr Kronberger had earlier persuaded the environment committee to back
fully binding limit values for the three metals, a much stronger
position that would almost certainly have triggered conciliation talks
with the council (ED 21/01/04).

But it did so only narrowly and it was not certain that the stance would
be backed by the full assembly. This may have increased the rapporteur’s
appetite for compromise. “We thought maybe it was better to get a good
agreement early rather than have this delayed by two years,” an aide to
Mr Kronberger told Environment Daily on Tuesday.

If the idea of qualified targets does come to pass, it is likely to
leave installation owners dissatisfied. “It might create a burden
similar to binding limit values depending on how member states implement
it,” an industry source told Environment Daily today. At least Austria,
Germany and Denmark are thought to favour binding limit values and may
apply this philosophy when transposing the directive, firms fear.
ENDS, March 9, 2004

3. INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING WORKSHOP, UKRAINE MAY 10-23, 2004
Center of Philanthropy
International Fundraising Institute Project
Organization Futures LLC, Strategic Fundraising and Capacity Building,
USA
International Workshop on Fundraising `Backstage of the Fundraising:
Foundation of the Future of Our Organization’ May 19-23, 2003, Kiev,
Ukraine

The seminar will be held in the framework of the series of seminars on
fundraising. The objectives of the seminars are:

ž Solution of the base issue of the civil society in the post communist
countries, particularly achieving financial all sufficient and
sustainability
ž Training in fundraising

The program of the seminar:

ž Strategic approaches to the resources
ž Organizational and human resources management
ž Juridical aspects of the fundraising
ž Psychological and communication issues of the fundraising
ž Management and monitoring of the fundraising
ž Ethic and meaning of ethical conduct of the fundraising

Working language of the workshop Russian and English (With translation).

The representatives of governmental organizations and NGOs, fundraiser
consultants and all interested parties of NIS and Eastern Europe are
welcome to participate in the seminar.

Registration fee 200 USD

Early registration deadline before April 1, 2004 discount 10% of the
registration fee.

For the additional information please contact:
Center of Philanthropy
E-mail: [email protected]

4. INTERNATIONAL-CALIBER GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ECONOMICS

The Economics Education and Research Consortium (EERC), the National
University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” and the newly-born Kyiv School of
Economics invite all interested persons from South Caucasus (Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and Georgia) to apply to the only in region
international-caliber graduate program in economics, fully accredited by
the Ukrainian Ministry of Education.

The Master’s Program in Economics features a two-year English-language
curriculum taught by international faculty from the USA, Canada, UK,
Germany, and other countries. The first year of study covers
microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and advanced mathematics.
The second year consists of applied elective courses such as
international finance, international trade, banking, financial
economics, labor economics, industrial organizations, game theory, etc.
as well as a master’s thesis on a topic related to a transition economy.
Students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia study at the program
thanks to financial support provided by the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.

Why are we distinguished? Because we offer:

ž Western style economics education
ž Concentrations in Finance, Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, Modern Theory
of Industry, and Economic Theory
ž Strong research and analytical skills applicable in business and
government
ž Assistance securing internships in international organizations,
multinational corporations, and the Ukrainian government
ž Excellent opportunities for job placement or admission to
international PhD programs
ž Financial assistance in the form of tuition waivers, scholarships,
dormitory housing, and monthly stipends for first-year students
ž Free access to Internet, e-mail, computer facilities, library, and
western textbooks.

Application deadline: June 25, 2004.

NaUKMA
vul. Voloska 10, office 406, Kyiv 04070, Ukraine
Tel.: (38-044) 239-2494, Fax: (38-044) 239-2490
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

—
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CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

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

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