Author: Torosian Aram

FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRIFORUM TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA OCT 28-31

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20. ARMINFO. The First International Agriforum will
be held in Yerevan on October 28-31 with participation of more than 18
countries: Russia, the USA, Italy, Holland, Lithuania, Germany,
Argentina, Thailand and others.

Talking to ARMINFO, Head of the Department for International Relations
and Management Agricultural Ministry of Armenia, Andranik Petrosyan,
said that deadline for applications for participation in the forum is
Oct 28. He said that 5 large international agri-industrial companies
and 100 foreign businessmen have applied for participation in the
forum by present. Petrosyan said that under the agriforum, reports on
4 topics will be heard: agricultural technologies and development of
agri-tourism, the tasks of agrarian industry and producers,
investments for development of agrarian science, education and
information service, agrarian reforms.

In his turn, Director of Agribusiness Development Center LTD Armen
Davtyan said that under the forum, the 4th international exhibition
“Armprodexpo-2004” will be organized with participation of 60 native
foodstuffs producers and 8 Armenian- Russian, Ukrainian, Cyprian,
Cuban, French and others JVs. It should be noted that Agriforum is
organized with support of the Agricultural Ministry, Foreign Minister
of Armenia, Yerevan Municipality, Armenian Chamber for Commerce and
Industry, and Agribusiness Development Center LTD.

Washington Post, DC
Oct 20 2004

A New OPEC in the Pipeline?

By Artem Agoulnik

The recent surge in the cost of crude oil has made energy security a
crucial election issue. Both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry have
cited the development of a viable “hydrogen economy” and renewable
energy infrastructure as important aspects of a diversified U.S.
energy policy. But so far neither has focused on a fuel that is
likely to become the second-most-used energy source in the world in
the next few years: natural gas.

This lack of attention is a serious oversight. Natural gas is the
fastest-growing source of primary energy, with global consumption
projected to rise by over 2 percent annually through 2025. The most
noticeable increase in use will take place in some of the world’s
developing nations, including the former Soviet republics and Eastern
Europe, where Moscow is the leading supplier. But, according to the
Energy Department, demand for natural gas in the United States is
also expected to increase steeply — nearly 40 percent by 2025.

The growing dependence of the United States on gas has the potential
to alter its political dialogue with Russia, a country whose 28
percent share of global natural gas reserves is made more significant
by the instability of the other leading exporters, including Iran and
Saudi Arabia. Western Europe already relies on Russia for more than a
third of its natural gas needs, Finland and Slovakia for a full 100
percent of theirs. Even the United States is expected to
substantially increase its imports of liquefied natural gas from
Russia by 2025.

Over the past several years, the Kremlin has emerged, virtually
unchallenged, as the dominant global player in natural gas. Already
heralded as the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas,” Russia has also been
able to solidify its grip on gas in its “near abroad” of Central Asia
and the Caucasus.

Much of this has been done through Russia’s sprawling, state-run
energy monopolies. In April 2003, Gazprom, the Russian natural gas
giant, finalized a 25-year deal with Turkmenistan to purchase Turkmen
natural gas. As part of the arrangement, by 2009, Moscow will
effectively be in charge of exporting all of Turkmenistan’s natural
gas, giving it crucial political leverage in the self-proclaimed
“neutral” republic.

In June Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a 35-year agreement
with his Uzbek counterpart, Islam Karimov, giving Gazprom rights to
develop Uzbek natural gas reservoirs. Since then Gazprom has further
expressed interest in acquiring a 44 percent share in the Uzbek
pipeline monopoly, Uzbektransgas.

Also in June, Gazprom announced its intention to sign a five- to
seven-year contract with Kazakhstan to participate in the development
of its energy-rich Karachaganak field, and the company has expressed
interest in acquiring a sizable share of the country’s pipeline
infrastructure. Discussions between Gazprom and high-ranking
officials in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have also taken place in the
past year on similar topics.

In Russia’s hands, natural gas has become a geopolitical weapon.
Citing a “lack of payments,” the Kremlin, via Gazprom, has shut off
gas supplies to Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia when the
domestic or foreign policies of those countries have run counter to
its interests. It has also managed to mend ties with Turkey, a
longtime regional rival. Beginning in 2001, Gazprom linked Russia’s
Stavropol region to the Turkish capital of Ankara via the “Blue
Stream” pipeline, making Turkey a major Russian energy client.
Additional pipeline plans — with Armenia and Iran — are also in the
works.

Russia has even begun to organize the world’s natural gas exporters
under its aegis. Analysts are predicting that the Gas Exporting
Countries Forum, founded in 2001, may serve as a precursor to a
natural gas OPEC with Russia at the helm. In the wake of the forum’s
June meeting in Cairo, the deputy chief executive of Gazprom,
Alexander Ryazanov, made clear that the natural gas policies of
member states should be “coordinated” so as to sell gas at the
“highest price possible.”

In the process, Russia — already the world’s leading oil exporter —
has positioned itself to become the undisputed global energy czar,
with the proven ability to dictate policy to Europe and the United
States.

This outcome can hardly be part of an energy policy either
presidential candidate has in mind.

The writer is a program associate at the American Foreign Policy
Council.

Le Figaro
15 octobre 2004

Du non définitif au oui de principe;
ASSEMBLÉE La discussion a permis de constater que, sur la question
turque, la classe politique est divisée en quatre « familles »

Nicolas BAROTTE, Elsa FREYSSENET

CEUX QUI DISENT NON À LA TURQUIE

– François Bayrou (président de l’UDF) : « L’adhésion de la Turquie,
ce n’est pas un pas vers l’unité de l’Europe, c’est un pas vers sa
dispersion (…). L’Europe unitaire, libre et forte que nous
défendons, une fois constituée, doit bâtir avec les pays de la
Méditerranée une communauté plus large, une communauté d’obligations
et d’entraide réciproques, une communauté euro-méditerranéenne. »

– Dominique Paillé (UMP, Deux-Sèvres) : « Avec la Turquie, l’Europe
se réduirait à une simple zone de libre-échange, loin de l’idéal qui
anime les fédéralistes auxquels j’appartiens. »

– Philippe Pemezec (UMP, Hauts-de-Seine) : « Aurions-nous fait
l’Europe avec une Allemagne qui aurait nié la Shoah ? L’Etat turc
continue de nier le génocide de près de 2 millions d’Arméniens.
Existe-t-il une hiérarchie dans les génocides ? Le général de Gaulle
a rêvé d’une Europe de l’Atlantique à l’Oural, êtes-vous prêts à
vivre le cauchemar d’une Europe de l’Atlantique à l’Euphrate ? »

– Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (UMP, Essonne) : « L’entrée d’un pays non
européen rendrait impossible le fonctionnement apaisé des
institutions déjà affaiblies par l’élargissement », a-t-il déclaré,
souhaitant un référendum « avant le 17 décembre ».

CEUX QUI DISENT OUI À L’OUVERTURE DE NÉGOCIATIONS MAIS NON À UNE
ADHÉSION

– Bernard Accoyer (président du groupe UMP) : « Les négociations avec
la Turquie ne seront nullement automatiques ni jouées d’avance. »

– Manuel Valls (PS, Essonne) : « L’adhésion de la Turquie, sans
harmonisation fiscale et sociale, sans réelle démocratisation des
institutions européennes, dans une Union à 30, ne peut que
représenter une dilution du projet européen et préparer des réflexes
de crainte et d’hostilité. Nous devons dire clairement qu’ouverture
de négociation ne signifie pas adhésion. »

– Edouard Balladur (UMP, président de la commission des affaires
étrangères) : « Je souhaite qu’on envisage pour la Turquie, comme
désormais pour tous les pays candidats, afin de ne froisser aucune
susceptibilité, et de ménager la dignité d’un grand peuple, une
situation de partenaire privilégié. Pour y parvenir, il faudrait que
le Conseil européen du 17 décembre ne ferme aucune voie. » Il a
souhaité qu’un futur référendum sur la Turquie « prévoie clairement
le choix entre deux solutions » : l’adhésion ou le partenariat
privilégié.

CEUX QUI DISENT OUI À L’OUVERTURE DE NÉGOCIATIONS MAIS NE SE
PRONONCENT PAS POUR LA SUITE.

– Jean-Marc Ayrault (président du groupe PS) : « L’ouverture de
négociations avec la Turquie est un droit légitime. Il ne peut y
avoir de traitement de défaveur. Mais aujourd’hui la Turquie
respecte-t-elle les conditions d’adhésion ? Et l’Union est-elle en
mesure de lui assurer une intégration harmonieuse ? A ce stade, la
réponse à ces deux questions est non », a-t-il déclaré, citant trois
préalables à une éventuelle adhésion : « Réussir l’élargissement à 25
», renforcer le « cadre institutionnel » de l’Union et augmenter ses
ressources financières.

CEUX QUI DISENT OUI

– Noël Mamère (Verts, Gironde) : « Nous sommes pour, résolument pour,
l’intégration de la Turquie à l’Union européenne, parce que nous ne
bornons pas notre horizon aux frontières étroites de la politique
française. L’Europe a besoin de la Turquie pour bâtir un modèle de
cohésion multiculturelle et pour apporter une réponse décisive à la
guerre de civilisation. »

– Pierre Lellouche (UMP, Paris) : « Il s’agit de démontrer que le
fleuve de l’islam peut se fondre dans l’océan de la démocratie et des
droits de l’homme. On ne peut pas tout à la fois faire de
l’intégration des musulmans de France et de la laïcité l’une des
premières priorités sociétales de notre pays, accuser
l’Administration Bush d’aggraver en Irak le conflit des civilisations
que cherchent à imposer au monde Ben Laden et ses terroristes et dans
le même temps dire à la Turquie laïque qu’elle n’a pas sa place chez
nous. »

PARLIAMENT APPROVES BILL ON ELECTION CODE CHANGES IN THE FIRST READING

ArmenPress
Oct 11 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: By a vote of 95 and 2 votes against
the Armenian parliament approved today in the first reading a bill
on making changes to the Election Law, however, the lawmakers failed
to reach agreement on how the National Assembly should be elected
in the future. Under the existing law, 75 members of the National
Assembly are chosen on the party list basis, while the remaining 56
parliament seats are contested in single-mandate constituencies. The
lawmakers agreed today to overcome the moot point before putting the
bill on the second reading.

The bill was developed by the three members of the ruling
coalition. According to parliament leadership, some 44 changes were
incorporated in it. The bill is said to have improved the procedure
of compiling voter lists, making it transparent and clear, apart from
improving the process of vote calculation and tabulation and giving
more authorities to proxies and observers.

The Republican Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and
Orinats Yerkir, the three parliamentary parties, making the majority,
are advocating for more seats contested under the proportional
representation system, saying it would help resist vote manipulation,
while the People’s Deputy, a group of 17 independent lawmakers,
elected in the constituencies, opposes any increase in the number of
party list seats.

The opposition minority did not take part in the voting today
continuing its already eight-month long boycott of the parliament’s
work.

Georgian-Russian Border Temporarily Reopened

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 11 2004

On October 10 the Russian side temporarily reopened its border with
Georgia at the Larsi checkpoint, which has been closed since the
hostage-taking tragedy in Beslan early last month.

The border remained opened for several hours only, in order to allow
citizens and trucks from both Georgia and Armenia to cross the border.

According to the Georgian Border Department, talks are currently
being carried out over the reopening of the border and these talks
include the active involvement of the Armenian side as well.

Newsday, NY
Oct 8 2004

Now Playing;

[parts omitted]

3.5 stars: VODKA LEMON (U). To judge by the films that migrate south,
once you cross a certain northern latitude the futility of life is
softened only by absurdity, the result being comedy. What else can
you call a film in which a truck stop sells nothing but vodka, the
snow is as deep as the sorrows and the locals mist up over the good
old days of the USSR? In post-Soviet Armenia, Hamo (the charismatic
Romen Avinian), a 60-ish ex-soldier with a head of white hair (except
for that nicotine-stained mustache), awaits money from one son in
Paris while the other drinks his days away. He is slowly selling off
everything left since the death of his wife, whose forbidding face
haunts from her headstone at the cemetery. There, he meets Nina (Lala
Sarkissian), a beleaguered widow with a host of problems, and the two
begin an unlikely romance in a place where the times are so hard that
generosity becomes currency.

Writer-director Hiner Saleem,an Iraqi Kurd, borrows a bit from here
and there (the Finnish Kaurismäki this brothers, the Icelander
Fridrik Thor Fridriksson), throws in some magic realism and comes up
with a magic movie. 1:28 (adult content).In Russian, Armenian and
Kurdish with English subtitles. At the Lincoln Plaza, and Cinema
Village, Manhattan.

– JOHN ANDERSON

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Telephone: (374 1) 44-74-01

PRESS RELEASE
October 8, 2004

ATP TO INAUGURATE OHANIAN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER IN KARIN

YEREVAN–Armenia Tree Project (ATP) is planning to inaugurate its
Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center in Karin,
Armenia, on Tuesday, October 12.

The establishment of this ATP educational center is the result of a
generous donation from Mrs. Virginia Ohanian of Belmont,
Massachusetts, in memory of her late husband, the late Michael
Ohanian. Mrs. Ohanian has been a devoted supporter of ATP for many
years.

ATP established its tree nursery in Karin in 1996. As part of ATP’s
expansion of its programs, the organization has added environmental
and forestry education to its mission. Immediately after Mrs. Ohanian
learned about this program, this educational center was proposed and
established on the nursery site.

Already, nursery director Samvel Ghandilyan has taught six sessions of
courses with over 130 students this year at the Ohanian Education
Center. Most of the students have come from the Agricultural Academy,
as well as the local schools in Karin.

Mrs. Ohanian will be present at the inauguration, along with a number
of other ATP’s diasporan supporters traveling with the Armenian
Assembly of America Trustees’ Delegation to Armenia. After a ribbon
cutting and ceremonial tree planting by Mrs. Ohanian and her family,
attendees will be able to meet with ATP staff and tour the nursery,
followed by a luncheon.

The program, which will begin at 12:00 noon, will also include brief
remarks by ATP Executive Director Jeffrey Masarjian, along with a
presentation of the film created this year in celebration of ATP’s
10th anniversary about the backyard reforestation nursery project in
Aygut, Armenia.

In addition to the nursery output and the critical environmental
education lessons provided for a wide range of students, one of the
highlights of the Ohanian Education Center is the Tree of Life–an
8-foot bronze sculpture which includes the names of ATP’s Major Donors
on each leaf.

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 planted and rejuvenated over 530,000
trees at more than 450 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris.

For additional information about this event, the Michael and Virginia
Ohanian Environmental Education Center, the Karin Nursery, or other
ATP programs, please contact Bella Avetisyan at [email protected] or
visit

ARMENIAN “HOSTAGES” OF DARIAL GORGE

Russia Blames Georgia

Azg/am
9 Oct 04

It has been 40 days that truck driver Arshak Saribekian, 70, spends
nights in the gorge of Darial. The cold wind coming from river Terek
pierces into his bones. “We don’t eat regularly. We run out of fuel
and are unable to heat the cabins of the trucks, and wind is terrible
here”, he says.

It has been more than a month that Russia closed Upper Lars border
crossing of the Russian-Georgian border. Driver Arshak together with
many other drivers is being kept hostage in Darial gorge. They
transfer different Armenian goods such as carpets, juices of Noyan,
Jermuk mineral water, stone and caoutchouc.

The border-gate was supposed to open on October 5 for 3
hours. Georgian guards claim that they were ready to open the border
but no Russian car appeared during that 3 hours. Russian guards at the
Upper Lars checkpoint said that no order to open the border came. Even
if the border opened, only few trucks would manage to cross it in that
period.

There are around 100 vehicles, mainly trucks, stuck at the Georgian
side of Upper Lars and 1500 at the Russian side. Hundreds of the cars
at the Russian side belong to the Armenia Lada Company.

Drivers transporting the Company’s vehicles are furious at those
responsible for the border closure. The Company still managed to
convey 20 cars of “Volga” brand after the closure. Allegedly, the
vehicles were being imported by a high-ranking Armenian official’s
order.

The Russian side assures Armenians that Georgia is unwilling to open
the border and that’s why they can leave for home.

On October 7 Armenian consul to Tbilisi and an embassy employee left
for Upper Lars to learn about the situation at the spot.

The border opening depends on Russia’s decision, in fact. While
theRussian guards were waiting for an order to open it for 3 hours, no
order came from above. Russian authorities must be considering Darial
gorge a passing pointfor terrorists whereas everything seem quiet here
but for Arshak shivering with cold at night.

Some of the Armenian drivers at the Georgian side would gladly return
home if they had money. They have paid all necessary Georgian customs
duties but now they have to pay also to return, never crossing the
border. But they donâ=80=99t even have money for food.

Another driver Arkady Sahakian said that they allow them to go to the
nearest kiosks on the Georgian side twice a day for the necessary
stuff (they are now on a neutral territory). Kiosks, in their turn,
raised prices. The situation may easily turn into a humanitarian
disaster if it keeps this pace.

Drivers catch cold, they didn’t take bath for a month, and there isno
water and toilet. “Uncertainty” is the word to describe the
situation. People have T-shirts on whereas winter is taking ground in
the gorge.

A citizen of Byelorussia, Leonid Dubina, is exporting Noyan juices to
Moscow. “We have no way back unlike the Armenian drivers. No one is
bothered about us”, he said adding that Armenian drivers share their
food with them.

Sergey Kislitsa and Sergey Korolyov from Ukraine convey caoutchouc to
Donetsk. “We are hostages here. We have nothing to eat. We decided to
call a hunger strike but Russian guards are mocking at us telling to
turn to president Putin”, they said.

A bus heading for Krasnodar from Yerevan has been waiting at the
Georgian side for 38 days. There were only 8 passengers on the bus by
October 7, all others turned back to Armenia. Other 8 Armenians are
citizens of Russia.

Teacher Elya Babayan lives in Armavir. She has sold all her possession
and immigrated to Russia. The family is waiting for her but there is
no hope that she will reach her new home. “There is no way back. I
have no money left. We all sleep in the bus”, Elya says.

Elizaveta Badalian, 68, is a doctor from Vladikavkaz. “I am helping
the sick here, and now ask for help. It’s already cold here. I want my
home,in the end”.

By Tatoul Hakobian, Upper Lars and Aghavni Harutyunian, Tbilisi

P.S. Armenian embassy to Georgia supported in writing the article

Azer News, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2004

Armenia postpones talks on Upper Garabagh conflict

Yerevan has put forth an initiative to postpone the talks over the
Upper Garabagh conflict after the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents in Astana. Commenting on the matter, Azeri Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov confirmed the fact that the

Armenian side had requested a delay to analyze the outcome of the
negotiations held thus far. It is not clear yet when the talks will
continue, he said. Azimov said there is no need for a meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ special envoys, as all issues
related to the conflict settlement are discussed during regular
meetings of the two countries’ foreign ministers. At the Astana
summit Azerbaijan called on Armenia to recognize its territorial
integrity and withdraw its armed forces from the occupied lands.

Azimov stressed that the Azerbaijani government is ready to ensure
the security of the Armenian community in Upper Garabagh if Armenia
accepts the terms put forward by Azerbaijan.

Turkey’s mediation
Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers did not meet in
New York, as expected, but such a meeting may be held in the
foreseeable future. Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said the
meeting was postponed for technical reasons and it will now depend on
Turkey whether or not it will take place. Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul said his country would continue making efforts to ensure
the talks continue and a trilateral meeting is held. Although the
three ministers did not meet in the United States, the Turkish
Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with his Azerbaijani and
Armenian counterparts. Ways of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict
and the role of the United Nations in this process were discussed.
During his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian, Turkish
Minister Gul took interest in the results of the meeting held by the
Azeri and Armenian presidents in Astana.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

October 7, 2004

ANEC PARTICIPATES IN PAN-DIASPORA CONFERENCE AT THE CILICIAN SEE

by Gilda B. Kupelian

NEW YORK, NY-” Armenia and the Diaspora must mutually complement and
strengthen each other in all spheres of our life. Otherwise, our nation will
be doomed to polarization. Resting on our laurels will lead us to stagnation
if we do not transform it to vision and commitment to forge our future.”
These were introductory remarks made by His Holiness Aram I, as he addressed
over one hundred educators in attendance at the “Armenian Education Today in
the Diaspora” conference organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia in
Antelias, Lebanon. Held in August, the conference aimed at redefining
Armenian Education vis-à-vis the new challenges and realities of the present
world.

Educators including curriculum designers, textbook authors, seasoned
principals and dedicated teachers from the Diaspora hailed from as far as
Australia, the United States, Canada, Armenia, Argentina, and for the first
time Turkey, truly representing all communities of the Diaspora.

The Pontifical message to approach the pan-Diaspora conference in “a
critical and holistic way” set the tone for the ensuing proceedings.
Evaluation of the current state of Armenian Education in the context of
pluralistic societies with diverse perspectives culminated in identifying
the emerging concerns and perspectives.

Initiated by His Holiness himself, the conference was considered a
steppingstone to developing a pan-Armenian policy on education. Vehapar
predicated that such a policy would have to critically review the present
educational methodologies, strategies and programs; take into consideration
the impact of globalization and aim to make education “more relevant and
credible”. Attending all the sessions personally, His Holiness highlighted
the merging concerns and presented his views and recommendations.

The salient points of deliberations focused on the vision for the future,
the role of the church family in forming Armenian youth; ways to prepare new
cadres of educators; how to change Armenian formation from need to a daily
challenge; the proper use of technology; the issues of textbooks, children’s
literature, pedagogical forums; the important role of the one-day school and
extra-curricular. Presentations were made at several sessions, and Gilda B.
Kupelian, Executive Director of ANEC made a power point presentation on the
latter topics.

Also in attendance at the conference were: Mrs. Hranoush Hagopian, President
of the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Armenian Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia; Mr. Levon Ananian, President of the Writers Union of Armenia;
Dr. Zaven Yegavian representing the Caloust Gulbenkian Foundation; and Mr.
Yervant Pamboukian representing the Cilician Catholicosate Central Board.

The visionary and goal-oriented conference qualified as a meeting of the
minds. It was further enriched by the experiential diversity it represented
and motivated by the spirit of cooperation it exuded.

The full text of His Holiness’s opening message to the conference is on the
Prelacy’s web page,