Author: Varosian Antranik

CENN – APRIL 21, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Call For Papers: “Caucasus Environment” – Issue Dedicated to
Biodiversity
2. MDF-Training and Consultancy
3. Mekong Media Seminar: Final call for Journalist Application

1. CALL FOR PAPERS: “CAUCASUS ENVIRONMENT” – ISSUE DEDICATED TO
BIODIVERSITY

Dear colleagues!

As you probably know, CENN (Caucasus Environmental NGO Network) together
with Armenian and Azeri partners, is publishing quarterly regional
environmental magazine – `Caucasus Environment’, which has scientific,
educational, popular character. () The `Caucasus
Environment’ is bilingual (English and Russian) publication. The aim of
CENN is to create an independent high quality publication on
environmental issues – a magazine that could educate, inspire and
empower Caucasus citizens to make a difference for the environment. The
regional magazine covers not only purely ecological matters, but also
issues concerning the environment as a whole. These include the natural
environment, social environment (the interconnection between the
environment and poverty, gender issues, demography, health, historical
cultural heritage, ethnography, archaeology, geopolitical issues, etc.),
industry & environment, agriculture, tourism, land use, cadastre and all
types of characteristics and peculiarities of the Caucasus region,
defining environment in a broad sense. The Magazine is distributed
worldwide.

The coming issue of the “Caucasus Environment” Magazine is dedicated to
the BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY of the Caucasus. (Caucasus – meaning not only
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also southern regions of Russia,
Iran and Turkey. We are looking for your articles, dedicated to the
following themes:

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

4. Relict, endemic and rare species of flora and fauna…
5. Endangered species and species, typical for Caucasus…
6. Commercially important species and habitats (medical herbs, game
birds etc.)…
7. Refugiums and places with especially high biodiversity rates…
8. Zoos/ cities
9. Stray animals
10. Genetically modified organisms
11. Farm animals
12. Any other issue related to biodiversity of the Caucasus

NOTE!
Due to large number of articles we receive for each issue, we have
worked out Rules of submission:

1. Preliminary letter of interest, describing theme of article and its
brief abstract should be submitted latest on 15 May 2004. Please, submit
your letters as early as possible, so that we have time to work on the
article! Articles and letters can be sent to the following addresses:
[email protected] [email protected] Letters and articles can be
sent in English or Russian language.

2. The article itself should be submitted latest on 1 June 2004. We may
not accept articles that are sent without preliminary notification
letter (15 May), or the articles that are sent after the final deadline
(1 June 2004).

3. Please note that generally we do not accept articles that were
already published (though there could be exceptions), we do not accept
statistical materials, or the articles that contain only well known
data.

4. The size of article should be maximum 2 pages (4 000 symbols), each
language.

5. Priority is given to the articles that are prepared by regional
efforts (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Caspian
States etc.). Priority is also given to the articles that contain
photos, are prepared in both languages (Russian and English).

6. Contact with authors: as the topics are finalized, we provide all
authors with edited and proved versions of their articles, and wait for
their approval for 3 working days. After this time, we have the right
either to use or reject the article on our own decision. On request of
an author, we can place his/her contact address, e-mail or phone in the
article. For NGOs, we can place advertisement of their production
(`green’ products, juices, fruit, solar power etc.) with special price.
Contact us on e-mail or phone for details.

7. Please, let us know, if there is something you specially like/
dislike about our magazine, as we always look for better communication
ways and opportunities.

8. Become MEMBER OF THE CAUCASUS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY AND GET OUR
MAGAZINE FREE OF CHARGE!!! For more information, please see:

9. We encourage all of you to send us your articles, as it is a best
chance to let the World know about your country, your activities, your
NGO and yourself! It is a good way to find reliable partners, friends,
donors, ideas, programs and – last not least – the most actual and
updated information about our common house – the Caucasus. We will be
happy to have articles not only from Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, but also articles provided by the
specialists and scientists interested in this region.

Looking forward to receive your feedback!

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Nakashidze

Editor-in-Chief
CAUCASUS ENVIRONMENT Magazine
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network

Tel: +995 32 92 39 46
GSM: +995 99 51 67 09
Fax: +995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

2. MDF-TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY

Management for Development Foundation from the Netherlands is a
worldwide operating training and consultancy firm specialised in
capacity building, project management, and the standard EU management
method PCM, Project Cycle Management.

In the period 10 May – 4 June 2004 MDF organises for the 61th time its
internationally reputable Project Management Course in Ede, The
Netherlands. This course is based on the PCM method and offers managers
of developmental organisations, projects or activities everything they
might need in terms of technical management tools, personal skills and
human resources management methods and skills.

Today’s managers and advisors need to facilitate teams and groups to
analyse their situation and to make effective plans for action. From 2 –
10 June MDF offers a course on facilitation skills, also in the
Netherlands. This course improves your personal interaction skills,
provides insight in participative group processes and offers methods and
tools for different categories of participative decision-making events.
This course is designed and conducted in association with Bureau Frank
Little

Especially for clients in South East Europe involved with or interested
in projects or activities funded through one of the EC programmes such
as CARDS, TACIS or PHARE there is a new opportunity to get familiar with
the PCM management method. In close co-operation with Vakakis
International MDF organises two PCM courses in Athens, Greece in the
weeks of 24 May and 31 May. The first one focuses on the planning tool
Logical Framework whereas the second one concentrates more on Monitoring
and Evaluation. Together these courses cover the entire cycle of PCM
application throughout the lifespan of projects.

For more information consult our websites ( , )
or contact us on [email protected] and [email protected]

3. MEKONG MEDIA SEMINAR: FINAL CALL FOR JOURNALIST APPLICATION

Final Call for Journalist Application

Bangkok & Chiang Rai, Thailand

WWF Thailand, UNESCO Bangkok and IUCN invite environment and/or
development journalists from China, Vietnam, Laos PDR, Cambodia, Burma
and Thailand to participate in a three-day Mekong Media Seminar
scheduled to take place in Bangkok, from 22-24 June and Study trip to
Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai, from 25-26 June 2004.

This seminar is aiming to:

1. Raise awareness of media representatives of the importance and value
of the Mekong River, as well as environmental and developmental issues
of the Mekong River Basin
2. Raise awareness of media representatives of the significance of their
role and contribution to sustainable development of the Mekong River
Basin
3. Provide a platform for media representatives from Cambodia, China,
Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to discuss and plan their
concerted actions contributing to Mekong River sustainable development
4. Plan future actions of the group leading to strengthening of their
capacities and network

Please note that applicants must be currently active journalists with
serious interest and having published reports on Mekong issues. The
application should be accompanied by CV in English stating the name,
sex, current post and duties, contact address (including fax number,
e-mail address and mobile phone number, if any), and experience in
environmental and developmental journalism, should reach us by 26 April
2004. Women journalists will be given priority in selection.

Selection results will be communicated to you by the May 14, 2004.
Selected candidates will be required to prepare a short country paper on
their perspectives on the way in which Mekong-related issues are
presented in the media in their country. Highlighting issues of concern,
including participation of local communities, in relation to development
programme planning and implementation, as well as gender and
youth-related issues. The papers may include examples of news reporting
from each country that form the basis for the assessment in the paper,
and will be shared with other participants at the seminar serving as a
basis for further discussions on future media actions. The selected
candidates would have to submit the country paper by the May 31, 2004.

A limited number of grants are available to participants, at most three
from each country. Candidates who are not provided financial assistance
must meet their own costs, i.e. international travel, domestic travel
(Bangkok-Chiang Rai-Bangkok), and room and board.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Dararat Weerapong, Media and Publications Manager, WWF Thailand,
E-mail: [email protected],
Tel: (66 2) 524 6168 and (66 2) 524 6169 ext. 103,
Mobile: (66 1) 720 8662

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

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

ArmenPress
April 20 2004

RUSSIAN MEDIATOR SAYS PRAGUE MEETING RAISES OPTIMISM

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian
co-chairman in the OSCE Minks group, told Azerbaijani ATV that new
ideas about resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani opposition over
Nagorno Karabagh were put forth in a meeting in Prague between
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian and his new Azerbaijani
counterpart, Elmar Mamedyarov, mediated by the U.S., Russian and
French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Describing the meeting as
“useful”, the Russian diplomat said the co-chairmen presented their
new ideas and suggestions about how to end the conflict.
He said these new ideas will be presented to Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents, adding that the Prague meeting has brought in
some optimism about future prospects for the conflict’s resolution.
shared also by foreign ministers of the countries, who said they were
satisfied with the meeting.
Merzlyakov said the co-chairman and foreign ministers will soon
come up with a joint statement on the result of the Prague meeting.
“The new venue of the meeting can be decided only after the
presidents of the two countries are fully informed about the Prague
meeting,” Merzlyakov said.
A Baku-based 525 Gazet quoted Azeri foreign minister as saying
that the main outcome of the Prague meeting was reaching a tentative
agreement for meeting again next month. He said the meeting did not
discuss the new proposals suggested by the mediators.

Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
April 20 2004

Turks, Armenians fought war within war
Your voice: Harun Inanli

The characterization of the tragic deaths as “genocide” as stated in
David Krikorian’s “Your voice” column “Never forget Armenian
genocide” (March 30) is not true, divisive, polarizing and unethical.

I was at the luncheon when Mr. Krikorian asked the Turkish ambassador
to the United States about the alleged Armenian genocide. I heard his
question and the answer given to him by the ambassador. Mr. Krikorian
dismissed the answer, indicating that the Turkish ambassador needs to
get his facts straight.

The allegations in Mr. Krikorian’s column are old propaganda and
cannot be substantiated by historical evidence. More than 70
prominent U.S. historians signed a statement in 1985 urging Congress
to avoid legislating history and leave that task to researchers and
historians. They said “… historical evidence unearthed so far
showed that it was a civil war, mainly fought by Christian and Muslim
irregular forces …”

The truth is that the conflict was a civil war within World War I,
provoked by bloody Armenian uprisings designed to establish a Greater
Armenia on Turkish soil, where the Armenians were not even a
majority. The Armenians’ irregular insurgents resorted to wide-scale,
bloody uprisings while the Ottoman Empire was fighting for its
survival. The Armenians, who were citizens of the Ottoman Empire,
supported the invading enemy armies (Russians). Since it was not
possible to distinguish between who betrayed and who did not, the
Ottoman Empire decided to relocate the Armenian population of Eastern
Anatolia, which posed a serious threat to Ottoman security and the
war effort, to nonwar zones of the empire, such as Iraq and Syria.

The British government confirms that the genocide allegation is a
mischaracterization. A press release dated July 23, 2001, by the
British ambassador to Turkey states that “these events, while tragic
and costly to both sides, could not be considered genocide.”

Due to limited resources and supplies available during a terrible
war, disease and famine took more lives than bullets and battles.
These events cost both Turks and Armenians great suffering.

While it was a terrible human tragedy, costly to both sides, it was
the Armenian uprising and betrayals triggering their deportation that
fueled a civil war during a world war.

—
Harun Inanli is an electrical engineer who has worked for a major
U.S. firm during the past 16 years. He has been living in Symmes
Township since 1988.

—
Want your voice here?
Send your column or proposed topic, 400 words or fewer, along with a
photo of yourself, to assistant editorial editor Ray Cooklis at
[email protected] or call (513) 768-8525.

SSC professor aims to debunk myths about Holocaust in book
By Jack Butterworth
Monday, April 19, 2004

PEABODY — Salem State College History Professor Christopher Mauriello
had a warning for those attending the Holocaust Center Boston North’s
annual Holocaust commemoration ceremony Sunday afternoon, especially
the 14 local survivors of the persecution and murder of 6 million Jews
that occurred from 1933-1945, which he called “one of the most
important moments in history.”

The survivors sat in the front center rows of the Peabody
Veterans Memorial High auditorium during the 90-minute ceremony, which
also included remarks by center President Robert McAndrews, Mayor
Michael Bonfanti and Jewish Federation of the North Shore officer
Merritt Mulman, music by the Gordon College Women’s choir and Shir
Shalom Children’s Choir, an interfaith service led by the Rev. Louise
Mann of Swamspcott, Rabbi Ilana Rosansky of Salem, Cantor Sam
Pessaroff of Peabody and Holocaust survivor Sonia Schreiber Weitz and
Harriet Wacks’ presentation of the Holocaust Center Service Award to
Sandy Weitz, center clerk and daughter of Sonia Weitz.

A large art display in the high school lobby included the work of
students and Peabody artist Apo Torosyan, whose relatives were caught
up in the Armenian Genocide and who presented his display, “My Story,
Everybody’s Story.”

Mauriello, who has a book in progress called “Nazi Myths,” said
the Holocaust is undergoing in-depth study by historians – not the
revisionists who deny the Holocaust ever happened, whom he dismissed
with a wave of his hand – but by researchers whose findings may force
the survivors and their families to let go of some of the feelings and
memories they carry.

“There is anxiety about this,” he admitted, “but historians have
to insist on accuracy in place of myths and misconceptions.” He said
his talk and the myths he plans to bring forward are based on
“consensus among historians” – in fact, he has asked German historians
to review a draft of his book for accuracy.

He offered four popular myths about the Holocaust, which he has
heard from students taking his course on the subject over the past
seven years: Adolf Hitler and the Nazis invented anti-Semitism and
brainwashed Germany with anti-Semitic propaganda; Hitler and the Nazis
were dominated by the notion of a Master Race; Hitler’s evil
imagination created the blueprint for the Holocaust; the Holocaust was
run by a ruthless, technocratic, centralized Nazi regime.

In fact, Mauriello told his audience, anti-Semitism has long,
deep roots in Europe, with spikes in persecution when there were
plagues, wars or other social strife. From 1933-1939 the Nazis were
careful not to alienate their political allies, the Conservatives, in
a Germany where Jews were as integrated as any in Europe. “It wasn’t
until the invasion of Poland that war made racial cleansing possible,”
he said.

As for the Master Race, Mauriello said a pseudo-science of racial
purity called Eugenics swept America as well as Europe in the early
20th Century, when county fairs gave prizes to families whose blond
hair and white skin denoted a high rate of racial purity.

Furthermore, there was no blueprint for the Holocaust, which
evolved from 1933-1939 as the Nazis grew more opportunistic. Poland
became a laboratory for racial cleansing as the Nazis tried
deportation, then ghettoization and finally racial cleansing.

Instead of a ruthless centralized regime, Hitler issued vague
orders and his bureaucrats, eager for status, credibility, promotions
and pay raises, competed to find innovative ways of making those
orders happen.

“There is no smoking gun linking Hitler to genocide,” Mauriello
said, but he didn’t let the lack of an arch-villain give his audience
any peace. “This can happen again.”

the Daily Item of Lynn and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc.

The Moscow Times
Monday, Apr. 19, 2004. Page 3

Russia Wraps Up Iraq Evacuation

The Associated Press
Chris Helgren / Reuters

A boy headed for a Russian flight hugging his father goodbye Friday in
Baghdad.- Photo

A plane filled with 117 workers evacuated from Baghdad arrived in Moscow on
Friday evening, the last flight of a mission to pull out employees of
Russian companies in the wake of a kidnapping.

The abduction Monday of eight workers for a Russian company — who were
released the next day — led to plans for a massive evacuation. But the
effort was scaled back after hundreds of workers chose to stay, including
the eight former captives.

Eight flights were envisioned originally, but the mission ended with four
and a total of 483 workers; three other flights took place Thursday.

One of those brought back Friday was Sergei Brazhnikov, who had been wounded
by a stray shot this week, news reports said. Some reports said Brazhnikov
was hit in the leg by a bullet fired by a U.S. soldier near the power
station where he was working south of Baghdad.

But in footage on state television from Baghdad, Brazhnikov said, “Who and
what I don’t know. … I was caught by the fire.”

He said U.S. forces airlifted him to a field hospital, where he was operated
on.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said it was up to Russian
companies to decide whether to evacuate their employees.

“The Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens in Iraq today,
just as the coalition forces cannot do so,” he said.

Russia strongly opposed the U.S.-led war and has no military presence in
Iraq. But Russian media reports estimated Russian contracts in Iraq at up to
$1 billion and said some companies were trying to avoid massive losses
resulting from the evacuation.

Yakovenko said the evacuations do not mean that Russia is abandoning its
contracts in Iraq.

“As soon as the situation stabilizes in terms of security, our specialists
will return there,” he said. “In no way are we leaving Iraq.”

Ukraine has 1,650 soldiers under Polish command in southern Iraq. Itar-Tass
said those evacuated Thursday also included citizens of Belarus, Tajikistan
and Armenia, which do not have troops in Iraq.

The Moscow Times
Hot News

Armenian President blames extremists for disturbances in Yerevan

RosBusinessConsulting. Wednesday, Apr. 14, 2004, 7:28 PM Moscow Time

Forces that propagate political extremism should bear full responsibility
for the recent incidents in Yerevan, Armenian President Robert Kocharian
declared at a meeting with members of the Board of the United Communist
Party. During the meeting the President underlined the necessity of a
dialogue between the opposition and the ruling coalition. However, he
pointed out, “It is impossible to begin a dialogue when the opposition uses
the language of ultimatums,” the press service of the Armenian President
reported. As for the events that took place early in the morning on April
13, Kocharian remarked that the police had used exclusively legal methods
for restoring public order. He stated that the work of both the opposition
and the ruling party should be aimed at increasing the people’s well-being
and controlling some aspects of the government’s work. “At present, the
opposition has every chance to return to its normal activity, but if it
chooses a different policy, the government, using every legal method
available, will make efforts to prevent any illegal actions and to protect
the people,” Kocharian underscored, the ARMINFO news agency reported.

ANKARA WILL NOT ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH YEREVAN: TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO BAKU

BAKU, APRIL 10. ARMINFO. In his conversation with journalists in Baku,
Turkish Ambassador denied reported plans of opening state border
between Turkey and Armenia, TURAN reports. He said that Ankara’s
position was remaining unchanged: Ankara would not establish relations
with Yerevan until Armenia does not show willingness to establishment
of good neighboring relations and occupies a constructive position on
Karabakh settlement.

According to unofficial reports, I.Aliyev will visit Ankara on 13-15
April.

CSTO intends to cooperate with NATO in fighting terrorism

ITAR-TASS

By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
April 10, 2004

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) intends to
cooperate with NATO in fighting terrorism, drugs trafficking and other
threats, the CSTO’s Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said here on
Saturday summing up his working visit to Armenia.

“Nowadays every country is facing common problems and challenges and
it does not matter if a country plans to enter NATO or is a member of
the CSTO.”

He said, “There is no military threat now but there are totally
different threats instead. Drugs and terrorism are the most
troublesome threats for all countries, including those in the
Caucasus.”

The CSTO leadership understands that “NATO is an active player. This
is a structure which is present both in Central Asia and
Transcaucasia,” Bordyuzha said.

That is why the CSTO “supposes to cooperate with NATO in order to
double efforts in fighting terrorism, drugs trafficking, illegal
migration, trade in human beings, organized crime groups,
proliferation of arms and explosives,” Bordyuzha said.

A1 Plus | 14:51:39 | 06-04-2004 | Social |

STATEMENT BY ONNIK KRIKORIAN

At the rally on April 5 Armenian from Diaspora Onnik Krikorian, press
photographer of “Hetq” Internet site of Investigating Journalists’
Association, was beaten while performing his professional duties.

He has appeared today with a statement. Here we represent it.

“In the aftermath of yesterday’s attack on journalists and photographers
covering the rally organized by the National Unity Party of Artashes
Geghamian, I am obliged to issue a statement regarding the events that
resulted in a number of media representatives being attacked by men
identified as working for the authorities.

In particular, I am concerned by coverage of the event on state-sponsored
Public TV. In their reports, Public Television — which is broadcast via
satellite to the Diaspora — lay the blame on the opposition for the attacks
despite all eye witness accounts identifying the men as having the
protection of the state.

As a British citizen who was hit in the face by one of the thugs and who
approached two policemen who witnessed events but refused to intervene, I
can state quite categorically in the instances that I witnessed at least,
that nobody in the crowd responded to the provocation. Moreover, it was
plainly clear that the group of men were there with the full knowledge and
protection of the Armenian police.

In light of Public TV’s attempts to propagandize yesterday’s events as
evidence of violence by those attending an otherwise peaceful rally, the
authorities must respect the role of journalists in this period of
confrontation. I urge Public TV to report the facts and not to disseminate
propaganda that they know to be untrue in order to fulfil the orders of the
state and to escalate an already tense situation.

In particular, it should be noted that Public TV did not report the presence
of half a dozen men believed to be hired muscle despite the large number of
people, including foreign citizens, that saw them attack journalists and
citizens alike without any provocation.

Journalists are not parties to this conflict between the opposition and the
government. Journalists are responsible for covering the events and I call
upon both sides and especially the police to respect that role”.

—

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 6 2004

AZERBAIJAN ARMED FORCES READY TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITH US ARMED
FORCES
[April 06, 2004, 23:17:50]

On 6 April, defense minister of Azerbaijan, colonel-general Safar
Abiyev met wit the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Mr. Reno Harnish,
defense minister’s press service told AzerTAj.

Greeting the Ambassador, the defense minister highlighted on his
visit to the United States. He, in particular, expressed his consent
with the step-by-step settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict
proposed by the US defense minister D. Ramsfeld during his meeting
and creation by Congressman Kurt Weldon of the `Koros’ working group
to support Azerbaijan.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev exchanged views with Mr. Reno Harnish on
his other meetings as well, and noting that he was satisfied with
conclusions of the visit in the whole, said: `The Armed Forces of
Azerbaijan are always ready to develop cooperation with the US Armed
Forces’.

Ambassador Reno Harnish congratulated the defense minister on his
successful visit, noting that this visit serves the interests of both
countries and therefore is useful.

Then, the Ambassador and the defense minister had comprehensive
exchange of views on the prospects of the US-Azerbaijan military
links. Ambassador Reno Harnish expressed his satisfaction with the
proposals of the US defense minister D. Ramsfeld on step-by-step
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, saying that the US
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Rudolph Perina would be replaced
with Ambassador Steve Mann. We are convinced that he will give new
impetus to the negotiations, the Ambassador stressed.

Touching upon the activity of the units of the Azerbaijan Armed
Forces in the peacemaking operations, colonel-general Safar Abiyev
said that the Azerbaijan side, as a member of the anti-terror
coalition, is going to continue participation at these operations and
keeps under control activity of these units.

Parties have also dwelt on the preparation process of the
`Cooperative Best Effort-04′ field trainings due in Baku current year
and ways of resolution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev said: ` In settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict, the justice cannot serve the aggressor. The
justice is: the occupied lands of Azerbaijan should be liberated’.

Ambassador Reno Harnish stated: `We want to reach peaceful and long
term settlement of the conflict. On your return from the United
States, you have stated that the war can begin in every moment’.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev said: `Internal situation in Armenia is
very tense. In case of losing control over the situation, the leaders
of Armenian state can begin the war. Besides, they think of how to
impede construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. As a
defense minister, I see it and warn the public. We must be always
ready to defend territorial integrity of our state’.