Author: Virabian Jhanna

THIS SUMMER ABOUT 100 PARENTLESS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO HAVE REST
IN CAMP AT ST. CROSS CHURCH

AKHALKALAKI, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). This summer about 100 parentless
and vulnerable children of Akhalkalaki will have a rest in a camp at
the St. Cross church, which is organized by the Samtskhe-Javakheti
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Participants of the camp are
taught religion and the Armenian history. Taking into account their
social conditions, the children will also undergo medical
examination. Pilgrimage to saint and historical sights (Gumbordo,
Tmkaberd, etc.) is also within the program. The Pan-Armenian Youth
Foundation and American-Armenian philanthropists Shake and Poghos
Terterians have sponsored the camp program.

American Daily, OH
Aug 11 2004

Slander – Liberal Lies About Christianity
By Bruce Walker (08/28/2003)

Ann Coulter wrote a magnificent book describing how liberals slander
conservatives. This deliberate campaign of defamation also describes
how liberals approach traditional Christianity. Belief in a Creator
whose moral authority transcends every conceivable ideology or
institution of man is anathema to the secular dogmatists of the Left.

Consequently, Leftism is hostile to any serious ethical monotheism.
But Christianity is to Leftists what America was to the Soviet Union:
the `Main Enemy.’ Why? Because Christianity teaches us that though we
are born with murder in our hearts, God can replace that murder with
love.

The good news of Christianity contradicts all the bad news of class
exploitation theories, racial hatred, sexism, and any other social
pathology which poisons people against other people. Christianity
says that material accomplishments will never change the world,
conquering armies will never change the world, and only divine love
can change the world.

This threatens everyone who craves power, prestige and popularity –
those tokens of value which Leftists crave like addicts crave drugs.
No fame, fortune or power; no hordes of people screaming hoarse cries
to the Fuhrer or the Vozd can ever do what the simplest prayer of a
ordinary, trusting soul to his Creator can do.

Leftism pretends to be new and fresh, but it is ancient and foul.
Leftism was antiquated long before Marx or the revolutionaries of
France had their say. It is no more than envy, pride and lies dressed
in finery.

Leftists once whispered to Alexander the Great that more conquests
and slaughter would make him a god. It proclaimed to the brutally
efficient Romans that aqueducts and roads – `infrastructure’ –
justified the enslavement, the slaughter, and the conquest of
millions.

Leftism whispered to the Bourbons of France that the exquisite art of
Versailles made up for callousness toward the poor, and it guided
Robespierre to decapitate people with the `crime’ of noble birth
based upon the greater good of the masses.

Leftism led Hitler to Marxism, then to National Socialism and always
away from a loving God. Leftism guided the hand of Mussolini in his
first political essay – `God Does Not Exist’- and guided his life
according to that atheistic dogmatism. Leftism has guided every
Marxist leader in the Twentieth Century to casual democide,
capricious torments and blase corruption.

Leftism says above all else that the end justifies the means and that
the proper ends are no more than what men who with truncheons say
that those ends should be. Recoiling at Jesus is the instinct of all
Leftism. Redwood forests may be holy to Leftists. Academia may be
infallible truth to Leftists. Savagery in the vindication of old,
presumed wrongs may be the sacrament of Leftism. But Jesus is the
negation of these and every phantom of meaning in the ultimate
nihilism that is Leftism.

Christianity is an unparalleled force for good in human history –
whatever one believes about the metaphysical validity of Christian
doctrine – and this very success in transforming the world for the
better makes vicious slander of true Christianity is indispensable to
Leftism. Recall the motto of revolutionary socialism: `The worse, the
better.’

The defamation of Christianity is not important to other faiths.
Religiously serious Jews and Moslems, like Christians, are anchored
in transcendent values. Franz Rosenzwieg, probably the most important
Jewish theologian of the Twentieth Century, considered Christianity
to be the Judaism of non-Jews – an equally valid path to the Holy
One. Martin Buber, a Jewish theologian of equally great repute,
considered Jesus as `my brother’ and as a great Jewish teacher.

Islam considers Jesus to be a great prophet – equal in stature to
Abraham and Moses. Slandering and mocking Jesus in strictly Islamic
countries is a very serious criminal offense. No one could produce
Last Temptation of Christ in Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Pious Jews and Moslems, of course, hold different beliefs than pious
Christians. But pious Quakers, Catholics, Baptists, Mormons and
Russian Orthodox Christians hold differing beliefs regarding
Christianity as well.

All three major monotheistic religions – Jews, Moslems and the
various denominations of Christianity – believe absolutely in a
Blessed Creator of the Universe. Each submits himself to moral laws
which transcend man and mankind. Indeed, Islam roughly translates as
`submission to the will of the One Lord.’

Leftists, however, fancy themselves gods. They will always be the
worst and most emphatic slanderers of Christianity. How is this
ancient slander manifested? Not by some different version of the
absurd anti-Judaic fraud, like the Protocols of the Learned Elders of
Zion, but rather by repeating factual inaccuracies about Christians
which over time become accepted as fact.

How deeply have these slanders infected modern consciousness?
Consider some of the following `facts’ which most of us consider as
true without thought or reflection.

Christopher Columbus, we learn in history books, proved that the
world was round by traveling to what he thought was India (and was
actually the Western Hemisphere) – right? Wrong. Christians never
proposed the absurd proposition that the world was flat. Until the
1830s, no one believed that Christians in medieval Europe had ever
thought that the world was flat.

One French and two American writers – Antoine-Jean Letronne, John
Draper, and Andrew Dickson White – schemed to create a non-existent
schism between Christianity (which these men loathed) and science
(which these men thought our secular salvation). They simply said
that medieval Christians believed something that was never believed
by these Christians at all.

If anything, Christian science and Christian theology at the time of
Colombus explained the spherical nature of the Earth better than
other systems of thought. The journey of Colombus was not about
discovering the roundness of the Earth, but about finding another
route to Café and India. Why invent this myth? The purpose was to
make Christians, whose intellectual achievements were transforming
human thought, appear ignorant and childish: pure slander.

The Earth revolves around the sun, but most of us have been taught to
believe that Christians uniquely resisted this cosmological fact.
This proposition is so absurd that malice against Christianity is the
only conceivable motive for it. Every scientists involved in proving
the heliocentric theory – Copernicus, Kepler, Napier and Galileo –
were Christians. Yet the trial of Galileo is reflexively assumed as
evidence of Christian bigotry toward science. Was it?

Galileo was not tried based upon theological objections to his
theory, but rather upon scientific objections to his theory. These
scientific objections showed intellectual rigor, not laziness. The
Ptolemaic theory, which was accepted not just by Christians but by
Moslems and Jews, worked. The sophisticated system of concentric
circular orbits accurately predicted eclipses and accurately guided
ship captains across oceans.

The heliocentric theory that was proposed by Galileo, by contrast,
did not work. If his theory was true, then we should have been able
to perceive stellar parallaxes. Galileo himself acknowledged this
problem and that he could not explain the absence of such evidence.
Centuries later, a stellar parallax was observed – but this remained
a serious defect in his theory at the time of his trial.

Galileo said that the planets circle the sun. They do not. The
planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun, which is a
critically important fact in how the bodies of the solar system move
in space.

Galileo proposed a heliocentric theory of the universe rather than a
geocentric theory of the universe. He was completely wrong. The sun
travels through the cosmos, just like the Earth. It is not, as
Galileo insisted, the unmoving center of the universe.

Galileo could not answer these scientifically serious problems with
his theory, but the Catholic Church did not even demand that Galileo
stop expounding his heliocentric theory. He could even proposed that
his theory of how the heavenly bodies moved was superior to the
Ptolemaic theory. The trial of Galileo resulted in a verdict
directing that he cease teaching his theory as fact.

Education, at this time, was taught in religious institutions
throughout the world. Consequently, the Catholic church had a duty to
protect students from intellectually false studies. That was all
which the trial purported to address, and the Church was right and
Galileo was wrong: the theory he proposed was wrong in two critical
areas and was unprovable as fact in those areas in which his theory
contained some scientific truth.

These two misrepresentations of Christian intellectual understanding
were calculated slanders. Even worse have been those slanders which
paint Christians as bigoted and immoral. How often have we been
warned about the horrors of the Salem Witch Trials? Hollywood and
every other vehicle for Christophobic venom has painted this as one
of the darkest chapters of religion and justice in human history.

This episode is important because it is the worst example that
anti-American Christophobes can find of religious injustice in
America, but consider the actual facts of the cases.

In 1692 a total of twenty people were executed for witchcraft. Within
five years of these executions, the Massachusetts general court
offered public repentance for these actions. It also deplored the
action of the judges in these cases. One of these judges publically
confessed his sin from the pulpit. The jurors who convicted the
alleged witches signed a statement of regret. Member of the families
of those who had been executed were offered indemnities.

The Salem Witch Trials were an example of religious hysteria leading
to tragic results, but human history is filled with endless examples
of such punishment of the innocent. What should amaze serious
historians is the unprecedented, total and timely repudiation of this
crime by the very people who perpetrated it. When else in history has
this happened?

Moslem Turkey today does not recognize its genocide of 1.5 million
Armenian Christians in the Twentieth Century. China does not
acknowledge any fault in its genocide of Tibetan Buddhists. The
Soviet Union never apologized for its extermination of millions of
believing Christians.

But Christians in New England, over three centuries ago, took their
miscarriage of justice very seriously and did precisely what Jesus
instructed them to do: repent quickly and completely. Why does
Hollywood and history books make so much of this event?

The answer to that question is easy: how many of you knew only about
the witch trials themselves, often in great detail, but knew nothing
at all about the utter and absolute repudiation of this sad episode
by the Christians of Massachusetts Bay Colony within five years of
the trials?

Why do most people know nothing about the 1.5 Million Polish
Christians stuffed into cattle cars and sent to concentration camps
by Soviets between September 1939 and June 1941? Why do most people
not know that Germans joining the Schutzstaffel or `SS’ – the
monsters who perpetrated the Holocaust – were required to renounce
their Christianity?

Christians are blamed for the Holocaust. This horrific slaughter of
more than six million Jewish men, women and children is rightly
condemned as among the worst crimes of the Twentieth Century or,
indeed, of human history.

But the very first people who voluntarily opposed Hitler and his Nazi
Regime out of religious conscience were the Protestant clergy of
Germany. Had they simply ignored the evil of Nazism, they could have
lived in relative comfort and safety. Most did not.

The political ruler in Europe who risked the most to save Jews, who
did so with no hope for any earthly reward, and who saved at least
forty thousand Jews from extermination, was also the most profoundly
religious political ruler on the continent of Europe: Francisco
Franco of Spain.

When Tsarist Russia began its last round of pogroms at the end of the
Nineteenth Century, the loudest voices in opposition were Christian
church leaders from around the world. When the long exile of Jews
from England ended, this was the result of the only governor of
England who owed his power specifically because of the utter support
of pious Christians, Oliver Cromwell, the great Puritan commander.

When Jews first found a real home after the diaspora, the safety and
security of America, it was George Washington, who embraced
Christianity more seriously than perhaps any president in American
history, who wrote his famous `Letter to the Jews of Newport.’

This document, which is still read every year in some synagogues,
goes far beyond simple toleration, which cynical and irreligious
European rulers of the Enlightenment had often offered Jews, but
protection against bigotry and persecution. The letter is not
legalism, but morality – Christian morality – that welcomed Jews to
America.

Leftists lie about Christianity. Leftists slander Christians because
as look as people worship a loving God in a gentle theology, they
will never worship the secular gods of a hateful misology.

Bruce Walker has been a dyed in the wool conservative since, as a
sixth grader, he campaigned door to door for Barry Goldwater. Bruce
has had almost two hundred published articles have appeared several
professional and political periodicals.

AZERI DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES HEAD OF GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OF
PAKISTAN ARMY

BAKU, AUGUST 9. ARMINFO-TURAN. Prospects of military cooperation
between Azerbaijan and Pakistan have been discussed at today’s meeting
between Safar Abiyev, Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, and Muhammed
Aziz Han, head of general headquarters of the Pakistan Army.

Press service of the Defense Ministry reports that the parties
exchanged opinions on military-political situation in South Asia and
South Caucasus. The parties noted they had similar opinions on several
principal issues.

Muhammed Aziz Han highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s permanent support to
Pakistan on Kashmire issue. He also confirmed Islamabad’s support to
Baku position on Armenian- Azeri conflict.

Muhammed Aziz Han invited Safar Abiyev and delegation of the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan to participate in international armament
exhibition in Pakistan. The invitation was accepted, reports the same
source.–

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

THE PAN-DIASPORA CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS CONCLUDES ITS WORK

ANTELIAS, LEBANON – Initiated by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and
organized by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia an International
Conference on Armenian education was held in the Armenian Theological
Seminary, in Bikfaya, Lebanon from 5-7 August 2004. The theme of the
Conference was “The Armenian Education in the Diaspora”. About one
hundred people from different parts of the world, from communities
living in different political, cultural and religious contexts came
together to focus their attention on issues pertaining to the
Armenian-Christian formation today in a new world setting.

In his opening address His Holiness Aram I identified the concerns and
challenges facing the Armenian Christian education in the context of
pluralistic societies. He addressed a number of critical issues, and then
posed two questions. What does it mean to be Armenian Christian? How should
we form the Armenian Christian for tomorrow? His Holiness underscored the
crucial importance of re-evaluating and renewing our educational
methodologies, strategies and programs by making them more relevant and
reliable. At the end of his address His Holiness proposed that Armenia and
Diaspora together engage in a process of developing a Pan-Armenian
educational policy with particular emphasis on the worldwide Armenian
Diaspora.

The agenda of the conference included the following topics: The actual state
of education in different continents where Armenian communities live; the
implications of globalization to education; the role of the church in
Armenian Christian formation; the family as an important educational
instrument; the impact of pluralistic societies on Armenian Education; the
use and misuse of technology in education; the role of the textbooks and the
extra curricula activities; human resources: formation and training; the
contribution of the Saturday schools, Sunday schools and children’s camps to
education; the importance of new community schools for the Armenian
communities established in the West.

The conference addressed these and a number of related matters through
papers, panel discussions and hearings. The active participation of young
educators and women provided new perspectives and dynamism to the
discussion. They challenged the traditional views and approaches and
constantly reminded that in a new world context a renewed perception and
vision of education are imperative. They echoed the challenge of His
Holiness that in the present world of globalization and communication and in
a context of new societies, our education must become more responsive and
attractive.

His Holiness personally attended all the sessions and at the end of each
session he highlighted the emerging concerns and views.

The conference, which was an unprecedented event in the contemporary
Armenian history, summarized its findings in a declaration where a
particular emphasis was laid on the importance of translating the
Conference’s reflection into action.

In his closing remarks His Holiness Aram I identified three words which
should occupy a central place in our educational work: “relevance, coherence
and integrity”. He said “We are living in different contexts. We must,
therefore, develop different educational procedures and strategies. We are
citizens of different countries, yet we are Armenians and part of the
globalized world. We have our own convictions, values and norms, but we are
living in a new environment. Hence, it is vitally important that we develop
the kind of educational policy that provides integrity, relevance and
coherence to our educational work, at the same time preserving our distinct
Armenian Christian identity. This is a great challenge before us and we must
take it seriously and responsibly”, said His Holiness.

##

View printable pictures here:

***********

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

New York Times, NY
Aug 7 2004

Trying to Stop Surge of Illegal Migrants, Mexican Authorities Meet
Them at the Airport
By GINGER THOMPSON

Published: August 8, 2004

Arturo Fuentes for The New York Times

Illegal migrants being held last week at a detention center east of
Mexico City. Mexico has detained 112,000 illegal migrants so far this
year, and the authorities expect total detentions in 2004 to reach
200,000.

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 7 – It’s 6 p.m., the busiest time of night during
the busiest time of the year at Benito Juárez International Airport.

The migration supervisor, Alberto Pliego, calls it Jumbo Hour. It
looks a lot like a human salmon run.

Mr. Pliego has at least six 747’s pulling in from Frankfurt, Madrid,
Paris, Amsterdam and Vancouver, and five agents. Their job is to
stand in front of the flow of passengers pouring from the planes and
pick out which ones are tourists and which are migrants trying to get
past them and get to the United States.

“A migrant who makes it past the airport today,” Mr. Pliego said,
“will be in Tijuana tomorrow, and probably in Chicago the day after
that.”

Migrant smugglers – whose business is worth an estimated $1 billion
in this hemisphere, second in profits to drugs – do a brisk business
at the airport, which receives about 10,000 passengers each day.

Mr. Pliego’s suit and tie made him look a little too buttoned down to
guard against some of this country’s most unscrupulous criminal
operations. But by the end of the night, he had stopped more than a
dozen Brazilians who tried to enter Mexico as tourists, but lacked
suitcases, hotel reservations or credit cards. He supervised the
deportation of two undocumented Armenians. Three Guatemalans were
caught trying to enter the country with false visas. And one of Mr.
Pliego’s agents caught four undocumented Chinese travelers lingering
over soft drinks and sandwiches in an airport restaurant.

The agent spoke no Chinese. The Chinese spoke no Spanish. But in
limited English, each side seemed to completely understand the other.

The agent speculated that the Chinese men were waiting for a guide to
help them get past migration checkpoints.

The Chinese said they were hungry.

The agent asked the Chinese for their travel visas.

The Chinese said they planned to stay in Mexico for only one night.

The agent escorted the Chinese men back to the same airplane on which
they had arrived, ordering them back to Amsterdam.

The Chinese boarded without putting up a fight.

The Mexican authorities report that a surging number of migrants from
all around the world are traveling through Mexico to get to the
United States. So far this year, Mexico has detained nearly 112,000
illegal migrants, compared with 150,000 in all of 2001. Authorities
said they expected total detentions for this year to reach 200,000.
The Mexicans are under tough pressure from the United States, which
since Sept. 11 has feared that global terrorists could easily slip
into Mexico and then cross into the United States.

The overwhelming majority of those detained are from Central and
South America, authorities report. But there are also increasing
numbers from as far away as Pakistan, Armenia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Poland, Ethiopia and China.

The migrants often arrive at Mexico’s main airports and then travel
by land to the border. But illegal migration routes and methods are
as diverse as the people who use them. On Wednesday, the Mexican
authorities detained four Chinese migrants on a private jet that made
an emergency landing for fuel in the southern state of Chiapas. The
pilots reported that they had picked up their undocumented passengers
in Caracas, Venezuela, and that they planned to deliver them to
smuggling contacts at a small airport north of Mexico City.

At a migration detention center to the east of Mexico City holding
500 people of every background, each farmer, bricklayer, auto
mechanic and accountant had an epic story to tell. The director of
the center, Hugo Miguel Ayala, said the migrants came from more than
a dozen countries.

Among them was a 35-year-old Ethiopian woman named Alemayehu, who
said she traveled from her homeland to Egypt, Moscow, Havana and
Nicaragua before boarding a bus bound for Mexico City, hoping to
reach New York.

And there was Yu Youqiang, who left his wife and small daughter in
Fujian, China, to seek work in New York. He said he traveled to
Frankfurt, then to Mexico taking nothing but a backpack and travel
instructions from a smuggler scribbled on a scrap of paper.

A 32-year-old vegetable vendor, Mr. Yu said he had made it all the
way to the border before he was caught by the Mexican authorities in
a town whose name he could not recall. He said he had paid smugglers
$5,000 for help reaching the United States. Relatives, he said, had
agreed to pay $25,000 more once he arrived in New York.

“We come through Mexico because it’s cheaper,” he said in English and
through a translator. He said some Chinese migrants flew directly to
the United States from Hong Kong. But false visas cost a lot. And
entering the United States through an airport is much harder than
entering through the border.

“They say that it’s easy to get across,” Mr. Yu said. “You just have
to walk.”

It’s fairly easy for Brazilians to enter Mexico. They are among 46
nationalities that are not required to get Mexican visas. The Mexican
authorities report that Brazilians are coming in droves, and heading
straight for the United States.

Migrants’ passage through Mexico, while not new, is surging. The
country’s border with the United States has long made it a natural
transshipment point for all kinds of illegal trafficking including
drugs, guns and migrants. But since the Sept. 11 attacks against the
United States, migration has become a national security priority –
and often the source of diplomatic tensions – for authorities on both
sides of the United States-Mexico border.

The United States has pressed hard on the Mexican government to
increase security at its airports and borders, and to crack down
against the criminal organizations that smuggle migrants into the
United States, arguing that smugglers – known in Mexico as coyotes –
could be easily enlisted by terrorists.

Mexico, cash poor and rife with corruption, struggles to comply with
its neighbor’s demands.

In an interview, Interior Minister Santiago Creel said Mexico had
made important strides in preventing this country from becoming a
transshipment point for terrorists. In December, the government
upgraded systems that track foreigners who enter and reside in
Mexico. In the last two years, Mr. Creel said, the government has
dismantled more than 10 important migrant smuggling organizations,
including one that was led by some 44 migration agents and police
officers. But so far, the authorities have not detained any suspected
terrorists trying to enter the United States from Mexico.

Mexico seems burdened in the struggle. While illegal migration
through Mexico has increased by 144 percent over the last year,
authorities said, the National Migration Institute has grown less
than 10 percent. Magdalena Carral, the commissioner of the institute,
says she has about $140 million a year to spend on security at all of
Mexico’s airports, seaports and land borders. The United States
spends some $700 million to secure its borders, and the United States
Border patrol has tripled in size. Ms. Carral said that while more
than 14,000 American agents patrol the 2,000-mile United
States-Mexico border, Mexico has fewer than 329 agents covering its
700-mile border with Guatemala.

“The question we must ask is are we in a better position today to
stop the flow of migrants through the country, and the answer to that
question is yes,” said Mr. Creel, the interior minister. “But if you
ask do we have systems that are able to stop anyone and everyone from
crossing, the answer is no.

“We do not have such systems,” he added, “but neither does the United
States.”

That point became alarmingly clear two weeks ago with the arrest of a
48-year-old woman carrying a ripped South African passport and $7,000
in assorted currencies.

United States Border Patrol officers detained the woman, Farida
Goolam Mahomed Ahmed, at an airport in the border city of McAllen,
Tex. Initial reports following Ms. Ahmed’s detention indicated that
she was being held in federal custody as a suspected terrorist. Two
weeks later, authorities have failed to charge Ms. Ahmed with
anything more than illegally entering the United States and altering
a passport.

Still, Mexicans and Americans said her case was a reminder that the
border they share remains porous and unsafe, that migrant smuggling
thrives and that the threat of a terrorist entering from Mexico
remains real.

One Mexico City columnist proclaimed this week, without supporting
evidence, that Al Qaeda was operating in Mexico. The American
authorities and a high-level intelligence official in Mexico’s
Interior Ministry dismissed the column. However, the Mexican official
acknowledged that the possibility is worrisome.

“Welcome,” he said, “to my nightmare.”

Gustavo Mohar, a migration expert who formerly served in Mexico’s
Foreign Ministry, said: “It is a very frightening scenario, but real.
If we continue to have a border that allows tens of thousands of
people to cross without papers, you never know when you are going
have someone cross who is a threat.”

CENN- DAILY DIGEST AUGUST 6, 2004
Table of Contents:
1. 2004 World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings — update for CSOs
2. Healthcf Journalism Workshop
3. Internship Programme
4. World Bank Sets New Rules for Oil Projects
5. Another Biodemocracy Victory in Northern California
6. OCA Organizing Film Premier/House Parties Across the U.S. September
11-12
7. Help the OCA Fight the Counter-Attack by Monsanto and the Farm Bureau

8. Vacancy Announcements

1. 2004 WORLD BANK/IMF ANNUAL MEETINGS — UPDATE FOR CSOS

Dear Civil Society Colleagues,

We would like to update you on the upcoming 2004 Annual Meetings of the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The dates of the Annual
Meetings have shifted slightly, and the Annual Meetings will now be held
over the weekend of Friday, October 1 – through Sunday, October 3 and
will take place at Bank/IMF Headquarters in Washington DC.

The Program of Seminars sessions will be held on Friday as well as the
G24 and G7 meetings. The International Monetary and Financial Committee
(IMFC) and the Development Committee (DC) will meet on Saturday. The
Plenary Session as well as the meeting of the G10 will be held on
Sunday. For more information and the schedule of events, please go to:

In an effort to address the major development challenges and in response
to requests coming from civil society, a number of Policy Dialogue
Sessions for interested CSO representatives will be organized between
Wednesday, September 29 and Tuesday, October 5. Please send your
proposals to World Bank Civil Society Team at:
[email protected]. Details of these dialogues will be posted,
as they are scheduled, on the Bank’s website for CSOs located at:
Please visit this website
frequently closer to the date to obtain the most current information and
schedule of the dialogues.

As you may know, representatives of civil society organizations, as all
visitors, must apply for accreditation in order to gain access to the
Annual Meetings venues and related events. For the 2004 Annual Meetings
CSOs are able to request accreditation through a new web-based
accreditation system. The system was launched on July 1 and the
applications for accreditation from interested CSOs will be accepted
through no later than September 3. Please note that no requests will
be considered after this date. If you are interested in participating
in the Annual Meetings and policy dialogue sessions for CSOs, please
apply for accreditation as soon as possible, and immediately proceed to
obtain a visa to enter the US, should you need one.

More information on the accreditation process can be found at:

Below please find the press release issued on August 5 announcing the
final timing of the 2004 Meetings.

Inga Paichadze
External Affairs
World Bank Office Tbilisi
Tel.: + 995 32 91 30 96 / 91 26 89
Fax: + 995 32 91 34 78
E-mail: [email protected]

2. HEALTH JOURNALISM WORKSHOP

EJC will be running a Health Journalism workshop again in Maastricht
from 27-30 September 2004 for 10 Central and East European journalists.
The trainer is Oliver Wates (former Reuters). It will be a practical
workshop. Participants will write exercises on medical and general
public health issues and they will discuss and analyze the technical
process of constructing the story, how to explain complex subjects,
ensure balance, avoid scare mongering etc.

The workshop will be made possible due to the financial support of the
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. It covers travel,
hotel accommodation and subsistence. (In some cases we might ask the
media the participant is working for to contribute to the flight costs).

We are looking for:
– young English speaking and writing journalists
– three years of experience (not necessarily in health reporting)
– preferably printed press
– independent press
– specialization in health reporting is not necessary, but a strong
interest is essential
– no purely medical journalists that work for medical magazines, but
journalists that work for mainstream newspapers and magazines (respected
media, no tabloids)

Would you be able to advertise this information among your colleagues
who might be interested in attending this workshop. They can send their
application (CV and letter of recommendation from their employer) to my
email address: [email protected]. They should do this before 1 September,
if possible.

Marjan Tillmans
Project coordinator
European Journalism Centre

Regional Press Institute
Tel/fax: +7 (812) 272-4672
70 Nevsky Prospect, room 41
Phone: +7 (812) 273-4733
191025 St. Petersburg RUSSIA
E-mail: [email protected]

3. INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

Objective: The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus Internship
Programme offers an opportunity to last year students and graduates from
relevant academics departments from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to
acquire basic knowledge of environmental issues, office and project
management skills through a two week competitive training scheme, as
well as specific work experience.

Scope: Internship Programme consists of two stage competitive training
courses including: 2 week general capacity building training in Tbilisi.
Participants in the training will undergo a test, and selection will be
made from among the winners to fill the vacancies of interns in the
on-the-job training course at the REC Caucasus offices.

Dates:

Two-week general training course September 13-26, 2004

One month on-the-job training September 27 – October 25, 2004

Financial support: Selected candidates for the general training shall be
provided with full travel and accommodation support by the organizers.
The selected interns will be offered a stipend for the one month period.

Criteria for participants:

o Applicant is to be a last year undergraduate student or graduate
student at the time of application;
o Applicant is to specialize in the field of biology, chemistry,
geography, journalism, economics, law, agriculture, architecture,
management and social sciences;
o Applicant is to possess good knowledge of the language of the country
whose citizen he/she is, also of the English and Russian languages.
Computer literacy and ability to work in multicultural environment is a
must;
o Applicant is to be a resident of Armenia, Azerbaijan or Georgia.

How to apply:

Candidates must submit, an updated curriculum vitae (CV) and a letter of
motivation describing his/her interest in the REC Caucasus Internship
Programme (not more than 500 words). CV, letter of motivation and other
relevant documents (recommendation letters, certificates, etc.) are to
be delivered by post or via e-mail to:

Nino Gvazava
74, Chavchavadze Ave., office 901, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel/Fax: +99532 253649 / 253648
E-mail: [email protected]

Deadline for the application is 22 august 2004
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the interview

—————————————————–
REC Caucasus
74, Chavchavadze Ave., office 901
0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel/Fax: +99532 253649 / 253648
E-Mail: [email protected]

4. WORLD BANK SETS NEW RULES FOR OIL PROJECTS

The World Bank, the world’s largest lender to poor nations, has agreed
to new rules meant to prevent revenue from oil and gas projects going to
corrupt regimes, rejecting a call for it to pull out of those projects
altogether, reports The Calgary Herald (Canada). The Bank will require
companies and countries to disclose oil payments, and it will reveal its
internal analysis of corruption in a country before approving a loan for
an oil or gas project. The Bank must still rework some changes in the
next few weeks before they are formally adopted, Kaldany said. The
Montreal Gazette, Neue Zýrcher Zeitung, (Switzerland), Die Tageszeitung
(Germany), The National Post (Canada), Inter Press Service, and
Greenwire, also report.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the editor of The Financial Times, members of
several UK-based Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) write that, by
agreeing to the World Bank’s management response, the Bank’s board has
again taken the easy option and sided with big business and big
governments, rather than standing up for indigenous peoples, the poor
and the environment by requiring a more environmentally and socially
responsible industry for the 21st century. The letter was signed by Tony
Juniper, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth; Barbara Stocking,
Executive Director Oxfam GB; Stephen Tindale, Executive Director,
Greenpeace UK; Jonathan Glennie, Senior Policy Officer, Christian Aid;
Simon Counsell, Director The Rainforest Foundation UK; Andrew Simms,
Policy Director, New Economics Foundation; Geoff Nettleton, Director,
Indigenous Peoples Links; James Leaton, Extractive Industries Policy
Officer, WWF; UK Jeff Powell, Co-ordinator, Bretton Woods Project;
Richard Harkinson, Co-ordinator, Minewatch’ Frances Carr, Director, Down
to Earth: the International Campaign for Ecological Justice in
Indonesia; and Nick Hildyard, The Cornerhouse.

The CSO members write that, rather than insisting on strong pro-poor
conditions being in place prior to investment to ensure transparency and
local consent, the Bank has promised merely “ongoing improvements”.
Rather than a decisive step-change in investments in renewable forms of
energy, the bank has promised a small increase. And rather than
insisting on the rights of indigenous people to decide what occurs on
their lands, the bank has promised merely to “consult”, the writers say.

All the evidence supports the need for the implementation of the EIR,
say the writers. The Bank’s response, supported by the UK government, is
a disgrace. Despite the rhetoric of concern for poor people and the
environment, it appears that today more than ever the greed of the
powerful overrides the needs of the powerless. The World Bank’s failure
to respond to the recommendations of an EIR process that it commissioned
raises fundamental questions about the sincerity of the bank in
launching this and other so-called multi-stakeholder processes.

Janneke bruil
Coordinator international financial institutions program
Friends of the earth international
Tel: +31 20 622 1369

5. ANOTHER BIODEMOCRACY VICTORY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Trinity County California Votes to Ban Genetically Engineered Crops

Source :Organic Consumers Association: Biodemocracy News & Action Alert,
August 4, 2004

It was another bad day for Monsanto and the Biotech Bullies and another
victory for the grassroots. Today, August 3, 2004, Trinity County,
California became the second county in the nation to ban the production
of genetically engineered (GE) crops and animals. By a vote of three to
one, Trinity County Supervisors moved to ban GE crops and animals in
order to protect Trinity’s local economy, including its growing organic
sector, and the environment. Today’s decision comes in the wake of a
March 2 ballot victory by voters in another Northern California county,
Mendocino, banning GE crops.

In November four more of California’s 59 counties (Marin, Butte,
Humboldt, and San Luis Obispo) will be voting on ballot measures to ban
genetically engineered organisms (GMOs). Monsanto, the Farm Bureau, and
the Bayer Corporation have vowed to crush this growing “Biodemocracy”
movement, but public opposition to gene-altered crops has put the
industry on the defensive. On May 10, Monsanto was forced to cancel
plans to commercialize GE wheat, while other GMOs in the
pipeline–including trees, fish, and biopharmaceutical crops, are facing
increasing opposition, not only in the U.S., but across the world.

Trinity’s GE Ban has been supported by a broad cross-section of county
residents, including organic consumers, farmers, businesses, home
gardeners, nurseries, social workers, students, church people, teachers,
environmentalists, government employees, and investment, computer, and
health professionals,

“Today’s vote follows 25 years of tradition in Trinity County, regarding
the passage of common-sense ordinances that protect the well being of
local citizens,” said Susan Bower, local farmer and ban proponent.

6. OCA ORGANIZING FILM PREMIER/HOUSE PARTIES ACROSS THE U.S. SEPTEMBER
11-12

Source :Organic Consumers Association: Biodemocracy News & Action Alert,
August 4, 2004

Host a house party! Meet up with other anti-GE activists in your
community. Help spread GE-Free Zones nationwide. Join the OCA September
11 and 12 to host a Biodemocracy fundraiser/house party, featuring a
premier screening of the powerful documentary, “The Future of Food,” by
Debra Koons Garcia.

“The Future of Food” provides an in-depth investigation and critique of
genetically engineered foods and crops, including interviews with farmer
activists such as Percy Schmeiser, and scientific critics such as Dr.
Michael Hansen.

For a donation of $25 dollars, the OCA will send you a video or DVD of
the documentary, an OCA house party manual, and an action guide on how
to spread GE-Free Zones in your local area or region.

OCA’s goal is to have 300 simultaneous house parties across America
September 11-12. Join us to make this goal a reality!

For more information, email Ryan Zinn in the OCA’s San Francisco office
[email protected] or call 415-271-6833.

OCA is now working with grassroots activists in over 30 counties across
the country to create GE-Free Zones. But we need more volunteers and
local Biodemocracy committees to help pass GMO bans. If you wish to
volunteer, please email or call us.

7. HELP THE OCA FIGHT THE COUNTER-ATTACK BY MONSANTO AND THE FARM BUREAU

Source :Organic Consumers Association: Biodemocracy News & Action Alert,
August 4, 2004

Trinity County’s vote comes on the heels of a vicious attack in the
corporate agribusiness farm journal, Western Farm Press, on the
Biodemocracy Alliance and the OCA–accusing us, among other things, of
fear-mongering and eco-terrorism
(). But we will
not be libeled nor intimidated. Corporate agribusiness and the Gene
Giants are attacking us, not because they are confident, but because
they are scared. We and the people of the world are starting to win the
battle against GMOs and usher in a new era of safe food, family farms,
and a sustainable environment. But we need your support to defend
Mendocino and Trinity’s victories, as well as to spread Biodemocracy
across California and the Americas. Please take the time now to send us
a donation.

8. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS
8.1. AGRO-BIODIVERSITY TERMS OF REFERENCE FRUIT SPECIALIST

UNDP/GEF Project:
Recovery, Conservation, and Sustainable Use of Georgia’s Agricultural
diversity

Project Summary:
The project’s goal is the conservation and sustainable utilization of
threatened local plant genetic resources important to food and
agriculture. The project has two immediate objectives. The first is the
on-farm conservation of selected local agricultural biodiversity in
Samtskhe-Javakheti, historically the main granary of Georgia, on a pilot
demonstration basis. The second is to develop and implement a strategy
for replication of best lessons learned in conservation and utilization
of local agricultural biodiversity to other Georgian regions.

The project will address threats and root causes by concentrating its
technical and financial resources along 5 main avenues of actions.
First, it will establish sources of primary seed and planting material
for the threatened crops and fruit varieties. Second, it will strengthen
farmers’ own organizational structures (e.g. farmer association) as main
vehicles for production and distribution of seed and planting material
and experience sharing. Third, it will assist farmers in accessing
markets, including markets for organic products. Fourth, it will enhance
access to information on local agricultural biodiversity to farmers,
authorities, research stations, donors and other stakeholders and
promote information sharing among them. Finally, the project will ensure
that best lessons from project activities in Samtskhe-Javakheti are
replicated to other regions of Georgia.

Responsibilities

The Fruit Specialist will be responsible to the Project Manager. He/she
will work in close cooperation with the Agrobiodiversity Program Officer
under supervision of the Project Manager and provide needed expertise to
the Project. His/her responsibilities include but are not limited to:

– Working closely with the Project manager, program officer and other
staff of the project;
– Develop recommendations on technology for growing the targeted field
crop varieties.
– Participating in the farm works and assisting the participating
farmers with carrying them out properly and in the timely manner.
– Managing all farm operations on the project seed/planting material
multiplication fields
– Monitoring the project sites and farms regularly. Collect and analyze
all necessary data (soil, weather, diseases, pests, etc.)
– Planning and conducting survey field missions;
– For preparation of the targeted field surveys examining existing
information on globally significant agricultural diversity, including
wild relatives, their localization and level of vulnerability;
– Providing written reports of findings, including detailed map of
results.
– Consulting the participating farmers on all agronomy and farm
management issues related to the growing of the targeted plant species
– Investigating and assessing traditional knowledge possessed by the
farmers
– Providing recommendations on the type and level of training needed for
farmers or other conservation related personnel involved in the project
– Providing recommendation for a management plan for on farm
conservation measures, collection plots, nurseries and mini reserve(s);
– Assisting the Program Officer in development of agricultural diversity
data-base, brochures, handouts, booklets, other publications.

Outputs
– Work-plans and field mission plans
– Field Missions, mission reports
– Reports, maps, recommendations, photo-documentation
– In situ and ex situ conservation sites
Qualifications
– Recognized expertise in related subject;
– At least 10 years of experience in professional or academic position
– Experience working with in situ conservation of agricultural diversity

– Proven ability to effectively analyze situations and communicate
results well
– At least 1-year experience of working in donor-funded projects
– Working knowledge of computer (MS Office applications)
– Working knowledge of English is a preference

Education
– Advanced University degree in related discipline

Duty Station
Tbilisi with frequent travels to project sites in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Period of work
1 year with a view of extension of the contract up to three years.
Deadline for CV submission
August 12, 2004

Please deliver your CVs/send electronically according to the following
contact information:

ELKANA
III Delisi str. Nakveti 16
Tel: 536487 (contact person: Rusudan Nemsadze)
Fax: 536484
E-mail: [email protected]

And

UNDP
Mariam Shotadze
Program Analyst
UNDP, Georgia
Eristavi Str. 9, Tbilisi,
Tel: 25 11 28/29 or 31
Fax: 25 0071/72
E-mail: [email protected]

Important note: Interviews will be scheduled with the short listed
candidates only.

8.2. AGRO-BIODIVERSITY TERMS OF REFERENCE FIELD CROP SPECIALIST
UNDP/GEF Project: Recovery, Conservation, and Sustainable Use of
Georgia’s Agricultural diversity

Project Summary:
The project’s goal is the conservation and sustainable utilization of
threatened local plant genetic resources important to food and
agriculture. The project has two immediate objectives. The first is the
on-farm conservation of selected local agricultural biodiversity in
Samtskhe-Javakheti, historically the main granary of Georgia, on a pilot
demonstration basis. The second is to develop and implement a strategy
for replication of best lessons learned in conservation and utilization
of local agricultural biodiversity to other Georgian regions.

The project will address threats and root causes by concentrating its
technical and financial resources along 5 main avenues of actions.
First, it will establish sources of primary seed and planting material
for the threatened crops and fruit varieties. Second, it will strengthen
farmers’ own organizational structures (e.g. farmer association) as main
vehicles for production and distribution of seed and planting material
and experience sharing. Third, it will assist farmers in accessing
markets, including markets for organic products. Fourth, it will enhance
access to information on local agricultural biodiversity to farmers,
authorities, research stations, donors and other stakeholders and
promote information sharing among them. Finally, the project will ensure
that best lessons from project activities in Samtskhe-Javakheti are
replicated to other regions of Georgia.

Responsibilities

The Field Crop Specialist will be responsible to the Project Manager.
He/she will work in close cooperation with the Agrobiodiversity Program
Officer under supervision of the Project Manager and provide needed
expertise to the Project. His/her responsibilities include but are not
limited to:

– Working closely with the Project manager, program officer and other
staff of the project;
– Developing recommendations on technology for growing the targeted
field
crop varieties.
– Participating in the farm works and assisting participating farmers
with carrying them out properly and in a timely manner.
– Managing all farm operations on the project seed/planting material
multiplication fields including tillage, irrigation, weed and pest
control, rouging, yield harvesting, measuring and storing.
– Monitoring the project sites and farms regularly. Collecting and
analyzing all necessary data (soil, weather, phenology, diseases, weeds,
pests, yield, etc.) for its further utilization in technology
improvement and extension.
– Planning and making survey field missions.
– In preparation for the targeted field surveys examining existing
information on globally significant agricultural diversity, including
land races and wild relatives, their localization and level of
vulnerability;
– Conducting verification surveys of known sites of agricultural
diversity to provide up-to-date information on existing agricultural
diversity;
– Providing written reports of findings, including detailed maps of
results;
– Consulting participating farmers on all agronomy and farm management
issues related to the growing of the targeted crop varieties.
– Investigating and assessing traditional knowledge possessed by the
farmers;
– Providing recommendations on the type and level of training needed for
farmers or other conservation related personnel involved in the project.

– Providing recommendation on the management plan for on farm
conservation measures, collection plots, nurseries and mini reserve(s);
– Helping the Program Officer in development of agricultural diversity
data-base, brochures, handouts, booklets, other publications.

Outputs
– Work-plans and field mission plans;
– Field Missions, mission reports;
– Reports, maps, recommendations, photo-documentation;
– In situ and ex situ conservation sites established and became
operational.
Qualifications
– Recognized expertise in related subject;
– At least 10 years of experience in professional or academic position;
– Experience working with in situ conservation of agricultural
diversity;
– Proven ability to effectively analyze situations and communicate
results well;
– At least 1-year experience of working in donor-funded projects;
– Working knowledge of computer (MS Office applications);
– Working knowledge of English is a preference.

Education
Advanced University degree in related discipline

Duty Station
Tbilisi with frequent travels to project sites in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Period of work
3 Years (part-time)
Deadline for CV submission
August 12, 2004

Please deliver/send electronically your CVs according to the following
contact information:
ELK ANA
III Delisi str. Nakveti 16
Tel: 536487 (contact person: Rusudan Nemsadze)
Fax: 536484
E-mail: [email protected]

With CC: to
Mariam Shotadze
Program Analyst
UNDP, Georgia
Eristavi Str. 9, Tbilisi,
Tel: 25 11 28/29 or 31
Fax: 25 0071/72
E-mail: [email protected]

Important note: Interviews will be scheduled with the short listed
candidates only.

Important note: Interviews will be scheduled with the short listed
candidates only.

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

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

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 5 2004

ANDREAS GROSS: `CE HAS SPECIAL ATTITUDE FOR AZERBAIJAN’
[August 05, 2004, 11:55:17]

Meeting of PACE representatives in Milli Majlis

Arrived on August 3 with a visit to our country, co-Rapporteur of the
Monitoring Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe Andreas Gross and Andreas Herkel next day have met
representatives of the political parties represented in Milli Majlis
of Azerbaijan Republic.

Assistant to the executive secretary of `Yeni Azerbaijan’ Party,
deputy Mubariz Gurbanly, highly having estimated the relations
between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, has noted, that such
visits have great value from the point of view of development of
democracy in our country and expansions of our links.

Andreas Gross has stated that the purpose of present visit consists
in carrying out of exchange of opinions around of execution of the
obligations taken by Azerbaijan before the Council of Europe, process
of democratization proceeding in the country, the steps undertaken in
the direction of protection of the rights and freedom of the person,
the role of parliament in this business and other questions.

Then, leaders of other political parties – chairman of Social Welfare
Party Khanhuseyn Kazimli, the vice-president of Popular Front Party
Gulamhuseyn Alibeyli, the vice-president of Civil Solidarity Party
Fazail Ibrahimli have in detail informed on the reforms spent in our
country, existing problems. Deputies also have expressed the concern
on weak role of ÑÅ in settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
They have reminded, that at the introduction into the Council of
Europe Azerbaijan and Armenia have taken obligations on peace
settlement of the conflict. However, the Armenia ignores resolutions
on settlement of the conflict, and also that fact, that ÑÅ does not
apply, using its powers, sanctions concerning the aggressor that is
ambiguously perceived by the public of Azerbaijan.

Andreas Gross has noted that the Council of Europe show special
attitude to Azerbaijan. This confirms and the documents adopted by
the Organization connected with Nagorny Karabakh. But the conflict
should be settled on the basis of the arrangement of the sides.

Another co-rapporteur Andreas Herkel has stated: `The structure
represented by us is ready to make the offers connected to settlement
of the conflict. We are ready and to render the help in this cause
and we hope, that due to our joint activity we shall manage to
achieve the decision of the problem’.

Then, at the meeting, the parties had exchange of views on other
questions representing mutual interest.

***

On August 4, co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee have held
also a meeting with members of delegation of Milli Majlis of
Azerbaijan at PACE.

Having welcomed visitors, the chief negotiator of parliament of
Azerbaijan, chairman of standing committee of Milli Majlis on the
international relations and inter-parliamentary links Samad Seyidov
has congratulated again the newly appointed co-rapporteur Andreas
Herkel and has wished him successes in activity.

S. Seyidov has emphasized: `Azerbaijan is resolute in the aspiration
to carry out obligations taken before the Council of Europe. First of
all, performance of the given obligations is of great importance for
development of democratic values in our country, maximal protection
of the rights and freedom of the person. We are sure, that due to
joint activity, other questions also will find their solution. In
particular, we can undertake essential steps in the field of the
prompt peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict being a serious problem for Azerbaijan, region and, as a
whole, for all Europe.

Andreas Gross has noted: `The Council of Europe also is interested in
the decision of these questions. In most cases controversial problems
find the decision as a result of joint cooperation and activity. We
hope, as our joint, constructive activity will bear the fruits’.

Mr. Andreas Herkel has stated that he is ready to use the best
efforts for the decision of existing problems and would adequately
work in the new post.

Then, at the meeting, the parties had exchange of opinions on the
work spent in connection with obligations, taken by Azerbaijan before
ÑÅ, on existing problems, preparation for municipal elections and
other questions representing mutual interest.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Aug 2 2004

Azerbaijan: War-Mongering Or Warning?
By Liz Fuller

Over the past two weeks, one former and two current top Azerbaijani
officials have again affirmed their collective rejection of
international mediators’ insistence that the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can be resolved only on the basis of mutual concessions.
Whether those Azerbaijani statements were intended primarily for
domestic consumption, or whether and to what extent they should be
construed as warnings to the international community not to pressure
Azerbaijan too forcefully to agree to concessions that might trigger
a major public backlash, is as yet unclear. Meanwhile, two senior
U.S. diplomats have made clear that Washington continues to hope for
a swift resolution of the conflict.

The first statement came on 15 July at a reception hosted by the U.S.
ambassador to Baku, Reno Harnish, in honor of the visiting OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen. Addressing the gathering, the three co-chairs each
stressed that no outsider is in a position to resolve the conflict,
and that the parties must themselves reach an agreement. In that
context, they welcomed the resumption of talks between senior
Armenian and Azerbaijani officials (see “RFE/RL Caucasus Report,” 9
July 2004). Vafa Guluzade, who resigned in October 1999 after serving
for years as President Heidar Aliyev’s foreign policy adviser (see
“RFE/RL Caucasus Report,” 14 October 1999), publicly rejected that
advice as “absolutely unacceptable and impermissible,” and as
intended to force Azerbaijan to come to terms with the loss of part
of its territory.

In an interview with zerkalo.az published one week earlier, Guluzade
had said that any country whose territory is occupied but which fails
to prepare for a war of reconquest should be regarded as “criminal.”
He also suggested that both the U.S. and the “West Europeans” have
failed completely to grasp the essence of the Karabakh conflict,
otherwise they would realize the futility of trying to get Azerbaijan
to reconcile itself to the loss of its territories. In addition,
Guluzade disclosed that during his tenure as President Aliyev’s
adviser, “we discussed all variants” for resolving the conflict, and
they were all “still-born:” Baku immediately rejected them as every
single peace proposal unveiled to date entailed the loss of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Guluzade said.Any country whose territory is
occupied but which fails to prepare for a war of reconquest should be
regarded as “criminal.”

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, by contrast, opined
in a 28 July interview with zerkalo.az that a new war “is not the
optimum way” to resolve the conflict. But at the same time he implied
that any compromise should come from Yerevan. A sensible compromise
with the Armenian side can be reached only if Armenia publicly
renounces the idea of independence for Nagorno-Karabakh, Mammadyarov
said. In that interview, Mammadyarov said he believes that each of
the co-chairs (France, Russia, and the U.S.) seeks to promote its own
interests in the South Caucasus. Several days earlier, however, he
sought to imply that Washington does understand that many
Azerbaijanis categorically reject the prospect of the loss of
sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh. Mammadyarov was quoted by
zerkalo.az on 22 July as saying that during his talks the previous
week in Washington with U.S. officials, U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell noted that it is imperative to take public opinion into
account when drafting a settlement proposal. The online daily further
quoted Mammadyarov as saying that it is not “realistic” to speak of
“resolving the conflict” until the displaced persons who fled during
the fighting (in 1992-1993) have returned to their homes. It is not
clear, however, whether by this Mammadyarov is advocating a “phased”
approach to a settlement, or whether Baku would accept a “package”
solution in which repatriation preceded the announcement of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s future status.

Finally, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told members of his
country’s diplomatic service on 27 July that “if the path of
negotiations leads us nowhere, Azerbaijan will use all other means
available, including the military option,” Turan reported. Referring
to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ calls for “compromise,” Aliyev
said no compromises can be made over Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. Aliyev has made similar statements on numerous occasions
in recent months, most recently on a tour last week of northern
districts of Azerbaijan. Both Mammadyarov and Aliyev stressed that
international law favors Azerbaijan, which is the victim of “Armenian
aggression,” and the territory of which is partially occupied.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry reacted sharply to Aliyev’s 27 July
statement, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported on 28 July. Spokesman
Hamlet Gasparian said Aliyev’s comments show that “Azerbaijan has no
desire to settle the Karabakh conflict by peaceful means and is
laying its hopes on a solution by force.” He warned that the latter
course of action would have “disastrous consequences” for Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Minsk Group co-chairman, Ambassador Steven Mann,
told Russia’s Regnum news agency that he understands that the leaders
of both Armenia and Azerbaijan are in “a difficult position” because
passions are running high on both sides. But at the same time, he
argued that the two presidents should eschew emotion and try to reach
a compromise. On 28 July, zerkalo.az quoted John Ordway, the outgoing
U.S. ambassador to Yerevan, as urging that the conflict be resolved
as soon as possible. The paper quoted him as saying that “the status
quo is acceptable to the U.S. only as the sole alternative to the
beginning of hostilities,” and as expressing the hope that a
settlement could be reached next year. That proposed timeframe
prompted Azerbaijani commentator Rauf Mirkadyrov to conclude that
Washington is trying to strong-arm Baku into a settlement lest the
commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, now
tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2005, be jeopardized by a
resumption of hostilities.

Messenger.ge, Georgia
July 28 2004

Building closer relations with Armenia
By M. Alkhazashvili

A large Armenian governmental delegation, including almost all of the
country’s ministers and headed by Prime Minister Andranik Margarian,
was in Georgia for a two-day visit this week. Prime Minister of
Georgia Zurab Zhvania hosted the delegation. The major issue of the
negotiations was the deepening of economic cooperation. Of particular
importance in this regard for the Armenians is the revival of the
railway line which connects Russia with Georgia, and hence Armenia.

The Armenian delegation raised the question of the rehabilitation of
the Sochi-Tbilisi segment of the railway running through Abkhazia.
This question was discussed in March 2003 at the Shevardnadze-Putin
summit held in the southern Russian resort town of Sochi. The
Georgian government at that time made the revival of the railway
dependent on the unconditional and safe return of Georgian refugees
to their original dwelling-places in Abkhazia. This would, however,
necessitate determining Abkhazia’s status within the state of
Georgia, which would never be accepted by the current Abkhaz de facto
administration.

The new Georgian government shares this view. While saying that the
Georgian government understands the vital importance of this line for
Armenia, Zurab Zhvania told journalists on Monday that the renewal of
the railway is connected to the return of refugees to Abkhazia and
the process of Georgia’s territorial re-integration. “Until the
refugees return to Abkhazia, the railways will not be opened,”
declared Zhvania.

This leaves the situation in deadlock, however, as there is no reason
to suggest Georgian refugees will return in the near future. The de
facto regime in Abkhazia backs the idea of renewing the railway, but
is not prepared to consider the return of refugees. The Georgian
government hopes that by connecting the railway to the return of
refugees, it will be able to use the pressure of the Armenian lobby
on Russia, but it is difficult to say exactly how much influence is
wielded by Armenia in Russia.

Re-opening the railway line was not, of course, the only reason for
the delegation’s visit. Another very important issue was the
transportation of Armenian cargo through the Georgian Black Sea ports
Batumi and Poti, which is also very important for Armenia. The
reduction of tariffs for Armenian cargo was a topic of discussion in
Tbilisi, and the Georgian side promised to consider this issue.

Another issue discussed was the smuggling of timber from Georgia into
Armenia, which causes Georgia to incur serious material losses. Of
course it is obvious that it is Georgia’s responsibility to stop
smuggling across its borders, but to do so it requires cooperation
from the Armenian side.

Georgian-Armenian economic cooperation has some political flavor as
well. Georgia wants to develop good relations, both economically and
politically, with its two South Caucasian neighbors, but this is
complicated by the continuing distrust between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Given Georgia’s deepening economic ties with Azerbaijan,
it was important that Armenia not be made to feel ‘left out,’ and
that Georgia take this opportunity to develop closer ties with its
southern neighbor.

President Saakashvili has suggested the creation of a South Caucasus
common market, which, of course, will not happen in the near future
but could be a good prospect and incentive for future economic
cooperation and reconciliation.

Yeni Musavat, Baku in Azeri
26 Jul 04 p 5

Azeri pundit says government, people should solve problems themselves

Azeri opposition analyst Elxan Mehdiyev has criticized the people for
the current regime in the country. In an interview with Yeni Musavat
newspaper, he blamed the government for the regress in relations with
Turkey and NATO, the reluctance to integrate into NATO and the
dependence on the USA and Russia which has isolated Turkey from the
Karabakh resolution process. But he also added that NATO ignored
Azerbaijan’s Karabakh problem and regarded it as the problem of
Armenia as well. The analyst urged the people and government to
resolve its problems and not to demand that other countries and
international organizations release the occupied lands. The following
is an excerpt from an Elsad Pasasoy report by Azerbaijani newspaper
Yeni Musavat on 26 July headlined “No one has the moral rights to
blame Turkey”, subheaded “Foreigners asked the Azerbaijani expert
where Azerbaijan’s oil dollars are being channelled”, “Elxan
Mehdiyev: ‘Azerbaijan is not ahead of Armenia at all in relations
with NATO'”; subheadings inserted editorially:

The plight of Nagornyy Karabakh and other occupied districts
continues to be a priority which the Azerbaijani public is concerned
about. Our conversation with Elxan Mehdiyev, head of the centre for
peace and conflict resolution [and aide to the opposition Musavat
Party leader], was devoted to this problem. Elxan bay [form of
address] attended the international conference on the new US policy
and NATO’s security policy in the Black Sea basin held in Bucharest
last week.

Mehdiyev delivered a speech on the military and security policy in
the Caucasus at the conference attended by officers and military
security experts from Europe, the Balkans and the US command in
Europe. First, we asked Mehdiyev to tell us about the event.

USA, Russia against Turkey’s dominance in the Caucasus

[Mehdiyev] At the conference, the main attention was devoted to the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem during the discussion of conflicts in the
Caucasus. I said in my speech that Turkey had been artificially
sidelined from the co-chairmanship in the OSCE Minsk Group over this
problem and that the interests of the USA and Russia coincided in
this issue. Because Americans and Russians do not want Turkey to be a
co-chair. Actually, Turkey is directly an integral part of this
conflict and its interests in the resolution of the conflict are
natural. No results were achieved to resolve the problem since Turkey
had been artificially sidelined from the process.

To recap, all sides to the conflict admitted a peace plan drawn up by
Russia, Turkey and the USA in 1993 for the first time in the history
of the conflict. However, the USA is not interested in Turkey’s
mediation. Washington is exerting pressure on Turkey to establish
bilateral ties with Armenia and is trying to distance it from the
Karabakh problem. Armenians also want to have relations with Turkey
in a form in which the Nagornyy Karabakh problem is not taken into
account. They want the problem of Nagornyy Karabakh and other
occupied lands not to be a subject of Turkish-Armenian relations.
It’s clear to us that if Turkey establishes bilateral ties with
Armenia then the Karabakh problem will be put on the back burner.

An interesting situation has arisen. The USA and Russia are against
Turkey’s dominance in the Caucasus.

By establishing full cooperation with the Caucasus countries through
bilateral ties in the military and security spheres, the USA is
making these countries dependent on it.

Azerbaijan, NATO interests do not always coincide

[Correspondent] How do you assess Azerbaijan’s relations with NATO?
Did you include this issue in your speech?

[Mehdiyev] I think that our interests and NATO’s do not coincide
everywhere. Because the number one security issue for us is the
liberation of Azerbaijani lands and the destruction of the Armenian
armed forces which are deployed on this territory. But NATO is
ignoring this issue. In addition, it is developing military
cooperation with aggressor Armenia and Azerbaijan on the same level
and describes the aggression as a problem between the two sides. This
kind of approach to the problem’s resolution strengthens aggressor
Armenia’s position and policy to occupy the lands in the region in a
military way. Therefore, I said if NATO wanted realistic peace in the
Caucasus, then it should have done the same in the Caucasus that it
had done in Yugoslavia. However, I added that I was not so naive to
believe that NATO would bomb Armenia and repeat the Yugoslav events
there. But NATO should at least keep distance from relations with
Armenia and lay down its conditions before this country. It does not
do so. Moreover, it is trying to get Azerbaijan to develop military
cooperation with Armenia. I said Azerbaijan regards such a position
as immoral.

The participants in the event think that it’s Azerbaijan’s problem
that its lands have been occupied over a decade despite the fact that
it has large human and natural resources and no-one should be blamed
for this. I blame no-one as well. But I said peace could be achieved
in the region soon if NATO adhered to a fair position on the problem.
I do not blame international organizations for this like many people
in Azerbaijan.

They unequivocally asked where the oil dollars are being channelled
and why small Armenia is keeping the lands of big Azerbaijan under
occupation. As we know all these funds go into the pockets of clan
members and the regime in Azerbaijan has no plan, wish or will to
liberate the lands. The oil dollars would be useful when they are
used for measures to liberate the occupied lands. The regime’s
representatives have their own problems. The latest statistics show
that Armenia is developing more strongly through different ways and
its economy has reached the highest growth in the CIS. Moreover,
Armenia is modernizing its military forces. But Azerbaijan has not
purchased a single tank over the latest seven or eight years as [late
ex-President] Heydar Aliyev said last year.

[Correspondent] Did you ask the participants in the conference what
is the secret of an equal stance on Azerbaijan, which has taken the
path of integrating into Europe and Armenia, and which is playing the
role of Russia’s puppet?

Azerbaijan not trying to integrate into NATO

[Mehdiyev] Azerbaijan is not actually trying to integrate into NATO
and become a member of this organization. The owners of the regime
have repeatedly stated this and NATO also knows this very well.
Relations with NATO regressed after the dynastic regime was set up.
Because Russia, which has great opportunities of influence on the
dynastic regime, is against Azerbaijan’s close military cooperation
with the USA and NATO. Azerbaijan’s attitude to NATO is indefinite.
Azerbaijan has never resolutely expressed its position on this.
Despite the fact that Heydar Aliyev expressed his position on this
last year, the current regime’s owner has given up this stance and
said that the issue of NATO membership was not on the agenda. The
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also issued an official statement on
this.

Cooperation which Azerbaijan and Armenia established with NATO is on
the same level and there is no difference. Azerbaijan is not ahead of
Armenia in any index in relations with NATO. Those who say that
Azerbaijan is closer to NATO than Armenia are mistaken. Armenia has
been taking part in all events as well. Armenia hosted NATO’s
large-scale event last year. This event will be held in Baku this
year. It might be held in Armenia next year. Armenia is leading its
policy mainly in line with its interests. It has built up its
relations with NATO to a high level and is developing private
relations with Russia. Armenia is conducting its policy in line with
its interests. But Azerbaijan is continuing its policy to preserve
the regime. Unlike these two countries, Georgia has resolutely
expressed its wish to enter NATO and there is a strong progress in
this sphere. The Georgian army has been fitted to NATO standards and
has great support from the political viewpoint. Azerbaijan is mainly
located in a security vacuum. This country’s policy is a policy of
indefinite security. It is more correct to describe Azerbaijan’s
policy as “the policy preserving the regime” .

[Passage omitted: Ilham Aliyev continues policy of his father just
airing slogans about the liberation of Karabakh, USA not to resolve
the Karabakh conflict]

Cool Azeri-Turkish relations might encourage Armenian-Turkish ties

[Correspondent] We recently witnessed some facts damaging the
relationships with Turkey. Do you think this is a coincidence or a
well thought-out policy against the background of Russia’s
strengthening positions?

[Mehdiyev] The regime does not depend on Turkey. It depends on Russia
and the USA. For this reason, any kind of behaviour might be expected
against Turkey. Naturally, as we mentioned, Russia does not support
Turkey’s strengthening in Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] Do you think that such cool relations might encourage
Armenian-Turkish relations? Moreover, official Baku has stated that
the opening of the borders will strike a serious blow to the
resolving the problem.

[Mehdiyev] No-one has the moral right to air critical opinions about
Turkey. Turkey closed its borders for 11 years and is waiting. What
did Heydar Aliyev do during this period? Maybe he was involved in
issues pertaining to the construction of certain buildings somewhere
[in Baku] or a petrol station. The Erdogan government will open
borders with Armenia and establish diplomatic ties. This is
inevitable. The opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders will
naturally strengthen Armenia. If Turkey keeps its border closed for
100 years, would Azerbaijan’s lands be liberated just like that? An
interesting psychology of not resolving one’s own problem and blaming
others has appeared in Azerbaijan. They blame everywhere [in
Azerbaijan] the OSCE, the UN, the USA and Russia for not liberating
the lands. It’s a very strange position.

[Passage omitted: Mehdiyev’s cites as an example the struggle of
Bosniaks to liberate their lands]

Azerbaijani people guilty of current situation

[Correspondent] Turkey’s ruling circles have also played a certain
role in the formation of the dynastic regime and from this point of
view this country is partly guilty of the current situation …
[ellipses

[Mehdiyev] The Azerbaijani people who are starving in refugee camps
and simultaneously embracing Ilham Aliyev are guilty.

[Correspondent] Do you expect any political changes in Azerbaijan in
the near future or do you think the current situation will continue
until the next [presidential] elections?

[Mehdiyev] If such a person as [ex-Foreign Minister] Tofiq Qasimov
has left Azerbaijan and gained asylum in a foreign country, then I
ponder the plight of this country. Political processes are not
developing in Azerbaijan. Quite simply, a police regime has been set
up and democratic forces are being subjected to repression and
torture. To speak about any changes is absurd until an atmosphere
appears that encourages political processes.