Author: Zakarian Garnik

Caspian pipeline hailed as new ‘Silk Road’
By Vincent Boland in Baku

FT
May 25 2005 18:12

A pipeline that will carry oil for the first time from the Caspian sea
to the Mediterranean was opened on Wednesday, marking the emergence of
the Caspian region as a new force in the world’s oil markets.

Hailing the biggest investment in the region since the collapse of
communism, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey turned on the
taps of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline linking the three
countries.

“This is the Silk Road of the 21st century,” said Ahmet Necdet Sezer,
Turkey’s president, at the opening ceremony, held in sweltering heat
at the Sangachal oil and gas terminal about 40km south of Baku.

The $3.2bn (‚¬2.5bn, £1.7bn) pipeline will carry 1m barrels of oil
a day when it is fully operational by the fourth quarter of this year,
and more if, as expected, Kazakhstan joins the project in the near
future.

Lord Browne, chief executive of oil major BP, the biggest shareholder
and investor in the BTC pipeline with a 30.1 per cent stake, said in
an interview that the project was “an important piece of the jigsaw of
the world energy market”.

As well as bringing together the presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Turkey and Kazakhstan, the opening ceremony also attracted Samuel
Bodman, US energy secretary, an early champion of the project for
geopolitical reasons, including a desire to enhance the independence
of former Soviet republics from Moscow.

The pipeline’s circuitous 1,770km route through some of the most
mountainous territory in the Caucasus bypasses Russia, which dominates
routes to western markets for oil from the Caspian and central Asia.

Russia was a notable absentee. Lukoil, one of the country’s big oil
companies, was an investor in the project but sold its stake to Itochu
of Japan two years ago.

Oil industry analysts said it was significant that Moscow did not try
to block the pipeline, although it often voiced doubts that the
project would be completed.

The pipeline also deepens the isolation of Armenia, which has fought a
war with Azerbaijan and has no diplomatic relations with Turkey.

Ilham Aliyev, the Azeri president, said the pipeline would bring
economic benefits to all participating countries. He also vowed to
restore Azeri sovereignty to the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh,
currently occupied by Armenia.

Some diplomats read this as a hint that some of Azerbaijan’s new-found
oil wealth might be spent on the country’s military.

The opening came more than 10 years after the BTC project was
announced. If it had not been built, Caspian oil would have had to be
shipped through the crowded Bosphorus strait that runs through the
centre of Istanbul. Turkey is pressing for an end to tanker traffic on
the strait, which is still used to ship large amounts of Russian oil.

The Caspian’s oil reserves, though not as vast as initially hoped, are
said to equal those of the North Sea and are expected to supply 25 per
cent of the world’s expected new oil demand over the next few
years. Lord Browne said the region was expected to provide just over 1
per cent of global oil supply by 2008.

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 25 2005

Armenia’s economic growth higher than expected in 2004

RBC, 25.05.2005, Yerevan 09:26:33.In 2004, economic growth in
Armenia stood at 10.1 percent, up from 7 percent envisaged by the
monetary policy program of the Central Bank of the Republic of
Armenia, Tigran Sarkisyan, the Bank’s chairman, has stated delivering
the Central Bank’s report for 2004. Sarkisyan noted that the real GDP
growth rates couldn’t have kept the country’s remaining macroeconomic
indices unaltered. The latter deviated from target rates, since the
actual economic growth proved above expectations.

Sarkisyan also said that unprecedented growth of the country’s
agriculture turned out to be another important peculiarity in 2004.
The Central Bank’s chief pointed out that the sector accounted for
3.1 percentage points of the overall economic growth rate. The
service sector also made a considerable contribution of 4.3
percentage points. The building industry yielded 2.1 percentage
points. Simultaneously, industrial production accounted for 0.4
percentage points only, down from 2003, which can be linked to
structural changes in the sphere.

A1plus

| 15:13:07 | 19-05-2005 | Politics |

TERMLESS STRIKE

This morning the employees of the points of currency exchange in
Tirgan Mets Street have gone on termless strike. We will report on
the reasons later during the day.

TAX OFFICIALS REPORT MORE COLLECTED TAXES THAN PROJECTED

Armenpress

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian taxmen collected in the first
four months of the year a little more than 53 billion drams, a 5.8
percent more than projected and 32.6 percent more from a year ago. A
deputy head of the state taxation service, Robert Kocharian, told
a news conference today that 41.2 percent were collected as profit
taxes, income taxes made 30.7 percent and 33.3 percent came as VAT.

In terms of money the amount of profit taxes was 15.2 billion drams,
well over 9.8 billion from a year ago. VAT revenues amounted to 15.3
billion drams against 10.1 billion from a year ago and income taxes
rose to 7.6 billion drams against 5.6 billion drams of the first four
months of 2004.

He said also 3.9 billion drams were collected as fixed payments
against 3.4 billion from a year ago and so-called simplified taxes
stood at 2.3 billion against 2.1 billion from a year ago. Kocharian
said there are all indications that the projected amount of taxes
for the first half of the year will be collected in due time. “All
budget projected allocations will be made in due time,” he said.

‘Genocide’ bill in Belgium waits for ‘political bargaining’

Thursday, May 19, 2005

DIPLOMACY

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

Belgium’s Senate Justice Committee has postponed debate on a bill
envisioning penalties for those who deny Armenian genocide allegations
“in order to grant time for political bargaining,” reported the
Anatolia news agency.

The Justice Committee is expected to discuss the bill in two weeks
and, if approved, it will be presented for the approval of the full
senate prior to July. The bill asks for penalties to be imposed on
those who deny the genocide allegations, either with imprisonment
from eight days to one year or a fine of 26 to 5,000 euros.

Belgium, where approximately 150,000 Turks — most with dual
citizenship — and 7,000 Armenians live, will hold local elections
next year. The Turkish community in Belgium is gearing for action,
using democratic and legal means, against the bill if it is adopted.

The Belgian media has been covering the voting potential of the
Turkish community in local elections.

The Belgian Senate in 1998 passed a resolution calling on the Turkish
government to “recognize the reality of the genocide,” perpetrated
against Armenians in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire.

“There is no doubt about the historical evidence regarding the
organized and systematic murder of Armenians,” the Senate said in the
resolution. Turkey categorically denies Armenian charges alleging that
1.5 million Anatolian Armenians were killed in a genocide campaign
during World War I.

Armenian president wants closer cooperation with EU

Mediamax news agency
16 May 05

Yerevan, 16 May: “We are intending to deepen our cooperation with the
European Union [EU] within the framework of the European Neighbourhood
Policy,” Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Warsaw today.

The Armenian president said this addressing the Council of Europe
summit today, a special Mediamax correspondent reports from Warsaw.

“This is a chance for us to continue political and economic reforms
under EU sponsorship. We consider ourselves to be part of Europe. Our
cultural heritage is part of European culture. We are implementing
reforms because of our country’s domestic necessity, and not because
we want to receive praise. Perhaps that is why the reforms in Armenia
are reasonably effective,” the Armenian president said.

Robert Kocharyan noted that Armenia will honour the commitments it
has made to the Council of Europe by the end this year. “This was a
difficult but productive process of reforms which was supported by
various parts of society,” the Armenian president said.

“I see the prospect for finding a settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict in the context of respect for European values,” Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan said in Warsaw today. “Armenia believes
in Europe with open borders, without violence, without any blockades
or refugees.”

Manchester Evening News, UK
May 13 2005

Battered wife killed husband

A MOTHER of three stabbed her violent husband to death and then set
fire to his body after enduring years of beatings, sexual abuse and
humiliation.

Armenian-born Lana Yadgari, aged 32, of Northridge Road, Blackley,
was jailed for four years at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday.

The sentence was condemned by the Justice for Women organisation, who
said after Mrs Yadgari’s conviction that she had suffered from
battered wives’ syndrome and should have been freed to go home to her
children, aged 13, 12 and 10.

But the judge, Mr Justice Cooke, said although he accepted that she
suffered from battered wives’ syndrome, the offence was so serious
she had to go to jail.

The court heard how Mrs Yadgari lost control and killed her husband
when he forced her into the family car and drove to a secluded spot
where he threatened to kill her.

Mrs Yadgari had spent nine days in hosital after being badly beaten
by her husband just weeks before killing him.

She had denied murder, but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of
diminished responsibility.

She wept throughout the hearing, which had to be interpreted for her.
She will now spend another 17 months in prison before she can be
paroled.

Her counsel, Mr Rock Tansey QC, said the couple married in 1990 and
her husband became violent the following year because their first
child was a girl and not a boy.

Mr Tansey said: `She was a Christian and he was a Muslim, and he
blamed her because the child was not a boy. He would hit and punch
her, and after the second child, another girl, was born he again
became angry and blamed her.’

He said although her third child was a boy, Mrs Yadgari was still
constantly abused physically and sexually.

The family came to Britain in 2002 when Mr Yadgari tried to seek
asylum, but he continued to abuse her.

By the time of the killing Mrs Yadgari had a lover, but had not
reported the beatings to police.

On the day of the killing she had been forced into the family Astra
and she saw a knife and a petrol can. Believing she was going to be
murdered she fought back for the first time in her life.

She said: `It goes against what I believe and I am horrified by what
happened that night.’

PRESS RELEASE
May 13, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected] ;Web:

Kansas National Guard General Meets Armenian Ambassador, Presents
Governor’s Proclamation

On May 10, 2005, Maj Gen (KS) Tod M. Bunting, the Adjutant General of
Kansas, and a delegation of senior military officials from the Kansas
National Guard visited the Embassy of Armenia to discuss the military
cooperation and the upcoming visit of State of Kansas senior officials and
Kansas National Guard to Armenia. In his capacity as Adjutant General of
Kansas, General Bunting heads the Kansas National Guard and serves as
Director of Homeland Security.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the State of Kansas National
Guard have established a State Partnership Program, as part of the overall
durable and constructive relationship between the Armed Forces of the United
States of America and the Republic of Armenia. The State Partnership Program
between Armenian Army and Kansas National Guard will now be complemented by
active cooperation on the civilian side as well. President of the Kansas
State Senate, members of the Kansas legislature and state executives will
visit Armenia at the end of May to discuss economic and commercial
cooperation between Kansas and Armenia.

During his meeting with Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian,
General Bunting formally presented the Proclamation of the Governor of
Kansas, which declared April 24, 2005 the Armenian Remembrance Day in
commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In April,
the State of Kansas became the 38th American state to have given proper
recognition to the Armenian Genocide.

Ambassador Markarian noted the strategic importance of the cooperation
between the Kansas National Guard and Armenian Armed Forces, and hailed the
beginning of a more comperehensive relationship between Kansas and Armenia.
The Armenian Ambassador expressed his appreciation for the Governor’s
Proclamation on the Armenian Genocide.

Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada
May 13 2005

A Celebration of Nations – Cultural and Religious Celebrations at
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal – Sunday, May 15, 2005 from 2:00
to 4:00 pm

MONTREAL, May 13 /CNW Telbec/ – As part of the centenary celebrations
of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, a major intercultural and inter-religious
event called A Celebration of Nations has been scheduled to take place
at the Basilica on Sunday, May 15, 2005, Day of Pentecost. The event
will feature a variety of rituals, music, prayers, choir singing,
readings and dance. Admission is free.

Max Gros-Louis, Grand Chief of the Huron Nation and member of the
Centenary Committee of Honour, will inaugurate the event with a First
Nations purification ceremony. The celebration will be presided over
by Father André Charron CHC, Provincial Superior of the Congregation
of the Holy Cross, in the company of Quebec Minister of Immigration
and Cultural Communities, Lise Thériault.

Representing Armenia, China, Congo, Jamaica, the Philippines, Rwanda,
the Tamil community and the Presbyterian Church, almost ten choirs and
dance companies will make the Basilica come alive with performances
reflecting their diverse cultural origins. Between performances,
clergy from four Christian churches, namely Armenian Apostolic,
Coptic, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic, will recite prayers from
their respective liturgical texts. Rita Lafontaine and Marc-André
Coallier, spokespersons for the Oratory’s centenary, will also read
texts by well-known personalities. The theme is A WORLD OF LOVE SINCE
1904, focussing on love as being both warm, welcoming, open and
compassionate as well as love in the sense of peace, justice, unity in
diversity and harmony among peoples.

“Saint Joseph’s Oratory is not only a heritage landmark but also a
great urban sanctuary and unique meeting place in the heart of the
city,” stated Father Charron. “Two million pilgrims and
visitors-people of all ages, of all nationalities, of all religious
denominations-flock to the Oratory each year for a multitude of
reasons, all in a spirit of peace and harmony. This celebratory
ritual will honour the great cultural and religious diversity of
Montreal, Quebec and all of Canada.”

For further information: Marie-Laurence Paré, Coordinator Massy-Forget
Public Relations, (514) 842-2455 extension 23, [email protected]; Eliane
Francoeur, Director of Centennial Events Saint Joseph’s Oratory of
Mount Royal, (514) 733-8216 extension 2994,
[email protected]

Embassy of The United States
Yerevan, Armenia
11 May 2005

T he Official Dedication of the New U.S. Embassy in Armenia
May 6, 2005, the new Embassy of the United States was officially dedicated
at 1 American Avenue on the shore of Lake Yerevan. Honored guests included
President Robert Kocharian, General Charles Williams, the head of all U.S.
overseas properties, U.S. AMB to Kazakhstan and former U.S. AMB to Armenia
John Ordway, the Catholicos’s representative, ministers of the republic of
Armenia, ambassadors, and leading members of civil society.
To learn more about the new U.S. Embassy, please go to:

Ambassador Evans Remarks at the dediacation:
“Mr. President, Your Grace, General Williams, Your Excellencies, ministers
of the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Ordway, honored guests, colleagues
and friends:
Welcome to the new Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic
of Armenia.
The United States deeply values its friendship with the Republic of Armenia.
Our countries are bound together by a long and unique history. America has
been enriched by millions of citizens who trace their ancestry to Armenia
and play a vibrant role in the culture, economy and politics of our country.
Since Armenia became independent in 1991, we have worked together to create
democratic institutions and a growing economy. That work will continue and
the ties between our two nations will inevitably grow.
These buildings are first and foremost a workplace. Many have questioned
their size and asked why the United States should build such a facility. I
could give you many reasons such as the physical safety of our employees,
security in a world threatened by terrorists, or the need for more parking.
However, the main reason was simply that we needed more room to do our work
and receive our visitors. But even those who may see only the outside of
this beautiful new building, should view it as symbolizing both the
importance my government attaches to its relationship with Armenia, and our
long-term commitment to those relations.
Armenia has made such good progress in the last fifteen years that it has
been found eligible for special assistance under President Bush’s innovative
Millennium Challenge Account. Experts from the two sides have been
discussing Armenia’s proposal for using such assistance in Yerevan this
week. We have every reason to believe that Armenia will continue to remain
eligible as it continues to pursue planned reforms. The United States
appreciates the role Armenia is playing in the Global War on Terrorism and
Armenia’s deployment of a non-combatant contingent to Iraq to support that
nation’s transition to a stable democracy.
The United States is committed to working with both Yerevan and Baku to seek
an equitable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A settlement will
indeed require significant compromises by both sides. The international
community will not impose a solution, but stands ready to support a
settlement reached by the two sides. We are also committed to seeking the
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.
To meet our commitments, and to advance our shared goals of promoting the
growth of genuine democratic institutions and expanding economic
opportunities for the Armenian people, we needed a proper place to work. Now
we have it. I welcome you here today, and look forward to cooperating with
you from this new location.”