Author: Zargarian Hambik

POWER IN ARMENIA MUST BE CHANGED IN PEACEFUL WAY
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

YEREVAN, JULY 22. ARMINFO. Power must be changed in Armenia in a
peaceful way, Chairman of the opposition bloc “Justice” Stepan
Demirchayn stated at his meeting with representatives of the Armenian
community in Los Angeles.

According to him, the rumors that the Armenian opposition has
exhausted its potential do not correspond to the facts. S. Demirchyan
claimed that even in the summer the opposition is not resting, but is
actively preparing for its struggle against the Armenian authorities
this autumn. During the meeting, S. Demirchayn once more addressed
the issue of mass violations during the presidential and parliamentary
elections in Armenia in 2003. Speaking of the Armenian authorities’
struggle against corruption, he stressed that it can only be effective
after fair elections are held in the country, as the people that were
involved in election rigging are unable to battle
corruption. S. Demirchyan also stated that the Armenian authorities’
claims on an extremely high economic growth do not correspond to the
facts, as this economic growth has not improved the social conditions
in the country. “If a few persons got rich and filled their pockets
with money, it does not mean that economic growth has taken place in
the country or the population’s well-being has improved,”
S. Demirchyan said.

It should be noted that the Armenian community in Los Angeles
supported Stepan Demirchyan in the presidential election in Armenia in
2003.

Interfax
July 21 2004

Iran starts to build pipeline to Armenia

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Iran has started to build its 100- km section
of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Armenian Ambassador Plenipotentiary
to Iran Gegam Garibjanian told journalists in Yerevan.

He said that an Iranian company is building the pipeline using state
funds.

He said that the 40-km Armenian section of the pipeline would also be
built by an Iranian company, whose representatives arrived in Armenia
over the past few days. The ambassador did not name the company, but
said that it has state support and will be able to complete the
project ahead of schedule.

ZAO Armrosgazprom announced earlier that its plans to participate in
the construction and operation of the Iran-Armenia pipeline.

ZAO Armrosgazprom was set up in 1997 with a charter capital of $280
million. The company includes the entire gas transport and
distribution system in Armenia. The company’s shareholders are
Gazprom and the Armenian Energy Ministry – 45% each, and Itera – 10%.

According to the feasibility study for the project, developed by
Gazprom, the project will cost $140 million.

Armenia and Iran signed an agreement on May 13 for the construction
of a pipeline between the two countries. The pipeline is 141 km long,
inducing 41 km in Armenia and 100 km in Iran. The total cost of the
project is estimated at $210-$220 million.

Gas should start to arrive in Armenia from January 2007 and will be
used at Armenian thermal power plants to produce electricity for
export to Iran.

Le Figaro, France
20 juillet 2004

TURQUIE Le premier ministre, qui est arrivé hier dans la capitale
française, veut donner de son pays l’image du bon élève de la classe
européenne

Europe : la Turquie cherche l’appui de la France

L. de B.
[20 juillet 2004]

Le premier ministre turc est arrivé hier à Paris, étape clé de sa
campagne visant à faciliter l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union
européenne (UE). Pour lever les réserves françaises à l’adhésion
d’Ankara, Recep Tayyip Erdogan présente son pays comme un bon élève
de la classe européenne, respectueux des critères d’adhésion fixés
par Bruxelles.

Il doit rencontrer aujourd’hui le président Jacques Chirac, autour
d’un déjeuner à l’Elysée. Dès son arrivée hier, il a été reçu par le
premier ministre Jean-Pierre Raffarin, avant de s’entretenir à
l’ambassade de Turquie avec des représentants de la communauté turque
en France, forte de 350 000 personnes.

«Je vais expliquer les mesures prises par la Turquie sur la voie qui
conduit à l’Union européenne», a déclaré Erdogan hier lors d’une
conférence de presse donnée avant son départ d’Ankara. «Je vais
demander à la France de continuer à nous soutenir comme elle l’a fait
jusqu’à présent (…) Je vais souligner la détermination de la
Turquie à harmoniser ses lois avec celles de l’UE», a-t-il dit. Pour
mieux faire passer son message, Erdogan, qui est escorté d’une
imposante délégation d’hommes d’affaires, fait miroiter à ses hôtes
un possible achat d’avions Airbus. Turkish Airlines doit renouveler
une partie de sa flotte avec l’acquisition d’une quarantaine
d’appareils. L’avionneur européen est en compétition avec l’américain
Boeing.

Parmi les grands pays européens, la France est celui où l’adhésion
turque est vue avec le plus de réticences, comme en témoigne une
série de sondages récents qui montrent, à une exception près, une
majorité de «non». Elle est le seul où le parti au pouvoir, en
l’occurrence l’UMP, a fait campagne contre l’adhésion turque lors des
dernières élections européennes.

Ces réserves se fondent sur la situation géographique de la Turquie,
sa religion musulmane, sa puissance démographique avec 70 millions
d’habitants, sa pauvreté, son refus de reconnaître la réalité du
génocide arménien, ainsi que le risque de dilution de l’UE en une
vaste zone de libre-échange. Pour lutter contre ces craintes, Erdogan
veut donner des arguments aux responsables politiques et économiques
français qui penchent en faveur de l’entrée de la Turquie – au
premier rang desquels le président Jacques Chirac. Ceux-ci mettent en
avant les liens traditionnels de la Turquie avec l’Europe, l’intérêt
géostratégique d’inclure un grand pays musulman dans l’UE, la laïcité
observée par la Turquie, les perspectives économiques qu’elle offre,
ainsi que la nécessité de récompenser les efforts qu’elle a déployés
pour respecter les critères européens en matière d’Etat de droit, de
droits de l’homme et de liberté d’entreprendre.

Au cours de sa visite, Erdogan va s’efforcer de montrer que les
réformes entreprises sont sérieusement appliquées. Il entend ainsi
apporter de l’eau au moulin du président de la République, qui a déjà
jugé, lors du sommet de l’Otan fin juin à Istanbul, que le projet
d’adhésion de la Turquie était «irréversible».

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Youth Federation
Western United States
104 N. Belmont St. Suite 206
Glendale, CA 91206
Contact: Vicken Sosikian
Tel: 818.507.1933
Fax: 818.240.3442
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

AYF Nanor Krikorian Scholarship Recipients are Chosen

Glendale – The Armenian Youth Federation `Garo Madenlian’ Public Affairs
Office announced Thursday that it has chosen the seven recipients of the
`Nanor Krikorian’ Scholarship.

Over 30 Scholarship applications, which were made available to all high
school seniors of Armenian descent, were received. After closely reviewing
all applications 11 finalists were called for interviews, of which seven
were chosen to receive scholarships.

The AYF provided a total of $3500 in scholarships to a total of seven
qualified applicants. The recipients were Hovik Dermenchyan of El Camino
High School, Talar Kharadjian and Marilyn Keoseyan of Granada Hills High
School, Victoria Shpak and Lucinee Tovmasyan of Montebello High School, and
Natalie Djabourian and Talar Gurunian of Mesrobian High School.

Each of the seven scholarship recipients have not only displayed commendable
academic achievements but have also held roles as activists in the Armenian
community, while displaying exemplary dedication to cultural, political, and
community involvement.

`The AYF prides itself in contributing to the education of the youth,’ said
scholarship coordinator Ani Garibyan. `We are proud of the recipients and
know that our investment in them will payoff with dividends to the Armenian
American community in the future.’

Now in its second year, the Nanor Krikorian Scholarship has awarded 16
graduating high school seniors of Armenian descent a total of $6100. The
scholarship is named after a young AYF activist, Nanor Krikorian, whose life
was cut short by cancer. Those interested in contributing to the expansion
of the scholarship can mail donations payable to AYF to 104 N. Belmont St.
#206 Glendale, CA 91206.

The Armenian Youth Federation strives to serve Armenian American Communities
West of the Mississippi through education, athletics, political activism,
cultural activities and social settings. To learn more about the Armenian
Youth Federation please log on to

#####

M2 Presswire
July 19, 2004

US STATE DEPARTMENT: Press Statement; Richard Boucher, Spokesman;
Washington, DC July 16, 2004; U.S. Opposes Schiff Amendment to FY 05
Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

M2 PRESSWIRE-JULY 19, 2004-US STATE DEPARTMENT: Press Statement;
Richard Boucher, Spokesman; Washington, DC July 16, 2004; U.S.
Opposes Schiff Amendment to FY 05 Foreign Operations Appropriations
Bill ©1994-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Administration strongly opposes this amendment which seeks to
restrict U.S. assistance to Turkey.

It should not become law. The amendment is detrimental to the cause
we all seek: reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia in pursuit of
regional peace and economic cooperation. Turkey and Armenia have been
pursuing these goals through direct meetings.

Turkey, our key NATO ally, and Armenia, our close friend, are
partners in the Global War on Terror and in advancing democracy,
prosperity and stability in the Caucasus. Our goal is to bolster
cooperation between these two countries rather than to separate them.

We welcome the statement by House Speaker Hastert, Majority Leader
DeLay and Majority Whip Blunt citing their strong opposition to this
amendment and their commitment to insisting that the amendment be
dropped in conference. We welcome the Leadership’s recognition of the
important relationship with our reliable ally and friend Turkey and
of the need for continued close economic and security relations
between our countries.

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information
provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties.
Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at
on the world wide web. Inquiries to
[email protected])).

Moscow Times, Russia
July 19 2004

Magazine Editor Murdered

By Carl Schreck

Staff Writer The Armenian editor of a Russian-language magazine
focusing on Armenian issues was beaten and stabbed to death Saturday,
and his body dumped on the outskirts of Moscow, police said.

Pail Peloyan, editor of Armyansky Pereulok, was found dead with knife
wounds to the chest and severe trauma to the head at 7 a.m. Saturday
just outside the Moscow Ring Road on the southwestern edge of the
city, a city police spokesman told Interfax. He died between 2 a.m.
and 3 a.m.

Deputy city prosecutor Alexander Krokhmal said investigators were at
the crime scene Saturday, Interfax reported.

No one answered the telephone Sunday at the City Prosecutor’s Office.
The newspaper Gazeta reported on its web site that investigators were
not excluding the possibility that the murder was connected to
Peloyan’s journalistic work.

Peloyan was the second magazine editor to be killed in Moscow in a
little over a week. On July 9, Forbes Russia editor Paul Klebnikov
was shot by unknown assailants.

Their publications, however, could not be more different.

Armyansky Pereulok had a circulation of 1,000 and covered harmless
topics ranging from Armenian history to Russian-Armenian friendship,
said Levon Osepyan, a well-known Armenian author and the magazine’s
founder.

“It was a friendly magazine,” Osepyan said by telephone Sunday.
Osepyan said he has had no connection with the magazine for over a
year and a half and that he did not know Peloyan.

Armyansky Pereulok has not released an issue since 2002 due to
financial difficulties, Gazeta.ru reported. The web site cited a
source close to the magazine’s publishing house as saying Peloyan
“was only nominally the editor.” It was unclear whether the source
was referring to the two-year lull in the magazine’s output or
something else.

The source said Peloyan’s death was likely “connected to his business
activities, which he preferred to keep quiet.”

Armen Gevondyan, spokesman for the Armenian Embassy in Moscow, told
Interfax on Saturday that the embassy is in contact with the Russian
authorities regarding the murder.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 16 2004

GEORGIA-OSSETIA CONFLICT CONCERNS US STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOY
[July 16, 2004, 12:27:00]

The United States is profoundly concerned over the ongoing escalation
of the conflict between Georgia and its breakaway province of South
Ossetia, Stephen Mann, the U.S. State Department’s special envoy for
conflicts in the Eurasian region, pointed out Thursday at a news
briefing in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. He spoke to reporters
after his meeting with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.

According to Mr. Mann, Secretary of State Colin Powell wants to make
sure that the American side is doing all it can to help bring about a
peace settlement of the Georgia-Ossetia conflict and this is why he
has sent the State Department envoy to Tbilisi.

Tonight, Mr. Mann will meet with Russian Ambassador-at Large Lev
Mironov to discuss the latest developments in South Ossetia.

According to the PR department of the U.S. Embassy to Georgia, the
main objective of the State Department envoy’s current South Caucasus
tour is attending a session of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group for
Nagorny Karabakh Settlement. Before coming to Tbilisi, he visited
Armenia and the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.

Along with the George-Ossetia standoff, Mr. Mann is also expected to
bring up issues related to the East-West energy corridor and the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Later tonight,
the American official is leaving Tbilisi for the Azeri capital of
Baku, where the Minsk Group co-chairs are to resume negotiations on
Nagorny Karabakh settlement.

In the meantime, British Defense Ministry spokesman Charlie Morton
reported at a news conference in London that British troops were now
in Georgia to take part in a joint military exercise. About 160
contract soldiers from an infantry unit of the UK Territorial Army
are now staying in that Transcaucasian republic, he specified. They
have joined a Georgian infantry battalion in a bilateral exercise
code-named “Georgian Express.” The exercise will last through July
17, after which the British personnel will return to the United
Kingdom, Mr. Morton said.

This is not a large-scale exercise as 160 troops will be enough to
man a company only, he remarked.

According to the Defense Ministry spokesman, the British troops are
helping Georgian counterparts to raise the efficiency of their
performance and preparing them for peacekeeping operations under the
auspices of the United Nations and other international organizations.

The joint exercise in Georgia draws on the expertise gained by
British peacekeeping personnel in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, and
other flashpoints across the world.

The exercise is being carried out on the Vaziani site-a former
Russian military base 30 kilometers away from the Georgian capital,
Tbilisi.

On Thursday, British and Georgian troops jointly practiced liberating
a village captured by terrorists.

Armenianow.com
July 16, 2004

Sound for Sight: Armenian computer program opens doors for visually impaired

By Julia Hakobyan ArmeniaNow reporter
Recently Hayk Papikyan has developed a passion for his computer, scanner and
a program called “AREV” and is eager to show off the way by which the
combination of the three are making his life more enjoyable.
“Look here,” he says carefully grouping the keys. “I am scanning the page of
the book, then launch AREV and that’s it. It reads for me.”

Hayk Papikyan and his tools for “seeing”.
AREV is a recently developed, unprecedented audio program in Armenian
language for the visually impaired. The brainchild of scientists of the
Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute (YCRDI), the program
allows the blind to use Armenian websites, communicate via e-mail or listen
to books or other information written in Microsoft Word.
Hayk, age 22, is one of 18 who completed AREV lessons organized by the
YCRDI. He lost his sight when he was 14, after complications with influenza.
Despite the unexpected problems, he strongly decided to continue his
education.
Hayk moved from the ninth grade of his school to a Yerevan boarding school
for blind children, where he learned the Braille system. Upon finishing
school he successfully passed three university exams and now he is at the
second course of the history faculty at Yerevan State University.
Hayk writes down the lessons in a Braille notebook or records them on tape
recorder.
But apart from learning those lessons he needs to become familiar with more
extensive literature, including the classics and professional literature.
His mother has been helping him, by reading literature and university books
for him.
But since completing a course in how use AREV last week he has pinned great
hopes on the AREV program’s use in helping him finish his degree
“The AREV system tremendously helps me with my university homework,” he
says. “I don’t need my mother to read books or lectures as I scan them and
hear a reading. Besides, I can type the essays and then hear what I wrote
and edit it.”
Arman Kuchukyan, creator of AREV and the Technical Director of the YCRDI
says that it took two and a half years for his group to develope the
program. Kuchukyan says he does not diminish the value of Braille system. He
says it has been a perfect aide, but it now outdated.
“Only few books are available in Braille in Armenian or in Russia. It is
unfair that blind people were deprived of an opportunity of reading other
books. The systems like AREV are available in West for a long time, and I am
happy that we managed to make the similar program for Armenians,” he says.
Kuchukyan, 73, has worked at the YCRDI for 51 years and says that AREV is
one of the institute’s best achievements. He is inspired by AREV, but is
unsure about its future.
“We organized the computer lessons for the blind people free of charge and
gave AREV programs also free of charge to those few who had computers at
home. What about those who do not have computers? They will forget soon what
they learned,” he says.
Kuchukyan applied to the Parliament asking to assist in providing computers
the school graduators.

Kuchukyan says a lot of Armenians can benefit from the program.
“Annually there are about 20-25 graduates of the boarding school for blind
children,” he says. “So many people can help those young ones by giving them
computers which were in use. Imagine, how the life of a young person will
change if he gets a computer, so many opportunities will be available for
them.”
But Kuchukyan’s good intentions were not favorably met by government.
We did not get a single dram from the government for this program,”
Kuchukyan says. “Eight people worked hard on the program to install about
10,000 Armenian sounds into the program. AREV is not perfect and we need
sponsorship to continue our research on its improvement, but all our efforts
will be in vain if people for whom we develop the program will not have
chance to take advantage on it for the simple reason of a lack of
computers.”
The All Armenian Fund “Hayastan” has allocated six computers to the boarding
school for the blind children N 14 and AREV program was installed in those
and other computers there.
“About three years ago scientists from the YCRDI came to our school and
asked if children need the program which will read the Armenian fonts,” says
Alexan Aharonyan, the director of the school. “Of course we said ‘yes, we
need it urgently’, because the government does not sponsor the production of
the Braille books, and each time when we want to issue the book we apply to
the Armenian Society for blind people. Besides Braille books have a short
life and it is hard to read when it is not new.”
Currently there are 120 students studying at the school from grades 1-11. It
is the only school of its kind in Armenia, except for the school for the
children with poor eyesight. In all there are 4,000 blind people in Armenia
and most of them are involved in production of electronic houseware.
Hayk Papikyan who completed massage courses at the boarding school says that
before entering university he tried to find a job of a masseur, but he could
not find any vacancy.
The education that the blind people get at the school is not enough to find
a job,” he says. “For others it is hard to continue education at the
university. I hope that AREV will open many doors for many people who will
have a chance to get education by correspondence, to meet in chat rooms, to
get letters by e-mail and read them without anyone’s help. In other words to
escape the limits we have by getting more privacy and self-dependency.”

CENN – Daily Digest July 15, 2004
Table of Contents:
1. In Search of Black Sea Oil
2. Information regarding the IMF / World Bank Annual Meetings
3. CIP Improved School Project Contract Awarded
4. ArcGIS Extensions Workshop – Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst for
Environmental Applications in Seattle, WA Sept. 1 – 2, 2004
5. Various Openings at NACRES
6. ATP 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at Garni Temple
7. Armenia sees growth in tourism
8. Armenia gets 23m dollars from World Bank to improve water supplies

1. In Search of Black Sea Oil

Source: The Georgian Messenger, July 15, 2004

The Company Anadarco continues the search for oil in Georgian territorial
waters in the Black Sea. According to the Company, the new exploratory
program is expected to last for three years and is targeted at estimating
oil reserves in the sea.

At a presentation conducted on July 12, 2004 the company authorities stated
that according to their estimates, there should be significant reserves of
oil and gas in Georgian territorial waters, particularly in the Adjara zone,
although they were not yet ready to give precise figures.

According to an agreement with the Georgian government, the company has
rights to conduct exploration works in Georgian territorial waters in
Abkhazia and Adjara. However, so far no works has been carried out in
Abkhazian territory.

Anadarco, which is a daughter company of Anadarco Petroleum Corporation, has
been active in Georgia since June 2000, and is working in partnership with
the Georgian state enterprise Saknavtobi.

Until now, Anadarco was carrying out two dimension explorations in the area.
Now it plans to carry out three-dimensional explorations, which will give
more precise information. The explorations are being conducted in the open
sea forty km northwest of Batumi.

Anadarco’s findings will be eagerly awaited by other companies operating in
the Black Sea. Georgian territorial waters are divided into ten blocks:
Anadarco is active in the 2a, 2b and 3 blocks, while other companies, such
as Ioris, Veli, Runko, Fronters Ninotsminda are operating in different
blocks.

Analysts believe it possible that Anadarco will complete its exploration
works within three years and then start drilling. Anadarco is currently
looking for a partner, as drilling is very expensive: one well is estimated
to cost USD 50-60 million.

As for the Georgian share of the venture, the figures have not been revealed
yet but it is believed that Georgia’s share in the profits would initially
be slim, but would increase as work enters a more advanced stage.

Meanwhile, Saknavtobi – the state organization responsible for over seeing
the administration of oil exploration – is still searching for a General
Director. Out of the 82 applications in the open competition, twelve have
been short listed. the name of the new General Director will be publicly
announced on July 20, 2004.

2. Information regarding the IMF / World Bank Annual Meetings

Dear Civil Society Colleagues:

This is to update you on relevant information related to the accreditation
process and civil society dialogues during the upcoming Annual Meetings of
the IMF and the World Bank that will take place in Washington, DC on October
4-5, 2004. You can also find this information at the World Bank’s website
for CSOs at:

ACCREDITATION
You can now apply online for accreditation to attend the 2004 Annual
Meetings and related events. To do so, please go to:
Once you submit your
request for accreditation, you will receive an instant email reply
confirming the receipt of your request, and advising you how to check on the
status of your application while it is being processed. As you might know,
all requests for visitors, including civil society, are subject to
clearance. Your request will be cleared by the Executive Director of the
country from which your request originates.

If you are unable to submit this request on-line, please fax your written
request, on your institution’s letterhead paper, to the Special Guests and
Visitors Office at: (1-202) 522-7408. Your request should include your full
name, title, complete mailing address and telephone/facsimile numbers, and
an e-mail address if possible.

We strongly encourage you to apply for accreditation as soon as possible.
Many of you will need a visa to enter the United States and that could take
a long time to obtain. Please initiate the visa process as soon as possible.
If the US authorities in your country request a confirmation letter or fax
in order to get your visa, please contact:

Special Guests and Visitors Office, World Bank
Telephone: (1-202) 458-0264
Facsimile: (1-202) 522-7408

After you’ve completed the online registration and have received the email
receipt they will be able to issue such letter/fax for you.

The deadline for accreditation is September 3, 2004. NO REQUESTS WILL BE
ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DEADLINE.

NGO/PRESS

Please note that as of this year, the NGO/PRESS badge will be discontinued.
We will provide the accredited CSOs with a meeting space close to the press
room in the IMF building for meetings with journalists, CSO press
conferences etc. The room will be equipped with work stations and a live
feed from the press conference room. We will also distribute in that room
all communiqués and other press releases as soon as they become public and
available to journalists. Also, a number of seats in the press conference
room will be reserved for CSOs, who will be accommodated on a first-come,
first-serve basis. We will do our best to facilitate your contacts with the
press covering the Annual Meetings.

POLICY DIALOGUE SESSIONS FOR CSOs

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 before and during the 2004
Annual Meetings, between Wednesday, September 29 and Wednesday, October 6.
We welcome any suggestions and ideas of topics of these discussions. You can
submit your comments to: [email protected] for World Bank or:
[email protected] for IMF meetings. Details of these dialogues will be made
available at: closer to the date.

We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in Washington !

World Bank and IMF Civil Society Teams

_______________________________
Civil Society Team
The World Bank
Phone: (1-202) 473-1840

3. CIP Improved School Project Contract Awarded
Press Release

Source: The Georgian Messenger, July 14, 2004

BP, as the operator of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline and
South Caucasus (SCP) gas pipeline projects, is pleased to announce the
launch of the USD 2.4 mln CIP — Improved School Project in Georgia (ISP).

Improved School Project is an extension of the Community Investment Program
(CIP), implementation of which started a year ago, in March 2003. The aim of
CIP is to deliver tangible benefits to the communities along the pipeline
route by promoting sustainable social and economic development, focusing on
the projects relating to infrastructure repair/rehabilitation, agricultural
improvements, sustainable income generation through micro credit and
community capacity building. CIP has focused on the villages within the 2 km
corridor on either side of the pipeline.

Based on the consultations with various NGOs, government, local communities,
and with the aim to spread the CIP benefits to the towns along the pipeline
route, BP and its partners in the BTC and SCP projects have decided to
implement the CIP — Improved School Project in the towns along the pipeline
in addition to the current CIP activities.

The aim of the CIP -ISP is to promote sustainable socio-economic development
of urban areas along the pipeline route by preparing adolescent to
participate more effectively in Georgia’s future social and economic growth.

CIP — Improved School Project provides an opportunity to invest in both
physical infrastructure rehabilitation and capacity building for teachers,
administrators, partners and students of secondary schools, thus also
supporting the Government of Georgia’s Education System Realignment and
Strengthening Program.

Key outputs of the CIP -ISP project will include:

Infrastructure rehabilitation in over 50 secondary schools in the towns of
Gardabani, Marneuli, Rustavi, Tetristkaro, Bakuriani and Akhaltsikhe,
benefiting over 28,000 students and 2,000 teachers;
Over 275 teachers and administrators will be trained in specialized teaching
or management techniques;
Parents, teachers, administrators and students will be prepared for the
national wide move to the Schools Board model of school management.

As a pilot project, which if successfully, may be replicated in other towns
in the future, one school in Tsalka, Bakuriani and Akhaltsikhe will be
selected for installation of a computer lab powered by solar panels. This
will enable students in those schools to improve the skills that will better
prepare them to find employment in the future.

The CIP-ISP is being carried out by the two lead CIP implementing NGOs –
Care International and Mercy Corps, in cooperation with Technical Assistance
in Georgia as a local partner.

CIP-ISP is yet another example of how expansion related to the
implementation of the two major oil and gas pipeline projects in the
region – BTC and SCP – has resulted in significant investment by the BTC and
SCP partner groups to benefit the countries through which these projects
pass.

The CIP-ISP demonstrates strong commitment of the BTC and SCP projects to
being good neighbors, and will deliver real and tangible benefits to the
towns along the SCP and BTC Pipeline route.

4. ArcGIS Extensions Workshop – Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst
for Environmental Applications in Seattle, WA Sept. 1 – 2, 2004

ArcGIS Extensions Workshop – Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst for
Environmental Applications
Course ID: GIS-404
September 1 – 2, 2004, 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. (2 Days)
Allied Business Systems, Main Computer Lab
10604 N.E. 38th Place, Suite 118
Kirkland, Washington
(15 minutes east of downtown Seattle)

Instructors: Shawn Blaesing-Thompson, M.S.; and Jeffrey Berry
This 2-day hands on course builds upon GIS-403 and will cover the
environmental applications of Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions of
ESRI’s ArcGIS software. Each participant will have their own computer
workstation to create, edit, display and analyze real world environmental
data during numerous hands on exercises. Participants will be led through
exercises that simulate environmental issues (i.e., suitability, distance,
hydrologic, and surface modeling). The course topics will be covered while
working on the exercises.

Course Topics

Introduction to Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst Extensions
Modeling Surface and
Subsurface Features
Converting Features to Rasters
Draping 2D Data on 3D
Surfaces
Creating Continuous Surfaces from Point Features
Calculating Surface Area
and Volume from a TIN
Deriving Contours, Slope, View-sheds, Aspect, and Hill
Shade from Surfaces
Hands-on Exercises Using
Extensions:
Performing Map Algebra on Rasters
– Terrain Analysis
Carrying out Discrete Cell-by-Cell Analysis
– Watershed Pollution
Modeling
Performing Grid Classification and Display
– Flood Mapping
Building Surface Models (TIN)
– Site Suitability Analysis

Each day the course begins at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 5:00 P.M.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

Convert features into raster files
Create continuous surfaces from point features
Perform spatial analysis on surface features
Conduct map algebra operations on rasters
Perform discrete cell-by-cell analysis
Classify Grids and Displays
Build 2D and 3D surface models

Intended Audience: This hands on course is intended for environmental
scientist, engineers, and graphics professionals involved with the
collection, interpretation, and presentation of spatially related data.

About the Instructors:

Jeffrey Berry has been using GIS on a variety of projects across the country
for more than 10 years. He is a certified GIS instructor and frequently
teaches GIS workshops. Mr. Berry currently serves as Senior GIS Analyst with
Erlandsen & Associates. Shawn Blaesing-Thompson is currently serving as a
cartographer and GIS trainer for Washington Department of
Transportation. She has been teaching GIS workshops to WSDOT staff
throughout Washington.

Prerequisites: Previous ArcView 8 or ArcGIS 9 experience and/or completion
of GIS-403 or equivalent is recommended.

Registration: $495/$395* Discount applies to government; Native American
Tribes; nonprofits; students; teachers; and NEBC, NAEP, and NWAEP members.

Credit: 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Register Online

Directions

Download Registration and Information Packet (includes hotel info,
directions, and registration form for printing)

To request further information, call us at (206) 762-1976 or send us email.

Erick McWayne
Northwest Environmental Training Center
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit program of the Northwest Environmental Education
Council
4742 – 42nd Avenue SW, PMB 322
Seattle, WA 98116
Phone 206-762-1976
Fax 206-762-1979

5. Various Openings at NACRES

Noah’s Ark Center for the Recovery of Endangered Species (
<; ) a non-governmental and non-profit organization
was founded in 1989 to research and safeguard biodiversity, especially
endangered species in Georgia and the South Caucasus and to promote public
awareness in the field of environmental protection.

NACRES announces vacancies for the following positions:

POSITION 1: Community mobilization and public relations coordinator
POSITION 2: GIS specialist
POSITION 3: Assistant to the Executive Director
POSITION 4: Logistician

Applications described below should be submitted in English only and should
be sent either by fax or e-mail to: Mr. Kakha Artsivadze, Executive
Director, NACRES Fax: 53-71-24 E-mail: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]

NB: When sending application by e-mail, please do not forget to write in
Subject line: Application for [and indicate which position you are applying
for]; Otherwise your application might not reach the relevant staff within
NACRES.

Each applicant is eligible to apply for one position only, however selection
panel might suggest a prospective applicant other position should the panel
consider applicant’s qualification more relevant to other vacancy.

PLEASE NOTE:
1. Hand delivered applications will not be accepted !!
2. To keep the selection process fare NACRES staff will not
respond to any inquiry phone calls, e-mail or fax messages!! All necessary
information on NACRES can be found at NACRES website:

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 17:00, FRIDAY, 23 JULY 2004;

LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

1. COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

Duties and Responsibilities:

Relationships with NGO sector, local communities and other stakeholders in
the regions of Georgia
Close coordination with NACRES partner NGOs in the regions of Georgia and
also in Armenia and Azerbaijan
Coordination of public awareness activities and trainings (does not mean
facilitation of trainings in other fields rather then community mobilization
and public relations)
Relationships with local, central and international mass media
Preparation of different publications including texts for NACRES website
upgrades and annual reports

Qualifications and key competencies:

Excellent competency of spoken and written Georgian, English and Russian
Good knowledge of environmental issues
At least one year of working experience in public relations and community
mobilization
Excellent communications and team working skills
Good computing (basically MS Office and internet) skills
Good project management skills and job delegation abilities

Proposed initial salary: GEL 630 (net) per month. NB: Please note that this
is one of the key positions at NACRES and the proposed salary will at least
double (may even gradually triple) during 9-12 months after employment if
the selected person excellently performs requested abilities and
successfully accomplishes tasks set by the organization.

A successful applicant will receive extensive training in specific fields
(e.g. biodiversity conservation) if needed and s/he will be required to pass
through an initial three-month in-depth evaluation period.

Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be in
Georgian, English and Russian

Interested candidates must submit application consisting of the following
documents only:

filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format)
a letter of motivation in English, not exceeding one A4 format page printed
in Times New Roman, Font Size 12, Spacing 1
at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience in the
field

2. GIS SPECIALIST

Duties and Responsibilities:

Analysis of aerial photos and satellite images
Development of GIS databases
Development of different thematic maps
Other relevant tasks in the GIS sphere

Qualifications and key competencies:

Minimum 1 year working experience in related field
Excellent computer skills: ArcGIS 8.x (strongly desirable) or other ESRI
software;
Good English
Academic Background (desirable but nor essential): natural sciences
(biology, geology, geography or any environmental science)

Proposed salary: GEL 630 (net) per month with potential growth after six
months.

A successful applicant will be required to pass through an initial
three-month probationary period.

Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be in English

Interested candidates must submit application consisting of the following
documents only:

filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format)
at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience in the
field

3. ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Duties and Responsibilities:

Support the Executive Director in ongoing activities including projects
management
Translation of current documentation from English into Georgian and vice
versa
Management of correspondence
Maintenance of administrative and personnel filing systems
Preparation of reports for donors and the Executive Director
Perform of occasional office needs assessments for purchasing goods

Qualifications and key competencies:

Good knowledge of spoken and written Georgian, English and Russian is
desired
Desired (but not essential) background: natural sciences (biology, geology,
geography or any environmental science) or at least two years of work
experience in an environmental organization
Good computing skills

Proposed salary: GEL 439 (net) per month with potential growth after six
months.

A successful applicant will be required to pass through an initial
three-month probationary period.

Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be in English
and Russian

Interested candidates must submit application consisting of the following
documents only:

– filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format)
–
– at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience
in the related field

4. LOGISTICIAN

Duties and Responsibilities:

– Assistance in procurement
– Maintaining of the organization’s vehicles in good working
conditions
– Assistance NACRES staff in travel throughout Georgia and the South
Caucasus countries
– Coordination of travel and accommodation of foreign visitors
– Assistance in organization and management of fieldworks throughout
the country
– Management and inventory of property of the organization
–
Requirements:

– Basic English (Desirable)
– Good computer skills-MS Office (Required)
– Driving license and owning of a vehicle (Required; NB: maintenance
of personal vehicle and fuel to be supplied by the organization)
– Experience in similar job (Desirable)

Proposed salary: GEL 439 (net) per month with potential growth after six
months.

A successful applicant will be required to pass through an initial
three-month probationary period.

Important Notice: Interviews with prospective applicants will be mainly in
Georgian, but some basic communication will also be in English

Interested candidates must submit application consisting of two documents
only:

– filled attached Personal History Form (in Adobe Acrobat format)
– at least one letter of recommendation indicating work experience
in the related field

6. ATP 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at Garni Temple
July 13, 2004

PRESS RELEASE
Armenia Tree Project
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-926-8733
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Armenia Tree Project’s 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at Garni
Temple in Armenia

YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow, combined sources)-Beneath a full moon over an ancient
temple, the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia filled Garni with music on
July 2.

Maestro Aram Gharabekyan waved his orchestra into motion at 10pm, with
“Dance of Rosy Girls,” from Aram Khachaturian’s ballet “Gayane,” just as the
moon made its way into view over the 1st century BC temple.

Yellow lighting filled the inside of the temple, while purple, blue, and
green lights successively highlighted its columns. It is the first time such
a spectacle has been held in the gorge, one of Armenia’s most popular
tourist destinations.

Seating was provided for 600, but about 100 others stood for the two-hour
performance. The audience was a mix of dignitaries, citizens, and diasporan
Armenians who received special invitations to the event.

“It is the most extraordinary concert I have ever seen,” said Heghine
Zurabyan, 45, who lives in Garni. “I dream that my children will have many
opportunities to hear such concerts.”

The orchestra was accompanied by soprano Gayane Grigoryan and soprano Nune
Badalyan, who received a standing ovation for her performance of the last
aria of the opera “Anush.”

Gharabekyan praised the work of the Tree Project, which over the past decade
has planted 531,000 trees in 500 locations throughout Armenia.

“The orchestra is honored to have a role in the protection and
revitalization of our environment through music,” Gharabekyan was quoted as
saying. “Let’s place our hands together across Armenia and across the world
so that we can replant, replenish, and rebuild a new vision for the future.”

“It was just a breathtaking, stunning scene to listen to this music in front
of this amazing temple,” said Glenn Surabian, of Boston, who is in Armenia
to work on a USAID-sponsored program. “These beautiful trees were lit up. I
think it was just a wonderful celebration for the Tree Project.”

The orchestra produced a similar event last year in Shushi, at the College
of Applied Arts and Sciences that was destroyed. The concert aimed to
promote awareness of the college’s reconstruction, just as the Garni concert
publicized the Tree Project’s reforesting efforts throughout Armenia.

“One of the objectives of the orchestra has always been to play a part, not
only in the cultural life of our society, but to make a meaningful
contribution to the causes that impact our lives as citizens,” read a
statement by the orchestra about the performance.

“Therefore, this evening’s concert is not incidental, but a commitment whose
roots can be traced to Shushi. Let’s all ensure that we build a new
society – one which places importance on ecology and the environment and one
which our children will be proud to inherit,” the statement concluded.

Orchestra director Armen Arabyan said the Garni concert was a logistical
challenge. He also said they spent about $20,000 to organize the concert and
that the orchestra hopes to produce such events annually.

The performance was filmed and will be produced as a DVD and recorded for
release on CD.

The ATP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 during
Armenia’s darkest and coldest years with the vision of safeguarding
Armenia’s future by protecting its environment. Funded by contributions from
Diasporan Armenians, the ATP has planted and rejuvenated 531,000 trees at
more than 400 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris.

7. Armenia sees growth in tourism

Source: ArmenPress, July 13, 2004

Arthur Zakarian, the head of the trade and economic development ministry
department for tourism, stated that the geography of foreign tourists
visiting Armenia is expanding and visitors from EU countries are set to
exceed those coming form ex-Soviet republics.

According to him, this is the indication that Armenia is becoming gradually
a tourist attraction for Europeans. “Armenian tourists industry sees annual
growth and potentially has all prospects for becoming one of the largest
sector of the Armenian economy,” he said. He said the number of foreign
travelers visiting Armenia raised by 12 percent to approximately 33,000 in
the first quarter of this year.

8. Armenia gets 23m dollars from World Bank to
improve water supplies

Source: Arminfo, July 9, 2004

Armvodokanal [Armenian water canal] and the World Bank have signed a credit
programme to the tune of 23m dollars for 40 years to restore Armenia’s
system of water supplies, the head of the Armenian State Committee for Water
Resources, Andranik Andreasyan, told reporters at a press conference.

The programme aims to choose a new operator in the system of water supplies.
The French company [Water Utility] Saur was chosen as a new operator in a
tender. The State Committee for Water Resources is planning to submit the
package of the credit programme during the autumn session of the Armenian
National Assembly.

Moreover, two programmes of the German KfW bank to the tune of 94m euros are
being prepared for the Armenian water supplies company Nor Akunk that
operates in Armavir Region. For the implementation of the first programme,
which envisages restoration work in Armavir Region, the German government
will allocate a 14m-euro credit. The second programme, designed for
restoration work in the country’s Lori and Shirak Regions, will be carried
out stage-by-stage. The overall funding of the programme is 80m euros, and
25m euros will be channelled into the implementation of the first stage.

Mr. Andreasyan said that due to the need for massive work in these areas,
the government of Germany has decided to allocate one third of the 25 euros
(about 8m dollars) as a grant.’

The security problem in all operating reservoirs will be resolved with the
World Bank’s new credit programme amounting to 7.5m dollars, the head of the
Armenian State Committee for Water Resources, Andranik Andreasyan, told
reporters at the press conference today.

The programme will be a continuation of the already implemented World Bank
programme to maintain security in strategic reservoirs, he said. Andreasyan
also said that a programme of developing irrigation systems is being
prepared at the moment. He said that for the time being, 54 leading
organizations are operating in the country’s irrigation system, whereas only
one big company Dzhirar is engaged in water supplies.

New tariffs have been established for services in the irrigation system at
present, Mr. Andreasyan said. Thus, one cubic metre of irrigation water in
Yerevan is 90 drams and 100 drams outside the capital. The difference in
tariffs is explained by the fact that 45 pumping stations, which consume
great amounts of energy, are operating in rural areas.

CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

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

Armenian speaker, EU envoy discuss cooperation

Arminfo
8 Jul 04

YEREVAN

Armenian National Assembly Chairman Artur Bagdasaryan and Janez
Potocnik, commissioner in charge of the EU’s European Neighbourhood
Policy who is in Yerevan on a working visit, discussed issues of
cooperation between Armenia and the European Union today.

The press service of the Armenian National Assembly told Arminfo news
agency that during the meeting, Artur Bagdasaryan stressed that
integration into the EU is one of the priorities in Armenia’s foreign
policy and the republic is ready to follow all the requirements of
this organization for swift integration into the European family. The
speaker noted that on its path of integration into the EU, Armenia is
ready to deepen cooperation with all the countries of the region and
carry out the necessary reforms in the country’s domestic political
system.

The sides also stressed the importance of Armenia’s integration into
regional programmes and deepening economic cooperation between the EU
and Armenia. For his part, Janez Potocnik noted that the report he has
prepared on the results of his visit to the region will be discussed
by the EU member countries, which will put forward their own proposals
on the preparation of cooperation programmes that will focus their
main attention on issues of deepening political, economic, scientific
and cultural cooperation. Janez Potocnik also stressed the importance
of legislative bodies’ role in deepening regional cooperation.