Category: News

Georgian leader offers help in Karabakh settlement

Arminfo
20 Mar 04

YEREVAN

The major problem in the South Caucasus is the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said in an interview
with [Armenian] Noyan Tapan news agency, Armenian Public TV has
reported.

Mikheil Saakashvili stressed that Georgia was ready to render any
possible assistance for the speediest settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. But only Armenia and Azerbaijan can resolve it once and for
all, Saakashvili said.

MONDAY March 22, 2004
Natural dyes trigger renaissance for Oriental rugs in home decor

By Glen Elsasser
Knight Ridder News Service

WASHINGTON — To the delight and enthusiasm of dealers, collectors
and many homeowners, Oriental rugs are beginning to reclaim their
status as the monarchs of home decoration, accompanied by a revival of
natural dyes and hand-spun wool.

Some see this as a way to dispel once and for all the so-called
Dark Ages of rugmaking. In the early part of the 20th century,
chemical dyes began to dominate and, in the opinion of many, to lower
the quality of hand-woven rugs.

The results were not always easy on the eyes of this ancient craft’s
aficionados.

And over the past 20 years, “prices for the very best pieces have
gone up while the market has softened for middle- and lower-end
examples,” said Wendel Swan, of Alexandria, Va., a collector who has
lectured at Washington’s Textile Museum and an official of the 10th
International Conference on Oriental Carpets. The conference, founded
in London in 1976, is dedicated to advancing the knowledge of carpets
and handmade textiles with sessions featuring scholarly lectures and
an exhibition.

“Thirty years ago,” Swan added, “you couldn’t buy a new rug with
the color or quality of wool of an antique.”

But all that has changed. In the 1970s, Harald Bohmer, a German
chemist who taught in Turkey for a number of years, rediscovered the
plants used for the ingredients of the old natural dyes, the staple of
rugmaking prior to 1860.

With the sponsorship of the School of Fine Arts in Istanbul, Bohmer
organized the Natural Dye Research and Development Project, a
profit-sharing cooperative known by the Turkish acronym DOBAG.

The first beneficiaries of DOBAG were villagers in western Turkey
who began using plant roots and insects again as sources of dyes in
what would usher in the modern renaissance in rug weaving.

“The designs were based on the patterns of their nomadic ancestors
from hundreds of years ago,” said Bill McDonnell, who operates a San
Francisco rug emporium called Return to Tradition.

The exclusive U.S. dealer for DOBAG, O’Donnell emphasized that
each rug has a spontaneity, carrying the initials of the weaver as
well as the symbol of the village where it originated. DOBAG carpets
come in all sizes and cost roughly $60 a square foot.

The DOBAG project produces about 1,600 rugs a year, O’Donnell
said, half of which go to the United States. “Perhaps one of the
weaker points of the project is that they can’t crank up their
production,” he said. “It’s a very pure form of cottage industry, and
rug buyers like that limited availability.”

Europeans, notably British and Germans, have been familiar players
since the 19th century in establishing workshops overseas that
produced handmade rugs for export that were simpatico with Western
homes. One of the most prominent of these firms was Ziegler & Co.,
which had headquarters in Manchester, England, and made highly
regarded rugs in Turkey and Iran using natural dyes and hand-spun wool
more than a century ago.

But among those leading the current revival is an American, George
Jevremovic, who along with his former wife established the
Philadelphia-based company Woven Legends in 1981.

“DOBAG was a catalyst, a stepping stone for us,” said Jevremovic,
who enlisted native Turkish weavers skilled at reproducing traditional
patterns.

Woven Legends has sought to encourage weavers to produce
one-of-a-kind pieces rather than reproduce centuries-old carpet gems.

“The idea was to go to the weavers who were very skilled at
traditional patterns and urge them to make personal statements about
themselves — their weddings, landscapes — and create a folk-life
carpet,” Jevremovic said.

“Probably two-thirds of what is done is an open-ended experiment.”

With the advent of the computer, other U.S. dealers have followed
Jevremovic’s example and have become directly involved in the
production ofcarpets in far-flung places such as China, Pakistan,
India and Nepal, where Tibetan refugees make unique hand-knotted
pieces in designs distinct from Middle East examples.

While natural dyes have become commonplace in contemporary
Oriental rugs, many of today’s handmade rugs and textiles often mix
synthetic with natural dyes. Armen Babaian, a third-generation dealer
in Milwaukee, said certain reds or blues come from natural dyes while
blacks are generally made from synthetics.

It was the cheap aniline dyes that transformed once
“fantastic-looking” Turkish rugs, for example, into a sorry sight,
according to Emmett Eiland, author of Oriental Rugs Today: A Guide to
the Best New Carpets from the East (Berkeley Hills Books, 216 pages,
$34.95). “The purple would fade and run to nothing, while the orange
would stay orange.”

Eiland also mentioned “the eccentric colors” that infused Chinese
rugmaking, especially in the 1920s and 1930s with the popularity of
the ArtDeco style. While such notable decorators and craftsmen as
Louis Comfort Tiffanywere genuinely enthusiastic about the more
traditional Chinese rugs, the Chinesesaw rugmaking essentially as a
moneymaking operation.

By the early 1960s, the classic designs of Persia, the Caucasus,
China and Afghanistan were being reproduced by expert weavers in India
and Pakistan.

“Salesmen from New York would show up with rugs of the same design
year after year, and it became boring,” Eiland said.

At the same time, the collecting and veneration of antique rugs
thrived not only in the museum world but also in domestic settings.

During the Cold War, the United States remained a storehouse of
antique rugs and a favorite haunt of foreign dealers and their agents
in search of bargains. The reason for this abundance of treasures:
Beginning in the late19th century, Gilded Age prosperity nurtured a
new taste for luxury among the increasingly cosmopolitan homemakers in
booming metropolises such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and
Boston.

But as the prices of antique pieces skyrocketed, wall-to-wall
carpeting or machine-made rugs in Oriental designs became the floor
coverings of choice.

Carpets lacking an antique pedigree often wound up being offered for
sale as “estate rugs” rather than simply “used rugs.” Today, consumers
confront the challenge of frequent “going out of business” sales,
often a ploy for selling off rugs of lesser quality.

But even as we move out of the Dark Ages into this Oriental
rugmaking renaissance, Jevremovic admitted that the new handmade rugs
may not appeal to everyone.

“A lot of our rugs go to people who are worldly and well-traveled,
often with an art background,” he said. “They have a special
presence. Some people may like them in a gallery or a museum but not
want to live with them.”

Copyright 2004, The Salt Lake Tribune.

A1 Plus | 17:45:22 | 22-03-2004 | Politics |

ALLEGED BOMB NOT FOUND

Police station of Armenian capital’s Centre district received a call Monday
morning saying there in a bomb in Mashtots Avenue’s building No 48, the site
of Eurofootball and other offices.

It became clear after an hour of searching conducted by the police that the
call was false.

—

March 22, 2004
CONTACT : Loucia Isaac Seropian
Phone: 961-1-353010 Ext.: 365
Email: [email protected]

Haigazian University-Public Relations Office
PO Box: 11-1748Beirut, Lebanon

International Public Speaking Competition 2004- Lebanon

“A Borderless World” interpreted by nine young Lebanese University Students

The English- Speaking Union Lebanon branch (ESU (held its annual
International Public Speaking competition Saturday, March 20, at Haigazian
University-Auditorium, Hamra, Beirut-Lebanon. partaking in the event were
nine student contestants representing local universities in Lebanon and
aged between 18-20 in full-education.

The event was organized by the ESU Chairwoman Mrs. Mrs. Youmna Asseily and
attended by the Haigazian University president the Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian, the Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Arda Ekmekji and a
distinguished jury which included, H.E. British Ambassador, Mr. James Watt,
Dr. Nasser Saidi, former Deputy Central Bank Governor, Dr. Waleed Khoury
principal of Broumana high school, Mr. Tarek Muhmood HSBC representative
and Dr. Shereen Khairallah the Chairwoman of the English Department at
Haigazian University.

A few minutes before the competition, Mrs. Asseily lined up the contestants
out side the auditorium premises, in a non-competitive atmosphere
introducing them to the previous years’ participants attending the 2004
competition in support of the ESU’s mission in a “family atmosphere.”

” A Borderless World” was this year’s Public -Speaking competition theme.
With much self-reliance, all contestants successfully managed to tackle
their topic using different perspectives. Coincidentally, all participants
were females. With no microphones installed or made available for any of
the contestants, a rule regulated by the ESU, the majority managed to
explore the theme and inspire the jury and the audience.

The sequence of thoughts, flow of information, clear voice projection,
attitude and presence exercised by the contestants showed their eagerness
to win the competition making their families and University even more proud.

Using English as a second Language, the “English skills” and the “English
standards used by the 9 participants left “positive impressions” on H.E.
Mr. James Watt. The British Ambassador was delighted to see the Lebanese
youth “incorporated in extra-curricular- academic activities promoted by
the English Speaking Union,” adding: ” I am very appreciative of being
appointed part of the jury for this specific event.”

Theoretically, according to the speeches addressed by the contestants, a
borderless world meant, “breaking mental barrier and walls.” However, one
young participant thought, ” The whole concept of this borderless world is
a ‘pure myth’ and argued accordingly. Another contestant debated and
discussed the importance of, ” building bridges through education, love and
a mutual respect.”

Very true to the theme, all participants pondered on the concept of
globalization. Explicitly, all contestants favored a “borderless world”,
which, for them, is in pure conjunction with the experience of
globalization. Their concern was to urge the audience to experiment and
decipher the venues of globalization in terms of economy and political
agendas.
Inevitably the participants shared mutual concerns regarding “Learning
corporate languages, involving the youth in major decisions and plans,
hiring qualified and skilled professionals in all domain mainly translators
and interpreters especially of supreme importance for the west.”

Virtually some implicitly deliberated, borderless or not, the foundation of
the world should be based on “cherishing human values, respecting the
other, accessing knowledge, technology, safe-guarding identities and
cultures in tune with the rapid developments undertaking the world at large.”

According to Youmna Aseily, the ESU Chairwoman, this activity, which
involves the youth of Lebanon “is aimed to give young people experience in
the fundamental skills of public speaking, to give
International Public Speaking Competition 2004- Lebanon

Students, from a variety of countries and backgrounds, a chance to meet,
exchange views and form friendships and to provide a focus for the learning
of effective English and communication skills among young people in
countries where English is not the first Language.”

Moreover, ” The first annual ESU public -Speaking event was held in 1981
where only three countries participated. Today, and with much content,
Asseily assures the number of countries around the world participating in
this events has exceeded 50 all in all.” Concluding she said, “In 2002 a
young Lebanese student came second in the competition attended by
participants from over 35 countries, two others from different countries
tied the knot.” she concluded.

The names of the two winners, Nayla Habr from Notre Dame University (NDU)
and Lauren Eid from Balamand University was announced by H.E. the British
Ambassador Mr. Watt. The two-winners will be traveling to participate in
the headquarters International Public Speaking Competition at Dartmouth
House in London, May 2004. The rest of the participants were given a
special gift souvenir by the ESU-Lebanon.

The International Public Speaking Competition is an annual event program
run by the English-Speaking Union and Sponsored by HSBC Holdings plc in
some 42 active countries in the World.

###
Loucia Isaac Seropian

Photo caption: Right Asseily, Khairallah, Habre, Eid, British Ambssador,
HSBC representative, Khalf, Khoury

END
Photo caption: Right Asseily, Khairallah, Habre, Eid, British Ambssador,
HSBC representative, Khalf, Khoury

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Prelacy of Canada
3401 Olivar Asselin
Montreal, Quebec H4J 1L5
514-856-1200 TEL
514-856-1805 FAX
e-mail: [email protected]

COMMUNIQUE

(IN RESPONSE TO A MISLEADING COMMUNIQUE)

It was with a deep sense of surprise and disappointment that we
read the communiqué which was recently put into circulation in the name of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada (Etchmiadzin). Through the
premeditated distortion of well-established historical facts, misinformation
and baised conclusions, this Communique attempts to create an atmosphere of
confusion and tension within the Armenian community as well as non-Armenian
circles.

We do not wish to engage in a senseless and harmful public
debate. Nevertheless for the sake of truth we wish to present the following
facts to our people:

A. Our community, which in fact represents the majority of Armenians in
Canada, has never been a part of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Canada (Etchmiadzin) either by way of churches, educational institutions or
other organizations.
B. Our community along with all of its aforementioned structures was
always an organic and integral part of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of the Eastern United States and Canada (Cilicia).
C. “The Prelacy of the Eastern United States and Canada” had its
headquarters in New York. Beginning in 1997, a Canadian Vicarage together
with a Vice-Prelate was established in Montreal, which during the ensuing
years officially received Their Holinesses of Blessed Memory Vazken I and
Karekin I and His Holiness Karekin II Catholicoi of the Holy See
Etchmiadzin, as well as Their Holinesses of Blessed Memory Khoren I and
Karekin II and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicoi of the Holy See of Cilicia.
D. Considering that the “Prelacy of the Eastern United States and
Canada” was divided geographically between two different countries, certain
practical problems coupled with the ever-growing needs of the Armenians in
Canada, compelled the higher authorities of the Prelacy to separate Canada,
which was already endowed with its own By-laws and diocesan structures, from
the “Prelacy of the Eastern United States and Canada” and render it fully
autonomous. For the record with the same reasoning, an identical decision
was implemented in 1984 by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the Eastern
United Staes and Canada (Etchmiadzin).
E. In 2002 the National Representative Assembly of the Canadian Prelacy
elected a Prelate according to its by-laws, giving to the Catholicossal
Vicar the title of Prelate.
F. Despite the fact that the election was legitimate and was the
natural consequence of internal administrative reorganization, His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I, motivated by the desire to enhance the cooperation
between our Prelacy and the Diocese, advised our Prelate-elect, not to use
his title, and continue to keep that of Catholicosal Vicar.
G. However, the good will shown by His Holiness, the Catholicosal Vicar,
as well as the Executive Council and all affiliated bodies and
organizations, unfortunately was not reciprocated in the same spirit by the
Primate and diocesan authorities.

Therefore, it is a plain fact that a new Prelacy was not established as the
Communique of Diocese and some circles attempt to portray in order to incite
provocation and misunderstanding in our community and in the Diaspora at
large. The fact is that this was simply an internal administrative
reorganization within an existing Prelacy and diocesan structures.

We do not wish to state anything further. We simply wanted to bring the
aforementioned facts to the attention of our community and those interested.
We are grieved by the spirit demonstrated by the Diocese and the misleading
conclusions of the Communique.

This is our statement and stand. We remain firmly committed to cooperation.
We will not respond to any further negative expressions directed at us.
Rather we will continue unswervingly to serve our people, the Armenian
Apostolic Church, our Fatherland, the Armenian Cause, Armenian education and
culture under the auspices of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
Cilica.

###

RESETTLEMENT AS TRUE GUARANTEE OF REBUILDING THE MOTHERLAND

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
22-03-2004

“The settlement of Nagorni Karabakh territories of strategic
importance is a national problem therefore the world-spread Armenians
are interested in the regulation of the problem,” said the chairman of
the public organization “The Promised Land” Vahram Gevorgian. Since
2003 the organization has directed its activities towards the
implementation of the settlement of Artsakh. In 2003with the
assistance of Armenian benefactors from America the school building
was built and furnished in the historical village Tsar 20 km from the
region Karvachar (now Shahoumian). The school of Tsar started
operating from October 23, 2003. Presently nine families live in the
village. “The construction of the school means the revival of the
village. The building of the school was necessary as many families
refused to settle here for the absence of school. I hope after the
opening of the school the flow of settlers will grow,” mentioned V!
ahram Gevorgian. In historical Tsar there were three churches. One of
them was ruined by the Azerbaijanis, and the stones were used to build
an Azerbaijani school. The other two churches were turned into
cattle-sheds. “The PromisedLand” intends to reconstruct the churches
and found a scientific research center in the Azerbaijani school built
on the Armenian khachcars. A film about Tsar was shot which was shown
in a number of foreign countries, an as a result the funding of school
building. In the military village Araler the school building was ready
on September 8, 2003 but it was opened later, on March 1, 2004. The
school was built and furnished again by foreign benefactors. The
school has27 pupils. Before the children of the officers had to go to
school in the village Arakel of Hadrout region situated 15 km
far. Presently a small hospital is being built in Araler, which will
be for both the soldiers settling the village and the other
settlers. In the! village Knaravan of the region Shahoumian it is
planned to bu! ild a school, the village administration building, a
club and a surgery in 2004. Twelve housed have been built in Knaravan,
this year this number will grow. The nursery school was built in
Yeghegnut, which will start operating in one or two months. “There is
a big project for the resettlement of the village of Arevshat. For six
years already the settlers have been living in hard social
conditions. In 2004 it is planned to build the building of the village
administration, a surgery, 8 houses,” mentioned V. Gevorgian adding
many new settlers left the village because of the indifference of
competent bodies. Unfortunately, the same situation was in
Tsamdzor. The settlement of the village was carried out by the public
organization “France-Karabakh” and because of the indifference of the
competent body emigration started from this strategic
settlement. According to V. Gevorgian, to stop the emigration from the
village there is a project to repair th! e school building, etc. “We
have also a program of economic development for the mentioned
settlements. Settlement does not only mean building. First of all the
social problems of the settlers should be solved: the problem of work
and employment, etc. According to the agreement with benefactors, a
sheep-breeding center will be opened in the village, we have farming
projects, etc.,” mentioned the head of the organization, and added
that in some villages cultural projects will be brought into being as
well. In the village Ijevanatun the “Old Inn” used to operate before
providing the trade with Iran. The building was passed to the
organization for ten years, and it is planned to open a center of
historical and cultural research on the liberation territories. “We
have the plan of repairing the school building of the village
Arakel. The school was built by the organization “France-Karabakh” in
1994. In 2004 we ! must implement the construction of the nursery
schoolin Talis! h and the settlement of the village Akn,” said the
head of the organization “The Promised Land” Vahan Gevorgian.

NVARD OHANJANIAN.
22-03-2004

DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
22-03-2004

Presently the question of introducing the 12-year educational system
is discussed. According to the Minister of Education of NKR Armen
Sarghissian,the introduction of this system in Armenia and NKR is
still a question to be discussed, trying to find out its advantages
and disadvantages. In Armenia a number of documents have been drawn
up, in particular, “The Main Principles of the Conceptual State
Secondary Education System”. According to Armen Sarghissian, the
advantage of the 12-year secondary education is that in the upper
classes the pupils will have the opportunity of specialization, and
thus favourable conditions will be provided for the pupils who will
want to proceed with higher education. This system will also bring
about problems. The children will goto school at the age of
6. Therefore much work has to be done for establishing primary
education institutions. The teachers with necessary specialization
will change to the nursery schools. In the! end the minister added
that especially in the education system reforms must be done with
special care as it is a conservative system in the positive sense of
the word, a mechanism created in the course of years and rapid changes
will cause failure. Because the reform will be effective in the case
of correct planning and funding. If anything is done with faults, the
reform, even the best idea will fail.

LILIT ASRIAN.
22-03-2004

A1 Plus | 19:10:29 | 22-03-2004 | Social |

PARENT AWARENESS PROGRAM

Parents’ awareness program worked out by a group created by on UNICEF
initiative is now being put into reality in Armenia’s province of
Gegharkunik. The project’s aim is to provide the parents whose children don’
t attend kindergartens.

Education Ministry official Robert Stepanyan says 80 percent of the republic
children don’t get preschool education.

One of causes is unemployment – most jobless parents prefer to educate their
kids themselves.

Besides, there are regions in Armenia having no preschool facilities. 338
kindergartens have been closed in the republic over the last decade.

Education Minister Sergo Yeritsyan says the ministry intends to reach
considerable results by taking proper measures.

—
http://www.a1plus.a,

CENN — MARCH 22, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. 3rd Georgia International Oil, Gas, Energy and Infrastructure
Conference and Showcase
2. Invitation to Comment on the Country Strategy for Georgia
3. Registration for Healthy Planet Forum
4. Call for proposals for the European Initiative for Democracy and
Human Rights Micro Projects program
5. International Perspectives in Environmental Education

1. 3RD GEORGIA INTERNATIONAL OIL, GAS, ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
CONFERENCE AND SHOWCASE
GIOGIE 2004

A two-day 3rd Georgia International Oil, Gas, Energy and Infrastructure
2004 Conference kicked off at the Sheraton Metechi palace Hotel Thursday
supported by Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Georgia, and Georgian
International Oil Corporation (GIOC). 180 delegates from 15 countries
are participating in the conference. Development of BTC pipeline and
South Caucasian gas pipeline Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum was discussed at
the conference. Participants include BP, BTC Co., GIOC, Georgian Oil,
Socar, Botas, Kazmunaigaz, Statoil, Ukransnafta, IFC, EBRD, RAO UES,
Gazprom, ChevronTexaco, Spie-Petrofac, Marsh, Ernst & Young, AON,
McConnell Dowell, USAID and many others.

GIOGIE 2004 sponsors include: GIOC, Batumi Oil Terminal, BP, Statoil,
Spie-Petrofac, Marsh, Ernst & Young, ENR Russia Invest, Channel Enery,
BCI, Sercel.

Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was expected to open the conference but the
political standoff between Tbilisi and Batumi has promoted him to stay
in a Black Sea town Poti, near Batumi to head an anti-crisis center. As
the entire cabinet of ministers was in Poti Nika Gilauri, Minister of
Fuel and Energy failed to attend the 3rd International Conference.
Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy Aleko Khetaguri participated on his
behalf.

The construction of the Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipeline is scheduled
to start shortly after the BTC pipeline building is complete. Georgia’s
participation in the projects bears critical importance as it serves a
kind of transport corridor between Asia and Europe.

At the conference Commercial Director of BTC Co Andrew McAuslan noted
that the BTC pipeline energy corridor expands over 700 000 kms.

The BTC Co representative spoke about the importance of social and
public projects implemented within the frames of the BTC oil pipeline.
The projects aimed at improvement of social conditions of the people
living in the BTC pipeline vicinities. Andrew McAuslan said that the
population of the villages crossed by the pipeline would be favored when
hiring personnel for the pipeline. He added that 15 international
commercial banks are participating in the pipeline project. BTC Co. is
planning to carry out large-scale infrastructure projects within the
frames of the project and pledges to care for integration of
infrastructure.

Archil Magalashvili, technical manager of GIOC, said that the BTC oil
pipeline would be under tight monitoring. High security measures have
been taken to ensure security of Georgian stretch of the pipeline and
avoid environment pollution or other accidents.

Since Georgia is situated in high seismological and landslide risk zone
the project envisages additional security measures. Archil Magalashvili
says that additional geological field works have been performed
alongside with the construction of the pipeline.

Manager of Statiol Turkey, Kietil Tanlend focused on the
Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline. He said Statiol, which is a
shareholder of BTC pipeline project was established in 1972. The company
produces 1 million barrel oil a day, making the company the third
biggest oil operator in the world. Statiol is a Norwegian company and is
one of the leading oil operators in Norway and Scandinavian countries.

Statoil holds 5.5 shares in BTC oil pipeline and 25.5 percent in
Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline. Kietil Tanlend pointed out that
the preparatory work for the South Caucasian pipeline project was
underway. He said Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline would become
operational in 2006.

He spoke about the Georgia as an important and strategic partner in the
gas pipeline project. The well-developed system will help to implement
the project in complaisance with European standards.

The conference was wrapped on March 19, 2004. Organizers of the
conference were content with the results and say they have worked
productively in these two days. At the 2nd international conference the
course of the pipeline project implementation was discussed and the gas
pipeline project was only theoretically considered. At the March 18-19,
2004 conference participants spoke about the details of the project and
dwelled on profits the project willing bring to participating states.

The next day of the 3rd international conference Viachwslan Axenov,
advisor to Russia’s Energy Council said that Russia honored the request
of the Georgian Ministry of Fuel Energy and would play an active role in
the development of Georgia’ s energy sector. He added that the Russian
Energy Council is planning to hold a press conference on the hydro
energy issue in the near future and proposed the Georgian Ministry of
Fuel and Energy to participate in the conference. Mr. Axenov believes
that the rehabilitation of Inguri hydropower station is important for
country and if the ministry representative attends the conference this
issue will be also discussed there.

Viachwslan Axenov did not specify whether or not Russia would contribute
to the rehabilitation of Inguri station but his appeal to Georgia to
participate in this conference does hold an answer to the question.

Russian United Energy Company Rau UES holds 75 percent of Tbilisi power
distribution facility Telasi shares. Rau UES also owns Gardabani 9 and
10 energy facilities and two hydropower stations of Kvemo Kartli region
“Khrami 1” and “Khrami 2”.

Viachwslan Axenov says that the Russian Energy Council ‘s strategy is to
develop Georgia’s energy sector, and Rao UES’ strategy is to create a
common energy corridor throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS). Georgian experts well understand the quite clear “Russian”
accents but as one of the experts said despite the monopoly of the
Russian companies at the Georgian energy system, the Georgian-Russian
political relations promises to be less aggressive BTC and
Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipelines are not threatened by Russia.

Experts unanimously exclude Russia’s participation in the gas pipeline
project. Although the shortest route for Russian power export crosses
Georgia but Russia does not have any claims for
Shah-Deniz-Tbilisi-Erzerum project, As for Viachwslan Axenov, he
withheld comments on this comment.
The Georgian Times, March 22, 2004

2. INVITATION TO COMMENT ON THE COUNTRY STRATEGY FOR GEORGIA

In light of recent political developments in Georgia, the EBRD is
advancing the preparation of its next Strategy for Georgia in order to
be better able to support the efforts of the new authorities in
addressing the main challenges in the country. Comments are invited to
help the Bank in revising its Strategy.

Comments should refer to the current Strategy for Georgia available at:

To help in the preparation of the forthcoming Strategy for Georgia, it
would be useful for the Bank to receive comments on the investment and
economic environment as it relates to the Bank’s operational priorities
and activities, in particular in the following areas:

1. Issues related to the investment climate

This would include issues concerning: (i) the implementation and
enforcement of laws; (ii) progress in the fight against corruption –
implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy; (iii) corporate
governance; and (iv) in particular the investment climate as it relates
to the development of SMEs/MSEs. We seek your views on how serious these
issues are for the development of the private sector, priority areas
which should be addressed by the authorities, and the ways in which the
EBRD could assist the authorities in improving the
investment climate.

2. Issues related to infrastructure development

This would include efficiency and payment discipline in the power sector
and issues related to development of the transport sector, with
particular attention to issues relating to tariff reform, restructuring,
and privatization/private sector involvement. Comments are invited on
priority issues and the role, which the EBRD should play in further
support for the development of these sectors.

3. Issues related to access to capital

Comments are invited on the ease of access to funding by private sector
enterprises, in particular by micro-, small- and medium-sized
enterprises, given the current state of development of the banking
sector, the level of financial intermediation, and the availability of
funding under various donor and IFI programs. Comments would also be
welcome on issues related to the early stage of development of
non-banking financial sector (leasing, mortgages, pensions, insurance).
What are the main obstacles, what measures should be taken to strengthen
the banking and non-banking financial sectors, and what type of projects
should be supported by the EBRD to help alleviate identified gaps?

The Strategy provides guidance for EBRD activities in a country,
identifying the main challenges which the Bank is best placed to
confront. As such, the Strategy cannot address all of the development
issues a country faces and necessarily must be selective in identifying
issues where the Bank has the experience and ability to play a
constructive role.

The Bank will take into account all comments received. A summary of
these, with staff responses, will be posted on the Web site following
the Board approval of the revised Strategy. The Country Strategy is,
however, a Bank document and the responsibility for its contents remains
with the Bank.

Please send your comments to the Bank at [email protected] no
later than 18 May 2004.

You may also like to send this message to other interested
organisations.

Outreach and NGO Relations team, European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development

3. REGISTRATION FOR HEALTHY PLANET FORUM

The Healthy Planet Forum is a civil society event conducted in Budapest
on 22-25 June 2004 in parallel with the forthcoming 4th Ministerial
Conference on Environment and Health ‘The Future for Our Children’. The
organizers of the Healthy Planet Forum opened two types of registration:

A) Registration for attending the Forum (personal registration)

The registration will allow you to be admitted to the Forum’s
facilities. The organizers will assist you with booking a place to stay
in Budapest and getting an invitation for visa purposes.
As of early March 2004, the Healthy Planet Forum steering committee
cannot subsidies or sponsor individuals. Efforts have been made to keep
organizational costs to a minimum, and the host organizations are
continuing to seek funding toward the costs of attendance and other
expenditure connected to the Forum. If you would like to be considered
for this please complete your application for assistance at the end of
the form. Your application will form part of a funding search and will
register you as a potential recipient of funding if successful.

B) Event registration

If you plan to organize a parallel event or a side-event, a workshop or
a seminar in Budapest, fill in the Event Registration form. Rooms and
equipment are kindly provided free of charge by the Hungarian Ministry
of Health. All other expenses are to be covered by the participants
(food, drinks, handouts, invitations, representation, etc.). Event
timing and provided free equipment are subject to availability.

Both forms are available at

For more information contact:
Laszlo Perneczky
REC, “Environment and Health Working Group”
E-mail: [email protected]

4. CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE EUROPEAN INITIATIVE FOR DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS MICRO PROJECTS PROGRAM

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DELEGATION TO GEORGIA AND ARMENIA
Call for proposals for the European Initiative for Democracy and Human
Rights Micro projects program
Call reference: EuropeAid/ 119-571/L/G/GE

The European Commission Delegation to Georgia is seeking proposals for
micro projects in Georgia with financial assistance from the European
Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) program of the
European Communities. The global indicative amount available for this
Call for Proposals is ˆ1,000,000.

The general objective of the EIDHR micro projects program is to respond
rapidly to requests from Nongovernmental organizations that are designed
to promote democracy and human rights. Proposals for microprojects
should be in the following priority areas:

Priority A: Support to the rule of law and the fight against corruption
Priority B: The fight against torture
Priority C: Combating discrimination against religious and ethnic
minorities.

Grants may cover a maximum of 80% of project costs. Grants will finance
projects with activities
lasting up to 18 months.

Grants range from a minimum of ˆ10,000 to a maximum of ˆ100,000.

Applicants must be non-profit-making and be a non-governmental
organization. Profit making media organizations may also apply provided
that the proposed action is non-profit making. They must have their
headquarters in Georgia, or be a local independent division of an NGO
with its headquarters in another country. Activities must take place in
Georgia. Applicants may apply singly or as part of a consortium.

Detailed information on this Call for Proposals is contained in the
“Guidelines for Grant Applicants”, which are published together with
this notice on the Internet Web site of the European Commission
Delegation to Georgia:

The full Guidelines for Applicants are also available for consultation
at the:
European Commission Delegation
38 Nino Chkheidze Str., Tbilisi 0102, Georgia
Telephone +995 (8)32 943 763

The deadline for submission of proposals is 14 June 2004 at 16.00
Georgian times. Any application received by the European Commission
Delegation to Georgia after this time will not be considered.

Any questions regarding this Call for Proposals should be sent, clearly
indicating the reference number, by fax to +995 (8)32 943 768 or by
email to [email protected] .

All applicants are encouraged to consult the Internet website above
regularly before the deadline for applications, where the EC Delegation
will publish the most frequently asked questions and the corresponding
replies.

Priorities for the EIDHR Microprojects Call for Proposals, March 2004:

Generally the submission of project proposals from NGOs whose
headquarters are outside Tbilisi, or whose work focuses on internally
displaced persons (IDPs), is particularly encouraged. The following
cross cutting issues will be considered as additional assets during the
evaluation of the proposals:

1) Strengthening of the participation of youth in civil society
activities 2) civil society capacity building in the regions of Georgia
(inter alia Adjara, Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti) Please note
that these cross cutting issues are not priorities in themselves.

Priority A: Support to the rule of law and the fight against corruption:

Including but not limited to actions resulting in:

§ Promotion, awareness rising on and/or monitoring/analyzing of the
reform of the criminal justice system (inter alia: procuracy reform,
police reform; reform of the criminal procedural code, reform of the
investigation);
§ promotion of human rights and/or access to justice of disadvantaged
groups;
§ capacity building for effective and high quality monitoring and
reporting on corruption;
§ anti-corruption activities within specific regions and within specific
sectors (e.g. judiciary, education, urban planning, environment);
§ promotion of accountability of local self-governance structures in the
regions of Georgia.

Priority B: The fight against torture:

Including but not limited to actions resulting in:

§ Promotion of and support to a humane penal and penitentiary system in
Georgia by piloting new ways of cooperation between civil society and
the respective state bodies in the penal sector;
§ Promotion of and support to alternatives to custodial sentences;
§ Public control and civil monitoring of places of detention, including
capacity building in the field of monitoring and reporting on torture
according to international standards;
§ Public awareness on penal reform in Georgia;
§ Awareness raising and capacity building in the fight against torture
in the regions of Georgia;
§ Improved access of victims of torture to justice.

Priority C: Combating discrimination against religious and ethnic
minorities:

Including but not limited to actions resulting in:

§ Promotion of religious, cultural, political and economic rights of
ethnic and religious minorities;
§ Capacity-building in the legal field for representatives of ethnic
minorities;
§ Promotion of professional media reporting on religious and/or cultural
minority issues and capacity building in the media field for
representatives of ethnic minorities.

5. INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

This book is one of the outcomes of the First World Environmental
Education Congress (FWEEC) held in Espinho, Portugal on May 20-24, 2003.
FWEEC gathered 282 participants from 38 countries, offering an
international platform for educators, scientists, researchers, scholars,
politicians, technicians, activists, media and teachers to present and
debate key issues in environmental education worldwide. It includes many
of the papers delivered in the Congress and a few additional ones, in an
attempt to both document international experiences and promote them to a
wide audience. The scope of this publication is comprehensive and it
approaches a wide range of issues such as:

§ Environmental education through interactive means
§ Environmental education and fieldwork
§ Environmental education in formal education
§ Environmental education and information technologies
§ Environmental education in waste management
§ Environmental education and partnerships
§ Environmental education and fauna awareness
§ Environmental education society and conservation units
§ Environmental education in higher education
§ Environmental education and citizenship
§ Environmental education and adult education
§ Environmental education and teacher education
§ Environmental education and Agenda 21

Similar to its predecessor book (World Trends in Environmental
Education) also published in the book series Environmental Education,
Communication and Sustainability, this publication is meant to pave the
ground for the UN International Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development (2005 Ö 2014) by addressing one of the oldest and yet one of
the most pressing needs in environmental education today: the need to
document experiences and promote good practice.

Edited by Walter Leal Filho (Hamburg) & Michael
Littledyke (Gloucester)
Peter Lang Scientific Publishers, Bern, Brussels,
Frankfurt, New York,
Oxford, Vienna
Volume 16 of the series ÓEnvironmental Education,
Communication and SustainabilityÔ
ISBN: 3-631-52296-7 Ö US ISBN: 0-8204-6583-6,
Paperback, 340pp., À
49.80 / US$ 55.95
On-line orders from: or from:
[email protected]

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

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

A1 Plus | 22:12:41 | 22-03-2004 | Official |

ABOUT KEY WEST AGREEMENTS

On Monday, Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary Hamlet Gasparyan,
answering De Facto news agency journalists’ questions, expressed hope the
talks on Nagorno Karabakh would continue from the point they were
interrupted.{BR}

Upon his returning from international conference in Bratislava Azeri Foreign
Minister Vilayat Guliev said in Bratislava he had demanded his Armenian
counterpart Vardan Oskanyan to show him a document on Key West agreements
and added if the documents isn’t signed there can be not a word about any
agreements.

“We are happy that Azeri Foreign Minister admitted the fact that there is a
written document on some accord reached in Key West though it isn’t signed.
We have repeatedly said there is a document made up by OSCE Minsk Group’s
co-chairs and grounded on negotiation between the two countries presidents.
We are summing up that the issue on whether the document exists or not is
closed”, Gasparyan concluded.

Signed it or not – the document exists, said the Press Secretary and added
as Azerbaijan admits the fact of agreements reached, we hope the talks will
resume from the very point they was interrupted.

—