FAR Board Preparing Transition Plan

PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina NG Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

March 10, 2004
____________________

FAR BOARD PREPARING TRANSITION PLAN

New York, (March 10, 2004): The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Executive Director, Simon Y. Balian, informed the Board of Directors
that he intends to step down this year and requested that a process
begin to appoint a successor. According to Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
and Mr. Kevork Hovnanian, respectively the President and the Chairman of
the FAR Board, Mr. Balian will stay on until the successor is named and
will help the new Executive Director through a transition period to
ensure the continued smooth operation of the organization and its many
projects.

Mr. Balian explained that it was a difficult decision because of his
profound attachment to FAR and to the people of Armenia. “I have been
very fortunate to have had this opportunity and feel honored to have
worked with a distinguished and dedicated Board of Directors. I am
grateful for the support and guidance I have received during my tenure
as Executive Director,” stated Mr. Balian, who also praised and thanked
the staff in New York and Armenia for their passionate commitment and
constant source of inspiration, making FAR a successful institution.

He explained that unlike most Diaspora-based Armenian organizations, FAR
has grown exponentially since its birth, which arose from the tragic
earthquake of 1988. The organization has completed every project it has
undertaken in Armenia. “I believe,” said Mr. Balian, “that this is a
good time to make a transition to a new Executive Director. It is also
a good time for me personally after 11 years at the helm of the
organization to move on to new challenges that, I hope, will continue to
be focused on Armenia in different ways.”

Archbishop Barsamian expressed his appreciation to Mr. Balian for
“guiding the organization through its tremendous expansion in the past
decade” and acknowledged Mr. Hovnanian’s extraordinary leadership and
the Board’s instrumental role in the growth of the organization.
Echoing the Archbishop’s sentiment, the Board also thanked Mr. Balian
for working to provide the necessary transition to a new Executive
Director. Understanding Mr. Balian’s reasons to step down, the Board
wished him the best and assured him of its continued support for
whatever he decides to do.

Mr. Hovnanian, one of FAR’s key founders, said of Mr. Balian, “he is an
outstanding person who turned FAR into the pre-eminent organization in
Armenia through hard work and by fostering a culture of integrity in the
operations of the organization.” Then he revealed, “I have enjoyed
working with him. Along with the rest of the Board, I will miss him.”

The Board appointed a Search Committee led by Mr. Hovnanian to seek and
review potential candidates for the position. The Search Committee will
be assisted by Randolph S. Gulian, President of InSearch Worldwide, an
executive recruitment firm. Mr. Gulian is volunteering his services to
the organization.

The organization’s administration and projects will continue without any
slowdown during the period of the search for a new Executive Director
and during the transition period. The Board will remain fully engaged
and Mr. Balian will continue to manage the daily affairs of the
organization. The Board, once again, expressed its gratitude to the
thousands of donors and supporters who have entrusted FAR with carrying
out their mission of helping the people of Armenia.

— 03/10/04

# # #

www.farusa.org

BAKU: Illegal broadcasting to be stopped

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
March 10 2004

ILLEGAL BROADCASTING TO BE STOPPED
[March 10, 2004, 17:15:37]

In connection with broadcasting of Armenian TV programs in several
regions of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Communications and Information
Technologies has raised the problem before the regional communication
organization functioning within the framework of the Commonwealth of
Independent States. At he organization’s invitation, officials of the
Communication Ministry visited Moscow, where representatives of
Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia through the mediation of the regional
communication organization, have negotiated on elimination of the
problem emerged due to coordination of TV channels broadcasting.

The meeting participants have reached the agreement on suppression of
Armenian TV channels’ broadcasting in the territory of Azerbaijan,
and signed appropriate protocol.

BAKU: Press conf. at clerical office of Caucasian muslims held

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
March 10 2004

PRESS CONFERENCE AT CLERICAL OFFICE OF CAUCASIAN MUSLIMS HELD
[March 10, 2004, 18:18:52]

Chairman of the Clerical Office of the Caucasian Muslims sheikh
ul-Islam hajji Allahshukur Pashazadeh has conducted a press
conference for media to speak of the results of the Inter-religious
Peacemaking Forum in Moscow. Mr. Pashazadeh noted that over 300
religious leaders from CIS countries had participated in the forum.
He said the major purpose of the event was forming CIS
Inter-religious Council to strengthen peace between nations and
religions, to achieve solidarity and stability in the society,
develop dialogue among religious leaders, unite efforts against the
common danger, co-ordinate joint activity for revival of the
traditional spiritual values.

The forum participants elected a Board of the CIS Inter-religious
Council consisted of 22 religious figures. Two of them – Patriarch
Aleksiy II and Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh – were
conferred special powers of honorary co-chairs. An executive
committee consisted of 19 Council members was also elected.

Within the frameworks of the international forum, sheikh ul-Islam A.
Pashazadeh and Aleksiy II held one-on-one meeting and discussed
bilateral relations and main goals facing religious leaders of CIS
countries. Moreover, a meeting of religious leaders of Caucasus
countries – sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, all Georgian
Catholicos-patriarch Iliya II, Catholicos of all Armenians Garigin II
and Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Aleksiy II – was also held
during the forum.

Within the frames of the meeting the `round table’ discussion mainly
revolved around `Experience of inter-religious cooperation expansion
at the regional level’, `Problems of religious education’, `Religion
and Media’, `Peacemaking efforts of religious organizations’.

In conclusion, head of the clerical office responded to the
journalists’ questions.

ANKARA: Tusiad Asks France To Support Turkey’s E.U. Bid

Anadolu Agency
March 10 2004

Tusiad Asks France To Support Turkey’s E.U. Bid

PARIS – Omer Sabanci, the Chairman of the Association of Turkish
Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSIAD) asked on Tuesday France’s
support for EU’s starting full membership negotiations with Turkey.

TUSIAD’s Paris Office was opened the same day in a ceremony in which
State Minister Ali Babacan, French Minister of Economy, Finances, and
Industry Francis Mer and Chairman of Association of French
Industrialists and Businessmen (MEDEF- Mouvement des Entreprises de
France) Antoine Seilliere participated.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Sabanci said that ”we firmly
believe that France will appreciate the historical, strategic and
political significance of helping Turkey join the EU.”

Sabanci stated that ”with the start of the negotiations early next
year, we expect an influx of foreign direct investment. This should
enhance the intensification of economic activities in our country.
Our economic dynamism is helping the economies of neighbouring
countries. We expect Armenia to soon join Syria, Iraq, Georgia,
Russia, Iran and other regional countries as a viable trade partner
of Turkey when the border is opened.”

”By the beginning of the next decade Turkey will be an energy
corridor as gas and oil pipelines cross the country north to south
and east to west. The EU would be one of the beneficiaries of such a
development since these multiple pipelines will enable it diversify
its sources of energy,” Sabanci noted.

Referring to the historical and cultural bonds between Turkey and
France in his speech, Sabanci also mentioned the importance of France
in modernization period of Ottoman Empire noting that ”it was the
philosophers of enlightenment, the literature and political thought
of France that attracted the reformers in Ottoman Empire.”

”The Turkish Republic was designed in large measure after French
political and administrative example. Kemal Ataturk’s private library
includes many well-thumped meticulously annotated works by French
thinkers, notably Rousseau and Montesqieu,” he said.

Sabanci said that the strong historical and intellectual bonds
between the two countries gave Turkey the assurance that France would
understand Turkey’s aspirations about EU membership.

TUSIAD Chairman said that important steps were taken in Turkey during
the last two years to meet Copenhagen criteria and remarked that the
economic system was being restructured.

Referring to the devastating economic crisis of 2001, Sabanci said
that ”with the guidance of a program supported by the IMF, and then
admirably managed by State Minister Babacan we have finally reached
calm waters. From now on the Maastricht criteria and the Lisbon
Strategy of the European Union are also our main guidelines.”

”As of this month, the rate of inflation dropped to single digit
levels. Growth has been restored to the economy even if employment
figures have not yet caught up with the rebound. Interest rates are
at their lowest since a quarter century ago and budgetary discipline
has been mostly restored. Turkish companies are emerging as
world-class competitors in sophisticated industrial products,” he
said.

Sabanci stated that he believed that Turkey would reach its goals in
privatization and administrative reforms, adding that TUSIAD aimed to
bring Turkey’s economy to the standards of most competitive countries
in terms of its technological sophistication.

Sabanci noted that TUSIAD worked hard and long for Turkey’s
democratization, adding that TUSIAD was the watchdog of the reform
process.

”What we ask from our partners in the EU is encouragement and a fair
assessment when December arrives. Turkey is ready for the process of
negotiations, which we know will take several years to successfully
conclude. By that European Council, Turkey will have done its part in
securing a Cyprus resolution. We hope that our Greek counterparts,
particularly in the island, will do the same,” Sabanci said.

”September 11 and the conduct of the war against Iraq led all of us
to a reassessment of Transatlantic relations,” he said adding that
Turkey would continue to play an important role strategically in the
new world order.

”We all have a common interest in not allowing a so-called clash of
civilizations. Just as much we have a common interest in stabilizing
the Middle East and assure the emergence of a secular, representative
political order in that critical region. I am sure you share my view
that such a task would be almost impossible without Turkey’s
participation and contribution. Developments of the past year and a
half particularly the context of the Iraq war have highlighted the
commonality of interests for Turkey and the EU. We should work to
deepen our dialogue and understanding. And this can only be achieved
as our partnership evolves to full membership in an EU that becomes a
full player in world politics just as France desires,” he added.

ANKARA: Roth: Resolution of Cyprus Question important for Turkey

Anadolu Agency
March 10 2004

Roth: Resolution of Cyprus Question is very important for Turkey

BERLIN – Claudia Roth, the chairwoman of the German government`s
human rights board and the Turkish-German Parliamentary Friendship
Group, has said that resolution of the Cyprus question was very
important for Turkey.

Roth had a meeting on Tuesday in Berlin with Parliamentary Commission
for Adjustment Into European Union (EU) members headed by former
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis.

Speaking at the meeting, Roth said that end of human rights
violations and removal of regional economic differences were
important for Turkey`s EU membership.

Although it was not among the Copenhagen criteria, resolution of the
Cyprus question was very important and if it was not resolved, Turkey
would have difficulties because those who were against Turkey`s
membership might show it as a pretext, she said.

Noting that she completely supported the German government`s attitude
toward opening of membership negotiations with Turkey in case of
fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria, Roth said that also German
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer believed that Turkey might play a
key role in securing peace and fight against terrorism.

Stressing that as the Green Party, they attributed great importance
especially to human rights, Roth said that she would have meetings in
Ankara, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Istanbul during her one-week visit to
Turkey in May.

Recalling that the Turkish press had harshly criticized her during
some periods, Roth said that criticism did not mean you were always
against something and her party believed in principle of equality
while other parties had concerns whether a Muslim country could
change them. Noting that there had been lobbying efforts in the
German assembly to bring so-called Armenian genocide onto the agenda,
Roth said she could not know how much those efforts would be
effective but Armenian issue might come to the agenda of the
assembly.

Defending that release of Leyla Zana would be positive for Turkey,
Roth added that Zana was well-known in international area.

Murderer of Armenian officer sends message to his nation

ArmenPress
March 10 2004

MURDERER OF ARMENIAN OFFICER SENDS MESSAGE TO HIS NATION

BAKU, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The defense ministry of Azerbaijan has
committed to pay a Hungarian attorney Peter Zala, hired by the
official Baku to defend Ramil Safarov, an Azeri officer who hacked to
death an Armenian classmate, Gurgen Margarian in Budapest on February
19.
An Azeri lawyer, Adil Ismailov, who is steering a committee,
founded in Azerbaijan to defend Safarov, told in Baku upon his return
from Hungary that Safarov was recognized guilty after a test to
identify whether he was suffering from a mental disorder, produced a
negative result. Ismailov said the defense will be based on the
assumption that “as long as the Armenian-Azeri opposition over
Karabagh remains unresolved, similar incidents are likely to happen.”
He said he was assured by the authorities that “president Aliyev is
following closely the case of Safarov.”
Azeri prosecutors are traveling next week to Budapest to meet with
Hungary’s chief prosecutor and hand over all required documents.
According to Ismailov, the investigation into the murder will be
finished in 2 months and only then the date of the trial will be set.
He said Safarov is charged with premeditated murder, facing a prison
term from 15 years to life imprisonment, but did not rule out that
Safarov may be handed over to Azerbaijan to serve his term in his
home country. He also said the government is prepared to defend its
citizen, and added that Safarov addressed a message to his
compatriots, which will be unveiled soon. The commission in defense
of Safarov is said to have collected $25,000 to take care of all
necessary expenses.

Police identifies cemetery vandals

ArmenPress
March 10 2004

POLICE IDENTIFIES CEMETERY VANDALS

KRASNODAR, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The weekly Yerkramas, published
by the Armenian community in the southern Russian province of
Krasnodar, said the local police have identified a group of
youngsters, who profaned Armenian gravestones at the Slavonic
cemetery of the city on March 2 overnight. The weekly said the group
was made of 8 youngsters, aged between 13 to 16. The local police
said their parents will have to compensate the damages and restore
the broken tombs.
A similar act of vandalism was reported in 2002 April that was
strongly condemned by Armenian government and leading politicians,
who voiced their serious concern over escalating ethnic tensions in
the southern Russia.
On April 18, 2002 about 50 youths went on a rampage through the
Armenian cemetery in the city of Krasnodar vandalizing gravestones
and monuments. Though the local police announced then the arrest of
three Russian youngsters, aged between 14 and 17, on suspicion of
involvement in the rampage, all of them avoided any punishment.

Muslim leader denies reports about iniviting Karekin II to Baku

ArmenPress
March 10 2004

MUSLIM LEADER DENIES REPORTS ABOUT INVITING KAREKIN II TO BAKU

BAKU, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The head of Caucasian Muslims,
Alahsukur Pasazade, based in Baku, denied local press reports that he
invited the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Karekin II, to
visit Azerbaijan when they had met in Moscow on March 2-3 during a
gathering of CIS religious leaders.
He said the reports appeared after it was decided to hold the
regular meeting of the CIS interfaith council in Baku, scheduled for
2007 with around 3000 participants, including also all CIS religious
leaders. Pasazade said that reporters should not write about what did
not take place. He said the decision to hold the meeting is to be
approved by thee executive committee of the CIS inter-faith council.
“As regards inviting Karekin II to Baku it is the question of the
future which is to be reconciled with appropriate bodies,” he said.

CENN Daily Digest – March 10, 2004

CENN – MARCH 10, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan to Sign BTC Pipeline Agreement in 2004 – SOCAR

2. Botas to Finish Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline on Time
3. WWF Warns of BTC Eco-threat
4. Animal Rights violated by Georgian Designers?
5. High Water Tariffs not to affect Households, PM says
6. Gas and Water Paying by Internet
7. Garbage Presentation
8. Robert Kocharyan and The Natural Calamity
9. Ecological Library in Tashkent

1. AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN TO SIGN BTC PIPELINE AGREEMENT IN 2004 – SOCAR

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will sign an intergovernmental agreement for
the transportation of Kazakh oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline in 2004, Natik Aliyev, president of the State Oil Company of
the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR), told journalists.

“Talks on this issue, which began two years ago, are nearing completion
and we will sign it. There is no reason for us to rush because the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan has not yet been launched and Kazakhstan has not yet
got the volume of oil to transport through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline. We are trying to resolve all issues that may arise in the
future,” Aliyev said.

He said that to fully regulate all issues it would be necessary to
resolve a number of disputed areas. “Kazakhstan does not want to ratify
the agreement in parliament. Investors are demanding ratification, so
that this law does not change in the future, even if there are changes
in legislation and new regulatory acts are passed for customs and
taxes,” he said.

“I think that this issue can also be resolved. Investors will agree to
an additional document, if the intergovernmental agreement is not
ratified,’ Aliyev said.

He said that the working group for the preparation of the
intergovernmental agreement will next meet in April.
Interfax, March 9, 2004

2. BOTAS TO FINISH BAKU-TBILISI-ERZURUM PIPELINE ON TIME

Turkish state pipeline company Botas plans to complete the Turkish
section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline on time.

“The Turkish side is able to build its section of the Baku-Tbilisi-
Erzurum pipeline on time, so gas supplies from the Shah Deniz field will
begin in 2006-2007, as expected,” a source in the Botas head office in
Ankara told Interfax.

Participants in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project said earlier that bad
weather in Turkey is delaying construction work on the Turkish section
of that pipeline.

As a result, experts said that the construction delays may push back the
launch date for the pipeline, which would in turn lead to delays for the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline. The two pipelines are being built in one
corridor, using the same construction resources. Therefore, construction
of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline can only begin once the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan is completed.

The Botas source said that “at the moment research work is continuing
for the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline project and no deviation from
schedule is expected.”

According to plan, the capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, which
stretches 225 km in Turkey, will amount to 30 billion cubic meters per
annum,

Reserves at the Shah Deniz field are estimated at 625 bcm of gas and 101
million tonnes of gas condensate.

Shareholders in the project to develop the Shah Deniz field include BP –
25.5%, Statoil – 25.5%, LUKAgip – 10%, TotalFinaElf – 10%, SOCAR -10%,
National Iranian Oil Company – 10% and TPAO – 9%.
Interfax, March 9, 2004

3. WWF WARNS OF BTC ECO-THREAT

The speedy implementation of the project to construct the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) export oil pipeline poses a threat to the
flora and fauna of the entire Caspian region, Trend news agency has
quoted an official of the World Wildlife Fund Frank Merchel as saying in
a statement.
CBN, March 10, 2004

4. ANIMAL RIGHTS VIOLATED BY GEORGIAN DESIGNERS?

Animal Rights Committee of Georgia came out against animal cruelty and
called Avtandil Tskvitinidze and Maka Assathiany – famous Georgian
designers to refrain from using natural fur for the collections soon to
be represented in Moscow fashion show. Recently, Saga Fur Company
presented Georgian fashion designers Avtandil Tskvitinidze and Maka
Assathiany with certain amount of fur to design models for the upcoming
fashion show. And Animal Rights Committee `in response’ `granted’ the
designers with an undercover fur farm video narrated by famous fashion
designer Stella McCartney. The video produced by People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA), describes the plight of animals at modern
fur farms.

In a letter enclosed with the video, ARC calls upon Tskvitinidze and
Assathiany to make the right choice between cruelty and kindness, and
offers to provide additional information concerning fake fur and leather
manufacturers.

`There are also other organizations that deal against animal cruelty in
Georgia but we work on global issues. There is negative stereotype
deeply enrooted in Georgia that violation against animals doesn’t matter
when the rights of human beings are so frequently disrespected. But the
civilization in the country is measured according to how the animals are
treated. Besides maltreated animals like street dogs which have
developed rabies are dangerous for human beings themselves ` – Lexo
Khubulava, the Chairmen of Animal Rights Committee says.

Heather Mills, wife of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, has joined his
crusade against the abuse of animals by letting her photographs appear
exclusively on the cover of the 2004 Shopping Guide for Caring
Consumers, produced by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA). Now in its fourteenth year, the PETA Shopping Guide features
more than 500 companies which have signed a statement promising never to
test any ingredients or finished products on animals.

Other McCartney family members are actively involved in animal rights
campaigns. Designer Stella McCartney avoids to use any kind of animal
products in her creations, and her sister Mary created a PETA anti-fur
advertisement featuring pop star Sophie Ellis Bextor. McCartney opened
her first store in Manhattan’s meatpacking district — an odd choice for
such a well-known animal rights campaigner.

`Everything in [my] store and every single garment and accessories that
you see is cruelty free in the sense that no animal has died to make
anything in here. I just think that a lot of people out there don’t want
products that an animal has had to die for.”

Animal Rights Committee is managed by a group of volunteers who
contribute their free time and resources to the protection of animals.
The Committee promotes animal-related laws and regulations. On April 3,
2003 ARC formally proposed amendments to the Ordinance of the City of
Tbilisi on the Maintenance of Dogs, Cats and Other Predator Animals. The
Ordinance was passed by the Sakrebulo (municipality) of Tbilisi on
November 7, 2001. It also supports use of alternatives to animal
experiments as a number of educational and medical research institutions
continue using animals in painful and deadly experiments and
dissections, also support to establish cat shelter

Animal Rights Committee introduces a charity sale of postcards designed
by talented artist Giorgi Akhvlediani. In addition to creating original
pieces of artwork, Mr. Akhvlediani runs a makeshift cat shelter at the
open-air Ethnographic Museum of Tbilisi, where he feeds and takes care
of homeless cats.

`When Avtandil Tskvitinidze and Maka Assathiany watch how the fur is
obtained in `modern’ animal farms and what kind of psychological stress
those animals undergo and see their killing methods that are of middle
ages they will refrain from using natural fur for sure’, – Chairmen of
Animal Rights Committee assured.

In the meantime the manager of Avtandil Tskvitinidze explained that the
fur was provided by Saga Fur Company as a gift and they are not going to
support animal cruelty this way.
Georgian Times, March 9, 2004

5. HIGH WATER TARIFFS NOT TO AFFECT HOUSEHOLDS, PM SAYS

March 3, 2004 Andranik Margarian, the Prime Minister of Armenia, stated
that the increased tariffs for drinking water would not have a
significant affect on households, because the majority of them have
already installed water meters allowing regulating water consumption.

Under a recent decision of a state commission regulating public utility
fees, residents in Yerevan will have to pay 90 drams for 1 cubic meter
of water beginning from April 1 instead of the current price of 56
drams. The prime minister said that out of 280,000 households in Yerevan
240,000 have already installed water meters and owners of the rest of
40,000 apartments are temporarily out of Armenia. However, in regions
only 80,000 households out of the total 290,000 have installed meters.
The deadline there is extended up to 2005, July
ARMENPRESS, March 4, 2004

6. GAS AND WATER PAYING BY INTERNET

Central Bank of Armenia and UNDP set up the first paying system through
Internet in Armenia by `ArCa’ plastic cards. {BR}

Central Bank Chair Tigran Sargssyan informed that the system enables
`ArCa’ owners to pay for public utilities – telephone, gas, water,
electricity on the Internet address of the company, and to buy
`ArmenTel’ easy-cards and `ArmInco ‘Internet cards.

‘ArCa’ Director Shahen Hovhannissyan says that `ArCa’ now has 50.000
cardholders. Anyone can register his or her card in `ArCa’ Internet
address only once a year and to make payments all the year round. The
payment receipt on that address is valid.
, March 3, 2004

7. GARBAGE PRESENTATION

In 2003 an agreement between Armenian Town Planning Ministry and
European Union was signed on implementing an experimental management
project of hard domestic waste in the settlements of Ararat and Vayotc
Dzor Districts. {BR}

As the employee of Town Planning Ministry informed, 1.3-1.5 million
cubic meters of solid domestic waste are annually accumulated in Armenia
and 20% of them in the rural areas.

It is equivalent to 370-430 kg garbage per capita. The waste is
transported and accumulated in the 60 trash dumps of Armenia and in the
streets.

‘I hope this process to be a model, which will be applied in the other
districts, too. European Union finances the project and 3 international
and 2 national experts work on it’, Lia Sighurdt, the international
councilor of Town Planning Ministry, says.

European Union has allowed 150.000-160.000 Euros only for studies. The
project was launched this January and will last for 5 months.

CENN Armenia office would like to note that it is already taking part in
discussions with the experts mentioned in this article and hopes to
contribute to public awareness efforts to learn of the needs of local
populations and to help raise their awareness about waste management and
collection, and to contribute to the studies mentioned above for
improvement of waste management infrastructure.

For more details regarding this study, please contact:
[email protected].
, March 9, 2004

P.S. CENN Armenia office would like to note that it is already taking
part in discussions with the experts mentioned in this article and hopes
to contribute to public awareness efforts to learn of the needs of local
populations and to help raise their awareness about waste management and
collection, and to contribute to the studies mentioned above for
improvement of waste management infrastructure.

For more details regarding this study, please contact:
[email protected].

8. ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND THE NATURAL CALAMITY

PM and Ministry of Territorial Management and Coordinating Activity of
Infrastructures have today reported Robert Kocharyan about the measures
taken to eliminate the consequences of the natural calamity during the
last days in the districts. {BR}

It was stated that interdepartmental commissions work in all the
districts having suffered from calamity. They assess the damage and
prepare suggestions over relief to the suffered families and
settlements. Now electricity, water and communication supply is being
restored in those districts.

Robert Kocharyan set tasks to solve the urgent problems and to discuss
at Government sitting the issue on allotting finances and to
periodically inform him about the process of the work.
, March 9, 2004

9. ECOLOGICAL LIBRARY IN TASHKENT

At the press conference held in Tashkent, President of the International
fund for Ecology and Health `Ekosan’ Yusif Shadimetov informed on
founding of the ecological library in Uzbekistan, AzerTAj correspondent
reports. A reader has had an opportunity to obtain information on
ecology, environment protection, as well as flora and fauna. A special
department dealing with ecological education of children has also been
opened at the library.
AzerTag, March 9, 2004


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Russian agency details crimes of ethnic gangs in Moscow

RIA news agency, Moscow, in Russian
10 Mar 04

Russian agency details crimes of ethnic gangs in Moscow

Moscow, 10 March: According to the department for fighting organized
crime, about 4,300 crimes uncovered in Moscow in 2003 were committed
by people from the North Caucasus and Transcaucasus. This was said by
the head of the operative-investigative unit of the Moscow department
for fighting organized crime, Col (Police) Andrey Bolshakov, at a
news conference on Wednesday [10 March].

Crimes committed by these people are mainly of latent nature and the
victims are, as a rule, people of the same ethnic group, or those who
live in Moscow and who are involved in illegal business dealing,
Bolshakov said.

He said that completed investigations (of the cases already submitted
to courts) showed that ethnic criminal gangs committed 295 crimes of
various degree of seriousness last year. A total of 255 of the crimes
are of economic nature, including 250 frauds.

A total of 136 cases have been instituted against leaders of criminal
gangs, including 12 cases against so-called “godfathers”.

Bolshakov said that the largest ethnic criminal group acting in
Moscow is the Azerbaijani one. They are involved in extortion and
kidnapping, mainly of people from the Azerbaijani diaspora, and they
commit crimes on the consumer market.

According to the colonel, the most influential ethnic criminal group
is Armenian. The group is involved in contract killings, gambling and
extortion.

He said that the Georgian-Abkhaz criminal group is one of the
earliest ones in Moscow, it has the greatest number of godfathers and
its members are primarily involved in car thefts and extortion.

Speaking about the Ingush criminal group Bolshakov said that its
representatives are mainly linked to embezzlement in the credit and
finance sphere.

The most odious group is the Chechen criminal group which is mainly
built on clan principles and which is the most closely-knit in
nature. These people are involved in embezzlement, kidnapping as well
as in controlling the arms and drugs trade, Bolshakov said.