Civil Georgia, Georgia
Jan 21 2005

Gazprom Eyes Georgian Pipelines

Visiting representative of the Russian energy giant Gazprom told
reporters in Tbilisi on January 21 that the company is interested in
privatizing Georgian gas pipeline system.

However, Georgian officials say that no final decision over
privatizing gas pipelines has been made so far.

`We are very cautious over this issue. Currently there are no plans
over selling gas pipelines,’ Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania
told reporters on January 21.

Georgian gas pipeline system includes pipes, which distributes gas in
the Georgian regions and pipelines, which are used for transit of gas
from Russia into Armenia. Observers say that state-run Gazprom is
mainly interested with taking over transit gas pipelines.

Georgian officials say Gazprom is also interested in purchasing
several power plants in Georgia.

On July 1, 2003 Georgian government and Gazprom signed a memorandum
on strategic cooperation for 25 years.

The agreement, which is still in force, envisages supply of natural
gas to the Georgian customers, rehabilitation of the gas pipelines,
including two trunk-line gas pipelines, one of which will be used for
transportation of gas to Armenia and the other – to Turkey, via
Adjara Autonomous Republic.

Corsicana Daily Sun, TX
Jan 21 2005

Church News

Dawson First Assembly of God Church

Anoosh Bullock will present a miraculous story that could change your
life, “From Russia With Love,” Jan. 23 at Dawson First Assembly of
God Church. Sunday school will begin at 10 a.m. with the worship
service to begin at 10:50 a.m.
You are invited to come and hear about the persecuted church in the
former communist Soviet Union, and learn how a young Armenian girl
trapped behind the Iron Curtain reached to her impossible dream by
persistent prayer, unwavering faith and dedication to the Christ of
her childhood. For more information, call Pastor Jimmie Capehart at
(903) 874-6893.

NorthJersey.com, NJ
Jan 21 2005

Turning nature into a classroom for young minds

Friday, January 21, 2005

By CATHERINE HOLAHAN
STAFF WRITER

NEW MILFORD – Saving energy to energize minds.

That could be a new motto at the Hovnanian School, where teachers and
students are trying to raise $118,000 to construct a greenhouse and
garden learning center that runs completely on alternative energy
sources.

“I think it’s appropriate for the kids to grow up in this kind of
environmentally sensitive surrounding,” said Vahak Hovnanian, founder
of the Armenian private school in New Milford.

The pre-K-8 school was started 29 years ago by Hovnanian to educate
the region’s growing Armenian student population in the Armenian and
French languages, as well as connect the students to their ancestral
culture. The school has 200 students from Bergen County and New York.

“America is beautiful because we have so many different nationalities
living here, and we are part of the mosaic,” Hovnanian said. “We
don’t want to lose our color in that beautiful garden that we all are
in.”

Teachers and parents came up with the idea for the garden learning
center last year as a way to utilize land around the school to teach
students about nature and science, and have space for outdoor
classes.

Miriam Kaprielian, the parent of a seventh-grade student, volunteered
to head the committee to develop the plans and raise funds for the
center.

Kaprielian contacted friend David Delardi of Wayne-based Landscape
Perceptions and Lynn Stile, a professor of physics at Richard
Stockton College and a geothermal technology expert, to design the
center.

Plans call for construction of a greenhouse heated by coils or pumps
that are installed deep underground and draw heat from the earth.
Floor lighting for the center will be solar-powered, and rainwater
will be collected in a cistern and pumped out to nourish the
greenhouse plants, Kaprielian said.

School faculty also hope to have a bird-feeding station, a place for
wind instruments, a pond, a sunken outdoor classroom for poetry and
English courses, and a human checkerboard where the kids take the
role of the pieces.

Kaprielian said that nearly all the courses have designed curriculum
that would utilize some feature of the greenhouse and garden. Science
classes will teach about various forms of energy and plants, computer
classes will log information gathered through experiments in the
garden, and the English and language classes will use the outdoor
classroom on warm days.

“We are very excited,” Kaprielian said. “The hard part is raising the
money.”

The school has raised $11,886 of the total cost. On Saturday and
Sunday, a yard sale will be held at the school to raise money. A
specially made quilt will be auctioned off on Sunday.

Varak Baronian, a 13-year-old seventh-grader, said he is looking
forward to the center.

“It will be a nice place to be with your friends and study,” he said.

ArmenPress
Jan 21 2005

ARMENIAN OMBUDSWOMAN WARNS AGAINST PLACING HER STAFF UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF A GOVERNMENT BODY

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian human rights defender
Larisa Alaverdian has warned against pending legislative changes
which would place the staff of her office under the authority of the
Civil Service Council. In a letter to president Robert Kocharian she
argued that the move runs counter both to “the idea of the human
rights defender institution and the Armenian law on Human Rights
Defender.’
She also said the move is inconsistent with the so-called Paris
principles and other relevant international requirements. A statement
disseminated by her office says that the institution of ombudsman is
based on the principle of “full independence from state and local
government bodies and their officials, a principle that would be
violated should the staff of the office be placed under the authority
of the Civil Service Council.”
Mrs. Alaverdian also cites the relevant Armenian law that was
accepted in line with relevant internationally accepted standards and
norms after standing the test of international experts. “The law
clearly sets out the Office of Ombudsman as an independent body,…
and any restrictions on ombudsman’s freedom is unacceptable, ” the
statement says.
The statement says also that no other country, including
post-Soviet republics, has reserved the right to form the staff of
ombudsman to a government body.

ArmenPress
Jan 21 2005

NEW UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE TAKES OVER IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: UNICEF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy appointed Mr. Sheldon Yett, a U.S. citizen, as the new UNICEF
Representative in Armenia. Mr. Yett has been working with UNICEF in
both the New York headquarters and in field offices for the last 7
years, and has been active in the field of international development
for the last 12 years.
Before assignment to Armenia, Mr. Yett covered humanitarian issues
in New York and has also served in Somalia, Burundi, and Kosovo as
well as in other field duty stations.
Mr. Yett holds M.A. in International Relations from the Paul
H.Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins
University.
“The New UNICEF Representative in Armenia has already met with the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, and looks
forward to working with the Government of Armenia and other
counterparts to help improve the lives of children and women,” UNICEF
Armenia office said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Jan 21 2005

ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN NGOs JOIN EFFORTS TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Representatives of
non-governmental organizations of Armenia and Georgia, fighting
against organized crime, trafficking in human beings and illegal
migration have signed today in Yerevan a cooperation memorandum,
vowing to join their efforts to track down all such instances and
call perpetrators to account.
In February they will launch an Internet website and beginning
from June law-enforcement bodies of the two countries and relevant
government commissions will have to report about cooperation with
non-governmental organizations once in six months.
The regional network plans to participate actively in development
and discussions of national legislations, to provide legal consulting
and practical assistance to victims of trafficking and supervise the
so-called risky groups. Apart from this, Armenian and Georgian
organizations will seek cooperation with counterparts from the United
Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain, the main destinations of human
trafficking victims.

ArmenPress
Jan 21 2005

SCCP SUPPORTS PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTERS

TBILISI, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: The Eurasia Foundation’s South
Caucasus Cooperation Program (SCCP) has announced continued support
to a network of three Public Environmental Information Centers.
Established with SCCP support, the Centers aim to protect
trans-boundary water systems by raising public awareness about
environmental and water protection issues in the Debet-Khrami river
basin. The Centers are located in Bolnisi, Georgia, Akhtala, Armenia
and Kazakh, Azerbaijan.
SCCP will provide three grants totaling $122,704 to the
implementing partners: Environmental Survival (Armenia), the Society
of Regional Studies (Azerbaijan) and CENN (Georgia). The partners
will continue public awareness activities targeting community
members, businesses, and local governments in the Debet-Khrami river
basin.
The partners will conduct regular thematic seminars on
environmental issues and hold a series of national roundtables to
discuss pressing environmental issues. To facilitate a cross-border
exchange of information, they will also organize quarterly seminars
for Center staff and representatives of the mass media from all three
countries. Additionally, the partners will publish local-language
water monitoring handbooks and organize volunteer water monitoring
groups. These activities will further encourage in-country
partnerships among the public, businesses, and local governments and
develop cross-border venues for more open information exchange and
cooperation concerning environmental issues.
The Eurasia Foundation established the South Caucasus Cooperation
Program in 1998 to facilitate contact and encourage collaboration
among leading organizations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Since its inception in 1998, the South Caucasus Cooperation
Program has awarded more than 300 grants totaling more than $4
million in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in support local
initiatives in civil society, private enterprise development, and
public administration and policy.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Minister Oskanian Comments on Recent Statements by US Asst Sec of State
Elizabeth Jones, Upcoming Speech on Liberation of Auschwitz, and on Trip to
Egypt

In an interview to Armenia’s Channel 1 Public Television Hailur News
Program, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian spoke about
his recent trip to Egypt, his upcoming trip to NY and the United Nations, as
well as the President’s Official Visit to Italy. He also reacted to the
comments made in a recent press conference by US Assistant Sec of State
Elizabeth Jones.

The Minister stated that he was surprised and appreciative of the level and
intensity of public reaction to her statements made during a press
conference, wherein she referred to the various unresolved conflicts within
the former Soviet space.

The Minister acknowledged that her remarks were ambiguous enough to lead to
misperceptions about US policy on the NK conflict. He said that although
those familiar with the very positive role that the US has played in the NK
resolution process could assume that her comments about ‘criminal
secessionists’ did not at all refer to NK, still, the ambiguity made it
impossible to categorically rule out such reference, either. Given the
seriousness of the charge, this was reason enough for concern. However,
Minister Oskanian added that during a telephone conversation with Ms. Jones
on Friday, January 21, she had made it clear that she did not in any way
intend for her comments to refer to NK. The Minister expressed satisfaction
that the issue was clarified.

The Minister also spoke highly of the Memorandum of Understanding that
Armenia had just signed with the Arab League, during his recent visit to
Cairo. He explained that given Armenia’s warm relations with the countries
of the Middle East, such a protocol will make it easier to work more
effectively with the Arab countries, with which Armenia already has good
relations.

He also explained Armenia’s decision to participate in the UN Special
Assembly on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Nazi
Concentration Camps in New York, on Monday, January 24. He explained that
Armenians have the moral right and the moral responsibility to speak out at
such forums, since the Holocaust is inarguabley associated with Hitler, who
in turn, linked his plans to the Genocide of Armenians in 1915 and the
impunity with which the Armenian Genocide was carried out.

>From New York, the Minister explained he will travel to Rome to accompany
President Robert Kocharian on his official trip to Italy.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The News International
Jan 21 2005

Turkey and the EU: a foot in the door?

Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri

The 25-member European Union’s decision this past December to start
talks with Turkey in October 2005 are a step towards Turkey gaining
full European Union membership. Accorded associate membership in
1962, its almost forty-year long wait to enter the EU club has much
to do with its history, culture, geography and economy.

Geographically, Turkey straddles the continents of Europe and Asia
with 97 percent of landmass within Asia and only three percent in
Europe. Although an extension of Asia and the Middle East, it has had
a European countenance since the Byzantine Empire.

The EU’s 35 sovereign states have a common denominator in the
Christian heritage of Roman and Greek civilisations. Turkey is “not
an inheritor of cultural contributor of ancient Greece and Rome, has
not experienced Reformation and Renaissance,” remarked Valery Giscard
d’Estaing, the former French President and President of European
Commission, expressing apprehensions that its entry may contribute to
Muslim fundamentalism in Europe. Many Europeans share these views.
Despite President Chirac’s approval, nearly 67 percent of French
oppose Turkish entry into the EU. Germany, which since World War II
has had a large Turkish population, is as sceptical.

Turkey’s human rights record may be a factor in this situation.
Amnesty International (2004) has reported its discriminatory policies
towards opposition, women, and ethnic and religious minorities, and
the treatment meted out to the Kurd minority. Atrocities perpetrated
under the Ottoman rulers are also brought up, like the Armenian
genocide of 1915-17. Turkish military role, despite its secular
traditions, also raises eyebrows.

France, Denmark and Austria thus suggest only a “privileged
partnership” status instead of full membership. But Turkey has many
assets. With a population of 78.8 million, it is the largest
contributor to NATO forces and a willing peacekeeper in many theatres
of global conflict — Herzegovina in 1995, Kosovo in 1999 and ISAF in
Afghanistan since 2001. During the four decades of Cold War, it acted
as a reliable and redoubtable shield against the Communist threat.
The Kemalist tradition has enabled it to follow a secular,
constitutional, parliamentary democracy. With proximity and cultural
interconnectedness, it has worked hard to be part of Europe – as a
member of Council of Europe since 1949, NATO since 1952 and part of
the European Custom Union since January 1996.

The Islamic government of Justice and Development Party (AKP) under
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repackaged itself as “Muslim
Democrats” a la European Christian Democrats. Raised in a poor
Istanbul neighbourhood, the charismatic firebrand Erdogan once
thundered: “The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the
minarets our bayonets, and the faithful are our warriors.” Yet in the
last two years his government has rewritten two-fifth of the
Constitution, repealed the death penalty, brought the army decisively
under political control, granted language rights to the Kurds,
promoted free speech and liberalised the economy.

Situated on the cusp of Asia and Europe, Turkey can act as a
bridgehead between Islamic and Western civilisations. With an
increased role in an expanding NATO and greater scope for economic
interaction, it will bring vitality to the EU. It is also seen as a
useful player in the global war against terrorism. (Napoleon
Bonaparte once observed that if there was a Pan-European state
Istanbul will be its capital.)

The Ottoman Empire’s record of dealing with minorities was generally
benign (it was the Christians who persecuted the Jews and hounded
them out of their homes). It is said that Turks have “tolerance in
their bones.” Present day Turkey, like Indonesia, represents moderate
Islam and bears least sympathy for al-Qaeda. The government’s agenda
is to root out corruption and Western style immorality.

Europe’s GDP is about $11 trillion like the US. Presently a “soft
power”, with induction it is getting larger. New members in 2007,
Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia, have a lower capita income than
Turkey. The next candidate may well be Ukraine. Turkish entry would
mean an increase in Europe’s population, resources and military clout
that may somewhat offset US hegemony. The EU has no ambition to
either become a superpower or turn hostile towards the US, but the
latter has to understand that this “lure of membership” is a
testament to EU’s increasing magnetic pull.

Yet Turkey’s road to full membership is fraught with pitfalls and
will be long and bumpy. The “yes” for accession talks has to be
followed up by Turkey’s recognition of Greek Cyprus, as well as
speeded up economic, political, social and economic reforms within
the coming decade.

The writer is Senior Research Fellow, Islamabad Policy Research
Institute (IPRI). Email: [email protected]

Motion made to free sisters

Legal team tries to win release for Armenian family

Las Vegas Sun
January 21, 2005

By Timothy Pratt ([email protected])

The legal team representing the Sarkisians, an Armenian family whose
teenage daughters are threatened with being deported to their
birthplace, has filed an emergency motion to release the girls from a
Los Angeles immigration detention cell.

“What’s the point of detaining them? They’re young girls who should be
with their family,” said attorney Jeremiah Wolf Stuchiner this morning.

“They’re not a flight risk and detaining them is just costing taxpayers
money,” he said.

The case involves Emma Sarkisian, 18, and her sister, Mariam Sarkisian,
17. They are threatened with deportation because their immigration
status was never straightened out although they have lived here 14
years, during which time their father, Rouben, has become a U.S.
resident, the step below citizenship — according to the family and
their attorney.

The Sarkisian family also includes three younger girls who were born on
U.S. soil and therefore are citizens.

The family has been broken up since last week after immigration
authorities arrested the daughters last Friday and sent them to Los
Angeles, where flights to Russia leave once daily.

Stuchiner was able to obtain a stay from the federal magistrate in Las
Vegas, arguing that immigration authorities should wait four months
while Rouben prepares himself to become a citizen.

Once Rouben is a citizen, he can petition for his daughters, and they
can become residents, Stuchiner said.

The attorney said the federal magistrate can decide on the emergency
motion at any time.

Meanwhile, family friend Marina Protopopova said members of the
Sarkisian family are driving today to Los Angeles to seek support from
the Armenian community there.

As of this morning there was also no court date to decide on the larger
issue of whether the daughters should be allowed to stay in the United
States until their father becomes a citizen, Stuchiner said.

“I’m arguing that it is the federal court’s discretion and humanitarian
interest to let them stay,” Stuchiner said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress