Month: March 2007

GOAL OF NATO WEEK STARTED IN YEREVAN IS TO PRESENT MAIN DIRECTIONS OF ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The NATO week is held in Yerevan
on March 12-16, within the framework of the Individual Partnership
Actions Plan (IPAP).

Visits of high-ranking officials of the Alliance to Yerevan as well
as different meetings, lectures, TV interviews, broadcast of programs
concerning the NATO and Armenia-NATO cooperation are envisaged during
the week. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the
NATO week is one of the most important events implemented by Armenia
this year. Its goal is to present the society of Armenia the main
directions of the Armenia-NATO cooperation, modern characteristics
and contents of the activity of the Alliance. Jean Fournet, the NATO
Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, will visit Yerevan
on the occasion of the NATO week. J.Fournet’s meetings with the RA NA
Speaker, Foreign Minister and National Academy of Sciences Chairman
are envisaged during the visit.

A seminar concerning the NATO electronic information net of events
will start at the RA Foreign Ministry on March 14. Representatives of
RA ministries and departments will participate in the seminar. George
Kacirdakis, the head of the NATO Defense Cooperation Department,
will visit the NATO information center on March 15. He will meet with
Armenian journalists. The Yerevan-Kosovo TV bridge for members of
the Armenian peace-keeping battalion of Kosovo and their families is
also scheduled for March 16. The Armenian Atlantic Association public
organization will organize on March 12-16, within the framework of
the NATO week, a NATO-Armenia youth teaching tour dedicated to the
NATO and Armenia-NATO cooperation, during which the participants will
visit the marzes of Armenia, Kapan, Sisian, Yeghegnadzor, Vanadzor,
Tavush, Shirak, and have meetings with the local youth. The tour
presentation will take place at 10:00, March 12, in Ani Plaza hotel.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ILTER TURKMEN: IT IS WRONG TO APPLY TO INTERNATIONAL COURT IN ISSUE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2007

ANKARA, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Former Turkish
Foreign Minister Ilter Turkmen treats sceptically current Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul’s and different politicians’ proposal that
applying to UN International Court for counteracting the "assertions"
of Armenians on Armenian Genocide can be favorable for Ankara.

Turkmen published an article in the Hurriyet daily, in which he
mentioned that though the UN Court found Serbia guilty in the issue
of committing a "genocide" towards Albanians, nevertheless, "that
decision does not mean that Turkey can also register success in the
issue of assertions on Armenian Genocide."

The Turkish diplomat considers that "they must not unconditionally
believe legal rules" during international trials. "Every one knows
that during such trials the political factor plays a more important
role," Turkmen asserted.

"So, how can we be sure that the International Court will not blame
the Ottoman state for committing the crime of genocide or even will not
cause problems of compensation for Turkey?" the retired diplomat asks.

Ilter Turkmen considers that in the issue of Armenian Genocide Turkey
should rely on the assertion that the UN International Convention
on the genocide "is not retroactive." "If Turkey applies to the
International Court, it will resist very serious dangers. Even if
Armenia accepts this proposal of Ankara, this can last 10-15 years
and during this period Turkey will again have many troubles. Let’s not
forget that Yerevan declined the proposal to create a joint commission
of historians and this did not become a reason for another states’
criticizing Armenia."

Turkmen concludes that for neutralizing the damages of Armenian
Genocide his country should give preference to struggle on the
political plane.

DRAFT NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY CONCEPT OF ARMENIA DEVELOPED

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. At the suggestion of the RA Ministry of
Agriculture, the US Department of Agriculture’s Caucasus Agricultural
Development Initiative (USDA/CADI) has developed the draft National
Food Safety Concept of Armenia. The draft was presented at the March
13 round table with the participation of representatives of the above
mentioned departments, as well as over 50 representatives of the RA
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the Ministry of Health,
enterprises of the agroindustrial complex, and organizations and
scientific-research institutions protecting consumer rights.

According to the RA Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Avetisian,
the American side also presented "Armenian Food Safety Technical
Assistance" project. He expressed a hope that the above mentioned
documents will become the basis for formation of the food safety system
in Armenia. Genady Mironyuk, Head of USDA/CADI "Armenian Food Safety
Technical Assistance" project, presented the draft National Food
Safety Concept. In his words, the legislation, normative documents
and procedures of the sector are not sufficient for the current food
safety system of Armenia to be considered in line with international
standards. The concept envisages introduction of the internationally
accepted Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system
in Armenia’s agroindustrial complex. The system allows to control food
safety from the stage of raw material growth to the stage of sale. The
RA State Food Safety and Veterinary Inspection is the authorized body
in the state system to ensure food security.

It is envisaged that in 2007, informational work on introduction of
HACCP system in enterprises of food industry and work on development
of local capacities for the system’s introduction will be done; in
2008-2010, the best enterprises will be selected by sectors in order
to use their experience for developing HACCP guides. According to
the draft National Food Safety Concept, it is expected that starting
from 2009, HACCP system will be introduced in production of baby,
dietary and special food, from 2010 – in production of meat, meat
products, fish and fish products, from 2011 – in production of milk,
milk products, ice cream, juices and low acidity food, from 2012 –
in production of bread, confectionery, wines and beer, and from 2013 –
in public catering and trade networks and other sectors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN GENEVA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 13 2007

Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov is already in Geneva,
the Minister told the APA. He will attend the meeting of the UN Human
Rights Council.

The minister is expected to address the meeting.

Minister Mammadyarov will tomorrow meet with OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs – Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza (US) and Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia). Tomorrow the next round of the negotiations for
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be held between
Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian with
participation of the co-chairs. Vardan Oskanian has already arrived
in Geneva too.

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have arrived in Geneva since yesterday.

Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov told the APA the co-chairs will
have talks today. French co-chair Bernard Fassier will inform his
colleagues on his latest visit to the region.

U.S. BAN ON ARMENIAN MINERAL WATER ‘NOT IRREVERSIBLE’
By Shakeh Avoyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
March 13 2007

The ban on sales of Armenia’s most popular brand of mineral water in
the United States may still be lifted if appropriate changes are made
in its labeling, an official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) indicated on Tuesday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the ban on Jermuk
bottled water last week, saying that it contains excessive amounts of
arsenic, a poisonous chemical that can cause cancer. It said Jermuk
importers have already recalled the product from stores in California
and other Armenian-populated parts of the U.S. The move prompted a
similar decision by health authorities in neighboring Canada.

According to Sean Carmody, who runs a USDA project in Armenia, the
USDA is now collecting additional information about Jermuk for FDA.

He said the still and carbonated water bottled by several Armenian
firms is not as dangerous for health as the FDA ban might suggest.

"You have to drink a lot of mineral water per day to really have any
effect. You have to drink around 20 liters of water a day," Carmody
told RFE/RL. "It’s either a testing issue or a labeling issue," he
added, demonstratively sipping Jermuk on the sidelines of a roundtable
discussion on Armenia’s national food safety strategy.

FDA argued that laboratory tests have found that Jermuk products
contain between 500 and 600 micrograms of arsenic per liter, or at
least 50 times more than is allowed by U.S. safety standards. It
said extended exposure to the poisonous metal could lead to cancer
and death.

Armenian medical authorities admit that Jermuk is "medical water"
that should be regularly drunk only by individuals suffering some
stomach and intestinal diseases. Gennady Myroniuk, director of the
Kiev-based International Institute for Food Safety and Quality,
believes local manufacturers must be make this clear to consumers.

"If the word ‘medical’ is on the label, then there has to be, as
doctors call it, a consumption methodology," Myroniuk told RFE/RL.

"You can’t drink it at will."

However, Jermuk continues to be is heavily advertised by Armenian
television stations as "table water" meant for mass consumption. And
representatives of companies bottling the water remained unrepentant
on Tuesday, accusing FDA of playing into their competitors’ hands.

"This is a deliberate effort directed at Jermuk and other Armenian
mineral waters," charged Edgar Ghazarian of the Jermuk Group company.

"Arsenic is also contained in other Armenian water brands. By driving
Jermuk out of the U.S. market, they close it for other Armenian brands
of water as well."

The claims were echoed by Armenia’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Samvel
Avetisian. "My personal guess is that this is more of an issue of
[unfair] market competition than food safety," said Avetisian. "We
all drink and will continue to drink Jermuk," he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN LEAVING FOR SWITZERLAND

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 10:12

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is leaving for Geneva today,
where he will participate in the sitting of the UN Human Rights
council. The Minister is expected to deliver a speech.

The same day Minister Oskanian will leave for Bern, where he will have
a meeting with the President of the Confederation of Switzerland, Head
of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey.

On March 14 the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, featuring the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, will be held
in Geneva.

HOW TO ATTRACT FOREIGN STUDENTS

A1+
[02:28 pm] 13 March, 2007

Yerevan State University (YSU) is going to implement credit system
in the Magistrates department starting September 2007 and next year
in Bachelor’s department as well. There are some problems about the
Armenian credit system "project".

Firstly, there is no state financial support for business tours based
on the Bolonia declaration article, stating about free move from one
university to another. The number of English speaking professors and
lecturers is very few. There are no dormitories corresponding to
European standards to allow us to host foreign students. In spite
of all these problems, the specialists predict quick solving of
suchlike issues.

Secondly, what if all "minds" move to European universities and never
come back? There might not be any scientist left in the country by
2010, whereas the European Universities do their utmost to "cherish"
their "minds".

YSU vice-dean Alexander Grigoryan, is of different opinion. "We should
not afraid of the flow-out of "minds". After all, the opposite is
also inevitable.

Free movement is the essence of Bolonia activities," he informed
to A1+.

Gagik Torosyan, vice-dean at Yerevan State University of Architecture
counts on the productivity of credit system with some reservations. He
believes that the transmission will not be very easy, it may also fail.

"We are able to create a regional scientific center and compete with a
number of famous universities, if we implement the Bolonia Declaration
clauses thoroughly," he claimed.

Alexander Grigoryan thinks that all the positive things in our
educational system should be considered, and only afterwards Bolonia
requirements can be satisfied. We need to be rather realistic and
not just implement everything existing in Europe."

The experts share the idea that the credit system has some advantages
compared with the traditional system, as it enlarges the role of
a student in his/her education planning aspect transferring into "a
learner- centered" system. The results of course and exams remain after
the term even if the academic year or the term is not fully covered.

According to Alexander Grigoryan, they are a little realistic about
the system and they do not want to implement anything existing in
Europe: "We are going to create national credit system which should
be comparable to that of Europe."

Send instant messages to your online friends

Sunday, March 11, 2007
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ANSWERS
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Organized religions are the best proof of the fact that an answer, any answer, even the wrong one, is better than no answer. The same applies to ideologies when they are confused with theology.
*
One of our ideologies stands for independence and freedom. But how independent and free can they ever be if they live in fear of free speech?
*
A GUESS
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There are more Armenians today who don’t identify themselves as Armenians than Armenians of the opposite disposition.
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PEARLS
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Francis Ponge: “It is by his death that a man proves he deserved to live.”
*
Jean Cocteau: “The future belongs to no one. There are no precursors, only retards.”
*
Julius Caesar: “I’d rather be first in this village than second in Rome.”
*
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “The most important prediction we can make is that we cannot predict everything.”
#
Monday, March 12, 2007
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ON REVOLUTIONARIES
***********************************
I have at no time questioned the good intentions of our revolutionaries. What I have been doing is reminding them that hell is paved with good intentions.
*
In an intolerant environment, even an often-repeated cliché can make one an enemy of the people.
*
What could be more cowardly than fear of clichés?
*
No writer has ever silenced a politician. Censorship has always been a one-way street.
*
ON SERIAL KILLERS
**********************************
Serial killers operate on the assumption that truth is as easily killed as defenseless civilians.
#
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
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A REQUEST
************************
Before you contradict me, I beg you to reflect for ten minutes. Because everything I say is a result of at least twenty and sometimes thirty years of experience, study, and reflection.
*
CONFESSION
***************************
I don’t mind admitting that I have been wrong so many times in the past that I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if someone were to prove me wrong not just on this or that specific point but on everything. I say this because just when I think I have committed every conceivable blunder I commit a new one. But the blunder that I keep committing again and again is trying to reason with fellow Armenians who know better. For I have yet to meet an Armenian who did not know better.
*
SOCRATES
***********************
Socrates never said “I know better.” What he said was “The only thing I know is that I don’t know.” What would happen to Socrates in New York, Moscow, or Toronto today? He would be ignored as a harmless and unemployable misfit, eventually acquire the status of a homeless street person, and die of exposure. There are better ways of getting rid of a nuisance than a public trial and the administration of hemlock, both of which cost money.
*
PHILOSOPHY TODAY
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Nobody takes philosophy seriously these days; and yet, everyone has a philosophy, even when it happens to be a cliché. “Live and let live, that’s my philosophy,” they say; or “You only live once.” These “philosophers” never ask whether or not they deserve to live at all.
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ENEMIES
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The hardest thing to explain to an Armenian is that divisiveness, corruption, and incompetence are a far greater threat to our survival today than Turks were a hundred years ago. And yet, what we get from our Turcocentric pundits and media is endless talk of past atrocities. After which they accuse me of being negative.
*
PAUL JOHNSON ON CROCODILES
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“Everything about a croc is efficient. It copulates under water and takes exactly ten minutes, which oddly enough is the time it took Napoleon Bonaparte.”
#
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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MEN AND APES
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The status quo will always have its supporters. Even criminal regimes had their rostrum of friends, among them famous writers, composers, scientists, conductors, and Nobel Prize winners. And where there are great men who support a regime for their own reasons, there will also be an abundance of mediocrities and dupes who will support it because better men than themselves do so.
In my anti-Soviet days this type of ape in human form would write me angry letters saying, “Do you think you are smarter than Saroyan?”
What happened to these famous men who supported Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini? Some committed suicide, others like Ezra Pound were declared insane and spent a number of years in an asylum, a few wrote books admitting their mistakes.
It is said that when asked about Jesus, the dying Pilate replied: “I don’t remember anyone by that name.”
The human brain is a marvelous, not to say miraculous, tool a thousand times smarter than the smartest computer. Learn to use it. And if you have your own, why rely on someone else’s? To put it more bluntly, if you are a man, why behave like an ape?
#

Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
Dr. Frieda Jordan, President <[email protected]>
3111 Los Feliz Blvd., Suite 206
Los Angeles, CA
Tel: 323-663-3609
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

March 14, 2007
Dr. Frieda Jordan

Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
To Establish Key Partnership with Dana Farber Cancer Center
Expands East Coast Recruitment

(Glendale, CA – March, 2007) – As part of its nationwide expansion efforts,
the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) board members discussed a
key collaboration with the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston, which will
serve as the organization’s bone marrow and stem cell collection station for
donors on the East Coast.

Located in Boston and affiliated with Harvard University, the Dana Farber
Cancer Center is a prestigious, strategically located institution available
to the ABMDR in much the same way the world-renowned City of Hope Hospital
serves the organization on the West Coast. Like City of Hope – which has
provided facilities for collecting ABMDR donor stem cells for patients in
the Los Angeles area – the Dana Farber Cancer Center’s East Coast donors
will be able to conveniently go to this regional center.

While operating a laboratory with highly specialized services in DNA tissue
typing in Yerevan, the ABMDR depends on other institutions for stem cell
harvesting and delivery. Although the non-intrusive operation itself takes
only a few hours, the donor is given medication to accelerate his/her stem
cell generation and needs to be under medical observation for two weeks. The
future collaboration with Dana Farber Cancer Center will greatly streamline
ABMDR operation in the East Coast and provide greater convenience to the
donors.

Richard Boyajian, nurse practitioner at Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult
Survivorship Clinic at the Dana Farber Center, well knows the importance of
making the process leading up to a life-saving transplant as smooth as
possible: Mr. Boyajian is a bone marrow recipient and cancer survivor.
ABMDR President Dr. Frieda Jordan and Board Member Alvart Badalian were
delighted to learn of his interest in helping to promote the project at his
institution, and among its constituents.

In addition, while in Boston, Dr. Jordan attended an urgent donor
recruitment for patient Steve Keshishian , on Februrary 25th at the Armenian
Memorial Church in Watertown, MA organized by Steve’s Godmother, Nora
Orchanian and her family. With the support of Rev. Avedis Boynerian the
drive was a great success and resulted in recruiting over 50 new donors. "We
are grateful to everyone who helped spread the word around, the ABMDR
volunteers, our parish members, and especially to the individual donors
today. We hope and pray that we will soon find a match for our dear Steve".
Stated, Mrs. Orchanian. State Representative and chairman of Joint
Committee on Public Health, Peter Koutoujian, was among those who became a
donor on Sunday. An avid supporter of the ABMDR, Koutoujian made an
emotional appeal for supporting the life-saving work of the ABMDR.

Steve is one of 630 patients identified by the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor
Registry (ABMDR) who are suffering from leukemia and other blood-related
diseases throughout the Diaspora and Armenia desperately waiting to find a
matching donor to help save their lives. A key method of treating people
with life-threatening blood diseases is through bone marrow/stem cell
transplants from a donor. Each donor’s blood or mouth swab sample is tested
to see if there is a genetically suitable match for a patient in need. In
order to treat Armenian patients, bone marrow transplants require compatible
tissue types that match the genetic makeup of the patient, which is most
likely to come from other Armenian donors.

Mrs. Orchanian was concerned that few people would show up to become donors,
but Dr. Jordan provided reassurance, stating, "Even one committed donor is
very valuable to the cause." Observing people at her church opening their
mouths for the simple mouth swab from the inside of their cheek that will
undergo DNA testing to see if there is a match for Steve and other
identified patients in need, Mrs. Orchanian was, indeed, overwhelmed by the
response.

The donors’ data from the recruitment drive will be added to the 12,000
already in the ABMDR database, from which matches for Steve and other
patients can be identified.

Those who wish to learn more about the Registry may contact ABMDR President
Dr. Frieda Jordan at 3111 Los Feliz Blvd., Suite 206, Los Angeles, CA; by
calling (323) 663-3609; or e-mailing [email protected] or
<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] . The website for the
Registry is <; .

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 164a07
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

Venice Commission’s 70th session: discussions include freedom of
expression v. freedom of religion, and the Serbian constitution

Strasbourg, 13.03.2007 – The Council of Europe’s European Commission for
Democracy through Law (the "Venice Commission") will be meeting in
Venice on 16 and 17 March (Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista).
This is its 70th session since it was set up in 1990.

The Commission will adopt a report on blasphemy, religious insults and
inciting religious hatred. Another point on the agenda concerns the
extent to which video surveillance is compatible with respect for human
rights. These questions were submitted to the Venice Commission by the
Parliamentary Assembly.

Terry Davis, Council of Europe Secretary General, and Fiorenzo Stolfi,
Foreign Minister of San Marino and Chairman-in-Office of the Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers, will both speak at the opening of the
session on Friday 16 March at 9.30 am.

The session will also include:
* an exchange of views with Gia Kavtaradze, Georgian Minister for
Justice, and the adoption of an opinion on the disciplinary
responsibility of judges of common courts;

* adoption of an opinion on the new Serbian constitution;
* a discussion, attended by the Speaker of the Montenegro Parliament,
Ranko Krivokapic, on developments concerning the adoption of a new
constitution in Montenegro;

* adoption of opinions relating to the "the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia", in the presence of Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski, on:

o the legal status of churches, religious communities and religious
groups;
o the office of the Public Prosecutor and the Council of Public
Prosecutors;
o the draft revision of the electoral code.
* adoption of opinions relating to Ukraine on parliamentary opposition,
the imperative mandate for members of the Verkhovna Rada of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of local councils, and on the judicial
system and the status of judges;

* adoption of a joint opinion with the OSCE/ODIHR on the revision of the
electoral code in Armenia.

The Venice Commission will also adopt the Code of good practice in
referendums.

All the adopted texts are public and will be available on the
Commission’s website:

Press contacts:
Estelle Steiner, Press officer, Directorate of Communication, Council of
Europe
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57,
[email protected]

Roberto Tumbarello, Council of Europe press correspondent in Italy –
Mobile: +39 335 69 38 216, [email protected]

To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
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member states.