Author: Andres-Papazian

HEALTHCARE MINISTRY CANNOT CONTROL 40,000 PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

02.28.2014 20:36 epress.am

The healthcare minister’s decision to charge women who experience
complications during pregnancy for treatment was temporarily withdrawn
due to the lack of clear mechanisms, said RA Deputy Minister of
Healthcare Vahan Poghosyan today at a meeting with journalists and
civil society activists.

The decision, according to which expectant mothers would have to pay
5,000 AMD (about $12.10 USD) per one day of treatment, has been put
on hold until June 1.

Civil society organizations and activists yesterday declared their
intention to protest the decision, after which (today) it was announced
the decision was cancelled. NGO representatives, nevertheless, went
to the ministry, seeking clarifications.

At the meeting, Poghosyan didn’t provide a clear answer when asked
if after the issue of mechanisms were resolved whether the fee would
appear on the agenda again. The deputy healthcare minister explained
that the decision aimed to eliminate the “under the table” payments,
to avoid pregnant women paying medical staff additional fees. Instead,
the payments are formalized and go toward the medical establishment’s
budget.

“We cannot control 40,000 pregnant women,” said Poghosyan.

Journalists remarked that the ministry’s function is not to control
pregnant women but to eliminate corruption in medical establishments.

Poghosyan, however, didn’t respond to this comment. He urged those
present not to worry because the payments refer only to pregnant
women who experience complications, which, according to him, comprise
a small percentage of all women.

Women’s Resource Center of Armenia Executive Director Lara Aharonian
stressed that only after the decision was made did it become clear
that the pilot program has long been in effect in the two polyclinics
and pregnant women were required to pay this amount. According to
Aharonian, now it’s hard to find out how many women have already paid
for such services.

The healthcare ministry’s Chief of Staff Suren Krmoyan said that
pregnant women were informed that this was a pilot program and
if they didn’t agree to it, they could’ve been treated at another
medical center.

One of the journalists asked whether such a decision wouldn’t impact
Armenia’s already low birthrate, to which Krmoyan said it will no
longer, since the decision has been overturned.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIA’S PRESIDENT VISITS OLD FRIEND IN ARMENIA’S ECHMIADZIN

18:22 * 28.02.14

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has posted on his Facebook
page the pictures of his trip to Echmiadzin, Armenia, as part of his
visit to Armenia.

Georgia’s leader visited his old friend Robert Abrahamyan and his
family.

They made friends when Giorgi Margvelashvili served in the army in
Echmiadzin, in 1987.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN COIN WITH BOOK DESIGN WINS ITALIAN AWARD FOR ITS ‘CLEVER’ CONTENTS

10:30 28.02.2014

Central Bank of Armenia commemorative coin triumphed in an Italian
competition for Best Coin of the Year.

The Central Bank of Armenia was awarded Best Coin of the Year at a
numismatic fair held in Italy earlier this month.

Armenia’s winning entry was a silver commemorative coin dedicated to
the 500th anniversary of book printing in the country. Judges commented
on the “clever and original combination” of modern and classic imagery.

It was chosen ahead of a Kazakh coin that celebrates the exploration
of space.

The Italian competition – organised by Vicenza Numismatica – featured
a separate award designed to recognise the best coin design with an
architectural subject. The winner was a Belarussian coin depicting the
evolution of a railway station in Minsk, while a colourful offering
from Macau took second place, Central Banking reports.

Five hundred pieces of the winning Armenian coin were minted, and
they entered into circulation in 2012. Each coin has a nominal value
of 1,000 Armenian dram ($2.50).

The first Armenian book – ‘Urbatagirq’ – was printed by Hakob Meghapart

in 1512. The central bank described it as a collection of prayers
and wishes that notably featured the Book of Lamentations by Grigor
Narekatsi – a poem renowned for “the sincere immediacy of its
communication with God”.

The reverse of the coin features an image of Urbatagirq itself,
a copy of the

stamp used by Meghapart to mark his books, and an intricately designed
scene from Venice – the city where his work was first launched.

The obverse, meanwhile, celebrates the decision of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to make Yerevan,
the Armenian capital, the World Book Capital in 2012, a title that
has since passed to Port Harcourt in Nigeria.

From: A. Papazian

DEPARTMENT OF STATE: NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

13:48 28.02.2014

Nagorno-Karabakh, US

The tragic loss of life in the Karabakh war reminds us that there
cannot be a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Spokesperson for the US Department of State Jen Psaki said at a
daily briefing.

“Only a lasting and peaceful settlement can bring stability and
prosperity and reconciliation to the region,” she said.

“As a co-chair of the Minsk Group, the United States remains firmly
committed to working with the sides, both sides, to achieve peace,”
the Spokesperson said.

From: A. Papazian

UE-TURQUIE : L’ACCORD DE READMISSION DES IMMIGRANTS >, a declare la deputee democrate-chretienne allemande
Renate Sommer.

Madame Sommer, comment cet accord va-t-il changer le traitement des
clandestins entrant dans l’Union europeenne par la Turquie ? Qu’est-ce
qui arrivera a ceux qui cherchent une protection en Europe ?

La Turquie promet de prendre en charge les personnes qui sont entrees
illegalement dans l’Union europeenne. Cela n’affecte pas les refugies
fuyant les zones de conflit, a la recherche d’un abri. Ils sont
proteges par la Convention de Genève et peuvent toujours demander
l’asile.

Cependant, il y a beaucoup de clandestins qui traversent les frontières
sans un reel besoin de protection et cela doit cesser.

Pensez-vous que le nombre de clandestins dans l’Union europeenne sera
reduit ?

Certainement. La frontière n’est pas assez sûre et beaucoup en
profitent pour rejoindre l’Europe. La Turquie promet de la rendre
moins permeable.

La Turquie a longtemps rejete un accord de ce type. Qu’est-ce qui a
change ?

Ils ont essaye de faire pression sur nous en demandant que la
liberalisation des visas soit d’abord appliquee. Il est clair que
l’Union europeenne ne peut pas l’accepter. Les negociations sur la
facilitation des visas pour les citoyens turcs ont ete lancees lorsque
l’accord a ete officiellement signe en decembre 2013. Les progrès
dependent maintenant de quand et comment l’accord de readmission
sera applique.

Comment sera-t-il surveille ? Aura-t-il une incidence sur les
negociations pour l’adhesion de la Turquie a l’Union europeenne ?

Nous verrons si la Turquie reconduit les personnes qui ont immigre
illegalement dans l’Union europeenne a travers son territoire.

Chypre semble etre le plus grand obstacle, puisque les politiciens
turcs ne reconnaissent toujours pas le pays et ont refuse de l’inclure
dans l’accord. L’île fait partie integrante de l’Union europeenne et
donc de nombreux chapitres des negociations d’adhesion sont geles.

Cela pourrait etre l’occasion pour la Turquie de se repositionner
sans perdre la face.

Pour prendre effet, l’accord de readmission doit encore etre ratifie
officiellement par l’Union europeenne et la Turquie.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Parlement europeen

From: A. Papazian

LA RUSSIE VA LAISSER LES MIGRANTS ARMENIENS RESTER PLUS LONGTEMPS

ARMENIE

La Russie aurait accepte de proceder a un ajustement pour les citoyens
armeniens en leur permettant de rester sur le territoire russe plus
que des citoyens des autres pays et ce malgre l’absence de visa.

Selon l’agence de presse russe REX il a ete decide de modifier
l’article 4 de l’accord de Voyage de 2000 avec des exemptions de
visa pour les citoyens de l’Armenie afin de pouvoir rester en Russie
pendant 150 jours tous les 180 jours.

Les fonctionnaires a Erevan n’ont pas encore confirme cette
information.

Si elle est confirmee, cependant, la decision est susceptible de
venir comme un grand soulagement pour des centaines de milliers
d’Armeniens qui travaillent en Russie après que ce pays ait applique
une nouvelle loi le 1er Janvier dans laquelle les citoyens de pays
ayant des regimes d’exemption de visa ne sont pas autorises a rester
plus de 90 jours tous les 180 jours.

La loi a cause beaucoup de mecontentement parmi les citoyens d’Armenie
qui gagnent leur vie en faisant un travail saisonnier en Russie. Le
Secretaire du Conseil national de securite d’Armenie Artur Baghdasaryan
a ecrit une lettre a son homologue russe, exprimant l’espoir que la
Russie reconsiderer le regime pour les citoyens de l’Armenie.

S’il est applique, le nouveau regime signifie que les citoyens
armeniens travaillant en Russie seront en mesure de rester sur le
territoire russe pendant cinq mois, après quoi ils devront quitter
le pays pour un mois (au lieu de trois) avant de revenir et de rester
dans le pays avec une base juridique.

vendredi 28 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESSURE GROUP PROMISES ‘TANTAMOUNT COUNTERSTRIKE’ TO INTIMIDATORS

02.27.2014 21:56 epress.am

There have been various attempts at terror, persecution, and pressure
on the Dem Em (“I am against”) initiative protesting the mandatory
component of the new pension system. In astatement issued today
[AM], the pressure group notes that it wants to draw “the attention
of law enforcement agencies, local and international human rights
organizations, civil society organizations and the entire public”
to this reality.

“We declare that any attempt to intimidate any member of the Dem Em
initiative, unknown or unwelcome individuals visiting their apartments
or unduly attempting to get information about them from neighbors and
acquaintances, persecution by alleged members of this or that security
or police personnel with a car or otherwise in civilian clothing, the
use of ‘neighborhood criminals’ or bullies and hooligan resources,
any physical threat, psychological pressure by phone, letters or
any other way, will be perceived as an infringement on the Dem Em
initiative and the entire supporting public.

“Even in the case of the slightest attempt at harassment or
intimidation, the intimidator individual or group will receive a
tantamount counterstrike, if no action is taken by the Republic of
Armenia’s law enforcement bodies to suppress these attempts, identify
the perpetrators, and hold them accountable,” reads the statement.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PIONEER IN VIROLOGY DIES

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

Dr. Albert Kapikian (middle) first identified the hepatitis A virus
(HAV) in 1973. His groundbreaking work led to development of the
first licensed HAV vaccine. (Photo: NIAID)

BETHESDA, Maryland–Dr. Albert Z. Kapikian, M.D., a pioneering
virologist at the National Institutes of Health who discovered
norovirus and led a decades-long effort that resulted in the first
licensed rotavirus vaccine, died on Feb. 24, 2014. He was 83 years
old. Dr. Kapikian was the former chief of the epidemiology section
of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at NIH’s National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a position he held for
45 years.

“Al Kapikian was a giant in the field of virology,” said NIAID Director
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “His seminal basic and clinical research
contributions to the study of viruses and to vaccine development have
had an enormous global impact. Importantly, he was a warm-hearted,
beloved, and widely respected human being. His many friends at NIAID
and NIH mourn the loss of their esteemed colleague.”

Dr. Albert Z. Kapikian

Dr. Kapikian often was called the father of human gastroenteritis virus
research for his work on improving the understanding and prevention
of viral diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract.

In 1972, he identified the first norovirus, initially called Norwalk
virus. Noroviruses are now recognized as a major cause of epidemic
diarrhea in adults worldwide. In 1973, Dr. Kapikian and his colleagues
identified the hepatitis A virus. He also was the first scientist in
the United States to detect human rotavirus, which had been discovered
by others in Australia. He dedicated himself to studying this leading
cause of severe diarrhea in children, which accounts for more than
400,000 deaths annually, mostly in developing countries.

“Al was my hero,” said Kathryn C. Zoon, Ph.D., director of the NIAID
Division of Intramural Research. “He was a modest man who made many
remarkable discoveries in virology and saved many lives through his
vaccine development efforts. He will be missed by his NIAID family.”

Dr. Kapikian and his research group defined the mode of transmission
of rotavirus, identified the viral proteins critical for triggering
an immune response, and formulated a vaccine that targeted several
important rotavirus strains. These efforts ultimately led to the
development, testing and approval by the Food and Drug Administration
in 1998 of the first rotavirus vaccine. Subsequently, Dr. Kapikian
headed the development of second-generation rotavirus vaccines that
have been licensed by pharmaceutical companies in Brazil, China, and
India. He also contributed to ongoing efforts to improve rotavirus
vaccines and expand their use in the developing world.

He received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College
in 1956 and joined NIAID in 1957. His numerous accomplishments earned
him the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal, the Maurice Hilleman/Merck Award
of the American Society for Microbiology and the Children’s Vaccine
Initiative Pasteur Award, among many other honors.

“Al was a great scientist who worked as hard as humanly possible on
the development of an attenuated virus vaccine for rotavirus,” said
Brian R. Murphy, M.D., former co-chief of the NIAID Laboratory of
Infectious Diseases. “Most importantly, he was a great colleague to
those of us lucky enough to have worked with him. He was thoughtful,
gentle, kind, enthusiastic, encouraging and extremely intelligent. He
was a sports enthusiast, a master of the knuckleball and a great
father, with a loving wife, sons and grandchildren.”

From: A. Papazian

AMERICAN MILITARY INSTRUCTORS TEACH COURSE IN ARMENIA

February 27, 2014 | 16:29

YEREVAN. – American military instructors” one-week intensive course got
underway Monday at the Armenia MOD School for Noncommissioned Officers.

Such courses are planned to be taught in the future too, informs the
MOD press service.

The said course is a part of the American sergeants’ training program,
and within the framework of this course, the contract sergeants of
the Armenian Armed Forces are trained as junior commanders and they
acquire leadership skills.

The graduation certificate awarding ceremony for the course
participants will be held on Saturday.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

SERGEY GRINYAYEV: ARMENIA HAS JUST TO REALIZE ITS STATUS OF AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER FOR RUSSIA

ArmInfo’s interview with Director General of the Center of Strategic
Assessment and Forecast Sergey Grinyayev

by David Stepanyan

Thursday, February 27, 10:28

The key conclusion of the recent Moscow-hosted roundtable discussion
on the Russian army was that terrorist war is the major challenge
for Russia. What is this conclusion based on?

The military-political and military-strategic situation in the world
makes countries revise their attitude to defense. Growing terrorist
threats and the recent developments in the Middle East, and Syria,
first of all, along with many other problems necessitate Russia to
have quick response capabilities to meet the challenges it is facing.

Over the last years, the Russian Armed Forces have not been properly
re-equipped. The situation began to change during the last few years,
but much is still to be done to keep the balance of power in the world
arena. In addition, to settle a series of tasks, the military budget
of Russia should be spent not only on purchase of new models of arms
and military equipment, but also in reconstruction of infrastructures.

I am sure that without reliable infrastructure, it is impossible to
settle either military tasks or non- typical tasks, like liquidation
of the latest flood aftermaths in the Russian Far East. So, I don’t
think that the big military budget will be spent on purchase of
arms within the coming years. He thinks that much will be spent on
creation of dual-purpose infrastructures to foster Russia’s economic
and general development.

As a result of the two Geneva meetings the United States and Russia
have come to terms on Syria and Iran. Have they reached agreements
that might allow them to regulate a wide spectrum of relations?

I would not take the Geneva agreements seriously. History shows that
the United States is unyielding and mostly takes what it wants. In
Syria they are using diplomatic ways to put things into a deadlock,
while in the meantime they keep saying that their military plans in
that country are still in force. In Iran they are trying to cause
internal instability. So, we can say that the Americans have not
changed their plans on either Syria or Iran, what they have changed
is the means they are using to carry those plans out.

Why is Israel so openly pessimistic about Iran’s nuclear agreements
with P5+1?

Israel believes that only it can have a mass destruction weapon in the
region. In the last years the Israelis have done their best to leave
both Iraq and Syria without nuclear weapons, and now it’s Iran’s turn.

So, they will not accept any pact leaving Iran at least the tiniest
chance to have a nuclear weapon of its own.

Are the West and Russia making equal efforts in their fight for
Ukraine? What will the Maidan end in?

Russia, unlike the West, has never laid political conditions when
giving loans, while for the West politics have always been a top
priority. And we all see what this policy has led to in Ukraine. They
in Ukraine have proved unable to confront the new challenges that
have come from the Middle East and North Africa – something termed as
‘irregular warfare’ in present-day military science. The Ukrainian
leaders should have been more resolute in their actions. A state is
not always a carrot, sometimes it must be a stick. But most of them
have appeared to be more worried about their own selves than about
their country. They left their law enforcers alone face to face with
the mob and may well make them scapegoats in the end.

What countries will be attracted by the Kremlin’s reintegration
projects should it win in the fight for Ukraine?

The Kremlin is not forcing anybody to join its reintegration projects.

Today Russia is different – it is ready to help but only on a mutually
beneficial basis. If a partner has what to offer to us, it will be
welcome into the Customs Union, but if somebody has nothing to offer
or regards Russia as a milk cow only, we don’t need such a partner.

Many people in Armenia are seriously worried that the prices of a
number of imported items will grow as the customs duties will be made
equal to the duties that are in force in the Customs Union. Can any
military-political preferences outbalance the vague economic future
of Armenia as part of the Customs Union?

I am sure that Armenia will find its place in new Eurasian
geopolitics. Here we must act jointly, without saying ‘give us this
or that cheaper just because we are partners.’ If we want something,
we must offer something in exchange. Military strategic partnership
is the key bonus in Russian-Armenian relations. “Russia’s military
capacities in Armenia guarantee balance of forces and stability in the
region. But this cannot be a firm basis for longer- term cooperation.

“Here we also need economic motives and closer economic ties
irrespective of formats. Armenia must find its place in history as
an essential partner for Russia. The last events have shown that
the West does not need us. What it wants is permanent conflicts in
Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Ukraine and people killing each other,
while it will be pumping resources from their neglected economies.

Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, the supplies of arms to
Azerbaijan and Russia’s growing military presence in Armenia and the
region – can this bring the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement closer?

The absence of territorial disputes is a guarantee of stability in
any region. I think that Russia’s comeback to the South Caucasus will
foster security and development in that region, with the Nagorno-
Karabakh problem being really crucial for the future of the whole
Caucasus.

Does Armenia make use of its geographic situation? What other chances
have it missed so far?

I think Armenia does not use all the advantages it has today. I don’t
mean only geography. Geography was important some hundred years ago at
the time of commodity flows. Today, we are witnessing the birth of a
new information society based on a world wide web. So, important today
are not material but information flows. In this light, Armenia with
its unique Diaspora networks perfectly fits into this new world. I
think that Armenia is the only Customs Union country that is ready
for the realities of the new information society. If wisely used, this
advantage can make you a leader of the Union. I hope that the Customs
Union will be one of the first successful symbols of the new world.

From: A. Papazian