Author: Emil Lazarian

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF BOOK ENVISAGED TO BE ORGANIZED IN ARMENIA NEXT YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Participation of Armenian publishing
houses in different international exhibitions became oftener during
the recent years. As Eduard Militonian, the Chief of the Publishing
Affair Agency of the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues informed
at the October 27 press conference, besides the participation in the
Moscow and Frankfurt international exhibition-fairs, books published
with the assistance of the agency and a number of Armenian publishing
houses, were presented in the U.S., Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Turkey,
enjoying visitors’ attention and high estimation. E.Militonian
emphasized that the Armenian literature and culture are not only
presented and propagandized with the help of those exhibitions,
but practical ties are established among Armenian and foreign
publishers. In E.Militonian’s words, the number of books being
published by the state order was added during the recent years: 261
titles of historical, encyclopedic, fiction, children’s and other books
were published only in 2004-2005. It was also mentioned that the RA
Government allocated 20 mln drams (about 50 thousand U.S. dollars)
for translating Armenian literature into different languages. The
modern Armenian prose has already been published in the Russian,
English, French languages, and will be published soon in Persian and
Spain as well. The Chief of the agency stated that Armenian publishers
envisage to hold in Armenia an international exhibition of book the
next year. It was also mentioned that it was proposed to annouce a
year of young readers in Armenia in 2007.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

10th ANNIVERSARY OF “YERKRAMAS” NEWSPAPER OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO BE MARKED IN KRASNODAR
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Oct 30 2006
KRASNODAR, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 10th
anniversary of the “Yerkramas” (country) newspaper of Armenians
of Russia to be marked in Krasnodar on November 15 with a gala
concert. The concert program involves performances of Armenian
ensembles and performers from towns and regions of Kuban. Those are
winners and laureates of international and Russian competitions. The
Anelik RU commercial bank assists in organization and holding of the
concert. Presence of official guests: representatives of the Embassy
of the Republic of Armenia to the RF, of the Consulate General of
the Republic of Armenia to the NFR, administration of Krasnodar and
the region of Krasnodar, Russian and regional public organizations,
is expected at the holiday. Numerous congratulations are got on
the occasion of the jubilee at the newspaper editorial office both
from state structures and from different international, Russian and
Armenian organizations. According to the newspaper, Armen Smbatian,
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the RA to the
RF, Levon Mkrtchian, the Minister of Education and Science, Victor
Krivopuskov, the Chairman of the Society for Friendhsip and Cooperation
with the Republic of Armenia, Levon Chakhmakhchian, the Chairman of the
“For Self-Government of the Working People” Russian public movement,
Chairman of the Association of Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation,
and others are among people sent congratulations.
Earlier, the newspaper editorial office received a gold medal “For
the Sake of Humanity” on behalf of the “Elita Mira” (World Elite)
International Charity Fund of World Humanity (the fund chairman is
count Pyotr Sheremetev). The medal is given to organizations having
had considerable contribution in the life in favour of the society
and founded public-useful affair.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEMONSTRATION OF COMPLAINT IN DEFENCE OF VAHAGN CHAKHALIAN HELD IN AKHALKALAK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Oct 30 2006
AKHALKALAK, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A demonstration
of complaint in defence of Vahagn Chakhalian, a member of the
chairmanship of the “United Javakhk” democratic alliance, arrested
on October 11 in Yerevan, took place in the Freedom square of
Akhalkalak. As Javakhk-Info states, population of settlements
neighbouring to Akhalkalak also participated in the demonstration of
many thousands held on October 27. The rally participants expressed
their indignation on the occasion of the “absurd” accusation of
“illegally breaking the RA border” towards V.Chakhalian and demanded
to immediately set free Vahagn Chakhalian. A statement was adopted
at the end of the rally, where it was particularly, mentioned that
they will take other means in the case of not setting free Vahagn
Chakhalian within a short term.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE DEVELOPS NEW MILK-CLOTTING ENZYME PREPARATION
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The scientific research institute
Biotechnology is developing a new highly-efficient milk-clotting
enzyme preparation, which will also have slight protein destruction
properties. Hakob Karagulyan, senior staff member of the institute,
said this. According to him, the indicated properties are necessary
for production of European kinds of cheese with long maturation. In
H. Karagulyan’s words, after achieving a certain degree of purity,
it is envisaged to introduce the production of the new milk-clotting
enzyme preparation in Nane CJSC (Armenia). The annual demand for the
new milk-clotting preparation may be 1-1.5 tons but there are also
opportunities to produce such preparation to meet the total demand
of 5-6 tons in Iran, Georgia and the south of Russia. H. Karagulyan
said that prices of 1 kg of low-quality milk-clotting preparations
currently used in Armenia range from 120 to 150 US dollars, while
prices of high-quality ones – from 180 to 200 USD.
According to him, the price of the milk-clotting enzume preparation
developed by Biotechnology may be up to 100 USD, while the annual
profitability of production of 1 ton – 25-30 thousand USD.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CENTER OF ONCOLOGY DEVELOPS NEW METHOD OF BRAIN TUMOR TREATMENT
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian National Center
of Oncology has developed a biodegrable polymeric film (BPF) to
deliver local chemotherapy agents for the brain tumor treatment
purposes. Levon Harutyunyan, Deputy Director of the center, stated
this. According to him, about 350 people are diagnosed as having a
brain tumor in Armenia annually, and about 200 die of this disease. In
the US, these indices make about 17.5 thousand and 12 thousand people
respectively. L. Harutyunyan said that the three-layer film developed
by their center is put at the place of the tumor removed from the brain
and is absorbed, thus securing the effective impact of the medicine
contained in the film (without any undesirable results). In his words,
the use of such methods for brain tumor treatment has just started in
international practice: particularly, the polymeric sponges developed
by the medical center of Baltimore University are not for market sale
and have been used in 500-600 patients.
Attempts to use polymeric films for brain tumor treatment have also
been made at John Hopkins Clinic, but, in the words of L. Harutyunian,
without much success, because these films tend to become active in
the liver, from where the intended substance reaches the brain with
difficulty. He said that films developed by their center have been
tested on animals and are now being used in the treatment of four
patients. It was mentioned that the cost price of a film developed
by the center makes 40 dollars, which is much lower than the prices
of similar ones used abroad. L. Harutyunyan noted that in case of
creating a laboratory with modern equipment in the center’s area
of 60 square meters, it will be possible to synthesize 12 thousand
organic polymeric films and make a net profit of 300 thousand dollars
a year. The center plans to cooperate with Nairit-2 OJSC for production
of the film’s polymeric components.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEDICAL SERVICES OF 4.1 MLN USD RENDERED WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF STATE ORDER AT YEREVAN HOSPITALS IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006 January-September, medical
services of 1 bln 799 mln drams (about 4.1 mln USD) were rendered
within the framework of state order at hospitals and services of 2
bln drams at polyclinics within the jurisdiction of Yerevan Mayor’s
Office. As Deputy Yerevan Mayor Kamo Areyan said at the October 30
press conference, during the above mentioned months the number of
population’s visits to district doctors made 435368, which exceeds the
index of the same period of 2005 by 23.4%. 548656 visits to narrow
specialists were registered (growth 42%). The number of instrument
examinations also increased by 42% in the same period. In K.Areyan’s
words, in January-September, 18362 people received free treatment at
4 clinics within the jurisdiction of Yerevan Mayor’s Office and 7013
people received paid treatment.
6241 people were operated on, which exceeds last year’s index by 12%.
K.Areyan said that the number of ambulance calls also increased:
106558 calls were registered in 2005 January-September, whereas their
number was 114 thousand in the 9 months of this year. Yerevan Deputy
Mayor reported that 35 brigades of Ambulance CJSC show first aid
to Yerevan population. K.Areyan said that company’s 35 cars are not
enough to immediately respond to the calls and currently some steps
are being taken to increase their number. Besides, it is planned to
introduce a new communication system to the service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNFREEZING OF KARABAKH CONFLICT INEVITABLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 16:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The situation in the South Caucasus is very unstable,
it is an unstable balance, at the verge of war and peace, which cannot
last long, Chief of the Department of CIS Countries of the Russian
Institute of Strategic Research, Candidate of Historical Sciences
Alexander Skakov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In
his words, there is some military and economic balance between the
countries of the region, as well as inability of basic players –
world and regional superpowers – to pursue their own policy, not
looking back at the partners.
“Owing to these factors and inertia stability, there is still peace in
the region. Unfortunately, this “suspended” state cannot be eternal,
especially that it does not fit some people any more, for example
Georgia, Azerbaijan, the US and EU. To the contrary, Armenia, Russia,
Iran, Turkey, unrecognized states of the region are interested in
preserving the status-quo,” he remarked.
“The powers wanting “unfreezing” of the region are rather influential
and their actions are becoming more and more persistent. It would be
a mistake to consider that it is possible “to unfreeze” conflicts and
sustain regional stability. “Unfreezing” of the Karabakh conflict
is inevitable, irrespective of the outcome. It will aggravate
Armenian-Azeri relations, while unfreezing of the Georgian-Abkhaz or
Georgian-Ossetian conflicts not only threatens further complication
of Russian-Georgian relations, but will also ricochet other countries
of the region.
“Unfreezing” is inevitable, moreover is it likely and one should
prepare to it,” the Russian politician said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT MEET IN KREMLIN
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2006
“Russia occupies the shameful 3d place as a major capital investor in
Armenia. I say ‘shameful’ because it’s strange that Russia is not the
1st in the economy of a strategic partner,” president Vladimir Putin
of Russia stated at the Kremlin yesterday where he hosted his Armenian
counterpart Robert Kocharian. Then the Russian president underscored
that he expects growth of Russian investments in the Armenian economy.
Putin also pointed out that trade between the two countries is on
the upward curve though numbers for Russia are not that high: 60%
in 8 months. President Kocharian, on his part, informed that all
agreements with Gazprom are being accomplished and expressed hope
that the situation with investments will change next year.
The Armenian president suggested elaborating mechanisms that would
help to get maximum use of the ties that emerged during the Year of
Armenia in Russia, ITAR-TASS reports.
This was the 4th meeting of the two presidents this year.
Armenian president’s next scheduled visit is to Kazakhstan in November.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“ELECTORAL CODE IS A SUBJECT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE”
A1+
[07:14 pm] 30 October, 2006
“Before the discussion of the amendments to the Electoral Code the NA
political powers had agreed not to refer to the formation of electoral
committees and the ratio between proportional and majority systems”,
said member of the Republican Party Samvel Nikoyan in “Mirror”
club. He blamed the opposition for not keeping their promise.
During the first reading of the amendments “Justice” bloc voted
against it, and “National Unity” did not vote at all.
“We could not vote against it as 80% of our offers had been adopted;
we could not vote for it either as all our offers can be put into
execution only in case of 100% proportional system”, said deputy head
of National Unity Alexan Karapetyan. Samvel Nikoyan announced that
the disagreements about proportional and majority systems would not
be so acute if it weren’t for the journalists, “No one treats the
issue as seriously as the journalists”, he said.
Alexan Karapetyan tried to defend the journalists, “If they read the
Electoral Code once, everyone will see that electoral fabrications
cannot be eradicated without 100% proportional system”. According to
him, the authorities do not treat the Electoral Code seriously. “Why
did the NA majority make a deal with the “People’s Deputy”? Violating
the Electoral Code, they gave one place in each electoral committee to
“People’s Deputy”; but “People’s Deputy” is not a political power and
90% of the faction has left it for the Republican party. That is to
say, the members of the Republican party had one more place in each
electoral committee. The authorities have made the Electoral Code a
subject for sale and purchase”, Alexan Karapetyan commented.
Republican Samvel Nikoyan was very much offended by this remark and
he decided to reveal the potential of the Republicans, “We do not
make deals with anyone.
The Republican party has so much potential it can make its decisions
public and put them into execution alone”. Mr. Nikoyan did not
hide that he is not glad about the involvement of judges into the
electoral process. “We have not referred to the issue as it is up
to the Constitutional Court to decide whether the involvement of the
judges into the electoral process contradicts the Constitution or not”.
Let us remind you that the Constitutional Court will discuss the
issue on November 7; it will be represented by deputy head of NGO
“Democracy” Hrayr Tovmasyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: THERE IS NO TERRITORIAL CONFLICT BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2006
“There is not any territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and
Georgia. There are some uncoordinated areas on the front lines of
both countries and these areas are being coordinated in the level of
experts,” Georgi Manjgaladze, Deputy Foreign Minister, the chief of
Delimitation and Demarcation Commission told the APA Georgia bureau
exclusively.
He said that nearly 300 km of 460 km (65%) border line between
Azerbaijan-Georgia was coordinated by the experts. Manjgaladze said
that it is still early to reason about the document to be signed on
the delimitation and demarcation of the border line.
“Azerbaijan and Georgia work on the problem intensively. Delimitation
and demarcation commissions had two joint meetings this year,
and the experts meet continuously and try to coordinate disputable
territories,” he said.
Georgi Manjjgaladze also said that delimitation and demarcation
problems of the territories will be discussed during Georgian Foreign
Minister Gela Bezhuashvili’s short-termed visit to Baku.
“The delimitation of the territories will be one of the problems to
be discussed by the minister during his visit. Generally, Georgia
only has agreement with Turkey on delimitation and demarcation of
territories.300 km of 900 km border line between Russia and Georgia
was coordinated by the intergovernmental commissions, 450 km in the
level of experts. We could coordinate only 100 km of 220km border
line between Armenia and Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress