Author: Emil Lazarian

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

RPA MEMBER HAS APPREHENSION THAT PARTIES’ COMPETITION CAN MOVE FROM POLITICAL TO POTATO FIELD
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. It is several months a number of
provisions of law “On Parties” and of Electoral Code are violated
in Armenia, but the authorities in no way respond to this. Alexan
Karapetian, Secretary of NA National Unity faction, declared this
at the October 30 dispute at the Hayeli (Mirror) club. In his words,
some parties give out seeds to population in country’s regions, show
medical aid, organize shows and all this under the “party logo.” The
deputy said that no party has the right to do charity as it is charity
organizations that should do this. In A.Karapetian’s words, all this
is done with the sponsorship of the country’s President and by his
order. He gave assurance that no one can violate the law and remain
unpunished in the country unless he enjoys the President’s support. “If
such lawlessness is done now, what guarantee do we have that we will
not have the same during the elections,” A.Karapetian said. Samvel
Nikoyan, RPA faction member, another side participating in the dispute,
in his turn, said that he does not like the above mentioned phenomenon,
either. “I have an apprehension that the parties’ competition can move
from ideological-political field to the field of giving out potato or
sunflower seeds: this is unacceptable in the moral respect,” the deputy
declared. Asked, why then RPA does not undertake the needed steps,
S.Nikoyan said that he is only an MP and his only arms is speaking,
which he uses by expressing his own opinion.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGY PETROSYAN: EVALUATING THE RESULTS OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING PREMATURE
ArmRadio.am
30.10.2006 17:52
“Currently it is premature to evaluate the results of the October
24th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov. According to the results of
the meeting, the Ministers have arranged to hold another meeting on
November 14 in Brussels. At the same time I consider it necessary to
stress once again that bases should be created for achieving success
in agreeing upon the pivotal questions of conflict resolution. These
include an atmosphere of trust, refusal from application of force,
reinforcement of the regime of non-resumption of military actions,
talks in the full format,” said NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan
in response to the request of the electronic newspaper to present
his evaluation of the latest talks between the Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress