Author: Nargizian David

KARABAKH ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED AT UN

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2007 12:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is included on the
agenda of this General Assembly session under the topic of protracted
conflicts. But any resolution that places all conflicts in one pot
is necessarily flawed. Each of these conflicts is different. The
Nagorno Karabakh conflict doesn’t belong there. This issue should not
be discussed at the UN, because it is being negotiated in the OSCE,"
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in his address to the
UN General Assembly.

"First, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not frozen.

We continue to negotiate and we are inching towards resolution. Second,
there is a well-developed negotiating document on the table, based
not on wishful thinking, but on the core issue and the consequential
issues. Together, they add up to a balanced solution. Third, at the
core of the process lies the issue of the right of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh to determine their own future. Indeed, the people of
Nagorno Karabakh don’t want anything that is not theirs – they want a
right to live in peace and security and to determine their own future,
they want to exercise the right that every people here has exercised
at some point in their history," he said.

"We follow very closely developments on Kosovo. We hear the
international community loud and clear, that Kosovo cannot be a
precedent for other conflicts.

While we have no intention to use Kosovo as a precedent for our
conflict, since that would contradict our own position that all
conflicts are different. But at the same time, we won’t understand
or accept the reverse logic – that if Kosovo is given independence,
no other people can achieve self-determination. No one should tell
us that there is a quota on liberty and security," the Minister said.

HOUSE PANEL TO CONSIDER ARMENIAN MEASURE

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY
Oct 3 2007

A House committee will vote on a resolution recognizing the Ottoman
massacres of Armenians as genocide.

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the Jewish congressman who has
initiated the nonbinding resolution on the 1915-16 atrocities,
announced Tuesday that the full House of Representatives Foreign
Affairs Committee would consider the resolution on Oct. 10.

Attempts in previous Congresses to consider similar resolutions have
been frustrated by parliamentary maneuvers, but Rep. Nancy Pelosi
(D-Calif.), the House speaker, has pledged to bring it to a full vote.

The resolution has the sponsorship of a majority of House members and
is likely to pass if it comes to the floor. The Turkish government
has pledged consequences to the Turkish-U.S. alliance should the
resolution pass, and Turkish Jews and Israeli government officials
have lobbied against it.

A number of Jewish groups oppose the measure, but others have voiced
support.

NOTHING STARTS FROM A BLANK PAGE IN POLITICS

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

In response to our questions, ex-Parliamentarian SPARTAK
SEYRANYAN, Editor-in-Chief of "Yerkir" official organ comments on
the epoch-forming event of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s unexpected meeting
with Dashnaktsutyun.

"In my opinion, all this should be viewed from the angle of the current
political situation and not from the angle of the interrelation among
the political forces that has existed so far. In case of having a
serious approach towards the processes that are taking place or are
going to take place in the country, any political figure or political
force must have a balanced attitude to the fact that two political
factions having extremely polarized political and ideological
approaches, as well as a great number of unsettled issues in their
relations, are able to sit together and agree upon the rules of the
political campaign.

Although, my attitude towards the Armenian pan-National Movement
and Levon Ter-Petrosyan was the same both before and after the
meeting. By accepting him, Dashnaktsutyun proved that it is never
guided by emotional approaches towards political phenomena. We find
that political forces should treat one another as rivals and not as
enemies. In this respect, I don’t think that something extraordinary
or shocking has happened. And if some people were shocked, I don’t
understand it.

After all, serious political processes are in store for us, and it
is very important for the presidential elections not to fall behind
the parliamentary elections in terms of their organizational aspect
and campaign logic. Moreover, it is necessary for them to be a step
forward in comparison with the parliamentary elections. This may
enable the next President of Armenia to be elected as a result of a
correct debate and a civilized campaign vs. mutual accusations and
justifications. Therefore, no one either outside or especially inside
Armenia will have doubts as to the legitimacy of the elections."

"After 10 years of silence, the ex-President repeated the
same bare-face accusations that ‘the system consists of mafia
representatives from top to bottom’ and that it is an imperative task
to ‘disorganize and dismantle it’ ahead of time. Does this kind of
statement conform to the logic of a ‘civilized debate’?"

"What I mean by saying a civilized debate is that instead of discussing
the others’ deeds and failures, the political factions should more
speak about their own ideas, their own deeds and failures and,
what’s mostly important – their future actions. In general, this is
my approach towards a civilized debate.

Besides, during this debate I have to say things with regard to
which I myself have problems. In this respect, I can definitely say
that I disagree with the overwhelming majority of the approaches and
assessments expressed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan during his speech. The
fact that Armenia does not have the most brilliant achievements in
social, economic and democratic processes is clear to all of us.

There is no political faction or political figure saying that
everything is all right in Armenia. On the other hand, however, I
cannot agree to the views that there were no achievements during the
past years, and there are problems all around. Especially considering
that it was not during the recent years that those problems emerged.

Nevertheless, I find that anyone has the right to express his
viewpoint. Levon Ter-Petrosyan should say everything he thinks about,
and we should say everything we think about his statements; this is
the sense of a correct, civilized campaign."

"Does the gentlemen’s agreement on remaining within the frames of a
‘civilized debate’ mean that it is allowed to govern the country
according to the laws of the ‘criminal world’ and, as Mr.

Ter-Petrosyan would say – to disorganize and dismantle the country,
do away with the democratic freedoms and then start everything anew."

"In my deep persuasion, nothing starts from a blank page in
politics. Political processes never start or develop around the issue
whether or not anyone will be nominated, or whether or not this
person will become active. From that point of view, I don’t think
it is possible for anyone to appear on the political arena in that
manner. Moreover, I don’t think anyone will be allowed to return to
politics like that.

RA FM: NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND STILL REMAINS IN ORDER OF BUSINESS OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMATS

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
October 1, 2007 Monday

"This is a necessary event which should become traditional. Our
diplomats, in the order of business of whom the Nagorno Karabakh
problem has always been and will be in the near prospect, came to
see the NKR, Stepanakert, Shushi, to feel everything deeply, to be
enabled to better understand the situation and present it to the
world community correctly. Moreover, they had a chance to begin a
direct dialogue with the NKR president and get answers to specific
questions. I hope it will become a tradition and we shall be able to
organize such visits in future as well", RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan, who arrived in Nagorno Karabakh with a delegation of RA
Foreign Ministry’s central administration, RA ambassadors and consuls
to meet NKR President Bako Sahakyan.

V. Oskanyan emphasized importance of the delegation’s visit to Nagorno
Karabakh. To recall, Chairman of the NKR Parliament Ashot Gulyan, Prime
Minister Araik Harutyunyan, Head of the Artsakh Eparchy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church Pargev Martirosyan, Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan,
deputies, the NKR governmental members and others were present at
the meeting of the Armenian diplomats with the NKR president.

BULGARIA’S PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER

ARMENPRESS
Oct 02 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 2, ARMENPRESS; Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Sergey
Stanishev, will pay an official visit to Armenia on November 14-15.

Armenian ambassador to Bulgaria, Sergey Manaserian, told Armenpress
today that during his first visit to Armenia Stanishev will discuss
a set of issues in Yerevan with a focus on refreshing the legal
frameworks between the two countries.

The Armenian ambassador said this necessity has emerged after
Bulgaria’s membership in the European Union. He said 4-5 major
agreements are being elaborated now for the sides to sign in Yerevan.

Bilateral trade last year was about $8 million, however, the ambassador
said there is a huge untapped resource to boost bilateral ties.

Stanishev will be coming with a delegation of Bulgarian businessmen who
will discuss with peers in Armenia ways of expanding bilateral trade.

According to the ambassador, Bulgaria’s defense minister is also
planned to pay a reciprocal visit to Armenia in late November.

Hospital Business Week
September 30, 2007

DRUG RESISTANCE;
Reports from Princess Margaret Hospital highlight recent research in
drug resistance

Research findings, "Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria
gonorrheae strains in three regions of Armenia," are discussed in a
new report. According to a study from Toronto, Canada, "There are no
data available on gonococcal susceptibility in the Caucasus region.
We aimed to determine in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of
Neisseria gonorrheae in Armenia in order to update the national
treatment protocol."

"Isolates from men with urethral discharge presenting at 3 STI
clinics in 3 different sites of Armenia were used to determine
susceptibility of N. gonorrheae strains for 11 antimicrobials using
the disc diffusion technique. Among the 101 isolates tested the
susceptibility rate for penicillin, doxycycline, and kanamycin were
37.6, 25.7, and 80.2%, respectively. Sensitivity to quinolones was
95% for both ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All strains were
susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and to spectinomycin.
Only 11% of strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested.
Third-generation cephalosporines and spectinomycin are suitable
first-line regimens," wrote G. Hovhannisyan and colleagues, Princess
Margaret Hospital.

The researchers concluded: "Quinolones are not advisable as
first-line treatment given current borderline susceptibility, known
tendency for rapid resistance development in this class, and frequent
over-the-counter use of this antibiotic in Armenia."

Hovhannisyan and colleagues published the results of their research
in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Antimicrobial susceptibility of
Neisseria gonorrheae strains in three regions of Armenia. Sexually
Transmitted Diseases, 2007;34(9):686-8).

For additional information, contact G. Hovhannisyan, Princess
Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

The publisher of the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases can be
contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St.,
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

Keywords: Canada, Toronto, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobials,
Drug Resistance, Infectious Disease, Sexually Transmitted Disease,
Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Hospital Business Week editors from
staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Hospital Business Week via
NewsRx.com.

ARMENIA HAS RESERVES FOR DYNAMIC ECONOMIC GROWTH: PRESIDENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2007

YEREVAN, September 28. /ARKA/. Armenia has serious reserves for
dynamic economic growth, RA President Robert Kocharian said during
his annual meeting with representatives from the RA Foreign Ministry
and Armenia’s diplomatic institutions abroad.

Rather favorable conditions have been created for two-figure economic
development, the RA President said.

"Armenia is one of the fast developing countries which do not produce
oil," Kocharian said. Effective reforms carried out in the country
are the guarantee of Armenia’s success.

The President attached importance to the development of foreign
diplomatic relations and attraction of investments. He pointed out
that Armenia’s ambassadors fulfill the whole potential of economic
cooperation.

Talking about the priorities of the country’s foreign relations,
Kocharian said Armenia must take more firm steps and be more active
for their development.

The RA President pointed out that meetings with diplomats help to
share opinions on the topical issues, make necessary reforms, enrich
information base and make more purposeful use of it. The participants
to the meeting also discussed the Karabakh conflict settlement.

FRENCH POLITICAL ELITE POSITIVE ABOUT THE BILL CRIMINALIZING GENOCIDE DENIAL

ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Sept 28 2007

In general, the political elite in France are positively disposed
towards the bill criminalizing the negation of eth Armenian Genocide.

RA Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary to France Edward
Nalbandyan told Armenpress that the terms of discussion of the question
in the Senate are not known so far. Although the President and the
Parliament were changed as a result of elections, the question may
be again included in the agenda, since the attitude is, on the whole,
positive.

Let us remind that the lower chamber of the French Parliament adopted
the bill criminalizing the negation of the Armenian Genocide on
October 12, 2006. It envisages a punishment ranging from one year of
imprisonment to a fine of 45 thousand Euros. The bill has now been
submitted for the Senate confirmation.

NATO ISN’T LIABLE TO BRAND ANY STATE OCCUPANT

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.09.2007 18:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan are NATO associate
members. They possess no right introduce provisions into the NATO
PA agenda," Armenia’s Ambassador to NATO Samvel Lazarian told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"It’s Azerbaijan’s recurrent propagandistic trick," he said.

"NATO is not liable to announce this or that state aggressor," he said.

The remarks followed reports of the Azeri media saying, "Baku spares
no effort for NATO recognition of Armenia as occupant."

ARCHBISHOP BEGINS ARMENIA VISIT
Martha Linden, PA

Press Association Newsfile
September 22, 2007 Saturday 2:46 AM BST

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams begins a week-long
visit to Armenia, Syria and Lebanon today.

Dr Williams will begin his tour in Armenia, where he will visit a
range of significant religious and national sites, as well as holding
discussions with the Armenian government.

The visit to Armenia comes after an invitation from the Catholicos,
His Holiness Karekin II, who heads the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Lambeth Palace said Dr Williams’ visit to Syria and Lebanon would be
shorter and forms part of his continuing personal engagement with
Christian churches in the Middle East, and with leaders of other
faiths in the region.

The visit takes place at the invitation of the Anglican Bishop of
Jerusalem, Suhail Dawani, whose diocese covers these countries,
and is being arranged in collaboration with the Middle East Council
of Churches.

In Syria, as well as meetings with Christian leaders and the local
Anglican community, the Archbishop will meet the Grand Mufti of Syria
and the country’s President, Dr Bashar Al Asad.