Author: Parkev Tvankchian

ArmenPress
March 2 2005
ARMENIA MALES TOP THE LIST OF EUROPEAN SMOKERS
YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS: The law on restrictions on sale,
consumption and use of tobacco products, enforced today, outlaws
smoking in public transport, cultural, educational and health
institutions. It was passed by the Armenian National Assembly last
month after being twice rejected by lawmakers, some of them the
biggest cigarette producers and importers. The parliament also
ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco control (FCTC). One of
the requirements of FCTC is to follow the World Health Organization’s
standard of health warning covering 30 percent of the cigarette pack.
However that portion of the law would become mandatory only by 2008.
Cigarette advertising will be outlawed by 2010.
Statistics say more than 70 percent of Armenian men are smokers,
topping the list of European smokers. The number of smoking women and
teenagers increase with each year as well as the production and
import of cigarettes in the country.
According to preliminary official figures , around 1.7 billion
cigarettes were imported to Armenia in 2004.
Organizations in Armenia who campaign against smoking hope that
with the enforcement of the law the number of smokers will, if not
reduce, at least stop increasing. According to WHO findings, around
2,000 men between 36-69 die in Armenia annually of diseases caused by
smoking.
The law is to be enforced in three stages, by next January every
enterprise or company must have a special smoking area, cafes and
restaurants will have to allow visitors special rooms for smokers and
non-smokers.
The Armenian Public Health Alliance and the Coalition for Tobacco
Free Armenia said in a press release today they look forward to
successive and effective implementation of comprehensive tobacco
control measures in line with the principles of the Convention.
The press release said the proper enforcement of the law can save
lives, “as it encompasses measures aimed at preventing tobacco uptake
by children, assisting smokers in quitting, and protecting the right
of non-smokers for a smoke free environment.”
“We clearly realize that this is a long and not easy way that will
require collaboration between all interested in tobacco control
parties, including state, international and private organizations. We
believe that without massive information campaigns and without a
monitoring of the process by the non-governmental organizations the
success is not possible. Therefore, we look forward toward more
active participation of the civil society to ensure a stable
progress,” it said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
Feb 25 2005
OSCE and CE expertly group to visit Armenia on March 3-4
It is early to engage in pre-election campaign – Armenian PM
Presentation of official website of Economic Court of the Republic of
Armenia held in Yerevan
RA Prime Minister receives charge d’Affaires of Syria to Armenia
70th anniversary of prominent Karabakh publicist and public activist
Zori Balayan’s birth celebrated in Stepanakert
Armenian PM: rumors on near resignation of Government exploited by
some semi-pro-Government and pro-Government streams
*********************************************************************
OSCE AND CE EXPERTLY GROUP TO VISIT ARMENIA ON MARCH 3-4
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Joint group of experts from OSCE and
the Council of Europe will visit Armenia on March 3-4 to study the
issues of constitutional and electoral reforms, as Dmirti Rupel
Slovenian Foreign Minister said when meeting Arthur Baghdasryan,
Armenian Speaker while on his official visit to Austria. As Armenian
Parliament Public department told ARKA, Rupel gave high estimation to
Armenian Parliament’s role in implementation of Armenia’s commitments
to PACE and expressed hope that constitutional and election reforms
will be held as per European standards. Baghdasaryan ain his turn
said that Armenia attaches importance to integration into European
structures, the solution of the Karabakh conflict within frames of
the OSCE Minsk Group as it studied the issue well. It was mentioned
that the region enjoys peaces for ten years and Armenia sees the
solution of the conflict thru peaceful settlements. He also stressed
OSCE’s role in establishing peace and regional cooperation in South
Caucasus. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
IT IS EARLY TO ENGAGE IN PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN – ARMENIAN PM
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. It is early `to roll up one’s sleeves’
and to engage in pre-election campaign, as Armenian PM Andranik
Margarian said to Armenian Public TV. In his words, `we have two
years until elections to the National Assembly and three until the
presidential elections. Launching pre-election campaign now will
hinder not only normal development of the country, but the solution
of challenges that Armenia is facing’. `I mean regional problems, and
hindering economic and political development of the country’, he
stated. At that he said that opposition’s behaviour is quite normal,
adding that the party headed by him (Republican Party of Armenia –
ARKA) have no intentio to promote extraordinary presidential or
parliamentary elections. Margarian stressed that `everything must
took place in its time’, and the Armenian President and the National
Assembly must have opportunity to solve the issues until the next
regular elections. `The life is already is complex and we should not
make it even more complicated, inventing new problems for us’, PM
considers. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
PRESENTATION OF OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF ECONOMIC COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
ARMENIA HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, February 23. /ARKA/. Presentation of official website of
Economic Court of the Republic of Armenia () was
held in Yerevan today. As Davit Harutyunyan, Armenian Justice
Minister said, the most important factor of the final establishing of
judiciary in the developing countries is its transparency and using
of high technologies must not be neglected here. At that in his
words, similar transparency could not be secured only by creation of
internet center and the Armenian Government suggest this year to make
a number of legislative steps for securing transparency of the legal
proceedings process. `We need just that transparency that would allow
the sides to better understand their activity and the judges to get
more correct impression what will promote the making of the judiciary
`, he stressed.
The web-based information center of the Economic Court of Armenia was
created within frames of Transparency of Judiciary System of Armenia
program with the assistance of EU European Initiative for Democracy
and Human Rights (the total cost of the grant EUR 44 thou.). One of
the main tasks of the program implemented by Youth for Achievements
NGO is expanding of partnership between state, public sectors thru
free provision of necessary information, its transparency and
availability. The main purpose of the web-based internet resource is
free provision of information about the judiciary system,
particularly the Economic Court, and to enhance the efficiency and
quality of the information exchange between the public and the
Economic Court.
The main menu of Armenian, Russian and English version of the
web-site contain 14 chapters including data on the Economic Court of
the republic of Armenia, activity procedure, court appeal order,
cassation compliant and appeal, information on legal proceedings,
sales of debtors property, news, international relations, feedback,
links etc. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES CHARGE D’AFFAIRES OF SYRIA TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
today received Charge d’Affaires of Syria to Armenia Hasan al-Raslan,
who accomplishes his diplomatic mission to Armenia. As the Public
Relations Department of RA Government told ARKA agency, the RA Prime
Minister highly appreciated the work of Hasan al-Raslan for the
development of Armenian-Syrian relations. Margaryan hopes that the
visit of Syrian Premier Naji al-Utri to Armenia will impart new
impetus to bilateral relations.
During the meeting, the participants emphasized the satisfactory
level of bilateral cooperation, in particular, in areas of
agriculture, science and education, culture. Margaryan and Raslan
also noted the importance of recurring sessions of Armenian-Syrian
Intergovernmental Commission. The Armenian PM expressed confidence in
the fact that the execution of decisions, adopted on 3rd session of
the Commission in Yerevan in 2004, will contribute to further
development of bilateral relations in various fields. L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************
70TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROMINENT KARABAKH PUBLICIST AND PUBLIC ACTIVIST
ZORI BALAYAN’S BIRTH CELEBRATED IN STEPANAKERT
STEPANAKERT, February 25. /ARKA/. 70th anniversary of prominent
Karabakh publicist and public activist Zori Balayan’s birth was
celebrated in Stepanakert. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s President
Arkadi Ghukasyan, Members of the NKR Parliament and Government and
representatives of the community were present at the party dedicated
to the event.
The jubilee spoke about current world problems in his speech. He paid
attention to globalization and its possible impact on the region.
Speaking on Karabakh conflict settlement, Balayan pointed out oil
factor.
Speaking on Karabakh national liberation movement, he said nobody
must think human toll was vain and nobody must doubt that `we did
achieve the goal’. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN PM: RUMORS ON NEAR RESIGNATION OF GOVERNMENT EXPLOITED BY
SOME SEMI-PRO-GOVERNMENT AND PRO-GOVERNMENT STREAMS
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. The rumors of near resignation of the
Government are exploited by semi-pro-Government and pro-Government
streams, as Armenian Pm Andranik Margarian said in his interview to
the Armenian Publci TV. In his opinion, the opposition wishes to
change the power, but the purposes put forward by it one or two years
ago -President’s resignation, holding of extraordinary elections are
groundless. Therefore, in PM’s words, it is necessary to input in the
government `the worm of doubt’, the fanciful power change scenario,
where naturally the PM and Government members have their own role. At
that he stressed that this may not be implemented, adding that the
changes into the Government’s staff are always possible, however they
will not be related to demands put forward or similar reasons. T.M.
-0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRNA, Iran
Feb 8 2005
Khatamihighlights significance of Tehran-Yerevan cooperation
Tehran, Feb 8, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami said here Tuesday
that Tehran-Yerevan cooperation would be effective to support mutual
interests and security as well as regional stability.
President Khatami further told Armenian National Security Council
Secretary Serzh Sarkisian that Iranian and Armenian presidents have
formed a new phase to develop economic cooperation and efforts should
be made for speedy implementation of mutual accords.
Khatami stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports its
neighbor Armenia, considering the fact that mutual cooperation is
effective for development and security of the Caucasus.
He said regional states can solve their problems through high
level negotiations without foreign intervention and Iran, as a
country
which calls for establishment of good ties with all neighbors, is
ready to take steps for removal of any problem with the neighbors.
The President pointed to the significance of transit and
transportation in boosting relations among regional states and also
to the need for connection of railways and roads.
He underlined the project for transfer of gas to Armenia and also
expansion of commercial relations.
Sarkisian for his part hoped for further expansion of the Tehran-
Yerevan relations on the basis of good faith.
He said development of mutual relations in the fields of culture,
education and economy would prepare the ground for guaranteeing
security and expanding ties in other spheres.
He added that connection of Iranian and Armenian railways would
be effective for establishment of the north-south corridor. He
welcomed the project for transfer of gas to Armenia.
He also described as “very logical and positive” Iran`s viewpoints
on sticking to dialogue and negotiation to settle regional disputes
without foreign intervention.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Foreign minister vows to get Karabakh internationally recognized
Arminfo
4 Feb 05
YEREVAN
“Our final goal is the international recognition of Nagornyy Karabakh,
and if the international community sees the problem in this context,
the solution will probably also be found,” the foreign minister of the
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Arman Melikyan, said at a press conference
in Stepanakert today.
Commenting on the statement of the Azerbaijani side about the
allegedly planned pull-out of troops from the territories occupied
during the war, the NKR foreign minister pointed out that Nagornyy
Karabakh has not participated and is not participating in any talks on
this issue.
“Taking into account that each of the sides has its own demands within
the framework of the negotiations, the statements by [Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister] Elmar Mammadyarov and [Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister] Araz Azimov can be interpreted as Azerbaijan’s readiness to
recognize the independence of Nagornyy Karabakh. Only in this context,
can we expect a solution to any issues related to the territories,”
Melikyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Rocky Mountain News, CO
Feb 4 2005
2nd college yanks Churchill invitation
President of school in Massachusetts cites security fears
By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News
February 4, 2005
A Massachusetts college withdrew a speaking invitation Thursday to
University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill.
Wheaton College, in Norton, Mass., had invited Churchill to
participate in a March 29 panel on genocide.

President Michael Crutcher withdrew the invitation amid concerns
about public safety, college spokesman Michael Graca said.
“Freedom of speech is an important principle both for the country,
but certainly as well for educational institutions,” Graca said. “And
it needs to take place in a secure and safe environment, and that’s
the fundamental issue.”
Eastern Washington University will decide today whether to rescind an
invitation to Churchill to speak April 5.
The ethnic-studies professor is under fire nationally for a 2001
essay in which he referred to victims in the World Trade Center on
9/11 as “little Eichmanns,” a reference to Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi
Gestapo officer who headed Adolf Hitler’s effort to wipe out Jews in
Europe.
On Tuesday, Hamilton College in upstate New York canceled an address
by Churchill because of security concerns. Churchill’s remarks on the
Sept. 11 attack were brought to light by a student journalist at
Hamilton.
Graca said Wheaton College has not received any threats, but acted in
light of the threats at Hamilton.
“Given the experience of Hamilton this past week, we felt it was
prudent to take some action to maintain a secure campus,” Graca said.
Churchill was to speak about the American Indian experience with an
expert on the Turkish genocide of Armenians in 1915, and survivors of
the Holocaust and mass killings in Rwanda. That discussion will take
place now without Churchill.
Wheaton College is a 1,500-student liberal-arts college in southeast
Massachusetts.
At Eastern Washington, Churchill is scheduled to take part in Native
American Awareness Week. The school in Cheney, Wash., is 6 percent
American Indian – considered a large proportion for a college, said
spokesman David Rey.
Rey said faculty members who invited Churchill knew his views about
Americans Indians were controversial. They didn’t know about his
essay on Sept. 11.
“I don’t think this is what they expected,” Rey said.
President Stephen Jordan spent Thursday discussing the matter with
trustees and faculty, Rey said. Jordan will issue a statement during
a trustees meeting this morning.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DPA LEADER INTENDS TO URGE ALL PARLIAMENTARY FORCES TO RECOGNIZE
KARABAKH’S INDEPEDENCE
YEREVAN, JANUARY 29. ARMINFO. The leader of the opposition Democratic
Party of Armenia Aram Sargsyan is going to call on all the
parliamentary forces to recognize Karabakh’s independence as soon as
possible.
He says that the Organizational Committing for Karabakh’s Protection
NGO comprising 25 political and public organizations including DPA is
starting a series of political actions in this direction. “Unless we
take urgent steps now Armenia will face the fate of Kosovo,” says
Sargsyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 17 2005
ON THE WORK OF PACE’S JANUARY SESSION
MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine will be in the center of
attention of the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe) January session, the head of the State Duma international
committee, Konstantin Kosachev, said on Monday.
He explained that the head of the observers’ mission would deliver
the report on the situation in Ukraine from the Council of Europe.
The invitation to the PACE session was also sent to newly-elected
Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko.
At the same time Mr. Kosachev pointed out that Mr. Yushchenko could
take the floor at that session only before an inauguration ceremony
of the elected present would be held in Ukraine.
Currently, the Supreme Court of Ukraine is considering the complaint
filed by the headquarters of former presidential candidate Viktor
Yanukovich concerning the violations during the December 26
presidential elections.
The PACE January session will also discuss the situation in Georgia;
in particular, the constitutional reforms which, in the opinion of
the PACE, give too many broad powers to the President. The session
will also focus on the practice of judicial agreements when a person,
accused of economic crimes, can give a ransom to the state, as well
as an excessive infringement by Georgia, according to PACE, of
Adzharia’s autonomy.
Apart from that, the European diplomats intend to discuss the
situation in Nagorny Karabakh, an Armenian enclave in the territory
of Azerbaijan that has proclaimed its independence, as well as the
situation in the autonomous province of Kosovo.
Mr. Kosachev also said that the PACE January session will discuss the
situation concerning the Yukos case.
The parliamentarian pointed out that during the preparation of the
report, the Russian side presented all the necessary materials on
this score. However, they have not been fully reflected in the final
variant of the document.
There are only references to the lawyers and non-governmental
organizations, Mr. Kosachev said.
He pointed out that “the content of the report has disappointed us,
because we expected a more balanced assessment of the Yukos case.”
Thus, the Russian delegation will express its own opinion of the
given report. Mr. Kosachev said that the Russian delegation resorted
to this right earlier when PACE discussed the situation in Chechnya.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Jan 16 2005
President Issues two Decrees
Damascus, Jan 16, (SANA)-
President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday issued decree number 13 for 2005
to ratify cooperation protocol between Syria and China in the gas and
oil field.
Another decree to endorse a cooperation accord between Syria and
Armenia in the field of health and medical sciences was issued today
by President Assad and entitled decree number 14 for 2005.
S. Younes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON ISSUE OF RETURN OF POPULATION’S DEPOSITS WITH
SAVINGSBANK OF FORMER USSR
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The fact that Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on convocation of a parliamentary
extraordinary sitting to discuss the return of the population’s
deposits with the Savingsbank of the former USSR does not mean the
president supports the given initiative. President Robert Kocharyan
made this statement at a press-conference on Lori region.
In his words, he has never promised to return the population’s
deposits when running for presidency. Today, discussion of the state
budget for 2005 is more important and urgent for Armenia as the whole
financial activity is connected with this document, the president
thinks. Meanwhile, involvement into such a disputable and complicated
issue before discussion of the state budget will endanger the budget’s
adoption. This budget provides for a rise in the wages of teachers,
medical personnel, militaries and others, the president says. He notes
that it seems to be a escpecially planned action pursuing a goal of
creating tension to divert the attention of the government and the
parliamentary coalition from solution to the major issues. I am sure
that the number of reasonable MPs in the parliament is much higher
and the right ways towards solution to this issue will be found,
Robert Kocharyan says.
In the president words, a commission was convened in the parliament,
which works on the issue of returning the population’s deposits and
a governmental commission will be formed in late January, 2005 in
conformity with his instruction in order that the given problem be
further studied. As long as we lack a final idea of how to solve the
issue, we will not know the possible consequences of our decisions for
the country’s economy, and hereby, we shall not be able to solve the
problem, the president says. He expressed readiness to consider the
possible ways of its solution. Robert Kocharyan is of the opinion that
the action initiated in the parliament pursues a goal of making Orinats
Yerkir party to join the initiative hereby leaving the coalition in
an awkward situation. Meanwhile, the population’s problems bear no
relations to this interest, the president says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia says Azerbaijan should talk with Nagorno-Karabakh authorities
The Associated Press
12/18/04 10:04 EST
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Armenia called on Azerbaijan on Saturday to
negotiate directly with the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed
enclave within Azerbaijan that fuels enmity between the two ex-Soviet
republics a decade after a cease-fire.
The comment from Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Gamlet Gasparian
came after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev reacted angrily to a
statement from Russian parliament speaker Boris Gryzlov, who referred
to Armenia as Russia’s outpost in the Caucasus region.
“We are confused: We have always considered Armenia a state, but
now it turns out that it is an outpost,” Aliev told journalists on
Friday. “So whom should we negotiate with now – the outpost or the
master of the outpost?” he said.
Responding in turn with sarcasm, Gasparian said that “if the
Azerbaijani side is confused and doesn’t know with whom to negotiate,
we must point them toward Stepanakert,” referring to the capital of
ethnic Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh. “We hope they know well
where Nagorno-Karabakh is,” he said.
Ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia drove Azerbaijani troops out
of Nagorno-Karabakh in a six-year war that killed some 30,000 people
and drove a million from their homes. A cease-fire was reached in
1994, but the unresolved conflict damages both nations’ economies
and raises the threat of renewed war.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been involved in an international effort
to reach a settlement, sponsored by the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe and led by Russia, France and the United
States. Azerbaijan refuses to negotiate with the international
unrecognized government of Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress