Author: Vasilian Manouk

CIVIL SOCIETY NET ‘REFUGEES AND INTERNATIONAL LAW’ MAKES SHARP STATEMENT ON THE REPORT ‘ARMENIA. ANALYSIS OF SHORTCOMINGS IN THE PROCESS OF PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND PERSONS APPLIED FOR SHELTER’

ArmInfo
2008-11-17 15:47:00

ArmInfo. Civil society net ‘Refugees and International Law> has come
forward with a sharp statement on the report ‘Armenia. Analysis of
shortcomings in the process of protection of refugees and persons
applied for shelter’

‘Civil society net ‘Refugees and International law’ is forced to react
once again at willful disinformation disseminated by international
organizations and state structures of Armenia regarding the problem
of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan. This time the disinformation
was disseminated by the joint efforts of representative of UN
Commissioner in Refugees in Armenia and Armenian Migration Agency
financed ny European Union. The Document containing absolutely willful
disinformation is called ‘Armenia.

Analysis of shortcomings in the process of protection of refugees and
persons applied for shelter’ (August, 2008). The document was delivered
to the participants in the seminar held in Yerevan on 6-7 November. The
document is trying to present removal of Azerbaijani Armenians from
Azerbaijani Soviet Republic in 1988-92 as willing emigration because
meddling of Armenia in the Karabakh conflict….But Armenian did not
emigrate as the document says, but were expelled… Foreword of the
document says: ‘From 1988 to 1992 the country (Armenia) was involved
in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, as a result of which about 400.000
refugees moved to Armenia from Azerbaijan. Later their great majority
moved to other countries or became Armenian citizens – naturalized’. At
the beginning of the document presenting the information in such a way
its authors are trying to persuade the reader that in fact in Armenia
there is no problem of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan….Everything
is done for the factor of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, which
amount to 8-10% of the population living in Armenia, to lose its
political, economical, social and humanitarian significance. The fact
that foreigners are the authors of such policy may be explained by the
fact that they are guided by the interests of their state. But how can
be explained such a policy conducted by Armenian functionaries? Civil
Society Net ‘Refugees and International Law’ applies once again to
vice-premier, Territorial Administration Minister Armen Gevorkyan
with a challenge to stop dissemination of disinformation about the
problem of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan by means of the state
structures controlled by him’, – the statement says.

Armenian Youth Federation of Australia
PO Box 238, Willoughby, NSW Australia 2068
[email protected]
www.ayfaustralia.o rg

PRESS RELEASE
3 NOVEMBER 2008

AYF AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

SYDNEY – The Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF Australia)
celebrated 30 years of activism in the community at a Dinner Dance in
Willoughby on Friday, 1st November.

The evening, organised by AYF Australia’s Nigol Touman Executive, was
attended by 200 former and current members of the organisation which was
formed in Sydney in 1978.

AYF Australia Chairperson, Maggy Kayserian addressed the attendees, stating
"it is an honour for current members to be flanked by those who formed the
AYF 30 years ago, as well as those who kept it active for her fellow members
to enjoy today".

Tamar Gulumian, also of the AYF Australia Executive, took the audience down
memory lane, recalling the formation in 1978 when Dr. Papken Papazian
visited from Lebanon to formally announce the formation of the organisation
which would be the hub for young Armenian-Australian activism for 30 years
and beyond.

Haig Kayserian spoke on behalf of the AYF Alumni, toasting a Happy
Anniversary to all generations of members who brought the organisation to
where it sits today; as strong as ever in 2008 and ready to face
unpredictable challenges.

He said: "The AYF is many things to many people, but the underlying success
of it is its ability to produce leaders of Armenian communities worldwide.
All of you here today are testament to that, and supporting this
organisation by contributing to its growth will ensure our community
develops many leaders for many years to come."

The evening’s entertainment was provided by Hagop Gulumian and the
Dikranakert band, while members took part in old ‘camp games’ on the dance
floor.

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OR LATVIA HANDS HIS CREDENTIALS TO RA PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan

Nov 14, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 13, Nils Yanson, the
newly appointed Ambassador of Latvia to Armenia (residence Vienna),
handed his credentials to RA President Serzh Sargsyan. Congratulating
the Ambassador on the occasion of assumption of his post, S. Sargsyan
gave assurance that he will do his best during his activity to
contribute to deepening of the two countries’ cooperation. Attaching
importance to Latvia’s experience of European integration, he said that
Armenia strives for rapprochement with Europe and expects assistance
by its partner countries on that way.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office,
S. Sargsyan also highly evaluated the two countries’ cooperation
within the framework of international structures and Latvia’s balanced
position over the Nagorno Karabakh problem.

Emphasizing his country’s readiness to deepen the contacts with
Armenia, N. Yanson said that the Armenian-Latvian cooperation can be
carried out in all spheres, where Armenia has interests and Latvia
possibilities.

17 PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INCLUDING 6 MAJOR MANUFACTURERS, OPERATE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Nov 12, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. 17 pharmaceutical companies
currently operate in Armenia. According to "The Investment Manual
of Armenia’s Pharmaceutical Sector" (September, 2008), there
are 6 major pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country: Liqvor
Pharmaceuticals CJSC, PharmaTech CJSC, Arpimed CJSC, Esculap Ltd,
Yerevan Chemical-Pharmaceutical OJCS, and Vitamax-E Ltd.

As of July 2008, there were more than 170 importers of medicines,
10 wholesalers and about 800 retail sale points and drugstores in
the pharmaceutical sector of the country. 4 main networks of retail
trade include Alphapharm, Natali Pharm, 911 and Esculap.

In 2007, the production of the Armenian pharmaceutical sector made
7.6 mln USD, exports – 3.7 mln USD, imports – 100 mln USD. Imports
account for 90% of the domestic market. 36% of domestic production is
exported to Russia, 27% to Georgia, 9% to Turkmenistan, 6% to Belarus,
5% to Ukraine, 4% to Uzbekistan, 4% to Japan, and 9% of pharmaceutical
production is exported to other countries.

ARMENIAN LEADER PUTS HIS OWN SPIN ON GARABAGH PAPER

AzerNews Weekly
Nov 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said Yerevan deems as pivotal
Azerbaijan`s signing on November 2 of the declaration on a political
settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict allegedly
recognizing that the norms of international law are not limited to
territorial integrity.

In an interview with Germany`s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
newspaper, Sarkisian claimed that the core of the problem
was the status of Upper Garabagh, referring to an Azeri region
under Armenian occupation. He reiterated Yerevan`s claim, saying
Azerbaijan is to recognize the right of Garabagh Armenians to
self-determination. According to Sarkisian, it will be possible to
solve other issues regarding the conflict resolution afterwards.

The declaration, signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian Presidents
Ilham Aliyev, Serzh Sarkisian and Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow following
the Russia-brokered meeting, envisions further OSCE-mediated dialog
between the sides. It urges joint effort in bolstering stability in
the South Caucasus through a political settlement of the conflict
based on the principles of international law and earlier documents.

Sarkisian maintained that Armenia`s goal was not to keep under
control the districts surrounding Upper Garabagh, indicating that
these territories were allegedly important for the protection of the
separatist regime operating there.

Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s
internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance
of international law.

The Armenian leader said his country supported launching talks
as soon as possible on a document regarding basic principles of
a conflict settlement submitted by the mediating OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs. "After that, we have to discuss a peace accord. We have
a long road ahead of us."

In reply to a question on the possible granting of the autonomy status
to Upper Garabagh within Azerbaijan, Sarkisian said the ability of
the region`s population to develop in safe conditions was in question.

"History has shown that this is not possible within Azerbaijan,"
he alleged. "We have never believed that Upper Garabagh could stay
part of Azerbaijan."

As for the warm-up in relations between Armenia and Turkey, the two
neighboring countries that have long been facing hostility, Sarkisian
said improvements could be achieved in bilateral ties in a year`s
time. He said Turkey`s recognizing the alleged Armenian genocide was
not a primary pre-condition for restoring diplomatic ties between
the two countries.

"It is not important now which side the initiative to improve
ties comes from. The main thing is for these ties to be forged,"
Sarkisian said.

Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two
countries has been closed since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to
Armenia`s policy of occupation against Azerbaijan and the "genocide"
claims.

The Azerbaijani government was quick to respond to Sarkisian`s
statement. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Khazar Ibrahim, said
there was uncertainty in his utterances. He reminded that the
Moscow declaration, co-signed by the Armenian leader, envisions a
settlement of the Garabagh conflict based on the principles and norms
of international law.

"In all documents adopted in the world community so far,
territorial integrity is held above everything, and the issue of the
self-determination of nations finds its solution within this very
principle," Ibrahim said.

ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION IN TBILISI

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.11.2008 14:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia is Armenia’s historical friend and
cooperation between the two countries will continue, Armenian Defense
Minister said.

"We must strengthen our relations," Seyran Ohanyan told a news
conference in Tbilisi.

For his part, Georgian Defense Minister David Kezerashvili said the
talks with the visiting Armenian counterpart were efficient. "It was
an important visit, since Armenia is our friendly neighbor state. We
discussed our military cooperation," he said.

Today, Minister Ohanyan also met with Georgian Prime Minister Grigol
Mgaloblishvili, Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili and chairman
of parliamentary committee on security and defense Givi Targamadze,
GHN reports.

ARF BUREAU REPRESENTATIVE SAYS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT UNREALISTIC BY END OF YEAR

Yerkir.am
13 Nov 08

ARF has submitted to the Armenian president its views and observations
over the Karabakh settlement talks and is waiting for the subsequent
steps by the president, Hrant Margarian, the representative of the
ARF Bureau, has told in an interview with the Radio Liberty.

He said that ARF was concerned a year ago about the provision,
according to which, the Armenian forces were to withdraw from
five districts before the Karabakh status can be determined, and
peacekeepers would be deployed in Kelbajar and Lachin.

Margarian conveyed hope that the Madrid principles were mentioned
in the November 2 Moscow declaration "as the basis for talks but not
as an adoption of those principles entirely." He added that Armenia
should do whatever it can to eliminate those shortcomings.

When asked would the party leave the ruling coalition if those
shortcomings are not eliminated, Margarian said that ARF’s
participation in the coalition is not an end in itself. "Our
participation is explained with the fact that we can voice our views,
and I hope, that we could also have some influence."

Margarian dismissed the opposition’s claims that the Karabakh conflict
would be settled by the end of the year and that Serzh Sargsian is
pressured to make concessions.

ACCORDING TO SERZH SARGSYAN, EU STRUCTURES ARE CONTENT WITH LEVEL OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Nov 13, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The whole complex of
Armenia-European Union relations was discussed at the working
consultation held by RA President Serzh Sargsyan on November 13 with
the participation of members of the RA National Security Council and
government, as well as heads of various interested departments.

Presenting the details of his latest visit to Brussels, S. Sargsyan put
forward some problems regarding further development of cooperation with
the European Union. He said that the program of his visit to Brussels
was rather eventful: more than twenty meetings were held within
three days with almost the whole presidency of the European Union,
as well as he gave several interviews to the leading European media.

S. Sargsyan’s first impression from the negotiations is that the
EU structures, their representatives are obviously content with the
level of relations with Armenia and the work done, and the second,
there is willingness to continue and to deepen the relations, to
implement bolder programs.

S. Sargsyan said that naturally, during the meetings they also
spoke about common political issues, Armenian-Turkish relations,
Nagorno Karabakh settlement, but the main subject of discussions was
the Armenia-EU Actions Plan and the concrete issues Armenia proposes
that European structures solve on the way of deepening the bilateral
relations.

Emphasizing Armenia’s willingness of further rapprochement with Europe,
S. Sargsyan said that as the first steps at that stage the Armenian
side proposes simplifying the contacts of RA citizens by establishing
a milder visa regime to create equal conditions for trade, that is,
for the RA economy to be recognized as a market economy and a contract
of free trade to be signed. An agreement on simplification of the visa
regime and on creation of a sub-committee in connection with the court
and legal reforms in Armenia together with the EU Committee on Issues
of Justice and Freedom has been reached: it will be formed soon. An
agreement has been reached with the European Commissioner for Trade
to send a group of expert-advisers to Armenia in December. They will
work out a clear-cut schedule of actions with the Armenian officials. A
document on sending a group of EU advisers has been also signed. They
will assist with the implementation of the actions plan.

In S. Sargsyan’s opinion, the new actions plan, in all probability,
will be within the framework of the EU Eastern Policy and will have
two peculiarities: first, the component of regional cooperation will
be more exact and second, different volumes and depth will be intended
for the participants of the European Neighborhood program depending
on the fact of how much a country is ready for it.

The President demanded treating the formation of a new program very
seriously and instructed the Ministers and heads of the respective
departments to establish a personal control over the work of the
spheres within their jurisdiction.

During the consultation Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented
the process of the Actions Plan, the work done in different directions
in 2008 mentioning that they are the continuation of the actions
launched in 2007.

The Minister said that Armenia will present the account on the work
done in 2008 during the sitting of the EU Council of Ministers to be
held on December 9 in Brussels.

National Security Council Secretary Artur Baghdasarian touched upon
the activity of the Interdepartmental Commission on Cooperation
with the European structures. He said that a new, rather ambitious
package of actions has been formed on the basis of the proposals of
all interested Ministries and departments, which can be a good basis
for discussions and further cooperation.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, the same day S. Sargsyan had a working dinner with the
heads of EU member-countries’ diplomatic representations accredited
in Armenia.

WILL ARMENIAN, AZERI, TURKISH LEADERS MEET IN ISTANBUL?

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2008 16:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A meeting between Presidents of Turkey, Armenia
and Azerbaijan can take place till the end of the year, said Turkey’s
Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

"A trilateral meeting between Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey and
Armenia is expected till the yearend in Turkey," the Azeri Press
Agency quoted Hulusi Kilic as saying.

Asked whether Russia can seize the initiative, the Ambassador said
Moscow and Ankara’s interests coincide on the issue.

"We want a solution to this conflict. If anyone is capable to do this
we will extend a helping hand," Amb. Kilic said.

Turkish Foreign Ministry said last Friday Turkey doesn’t plan
trilateral talks between leaders of Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"Of course, we would be pleased by visits of the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia. But Turkey doesn’t plan a meeting of the kind,"
said Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the Turkish MFA, the Anatolia
news agency reports.

Earlier, some Turkish media circulated reports that "Turkish President
Abdullah Gul is readying to take another bold step to contribute to
regional peace in the Caucasus by soon hosting a trilateral summit
with the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan."

SOME COMPANIES OF CANADA AND SINGAPORE TAKE INTEREST IN BIOMATSUNS OF ARMENIAN REPUBLICAN CENTER OF BACTERIOLOGY AND BACTERIA DEPOSIT

Noyan Tapan

Nov 11, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Some companies of Canada and
Singapore take interest in biomatsuns (matsun is sour clotted milk)
obtained by the Armenian Republican Center of Bacteriology and Bacteria
Deposit (ARCBBD) that uses its own information and analytical system
of lactic acid and probiotoc bacteria, the head of the Center’s
laboratory Hrachia Hovhannisian said.

He explained that a symbiosis obtained by means of the above mentioned
information and analytical system of lactic acid bacteria of matsun
(ferments and starters) and useful intestinal (probiotic) bacteria is
mainly used in these products. The involvement of such symbiosis in
milk products gives a greater result: there are types of symbiosis,
in which one kind of bacteria can destroy some other kind, with both
kinds of bacteria being made at ARCBBD.

A group of scientists of the Center has submitted an application
to the RA Intellectual Property Agency in order to receive a patent
for one type of biomatsun. It is envisaged producing biomatsuns at
Phytotech company, with which it is necessary to develop a technology
of large-scale production as joint intellectual property. According
to estimates of H. Hovhannisian, in case of overcomimg the financial
difficulties related to obtaining of international patents and entering
international markets, the income to be received from the sale of
probiotics in the U.S. and Europe may amount to 10-20 million dollars,
while the income from the sale of lactic acid bacteria may make 50-70
million dollars. The annual income from the sale of probiotics and
lactic acid bacteria in Armenia may make 100-200 thousand dollars
and 30-50 million dollars respectively.

According to H. Hovhannisian, unlike "Narine" product, biomatsuns
will be sold not in drugstores but in grocery stores – like any other
dairy product.

Phytotech can produce 1,000 liters of biomatsuns daily at the price
of ordinary dairy products.

Speaking about the problem of identifying the bacterial composition
of matsun, H. Hovhannisian indicated that such identification has not
been yet carried out by any organization. "If the ferments of a milk
producing company are no longer useful, representatives of that company
go to mountainous regions and get a ferment from shepherds. However,
the content of matsun has not been identified by its microflora on a
scientific bases in laboratories – something which was done in case
of yoghurt," H. Hovhannisian underlined.

It was mentioned that there are about 1.2 kg of bacteria in the
intestinal system of humans, while a teaspoon of matsun contains a
billion lactic acid bacteria.