Category: News

Armenia: List of Legal and Business Consulting Companies
BISNIS Consulting and Services Update
14 December 2004
Now available on the BISNIS website:
Armenia: List of Legal and Business Consulting Companies
Note: These opportunities are provided solely as an informational
service and do not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
Verification of these leads is the responsibility of the reader.
********** Forwarded by: *********************
Ellen S. House, BISNIS Trade Specialist for Consulting
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-4655, Fax: 202/482-2293
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEAKER OF STATE DUMA OF RUSSIA MEETS WITH SPEAKER OF NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15. ARMINFO. Speaker of State Duma of Russian
Federation Boris Gryzlov met Wednesday with Speaker of National
Assembly of Armenia Arthur Baghdasarian.
ARMINFO was informed in the press office of Armenian parliament,
chairmen of permanent commissions of Armenian parliament, leaders of
deputy factions and groups took part in the meeting, during which
Arthur Baghdasarian and Boris Gryzlov concerned issues of the
development of interstate relations. They laid emphasis to increase
the efficiency of activity of the Parliamentary Assembly of CIS, joint
word on elaboration of model laws of CIS PA, in particular, creation
of single legislative basis for fight against terrorism,
implementation of joint programs in the spheres of science, education
and culture, expansion of interregional relations, cooperation within
the bounds of international structures.
According to the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, our
country attaches great importance to the role of Russian Federation in
the issue of peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Arthur Baghdasarian stressed the
importance of re-launch of five Armenian enterprises transferred to
Russia by the agreement “Property against debt”, mentioning that
people are waiting for creation of working places and investments
envisioned by the agreement. The participants had stressed the
importance of restoration of the railway communication between Armenia
and Russia, launch of a ferry.
Boris Gryzlov stated that they will do their best for implementation
of the provisions of the agreement “Property against debt”, mentioning
that the Russian budget for 2005 envisions allocation of funds for
it. The speaker of the State Duma promised that after his returning
Moscow the question on restoration of the railway and ferry
communication will become a subject of special discussion. Boris
Gryzlov also introduced the Armenian counterpart with the results of
the activity of the tate Duma for the last year.

BY THE TIME ARMENIANS ARRIVE, THERE WILL BE NO POLE IN IRAQ
Azg/arm
16 Dec 04
Poland is going to reduce the number of its military contingent in
Iraq from 2500 to 1700, Reuters news agency quoted Jerzy Szmajdzinski,
Polish minister of defense, as saying. Polish authorities declared
earlier that they would call few squads back only after the elections.
The group of Armenian doctors, deminers and drivers, which is supposed
to leave for Iraq, was to billet on the Polish-controlled territory
120-140 km farther from Baghdad together with servicemen from other 19
states. Poland declared earlier that it will withdraw the whole
contingent before 2005.

EXPERIMENTS ON DIABETICS CARRY ON
Endocrinologists are Unaware of New Medicines
Azg/arm
16 Dec 04
There are around 20-25 thousand diabetics in Armenia according to
different figures. After Armenia gained independence in 1991, the
state was providing exclusively animal insulin which is cheaper
compared to the human insulin. This year the state imported only human
insulin. Some of the specialists confessed that diverse complications
during the treatment where the result of the animal insulin. Others
became alarmed that the change from one type of insulin to the other
will have negative impact on the insulin-dependants. But the new
insulin went into hospitals without passing additional tests and put
the patients in the situation of a laboratory animal.
Today both the endocrinologists and insulin-dependants are facing a
new experiment. MP Napoleon Azizian declared at the parliament that a
suspicious insulin of Egyptian origin, which is registered only in
Palestine and Nigeria, has entered Armenia.
But the healthcare minister, Norair Davidian, said that the Egyptian
insulin has an international certificate and meets all the
characteristics of human insulin. According to Davidian, 60 percent of
the insulin is consumed in Egypt and around 250 million people in the
world use it.
Later on Napoleon Azizian informed Azg Daily that he failed to find
facts proving the healthcare minister and could not find nay
information that thedrug is registered. Azizian assures that he has
talked with a dozen of endocrinologists and “none of them has
information on the medicine”.
To all appearances, it is uncertain as to what effect will the new
insulin, which has never been used in Armenia before, have on the
diabetics.
We tried to find out how aware the Armenian endocrinologists are. We
will withhold their names as they requested. Here is what a renowned
specialist says: “I have never read about the Egyptian insulin
anywhere. Armenian insulin-dependants today use not only the insulin
registered in the republic but also drugs sent from abroad by their
relatives, but I have never come across that kind of insulin. No
medical directory mentions of such a drug. I participated in many
international congresses and conferences where the insulin providers
all over the world were exhibited, but never noticed anything with
that name”.
Another specialist thinks: “The fact that the drag was never
introduced speaks well for its quality. There is no indication to this
insulin even inthe Internet”.
Chief endocrinologist of Armenia, Ashot Mamikonian, tried to evade a
direct answer and said that the issue is within pharmacists’
jurisdiction.
We found out that our specialists had expressed their worries over
importing the unknown insulin but no one listened to them.
The new medicine is being put in use, as in the case of the human
insulin.
A tender is going to define the organization that will import the new
drug to Armenia.
Egyptian Vaksera Company is the supplier of the insulin. It is only
bottling the Polish insulin. By the way, Poland is not a recognized
insulin supplier too.
Perhaps the fact that Vaksera Company offers a double low price for
the insulin is the reason why the Armenian authorities went on risking
peoples’ health.
By Karine Danielian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA ACTIVELY WORKING OVER ARMENIA’S INCLUSION IN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR
NORTH-SOUTH
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15. ARMINFO. Russia is actively working over
Armenia’s inclusion in the international transport corridor
North-South. Speaker of State Duma of Russia Boris Gryzlov informed
during the meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margarian.
ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the government, stressing
the importance of improvement of the transport communication between
the two states, Boris Gryzlov has also informed about the intensive
activities on launching the ferry train communication Caucasus – Poti,
as well as on restoration of the movement through the Abkhazian
section of the railway. In his opinion, it will be effective from the
point of view of the economy both for Armenia and Russia. Speaking of
Armenia’s involvement in regional and transport programs, Margarian
mentioned that Armenia expects assistance from Russian parliament
members in the issue of lifting the blockade, opening of
Armenian-Turkish border, as well as in the issue of resumption of the
railway communication Tbilisi-Gyumri-Kars.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA GIVE HIGH PRIORITY TO MODERNIZATION AND FULLY OPERATION OF MARS PLANT
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15. ARMINFO. While meeting with Armenia’s President
Robert Kocharyan today Speaker of Russia’s State Duma Boris Gryzlov
said that Russia gives high priority to the quick modernization and
full operation of the Mars control device plant.
The sides also discussed the development of Armenian-Russian relations
in the context of international cooperation and in accordance with the
Armenian and Russian laws. Kocharyan was pleased to note that the
structure of the Armenian-Russian trade turnover has been improved
this year. Gryzlov said that the high level of Armenian-Russian
relations gives ground for hoping for more. In this light the sides
stressed the importance of the late Dec Moscow meeting of the
Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission who is expected to
consider ways to actively operate the companies bought by Russia from
Armenia under the Assets For Debts agreement.
The sides also discussed how to intensify the transport communication
between Armenia and Russia, particularly, the railway communication
and the work of the Kavkaz ferry complex.

RECENT STATEMENT BY FRENCH FM IS TO SOFTEN NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF FRENCH
PEOPLE TO MEMBERSHIP OF TURKEY AT EU
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15. ARMINFO. French Foreign Minister mentioning the
demand from Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the mass
annihilation of Armenians and the negotiations for Turkey’s admission
to the EU have been strongly linked for the first time, writes the
French newspaper Le Figaro.
According to the source, this statement by the representative of the
French government pursues a goal to soften the negative attitude of
the French people to the membership of Turkey at the EU. Pointing out
that the adoption of the decision on the issue of the Armenian
Genocide by France in 2001 have led to some tension in the relations
of France and Turkey, the newspaper expresses concern that Paris risks
reopening the old wounds by demanding Ankara to recognize the Armenia
Genocide of 1915. To note, recently French Foreign Minister Michel
Barnier have stated that after the negotiations for Turkey’s admission
to the EU begin, France intends to put the issue of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Turkey on the agenda. Tuesday, Barnier stated on
the air of France-2 channel that France has no intention to advance
the issue as a precondition for starting the negotiations. The French
minister is of the opinion that it is impossible in the legal field
To put this issue on the agenda, we have some 10 years, Barnier stated.

ARMENIAN MOLYBDENUM PRODUCTION COMPANY INTENDS TO IMPORT MOLYBDENUM
CONCENTRATE TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15. ARMINFO. Armenian Molybdenum Production (AMP)
intends to begin the import of molybdenum concentrate to Armenia next
year. General Director and co-founder of AMP Karen Karapetian informed
ARMINFO.
According to him, the import is economically purpose-orientated and
technically based at the current high world prices for metal. It is
possible to import raw material from Chile, Canada, Mongolia or China.
AMP is engaged in receiving ferromolybdenum, molybdenum oxide and
rhenium. The plant receives raw material from the Zangezour
copper-molybdenum pant and monthly processes about 200 tons of
molybdenum concentrate. Karapetian mentioned that 600 tons of
concentrate is extracted per a month. After the privatization of the
plant the extraction volumes will be brought to 1,000-1,200
tons. AMP’s share in the capital of the ZCMP is 12.5%.
It should be noted that the Armenian Molybdenum Production was founded
last year in the suburb of Yerevan and $2 mln has been invested for
its foundation. The product of the plant meet the European standards
and fully exported to Japan, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Italy.

BUDGET BILL DISCUSSED
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
15 Dec 04
The NKR bill of the state budget 2005 is discussed by the permanent
committees of the NKR National Assembly. According to the schedule,
the permanent social committee discussed the budget bill on December
10. The NKR minister of health Z. Lazarian, the minister of education,
culture and sport A. Sarghissian, minister of social security
L. Ghulian, the head of the government Agency for Refugees and
Re-settlement S. Amirkhanian, the chairman of the state retirement
fund V. Avetissian were invited to participate in the discussion. The
chairman of the permanent committee on finance, budget and economic
management M. Danielian and the head of the parliamentary faction of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation V. Balayan we also
present. Besides the 2005 budget bill the committee also discussed the
amendments to government programs and laws. The committee approved of
the report on 2005 annual state plan for preservation, propaganda and
development of culture (made by the minister of education, culture and
sport A. Sarghissian), 2005 annual state plan for social security of
the disabled (ministry of social security L. Ghulian). The committee
discussed the amendments to the NKR bill on state pensions, as well as
the NKR bill on the minimum salary.
AA.
15-12-2004

The “Bible for children” translated in Ottoman language to evangelize in
Turkey
KONIGSTEIN, Germany, December 13 2004 (CNA) – Turkish-speaking Christians
now have access to a Bible for children printed in Turkish published by the
international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The 1st edition of the Bible, entitled “God speaks to his children,”
comprises 15,000 copies, 5,000 of which are to be distributed in Turkey,
while 10,000 are destined for being given to Turkish native speakers in
Western Europe.
“There are about 100,000 Christians” among the country’s population of about
66 million, said  Father Lorenzo Piretto, O. P., an Italian priest based in
Istanbul.
The majority of Christians in the Western Asian country “are Apostolic
Armenians. The Catholics are Latins, Chaldeans, Armenians and Syrians. There
are also Greek and Syrian Orthodox, as well as various Protestant groups,”
said Fr Piretto.
“The Catechists are very content to have excerpts from the Bible in
Turkish…At the entrance of churches, where the books are displayed, Muslims
are free to take a copy,” the Dominican priest added.