EXCHANGE OF UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE WITH ARTUR BAGHDASSARYAN
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| 15:48:55 | 13-10-2005 | Official |
October 13 RA National Assembly Chairman Artur Baghdassaryan received
newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.
During the meeting A. Bozhko noted that he will keep the development
of interparliamentary ties in the limelight of his diplomatic mission.
According to the Ambassador, Armenia and Ukraine have chosen the
European path and have a big potential for interaction, in part,
Armenia’s legislative experience can be useful for Ukraine on the way
to the World Trade Organization, while the Ukrainian experience will
help Armenia in the process of constitutional reform.
The Ambassador also presented the current situation in Ukraine.
Alexander Bozhko stressed the importance of carrying out the
constitutional reforms. At that the RA NA Speaker noted that the
referendum has been already fixed for November 27 and there are all
the preconditions to advance in strengthening democracy.
The parties also touched upon issues of mutual concern.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEXT SESSION OF COUNCIL OF CIS GOVERNMENT HEADS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 25
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 20:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Next session of the Council of CIS Government
heads is scheduled November 25, reported the CIS Executive Committee
in Minsk. Some 30 issues, 21 of which are ready for consideration,
are to be submitted for discussion. These include forming common
electric energy market of the Commonwealth states, complex of
medium-term measures to promote competitive production at the CIS
internal market and those of third countries up to 2010. The agenda
draft also includes the bill of Convention on Border Cooperation and
the issue of introducing changes and amendments to the provision on
Inter-State Council of Natural and Man-Caused Emergency Situations.
In the course of the session of the Council of CIS Government Heads 25
various documents are suggested to be signed without discussion. These
include agreements on foundations of harmonizing technical regulations,
on joint methodology of customs statistics in foreign trade, on
competition for Commonwealth Prize for achievements in production and
service quality, on concept of development of adult education in CIS
states, on cooperation in work with the youth. A significant part of
documents arranged for the signing is devoted to defense matters and
those of interaction between law-enforcement bodies. Specifically,
agreements on state interaction in fighting trafficking, trade of human
organs and tissues, on cooperation in struggle against hijacking, on
a bureau of coordination of struggle against organized crime and other
dangerous types of crimes are proposed for signing without discussion.
The set of military issues includes signing of documents on targeted
program for providing complex counteraction of CIS armed forces to
air force and means attacks, on making assignments for creation
and development of united antiaircraft defense system of the
Commonwealth states in 2006, on extending the term of implementation
of common programs of enhancement of the united antiaircraft defense
system. These and other questions were considered at the 25th session
fo the CIS Economic Council in Moscow October 12.

AZIMOV: NO OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV PRIVATE MEETING SCHEDULED IN LJUBLJANA
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 20:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The peace talks over settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict should continue until all resources are used up,
Azeri Deputy FM Araz Azimov stated yesterday. “Conflict settlement
opportunities are still available,” he said, noting the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs plan to have a number of meetings before visiting the
South Caucasus. After their visit to the region they are scheduled
to have a meeting with Azeri and Armenian FMs in Ljubljana, where
the OSCE FMs will convene in early December. He also noted that no
Mammadyarov-Oskanian meeting is planned in Ljubljana yet. “A meeting
of that kind may only be held in a special case,” he said. As of the
date of the following meeting of the Azeri and Armenian Presidents,
the Azeri Deputy FM said, “the date of a new meeting is not known.”
When commenting on official Baku attitude towards the reports
and proposals of the International Crisis Group (ICG), Azimov said
organizations like the ICG were unofficial ones. “ICG recommendations
and proposals are an outcome of personal deliberations of its
representatives,” the diplomat said, noting the proposals will not
be considered by Azerbaijan at the official level. At the same time
A. Azimov remarked, “the document, made public by the ICG, contains
many mistakes and shortcomings owing to insufficient information
and expert incompetence.” “No one can point out the quantity of
Azerbaijan’s budget assignments for military needs,” the Deputy FM also
said. Official Baku proceeds from its own resources when increasing
defense spending. “The Government of Azerbaijan makes efforts to
develop all spheres of state activities, including the strengthening
of the military power,” Azimov underscored. “Army enhancement is a
essential part of state development.
Servicemen are the same citizens of Azerbaijan and their salaries
should be increased as well,” A. Azimov concluded.

LEVITIN SURE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN GOODS TURNOVER GROWTH POTENTIAL NOT USED UP
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 20:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ All preconditions are available for promoting
mutually favorable Russian-Armenian trade and economic cooperation,
stated Russian Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental
Commission, Transport Minister Igor Levitin at the opening of the
Commission session. Levitin’s statement specifically notes, “The former
six months of this year are characterized by considerable increase of
the growth rate of mutual trade, which is equal to 16.7% according
to preliminary data. Preservation of this dynamics will allow RF
become the leader among major trade partners of Armenia. Investment
cooperation keeps successfully developing and this promotes
commercial growth. Many of our CIS partners consider the trade
and economic cooperation between Russia and Armenia an experience
worth paying attention to. I am sure the potential of growth of the
commodity turnover is not used up. Russia does not cancel the matter
of gas supplies to Armenia in its agenda, as well as expansion of
trade of oil products that will allow enhancing the energy dialogue
between our countries. The normative and legal basis of cooperation,
including the organization of train-ferry communication between Poti,
Georgia and Kavkaz, Russia, forms good preconditions for that. Due to
a number of reasons the communication cannot show all its advantages
yet. However, I assure you that the Russian party will make all
efforts necessary for the ferry line to have demand in the system
of transport communication between our countries. I would like to
underscore the need to expand economic relations between Armenia and
its regions with the constituents of the Russian Federation.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION POTENTIAL UNDERUSED
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 19:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Considerable activation of economic cooperation
Armenia and Russia is observed within past 5 years. The commodity
turnover has increased 30%, stated Armenian Co-Chair of the
Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission, Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan at the opening of the Commission session. “I consider
important to note that the activation takes place not only between
state organizations, but also between private companies. This let
us hope that correct guidelines are chosen in the Armenian-Russian
cooperation,” Mr. Sargsyan said. In his opinion, active participation
of two states in solution of transport communication issues also
formed basis for creation of new joint projects.
Apparently, the potential of cooperation is underused, the Minister
added.
“To be more exact, we have used a paltry part of the potential. Thus,
we see large opportunities for increasing the technical component of
our cooperation in forming advanced agriculture,” Sargsyan stated.
“We are interested in Russia’s new experience in innovation policy
and creation of technological parks. Within that context enterprises
Armenia has conveyed to Russia that have a considerable scientific and
technical potential may be a link,” he added. Business goes there,
where it feels more comfortable, S. Sargsyan remarked. “I consider
discussing steps that would promote forming a more favorable business
atmosphere at a Forum expedient.
It is well known that taking businessmen’s opinion into account
is useful.
It might be necessary to provide business information to entrepreneurs,
perfect customs procedures, organization of consignment stores, etc.,”
the Minister stated.
He specially noted the intensively growing direct ties between Russian
regions and Armenia. Armenian trade houses were founded in a number of
regions of Russia. The building of the House of Moscow has started
in Yerevan. The diversification of this kind pleases because it
will be able to use the whole cooperation potential owing to direct
relations. “In all affairs, even so more in inter-state economic
cooperation cultural and human ties have had a special role. Here
we have a large reserve, gained during several centuries. It is the
firm foundation we can build the further cooperation stories on,”
S. Sargsyan remarked. In his words, “during the work of the Commission
we have been trying to solve the matter of regular launching of
Kavkaz-Poti train-ferry passage for a long time. The Russian party
considers absence of commercial load from Armenia a cause preventing
Kavkaz-Poti regular passages, Serge Sargsyan concluded

RUSSIA INTERESTED IN SOONEST LAUNCHING OF ARMENIAN ENTERPRISES CONVEYED TO RF
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 19:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
Minister of Transport of Russia, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical
Cooperation Igor Levitin, reported the Press Service of the Armenian
leader.
In R. Kocharian’s words, the Commission is an important mechanism
in the Armenian-Russian relations, that were always marked with
efficiency. The parties discussed bilateral cooperation programs,
paying special attention to issues of development of energy,
transport and communication. As of restoration of communication
via the Abkhaz part of the railway, the state of the rail line
and conditions necessary for its restoration are being examined
at present, the parties said. The conditions include participation
of Russia, Georgia and Armenia as well. The parties also discussed
matters of beginning exploitation of Armenian enterprises, conveyed
to Russia within Property for Debt Program. In Levitin’s words,
Russia is interested in soonest exploitation of these enterprises,
so a special working group is formed to that end.

USAID TO HELP HEALTH MINISTRY TO DEVELOP EFFICIENT MEDICINES MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE
Armenpress
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) will help Armenian health ministry
to implement an efficient medicines management project.
As part of the project an extensive study will be carried out to learn
the real extent of medication demand, which, according to deputy health
minister Tatoul Hakobian, may differ substantially from the amount of
medicines imported by local companies. The study will be carried out
based on a range of peculiarities, such as life expectancy, death
rate and other indices and only then a new procedure of efficient
medicines management will be developed. The project will be launched
in 2005 and run into 2007.

ANTI-SMOKING CENTER TO CHARGE $50 TO HELP GET RID OF DANGEROUS HABIT
Armenpress
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Smokers wishing to give up this
pernicious habit can from now on pay $50 to doctors of a special
anti-smoking center who will help by medications and psychological
consultations to quit smoking.
The center was inaugurated yesterday at a Yerevan hospital. The
treatment of each patient will depend on the extent of their tobacco
dependence. David Petrosian, the chief manager of the center, cited
some figures yesterday saying that this sort of centers have helped to
reduce the number of smokers in the USA and some European countries
from 70 to 25 percent. The center has a dietitian to consult people
fearing they may put on weight after quitting smoking.
The World Health Organization estimates that 63.7 percent of Armenian
men are smokers – the highest rate in Europe. By comparison, an
estimated 60 percent of men in neighboring Georgia are smokers and
31.2 percent in Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s first ever restrictions on smoking in public places came
into force on March 2nd 2005, prohibiting smoking in hospitals,
cultural and education institutions and public transportation. There
are no mechanisms in place for enforcing the measures, and to date
there is little evidence of compliance with the restrictions.

RUSSIAN PM TO VISIT ARMENIA AT YEAREND
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 22:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan met with
Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for
Economic Cooperation, Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian Government. The
interlocutors noted the large role of the Armenian-Russian
Inter-Governmental Commission. The parties were satisfied with the
growth of the volume of commodity turnover between Armenia and Russia,
which increased 31% within former six months of 2005 as compared to
the same period past year and was equal to $120.4 million. Russia is
still Armenia’s biggest trade and economic partner and the contractual
basis, specifically over 160 interstate and intergovernmental documents
provide an opportunity to develop and expand comprehensive cooperation,
the parties emphasized. In the opinion of meeting participants, the
events held in Armenia within the Year of Russia promote strengthening
the Armenian-Russian relations. These will be continued in the Year
of Armenia in Russia in 2006.
Armenian PM noted the importance of ties and cooperation between
administrative units of the two countries, as well as that of mutually
favorable arrangements.
A. Margaryan remarked that establishment of efficient transport
communications may promote further expansion of the trade and
economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia. Armenia highlights
the regular work of Kavkaz-Poti train ferry in this respect. He also
stressed Armenia’s interest toward resumption of communication via the
Abkhaz part of the Georgian railway. The interlocutors also discussed
opportunities of participation of Russia, Georgia and Armenia in the
building of the railway.
Mr. Margaryan remarked that trying to activate the process the Armenian
party holds periodical discussions with Georgian authorities over
resumption of rail communication.
Besides, A. Margaryan and I. Levitin discussed the question of putting
into operation Armenian enterprises conveyed to Russia within the
Property for Debt agreement. I. Levitin assured the working groups
formed with that purpose make efforts and the Russian party is
interested in the soonest launching of the enterprises as well. Upon
completion of the meeting the parties expressed hope for the visit
of Russian PM to Armenia scheduled at the year-end to convey new
impetus to the development of the Armenian-Russian political and
economic relations.

LARGE POTENTIAL FOR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE IN ARMENIA AND UKRAINE
Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 21:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan today met
with newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Aleksandr
Bozhko, reported the Press Service of the NA of Armenia. In
the course of the meeting the parties discussed matters of
development of Armenian-Ukrainian inter-parliamentary and inter-state
relations. A. Bozhko said he was pleased with his repeated appointment
for the office of the Ambassador to Armenia. He said promotion of
relations between the parliaments would underlie his diplomatic
mission.
In his words, both countries have chosen the way of European
integration. At that he indicated the large potential of mutual
assistance available in Armenia and Ukraine. Specifically, the
legislative experience of Armenia may be useful to Ukraine on the
way to WTO accession, while Ukrainian experience will help Armenia in
holding constitutional reforms. A. Bozhko informed Artur Baghdassaryan
on the domestic situation in Ukraine. Besides, the parties discussed
constitutional reforms in Armenia. The Ukrainian diplomat noted
their importance. A. Baghdassaryan noted that the constitutional
referendum is scheduled November 27 and there are all preconditions
for Armenia to make a move forward in strengthening democracy and
European integration with nation-wide accord. The Armenian Speaker
attached much importance to strengthening the ties between the two
parliaments and new quality cooperation – this one being at the level
of inter-parliamentary commissions.