  |
|
|
home news banks cultural criminal dipcourier products subscribe |
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT COULD NOT MAKE ANY RESOLUTION ON BILL ON CONTROL OVER SMOKING
One of the bill's authors, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Commission for Social, Public Health and Ecological Affairs Gagik Tadevosyan said an international convention on struggle against smoking had been discussed for four years in Geneve under the World Health Organization, and just recently it has come into effect. After this, the U.N. General Assembly is to approve the given convention and submit it to the ratification of the U.N. member-states. Tadevosyan also said that part of the bill's provisions are fixed in the Law on Advertisement banning the ads of tobacco in the mass media. After the adoption of the new law, it is expected to establish a special body, which will control over the application of the document's provisions. He said according to data of the WHO, only in Europe 800,000 people annually suffer from smoking, and some 3.5 million people world wide. At present, 100 million of 850 million people residing in Europe are heavy smokers. By 2020, 2 million people will become victims of smoking. Within the next 10 years, 10 million Europeans will fell victims to smoking annually. The average duration of Europeans' life has decreased by 20 years. 60% of men and 50% of women smoke in Armenia, $350 million is annually spent for purchase of cigarettes, with the budgetary expenses being $550 million.
Gagik Tadevosyan said the documents present the main directions of
the activities of tobacco companies that are to fully stop the
production of nicotine within 5 years after the ratification of the
document. Besides, measures connected with sale of tobacco products
are expected. In particular, it concerns the state standards
connected with the packing of this production. The bill also bans
selling cigarettes to persons under 18, and provides for limitations
of smoking in public places. The bill provides for the order of
liquidation of overdue cigarettes and contraband cargoes. The
document will come into force in 6 months after its publication.-
ARMENIAN MPs ADOPTED BILL ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN SECOND READING
MARCH 28. Today the members of the Armenian Parliament adopted a bill on freedom of information in the second reading. One of the bill's authors, MP Victor Dallakyan said 62 proposals were received for the second reading, which were accepted by the authors. The Armenian Constitution provides for freedom of provision, use and spreading of information. Since the adoption of the country's Basic Law, over 30 normative acts aimed at securing the freedom of information have been adopted. The bill provides for the rights and powers of state and local power bodies in provision of information. The document also presents such concepts as information, its free use, e- and published mass media.
The bill provides for the principles of using information, securing
the rights and freedoms of the person spreading information. Every
person has a right of receiving information, if it is not a state or
commercial secret endangering the state security. In this context,
the bill provides for the responsibility of the person spreading such
information. The providers of such information have similar
responsibility. The state and local powers are to provide any
information, except the above cases. The application for information
can be made both in the written and oral forms.-
KIRK KIRKORYAN CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ON RE-ELECTION FOR
SECOND TERM
In his message spread by the Presidential press-service today Kirkoryan says that during the last five years Armenia managed to achieve a considerable success is spite of the existing internal and external problems. He expressed confidence that the positive trends in Armenia will have more intensive nature during the second term of Robert Kocharyan's presidency.
It should be noted that Kirk Kirkoryan has founded the Lincy charity
foundation. Under 8 programs, the fund has already allocated Armenia
$165 million to be used by Nov 1, 2003.
ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ION ILLIESCU CONGRATULATES HIS ARMENIAN
COUNTERPART ROBERT KOCHARYAN WITH RE-ELECTION
MARCH 18. Romanian President Ion Illiescu congratulated Armenian President Robert Kocharyan with re-election for the second term.
The Presidential press-service told ARMINFO that the congratulation
message, in particular, says: "The successful results of the election
allow me to hope that You will further make your personal
contribution to development and strengthening of traditional
relations between our states. In this connection, I again officially
invite You to visit Romania whenever You'd like to, which will even
more strengthen the positive trends reached in the course of my visit
to Yerevan."
TWO ARMENIAN AMBASSADORIAL WORKERS IN IRAQ
MARCH 18. Only two Armenian citizens, workers of Armenia's Embassy in Baghdad are currently in Iraq. Spokeswoman of the Armenian Foreign Office Dzyunik Aghajanian reported that they will leave Iraq in case of aggravation of the situation. She pointed out that their families have left Iraq.
In his interview to the Armenian Public Television before, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian pointed out that Armenia is ready
for possible arrival of refugees from Iraq, as some of the Armenian
residing in iraq can wish to return to Armenia.
Oskanian once more stated that Armenia is for a solution to the
crisis within the UN.
The Armenian community in Iraq numbers 15,000 people (the community's
data). According to other estimates this number is 35,000 people.
ARF NOT TO FORM BLOC WITH ANY POLITICAL FORCE
MARCH 18. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) does not intend to form a political bloc with any political force during the parliamentary elections, as it is a thankless job, the member of the ARF Board Vahan Hovhannissian told the Armenian Public Television. He said that by independently participating in the parliamentary elections the ARF will be able to more effectively realize its plans. Hovhannissian reported that 70% of the candidates in the party's list are ARF members, and the other 30% are the persons that greatly contributed to Armenia's development. Besides, Hovhannissian said, 25% of the persons included in the list are women and 25% are representatives of Armenia's scientific community.
Hovhannisaian expressed the opinion that Armenia's political parties
are now engaged in a civilized struggle for an opportunity to
implement their programs and that the ARF is for free and fair
elections.
CC CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF ARTASHES GEGHAMIAN'S CLAIM
MARCH 18. Armenia's Constitutional Court has continued consideration of a complaint lodged by one of the presidential candidates, Chairman of the "National Unity" party Artashes Geghamian. On February 27, Geghamian appealed at the CC against the results of the first round of the presidential election held on February 19. Geghamian, who received 17.7% of votes calls the election rigged. Geghamian's representative, the lawyer Ruben Hovhannissian reported that the following demands are being held against the CEC: the CEc exceeded its powers by fixing the date of the presidential run-off election by its decision of February 20, while it had "at hand" only the preliminary results of the first round of the presidential election. The CEC's decision of February 25 was also illegal, as the CEC did not "find time" for examining the numerous complaints received during the first round. Also, 49 articles of Armenia's Election Code were violated during the first round of the presidential election - the secret ballot principle, people's rights to express their will, proxies rights, the candidates were not in equal conditions and a day before the election and on the election day the campaign for one of the candidates continued. All this directly influenced the election results, so new elections should be appointed, Hovhannissian said.
Today's sitting was chiefly focused on the respondent's questions to
the plaintiff. The questions concerned all the 49 articles of
Armenia's Election Code, which, according to the plaintiff, were
violated during the first round of the presidential election. Ruben
Hovhannissian failed to answer the questions of the CC President
Gagik Harutiunian concerning the fact that Geghamian did not complain
of the violations to minor courts, most of the complaints are signed
by proxies for the other candidate, PPA leader Stepan Demirchian,
etc.. During the sitting the CC President repeatedly asked the
plaintiff to specify the cases of violations, but not restrict
himself to declarative statements. Since the plaintiff asked for time
to submit to the CC other documents, in particular, final protocols
of all of the 56 election commissions of Armenia, the CC's next
sitting is postponed to March 19.
ARMENIA OPPOSITION DEMANDS DISCHARGE OF ARMEN SARGSYAN
MARCH 18. The Armenian opposition demands that the government release Armen Sargsyan, brother of leader of Hanrapetoutyun party Aram Sargsyan and prime minister Vazgen Sargsyan, killed by terrorists Oct 27 1999. "This arrest is a political action," they say. To remind, Armen Sargsyan was arrested Mar 15 on charge of complicity in the murder of the chairman of the Board of Armenia's Public Television Tigran Naghdalyan. Sargsyan's mother, member of the Political Council of Hanrapetoutyun Greta Sargsyan has been picketing the residence of Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan since Monday. She also demands his discharge. During an opposition rally today, Aram Sargsyan said that all the arrests related to the Naghdalyan case were framed up by the authorities. "My brother has nothing to do with Naghdalyan's murder," he said noting that the organizers of all the political murders committed in the republic in the last five years, including the Oct 27 terrorist act in the Armenian parliament, have been "covered" by the power.
Armen Sargsyan could not be Naghdalyan's assassin as the latter was a
valuable witness in the Oct 27 case, that the murder of his brother
Vazgen Sargsyan.
Now the rally is moving to Kocharyan's residence to join Greta
Sargsyan. The police cordoned off the place today afternoon.-
PHOTOGRAPHER OF "ARMINFO" NEWS AGENCY DETAINED BY ARMENIA'S POLICE
MARCH 18.Today, Armenia's law-enforcers detained the photographer of the "ARMINFO" News Agency Meruzhan Minassian.
He was detained while working in front of the Presidential Palace and
taking pictures of the opposition-organized picket. The policemen did
not pay any attention to the photographer's identity card and seized
his camera. Two hours later, after the interference of the management
of the "ARMINFO" News Agency, his numerous colleagues and
top-officials of Armenia's Police Meruzhan Minassian was released.
The Police reported it was a misunderstanding.
SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RECEIVES SECRETARY GENERAL OF
INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION
MARCH 18. The speaker of the Armenian Parliament Armen Khachatryan received today the secretary general of the International Socialist Organization Luis Ayala. Present at the meeting was also member of Dashnaktsoutyun party (member of ISO) Vahan Hovhannissyan. Khachatryan welcomed the guest noting the importance of his visit. He also stressed the significant role of Dashnaktsoutyun in Armenia's political life. Ayala told Khachatryan about his organization, uniting over 140 socialist, socialist-democratic organizations worldwide. He said that 15 more parties are going to join it this year, with 60 more in the queue.
Ayala said that the ISO is going to carry out some activities in
Armenia as it is interested in developing democracy here. He said
that the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia is an
excellent opportunity for accelerating democratic processing in the
country. Ayala said that despite certain difficulties during the last
presidential election the Armenian people proved to have sufficiently
strong will to make a right choice.
There are all prerequisites in Armenia for the establishment Eropean
standards and for quick economic development. Europe considers
Armenia its inalienable part and is interested in the country's
further development.-
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS AROUND IRAQ MAY LEAD TO A CHANGE OF BORDERS IN
SOUTH CAUCASUS AND REDISTRIBUTION OF FORCES IN THE WORLD
MARCH 18. The developments around Iraq may lead to a change of borders in South Caucasus and redistribution of forces in the world, Armenian MP from the Orinats Yerkir faction Mher Shahgeldyan said in the Armenian Parliament today. The differences between the world's big powers, the tough stance of Russia, the steady policy of the US and UK are creating an entirely new situation, which sooner or later will embrace South Caucasus too. Armenia, which now adheres to the principle of complimentarity, will face quite different problems. This policy has proved effective so far, but the Iraqi crisis will require quite different policies.
In the fall Azerbaijan is holing a presidential election, the
internal political struggle will intensify there, some Azeris may
start calling for Karabakh's return by force. Shahgeldyan says that
this all may result in the creation of new states in the region,
which means new threats to Armenia. But this also means new
historical chances.-
AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION MUST CONDUCT CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE FOR
COUNTRY'S BENEFIT: ARMEN KHACHATRIAN
MARCH 18. The authorities and the opposition must conduct a constructive dialogue contributing to the country's development, and the opposition must respect the state government institutions, Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Armen Khachatrian told reporters.
According to him, the government, in turn, must use the opposition's
potential, as the opposition ranks include many people that can be of
benefit to the country. Khachatrian pointed out that the
greatest achievement of the Armenian parliamentarians during the last
few years has been their choosing a democratic way of Armenia's
development. Besides, he said, the Parliament of the second
convocation has drafted a number of bills aimed to improve the social
conditions in Armenia. Speaking of the forthcoming referendum on
constitutional reforms, Khachatrian expressed confidence that in the
near future the Armenian Parliament will consider a package of
constitutional reforms and submit it to the nation-wide referendum on
May 25.
MANY-THOUSAND MARCH OF PROTEST TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF RESIDENCE OF
ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT TODAY
MARCH 18. A many-thousand procession took place in front of the residence of Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan today. The ralliers demanded that the government release Armen Sargsyan, arrested on charge of complicity in the murder of well-known Armenian journalists Tigran Naghdalyan.
The police, armed with rubber clubs and water guns, cordoned off the
place already in the afternoon.
However, the rallier were forced to break up shortly after by heavy
rain.
NA SPEAKER NOT TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT THIS YEAR
Talking to journalists he sated that he could found a party and
participate in the elections, but his attitude to politics and
political processes is so serious that he is not going to form
artificial parties on the threshold of the parliamentary elections.
Khachatrian pointed out that the country's political arena is full of
parties, whose number does not correspond to the public ideological
basis. He announced his intention to be beneficial to his homeland in
another sphere, as he is able to contribute to the country's
development in any sphere. He pointed out that he, however, will
remain in big politics. At the same time, he considers his activities
as Parliament Speaker satisfactory. "Other people describe me as a
cultured, honest and kind person, as the post of the Parliament
speaker is not an end in itself for me," Khachatrian said.
He pointed out that everything possible must be done during the
parliamentary elections to prevent the faults that took place during
the presidential election. "The parliamentary elections must be free
and fair, for the people to be able to express their will,"
Khachatrian said.
SOWING ENMITY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER INADMISSIBLE FOR ARMENIAN
PARLIAMENTARIANS: KIM BALAYAN
MARCH 18. Sowing enmity toward one another is in admissible for the members of the Armenian Parliament, the member of the ARF parliamentary faction Kim Balayan stated.
He said that the supporters of Chairman of the People's Party of
Armenia (PPA) Stepan Demirchian are for some reason convinced that
nobody has really voted for Robert Kocharian. However, a rally in
support of the incumbent President demonstrated and the voting
itself the real number of his supporters, Balayan said. Speaking of
the violations during the presidential election, Balayan pointed out
that nobody says there were no violations. But the Parliament is not
the place to study and examine this issue. The Parliament is the
place where the people are supposed to learn civilized manners, but
not sow enmity. It has come to the parliamentarians' making a
political assessment of any arrest, without having at their disposal
any information on the case. It is inadmissible that jurisprudence
should serve politics, Balayan said, reminding the Parliament
members that despite long-lasting political persecutions in the past
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) did not sink to political
speculations. "Do be able to accept defeat with credit, without
developing it," Balayan said.
AT PRESENT ARMENIA IS IN INFORMATION ISOLATION
The Armenians are being decieved having no access to elementary
information. Now a many-thousand demonstration is protesting against
the daily illegalities by the authorities. "And they also urge the
MPs to be tolerant." "The very idea of tolerance is disgusting,"
Sadoyan said noting that today many parties have broke up because of
internal discord. This is disgusting to split up the political field
of Armenia. "One cannot be tolerant in such a situation."-
ILLEGITIMATE PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN IN POWER IN ARMENIA SINCE 1990:
ARMENIAN MP
MARCH 18. Illegitimate presidents have been in power in Armenia since 1990. They protected themselves from the public indignation by barbed wires and police cordons, the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on State-Legal Issues Viktor Dallakyan said in the parliamentary today. In such a situation, the Armenian opposition must make the best of the national movement to win back the fruits of the victory in the last presidential election. The Armenian people must decide itself if to accept the results of the election.
Dallakyan said that the current internal crisis makes Armenia
vulnerable to external pressures, jeopardizing its security and
complicating the implementation of urgent tasks. The situation is
becoming even more explosive given the growing social polarization
and the government's estrangement from the people. Political forces
are splitting, officials are becoming more and more corruptive,
force-wielding structures more politicized. All this was revealed by
the last presidential election.-
AUTHORITIES PUT OBSTACLES ON MY WAY TO PARLIAMENT: KHOREN SARGSSIAN
MARCH 18. "Armenia's incumbent authorities are putting all possible obstacles on my way to the Parliament, the Parliament member, representative of the Communist Party of Armenia (CPA) Khoren Sargssian stated in the Armenian Parliament today.
According to him, his law-making activities run contrary to the
interests of the Armenian authorities, which are preventing his
election to the Parliament with the help of the CPA First Secretary
Vladimir Darbinian and his counterpart in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. The authorities succeeded in getting the most principled
CPA members struck off from the party list. He reported that the
authorities ordered today's issue of the "Armenian Communist"
newspaper to be confiscated. The reason for that is the article
exposing the anti-communist activities of CPA First Secretary
Vladimir Darbinian. The deputy reported that in defiance of the
authorities' efforts to prevent his election to the Armenian
Parliament, he has nominated himself in the Gegharkunik region.
STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN DEMANDS INVALIDATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
RESULTS FROM CC
The PPA's statement submitted to the CC indicates that during the two
rounds of the presidential election Armenia's authorities organized
mass violations of the Election Code and of the principle of free
expression of the people's will. The statement also claims that the
violations considerably influenced the results of the
presidential election. Therefore, the presidential candidate Stepan
Demirchian demands that the CC invalidate the results of the recent
presidential election in Armenia. Harutiunian reported that 19
volumes containing the facts on violations of Armenia's Election
Code, as well as a video record have been submitted to the CC. He
also stated that the opposition intends to hold its next rally on
March 21.
ARMEN SARGSYAN DENIES HIS COMPLICITY IN ORGANIZATION OF MURDER OF
TIGRAN NAGHDALYAN
MARCH 18. Brother of ex prime minister of Armenia Aram Sargsyan Armen Sargsyan denies pointblank his complicity in the organization of the murder of well-known Armenian TV journalist Tigran Naghdalyan. According to attorney Robert Grikoryan, Sargsyan is going to appeal against the court decision to apply arrest as preventive measure against him. Grikoryan is going to petition for holding a medical expert examination for finding out if Sargsyan is healthy enough to be held in custody. Grikoryan said that Sargsyan has recently suffered from pneumonia. Meanwhile, Sargsyan is satisfied with the conditions in the prison and is given regular medical aid. YEARLONG MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATING ARAM KHACHATURIAN'S CENTENNIAL CONTINUES WITH "A LEGACY OF AN EDUCATOR" CONCERT IN BOSTON MARCH 18. The yearlong Music Festival - Salute to Aram Khachaturian on His Centennial- continues with "A Legacy of an Educator" concert on March 29, at the John P. Mirak Hall, Armenian Cultural Foundation in Arlington. The concert will present works by distinguished Russian and Armenian composers who were students of Aram Khachaturian including Ryabov, Eshpai, Sirounian, Yekimovsky, Hovanessian and Beloroussetz. Composers Vladimir Ryabov, of Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Konstantin Sirounian will be travelling from Moscow and California respectively to be present at the concert. "A Legacy of an Educator" is the third event of the yearlong music festival co-sponsored by the New England Conservatory of Music and the Aram Khachaturian Centennial Committee of New England. HEADLINES OF 18 MARCH
ARMENIAN MPs ADOPTED AMENDMENTS IN CUSTOMS SERVICE IN FIRST READING
|
MARCH 18. Today the Armenian Parliament could not
make any resolutions on the bill on control over smoking for lack of
quorum.
MARCH 18. The well-known American billionaire of
Armenian origin, Maecenas Kirk Kirkoryan congratulated Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan on re-election for the second term.
MARCH 18. Speaker of the Armenian National
Assembly Armen Khachatrian will not run for Parliament in the
parliamentary elections this year.
MARCH 18. Today Armenia is in information
isolation, Armenian MP Arshak Sadoyan said in the parliament today.
MARCH 18. The opposition-supported presidential
candidate, Chairman of the People's Party of Armenia (PPA) Stepan
Demirchian has demanded that the Constitutional court of Armenia
invalidate the results of the presidential election in the country,
the PPA Board member Grigor Harutiunian stated at the Armenian
National Assembly.
