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ARMENIAN ALLIANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONDEMNS REJECTIONS OF BILL ON TOBACCO BY ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT
The statement sent to ARMINFO by this organization says that the Alliance intends to establish a public coalition entitled "Armenia Without Tobacco," which will unite all the organizations and natural persons fighting smoking in Armenia. The Alliance is of the opinion that the bill yielded to international standards and many of its provision were rather aimed at distribution of tobacco than at protection of public health. The alliance pointed out the importance of public participation in solution to the problem of smoking.
Lokyan says that he met with YBC president Pierre Larretche a few days ago and reconfirmed his promise. The promise was given against the company's request for help. Last year YBC managed to procure only 7,600 tons of grape. Larretche said that the company has already made contracts with farmers for purchasing 18,000 tons of grape. Lokyan says that no grape shortages will be observed this year. Lokyan is ready to do his best to help the best procurer in Armenia, YBC owner, Pernod Ricard. The ministry's Jan-Feb monitoring showed that this year the vineyards grew by 1,500 h. Many of YBC's problems have been settled in the last 6-7 months except for the phyllaxera related problems. NEW SUBJECT - ART MANAGEMENT INTRODUCED IN ARMENIA YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. A new subject - art management will be introduced for the first time in Armenia in the educational program of one of the private universities of the country - Haybusak. Rector of Haybusak University Anahit Haroutunian informed during the press conference today. According to her, the new subject is necessary in the sphere of culture for organizing concerts, exhibitions and other cultural arrangements more effectively. She thinks that the knowledge in the sphere of art management will allow the future graduates to expand the geographic map of activities in culture.
He said that the position of the Azerbaijani or Armenian governments may influence the solutions to the issue by the European Parliament, However, the sides can lobby their positions. It is not enough to present one's opinion, it is necessary to persuade the European MPs that it is right. Sometimes. it requires very long time, Heikki Talvitie said. He refuted the supposition that the decision of the European MPs was dictated by the Christian "solidarity." The European MPs do not form groups in conformity with the religious orientation, but in conformity with their political positions: conservators, "greens," socialists etc.., Talvitie said. CHARGES AGAINST ARMENIAN PILOTS HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THEIR WORK: HAMLET GASPARYAN YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. The charges of being involved in a conspiracy against the Government of Equatorial Guinea brought against Armenian pilots are so contradictory that have nothing to do with their work, Hamlet Gasparyan, Press Secretary of the Ra Foreign Office, told reporters. According to him, the authorities of Equatorial Guinea consider the Armenian citizens mercenaries, whereas they are professional pilots wit many years of experience. The authorities of Equatorial Guinea claim that the Armenian citizens allegedly penetrated the country on a boat, whereas they arrive in Malabo on their airplane. The claims that the Armenian pilots were collecting information seems illogical, as without knowing the local language and traditions they could not have been involved in espionage during their two-month work in Malabo. Gasparyan pointed out that negotiations are being conducted with the authorities of Equatorial Guinea through the Moscow and New York diplomatic missions. On the other hand, the RA Foreign Office applied to third countries for assistance, in particular to Russia and France, which could render assistance through their diplomatic missions. A representative of the French Embassy has visited the Armenian citizens and reported that the state of their health is satisfactory. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian addressed a letter to the Foreign Minister of Congo, asking for assistance in setting the Armenian pilots free. The RA Foreign Office also applied to the ICRC and the International Amnesty organization. If necessary, Armenia is ready to sent its diplomats to Equatorial Guinea to settle the problem. HEADLINES OF FEBRUARY 23 MARCH
GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: ACTIVATION OF ARMENIAN-GREEK BUSINESS
REQUIRES COOPERATION OF STOCK EXCHANGES OF TWO COUNTRIES
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HATES USING BOXING GLOVES AGAINST OPPOSITION
ARMINCO COMPLAINS AGAINST ARMENTEL YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. The biggest Armenian e-com provider Arminco complained Tuesday to Armenia's Anti-Monopoly Commission against the monopolist of the Armenian telecom market ArmenTel. Arminco says that ArmenTel provides the all-Armenian serial number exclusively to its daughter company Armensel. The number allows people all over Armenia to use internet-services without paying for long-distance phone calls i.e. 1 AMD instead of the general 20 AMD per minute. Now the commission is to tackle this hard task. During the Tuesday hearing of the complain Tuesday ArmenTel promised to give explanations within 15 days. The company's president Georgios Vasilakis acquainted those present with his views of how Armenia's communication sphere should develop and what hinders it's development. His words raised heated debate ending in mutual charges. Vasilakis said that Arminco's complaint is part of a centralized attack on his company. He called strange the Armenian Government's intention to make changes to license 60. Not only the government but also the London Arbitration Court, the European Human Rights Court and other organizations are taking part in the settlement of this problem, he noted. REDUCTION IN ARMENIA's DISCHARGES INTO RIVERS RECORDED: GHUSEIN BAGIROV BAKU, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan will install laboratories on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border to test the water supplied to Azerbaijan from the border rivers. The INTERFAX-AZERBAJAN news agency reports that Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology Ghusein Bagirov stated that the laboratories will make several tests a day, and, using the test results, the Ministry will create a database. He pointed out that a reduction is discharges into the rivers flowing from Armenia has been recorded. "It may be connected with the production cycle," he said. According to him, the Ministry constantly raises this issue at various conferences. "This produces results," Bagirov said. UZBEK PRESIDENT CHARGES USSR EX-PRESIDENT OF EMERGENCE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT BAKU, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. President of Uzbekistan Isklam Karimov charged the USSR ex-president Mikhail Gorbachyev with the emergence and development of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He made this statement during his visit to the TAPOICH motor works in Uzbekistan, accompanied by Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev. The Baku-based "Echo" newspaper reports that President Islam Karimov pointed out that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem can be resolved after the sides make mutual concessions. Also, during his meeting with the Azerbaijani President, Karimov stated that official Baku and Tashkent attach special importance to the development of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor (TRACECA). According to him, even two thousand years ago the peoples inhabiting the region realized the significance of the Great Silk Road. "If the seven states - Kazakhstan, Kyrghizstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, as well as Azerbaijan and Georgia, - signed an agreement on the most favored nation status, for the transit of goods, it would be a specifici manifestation of mutually advantageous integration and cooperation between the countries," he said. Karimov reported that President Ilkham Aliyev and he arrived at a unanimous conclusion that "everything must be done to build a way that is of interest to the countries that will shortly join the EU and will bring them closer to us. If, supporting Uzbekistan's initiative, Afghanistan and Iran join the TRACECA corridor, the route of the Great Silk Road that has always been the most advantageous will be available. A road must unite nations and work for their benefit and prosperity," Karimov said. TUBERCULOSIS EPIDEMIC IN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIAL DANGER: ICRC YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. The epidemic of tuberculosis in penitentiary institutions is of danger to the country's public, as the infection is passed to the families of both the released prisoners and personnel of the penitentiary institutions. The Armenian office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports that in the former USSR countries, where people's immunity is affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis may have destructive effects. In this connection, the ICRC points out the necessity of considering the diseases in the context of the main problems of public health care, taking necessary measures to treat tuberculosis and prevent the spread of HIV. According to the ICRC, the main problem arises when prisoners are released before their treatment is finished, and the persons responsible for national tuberculosis control programs are not efficient in coordinating the necessary measures. According to the ICRC, tuberculosis is the main cause of death among prisoners in the South Caucasus. In this connection, the ICRC renders assistance to the local authorities in treating tubercular patients. In 1995, when the ICRC launched a tuberculosis control program in Azerbaijan's penitentiary institutions, the number of tubercular patients among prisoners exceeded that among civilians 60 times. In 1998, a similar program was launched in Georgia, in 2000 in Armenia. Since 1995, the ICRC has assisted with the treatment of 8,000 prisoners in the South Caucasus. CHARITABLE FESTIVALS WILL BE HELD IN YEREVAN, STEPANAKERT AND LOS ANGELES IN 2004 YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. This year charitable festivals will be held in Yerevan, Stepanakert and Los Angeles, Chairman of the public organization "Hayastan-Artsakh-Spyurq" ("Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora") Vahe Haroutiunyan said at a press-conference today. He said that the first concert of the charitable action will be held on March 31 in Yerevan with participation of the charitable organization "Pyunik" and public organization "Will and Force." Haroutiunyan said that the proceeds from the festivals will be used to integrate some 3,500 deaf and dumb into the public. In particular, hearing aids, medical equipment will be purchased and relevant treatment will be secured. Chairwoman of the "Will and Force" organization Mary Babutyan said that the hearing-aids provided free of charge have low quality and their repair costs too much to invalids. Only digital hearing aids have high quality and cost some $500-700, which, of course, too expensive for them. Medical examination necessary for selection of relevant hearing aids is expensive as well. Representative of "Hayastan-Artsakh-Spyurq" organization Arevik Ghazaryan said that "Pyunik" charitable organization has elaborated 3 charitable programs and hopes for provision of necessary financial assistance from the Government. "Haystan-Artsakh-Spyurq" applied to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan for the assistance to deaf and dumb, as well as to the Armenian Parliament and Government, all the ministries and prefectures of Yerevan. The organization asked some 200,000 drams assistance from prefectures. It should be noted that several ministries of Armenia have already purchased some tickets for the forthcoming concert for 1,000-1,500 drams. Artists of the Armenian State Theatre of Opera, Armenian pop-stars Shushan Petrossyan, Forsh, Aramo and Emma Petrossyan, Syuzan Margaryan, Sirusho and others will participate in the concert. TURKEY ASPIRES TO ESTABLISH GOOD-NEIGHBOR RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, DECLARES YASHAR NURI OST TYURK YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. Turkey aspires to improve its relations with Armenia. Turkish parliament member from the ruling party "Justice and development" Yashar Nuri Ost Tyurk told Armenian journalists. According to him, coming to power the party "Justice and development" has set a task to normalize Turkey's relations with its neighbors. "Armenians may be sure that fine days will come in the nearest future", Turkish parliamentarian declared. He also expressed opinion that in the establishment of bilateral Armenian-Turkish relations the sides should not highlight the problems of the past, but to look into the future. The deputy stressed that the normalization of the relations with Armenia is of great importance for Turkey's accession to the European Union. HEADLINES OF FEBRUARY 24 MARCH
TUBERCULOSIS CLAIMED 169 LIVES IN ARMENIA LAST YEAR
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YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. The Armenian Alliance of public health
(AUA, Association of Public Health of Armenia and the Union Public
Health of Armenia) has condemned the rejection of the bill on tobacco
by the Armenian Parliament.
YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. Armenia's Agriculture Minister David
Lokyan is ready to fulfill his promise and to help Yerevan Brandy
Company to procure 20,000 tons of grape this year.
BAKU, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. The reason that the European
Parliament rejected the proposal on release of 5 regions of
Azerbaijan in return for opening of transport commmuniations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan is the activity of the Armenian lobby, EU
Special Representative to the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie told
journalists in Baku yesterday.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. During his visit to the "Haik" sport
center in Ararat, Armenian President Robert Kocharian was presented
with boxing gloves. Joking, the President said that he would not like
to use them in politics. Commenting on the opposition's program of
changing power in Armenia, Kocharian expressed doubts that in this
case the opposition leaders will be in the front ranks of the people.
