Author: Andres-Papazian

55% OF MEN AND 2% OF WOMEN SMOKE IN ARMENIA
Liana Yeghazaryan

“Radiolur”
31.05.2010 14:58

May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. The Armenian law prohibits smoking
in public places, however the law is often violated. 55% of men and
about 2% of women smoke in Armenia. 2-3 thousand people in Armenia
die annually as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

The Queen of France was the first to smoke 400 years ago to get rid
of headache. Later on the cigarette became one of the elements of
everyday public life.

According to the Director of the “Sociometer” research center Aharon
Adibekyan, 60-65% of the population of Armenia smoked in 1986-1987.

World statistics says that most smokers are registered in China (300
mln). The number of smokers in the world exceeds 2 bln. Every smoker
spends $300 on the average annually.

From: A. Papazian

TALKS ON NAGORNY KARABAKH SHOW PROGRESS – SENIOR RUSSIAN LAWMAKER

RIA Novosti
May 31, 2010
YEREVAN

Important decisions intended to resolve the conflict over Nagorny
Karabakh may be taken “in the near future”, the speaker of the Russian
parliament’s lower house said on Monday.

“The situation in Nagorny Karabakh is very sensitive,” said Boris
Gryzlov, who also heads the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

He said talks under way between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the
disputed region have shown progress.

“I can say that quite distinct and clear steps have been noted. There
is the prospect that necessary decisions to settle the situation in
Nagorny Karabakh will be taken in the near future,” Gryzlov said.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh,
a predominantly ethnic Armenian region, first erupted in 1988, when
the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between
1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorny Karabakh has
remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and
Armenia have persisted.

On May, the region elected a 33-seat parliament with a voter turnout
of almost 68%. Azerbaijani officials called the elections “illegal,”
saying they could seriously harm peace efforts.

The conflict is mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group that comprises the
United States, Russia and France.

From: A. Papazian

60 MLN USD SENT TO LENDING TO SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS IN ARMENIA IN 2009

ARKA
May 31, 2010
YEREVAN

Some 60 million USD was spent on lending to small and medium business
in Armenia in 2009, both within the specific credit programs of
commercial banks in Armenia, and through the National Center for
Support of small and medium businesses,” said Minister of Economy
Nerses Yeritsyan.

“The main focus of providing state means was placed on SMEs, the
production of which is aimed at increasing the country’s export
potential,” said Yeritsyan on Saturday during the parliamentary
hearings on the implementation of the state budget for 2009.

He noted that for the purpose of the diversification of SME, the
government has developed a legislative initiative, under which SMEs
will be companies that have 250 jobs instead of the current 100.

“In 2009, 57 credit guarantees were granted, subsidized interest rates
for the three business entities were implemented partially, as well
as a subsidy program of capital for the two companies,” said Yeritsyan.

In addition, hundreds of enterprises received state support, 65
start-ups received state means of up to 2 million drams, and about
10 companies with the assistance of governments have developed their
business programs.

“Only through lending by the National centre to assist the SMEs in
2009, it was managed to create 600 new jobs, without the cooperation
of the processing enterprises,” Yeritsyan said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA LINCY FOUNDATION BOARD SAVES $715,000 ON SCHOOL RENOVATION TENDERS

ARKA
May 31, 2010
YEREVAN

Lincy Foundation Board approved Saturday the results of several
tenders announced for rehabilitation and renovation of six schools in
Lori and Shirak provinces, the territorial management ministry said,
adding that as a result $715,000 were saved.

The meeting of the Board, chaired by deputy prime minister and
territorial minister Armen Gevorkian, agreed that the saved funds would
be directed to implementation of additional projects. All tenders were
won by companies whose bids met the requirements set by the Foundation.

The second program of the Lincy Foundation, worth $12 million embraces
Shirak and Lori provinces. The program will be accomplished in 2012.

From: A. Papazian

PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF ARMENIA TO DEMAND COMPENSATION OF $1 MLN. FROM “AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL”

Panorama.am
15:26 31/05/2010

Law

Progressive Party of Armenia intends to file a suit against “Amnesty
International” organization, the perty’s press service reported.

“In a so-called report of this organization of 2001, irresponsible
authors of the “report” wrote such a blatant lie that one may draw just
two conclusions therefore: either they are illiterate and unfair and
should apologize for their mistake, or they deliberately introduced
an unfancied falsehood in a so-called “report” pursuing some aims,
for what they must also apologize.

The matter concerns an incident happened in 2008, when drunken
Mika Danielyan and his friends chased and then attacked Chairman of
Progressive Party of Armenia Tigran Urikhanyan who had to resort to
self-protection and fired blank in the air. M. Danielyan gave false
testimonies, maligned T. Urikhanyan and, having preliminary scratched
his skin, said (being unknown of the expert examination results saying
it was a blank shot) he had allegedly received fragment wounds.

M. Dalnielyan, who sets himself up as a human right activist and
who committed violence with respect to T. Urikhanyan, being engaged
in protection of human rights through his vital activities, was
not convicted and is out of prison today, while the aforementioned
organization writes a sheer lie instead of truth, just like in all
other articles of the so-called “report” regarding Armenia.

Progressive Party of Armenia will demand to bring Amnesty
International, which serves someone’s political interests, to justice,
as well as will demand compensation in moral damages at the rate of
$1.000.000,” the party’s statement reads.

From: A. Papazian

CHESS: SERGEY KARJAKIN WINS WORLD RAPID CUP

Panorama.am
15:39 31/05/2010

Sport

GM Sergey Karjakin won against Dmitry Jakovenko 4:3 at the World
Rapid Cup held in Odessa, Ukraine and took the Cup.

The total prize fund of the tournament was estimated $70 thousand. The
winner, Karjakin, got $14 thousand.

16 Grandmasters, including Sergey Movsesian (Slovakia), participated
in the 4th World Cup. The Armenian GM, unfortunately, lost to Alexander
Grischuk in the quarter final.

From: A. Papazian

BAKO SAHAKYAN MET POLICE LEADERSHIP

Panorama.am
15:59 31/05/2010

Politics

On 31 May President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
leadership of the republic’s Police led by head of the Police Robert
Shaferyan, Artsakh President’s press service reported.

Issues related to the operative activities of the Police and raising
the efficiency of the legal system were discussed during the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

POLAND’S AMBASSADOR: TURKEY NOT DEVELOPED ENOUGH TO JOIN EU

Panorama.am
16:29 31/05/2010

Politics

At this stage Turkey is not ready for EU membership, Poland’s
Ambassador to Armenia Zdislav Racinsky told reporters Monday.

“Turkey is not developed enough at this moment to join the EU,”
he said.

The Ambassador said Poland positively assesses Turkey’s aspiration
to join the EU and is for the enlargement of the European family.

“We are ready to support Turkey to implement reforms in accordance
with the European standards,” he highlighted.

Referring to Armenia’s chances for Euro-integration, the Ambassador
said the country can reach it. Though, before this it must ensure
freedom of speech, establish democracy and civil society.

From: A. Papazian

CHANGES IN ARTSAKH GOVERNMENT

Panorama.am
15:51 31/05/2010

Politics

On 31 May President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed
a decree releasing Armen Khachatryan from the post of the Artsakh
Republic minister of health care in accordance with his own request.

According to another Presidential decree, Sergey Movsesyan was
appointed as minister of health care.

On the same day Bako Sahakyan signed a decree releasing Gayane
Apinyan as the Permanent Representative of the Artsakh Republic to
the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with her own request,
central information department of Artsakh President’s office reported.

According to another decree, Haroutyun Grigoryan was appointed as
the Permanent Representative of the Artsakh Republic to the Federal
Republic of Germany.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN BREAKS CEASEFIRE AGAIN

ArmInfo
2010-05-31 14:16:00

ArmInfo. Last week Azerbaijan several time broke the ceasefire on
the line of contact with the Nagorny Karabakh armed forces, the NKR
Defense Ministry press-service told ArmInfo.

Azerbaijani armed forces fired from large-caliber, sniper and other
weapons almost at all the positions of the NKR Defense Army. The
source reported the Karabakh party responded to the fire adequately.

From: A. Papazian