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PRESS RELEASE
March 7, 2007
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 0019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Tobacco Free Armenia
On March 2, 2007, the American University of Armenia hosted the 2nd National
Meeting of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia
(htpp://www.tobaccofreearmenia.am). The Coalition was formed in June 11,
2004 and is a voluntary union of 25 NGOs. This meeting was dedicated to the
second anniversary of the adoption of the Law on Tobacco Realization,
Consumption and Usage Limitations in the Republic of Armenia and the
ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The last few years were a time of tangible changes in tobacco
control legislation and public movement. The main purpose of the meeting
was to report on the activities of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia
and to discuss the role of civil society in future enhancement of tobacco
control policies. Dr. Haroutune Armenian, the President of American
University of Armenia, and Dr. Artavazd Vanyan, Chief of Sanitary
Epidemiological Control Department greeted the 2nd National Meeting
participants.
Dr. Armenian mentioned that adoption of the Law was just the first step. He
was confident that it was important not only to strive for European
standards in tobacco control but also to demonstrate leadership to go
beyond: "The spirit of leadership and pioneering is what we need to ensure
the smoke free future of Armenia." Dr. Vanyan mentioned that legislative
changes alone could not be enough to change the situation in general; he
emphasized the important role of NGOs.
During the 2nd National Meeting, 22 organizations participated in the NGO
anti-tobacco exhibition demonstrating their anti-smoking posters, fliers,
educational materials, calendars, children's pictures, as well as social ads
on healthy lifestyle.
With support from the Open Society Institute, the Armenian Public Health
Alliance (ArmPHA, a union between Armenian Public Health Association,
Armenian Public Health Union and the American University of Armenia)
published a brochure summarizing thirty anti-smoking programs implemented by
23 NGOs in Armenia in 2004-2006. This was the first attempt to collect and
present to the public comprehensive information on anti-smoking programs
implemented in Armenia. Narine Movsisyan, who leads the ArmPHA Tobacco
Control Program, said that this initiative aimed to increase the
transparency in the field and effectiveness of future tobacco control
programs.
As a part of this meeting, the American University of Armenia in close
collaboration with the ArmPHA partners organized a workshop on Tobacco
Control Policy with support from the Open Society Institute. The key
speakers of the workshop were Suren Krmoyan, Legal Adviser to the Minister
of Health, Alexander Bazarchyan, Tobacco Control Program Coordinator of the
Ministry of Health, and Elinar Vardanyan, Executive Director of Center for
Public Dialogue and Development. Participation of NGOs from Ararat,
Vanadzor, Goris and Gyumri significantly enriched the meeting and the
workshop.
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian University
of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia .The American University of Armenia (AUA)
is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the
Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information about AUA,
visit <http://www.aua.am/> www.aua.am.
March 7, 2007
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 0019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Tobacco Free Armenia
On March 2, 2007, the American University of Armenia hosted the 2nd National
Meeting of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia
(htpp://www.tobaccofreearmenia.am). The Coalition was formed in June 11,
2004 and is a voluntary union of 25 NGOs. This meeting was dedicated to the
second anniversary of the adoption of the Law on Tobacco Realization,
Consumption and Usage Limitations in the Republic of Armenia and the
ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The last few years were a time of tangible changes in tobacco
control legislation and public movement. The main purpose of the meeting
was to report on the activities of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia
and to discuss the role of civil society in future enhancement of tobacco
control policies. Dr. Haroutune Armenian, the President of American
University of Armenia, and Dr. Artavazd Vanyan, Chief of Sanitary
Epidemiological Control Department greeted the 2nd National Meeting
participants.
Dr. Armenian mentioned that adoption of the Law was just the first step. He
was confident that it was important not only to strive for European
standards in tobacco control but also to demonstrate leadership to go
beyond: "The spirit of leadership and pioneering is what we need to ensure
the smoke free future of Armenia." Dr. Vanyan mentioned that legislative
changes alone could not be enough to change the situation in general; he
emphasized the important role of NGOs.
During the 2nd National Meeting, 22 organizations participated in the NGO
anti-tobacco exhibition demonstrating their anti-smoking posters, fliers,
educational materials, calendars, children's pictures, as well as social ads
on healthy lifestyle.
With support from the Open Society Institute, the Armenian Public Health
Alliance (ArmPHA, a union between Armenian Public Health Association,
Armenian Public Health Union and the American University of Armenia)
published a brochure summarizing thirty anti-smoking programs implemented by
23 NGOs in Armenia in 2004-2006. This was the first attempt to collect and
present to the public comprehensive information on anti-smoking programs
implemented in Armenia. Narine Movsisyan, who leads the ArmPHA Tobacco
Control Program, said that this initiative aimed to increase the
transparency in the field and effectiveness of future tobacco control
programs.
As a part of this meeting, the American University of Armenia in close
collaboration with the ArmPHA partners organized a workshop on Tobacco
Control Policy with support from the Open Society Institute. The key
speakers of the workshop were Suren Krmoyan, Legal Adviser to the Minister
of Health, Alexander Bazarchyan, Tobacco Control Program Coordinator of the
Ministry of Health, and Elinar Vardanyan, Executive Director of Center for
Public Dialogue and Development. Participation of NGOs from Ararat,
Vanadzor, Goris and Gyumri significantly enriched the meeting and the
workshop.
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian University
of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia .The American University of Armenia (AUA)
is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the
Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information about AUA,
visit <http://www.aua.am/> www.aua.am.