WE SMOKE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Support A1+!Today Parliament discussed the bill on “Tobacco Control”. Gagik Tadevosyan, Chairman of Parliament Committee for Health, Social and Ecology, announced “we are unique in CIS territory as we banned tobacco and alcohol advertising through Mass Media”.
According to Mr Tadevosyan’s data, “40 of population smokes in our country” . Under his calculation, tobacco of 350 million drams is sold in Armenia whereas “expense part of our budget makes 550 million” .
He informed Armenia aims to join World Health Organisation. After it tobacco industry is to be replaced by another one within 5 years. Studies of Health Minister Ararat Mkrtchyan showed gastric-intestinal diseases are more by 10-11 % among those smoking.
Minister stresses importance of anti-tobacco fighting. “We can follow USA experience. Life quality there changed. It’s a chance for a human being to live better” .
Hranush Hakobyan said “Armenia is the most smoking” country among European states. She thinks it insulting when smoking at negotiations or diplomatic relations. “It is to be done away with”, she said.
Mrs Hakobyan stated bill on “Tobacco Control” is not complete. Hranush Hakobyan says the expected amendments must refer to tobacco production, ”tobacco is to be of high quality, not trying to the health” .
At suggestion of Health Minister, the bill will be submitted to voting at a right moment.
