Jump to full article: Radio Free Europe, 2004-11-17
Author: Nane Atshemian
Intro: The Armenian authorities' ongoing efforts to curb widespread smoking found on Wednesday an unlikely backer in the principal owner of the country's two biggest cigarette manufacturers.
Hrant Vartanian, a tobacco magnate with close government connections, lent his support to a bill that would ban smoking inside buildings belonging to the government and other public institutions.
"Some say, 'My grandfather is 90 and he always smoked'. But I will say a different thing: a cigarette user is sick for life," Vartanian told parliament hearings on the draft legislation tentatively approved by the National Assembly last week.
. . .
The hearings attended by Vartanian were organized by the parliament committees on healthcare and social affairs that co-authored the anti-smoking bill. As well as outlawing smoking in public buildings, it toughens the existing ban on televised tobacco advertising which is widely flouted by local TV channels. Cigarette sales to individuals aged under 18 would also be deemed illegal.
The bill was passed in the first reading after being twice rejected by lawmakers, among them several wealthy cigarette importers, earlier this year. It is due to be debated in the second and final readings later this year.
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