More than 80 pct of Russian teenagers take alcohol - Nurgaliyev.

MOSCOW, October 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Alcoholic beverages in Russia are
taken by more than 80 percent of adolescents, and the average age when
youngsters start drinking has fallen to 13 years, Interior Minister Rashid
Nurgaliyev told the governmental commission on crime prevention this week.
"Adolescent alcoholization in Russia has an enormous scale," he said.
"According to the nationwide survey of young people, alcoholic beverages,
including beer, are consumed by over 80 percent of teenagers."
Nurgaliyev also recalled that the past few years saw a drop in the
average age when children first try alcohol from 16 years to 13."
The interior minister believes that this issue should be addressed
with a combination of educational measures and the availability of
alternative forms of pastime and entertainment - especially, sports.
Nurgaliyev urged the press to be more active in its work for this goal.

.Russian delegation at PA OSCE wants immigration included in agenda.

ROME, October 9 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) under Alexander Kozlovsky, the PA's vice-president, has
suggested the issue of immigration be included in the agenda of the
organization's work. Kozlovsky is taking part in the regular autumn
session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which opened in Palermo on
Friday.
"Within the special commission for transparency we had discussed a
draft document on the guidelines of the organization's activity on the eve
of the session and we are going to hand it over to the leadership of the
OSCE. Our delegation suggested putting up for discussion in the first
place the problem of immigration in Europe, and not only illegal
immigration, but immigration in general. The migration situation now is a
major threat to Europe," said Kozlowski, who in this context noted the
problem of insufficient integration of immigrants.
In addition, the Russian delegation proposed three of the five
amendments to the OSCE rules of procedure, aimed at optimizing them. In
particular, Russia is proposing a restriction on the number of members
representing one country in the OSCE's three committees to provide
opportunities for the broadest representation of different countries in
the governing bodies of the OSCE.
Alexander Kozlovsky particularly appreciated the Kazakhstan's
presidency of the OSCE.
"It was the best presidency over the seven years I have participated
in PA sessions. Kazakhstan approached the problem creatively and came out
with many initiatives aimed at solving urgent problems, and invigorated
the OSCE's activities," Kozlovsky said.
He recalled that the session, opened by the speaker of the lower house
of the Italian parliament, Gianfranco Fini, was devoted to ways of
combating organized crime and corruption. Kozlowski, who will moderate the
panel devoted to human trafficking, said that the spread of crime was
closely linked with society's problems.
The session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will continue until
October 10. On Friday it saw a forum of the Mediterranean countries. On
Saturday, the more than 300 delegates from nearly 60 countries will hear
an address by Interior Minister Roberto Maroni. The Minister of Justice
Angelino Alfano and other senior Italian officials will be in attendance.

.Armenia wants wider relations with Iran - parliamentary speaker.

YEREVAN, October 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Armenia is ready to further develop
and strengthen comprehensive relations with "friendly Iran," the speaker
of parliament Ovik Abramian, said on Friday as he welcomed his Iranian
counterpart, Ali Larijani, who arrived in Armenia on a two-day working
visit.
"Iran is a country friendly to Armenia, and everything will be done to
develop relations with Iran," Abramian said.
"Cooperation between Iran and Armenia can be considered a success and
a bridge for development and progress of the region," Larijani said for
his part.
The development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Armenia and
Iran will help strengthen bilateral relations and deepen cooperation in
various fields, both officials said. Abramian and Larijani are certain
that the cooperation between Armenia and Iran contributes to the
consolidation of regional peace and stability. They called for
intensification of economic cooperation and specific projects.
About the Karabakh conflict Abramian said that "it should be resolved
within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh." He
thanked Iran for its unbiased stance on this issue. Larijani said that the
Karabakh problem should be resolved in a mutually acceptable format.

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