PRESIDENT OF "GREAT ARARAT" COMPANY: WE WILL PROTEST ANY DECISION DIRECTED TO THE MONOPOLIZATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN BRANDY

PanARMENIAN.Net - 20.10.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. "The attempts of the French owners of the Yerevan Brandy Factory to monopolize "Ararat" trademark, taking advantage of Armenia's present difficulties, cannot but arouse protest in the heart of every Armenian", stated the President of "Great Ararat Company" Tigran Arzakantzyan.

"Great Ararat Co." produces brandy and disputes the monopoly right of "Pernod Ricard", the owner of the Yerevan Brandy Factory (YBF), to use "Ararat" trademark.

According to Mr. Arzakantzyan, YBF's claims on the right to be named the successor of the founders of the Armenian brandy business are absolutely groundless. "If the French "Pernod Ricard" company purchased the Yerevan Brandy Factory, built in 1953, then we make brandy in the oldest local enterprises. These include the operating since 1887 "Ararat" Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka enterprise group - the true successor of Shustov's and "Ararat" trust's tradition, developed on the historical territory, as well as Artashat Wine-Brandy Factory, founded in 1905, where great reserves of high quality brandy alcohol have preserved. So there isn't and can't be a single producer of Armenian brandy, as their fame was gained not just by one enterprise and one generation of Armenian brandy-makers", Arzakantzyan said.

Moreover, he noted, in the question of grape purchase "Pernod Ricard" blackmails the Armenian authorities, manipulating with numbers, denying their responsibilities and statements. The French owners of YBF have purchased only 10 thousand tons of grapes, which is about two times less than last year's level, while "Great Ararat Company" will buy not less than 15 thousand tons of grapes this season and is ready to significantly increase that number.

"We will use our legal right to protest all the decisions directed to the monopolization of our national property. This is my duty of a citizen and patriot", Tigran Arzakantzyan stated.

The conflict between YBF and "Great Valley" company, which produces brandy under "Great Ararat" trademark, aroused after "Armpatent" took and later annulled the decision by which "Great Valley" could realize sale of the drink under "Ararat" trademark" beyond Armenian borders.

In June 1998 YBF was purchased by Pernod Ricard group for 30 million dollars. -0-