On January 14 Serge Sargsyan signed a decree on granting president stipend to the sportsmen scoring high results in the Olympic Games, World and European championships, and their coaches.

Serzh Sargsyan received today Co-reporters of the PACE Monitoring Committee John Prescott and George Colombie. During the meeting the issues discussed were the fulfillment of the requirements of the PACE resolutions 1609 and 1620.

As is known, the representatives of the RA Ombudsman’s Office visited the “Nubarashen” penitentiary of the RA Ministry of Justice January 9 and met with prisoner Vardges Gaspari. The latter informed that nearly 10 people dressed in soldier uniforms entered his cell on December 23 at 10:30 a.m., searched the cell and then personally searched the prisoners in the cell.

Before moving to the agenda of the RA government session, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan informed government officials that the operative group, which was created with the purpose of discussing the private sector aid programs, has already started working and 70 business plan applications have been received.

The Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Hovik Abrahamyan received the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to Armenia, Silvia Zehe.

On January 14, in accordance with the earlier achieved agreement with the NKR authorities, the OSCE mission conducted а regular monitoring of the contact-line of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces in the northern direction, on Martakert-Terter road.

The creation of a South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders is underway.

The President of the United States of America sent a letter to President Serzh Sargsyan expressing deep gratitude of the United States to the Government and people of Armenia for the forces that Armenia contributed to Multinational Forces-Iraq since 2005.

Serzh Sargsyan received today Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolay Bordyuzha. Armenia currently presides the organization and president of the CSTO council Serzh Sargsyan held a discussion with Nikolay Bordyuzha on issues connected with preparation for the next summit and formation of the agenda.

Co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) John Prescott and Georges Colombier, and Secretary of the Commision Bas Clain will arrive in Armenia on January 15.

On January 10 His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians, left for the United States of America for a working visit.

On December 25 Serzh Sargsyan signed an order on establishing a commission dealing with the issues of Lake Sevan. The order sets the structure of the Commission.

On December 25 Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on granting Armenian citizenship to renowned singer, public figure, National Hero of the Republic of Armenia Charles Aznavour and his impresario, Movses Khorenatsi Medal holder Levon Sayan.

Armenian Ambassador to Austria Ashot Hovakimyan and Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development Suleiman Al-Herbish signed an agreement to grant a 14 million dollar loan to the Armenian government.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan headed today’s government session during which government officials passed the RA bill on “Construction of new nuclear energy blocks in Armenia”, which will be presented to the RA National Assembly.

The Yerevan State University Board held its year-end session today chaired by the President of Armenia, President of the Yerevan State University Board Serzh Sargsyan.

Dear readers, We are sorry for not updating our website for the past couple of hours. The “A1+” editorial office is located in the building on 1/3 Buzand Street and was not able to provide news due to power outage in the building.

Serzh Sargsyan today had a meeting with Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan, President’s Press Office reported.

RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met with the delegation headed by Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Bagheri accompanied by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Sayed Ali Saghayan.

On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, Serzh Sargsyan invited over hundred representatives of the business community of Armenia to a reception at the President’s Office.

Upon the initiative of the Armenian Government, the National Assembly convenes an extraordinary sitting at 12, December 23, 2008.

On December 18 Serzh Sargsyan ratified the draft laws on amending the RA Laws on Defence and Civil Service.

The government has decided to move Wednesday, January 7, 2009, which is a working day, to Saturday, December 27, 2008 on the occasion of All Saints Day following Christmas and the Revelation.

On 27 November 2008, Tiers 2 and 5 of the points based system (PBS) that deals with immigration to the UK went live. The Tiers sweep aside the old work permit system.