The incomes of the RA 2006 State budget surpassed 438.7 milliard AMD, whereas the expenses were over 454.1 milliard AMD.

On January 31, according to earlier achieved agreement with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission conducted a regular monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces contact-line in the east direction of the settlement of Talish of the NKR Martakert region.

Robert Kocharyan has left for a short vacation which he will spend in Armenia, press service of the President informs.

RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan left for the Netherlands for a two-day visit. During the visit Minister Oskanyan will meet with the Dutch NA Speaker, members of the Foreign Committee of the Parliament, as well as the representatives of Armenian organizations.

The Heritage Party's press department made public today a report entitled "Brief Summary of Violations and Obstacles Against the Heritage Party in 2005 and 2006." The evidentiary materials detailed in the document bespeak the recent string of unlawful actions which the incumbent regime has persistently carried out against party members in general and its founder Raffi K. Hovannisian in particular.

In connection with the 15th anniversary of the National Army the party «Republic» has sent a congratulating message to the people and the soldiers. Alongside with the congratulations, the message also says,

January 28 is the 15th anniversary of the Armenian army. In this connection a number of events have been organized. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan has already sent a congratulating message.

Robert Kocharyan received the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Mathew Bryza (USA) and Bernard Fassier (France). Personal representative of the OSCE CiO, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meeting.

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), on behalf of the United States Government, has transferred the first tranche of USD 1,460.000. from the second disbursement to Armenia. The second transfer of USD 270.800 is scheduled for the next month. The funds for Armenia’s Millennium Challenge Compact are approved quarterly by the MCC and disbursed monthly into MCA-Armenia’s bank account.

ON January 25, the RA Government endorsed the draft laws on “Amendments to the RA Law on Television and Radio” and on “ Regulation of National Commission on Television and Radio”. Reminder, RA NA has once turned down the draft laws.

RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan sent a telegram to Khoren Palyan’s relatives and acquaintances in which he expressed his deep sorrow and mourning over Palyan’s death.

On January 22, at 13.45 a.m. the Azeri subdivisions once more violated the cease-fire regime in the southern direction of the contact line of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces near the settlement of Horadiz. As a consequence of the shots from the Azerbaijani positions serviceman of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s Defense Army lance-corporal Mher Movsessyan got a fatal wound and died on the spot.

On January 22 at 01:27 a.m. a fire broke out in the building of the “Paint factory” CJSC, Artsakh str. 57. Two fire brigades left for the site. The fire was put out at 02:30 a.m.

RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has left for Moscow to participate in the negotiations over the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. On January 23 Minister Oskanyan will meet Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Other participants of the meeting are OSCE Minsk group co-chairs and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Today at about 10:40 a.m. in the Berd military basis Armenian soldier Armen S. Malkhasyan (b. 1988) was shot in the head by an Azeri sniper. The soldier died while being taken to hospital.

On January 14-21 headmaster of the Calcutta Armenian Charity school Oshakan Gyulgyulyan left for Jordan and Iraq in order to bring six Iraqi-Armenian children to Calcutta.

VIENNA, 19 January 2007 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, expressed profound shock today over the murder of the well-known Turkish journalist Hrant Dink.

We are deeply shocked by the news of the assassination of Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, a man who lived his life in the belief that there can be understanding, dialogue and peace amongst peoples.

Press service of the RA President informed today that Robert Kocharyan left for Moscow on a private visit. No other details are reported as to the aims of the visit.

First lady of Georgia Mrs. Sandra Rulovski is currently in Armenia in order to exchange experience concerning the health field. Today she was received by first lady of Armenia Mrs. Bella Kocharyan.

Millennium Challenge Account – Armenia (MCA-Armenia) and the Armenian Road Directorate (ARD) SNCO signed an Implementing Entity Agreement, according to which the MCA-Armenia is going to implement Rural Roads Rehabilitation Project (RRRP) through ARD. The Agreement has been signed by MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan and ARD Director General Karen Gevorgyan.

On this first day of the New Year, I would like to thank the people of Armenia for continuing to support the strong friendship and close cooperation that exists between our two countries. This has been an important year for U.S. - Armenian relations. Through U.S. assistance programs, which have totaled over 1.6 billion dollars since 1992, the United States is working to strengthen democratic institutions,...

Geneva (ICRC) - On 23 December 2006, an Azerbaijani serviceman, previously detained in Nagorny Karabakh, was handed over to the Azerbaijani authorities under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The operation took place on the "Line of Contact", in the Agdam region of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Tomorrow, the RA Governmental delegation, with Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan at the head, will leave for Ashgabat, in order to participate in the funeral of President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov.