A four-day training course on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has started today in the Vazgen Sarkissyan Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense. The course is designed for future IHL instructors and organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. {BR} Gia Toradze, ICRC’s Armed and Security Forces Expert for the South Caucasus leads...

Robert Kocharyan too has sent a condoling message to Vatican in which it is particularly said, {BR} «To day the Armenian nation together with the whole Christian world mourns the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II who enjoyed the respect of the humanity. The difficult mission of His Holiness and devotion to the spread of global values and settlement of peace between nations will be remembered...

On the invitation of Serge Sargsyan, Minister of Defense and Secretary of the National Security Council, the delegation with Gediminas Kirkilas, Lithuanian Defense Minister, will arrive in Armenia. {BR} During the visit Mr. Kirkilas will meet the Catholicos of all Armenians, the RA Prime Minister, Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, and the head of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National...

Garegin II Catholicos of all Armenians has sent a message to Vatican condoling with the death of the late Pope John Paul II. {BR} In the message it is particularly said, «We remember our meeting with His Holiness in Vatican with warmth, as well as His historical visit to Armenia in 2001. ... During His 26-year reign His Holiness John Paul II was defender of life and warrior of freedom. His calls...

Robert Kocharyan's official duty visit to France on April 4-6 has been postponed because of the leg injury of the President. The new date of the visit will be established in diplomatic canals. {BR} Let us remind you that Robert Kocharyan's non-official visit to Georgia has just finished. Alongside with discussing problems the two colleagues also enjoyed themselves in the Gudauri Skiing complex.

Today RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received the Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II. Issues about the further enhancing of the church-state relations have been discussed. {BR} The Catholicos thanked the Prime Minister and the RA Government for allotting the lands of the churches and chapels to the Armenian Apostolic Church by the 2005 February decision of the Government. An agreement has...

On the invitation of Mikhail Sahakashvili today Robert Kocharyan went to Georgia on a two-day visit. {BR}

Today Robert Kocharyan received NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Gunther Altenberg to discuss the issues referring to the Armenia-NATO cooperation. {BR} The parties noted that the cooperation is developing in a constructive and dynamic way. They also touched upon the problems of security and peace in the region as well as the Karabakh conflict and the ways of its settlement.

The judges appointed by the President swore solemnly at today’s sitting of the Justice Council. {BR} While congratulating them Robert Kocharyan noted that they should exert maximal efforts to preserve and consolidate the honor and trust to a judge in the public opinion.

The Armenian government allowed the Yerevan City Administration to conclude an agreement on building up the territories adjacent to the Yerevan Wine factory. The 3500 area will be used for the construction of the Moscow House in Argishti Street.{BR} To note, the Moscow authorities have already marked out corresponding territory for the construction of the Yerevan House. PENSIONS RAISED The Armenian...

Today Robert Kocharyan has met the delegation of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel. The pivot theme of the meeting was the process of the settlement of Karabakh conflict. {BR} in the settlement of the conflict Dimitrij Rupel finds the role of the deepening of dialogue and negotiations between the countries extremely important. He also reconfirmed the readiness of OSCE to support the process as...

On March 30 Serge Sargsyan, Defense Minister and National Security Council secretary, received the delegation with General Charles F. Wold, the deputy commander of the US European headquarters at the head. {BR} Greeting the guest the Minister said, “It is very pleasant for me that your visits to Armenia and to the Defense Ministry have become a custom and your each visit is a new step in the military...

From March 31 to April 1 in Yerevan the following session of the NATO Euro Atlantic cooperation council Atlantic policy consulting group will take place, in which 65 representatives of the NATO member and colleague 38 countries will take part. {BR} In the agenda mainly the issues about the security of the Euro Atlantic region will be included. Such sessions are convened annually and by their political...

On March 30 Robert Kocharyan has signed a decree appointing judges and head of the Court of first instance and judge of the economical court. {BR} Arthur Ohanyan has been appointed head of the Shengavit community Court of first instance resigning from the post of the judge of the same court. Gagik Khandanyan has been appointed judge of the Shengavit community Court of first instance resigning from...

Today Robert Kocharyan received General Charles F. Wold, the deputy commander of the US European headquarters in Stuttgart. {BR} The sides have referred to the cooperation Armenia-USA in the military-technical field, have discussed issues about the conflicts in the center of the International attention. A reference has also been made to the present state and possible developments of the Karabakh conflict. General...

Today Robert Kocharyan has received Anatoly Dryukov, Russian Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Armenia who his finishing his authorizations in Armenia. Robert Kocharyan has mentioned that during the period of Dryukov’s being in Armenia there have been serious achievements in all the directions of cooperation. {BR} Kocharyan has awarded the ambassador with the medal “Mkhitar Gosh”...

General Charles F. Wold, the deputy commander of the US European headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, will arrive in Armenian on March 30 and will leave on March 31. {BR} The US Military Forces European command is responsible for the US forces in about 91 countries, in particular Europe, Africa, Russia, in some parts of Asia and others. On March 30 and 31 General Wold and the accompanying officials...

Statement by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in Armenian National Assembly hearings on resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue Thank you. I welcome this opportunity to discuss aloud and together the history, development, present situation and future prospects for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. I believe the idea is both good and timely. I believe that such joint, public explorations...

Today Robert Kocharyan received the French Ambassador extrordinary and plenipotentiary to Armenia Henry Cuni. Issues about Kocharyan's April visit to France have been discussed. {BR} The sides have also discussed the present economical relations between Armenia and France and their perspectives, as well as issues about the cooperation Armenia-EU. A reference has also been made to the process of settlement...

RA NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan and US Secretary General Condoleezza Rice have exchanged messages. {BR} «I intend to work for the future which will provide peace, security and freedom for everyone. The challenges are numerous, and there is much work to be done». The UA Secretary General has thanked the NA President for the good wishes and mentioned that hard work is important from the point...

Today NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan received Frederik Hyde-Chambers, Secretary General of the Parliaments' and Businessmen's International association. {BR} Representing the mission of his visit Mr. Frederik Hyde-Chambers mentioned that the Association intends to establish links between parliamentarians and businessmen contributing to the business competence of the parliamentarians and the realization...

Before proceeding to the discussion of the agenda today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan touched upon the explosion at the State Customs Committee building.{BR} Andranik Margaryan condemned the incident and said that if the terrorist act was directed against the activities of the bodies, which provide the flows to the state budget – the customs and tax services, the initiators should...

On March 23 Armenia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy Ruben Shugaryan handed the copies of his credentials to head of the Italian State Diplomatic Protocol department in the Italian Foreign Ministry Puci di Benisiki. {BR} The parties discussed issues referring to the bilateral relations as well as the development of Armenia’s Eurointegration. According to the protocol,...

Today Armenian President Robert Kocharyan held a meeting with the heads of the law enforcement bodies on occasion of the explosion at the RA State Customs Committee building. {BR} The law enforcers submitted a detailed report on the incident and told about the measures undertaken. Robert Kocharyan ordered to take all the necessary steps and regularly bring the investigation process to his notion.