On February 14 Arthur Baghdasaryan, president of the NA, met the 12 heads of the physics-mathematical and technical science departments of the RA National Academy of Sciences. {BR} They found it important for the development of sciences to restore the scientific atmosphere in the country and to support the field on the state level. By the way, if in 2004 the State budget had allotted 3 billion 321...

Today Robert Kocharyan has had a business meeting with Karen Chshmarityan, Minister of Trade and Economic Development. {BR} The main directions of ecological development in the 2005 programs as well as the Law amendments concerning the field of the Ministry were discussed. {BR} The Minister has represented the course of preparing of the credit guarantee programs for the development of small and medium...

According to the RA law “On Licensing”, today the executive bodies confirmed the order and way of licensing the works for the repair of devices containing radioactive components and sources of generated radiation.{BR} The order and form of licensing of the projection of devices, equipment and systems, which are important from the viewpoint of security of objects engaged in utilizing atomic energy.

The government adopted the draft of amendments to the RA law “On Human Rights Defender”. {BR} According to one of the amendments to be inserted the Ombudsman is not empowered to intervene in the legal proceeding but can submit her proposals or consultation to contest the court decision.

On February 16 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a 3-day visit to Armenia. It is his first call to Armenia, during which he is to meet with the Armenian leadership. {BR} The parties are expected to discuss the current process and prospects of the Armenian-Russian strategic cooperation as well as a wide range of political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural issues. They will...

Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received OSCE Minsk Group Russian and French Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier as well as US Co-Chair Steven Mann's Assistant Elizabeth Roody. {BR} The Co-Chairs, who accompanied the OSCE fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabakh arrived in Yerevan from Stepanakert yesterday and presently are going to return home. During the meeting the parties...

On Saturday Robert Kocharyan has resigned Gagik Baghdasaryan from the post of the Armenian Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Italy. On the same day Kocharyan has signed two other decrees according to which Rouben Shougaryan has been resigned from the post of the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of RA and appointed Armenian Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Italy.{BR}

Today Robert Kocharyan has gone on a short vacation. Mr. Kocharyan will spend it in Armenia.{BR}

On February 4 the National Assembly working conference took place, with National Assembly President Arthur Baghdasaryan at the head.{BR} During the conference the draft agendas of the February 7-9 3-day session were discussed. In the draft agenda of the 5th session 72 issues are included, the 24 of which – in the coming 3-day session, plus 13 international treaties. The draft agendas will be...

On February 7 the National Assembly will start the spring session. From the political point of view one of the most important issues from those included in the agenda is the issue of the Constitutional Amendments, the intermediate discussions of which will start from February 11 in the Committees. The Parliament will start the discussion of the «Family Code» at the end of February. Other important...

Larisa Alaverdyan, the RA Defender of Human Rights, is preparing her annual report about her activity in the previous year and the cases of violation of human rights in the country. The defender is to represent the report to the President, bodies of legislative, executive and law branches of the power, and also to the National Assembly during its spring session. Larisa Alaverdyan will also represent...

Today Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on formation of a working group for the examination of the issue of the Armenian citizens' deposits frozen in the Armsavingsbank {BR} The group is to issue a conclusion till June 1, 2005. In case of necessity other specialists form the state administration and international financial organizations can be engaged in the work of the group. The...

In view of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania’s death Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan expressed his sympathy in a letter to the Georgian government. {BR} “The Armenian government offers deepest condolences on the tragic death of Zurab Zhvania. It is painful to learn of unexpected decease of the unique man, talented political and public figure, who was pivotal in the formation of...

The Armenian government came to a decision to send a group of doctors to Indonesia in view of the disaster which befell the country on December 26, 2004. The group consisting of a traumatic surgeon, 2 infectiologist and a epidemiologist will spend a fortnight in Indonesia. At the expense of the Armenian reserve fund the Armenian government allocated 8 million AMD to the RA Ministry of Health Protection.

Today Robert Kocharyan has had a meeting with the members of the political coalition council. During the meeting issues connected with the spring session of the National Assembly have been discussed. {BR} Let us remind you that tomorrow in the presence of all the political forces the issue of constitutional amendments will be discussed in the National Assembly. This very matter has been the center...

On February 7-9 the delegation with Serge Sargsyan, secretary of the National Security Council attached to the President, Minister of Defense, on the head, will leave for Iran, on the invitation of the secretary of the Iran Islamic Republic National Security Supreme Council Hassan Rohani. {BR} The delegation is supposed to meet the President of the Iran Islamic Republic, Ministers of Foreign Affairs...

Tomorrow the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan will leave for Tbilisi on official duty. Oskanyan is supposed to meet the Geogian Government. {BR} On February 4 Minister Oskanyan will take part in the international scientific meeting “South Caucasus in the 21st century. Challenges and opportunities” in Tbilisi.

Today Robert Kocharyan held a working meeting with Robert Nazaryan, the Chairman of the Commission for regulating public services.{BR} The interlocutors touched upon the improvement of the quality of the services provided by the companies, which received license due to the legislative initiatives in the sphere of electronic communications, railway and water industry. In order to make the Commission...

On occasion of the Armenian Army’s annyversary, different arrangements are undertaken. Since today various structures are already sending their greetings. Manvel Grigoryan, the Vice Minister of Defence, the Artsakh hero, lieutenant-general, pointed out: «The Armenian Army was founded in a very important period for the country and the Armenian people, at the same time forming the country....

Robert Kocharyan received today delegation headed by Ilya Klebanov, Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian president in North-Western Federal district, former co-chair of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental committee. The delegation arrived in Yerevan at the invitation of Serzh Sarkisyan, co-chair of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental committee. Armenian-Russian economic relations were discussed...

Today at Holy Edjmiadzin the Catholicus of all Armenians Garegin II received the OSCE Minsk group newly elected co-president Bernard Fassier. {BR} “We are full of hope that with your efforts you will contribute to the winnig of peace in the region and to the peaceful community of the people living in the region”, said his Holiness in his speech wishing Mr Fassier good luck in his mission....

The RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan will go on vacation from 31 of January till 14 of Februauy.{BR} After the visit to the Polish Republic the PM will go to France to undergo medical investigations.

The second phase of «Kilikia» The Government has allotted 32 million 9 thousand drams from the National budget reserve fund to the RA Government working group to give to the Sea Investigation Club «Ayas» to get ready for the second phase of the sailing of the ship Kilikia in 2005,{BR} as well as for the publication of the book «Kilikia» and Kilikia» about the sailing.

Today, EU Special Representative to the Southern Caucasus, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, who is in Armenia on a regional visit, has met the RA deputy president Rouben Shougaryan. {BR} The EU Ambassador has expressed his confidence that in the current year it will be possible to process the final version of the program of actions Armenia-EU with the aim of adopting it in 2006. The Ambassador has suggested...