A reception over the fact Armenia gained the observer’s status in Francophone International Organization was held in Foreign Affairs Ministry of Armenia. {BR} High representatives of Armenian Parliament and Government, Ambassadors in Armenia, heads of international organizations etc were present for the reception. ”I am sure that membership of Armenia to Francophone International Organization...

Robert Kocharyan has today held a deliberation over reforms in the social welfare system. Armenian PM, Armenian Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Chairs of State Fund for Social Welfare and Central Bank and representatives of proper organizations partook in the discussion. {BR} According to Robert Kocharyan, the reforms in the social welfare sphere are the most difficult and long-lasting but it...

Participants of the round table, organized by the ‘Prisoners-of-war, Hostages and Missing Persons Rights Protection Center’ NGO on December 20, 2004 in Yerevan, in the framework of a project dedicated to problems of former prisoners, hostages and families of the missing persons with financial sponsorship of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and in cooperation with the International Working...

An extraordinary parliamentary session will be held Friday at president Kocharyan’s order.{BR} Two dozen issues, such as the 2005 state budget and amendments to a number of laws, are included in the agenda.

World media outlets quoted Friday Azeri president as saying talks on Karabakh conflict settlement leans to stage-by-stage solution of the problem and this conforms to Azerbaijan’s interests.{BR} He also cast doubt on Armenia’s ability to pursue independent policy and reminded Boris Grizlov’s recent statement that “Armenia is Russia’s outpost in South Caucasus”....

A new building of the first instance court of Armenia’s Lori region was opened Friday in Vanadzor.{BR} Armenian justice minister David Harutyunyan was present at the opening ceremony. The court building was severely damaged in the 1988 earthquake. 33.4 million drams were spent for the building construction.

Public transportation was the main topic president Kocharyan discussed Friday with territorial governing and labor and social security ministers as well as Yerevan mayor and other officials.{BR} It was noted that certain positive changes are seen in public transportation. At the same time, it was taken for grants that the area is in need of reforms. It was stressed that steps are needed to prevent shady dealing in this sphere.

A delegation of Armenian officials and experts were in Vienna from 13 to 17 December on a study tour designed to help them create a financial intelligence unit.{BR} The trip was organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). Armenia plans to launch a financial intelligence unit at the Armenian Central Bank in...

”Armenia greets December 15 decision of European Parliament, which calls upon European Commission and EU Council to demand the Turkish Authorities to recognize Armenian Genocide as a historical fact and to immediately open the frontier with Armenia”, the statement released by Armenian Foreign Ministry says. {BR} ”We have announced for many times that Turkey’s membership to...

Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister, Ministers of Town Planning and Territorial Management and Coordinating Infrastructures, Yerevan Mayor, heads of State Tax Service, State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre and Department of State Property Management held a deliberation on town planning issues. {BR} Issues mainly regarded urban planning of Yerevan and the calamity zone. Vahram Barseghyan, head of President’s...

SUMS RECEIVED FROM SALE OF “ZANGEZUR COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM” DISTRIBUTED At Government sitting a decision was made to fix the directions for distribution of the sum received from privatization of “Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Industrial Complex” CJSC. {BR} Armenian Finance and Economy Minister was set a task to transmit the further payments of the treaty price /$ 132 million/...

Robert Kocharyan has today met Armavir District Head Albert Heroyan. Heroyan has introduced the agriculture state in the district. {BR} Issues on allocating the sums received from sale of the land at auction for settlement of the district problems – reconstruction of roads, schools, culture and sport establishments were discussed at the meeting.

Russian State Duma speaker Boris Grizlov was received Wednesday by Armenian Apostolic Church leader Garegin II.{BR} Garegin II expressed gratitude to Russia’s authorities for their care of Armenian community in Russia.

U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Evans met with National Democratic Union leader Vazgen Manoukyan on Wednesday.{BR} A wide range of issues was discussed at the meeting.

On its report on “Turkey’s progress towards accession” the European Parliament calls on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide.{BR} According to the recent information received from the European Parliament (Strasbourg), the European Parliament voted the 84 amendments to the report on “Turkey’s progress towards accession” of the rapporteur Camiel Eurlings and...

President Kocharyan received Wednesday a delegation headed by Russian State Duma speaker Boris Grizlov.{BR} Implementation of the property-for-debt agreement made between Armenia and Russia in 2002 was among the issues under discussion. Special attention was paid to Mars, one of Armenian plants of strategic significance. Grizlov assured Kocharyan that Russian side would take whatever step necessary...

Armenian parliament speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received his Russian counterpart Boris Grizlov on Wednesday.{BR} Intergovernmental and interparliamentary relations were discussed by the two speakers. Arthur Baghdasaryan put special emphasis upon property for debt agreement, under which five Armenian enterprises have been handed over to Russia, pointing out that people are waiting for new jobs and...

On December 14 Cyprus President Tasos Papadopulos received in his residence the delegation headed by ARF Bureau Representative Hrant Margaryan. {BR} Hrant Margaryan arrived in Cyprus on December 13 to meet Cyprus political circles in the framework of the activity conducted by ARF against Turkey’s membership in EU. On December 17 European Union Summit in Brussels must make a decision on launching...

President Robert Kocharyan has today met Edik Muradyan, Chairman of Securities Commission of Armenia. Muradyan has represented the preliminary results of 2004 activity of the commission and the main projects scheduled for 2005. {BR} The issues of coordination and development of securities market and the international cooperation in the sphere were referred to. Edik Muradyan informed Robert Kocharyan...

On Friday Nagorno-Karabakh Republic celebrated Independence Day.{BR} In 1991 99,9 % of the republic population eligible to vote cast their votes in favor of independence. Throughout 13 years of turmoil and suffering Karabakhi people had been trying to overcome all obstacles and struggling for creating their state independence and had eventually achieved their goal. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s...

On Friday Armenian Central Bank representatives informed president Kocharyan about situation in financial market.{BR} They said the dramatic changes in world financial markets had considerable impact on Armenia’s economy. It is important, they said, that the Central Bank and the government managed to adjust the economy to the changes, not resist them to avoid heavy loses the republic might...

By the preliminary agreement, the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs with participation of Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group took place this morning in Brussels as the continuation of deliberations in Sofia. {BR} Under the official press release consisting of little information, Ministers exchanged thoughts over some issues arisen in the present phase of settlement of Karabakhi conflict. After...

SPECIAL SESSION OF PARLIAMENT TO BE HELD Government has decided to apply to Robert Kocharyan with the suggestion on holding a special session of Parliament on December 13, 2004, to pass a few tens of bills commended by Armenian Government. {BR} A MINE OF ARMENIA PRIVATIZED Government has decided to privatize 957334 stocks of “Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Industrial Complex” CJSC,...

In connection with terrorist acts committed in Armenian and Chaldean churches in Iraq’s city of Mosul, Armenian Apostolic Church leader Garegin II addressed Christian and Muslim leaders of Iraq urging them to display good will prevent the threat of developing political crisis in Iraq into religious.{BR}