The delegation headed by Yerzi Yaskernia was received also by Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan.{BR} The premier said he found an uncompromising stance taken by the opposition on confidence referendum absolutely illogical. Margaryan expressed hope that after meeting with all political forces the delegation would get a real idea about the situation and its report at the summer session would be objective,

President Kocharyan received PACE Monitoring Commission Representative Yerzi Yaskernia and the Commission Secretary David Tzupin on Monday.{BR} The process of fulfilling CE commitments by Armenia was discussed. The sides also talked about issued mentioned in the PACE April resolution. Yaskernia said he would prepare a report on the situation in Armenia.

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan issued an order Monday dismissing Narek Sargsyan from the post of Yerevan Vice-Mayor and Architect General of Armenian capital.{BR}

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received Bulgarian Ambassador to Armenia Stephan Dimitrov on Monday.{BR} Issues connected with Baghdasaryan’s upcoming visit to Bulgary at his Bulgarian counterpart invitation were discussed at the meeting. The Ambassador said Bulgarians attached great importance to this visit as it could give a new impetus to Bulgarian-Armenian intergovernmental...

International Economic Forum is to start in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Armenian parliamentary delegation headed by National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan will participate in the event.{BR} The main topic to be discussed at the forum is Economic Growth and Living Standards in Conditions of Globalization.

A conference on organizing issues of ”Golden Apricot” international filmfest took place in the Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry headed by Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Honorable Chair of the Festival. {BR} It is the first international Armenian film festival. The festival will take place from June 30 from August 5. About 20 states partake in it. The 80th anniversary of establishment...

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan has today received Mohammad Qoleyni, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia. Mr. Qoleyni is finishing his diplomatic legation in our state. {BR} Appreciating the activity of the diplomat PM stated notable achievements in the relations between both nations were fixed during Qoleyni’s period of office. Margaryan added trust climate for collaboration was created...

Jerzy Jaskiernia, PACE Monitoring Commission Reporter and Commission Secretary David Chupina are arriving in Armenia today. Meetings with Ambassadors of CE states in Armenia, OSCE Office head, international organizations, national minorities, Media representatives, and Armenian Constitutional Court Chair Gagik Harutyunyan are scheduled. {BR} Tomorrow meetings with Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur...

President Robert Kocharyan and Bella Kocharyan have today visited the Russian Embassy to Armenia in connection with the National Holiday of Russian Federation – Independence Day. {BR} While congratulating Kocharyan stated sound relations have been established between both nations for centuries, expressing confidence the contacts will develop under independence.

Today, the OSCE Mission held a regular monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces’ contact-line in the Fizouli direction of the south-east of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.{BR} The group which conducted the monitoring from the NKR Armed Forces’ positions comprised Field Assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s Personal Representative Miroslav Vymetal (Czechia)...

President Kocharyan signed a decree on June 1 appointing judges for first instance court. The newly appointed judges swore in publicly today.{BR} They swore an oath to be guided by the Constitution and the law and to be objective, just and human while deciding sentences. Robert Kocharyan congratulated the judges on their appointment.

With regard to a recent decision of the Yerevan Mayor's Office to prohibit rallies by opposition parties on 4 June, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin said: "We regret that the right of people to free assembly and expression of their political views was restricted. We urge the authorities to apply the new law on Conduct of Public Gatherings, Rallies, Demonstrations...

President Kocharyan signed Friday passed a law passed by Armenian National Assembly on providing tax relief to Russian Federation’s Federal Property Federal Agency.{BR}

YEREVAN, June 3, 2004. – Over the past weeks there has been growing attention and public discussions surrounded the World Bank financed Judicial Reform Project, approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank in September, 2000. The debates were particularly focused on the Supervision Report of the Chamber of Control of the National Assembly that was prepared in the beginning of 2003 and recently...

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has today met Steven Mann, American Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group. Mr. Mann arrived in Armenia after Baku where he had participated in the 11th international exhibition-conference on Oil and Gas. {BR} Steven Mann had private talks with Azerbaijani President and FM. Mr. Mann confirmed willingness of Co-Chairs in finding mutually beneficial solutions to Karabakhi...

International Monetary Fund is finishing activity in Armenia in June. After summing up the work done in September and registering beneficial effect the issue over working out the next program will be discussed. {BR} During the meeting with Armenian PM IMF Yerevan Office Head James McHugh stated basing upon the experience of the past years he was sure the program would be assessed efficient, too. Issues...

Government made decisions to celebrate the first Sunday of April the Day of a Geologist, March 23 – Hydrometeorologist Day and June 5 – Ecologist Day. {BR}

Armenian Catholicos Garegin II departed for Finland at the invitation of Finland Archbishop Juca Paarma. {BR} Garegin II will visit Finland Bible Association. His Grace will meet the lecturers and students of Theological Faculty of Helsinki University and will deliver a lecture. Meetings with Finland PM and other high officials are scheduled. Garegin II will return to Saint Echmiadzin on June 7.

Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on establishing a Council for Corruption Prevention. {BR} Armenian PM was nominated the Council Chair. Parliament Vice-Speaker, Head-Minister of Government staff, Justice Minister, President’s Councilor, General Prosecutor, Chairs of Central Bank, State Committee for Defense of Economic Competition, and Parliament Counting Chamber, and Head of Control Service...

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan has today received the delegation of Asian Development Bank headed by ADB Vice-Secretary Amarjith Vasan. {BR} The delegation has arrived in Armenia to hold consulting over Armenia’s membership in ADB. Appraising consulting and the results of negotiations positively, Margaryan stated Armenia’s membership to the Bank will enable to involve additional...

Robert Kocharyan has today received the delegation headed by Alexander Karelin, Russian State Duma MP, Greco-Roman wrestler, and thrice-repeated champion of Olympic Games. Karelin arrived in Armenia to partake in the international tournament of Olympic Games champion Levon Julfalaqyan, {BR} The meeting participants expressed standpoints on sport development. Referring to chances for activating mutual...

The sitting of Board for Heads of CIS’ Trade and Industry Chambers took place. {BR} Greeting the participants Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan particularly said: “Certainly, we need reforms. But we mostly need the ones without which it is impossible to expect success, especially in the transitional phase. Close cooperation between our states in small-scale and middle business undertakings...

Yerevan Municipality forbade Opposition to hold a rally on June 4 at 6:00 PM near Matenadaran. {BR} In reply to the letter of “Justice” Bloc, “National Unity” Party and Communist Party representatives Municipality made a decision on forbidding the mass public measure, reasoning criminal cases over the rallies held before were instituted in Office of Prosecutor and being guided...

Under the decree by Robert Kocharyan, Samvel Uzunyan was nominated the Chair of the First Instance Court of Avan-Nor Norq Communes of Yerevan. Uzunyan was relieved of the post for a judge of the First Instance Court of Malatia-Sebastia Commune of Yerevan. {BR} Michael Grigoryan was appointed a judge of the First Instance Court of Malatia-Sebastia Commune.