Mayors of French Burg-le-Valance and Armenian Talin cities signed declaration on brotherhood. In this connection a week of Armenian culture was held in Burg-le-Valance, which opened on May 15 and will last till May 22. {BR} During it an exhibition of works by Talin Art School pupils will be staged, lectures and round table discussions on Armenian history and culture, concerts will be organized. Armenian...

Robert Kocharyan has today received Pier Castel, Chair of French “Castel Group” Company. Pier Castel is a shareholder of “Kotayk” Beer Factory, too. {BR} Stressing he is pleased with activity of “Kotayk” Factory, Pier Castel said it runs on a grand scale, production of non-alcoholic drinks is planned and export spreading is prior for the company. Robert Kocharyan...

President Robert Kocharyan has today received the delegation of the American part of the sitting of Armenian-American Intergovernmental Working Group on Economic Cooperation. {BR} Introducing the issues on the sitting agenda, Carlos Pascuale, delegation head and Coordinator of USA Support for Eurasia States stated the process of implementation of the programs within the relief by the American Government...

Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, Georgian Parliament Chair Nino Burjanadze, and Azerbaijani Mili Mejilis Chair Murtaz Aleskerov met in Strasburg. PACE Chair Peter Schieder partook in the meeting, too. {BR} During the meeting Caucasus Stability Pact protected by CE main political powers was made and Parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasus states was set up. It was stated that the...

US Department of State published a report on human rights defense in various countries. In the reports on Armenia and Azerbaijan there is a sentence which is repeated except the name: {BR}“President Robert Kocharyan was reelected /in the report on Azerbaijan “Ilham Aliev” was elected/ in 2003 as a result of controversial elections, which were marred up by numerous breaches, so the...

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardean Oskanyan received Monday Gareth Evans, the President of the International Crisis Group based in Brussels, Belgium.{BR} Issues related to the situation in South Caucasus, Karabakh conflict as well as Armenia’s foreign policy were discussed at the meeting.

”I not only hope but I am also sure this working visit will be in favor of our cooperation and consolidation of relations”, Russian President Putin said during the meeting with his Armenian colleague. {BR} Kocharyan in his turn underlined importance of the contract with “Vneshtorgbank” and cooperation in the economy and chemical industry spheres is efficient.

Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan will depart for Strasburg. He will partake in the conference of Chairmen of Parliaments of CE states that will take place from May 17-19 in Strasburg. There will be 3 issues in agenda – “How Democratic Our Democracy Is”, “Modern Technologies and Democratic Processes: Cooperation For More Democracy” and “National Parliaments and European Assemblies”. {BR}

Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan received Christoff Bergner, Yorg Tauss, Lydia Westrich and Ulla Heller, the members of “South Caucasus” multi-party MP group of Germany Bundestag. {BR} The interlocutors have underlined importance of the decision recently made by European Commission, under which Armenia and other South Caucasus states are enrolled in “Wider Europe and New Neighbors”...

”Azerbaijani people and Army will do their best to restore the territorial integrity of the country”, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev announced the day of Truce’ 10th Anniversary. {BR} Moscow hasn’t yet responded to it. It is expected that the issue will become a key topic of Putin-Kocharyan meeting in Moscow. Construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will be discussed...

Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan received Bijan Namdaz Zangane, Irani Oil and Gas Minister. {BR} Minister Oskanyan stressed the importance of making the contract on construction of Iran-Armenia gas-pipeline. He said it is significant for both states and the whole region. Minister Zangane voiced confidence that Armenian-Irani cooperation will develop as before. The interlocutors...

The group-mediated talks between Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement continue in Strasbourg.{BR} According to Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press release, the meetings run in positive atmosphere. Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers met also with the CE Secretary Walter Schwimmer.

Ruling coalition’s Dashnaktsutyun Party leaders met with the U.S. Ambassador in Armenia John Ordway on Thursday.{BR} Political situation in the country and ways out of it was discussed at the meeting. Dashnaks presented the party view on the issue. It was noted that destabilization of the situation in Armenia jeopardizes not only the republic development, but also in the whole region. On...

On Thursday, basic agreement on Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction is to be signed in Armenia. President Kocharyan has already met with a delegation headed by Iranian Oil and Gas Minister.{BR} The minister said the agreement to be signed today is a result of work done by both sides.

The Armenian parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan will leave for Samara to partake in the conference on “Russian-Armenian Interregional Cooperation: Status and Prospects”. {BR} The issues of Armenian-Russian trade and economic cooperation at regional level and prospects and potentialities for development will be discussed. Meetings with Russian Federal Council...

During his visit to Kiev Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met Ukraine PM Viktor Yanukovitch. {BR} Armenian PM talked about raising the tariffs for shipping operations by “Ukrferry” Company conducting Poti-Ilyichevsk ferryboat traffic. He voiced hope that the tariffs won’t rise again since the negative consequences thereof on Armenian-Ukrainian trade and economic relations...

Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan departed for Ukraine capital Kiev on 2-day official visit. Besides the formal meetings with the top leadership, a sitting of Armenian-Ukraine Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation is scheduled. {BR} Issues regarding bilateral economic cooperation, further development of collaboration in trade and economy, transport, energy, science and technique, culture...

On Friday, Azerbaijan’s President Ilkham Aliev told journalists occupied territories must be liberated and all refugees must return their homes, only after that Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s status can be negotiated.{BR} He stressed Azerbaijan’s policy on Karabakh remained unchanged: Azerbaijan keeps on supporting idea of peace talks. “We believe the conflict can be settled...

Armenian Prime minister Andranik Margaryan is to leave for Kiev, Ukraine, on Monday for a two-day visit.{BR} He will meet Ukraine’s President Leonid Kuchma, Premier Victor Yanukovic, Parliament Speaker Vladimir Litvin and other top officials. Some documents are expected to be signed during the visit. Two premiers will hold a news conference.

President Kocharyan will visit Lebanon on the next week’s Monday at its Lebanese counterpart Emil Lahudi’s invitation.{BR} Kocharyan is set to meet other Lebanese senior officials there.

Today, the OSCE Mission held a regular monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces’ contact-line in the north-west direction of the village of Seisoulan of the NKR Martakert region. From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission was led by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzey Kasprzyk. The group comprised Field Assistants of the...

President Robert Kocharyan has today received the delegation of Armenian Congress of America headed by Hrayr Hovnanyan, Chair of ACA Trustees’ Council. {BR} Kocharyan introduced the process of Karabakhi conflict settlement, Armenia-Diaspora relations and the measures for the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide next year.

Government envisages allotting 200 million drams to strengthen NN 8/2 and 8/3 buildings of Artcakh Street in Yerevan. {BR}

Government has made a decision to allot from the reserve fund more than 55 million drams to the Armenian Labor and Social Ministry to compensate the paid /to be paid/ sums for payments of obligatory social insurance to the employees who are the members of “The Blind’ Union of Armenia” social organization of invalids. {BR}