Robert Kocharyan has today hosted Levon Chakhmakhchyan, Chair of Russian Party of Workers Self-Government and Vice-Chair of organization committee of Association for Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation. {BR} Introducing the main programs of the association to president, Chakhmakhchyan stated their aim is to combine the potential of Armenian businessmen residing and working in Russia and to channel it to the homeland.

President Robert Kocharyan has today met the leaders of parties in political Coalition. {BR} They have discussed issues regarding the present political situation in Armenia and Parliament activity.

On April 22 Germany Vice-Chancellor, Foreign Affairs Minister Joschka Fischer will arrive in Armenia on a day-long official visit. {BR} President Robert Kocharyan will receive Minister Fischer within the visit. The German diplomat will visit Tsitsernakaberd and will meet journalists in presidential residence.

Uruguay Eastern Republic President Jorge Baje ratified the bill under which April 24 is officially considered the commemoration day of Armenian victims. {BR} N 17752 formula in force obliges the state media of Uruguay to cover 1915 events on every April 24.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received OSCE Minsk Group new-appointed Co-Chair Steven Mann, who is in Armenia now.{BR} Both officials expressed satisfaction with recent meetings in Prague, during which the Minsk Group Co-chairs as well as Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers exchanged views on current stage of Karabakh conflict settlement and arranged to continue direct communication in the future.

Steven Mann, newly appointed Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, arrived in Armenia on Monday. This isn’t Mann’s first visit to Armenia. Once he was the first U.S. Plenipotentiary Representative in Armenia, who has had a major role in the U.S. Embassy opening in the republic.{BR} Armenian diplomats say the new Co-chair is familiar with the region, well-aware of its political and economic...

The sitting of Council for Nuclear Energy Security at Armenian President has taken place in Government Reception House. {BR} Robert Kocharyan said thanks to permanent work and attention process of increasing safety of Nuclear Power Station of Armenia progressed. “We are sure that it is possible to reach real energy security in case of multilateral cooperation in energy sphere and we are thankful...

On April 15 President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on holding 2004 spring levy and demobilization. {BR} Under the decree, during 2004’ April-June the male citizens of Armenia, who become 18 by the levy day, also those who lost their right for deferment on military service, are conscripted. During 2004 April-June the soldiers, having served within fixed terms, are demobilized.

President of Armenia and Russia, Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin, discussed the domestic political situation in Armenia by phone yesterday. The Kremlin Press Service reports, that at the request of Vladimir Putin, Armenian President presented his assessment of the recent developments in Yerevan that broke out because of domestic political tension in the country. Russian President expressed confidence...

On Monday, Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on making amendments to the law on administrative abuses.{BR}

President Robert Kocharyan has today met Foreign Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan. {BR} Minister introduced President issues regarding pan-Armenian measures and the coming visits of Armenian President abroad scheduled this year.

Being guided by the 55th article of Constitution, President Robert Kocharyan issued a decree on relieving Town Planning Minister Ara Aramyan from his post. {BR}

On April 9 President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on appointing Garnik Isagulyan Councilor of President. {BR}

Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received Nikolai Bordyuja, Secretary General of CIS Collective Security Council. {BR} Mr Bordyuja introduced Baghdasaryan the key issues of CIS Collective Security Council, stating that systemized works are carried out with NATO. Mr Bordyuja considered as prior terrorism and drug business prevention. For that purpose legal and contract joint field...

The Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army safely fulfils its role of the Motherland borders defender; the servicemen are the master of the situation and are ready to defend selflessly their native country from any encroachments, NKR Defense Minister, DA Commander, General-lieutenant Seiran Ohanian stated at the broadcast of the Nagorno Karabakh Public Television.{BR} According to him, the Karabakh Army entered...

Armenia’s Urban Planning Minister Ara Aramyan offered his resignation on Friday.{BR} The resignation was most likely prompted by his son Hayk Aramyan recent arrest in connection with the Triumph cafe shooting, in which five were injured. Hayk is charged with one count of attempted homicide one of illegal gun possession. Only ten months have passed since Ara Aramyan take office. He declined to answer journalists’ questions.

President Kocharyan received Secretary of Collective Security Treaty Nicolay Borduza on Friday.{BR} Issues related to the Treaty regular session expected to be held in June in Astana, Kazakhstan, were discussed at the meeting. The two officials exchanged views on further development of cooperation between Armenia and the CST other member countries.

General Prosecutor of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan met Human Rights defender Larisa Alaverdyan. {BR} During the meeting ombudsman voiced Prosecutor her concern over the tense atmosphere at the meetings, violence and attacks, and breach of the social order. General Prosecutor stressed that the law-enforcement bodies must be able to provide implementation of Constitutional rights of people, to prevent...

Heads of some organizations have expressed their stances over the arrest of Suren Surenyantc, member of “Republic” Party political board and the party press secretary. {BR} ”We condemn any violent action against political opponents in free and independent Armenia. Suren Surenyantc was arrested for his political convictions and activity. That makes us announce that he is a political...

Dear Mr. President, Dear Prosecutor General, The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) are writing this letter to you in order ensure that a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted into the brutal physical attack on Mikael Danielyan, Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association, and to bring the perpetrators...

Dear President Robert Kocharyan, We are writing to you to express our deep concern over the recent attack on human rights defender Mikael Danielian. Human Rights Watch has worked closely with Danielian for thirteen years and highly values his contribution to defending human rights in Armenia. We fear that the attack was an attempt to intimidate and silence Danielian, and to stop him from carrying...

Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, condemned the attacks on journalists that occurred at an opposition rally in Yerevan on 5 April.{BR} “Any violence against journalists should be condemned, the instigators identified and criminal proceedings against them initiated,” said Ambassador Pryakhin in a statement to Radio Liberty and to an Armenian daily newspaper,...

International Monetary Fund has decided to suspend the loan of 119 million USD pledged to Azerbaijan. In its statement the Fund pointed out considerable discord between the IMF and Azeri government on a number of issues including procedural matters relating to the Bank System Law adopted recently.{BR} The IMF is waiting proposals from the government that can help to overcome political dissents...

Adopted on the initiative of Yerevan Press Club On April 5, 2004 prior to the Yerevan meeting of “National Unity” party leaders with the voters, the police impeded journalists’ activity on the highways connecting the regions with the capital. During the rally, authorities obviously connived at the violence applied: the journalists were exposed to beating, photo and video cameras were...