Hamlet Gasparyan, Press Secretary of Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry, answering the question of “Regnum” Agency. {BR} How do you comment on the statement of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev, saying “if Turkey opens the frontier with Armenia, Karabakhi conflict will never be settled” and the fact that Ilham Aliev calls Turkey as an “important key factor”? Just...

At January 1, 2004, data, 1860 companies, 7205 “small” and 72 unfinished objects were privatized. {BR}

The land of 148 hectares, which belongs to “Meghri” criminal and executive establishment of Armenian Justice Ministry, the buildings of “Abovyan” criminal and executive establishment used before for agriculture and cattle-breeding purposes were assigned to “Support to Condemned” Fund for 5 years without indemnity. {BR}

To hold individual male championship for chess at high level and to encourage winners within the jubilee year on the 75th anniversary of world champion Tigran Petrosyan Government made a decision to allot 20 million AMD from the reserve fund to Chess Federation of Armenia to fix prizes for championship winners. {BR}

Under Government decision $ 27.000 from the reserve fund was allotted to Ombudsman’ staff to provide the activity. {BR}

Beginning from March 25, 2004, excises marked “2004” for cigarette imported in Armenia are put in circulation. {BR}

At Government decision Edik Barseghyan was relieved of his post for Syunik District Head. Under another decision, Surik Khachatryan /Liska nicknamed/ was appointed Syunik District Head. {BR}

On March 25 Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received Denmark Ambassador to Armenia Christian Faber Rode. {BR} Issues regarding intensification of relations between two countries, and expansion of inter-parliamentary links were discussed during the meeting. It was stated that Armenia-Denmark MP friendship group had already been established in Parliament. Mr Christian Faber Rode who was the...

On March 25 Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received Byelorussia Ambassador to Armenia Marina Dolgopolova. {BR} Issues regarding implementation of the agreements reached at during Baghdasaryan’s official visit to Byelorussia were discussed at the meeting. In particular, negotiations between Minsk Tractor Factory and Charentcavan Machine-Building Factory over launching mini-tractor...

”Vneshtorgbank”, one of the hugest banks of Russia, has become the holder of 70% of “ArmSavingBank” stocks. {BR} President Robert Kocharyan has today received ”Vneshtorgbank” Department Chair Andrei Kostin, who is in Armenia to sign a contract on purchasing control packet of shares. President stated with pleasure that the bargain is the first official participation...

OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov announced that the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Affair Ministers, which was scheduled on March 29, won’t take place. {BR} Mediator said that the decision was made taking into account ”wish of one side”. On March 17 Armenian FM Vartan Oskanyan informed that the meeting of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs with Armenian...

Today, the Government of Armenia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) opened the Information and Training Centre at the Ministry of Agriculture and signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the support that UNDP will provide for the “First Agro-Forum” International Conference. Mr. Samvel Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and Ms. Lise...

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said after Azeri President Ilkham Aliev’s recent visit to Uzbekistan that Nagorno Karabakh is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan, as it was in Soviet era, and Armenia must unconditionally comply with Azerbaijan’s demand to cede occupied territories.{BR} Karimov thinks the conflict should be settled stage-by-stage. He is convinced the settlement top...

Solemn ceremony dedicated to Pakistan’s national holiday was held Tuesday at Pakistani Embassy in Baku. Mohammed Hafiz, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan, made a speech at the event.{BR} Speaking on bilateral relationship the ambassador expressed satisfaction with cooperation between the two countries. The friendly relations are based on common interests and values. According to Baku’s...

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received Wednesday a delegation headed by the EU Special Envoy for South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie.{BR} Apmenian premier said Armenian CE membership and the process of its CE commitments inspire hope that the republic will accomplish in its key goal - to integrate into the European fold. Heikki Talvitie, in turn, said the EU member countries are now considering...

Every year, 2 million people die of tuberculosis (TB), and 8 million people develop the disease in the world*. Due to the hard social and economic situation, together with the break down of the health care system, it has proven difficult to bring the disease under control in most of the CIS countries.{BR} TB cases detected in the prison system population cause enormous suffering and death in the...

Under PM’ decision, Arman Sahakyan, son of “Republican” Party member Galust Sahakyan was nominated Yerevan Vice-Mayor. {BR}

Under March 23 decision by PM, Hmayak Haroyan was relieved of the post for head of Emergency State Department. Under another decision, Artak Sahradyan was nominated Education and Science Deputy Minister. {BR}

Under the decision of PM Andranik Margaryan Gagik Martirosyan was nominated PM Councilor, being relieved of his post for Chair of the State Committee of Water Economy.{BR} Andranik Andreasyan was appointed the Chair of State Committee of Water Economy. He was relieved from the post of Deputy Minister of Territorial Management and Coordinating Infrastructures.

The newly-appointed Ambassador of Denmark to Armenia Christian Faberrode has today presented his credentials to President Robert Kocharyan /residence Copenhagen/. {BR} Christian Faberrode is nominated the Ambassador in Armenia for the second time. He was the Danish Ambassador in Armenia during1992-1996 and as President Kocharyan said he would be able to make comparisons. Robert Kocharyan underlined...

Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan has today held a deliberation to discuss the results of visits of Ministers and department heads to the districts. PM said that the results will finally be summed up under the fixed schedule after the visits finish. {BR} It was stated that on the whole works pass in correspondence with the set priorities and some problems of urgent solution were settled. But PM voiced...

Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan has today received Italy Ambassador to Armenia Marco Clemente. {BR} Issues regarding the coming official visit of Arthur Baghdasaryan to Italy were discussed during the meeting. Mr Clemente stated that Italy is interested in that visit and at the suggestion of Italy Parliament Chair Mr Cassini Italy-Armenia MP friendly group is being established in Italian...

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage aims to visit Armenia on March 26. Mr Armitage will arrive in Yerevan within the visit to the Southern Caucasus region. {BR} It is to note that Strobe Talbotte, US Deputy Secretary of State of Clinton’s administration was the representative of US Secretary of State, who was last time in Armenia. It was in 1999.

The sitting of the Council for Social Investment Fund of Armenia (SIFA) took place in Armenian Government. PM Andranik Margaryan, who is as well the Council Chair, presided over it. {BR} 2003’ activity report of the Fund executive office was discussed. SIFA Executive Director Ashot Kirakosyan introduced it. He stated that stimulation works had been carried out in Kotayk, Armavir and Syunik...